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Post by grammadee on Jul 9, 2022 17:21:49 GMT
To go along with all the questions artbabe and others have been asking lately: what do you find easiest to organize and what do you find the most difficult?
I just spent a couple of hours organizing all the bits and bobs that got set aside when I was busy organizing my space, and I know why they were set aside. I have no idea how to organize them...
I am a big picture gal. I see systems from the top down. So I have no problem setting categories and then slotting in items to fit in them. Paper and cs is no problem to sort: pp by theme and cs and scraps by colour. Boom. Done. I have bins and drawers set up just for that.
I even have ways to sort the bulky stuff: a bin for washi tape, one for ribbon, a system for storing brads, for buttons, for wood vaneer.
It is the little diecuts and similar items that are driving me crazy. Do I sort them by shape? By theme? By colour? By manufacturer or designer? I know I always give advice to start your organizing system with considering how and why you look for things when scrapping. But the reality is I sometimes remember a specific diecut because I know Vicki Boutin included it in one of her collections, but other times I am looking for a flower, or a sprig of greenery. Sometimes I am looking for a star or a circle. Other times I am looking for something red or blue, or for something that fits in a summer theme. I am always afraid that when I put something away in one little box, I will be looking for it in another...
Big picture: I HATE organizing. I would rather by crafting...
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Post by 950nancy on Jul 9, 2022 17:58:06 GMT
I love to organize. I have been tested twice and am very centered with left and right brain, BUT I feel like I am way left brained. I went to a crop once that was called Things that Go in Things and it was my favorite. We got lots of little organizational items as treats for attending.
For me, papers are organized by theme, so it makes sense for the ephemera to be organized that way. I also have a set of containers that are organized by color if they don't fit in a theme. One thing I do that helps me is to keep my collections in 12.5 x 12.5 bags. They easily slide in and out of my Kallaxes. I have a piece of 2 x 14 cutting board (Dollar Tree chopping mat cut down) to slide in the bag. Then I label that with the title of the line (organized alphabetically by theme) and on that label I also have either a red, blue, green, or yellow sticker on it that represents stickers, ephemera, dies, washi, stamps etc that match that line stored elsewhere. It helps me remember where everything is, and if I don't have something extra for that line, I can go to the theme (like birthdays) and pull out the 12 x 14 container and find something that will work. I also have one random 12 x 14 x 2 idesdign container that has really random things in it that just don't have a home or were put there to be organized at a later time. I keep it close to my desk so I'll use it.
In your case, I might use the 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 photo containers and have a few categories like nature, creatures, and gkids. Then I'd also have a few that are labeled primary colors, neutrals, and pastels. No reason you can't have both.
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pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 6,241
Jun 19, 2022 16:48:04 GMT
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Post by pantsonfire on Jul 9, 2022 18:37:16 GMT
It is easy to organize for me as I keep it simple. The only thing I have questioned is how I organize my stencils. Right now they are in a sterilite container in a cart. I may move them to page protectors in a 3 ring binder.
Since my space is small (nook at top of stairs) I can't have a lot of items so not much to worry about organizing.
I have the 12x12 iris paper containers by subject/season and in that container is the smaller photo iris containers for embellishments.
I don't always reach for the same line so this works for me.
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Post by Linda on Jul 9, 2022 18:42:24 GMT
I LOVE organising - cleaning not so much but it's a necessary evil.
I'm not sure I have a 'hardest' to organise - I think organising crafty stuff is a fun part of the hobby ...okay I take that back, photos are hard to organise, especially other people's.
embellishments - my systems are currently in transition because I have a new set-up in my space AND because how I buy stuff has been changing.
Old system - anything themed is in folders by theme in an open file box (I have a lid I put on when I'm not actively scrapping) -with a couple of themes in drawers, brads and eyelets by colour in one of those divided containers in a drawer. Another drawer held random unthemed items - ribbon, washi, die cuts, this and that. Worked well when I bought things piecemeal rather than by collection.
Current system -themed stuff is mainly the same. Collection kits are together until the paper is used (themed or otherwise - I'm no longer breaking collections down right away). I have a drawer with all my new shiny Pinkfresh embellishments and a plastic envelope with the papers. The 4 EP club kits I got before cancelling - they are also each in a plastic envelope with all the bits and bobs. I have a drawer with some new packs of ephemera, die cuts, and sticker books - close at hand so I can flip through as I scrap - I don't have matching PP for these.
Small embellishment are in the 4x6 photo boxes by colour - I bought a 6pk rainbow (red, yellow, green, blue, orange, and purple (I keep pink/purple together in this one) plus a clear one for neutrals/metallics. I have enamel dots in my tool carousel along with a few sticker sheets that haven't been homed yet.
In the future? I see the themed box transitioning away -some themes will disappear, some will probably move to Iris type boxes, and some items will end up in the embellishment boxes or drawer.
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pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 6,241
Jun 19, 2022 16:48:04 GMT
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Post by pantsonfire on Jul 9, 2022 19:12:25 GMT
Here is how I have my system set up: Iris container filled for dd You can see the paper here under the embellishments Embellishments 4x6 iris container Each embellishment is in its own plastic resemble bag (many in what they came in with cardboard removed) This is what I do for ds, Christmas, winter, fall/Halloween. I like this because everything is together for me when I go to work on a page. I don't have to fumble around pulling out several boxes or items. I can lay the box on my work space and get what I need then put it on the floor next to me.
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Post by 950nancy on Jul 9, 2022 19:20:42 GMT
It is easy to organize for me as I keep it simple. The only thing I have questioned is how I organize my stencils. Right now they are in a sterilite container in a cart. I may move them to page protectors in a 3 ring binder.
Since my space is small (nook at top of stairs) I can't have a lot of items so not much to worry about organizing. I have the 12x12 iris paper containers by subject/season and in that container is the smaller photo iris containers for embellishments. I don't always reach for the same line so this works for me. Mine are also in a binder, but I think I used them more when they were in page protectors and in a slot in my Kallax. I had them in a letter sorter on my desk
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Post by aj2hall on Jul 10, 2022 0:37:57 GMT
To go along with all the questions artbabe and others have been asking lately: what do you find easiest to organize and what do you find the most difficult?
I just spent a couple of hours organizing all the bits and bobs that got set aside when I was busy organizing my space, and I know why they were set aside. I have no idea how to organize them...
I am a big picture gal. I see systems from the top down. So I have no problem setting categories and then slotting in items to fit in them. Paper and cs is no problem to sort: pp by theme and cs and scraps by colour. Boom. Done. I have bins and drawers set up just for that.
I even have ways to sort the bulky stuff: a bin for washi tape, one for ribbon, a system for storing brads, for buttons, for wood vaneer.
It is the little diecuts and similar items that are driving me crazy. Do I sort them by shape? By theme? By colour? By manufacturer or designer? I know I always give advice to start your organizing system with considering how and why you look for things when scrapping. But the reality is I sometimes remember a specific diecut because I know Vicki Boutin included it in one of her collections, but other times I am looking for a flower, or a sprig of greenery. Sometimes I am looking for a star or a circle. Other times I am looking for something red or blue, or for something that fits in a summer theme. I am always afraid that when I put something away in one little box, I will be looking for it in another...
Big picture: I HATE organizing. I would rather by crafting...
How much do you have? Could you find something to fit all of them? Something where you could se all of them? Iris cases with small drawer organizers? Drawer organizers inside a drawer? Clear acrylic drawers? She has a few ideas here www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSO28czpkzg&list=PLlJBHMMrJdk3JEBXYPI63P_HJ5t5KwbHh&index=20&t=32s
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Post by grammadee on Jul 10, 2022 3:02:26 GMT
I have used iris cases, pantsonfire, but once the pieces are out of their packaging--and I never seem to have the patience to put them all back, or else the little bags split at the seams, or the adhesive strip gets involved not in a good way--they all seem to jumble together for me. If there was a divided one with the dividers joined right to the bottom like the sewing notions boxes I use for brads and buttons, that would work better for me, i think.
Thanks for the link, aj2hall . I like her drawer. I was thinking I could use one of the divided drawers in an M's cube, but the size & shape of the pieces make the square divisions less than optimal. Still sorting, using ziplock bags and a divided tray to keep my categories until I can figure out their final home.
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Post by don on Jul 10, 2022 3:48:33 GMT
Here's a shot of my workbench. Those cabinets come in a lot of sizes. Each drawer can be split with dividers (included). You can label the drawer or attach an example to the drawer face. Throughout my space I have 210 of this type drawers, including 7 vacant ones. Sadly there is no "order" to them, but after looking thru them all these years I pretty much know where to at least start to look. www.flickr.com/photos/22190803@N07/50567709926/in/dateposted-public/
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Post by aj2hall on Jul 10, 2022 4:38:05 GMT
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PaperAngel
Prolific Pea
Posts: 7,994
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Jul 10, 2022 6:26:16 GMT
... what do you find easiest to organize and what do you find the most difficult? ... For (left-brained) me, organizing may be the most fun aspect of the hobby! I primarily organize supplies by type (e.g. all paper together, all stamps together, all dies together, all stickers together), subdivided as necessary (e.g. all wood mounted stamps together, all photopolymer stamps together) & secondarily by manufacturer. Each paper manufacturer is assigned a color (e.g. Basic Grey = grey; KI Memories = lavender; Simple Stories = kraft) & every paper & embellishment container, divider tab, etc. containing that manufacturer's supplies is marked with a punched shape (often similar to its logo - e.g. BG = square, KI = flower, SS = bracket label) in its assigned color for ease in mixing/matching supplies across various storage options.
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Post by hop2 on Jul 10, 2022 11:17:50 GMT
Right now all I’m doing is organizing as I unpack lol
For me, premade ephemera ( dies cuts etc ) are filed by theme as if I’m looking for a specific color I tend to make my own die cut. Which I often do. Leaving my ephemera unused. Hmmmmm maybe a change is needed, but if I file it by color I may never find that daisy flower I remember having.
I used to file ephemera in binders but I found I never went to get the binder to go thru it. Right now the are in 5x7 photo bins but I’m not sure I like to rifle thru the bins either. Maybe I put them on a 5x7 card in the bins…. Decisions decisions lol
I previously didn’t like organizing much at all. Anything. I think that stemmed from the fact that I had so little space that all organizing centered around fitting a certain place not around how I might use it. Right now I’m enjoying organizing ( so slowly though ) my studio because I have space to do whatever I want.
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Post by sarahbee on Jul 10, 2022 12:55:29 GMT
I have the hardest time trying to organize anything. I just don’t have an orderly mind. Most of my stash is currently all over the guest room floor as I’m unpacking it from totes where it’s sat the last 4 or so years.
I find it easiest to organize by surface level groups, i.e. cling stamps in one drawer, wood handled in another, all paper in 12x12 holders, etc. When I try to drill down further by theme, color etc that’s when I start to go into a tizzy figuring out what should go where.
I did organize all of my OA papers into one Cropper Hopper Projections 12x12 organizer and then all my OA embellishments, stickers etc into a basket. That’s probably the only thing I’ll organize by brand.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Jul 10, 2022 13:37:40 GMT
The easiest: Products (paper, stickers, embellishments, frames, etc...) that go into a 13 x 13 storage envelope, by >> theme, color or style (multicolor paper is by style >> stripes, polka dot, grunge, floral, watercolor, etc...).
The hardest: Sheets of multi theme stickers or cut outs. I cut everything apart (some requires fussy cutting), before putting it away it's 13 x 13 envelope or in a miscellaneous binder. All the cutting, is time consuming.
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Gummiebears
Junior Member
Posts: 52
Sept 27, 2019 21:31:52 GMT
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Post by Gummiebears on Jul 10, 2022 13:48:59 GMT
Easiest - paper, in drawers by type/theme/color. Hardest - page kits ready to be used, various ephemera (scraps of ribbons, buttons, metal pieces - no rhyme or reason), and ribbon.
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Post by hoopsfn on Jul 10, 2022 14:06:48 GMT
grammadee, almost all organizing is difficult for me. If it weren't for space, dust, and clutter issues , I'd like to have everything out in big 'ol piles so I could see everything and use up more stuff! But alas, it comes down to organizing. I try to keep embellishments like stickers & diecuts stored with their collections or within their category like Christmas, kids & school, sports, etc. The hardest I would have to say is paper because there's just so darn much of it.
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Post by grammadee on Jul 10, 2022 14:24:32 GMT
I have a few smaller models of your tool cabinets, don, but not really big enough drawers for these diecuts. What I really need is a bold caddy. But sadly I don't have the space. aj2hall, I am going to check out the bathroom storage area of WM or the dollar store next time I am in town. Might just leave my sorted stuff in the baggies for now until I have the perfect place to store them... grammadee, almost all organizing is difficult for me. If it weren't for space, dust, and clutter issues , I'd like to have everything out in big 'ol piles so I could see everything and use up more stuff! But alas, it comes down to organizing. I prefer the file by pile system, too. LOL. Unfortunately there always comes a time when the piles reach "critical mass"--when I can't find ANYTHING, and/or pieces start falling off the counter...
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kitbop
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,622
Jun 28, 2014 21:14:36 GMT
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Post by kitbop on Jul 10, 2022 14:39:15 GMT
It is the little diecuts and similar items that are driving me crazy. Do I sort them by shape? By theme? By colour? By manufacturer or designer? I know I always give advice to start your organizing system with considering how and why you look for things when scrapping. But the reality is I sometimes remember a specific diecut because I know Vicki Boutin included it in one of her collections, but other times I am looking for a flower, or a sprig of greenery. Sometimes I am looking for a star or a circle. Other times I am looking for something red or blue, or for something that fits in a summer theme. I am always afraid that when I put something away in one little box, I will be looking for it in another... You nailed my problem grammadee. And that's why I have 4 different places for die cuts because it lets me look by theme, collection OR color. It's also why I like Shimelle's advice to "take the first thing that works" and not obsess over "missing" another item. Place 1: in their packages, with the collection - this is for the newest stash items only Place 2: in their packages, sorted in a bin by manufacturer Place 3: in colour drawers, in baggies - this is for older pieces, or when packages start to get emtpy Place 4: in a divided tray, by theme (words, basic shapes, flowers, butterflies, birthday, weather icons, animal icons, music icons etc) - this really helps when I stamp/colour/die cut extra pieces and don't use them, because they don't have package to go back into! My system feels inefficient sometimes because I have similar items in 4 different places, but it lets me search in my different ways and I am usually pleased at how fast I can find something to fit the page.
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Post by aj2hall on Jul 10, 2022 15:14:58 GMT
I think it’s easier to think of ways to organize other people’s stuff vs my own!
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Post by don on Jul 10, 2022 20:10:50 GMT
How about a photo of what you are trying to organize.
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ComplicatedLady
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,083
Location: Valley of the Sun
Jul 26, 2014 21:02:07 GMT
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Post by ComplicatedLady on Jul 11, 2022 5:16:50 GMT
Hardest thing for me to organize is stamps. Not sure why but I find it quite challenging.
Easiest for me is paper but I usually remember the paper I have so that helps. I first group by size. Then cardstock is together in rainbow order. Some papers are the sorted by brand (especially if I have a lot)— like SEI, Pinkfresh, Echo Park kits. Some are by sub, so all of my ScrapRoom are together and all of my Not Just For Boys are together. For my die cuts, I put them all in a big 12x12 iris case loosely sorted by brand. It’s all one big container but I kinda have the Pinkfresh stuff together for example. I like organizing but there are some things that are so frustrating to try to organize.
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kitbop
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,622
Jun 28, 2014 21:14:36 GMT
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Post by kitbop on Jul 11, 2022 14:29:07 GMT
To actually answer the question my least favourite thing to organize is what most peas seem to find easy: paper!
If there is a way to sort paper, I have it represented in my room:
new old collection colour kit pattern theme
I frustrate myself so badly with paper and feel I "forget" about pps all the time with my lack of system.
Of course - going back to Shimelle - does it really matter if I "miss" a paper as long as I find one that works? Take the first thing you find that works.
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caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,730
Location: So Cal
Jun 26, 2014 16:42:12 GMT
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Post by caangel on Jul 11, 2022 21:53:36 GMT
I'm pretty organized and enjoy doing it. I have many categories that I go through to figure out where something belongs.
1. Collection- if I have multiple items from a collection they all are kept together in a record sleeve.
2. Theme- if it is themed it goes with all the others. I have some themes that are in iris boxes and smaller themes that are kept in Vertical file boxes.
3. Manufacturer- collections that are not themed are stored by manufacturer
4. Color- single papers or non themed embellishments are stored by color. I have color drawers for embellishments- chipboard, stickers, ribbon, buttons, enamel dots, twine, brads, etc. All are together by color then type.
5. Type- A few items are kepta by type. Unthemed washi go in my washi drawer by color. Wood veneer are in a drawer I baggies by shape, but I may move these to my netural drawer because I forget about them. Ink are together in a drawer. I don't have a lot, maybe 10-15. Punches are together. PL cards are in a drawer by kit then color. Thickers are together by color. Letter tiles and small alphas are in a drawer by color.
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Post by grammadee on Jul 12, 2022 17:26:43 GMT
Well it isn’t a permanent solution but it is one that will work for now I think. I have divided up my diecuts into some bags by theme and some by shape. I combined with the summer themed stamps I had out with the diecuts in an M’s divided tray. That tray is now on my scrap counter in front is a box of photos I might scrap some day and beside the box of my current photos. I can move the whole tray if I need more space, and rifle through the bits & bobs as I need that little something extra. I may look at the Dollar Store tomorrow for some side zippered heavier plastic bags like one I had saved from some purchase I made.
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Post by retrofunscrapper on Jul 25, 2022 23:02:49 GMT
I love to organize, but these small 3D-ish pieces were driving me crazy. I tend to organize by manufacturer alphabetically within a category (stamps, papers, etc), but the original packaging --like mentioned above-- would crinkle, rip at the seams, etc, and the sizes weren't uniform. It made them difficult to look through in any effective way. What finally worked for me was getting some double-sided CD sleeves on Amazon. They're soft but have flexible clear plastic on the outside. Each is about 5 1/2 x 5" (I got mint green), and I transferred all of the little bits and bobs from original packaging to these and slapped a piece of washi tape across the top corner of the plastic on the outside with the name of the designer and collection (or Miscellaneous and a description in the M section). Lined them up in columns alphabetically front to back on one level of a Raskog cart, and now they're uniform and easily flippable with no fussing, crinkling, or ripping. Plus, I try to use the one cart level as a suggested "container" limit so that I don't overbuy. We'll see if that works long-term.
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artbabe
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,396
Jun 26, 2014 1:59:10 GMT
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Post by artbabe on Jul 26, 2022 1:36:40 GMT
I like storing all of my stuff in one collection in a single 2 gallon ziplock bag. That is definitely the easiest way for me to find stuff.
The hardest part is that I can't figure out what to do with the bulky bags. I like the idea of using the colored stickers to show that another part of the collection is somewhere else, but I think you need to have a lot smaller stash of collections than I have. I'm intrigued though.
Honestly, the hardest part of organizing for me is that I just have too much stuff. Way too much. I should purge but I regret getting rid of some of the things in my last purge.
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Post by cannmom on Jul 26, 2022 16:04:28 GMT
To actually answer the question my least favourite thing to organize is what most peas seem to find easy: paper! If there is a way to sort paper, I have it represented in my room: new old collection colour kit pattern theme I frustrate myself so badly with paper and feel I "forget" about pps all the time with my lack of system. Of course - going back to Shimelle - does it really matter if I "miss" a paper as long as I find one that works? Take the first thing you find that works. I find paper difficult to organize also. I try to keep collections and brands together, but it gets harder as collections get used up and I just have a few papers left. The last time I sorted through my paper I pulled together all my random papers and loosely organized them into page kits. Basically, any papers that I felt would work together to make a layout I grouped together in a plastic storage envelope. I ended up with a bunch of these that have papers from many different manufacturers and its working for me for the most part. sometimes I will pull from several different envelopes for a page, but it's way easier than looking through all my paper. I am also trying to channel Shimelle and go with the first thing that works attitude. Also, attempting to limit myself to what will fit in the bin and not having an overflow area for paper. Since I know I will be buying some paper when I go to my crop towards the end of August I'm trying to use up a decent amount of paper now and clear out some space.
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Post by 950nancy on Jul 26, 2022 17:20:50 GMT
I like storing all of my stuff in one collection in a single 2 gallon ziplock bag. That is definitely the easiest way for me to find stuff. The hardest part is that I can't figure out what to do with the bulky bags. I like the idea of using the colored stickers to show that another part of the collection is somewhere else, but I think you need to have a lot smaller stash of collections than I have. I'm intrigued though.Honestly, the hardest part of organizing for me is that I just have too much stuff. Way too much. I should purge but I regret getting rid of some of the things in my last purge. I do this and find it works well. My cube storage for paper doesn't hold my paper if I try to add other things in the baggies. I do have a 10 foot walk in closet, a credenza, several Raskogs, ladders shelves, and lots of iDesign storage containers. I find I love organizing as much as scrapping. My favorite crop theme I attended was Things that Go in Things! We were given storage items from IKEA. I would probably keep my stuff together if it all fit though. It is nice to have it all in one place.
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Post by Margie on Jul 26, 2022 18:04:04 GMT
My easiest products to organize are stamps and dies. As soon as I get them, I transfer to Avery-Elle storage pockets and print labels on my p-Touch identifying designer/company and name. I cut-to-fit white cardstock for the stamp envelopes and magnetic sheets for the dies. For the stamps, I add the label info and short description to an Excel spreadsheet which is sorted alphabetically by designer. I cut samples of the dies and adhere them in a binder, sorted by type. They then go into clear refrigerator bins: Dies are sorted by type and stamps are sorted by size and then designer. It seems like a lot to do, but it keeps them organized really well. Before I started doing this, sometimes I would end up purchasing the same stamp or die twice. Now I know exactly what I have. Washi tape is also easy for me because I have a plastic eyeglass container that they fit perfectly in each drawer. I sort by color. The hardest products to organize for me, like grammadee , are die cuts. Most are stacked in drawers in my Kallax. I really like the embroidery floss pockets/ring binder that someone posted above. I might try that. An exception to my die cuts issue is my collection of Felicity Jane ephemera. As soon as I get the monthly kits, I put the papers in an Iris container and add all the ephemera, alphabetically by collection, to a large plastic shoe box. That way when I use papers from a specific collection, I can immediately find the ephemera that goes with it.
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Post by 950nancy on Jul 26, 2022 18:50:29 GMT
This is one section of my closet. I keep themed things in them. I also have a few with full lines of ephemera. I do like that I can pull out a birthday container or two and take it to my desk and have ephemera for a birthday layout that doesn't have matching ephemera. I can usually find something that goes well enough. 13.1 Ephemera Storage by Nancy Tim, on Flickr
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