What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday – #483

Good morning my crafty WOYWW friends! For those of you that aren’t familiar with WOYWW (What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday),  head on over to Julia’s Stamping Ground and you will find desks from all around the world for What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday where we get to snoop on other crafter’s desks.

Well, stop the search parties because I have once again resurfaced to play. The last time I participated in WOYWW was #470!! Since then, I had a fantastic summer and Hawaiian vacation to really crank things up. I am a self-employed crafter and this was the first summer I decided to stop putting so much pressure on myself and took the summer off to be with my boys and dear husband. So that’s what I did, so with it came me abandoning my blog too.

As both my boys are both in school again, today is my first day back to work and boy is it a bit crazy. I hired my youngest son, yesterday to help me create an inventory of all my stamping inks.  Let’s just say that I have been crafting for years and have amassed quite a collection. So the first thing I did was give my son specs for the creation of a spreadsheet so that once I establish this system, I can maintain moving forward.

Because let’s face it, we all know the feeling of ordering some craft product only to find out days or weeks later, that you already own it!!  I wanted to track the manufacturers, the type of ink, the color and how many I own, also have it tell me if I need to re-order any.

Once he created the spreadsheet, I duplicated it and removed some of the fields for printing purposes and added a ‘swatch’ column so that I could visibly see my entire inventory. I found a fun leaf stamp and got to stamping.  Boy did it take time. I had no idea how many ink pads I own. I am extremely impressed that almost all of them were still juicy. I have some of them for so many years, I think some of the companies might have even gone out of business by now. But the fact that they are still moist is surprising.

But now I am left with an awesome system to help me when I am creating products. I can find just the right color and type of ink to use in minutes. So it was well worth the hours to create it.

I will leave you with one photo from our vacation and then later I will write a proper post to share some more of the fantastic details. I hope you all are well and I look forward to re-connecting with you talented WOYWW friends.  Keep craftin!!

Belinda

Comments

  1. Hey there Belinda! How wonderful that you took the time off with your family, honestly, we’re so bad at making time for ourselves so well done you. Hawaii eh? That sounds amazing – I shall look forward to seeing the pictures. As a sewing person, I buy small amounts of fabric and use them up fairly quickly so I rarely buy duplicates….your system seems to work brilliantly!
    Hugs LLJ 11 xxx

    • Hello! Yes, I think this new system will help me an immensely. I had forgotten how many different colors I had and now I can really use them. It’s funny how sometimes organizing can be such a great motivator!

  2. Angela Secrest says

    I tried once to do that with my inks and it didn’t work out lol, I found that searching through the binder to find my ink color took longer than just looking at the inks I had. Lucky you for the vacation! I want to move to the beach forever! Thanks for the visit!
    Happy WOYWW!
    Angie #28

  3. Hi Belinda, great system. I’m with you on inkpads, I was having this discussion with my DIL’s Mom, who is also a crafter, just the other day. I almost cringe to say I think I’m close to 500 inkpads, of assorted sizes. Like you, many I have had for many, many years, but they are still going strong.Have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #9 X

  4. Thanks for popping by my blog earlier. I love your system – what a great idea. Thanks for sharing. Have a good week. Caro x (#27)

  5. Glad you had a great summer, and took some much needed time to yourself and your family. Helen #1

  6. Hi Belinda. That looks like a great idea – well done. Hard work to set it up, but worth the effort. Good photo of your holiday – good for you, taking the whole time off for your family – they don’t stay young long!
    Take care. God bless.
    Margaret #2

  7. I am impressed that your inks are still doing well. I bought a name brand ink pad a couple of months ago and it is already dry. And don’t get me started on silver and gold. They flake apart after awhile. You are SO lucky that yours still work even years later. And of course, your system looks like it’s going to work well for you. Had to laugh at the remark about buying a product you already own. Some of us don’t have that problem (grin). Some of us can count the number of ink pads we own on one hand (that would be me, of course).

    Looks like you had a fabulous vacation. How lucky is that! Happy WOYWW from # 5.

  8. Hi Belinda, sounds like you’ve been enjoying the summer. The crafting can always wait. I have bought products I already own but don’t tell anybody! I’m a bit late this week getting round due to family stuff. Happy belated woyww, Angela x17x

  9. Hi Belinda, great to see you back and glad that you had such a relaxing holiday. Great idea to create a spreadsheet of inks. Happy belated WOYWW. Sarah #4

  10. HI Belinda, ( I am a little more low tech) with my samples of ink swatches but, I love that you were able to hire your son to help 🙂 Have a great week! ~Stacy #29

  11. Heather Marshall says

    Hi Belinda, I have a sample book with my inks in, and promarkers, and a few other bits – otherwise I would end up duplicating. It’s also great to check the colours. Well done on gettjng it sorted. Glad you had a great time in Hawaii – lucky you! Have a lovely week Heather x #12

  12. Yes, it takes an awefull lot of work to make an inventory of the products you own (I did that with my spray inks… which aren’t as many as your stamps but still cost me time) but it is so rewarding to have such a list, great job!! Big hug from Holland, Marit #25

  13. Hi Belinda, what a fabulous Summer you have had. There should never be any excuse to take time off for family, a well deserved treat for all.
    I too am realising the double purchases as I slowly go through my go to crafty stash.
    Your system would have helped me many times and I agree it is amazing to see just how many of these ink pads over time are just as juicy as the day we purchased them.
    Thanks for sharing WOYWW.
    Tracey #6

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