Husband of Scraper needs help!!!

Please help a clueless husband!

I would like to build a workstation for my wife as a surprise gift. This is the last site I am going to try. Something in the way of a L-shaped desk that allows for a LOT of storage of her pictures, stickers, paper sheets, cutouts...Is there a great system out there that she would love to have. Please take this opportunity to pitty a clueless husband and give advise! This is your chance to get a fellow scrapper "Set up right"
Any suggestion regarding ideal chairs, lighting, drawers would be great too.

first off, OKAY can you be any SWEETER?!?! That's so wonderful of you. I'm impressed.

Okay here's what I know. There isn't a specific scrapbooking desk currently manufactured that I know of. This is what I've done. I designed a workstation (it doubles as a computer station) out of one piece of melameen (spelling)I have measured drawings I would be happy to share with you. Then I have storage boxes and sets of drawers for all my stuff. Nothing specific. They make plastic drawers on rollers that are perfect, and inexpensive. I also like pretty things and there a lot of boxes etc that work nicely for orgainizing stuff that can sit out and still look nice. You may want to build the structure and let her pick out the pretty stuff (no offense lol)

You'll need to know if she does 8 1/2 x 11 or 12x12. If she does 12x12 you'll need to think of that size when looking for storage containers. If she every goes to scrap parties you may want to consider that as she'll need to be somewhat portable with her stuff. They do make WONDERFUL rolling totes JUST FOR scrapbooking. The best one (IMHO) is the Crop in Style XXL. I use that for all my stuff that I HAVE to take with me to crop parties. Then I just tuck it under the workstation when I'm not using it. My drawers are for the stuff that I don't have to bring. Any office filing cabinet with hanging files is a great way to store paper.

Make sure she has a nice chair. That's important, one she won't have to share with everyone else LOL. Lighting? well you pretty much can't get too much of it. I would stay away from all incandescent task lights. They tend to make the work area hotter and create shadows. I would recommend some undercounter type fluorscent lights (of course the workspace would have to have something overhead to mount the light, which my design does not have), good overhead lighting, and maybe one incandescent task light she could use for that extra punch.

PHEW...sorry you asked yet? Feel free to email me if you would like any more information or those drawings. Good luck!

Michelle

That is an awesome thing for you to do for her!
I know of some scrappers who use a computer armoire to hold their supplies--they have the comp. handy for journalling, clip art, etc. and it has lots of drawers and compartments to hold supplies.
I'm also always hearing people rave about Iris carts--they're the rolling carts with several drawers. Many of the styles come with drawers large enough to store 12x12 paper lying flat. They're also great for punches and rubber stamp storage.

If there's any possibility of having the scrap station near natural light, that would be best as far as designing pages. however, too much natural light wouldn't be good because it could fade any photos/supplies she has out in the open. I would think a nice swing-arm desk lamp would be great so you could move it to where you need it.

Just make sure she has plenty of space to spread out with her supplies and lots of drawers to hold her stuff!
OH--you might try to find some info on the Cropper Hopper--they have a nice storage/file system for 12x12 paper. Less expensive would be Generations by Hazel--they have some expanding files in the large size.

She'll love this surprise--have fun!

What a great idea!!!

My hubby built shelving up the the ceiling with the stuff you can buy at Home Depot, the white shelving. He started 15-24 inches above my scrapping table and then made them far enough apart to store albums. My problem was that most of what I was scrapping was already in those magnetic albums and unsafely scrapped. So, I store them on the shelves up higher so I could get them easily when ready to scrap them.

On the table I set the supplies I used on a every layout basis. Then the next shelf up was also those supplies that got used on a regular basis. Those shoebox containers that you can see through, you can get them at the dollar store, work great for storing ribbon and other bulky embellishments and are easily accessible. I also bought the "rubbermaid" containers from Target or Walmart that would have drawers that slide in an out. You can get them any size, desk top to standing on the floor type.

My table was just that, a table and I think the idea of an L-shape is great. and the comfortable chair is a must.

Good Luck and be sure to come back and let us know how the surprise went. We will be anxiously awaiting.

p.s. Would you like my husband cell to call him. We've since moved and he could use a great idea. LOL

Here's a link to the desk my dad built for me. I love it and it's really cut down on the area my stuff takes in the room. He used those prepainted boards and made the largest drawers to fit the Cropper Hopper hanging files for 12x12 paper. Good luck. I'm sure she'll love it.

http://www.geocities.com/scrapforever/scraproom.html

How great can this be??? You're doing a wonderful thing for your wife and your marriage. May I suggest that you take pictures of the progress and make copies of this post for the layout that "should" be done (by you of course

I say "ditto" to the suggestions above and would add two things. First, if you choose fluorescent lighting, there are full spectrum bulbs available that don't distort color. Second, go to the post several above this which is titled "Dream Scrapbook Room" for more excellent ideas.

Good luck and thanks for sharing your kind ways with us.

Another possible thought would be to surprise her with the whole idea rather than the completed project - that way she could be in on the planning (which is probably half the fun) and you could be sure you were building it the way she'd like - - you could make a certificate that said, "This certificate good for one completed scrapbook area to be built & furnished by your husband, etc, etc." Or - - you could take her out for supper or just "to the mall" and then end up at a Home Depot or Lowes or whatever you have there & then announce to her that you're there to start picking out supplies for her craft room.

Just a thought!
Have fun!

Donna

You wife is one lucky lady!
As for the lighting I would avoid fluorescent lighing completely. Try to set up the lighting so that it is not just over her head when she works or it will cast shadows over her work. There are lights out there called OTT lights which are true color lights. They are costly, but one for her desktop would be an awesome asset. It shows the real color of the paper etc which can get confused in both fluorescent and incandecent lighting.
Iris carts are a must. They come in many sizes and can be rolled around. If you build her a countertop instead of a desk she can store the iris carts under the counter and easily rearrange their location if she choses.
The chair should be very comfy and wheels would be really helpful. Shelving above and to the sides of her workstation would beneficial.
Don't forget something for paper storage. There are racks available or Cropper Hopper has an acid free hanging file system for paper. If she has lots of paper make sure you have plenty of space for her to store it. I use plastic flip top tubs from Sterlite for my 8.5x11 paper. I have 3 filled to capacity.