Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Punch Drunk

Because of my mild obsessive-compulsive disorder, I like organization. In fact, I like everything about organization, from finding the perfect storage (cheap, efficient, not ugly) to keeping track of my many little supplies with inventories. It's a great thing to do when the muse isn't whispering in one's ear.

Take, for instance, my punch storage. The three white drawers are from Target, and I about went postal assembling the thing with its tiny, tiny screws. No more of those, thank you very much. Plastic drawers droop annoyingly under the weight of punches, so they fail to pass muster as well. Then, I found these stackable baskets at Target. Angels sang when I read the price of them (very affordable!), and the cute little handles flip in so you can stack them. It's mildly annoying to UNstack them to get at punches in the lower baskets, but it's better than the alternatives I've tried.



Now, the circle and square punches are in the white drawers, and all the others are sorted into baskets by theme, such as leaves/trees, flora, hearts and stars, and borders. Although where in the world does my Martha Stewart cupcake punch belong? None of my categories really fits it. And this bothers me.

I'm sure you're not interested in my bothers, so let's move on to my punch inventory. This is not ideal, either, but it works. At least, it does when it's up-to-date and I remember to take it to the store when I need to buy punches.


Since I was too tired to stamp today, I updated the punch inventory. This lead me to the realization that I have purchased a lot of punches lately. I don't seem to be able to control myself. I'm BINGING on punches.


I won't show you all the pages, simply because I don't want you to know just how punch drunk I am. Just believe that there are a lot of them, and let's move right along to a card that USES a punch.


I'm deeply annoyed by the fact that subtle colors don't photograph well. Or perhaps it's just that I don't photograph them well enough to do them justice. But really, this card is far more intersting in real life. And you can read the sentiment well, too. For the record, it's hi there .

Sigh.

And here's a question for you. If one can be punch drunk, can one have a punch hangover? If so, I think I have one. Just as long as I don't wake up with Mike Tyson's tiger in my bathroom and a tooth missing, it'll all be okay.

Right?

Supplies
stamps: PTI Day at the Beach, Mixed Messages
ink: VersaColor
paper: PTI white
accessories: square punch, dimensionals

46 comments:

  1. So then, if you are punch drunk and get a hangover then the only cure must be hair(?) of the dog - ie buy more punches!!! I am in awe of not only the number of punches that require that amount of storage but also the filing system. It's good to know that I am not the only person (mad or obsessive) that can't have too many butterfly punches. Love it!!

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  2. I agree, buy more punches. I keep track of my punches the same way,it was like looking in my own book. I am so glad there are more like me.

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  3. I could get drunk looking at your stacks of punches! Is that allowed? super fabulous..been dying to get that martha stewart butterfly punch..should be in my hands by july or aug..
    Missed your blog..its been only 4 days of vacation!

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  4. Hi Susan -- I love how colorful those baskets are! My punches are kind of all over the place, but most of them are in a shoe bag that hangs on the back of a closet door. Sadly, shoes and punches aren't exactly the same shape!
    Yesterday, i bought the Martha button punch after reading about it here from a couple of your comment-writers...so I definitely can't tell you NOT to buy more!

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  5. So, where did you put your Martha Stewart cupcake punch? I share your punch drunk love. I won't tell you how many border punches I have.

    Speaking as a librarian (and former cataloger), your organizational skills are awesome!

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  6. Love the punch book! I'm doing an inventory of all my sentiments. So far it's taken me about 3 months. I did all the SU! then all the PTI, and now all the miscellaneous. I'm TRYING to be disciplined about stamping new ones in the book as they come in. I do find that it really helps - I can go to my Birthday Page and see ALL my birthday sentiments, instead of just using the same one or two over and over again.

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  7. Wish I had a ton of punches!! I am very limited cause they all seem to cost so much!

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  8. I am in awe not only of the number of punches you have, but of your organizational system also. Wow! I'm going to try to put your system into personal use. I say try because organization is not my strong suit. But I'm trying to do better!

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  9. @Francie,
    MS cupcake moves around the baskets and just can't be satisfied wherever I put her. BTW, my first work-study job in college (mid-80s) was ordering cards for the card catalog using the OCLC online ordering system. State of the art at the time....amber dotted screens and all! Now, there are no card catalogs and I am sad.

    @Ardyth,
    I did the sentiment catalog about five years ago and haven't kept it up. Bad me!

    @Diane S,
    You should know that I don't buy punches unless they are 40% off...coupon or sale. They are expensive, but strategic shopping can make them less so. Of course, I'm not trying to enable you to get punch drunk, too. Just sayin'.

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  10. I love getting a glimse into your stamping area and your method of organizing. Spending money on your hobby is cheaper than therapy. ;) (Been there done that)
    I love your style and your blog always makes me smile! Thank You!
    Lori VK

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  11. Organization is my middle name!! Love to inventory my supplies. Have a punch book similiar to yours. I store my border punches in 12 x 12 clear plastic cases. One case holds 10-12 in one layer. Easy to see....so I use them more. Wish my stamps were better organized. That's become a real challenge! Love your subtle punch card, BTW.

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  12. A friend and I went thrifting over the long weekend and saw a free-standing card catalog for sale. We both said exactly the same thing, "I've always wanted one of these to store supplies in," until we saw the price-$1300. !!! (and no 40% off coupon.)

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  13. @mamajulie,
    I'd love a card catalog, too. But alas, I'd rather spend the money on stamps, LOL!

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  14. I don't have as many as you but the one large plastic drawer where most of them live is hard to open and quite irritating. I'd like to hear those angels singing - why don't you come and visit me and organize me. You'd have a field day. Seriously.

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  15. hehehheehehehehheehheheheh .... and I am loving your cas inchies!! Heheheheheh...off to work laughing at you with a tiger in the bathroom!!

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  16. LOL, thank you Susan, you always make me smile. I too wish I could be punch drunk unfortunately funds are limited and I tend to buy nesties instead (but naturally don't have as many as I would like!). Must say I'm partly glad I don't have enough stamps or punches to need to catalogue, I'm just not that disciplined!

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  17. LOL - I love getting your daily posts - it means I just to start my day with a chuckle!! Thanks for your sense of humor it makes my day! ...punch drunk...lol

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  18. o.k., add me to the list of people who get a little chuckle from your comments regularly.. and also to that list of people who has a way of organising things in a similar manner to you! Love the starfish too!

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  19. I love my punches --- when I think to use them. And I do say that the number I have has definitely increased since I've been watching your blog! I love what you do and have copied so much from you that sometimes I feel guilty (not enough to quit, however). My punches remain in a drawer......which is getting harder and harder to open......

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  20. Ok...I cannot believe you have a book with all your punches in it. Of course, I might too, if I had lots of punches (I'm working on that!!) Maybe I need to make a booklet of the ever growing Tattered Angels Glimmer mist...that seems to be my current binge!!
    Love the CUTE card layout, btw!!

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  21. OR part of your ear missing from a Mike Tyson visit - bwahhhhhaaaahhhhhh!!

    Cute card; love the soft, subtle colors!

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  22. I love this idea!! I am so into organizing too. I have to have my craft room completely organized and clean at all times. It makes for a long crafting night sometimes. :-)

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  23. I'm with you on the punches! I've been buying a lot of them recently too. Once again, I love your card and your post!

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  24. Ha, punch drunk!

    Thanks for sharing some pics of your storage - more, more!

    Fab card too!

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  25. hey, susuan!
    love your catalog for punches.
    and i LOVE the darling card. i especially like the uneven images in the squares. that adds whimsey, and feels like summer vacation!!
    have a great one,
    marty

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  26. Love the post! I like to organize my "stuff" as much as I like making cards.
    I storage all my Big Martha punches together and the rest by theme.

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  27. I'm sad to say that I don't have many punches. They'd probably fit in one of your large baskets... with room to spare. I'm glad to say that I don't have to worry about cataloging. Maybe one day. For now, my punch-deprived approach is to use cookie cutters as templates. I have been baking for MANY years and have a large collection of cookie cutters. I just need some patience to handle the fussy cutting.

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  28. I love the idea of a catalog of punches. I have mine stored in cute wicker and cloth lined baskets from Michaels. I don't have all that many yet but cataloging them is a great idea! Thanks Susan! BTW I love the inchie card!

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  29. Oh my word,you do have it bad! What I need is a Susan to help me organise my life,my husband would sing from the rooftops lol! Lovely card,as always. x

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  30. love the card :) And the blog post :)

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  31. Oh how I can relate! More punches than I care to admit, but still NEED MORE! But, I do use them, not just hoard them. And, yes, I do catalog them as well as it began to seem that if I loved it enough once to buy, I loved it twice, sometimes three times....
    Anyway, great post, fabulous card!

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  32. Wow, Susan..... I adore punches just like you. I have more than 200 punches, small to gagantic...
    Right now, I am also selling them in my place... I love punches so much..

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  33. I love reading your blog. You are so clever and funny (and creative, needless to say.) Thanks for the storage tips. It's nice to know that I'm not the only person who gets a sense of tranquility from the act of ORGANIZATION!

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  34. My punches hang over the back of 2 closet doors in shoe organizers but I'm about to outgrow those....what to do, what to do...

    BTW, LOVE that movie! So funny!

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  35. Currently, my punches fit in a shoe box. :O I find when I go to Michaels with my coupon burning in my pocket, I get so overwhelmed at picking just ONE, I often leave without any! :P I think tomorrow might be the button punch, tho... I can see using that.
    As to your cupcake punch... you OBVIOUSLY need more food punches so she won't be so ostrasized.
    Finally, I love today's clean and perfect card.

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  36. I used to envy the fact that you had every color of ink in the world, but I think I might rather have just your supply of punches. Yes, Punch Drunk would be a good thing! And a Punch Hangover could be fixed with a Cuttlebug because the cutting dies store flat and you wouldn't need so many storage containers or anymore punches.

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  37. I have the same problem in photographing some cards. They look good in person, but when I photograph them they come out blandly. The most recent card I did came out as such, so I gave up trying to photograph it and just didn't bother to post it.

    I really love your card, though! I absolutely love clean and simple designed cards.

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  38. Chuckle chuckle, I just posted a photo of my workspace, and it's no where near as neat and organized as yours. I obviously need more punches as my fit in a bucket rather easily. I want a large circle scallop punch, will move it up my list knowing that I wont end up with a punch drunk hangover since I'm such a light weight.

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  39. Hi Susan, this is my first time visiting your blog. I have seen people participating in your challenges so came to check them out. I love your punches inventory. That is a great idea. I need to do that with my stamps and am dumbfounded where to begin. You have a great sense of humor. Thank you for making me laugh.

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  40. Thank you for making me feel better for buying too many punches too. I saw a great idea for hanging up punches on a wall using neat rails. But I also like your basket idea. I'm going to check out Poundland (here in the UK) to see if they have any like these. Love your style of writing and really enjoy reading your blog

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  41. I have a similar filing system for remembering which punch I own, but I haven't found the perfect storage system yet. Part of me wants them displayed for easy access--but I think my hubby would be horrified at my inventory.

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  42. On punches. I have a large set of drawers in my "Rat's Nest" as my husband calls my craft room, that he built into a small closet. My punches are laid out in one of the drawers and a tag is under each so the punch is returned to where it belongs. I have all the SU ones that are in the catalog. Now to organize my Martha S ones. I hate to give up another drawer. I do have some which I use all the time hanging on the wall. Then there are two punch holder from Punch Craft hanging on the door. It works for me.
    Marge P

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  43. Thanks! I needed that....
    I'm addicted to punches too and in particular the border punches! I've run out of space in my not-a-craft-room, craft room so I'm scouring for other places in the house where I can hide my punches... come to think of it, if I scale down and only wear the same pair of shoes for work...then I could stash more punches in the empty shoe boxes!!! Gotta go... start cleaning out my closet!

    Thanks for your insight; you've got me sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for your next post.

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  44. I can't wait to read your blog every day...I LOVE your humor not to mention your fabulous cards. And I must say I'm AMAZED at the number of punches you have!! YIKES! We share the organization gene, but not the punch gene and that's because my thrift gene overpowers most urges to buy punches unless I can find them at Goodwill or a garage sale or something....yes, I'm Ms. Cheap! Don't think there's much of anything in my "messy" room that I paid full price for. Thanks for a fun read this morning!

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  45. We all have our obsessions ~ yours is punches! Love your blog!

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  46. You sure made me laugh with your binging on punches and being punch drunk. Boy....can I identify! I love punches and have gone hog wild buying them!

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!