|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
November Organize your Space contest!
Congratulations to our winners this month. Be sure to enter this month's organization contest for your chance to win some great Crop In Style Gear! |
| Congratulations to all of our winners! We had over 45 entrants this month and all of you had a lot to say. There is a lot of great information here and can definitely give you some pointers on organizing. Our contest question for next month is organizing your photos…. Click here to enter! | |
|
Our grand prize Winner: Tara Gangi Our 10 Runner’s Up: Laura Elliot Gretchen Schmidt Lara Garner Bonnie Marshall Sheila Quintis Mary Navis Laura Bryd Kelly Hyde Paula Ganyard Carmen Stadnyk |
|
|
Organizing your most used supplies: Actually I have two favorite scrapbook tools that I use every time work on my albums. 1. Magic Matter - This is an item I purchased several months ago, yet I don't know how I managed without it. This product is used to mat any size frame. It arrives on a magnetic base and I store all of this in a zip lock bag. It is then placed in my tote bag for storage and easy accessibility. 2. Fiskars Paper Cutter - This device is used to cut all papers (cardstock and patterned). I wouldn't want to depend on my eye to cut a straight line - this tool takes out all the guess work. It is also stored in my tote and very accessible. Sheila Quintis I attend a monthly crop and need to keep my stuff mobile, so to organize my supplies, I mainly use the Crop in Style Tote. In my tote, I keep a 12x12 box with my "power layout" ideas and my Creative Memories Sticker Binder along with all my scissors, pens, adhesives, idea books etc… There are two key elements to my madness - my ideas and my supplies. My ideas are stored in my 12x12 box of "Power Layouts". In the box I keep blank pages and I lay out my pictures in the order that I would like to do my book. When I have an idea for a page, I may insert a particular paper that would look good or jot down the page number from an idea book that has a nice layout idea, or even put in a printout of a page from an internet site. Then, I can work on the pages when I want to without worrying about being out of order. The second part to my madness is the organization of my supplies. My system works well because of how I utilize my sticker binder. I not only keep stickers in it, but I use it to store my 12x12 paper (which I organize by plain colors, patterns, and themes) and my die cuts. When I go to a crop, I just pull out my box with my page ideas and start to work. I keep one set of photos in a photo storage box for scrapbooking and another set in a regular photo album (to enjoy until I get my pages complete and to have in case my "box" gets out of order. I also keep all my negatives in chronological order in protective sleeves in a 3 ring binder that is clearly labeled with the event and date. When I need a reprint, it is very easy to find the appropriate negative. These tools (my Crop In Style Tote, My 12x12 Power Layout box, my box of photos, my binder of negatives) are always ready and easily accessed when I have a moment to work on my book. For example, it is very easy to throw a couple of pictures in my Power Layout box with a sticky titled "Tea Party" or a quick poem I would like to use on the page and a particular paper that would match great. Then, when I am at a crop I have the idea started and can really sit down and take time to be creative. Something that is hard to do with a two year old and a two month old! Angela Majerus I used to be an avid seamstress but those days are over since discovering scrapbooking! I was about to put my wall-mounted thread holder in the garage sale box when I realized what a great place that would be to hang my scissors. Prior to hanging them, my scissors were in a can & I had to pull out each one until I found the right one. Now my scissors hang on the thread holder pegs on the wall. I can see clearly which scissor I want without having to pick up each one. I also have my protractor and scroll patterns hanging on the pegs. Now when I go to garage sales, I look for another thread holder as I keep on buying more decorative scissors that need a place to live!!! Fran Danner Like most scrappers I know, I have amassed a ton of tools and supplies. My savior has been the Memory Mates bag and Album tote by Creative Memories. I find that i have plenty of room for my pens and scissors in the Memory Mates bag which also doubles as my sticker binder. There is a place for my personal paper trimmer, corner rounder and circle/oval cutters that I can't do without. I have my stickers in baseball card holders (small ones) and photo pages (larger ones). I also have several CIS long skinny page holders for the design line stickers. This all folds up to be taken easily where ever i want to go. The album tote is used for most of the rest of my 'stuff'. Of course my album in progress goes there. (Sometimes i just take a gift box with the pages I'm currently working on.) There is also room for my paper which i have in an accordian-style envelope. I keep my die cuts in a small plastic accordian-style envelope - grouped by season. The side of the tote has pockets that i keep my punches in. There is also room to tuck a few idea books or magazines. Since i don't have a permanent work space at home for cropping, my 'stuff' gets pack up and tucked away each time I'm done. It's easier to keep track of things if i have a place or pocket for each item i own. Thank you Cathy Leek Here is my organizational tip for some of my most used tools. This idea is for punches. I have a screw/bolt organizer that I picked up at the home store. I put 2 or 3 punches in a drawer, depending on the size. I separate the punches with little plastic dividers that come with the organizer. I tape a punched out shape on the outside of the drawer. And if I ever punch out too many punchies, I just put them in a little craft baggie in the same drawer. Bonnie Marshall I went to Sam's and bought a set of stacked drawers on wheels with 4 smaller drawers and 2 very large drawers. I keep my current projects in the top drawer. For example I am currently working on some Christmas pages from years past and a few other events. I keep background papers in another drawer and templates and such in another drawer. One of the big drawers I have a dollar-store flip top plastic box to hold all of my scissors and other misc. small items. I keep my pens and pencils in a pencil holder until I go to a workshop where I rubber band them and toss them in the plastic box. My album and circle and oval cutter mat just sit on top. I like the stacked drawers because I store it in a closet and I can roll out the whole set to my bar area in my kitchen on the weekend and work all weekend. Then when the weekend is over I just roll the drawers back into the closet and shut the door! Everything stays together and my husband doesn't fuss because there is scrapbooking stuff all over. Michelle N. Another good topic! If you can't keep your most-used items at arms length it can be a pain. I have several "favorite" tools/items. The tool that is practically "glued" to me is my 12" Fiskars Paper Trimmer. Since I do 12x12 layouts, this tool is a must! Most of the time it is out on my scrapbooking table ("formerly called the kitchen table", at least until my hubby finishes me a spot in the basement for permanent scrapping). But I usually meet with friends to scrapbook each weekend and also attend my CM consultant's monthly workshops, so I have to be mobile. I have a small (I guess that term is relative) tote by Fiskars which has an outside zipper pouch specifically for this trimmer. It also has slots specifically for their scissors, but I use some of them for some of my other use-all-the-time tools/items. The pouches are on the outside, so when I'm at someone's house I don't have to go digging to the bottom of a bag for them. The other "tools" (I call them this because since I was a child I think they've been an extension of my hand) I simply cannot live without are my colored pencils (Prismacolor!), pens (assorted, but Micron Pigma 03 is my fav), chalks, watercolors/brushes, X-acto knife, photo pencil, regular pencil, scissors, ruler, pop-dots, box of photo-splits, glue pen, etc. Because I use these tools constantly and switch back and forth between them while working, I can't have them all out on the table or I'd be a "space hog" at the table! It's a simple and very low cost solution, but I keep these tools-of-the-trade in an extra large slide-lock Ziploc bag. Yes, I said a Ziploc bag. I know you're thinking that's not part of the "latest scrapbooking storage system" on the market, but it fits INTO those great pull or carry totes like your Crop in Style tote. Then, when I'm at my crop session, I simply pull out my bag of tools and they sit right at my feet, out of others' way and completely accessible at ALL times! If you'be been to crop sessions where many people attend, you know you can't "park" your main tote right at your feet...it gets in others' way and makes moving around the table a pain. So, this way I can set mine in the corner and I only access it when I need something major or I'm ready to start a new page layout. I'm sure it sounds silly, but sometimes necessity is the mother of invention -- thank goodness the Ziploc was already around. An added benefit to using the Ziploc is that IF any of my pens, paints, gluepen, etc, decided to leak, God Forbid that it'd get all over my album, paper supply, idea books or other items stored in my tote. This makes sure that if there's leakage, the mess remains in the bag and protects my other stuff! So, it may be a simple solution, but it works, and it costs a lot less (so I can spend it on something else!). And lastly, I consider my 12x12 cardstock/paper supply a "tool". And it was always getting the corners trashed and bent. I purchased a few of the 12x12 plastic protector boxes (they open similar to an envelope). They perfectly store/protect my paper and fit nicely into the space in your tote the would hold your album. Hope these ideas help others organize and scrap more efficiently! Now, if I could only take my PC and color printer with me to crop sessions. . . .nah. Sara T. This is THE BEST tool for organizing my pens, pencils, rules, and scissors. It is an artists' revolving plastic bin. It's especially great when my and My daughters are working - we can put it in the middle of the table and everyone can just get what they need! Sandy I have only been scrapbooking for about one year and absolutely love it! Right away I learned organization is the key to producing a quality page, timely. In the beginning I was working out of a paper bag with what supplies I had; it only took a couple months until I purchased my own mini stock of supplies. I set up a banquet table in a spare room with an extra dresser. I store all my extra supplies in each of the dresser drawers along with photos. This keeps the items organized and out of the way when I'm not scrapping. I also use a metal memo holder to hold my coluzzle shapes and stencils which make them easily accessible. I have a basket that holds all my scissors, punches and adhesives that sit right on the table. I'm sure as time goes on I will come up with new ways to store my items. Thank you! Virginia McCloud The tool that I use every time I work on my scrapbook are: pens, tape runner, scissors,and pencil, as well as markers, papers , die cuts,etc..I have a small area set up in my basement for working on my scrapbooks, with storage cabinets as a base and a kitchen counter on top as the work surface, but my organization methods would also work well for someone who works at a desk.In the drawer of the cabinet, I have those Rubbermaid cutlery organizers that can be bought inexpensively at any home store.(I got mine at a garage sale for .50 each)That is where I store my everyday tools like adhesives, scissors,exacto knife, pencils, red eye pen, etc. On the shelf above my work table,I have a plastic file folder box, found at an office supply store.I keep die cuts in the files according to subject: food, outdoors, baby, etc..Next to the file box, I have a Highsmith drawer box for papers,and each drawer is labeled so that I may easily find the paper I am looking for.(earth tones in one drawer, pastels in another...)Another organizational trick I use is a small notebook that I take with me when I go shopping.I have all my pen colors swatched in it, so I never buy duplicates.I used each one of my punches on sticker paper and stuck the punchies in the book.I also keep a want list in the book, so when there's a sale at my local craft store, I remember what to get with that coupon! This helps me know at a glance what I already have and what I need...... Laura Elliott I keep all my supplies in the corner of our living room. I feel the more accessible they are, the more I will work on my books. Since it is out in such an open space I want everything to be very neat and organized. When I scrap, I either sit right on the floor in front of my supplies or I move them to the coffee table, either way I do it, it is essential that I know where everything is... I am very anal that way. Starting on the left where I store my supplies is my Lightbox (still in the box to keep it from getting scratched), then comes the homade punch machine my husband made me, my Cropper Hopper Photo case so my photos are always handy. Next I have a small 3 drawer plastic organizer, in the first drawer is all my colored pencils, sharpeners, erasers, and chalks with applicators. The middle drawer holds all of my pens and markers and inside of that drawer is a small container that just holds all of my black pens and markers and one white one (I find I use these the most and it is nice to have them separated from the rest). The third drawer holds monthly calendar pages where I total how many pages I have done in 2000, a few lettering idea books, and any unfinished scrapbook page that I am currently working on. On top of the 3 drawer organizer is a small plastic shoe box where I keep my scraps of paper, it is nice to be able to see what I have so I always leave it out. On top of it I keep a small Tupperware container for trash. Next, is my favorite organizer, my Iris Cart. The top drawer holds my 12" Paper trimmer, my favorite scissors, and all of my adhesives and photo corners. The second drawer holds more scissors, mostly decorative and all of my Coluzzles and accessories. The third drawer is the start of my punch drawers, it holds my small and mini punches, the fourth drawer holds my medium to large punches, the fifth drawer holds my Jumbo and Super Jumbo Punches. I leave the sixth drawer for all my miscellaneous accessories that I like to use on the page, it's got ribbon, raffia, jute, templates for mini scrapbooks in there, basically just for extras. On top of my Iris Cart is my PSB (Paper Sticker Binder), I store my stickers in it and my much loved and well used templates - it's pretty packed. Ton the right of the Iris Cart is my Cropper Hopper Paper Tote made in the 8.5x11 size. It is categorized by both paper packs (I love Making Memories Cardstock) and color. Next I have a special folder for all of my patterned and specialty papers that is categorized by maker so I know which is which. I also have a 12x12 Generation by Hazel plastic folder to hold those 12x12's that I think are just wonderful but wont fit anywhere else. Everything is very easy for me to move if I choose to work at the coffee table (which is just a few feet away). The Iris Cart is on wheels and it is also the heaviest but it is by far my favorite method of storage. It doesn't take up a lot of room, is very sturdy, and the drawers are clear so it is easy to see what is where. I am always looking for organizational ideas, I love to organize! Going to a crop is a whole different story, I have an XXL for that! Thank you, Gretchen Schmidt My favorite idea is one I just recently came up with. I was tired of having my pens laying all over my desk or digging through a box to find the right color, so I bought a clear acrylic spice rack with glass bottles. I just removed the caps and organized my pens by color. Now the pens are all stored horizontally and within easy reach. The rack can sit on the desk or be mounted on the wall. I hope this idea helps! Laura Byrd I just started scrapbooking this summer so my collection of supplies is still fairly small (it's growing quickly though, this stuff is addicting). I absolutely love cropping, but have to watch my pennies so most of my storage is accomplished with "found" items around the house. At this point, I don't really have a room I can claim just for my cropping stuff so I have to keep my materials pretty tidy. I currently work in my dining room and to keep it as neat as possible (in case company stops by), I use a plastic rubbermaid box with hanging files and a handle for my 8 1/2 x 11 paper, and a smaller one for my punches. I have a blue fiskars bag that holds all my 12x12 paper and totes my albums too. For my stickers and die cuts, I use another "found" item. It's a zippered binder with handles and lots of old baseball card holders and page protectors. I guess my main tool bag is my Creative Memories tote. It holds my circles and ovals cutter, corner punch, pens, scissors, hermafix, etc... I also have dividers on the rings in this bag for my letter & shape stencils and idea pages that I print off "Scrapbooking.com". When I'm working at home, I'll drop my everyday crop items (adhesives, scissors, pens, etc...) in a little caddy that sits on my table with the book I'm working on. It helps me work more efficiently, and when it's time to pack up and go to a crop, I can throw it all back in my Creative Memories bag quickly. I have a plastic crate with wheels & a handle that hold everything but my bag. It makes for pretty easy travel. I guess you could say it's the "poor man's" crop-in-style. Stephanie Scott I purchased a small container that has 3 dividers in it. I got this at the $1 store. It has a handle in the middle and one big pocket and 2 little pockets. I store all the supplies I use all the time in this. Photo Splits/glue stick/pencil,black pen/photo tape/rotary cutter and other things that I use all the time. This container sits on my work space all the time. When I attend crops away from home I bring this container with me because it keeps all my supplies handy on my work space. After using a tool I then put it back into the container so I always can find my tools. It saves time and you can't beat the price for a $1. Laura Shaw My three favorite scrapbooking tools are a 9 in. personal paper cutter, frame coluzzles, and double stick tape. I store them in a plastic 3-drawer cart with rollers courtesy of Office Depot. I have one drawer for all of my cutters (circle cutter, paper cutter, etc.), a drawer for all of my adhesives and a drawer for all of my coluzzles and stencils. I am lucky enough to have a table to do my work on. The sides of the table hang past the legs just far enough for the roller cart to fit under it. It is always right at my fingertips! I also take my scrapbooking to my nanny job with me. When I do this, all of these things plus more fit in my Fiskars tote. They are completely enclosed and protected and still at easy reach. Anonymous I began scrapbooking about two years ago and have gradually acquired more and more "stuff." Recently I decided to re-organize my supplies to better use the limited space I have, but to keep them easily accessible. Since I almost exclusively scrap at home, I created a more "permanent" work station. I had researched approaches to organizing supplies and sort of borrowed different ideas to create a system that works great for me and hopefully others as well. I had read suggestions about using an Iris plastic rolling storage cabinet. However, these same people also noted that the narrower version didn't hold 12x12 material and without dividers in the drawers, their supplies just moved around too much. Well, I found at my local Target a wonderful 4-drawer plastic storage cabinet by Keter which works just like the narrow Iris cabinet, but has some additional features that make it perfect for holding most of my scrapbooking supplies. First, this unit does hold 12x12 material. Second, the unit provide a plastic divider for the top two smaller drawers allowing you to break-up the space and to keep supplies from shifting around as much. Third, a section on the top of the unit has a hinged lid that opens to reveal additional space to hold supplies (great for keeping pens horizontal). This unit as a whole provides enough space to keep readily accessible almost all my supplies including 8.5 x 11 and 12x 12 paper, "pages in progress", pictures/accessories for upcoming albums, pens, punches, dauber duos, paper scraps, short cuts (Creative Memories), personal trimmers (both Creative Memories and 12" Fiskars), circle scissors & circle ruler (EK Success), paper crimper, extra adhesives, photo corners... The items I use a little less often simply go in the back or bottom of the drawers. To complement this storage unit, I use a letter-size file bin with handle (so this is portable) to better organize my 8.5x11 paper into separate file folders by colors and themes. This bin sits right next to the unit and is relatively compact. I also use a rotating office supply container (lazy susan style) to keep supplies even more accessible. This sits on top of the storage unit and holds my straight/ decorate rulers, straight/decorative scissors, adhesives, post-its, pens/pencils (not markers which should be kept horizontal), cloth for removing fingerprints... I use the Crop-In-Style Sticker Binder to store all my stickers and die-cuts together by theme, as well as my many templates and journal genies. Finally, I use a plain three-ring binder with page protectors to store all the many idea sheets and layout ideas I've gathered from classes, the internet and magazines. These five pieces all together take up very little space and can be moved out of the way when necessary. Now all I need is the portable tote bag from Crop-In-Style so I can take this show on the road :-) Randi K. I just finished setting up my craft station in our basement / office. One of the tools I use the most is my computer and by setting up a large office desk just a few steps from my computer, and printer, I have saved a lot of time and forgotten ideas! As for other scrapbooking tools, I have comandeered a bookshelf (also next to my large table), to store plastic shoeboxes full of stamps, ink pads, and other small stamping and dry embossing supplies. There is also a shelf for idea books and scrapping magazines. Under my table I have two sets of wire shelves on which I have all my papers and larger tools - my recent favorite is Coluzzle, which sits on top of the shelves. My large Fiskars rotary paper trimmer sits on top of the desk with a halogen lamp. I have a CIS LX tote next to the desk which holds all my punches, scissors and scrapbooks. The key to the whole system is keeping almost everything OFF the desktop. Also, on the bookshelf is a 3" 3-ring binder full of templates. The templates which are NOT already hole punched are in 3-ring page protectors. Templates include PuzzleMates, generic shape templates, and Journaling Genies. Since all my tools are within 2 steps of my workspace, it is easy to keep the workspace clean & gives me more room to work on layouts. Crystal Brothers Keeping pens, scissors, red-eye pens, corner rounders and more right in front of me while I crop saves so much time. But I found it hard to keep everything right at my finger tips until I started using a utensil carousel from my kitchen. Normally used for storing spatulas, ice cream scoops, slotted spoons and more, it is also perfect for keeping all of my neccessary tools right in front of me. A quick spin the carousel turns and I can see the rest of my tools stored inside the caddy. I've even decorated my carousel with MAMBI border stickers to look more "Scrapbook like." These inexpensive carousels can be found through Pampered chef, Lecters and other stores carrying Kitchen tools. I love mine! Michelle Rae Sperl |
|
 |
I work on several albums at once and travel to a lot of crops. I got tired of carting all my scrapbook stuff everywhere. I simplified my travel by organizing my theme albums into pizza boxes. Each box is labeled - Christmas, Wedding, Dogs, etc. and everything needed is put into the box - stickers, diecuts, memorabilia, patterened paper. Then I just take my usual tools and cardstock and I'm ready to go. Kelly - Ann Arbor I love scrapbooking and this is how I organize my supplies.I have a L.L. Bean tote bag that I put all my stuff in : a tupperware box with my stickers in it,a binder with templates and printed paper,my album,my pens and pinking shears and a scrapbooking magazine. Thanks, Melissa P.s.(cool website A++++) Fortunately, I'm lucky enough to have a small room, about the size of a large walk in closet. On one solid wall of my room are shelves from ceiling to floor which are divided. I store all my various crafting supplies on different shelves according to how much room is needed for each. Quilting supplies on 2 shelves, ceramic supplies on 2 shelves, scrapbooking supplies on 3 shelves, etc. On my scrapbooking shelves I have office-type "in and out" trays which I have my papers, colored cardstock, large sheets of letter stickers all in separate trays. I have my numerous scissors stored in those large plastic cups that the fast food restaurants sometimes give away as promotions. My diecuts or stored in one clear shoebox, my stickers in another, my punches in another, and my various pens and writing tools in another.( I like using clear shoeboxes because I can see what is inside without opening the lid). I find that this system works great for me because everything is right in one place and easily accessible. Tamera V I live in a 600SQ ft rental and have very little storage. I bought stacking carts from Office Max, which have clear drawers so you can see all of your tools at once. They aren't big enough to store 12 x 12 paper though which is what I like for my "Cattery "Show" album. I found that you can buy padded paper envelopes and clear plastic envelopes and hang them from skirt hangers in the same closet where I have my two carts stacked on one side. At the end of the year, It takes "central office awhile to get all the certificates out to the national winners, So I start putting the supplies for the winners pages in envelopes for each cat. I have used a color copier to photocopy their winners ribbon for their pages and I store these in with the papers I am going to use for the page. I put all of the papers, stickers, photos, etc and templates together in one of these envelopes, if the project is on going. Sonia Curtis "ARCTICEYES-Himalayan Breeder I have only a small part of a closet in our apartment to store my scrapbook supplies, so I rely on a number of things to keep my tools organized and handy. I have one of those small rolling storage carts with several drawers, in which I keep my punches, scissors, rubber stamps, pens & pencils, etc. Not only is it handy because it rolls in and out of the closet, but I can quickly access most of my tools. The best thing I have done, however, is to store my pattern papers in acid free page protectors and store then in a 3 ring binder. This methods allows me to quickly flip through the paper, which is organized by category, and find the perfect pattern for my next project. Paula Ganyard I'm fairly new to scrapbooking but am loving it! I purchased a plastic, rolling, set of drawers at an office supply store. All my scissors go in the top drawer, the next drawer has pens, pencils, my label maker, etc. Third drawer has templates and punches. Fourth has patterned papers, fifth has solid color papers. On top of the chest is a photo box containing envelopes marked with the date and subject of the photos inside. Each envelope just waiting for it's own double page layout. My favorite tool is the Coluzzel. I have each template in a quart ziplock bag to keep them from getting scratched up. All these bags plus the knife, replacement blades, and mat go into a large ziplock bag. I use it for everything: matting, paper piecing, making paper dolls, etc. All of this can be rolled out to my work table (the dining room table) or rolled into an obscure out of the way corner. A compact, organized, portable workstation. Lori P. I think I do more organizing than I do actually scrapbooking!! I live in a small apartment, and don't have room to leave my scrapbooking materials laying around all the time. I use LOTS of different sized Rubbermaid boxes to hold my tools. Each box is marked on the top, and I can locate specific tools easily. I just find a container that fits my tools SNUGGLY! And, I try to keep things in logical categories. (i.e. pens, papers, stickers etc. . .) If I need to go scrapping elsewhere, I just empty out a small one and take the needed materials in it. For plain cardstock (colors) I love to use magazine holders. I put my papers together by color category, and I can see the "rainbow" of choices at a glance. For other more decorative paper, I use an expandable hardbacked filing folder. I can categorize papers by holiday, event, and pattern. (dots, plaids, stripes. . .) I also use a 1/2 size filing folder for the smaller papers. And another to keep scraps in. These are organized by color. When I have a large piece of paper left over, I can just file it. That's the first place I go when I need paper! RECYCLING! I keep my photos organized in envelopes, and I write the date, event, and participant's names on the outside. I can file these chronologically, and access them easily. Any duplicates I file, by event, in a large recipe box. I can get those out if I need a copy, or would like to frame one for my house. I also keep my negatives very organized. I keep these in a metal "lock box." That way if my scrapbooks were ever lost, or damaged, I could still reproduce the photographs. I keep my small stickers in a small photo book. I put the stickers in categories, and slide them into the sleeves. I tab the outsides so that I can flip to the categories easily. For larger stickers, I use an expanding file folder. I usually put die-cuts in this folder as well. I store my pens in heavy duty Ziploc bags. I have 1 bag for each point size. (i.e. calligraphy, bullett, fine point etc. . .) I also have a box filled with tools. (paper cutter, photo corners, glue) I have a container with 2 compartments for scissors, and punches. That's about my whole "system." You can probably see why I spend a lot of time organizing! But, I can find any tool, sticker, photo, or piece of paper in a heartbeat! It is also great to have a brialliant idea, and not have to hunt for what you need! Thanks, Lara Garner I have very recently become a "scrapbooker". I have only a few tools at this point so organizing is not a difficult task. I have a tote back that was made from a pair of my fathers old jeans. Into this bag I have placed extra packages of paper (plain and print), my paper edger scissors, glue stick, spray adhesive, several different kinds of pens, 12 x12 album, pictures of our families recent vacation to Arizona, sovegniers, and National Park brochures from all the sites we visited. I can pick up my bag and take it with me most anywhere I go. If I am waiting in a Doctors office or at soccer practice I can take out some of my stuff and plan page layouts or do some journaling. As I accumulate more "stuff" I'll graduate to a more sophisticated storage system but for now, my trusty old tote bag works just fine. Kathy Smothers I am a true tool junky!! I have decided to organize my scrapbook like I do my kitchen. I use a plastic kitchen utencil caddy to hold my all of my scissors, colored pencils, and utility knife. It is an easy organizer because it has multiple sections and is right in front of me for easy reach. I simply spin it to the item I need. I also use a drawer silverware organizer to store my markers, stamping materials, glue sticks, and circle and oval cutters. You can buy them in any size to fit your needs. It is quick and easy to clean up and goes right into my desk drawer for storage. Happy Scrappin', Theresa Marcus I just had to give you my two cents on how to organize scrapbooking supplies. I recently finished a scrapbook space for myself in my home's basement. I found that the plastic 6 drawer, rolling carts are ideal for storing all kinds of paper and very economical too! I store my punches in those clear, plastic car containers sold in the toy department. One box stores 50 punches (or Matchbox cars!). This is nice because it opens from both sides, so 25 punches are available at a time. I have also found that the mini tool storage drawers are good for organizing supplies. They have between 6 and 20 small, clear plastic drawers perfect for punch pieces, pens, scissors, and rulers. I store my stickers in an oversized, zippered 3 ring binder and my templates in another binder. Happy scrapping! Michele D. My favorite tool for organizing is my definitely my CIS PSB. I have two and use them for seasons/styles. I have headings such as Christmas, Easter, 4th of July , etc as well as topics such as Camping, Cruises, Vacation, Work, School, etc. I put some of each type of page in each section and put in my die cuts, stickers, borders, and maybe even some memorabilia until it can get scrapped. I usually keep my paper in a separate place, unless it is just a few sheets that fit one category, or the pages that I am getting ready to work on at a crop. Occasionally, I will even slide the photos right in a page too, if they are small in number or already cropped and ready to go on a page. Beth Stover Tools of the trade.....lotsa STUFF!!! the ribbon and cording i use in my scrapbook and rubber stamping projects. i roll around my finger and then put in the 35mm film container, then i punch a hole in the lid and thread the cording through...if its ribbon, i take my trusty exacto and cut a piggy bank type slot. then i put all of these containers in one of those plastic divided containers( like the kind for embroidery thread), sometimes you can find them in the hardware department for less $$. and when you scrapbook you look for things that cost less $$ (he he) my rubber stamps i use those same plastic embroidery thread type containers and label the outside...christmas...word stamps, etc. for the small ones that will fit in these if you rubber stamp and buy the "little' ink pads, called cat eyes or the little squares these also fit in the thread containers and label the outside. "little ink pads" or whatever. I found my embroidery thread containers at my local "Big Lots' for $2.99 each. i got all they had and have used every one of them and need more...he he if i'm currently working on a page and have to stop..(hate when that happens) i put it all in a pizza box (we asked the local pizza place for an empty clean one) i put my paper 8.5x11 in a crate type container at your local wal-mart or k-mart and these are inexpensive also. i use hanging folder and manilla folders inside. i label each folder: stickers, fancy paper, page toppers, etc. I put all of my plastic template type sheets in a 3 ring binder and if it doesn't have holes punched when i purchase i punch them myself. also if they are smaller, just put 2 holes. things i've printed out from internet, ideas, inside wording of cards, page titles etc that are 'ideas" i put in a notebook with divders, labeled accordingly. markers, colored pencils, tools like scissors, exacto knife, etc. i put in the metal containers that you normally would paint up with your name. I got mine at Michaels for 1.49. i have one for gel pens, colored pencils, etc and they set right at my finger tips all of my scrap pieces of papers that i use for punches, small bits of paper needed, etc. i keep in a gallon ziploc bag. easily carried and right in my front folder of my crate thanks for reading Kelly Hyde Scissors, paper, and pens...Oh, my! Stickers, templates and die cuts... Oh, my! The scrapbooker's nightmare! I have tried various ways to organize my scapbooking tools. Right now, I use a large 3-ring binder with plastic sleeves inside to hold my stickers and templates. You can buy wonderful plastic pages from various craft websites, and stores. I use a child's school pencil box for my pens. It is small enough to quickly carry it from place to place. I have a large, and I do mean large, bag that holds a couple of albums, paper, scissors, circle cutter, etc. inside. The bag is large enough to hold a 12 x 15 album and paper. I also have a clear storage box that I use to store various supplies that I do not use as often. Happy Organizing! Michele Southerd My favorite organizational tool are my 3" binders. I have a binder with dividers in it for all of my stencils. I can categorize each divider such as, BABY, LETTERING,TRAVELING, SPORTS, etc. I have a binder for all my articles I save from my CM consultant. I have a binder for my stickers. I use the sport card sleeves that you find in the kids toy section to put my stickers in. I label the outside of the binder with the contents and they are always handy. Shelly Where to begin... For my punches: When I buy a new punch I label it , with the label maker on the backside, and then my name on the underneath side. This way when I lend it out they know who to return it to. I also put a number on the punch. I then pack my punches in a large fishing tackle that had both deep and thin drawers. I made a master list with all the numbers and names of the punch, ie (1. 3 Heart corner punch by McGill). If someone barrows your punch put there name next to the punch and date, this way you alway know who has your punch. If you have tons of punches they can get quite heavy. So if I am traveling and need just some decorative ones, I place 10 or so corner punches in my XXL Crop in Style bag. These punches can easily turn into a creative border punch, as well as a corner punch. Hope this helps. Christa Hamilton Hi. My name is Tara and I'm an 18 year old college student who's heavy into scrapbooking! Due to my limited space in my dorm room and small budget that Ii use mostly towards supplies. I've created my own storage system. The base container of my system is a large rubbermare container with handles so I can drag my supplies to friends houses for crops or down the hall to scrap with a floormate. Inside my container, I have several other containers and folders. First for all my cardstock, I have a large accordian folder with my papers and scraps seperated by colors. I also have another heavy duty folder that has my templates, lettering stencils, pattern pattern, lettering stickers, and other supplies of that sort. In a smaller tubberware contatiner, I have all my die cuts lied down flat. Also in that box, I have a small compact photo album to hold my stickers in see through sleeves. All my punchies are stored in a small embrodariy floss plastic craft box. All my scissors, punches, pens, markers, rulers, adhesives and such are in a seperate, larger craft box that has different compartments to hold each type of supply. Although this system works well for me organizational wise, I hate that I have to take out each seperate storage unit and scatter then on the floor when I'm scrapping. I'd love some sort of organization system! That's what I'm asking for, for Christmas. Thanks for letting me enter your contest. Love your site! It's bookmarked on my computer! Thanks Tara Gangi I have an 8-drawer cabinet from Iris that I use to organize my scrapping things. I have them organized in the order in which I use them. The top drawer is for decorative scissors, personal trimmer, and other various cutting tools. A small box is placed inside for replacement cutting blades as well. After selecting my papers from my paper binder that fit the photo's I am working with, I open the top drawer and select my cutting tools to crop the photos or cut the paper to size. The second drawer is for my decorative punches which I keep organized by category. Animals together, leaves, shapes etc, are all together, and of course my corner punches. After cropping my photos and cutting the papers how I want it I open the second drawer, and select the punches I wish to use. I replace them as soon as I have used them keeping them in the order I like them in. The third drawer is for stickers, and the fourth is for die cuts. I keep them in protective sheets organized by category. Depending on what I decide to use I open these drawers next to select the appropriate images and arrange them on my pages. The fifth drawer is for my larger tools, heat gun, paper crimper, etc. If I wish to crimp one of the background pieces or a die cut, I simply open this drawer, use whichever size crimper is appropriate for the job and replace it when I am finished. I also keep spare cutting mats in this drawer of a couple of different sizes. The sixth drawer is for my ribbons, and other scrap items or found items that I may decide to use for a decorative touch. The seveth drawer contains my inks. All my marker and pen sets for journaling,as well as a binder with all my stencils. I keep a sponge in here too so that I can grab my stencil and ink of choice and get down to business. I keep my markers and pens in the cases they come in to keep the drawer organized and so that I dont have to go digging around for my favorite ones. This also keeps them handy for when I want to take my supplies on the go, I just open the drawer, grab what I am going to use and put it in my bag to go. The last drawer is the biggest, so I reserved it for all of my glues and tapes. The adhesive drawer! I have glues for every possible occaision, and tapes of every thickness. Double sided, single sided, you name it. I also keep my adhesive removers in this drawer so that if I make a mistake, it will be handy to remove the sticker or photo or whatever quickly and easily. I like this method of storage as all my items are in the drawers in order of use. I simply work my way from top to bottom of the cabinet for each page or set of pages. This works great for me. I am able to find the items I need at a glance, use them, and then replace them so they are there for the next time. My papers and photos are stored independantly of the tools keeping them safe from accidental cuttings or spillings. When I sit at my workspace I just roll the cart up to my desk within reach and start scrappin'! Happy Scrappin' Stacie Haldeman My organizational tip is for storing stickers and die cuts. After removing all of my photos from the photo sleeve albums, I was left with no use for the sleeves and 3-ring binders. So, I decided to store my die cuts in them...then, I bought some baseball-card sleeves for my stickers. However, the albums were hard to carry when I went anywhere, so I bought a zippered 3-ring binder when the back-to-school supplies were out. This keeps everything from falling out when I travel. To make it even easier to tote, I slipped a tote strap down the inside of the spine (just clipped the ends together), so now I can toss it on my shoulder! Mary Navis I am very fortunate to have an area my home that is "just mine". As a result, I can leave my scrapbooking tools accessible at all times. Basically my tools fall into three categories: used all of the time; used often and used infrequently. My 'infrequently used' tools include my rubber stamps, embossing templates, and themed templates. I store these in clearly marked storage containers on shelving in my scraproom. My 'often used' tools includes my punches, decorative edge scissors, oval cutter and circle cutter. These I have stored in a storage unit with three slide out drawers. It sits on my work table at all times. I would also group my alphabet templates and journalling templates into this category. They are stored at my feet in hanging file folders in a file box. My tools that I use all of the time include: Fiskars 12" trimmer, clear Fiskar's ruler, cutting mat and knife, straight edge scissors, pens, colored pencils, tweezers, pencil, eraser, glue stick, and mounting squares. I found a 14" x 8" storage box with dividers in it that works perfect for all of my pens, adhesives, scissors, etc. it also is on my desktop at all times. (it also has a handle on it so I can transport it around very easily). The ruler, cutting mat and trimmer are usually "at my fingertips" and never get put away. The Fiskar's 12" trimmer is by far my most used tool. Joann Pettigrew Oh, I love scrapbooking. I have many favorite tools. I love journaling, so I have lots of pens. I keep them in a plastic silverware holder. I also use coluzzle and have several templates. I have the templates standing up in the back of the silverware holder. I keep my scissors and rulers in a homemade organizer made from a shoe box and toilet paper rolls, standing up, taped, glued, and decorated. I keep my paper in piles around the room!! I have many magazines that I love to browse and keep them in plastic magazine holders. Right now, honestly, I'm not very organized, because I have a 9 month old son who can reach the table, and no place to keep everything when I'm not working on it!! Nicky Hurt I have a three shelf bookcase with all my albums and tools. My reading chair is where I sit and I use a folding table stored in the closet as my workspace. On the shelves of my bookcase I have two 10x10 storage boxes with three drawers each. Each drawer is labeled with its contents: Scissors/Punches; Adhesives/Photo splits; and Pens in one box. And Templates; Misc Die-Cuts; and Misc Paper Pieces (paper that has been cut up but still enough left to use for another page) in the second box. I also have a storage box that holds letter size Pendaflex folders. In seperate file folders I have all my patterned papers, stickers, and die-cuts labeled with it's theme, 'Birthday', 'Baby', 'School', 'Halloween' etc..... so when I start a page with a specific theme I can go right to where all the things I'll need in one place. I have all my solid papers/card stock in folders labeled with it's color so I just need to look through it for the shade of the color that I need. On the shelves of the bookcase I also keep my albums set upright, my scrapbooking magazines and catalogs, my personal paper trimmer and circle cutter (which are in a storage box that my kids can't open) and I have a photosafe box for the pictures waiting to be put in the albums. On the top and bottom front edges of the bookcase I have velcro dots and a 'curtain' with matching velcro dots that I can put on to cover the front of the bookcase when I'm not scrapbooking so my four year old and ten month old girls aren't tempted to grab everything. I have three different 'curtains' that match my different quilts and bedspreads so it doesn't look out place in my bedroom. When I finished off the top and bottom of the 'curtains' I gave them a slight gather so it wouldn't just look like a piece of fabric hanging there. Since I have organized everything like this it has been much easier to do my pages because I know where everything is and I don't have to search for anything. Thanks, Sherrie Prentis In order to keep my scrapbooking "tools" handy, I purchased one of those plastic "craft" multi-drawer units. It is on wheels so it is easy to tuck away and when I need it I just roll it out. It has lots of drawers, some deep and some more shallow. It is the perfect size (width) for my large 12x12 papers and books. The shallow drawers are perfect for my scissors, pens,stamps etc. I even use the top 2 shallow drawers for my loose pictures. I found that if you keep or even ask your local photo developing store for some extra envelopes that they put your pictures in, they are the best for organizing and grouping your photos and even die-cuts for scrapbooking Tina H. I use a novelty shelf from Ikea to store my punches. The punches fit nicely into the cubbyholes and the shelf takes hardly any room on my desk. I can easily see all my punches at a glance. I have an armoire type desk for my scrapbooking work area. I use the inside of the door to hang all my scissors on - I just used self-adhesive cup hooks. This way I can see all my scissors at a glance, they are within easy reach, and I didn't use up valuable work top space. Carmen Stadnyk |
|
|
|
