Laundry Closet Update

Now that the Laundry Center was installed I was excited to get the shelving back in and get its stuff that has lived in the living room since May 4th.  This is the shelf that the old dryer sat on for a very long time. I added the 2 shelves I had removed from above the old washer into this unit.  I added the cross bar now that there was not another unit to support it. Now will it fit?  I only realized after I had the shelving unit in that I should run the washer and dryer to ensure there are no leaks.  Fortunately, no leaks!  So I carried on with the rest of the job.

I knew that the green tape on the floor indicated that the shelf was suppose to fit. The extension cord for the light had to be plug in before the shelf when in. It was a perfect fit!  I guess the time invested in planning paid off.  With the built in space at the back of the closet - the dryer vent, the electric plug 240V, and the extension cord in the 100V outlet all fit comfortably. The unit only uses the 240V plug.

The closet doors were hung back up on May 14th but had been sitting to one side because the old washing machine was sitting in the hall because of it leaking water.  The rails in which the closet doors slide had large headed screws which made it difficult to slide the doors back in place.  I purchased some lower profile head screws and replaced those to make life easier the next time the doors need to be moved.  I do need a stool to see to the bottom of the dryer so I will borrow the one from the kitchen.

Putting the pretty things back in! I put the Trofast organizer, the front hall mirror that my Mom made for me and art on the photo shelf above.   Now the front hall feels back to normal.

The dryer door just clears the closet doors.  It is close but it works!

The fact that the laundry center only uses the 240V outlet meant I could plug in a light for the closet.  Before I had to use the front hall closet to light the space.

I put in a bright pink extension cord in the 100V outlet before the shelves went in.  I zipped tied it to the shelf standard so it will keep the cord off the floor and easily accessible.

I purchased a light fixture at the thrift store which I could secure with screws to the shelf.  I replaced the light bulb with a small compact fluorescent which does not get hot.

With the short goose neck the light easily moves from the shelf side to the laundry center side.  Like it was made to sit the situation. Means I don't have to have the front hall light on as often. 

The pop crates were part of the storage solution in the previous laundry closet set up.  Now I had to reconfigure things to work with new set up.

I gained 2 shelves where the dryer sat before.  All the necessary contents were returned to the closet.

*Laundry Supplies - detergent & dryer balls

*Bathroom Supplies - TP, Kleenex, towels and facecloths, 

*Paint Supplies - brushes, rollers, trays, paint cans, drop cloths

*Planting supplies - gloves, small pots, plant food, etc.

*Electrical Supplies - light bulbs, extension cords 

*Plasticware - casserole carriers, popcorn bowls, Tupperware trays, etc.

*Soda water

The bathroom supplies are much closer at hand than before, the casserole carriers are up high because I don't use them often.

Hand towel hangs on dryer with suction cup hanger.

Die - Decluttering and New Work Station

 All my die cutting stuff has been in storage for a year and half.  I knew that I wanted to get rid of a lot of them so I decided to unpack the 10 boxes and make the hard decisions.

My sister helped me as she was going to chose from what was left and was willing to liquidate the rest.

I brought 4 boxes home out of 10 which was really good.  I had worked out how I was going to set up the station when I got home.  I set up the shelving unit on July 1st. 

We had scoped out some clear containers at Dollarama while I was at her house. Once I looked at what I had brought home and purchased a few more.  These were all original thick dies so they are really heavy for plastic containers.

The containers had feet and the shelving has gaps between the boards so I needed something to on the shelf to allow the containers to slide.  

I dug into my plastic placemat stash which were just the right depth so I needed 2 to make it wide enough for the shelf.  I used clear packing tape to join them and that solved that situation.  The placemats sometimes have textured surfaces so I had to turn them upside down so the smooth side was facing up.

I had to do the same thing for the diecutting shelf where I was putting my Big Kick machine.  I used some wonderful yellow striped ones and again taped them together. The machine has feet which may be a problem with the gaps and I don't what to lose small pieces of paper in the gaps.

There is lots of room on the shelf for my work light, a small garbage can, and a wooden box that holds my spacers and cutting plates.  These need to be close at hand everything I cut something.

I love the yellow stripes on the work surface.

Generally, the thick dies in either original or Bigz size fit in old style CD storage containers.  I had these wooden storage boxes from IKEA and the dies fit in perfectly. Luckily most of them were empty so that was a win.

I have not labeled all the drawers yet but I will. One drawer contains the amount of embossing folders I kept.

The wood boxes are much sturdier than plastic but I still have to be careful  I used to store dies in plastic pop crates which were very sturdy.

The red drawers will hold thin dies which are stored in CD cases.  Those have not been unpacked yet.

The black case was designed for the Sizzix original dies so that is where they are stored.  I have a really hard time using stuff I can't see so I may have to put die cuts on card board and hang them in the space to at least remind me what I have.

The second shelf has the small yellow and green dies and sizzlets, and movers and shaper dies in clear containers.

I am using this translucent corrugated plastic sheet from IKEA on my die cutting work shelf to provide a neutral background for taking photos of my cards for my blog.

The plastic is stored on the top shelf above the red wicker baskets when not in use.

Here you can see my grey IKEA lamp in it's super heavy white base which sits on the left.  The shelf is by a window but there will be times that I need a light to work.

The wood shelf is from IKEA as well is was called STEN when I bought it 20 years ago.  The shelves are 11 inches deep and about 33 inches wide.  With the cross brace on the back it make for a very stable work surface.  Strong enough to hold the weight involved with storing these dies.

Here's my die cutting work station.  There is still some space on the bottom shelf which I am not planning on filling.

It works really well and I am so happy to have it back.  It may have to be dismantled if I move this year but at least is way more manageable.  Now it lives in the craft space which is wonderful.

The dies I did not keep were gone through by my sister, then my niece and the rest will go to my sister who runs a daycare.  There are about 30 dies going to her.

They will have good homes and I have just so much less to manage.  Many dies I had purchased when I was running card  making classes and card club.  Many suited that situation but I no longer need them as I don't do classes anymore.  I am retired.