Pen Storage

To say this has been a big bug bear for some time is a bit of an understatement.  I have been on a constant quest to find the perfect storage for my pens ever since I had too many to fit in my pen roll! Now, as you may well know, alchol pens really need to be stored on their side.  This is mainly so that one end (mine are all double ended) doesn't fill with the ink and the other dry out. My main problem has been that storing pens on their side is frustrating.  they are harder to identify and storage for them is a nightmare!
The first thing I did (as so many do I expect) is search Pinterest for storage.  Now I know that you can buy custom made storage but aren't they expensive!!!  I discovered a great idea using a DVD rack.  I searched high and low for a rack that would work but to no avail.  My next idea was to create a similar effect using lots of dvd cases and copious amounts of glue and washi tape.  This worked to an extent but I could only house some of my pens this way and it was very labour intensive to create just one box so many was a daunting job!
My latest breakthrough came when a wandering through the Range (a pastime of mine! lol) I found these lovely boxes made by Curver.  The thing that attracted me to them were the holes in the sides and also that the sides were square.  many boxes have sloping edges which makes things much harder!

I discovered that I could Fit 2 wooden skewers into the holes.  I measured the width of the pens and pushed through two skewers at even intervals up the front edge of the box.  I then pushed through one skewer at the same level but further into the box so the pens would have something to rest on.

I used wire cutters to cut all the skewers flush with the side of the box and then used a glue gun to secure all the ends in place.

I discovered that if you make a mistake with the glue gun and wish you had put a skewer somewhere else then just heat it over with a heat gun and it melts enough to move it.

Once cooled I then started to fill with pens!

My earlier attempts at this storage included created a twine lattice grid behind the front skewers, this did stop pens going side to side but it also meant that the pens bounced a bit inside.

You can also see that I washi taped the front sticks together to add a bit of decor on this one.  My aim was to use white stickers to cover the two rods and then colour them in with the pen colour above them.

Well here is my colourful corner! Fab pens and beautiful paints. 

Well for now I love it!  I may find an even better way to store my pens but until then... yeah!

Do you have the same problem?

I will be linking up on Handmade Monday so do pop by and check out some great blogs!

xxx

April Showers

Did you guys know it was April?  I mean seriously where did March go!  What's worse is that it is the middle of April and I have get to post!

I have released 4 new boxes and of course there is the very exciting unboxing of April's colourful box.

I realised last month that sometimes it is hard to know what essential tools you might need if you are starting out with crafting or in a particular area of crafting.  This pondering inspired the 4 latest boxes  'The Basics essentials' collection.

These are all available on my website.  I am also happy to sell all items separately if you are after anything in particular!

I have started doing videos for the boxes to give people an idea of how to use them.  I know some are quite self explanatory but every little helps doesn't it!

Here is a video I created with my lovely crafty friend Jane.  How to heat emboss.

Have you tried heat embossing before?

My trouble is I keep thinking of extra things I could put in each box but I have to keep reminding myself these are the basics, I could always bring out an extension kit!  What sort of kit would you like to see? 

April also saw the release of the monthly box.  This months theme was April Showers.  I've done another little unboxing video again for you guys to see what was inside.

Well I think I may have overloaded you so I will leave it at that for now.  I have so many things to show you including another parenting the crafty way and also an update on my quest to find the perfect storage for my marker pens!

I will be popping by to share my posts this week at Handmade Monday so do pop by and link up your blog if you have one or just come and see what other bloggers have been up to!

See you soon!