Organize your Scraproom - Kits, Scrap paper, die cuts Challenge

Challenge #9 Week #3 PART 2 - Kits, Scrap paper, and die cuts

Several of you have already begun sorting a few of these categories. So we will be going over them quickly.

KITS: Most kits come packaged in large Ziploc or cellophane baggies. Kits are coordinated and work best if you can keep them together until you use them. They are great for crops those times when you want to produce something quickly. Since most kits will included a color scheme and multiple MGS I would suggest sorting them by theme or kit club you received them from.

You can create you own kits if you wish out of your stash or you can purchase them from various companies and kit-clubs online or at your LSS.

Storage Solutions:
See last challenge for standard paper storage... for example you can have a vertical cropper hopper just for kits, etc.

Clip it up: http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=229442...

A shelf: http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=222679...

Wire tower of drawers categorized by theme: http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=140018...

SCRAPS: Scraps are a nuisance but since most of scrapbooks are part "collector" then we tend to save them for a rainy day or we pawn them off on our kids. LOL.

Scraps should be sorted like you sorted your PP and CS... if you did that by color then sort the scraps by color. If you did it by theme then ... sort your scraps by theme...etc.

BE REALISTIC!!! Only keep the scraps you know you will use... for example if you cut up 1/2 of a 12x12 piece of paper then you have a 6x12 scrap that can be used on a smaller page, run through a cricut or even to make cards. Don't keep (and I am guilty of this) a random shaped piece of paper big enough for one punch from a decorative punch. What I have come to decide is, if I want to save every little piece is this rule:

It must be at least 4.25"x5.5" to keep in my sorted scraps or I take my punches and punch flowers or hearts or leaves etc. and sort those into my die cuts.

Fallowing this rule keeps my scrap storage organized by size and only usable scraps are saved. My punches and die cut shapes are there for me and my kids to purge at our leisure.

Storage solutions:
Storage Photo Box: If your determined to use the scraps as photo mats or cards then this will work for you: http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=245336...

Scrap storage By Lifeinthefastlane

File drawer (vertical storage): http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=228950...

File Container: http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=139643...

Plastic drawers (horizontal storage): http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=222969...

Shelves: Ziploc: Scrap paper storage By Shirleyanne4557

Cropper Hopper: Ziploc:
Storage for Paper scraps. By Ande

Ziploc hanging on the back of the door: Scraproom Re-org - Photo 6 By Deend31

Scrapease file system: Scrap-eze - way to organize your scraps By TriciaH

Binders: (one of the most inexpensive ways to go)
Scrap paper storage By Hanging By A Moment inside my scrap paper binders By Hanging By A Moment

DIE CUTS: Extra die cuts and punches are another batch of little items to sort like chipboard. The majority of the time they are not too large (especially the extra punches). There are not many examples of how to store this on this site's gallery... here is an idea of a container I would use to store my smaller die cuts and extra punched papers... (like I said before I do tend to collect extra punched papers from my smaller scraps before I throw them away).

Plastic divided container: http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=315379...

Baseball card binder: http://www.vanillajoy.com/die-cut-shape-storage -idea.ht...

In this article: http://www.scrapjazz.com/topics/Organization/E mbellishm... they suggest that you do this...

Storage Solution:
To protect your die cuts and stickers and still keep them visible when you want flip through and access them, use clear storage pages. I used baseball card holders, 4 x 6 photo sleeve pages, 5 x 7 photo sleeve pages, full page protectors or special plastic pages made for accent storage. All these options were available at my local Wal-Mart and other discount stores. Any of these pages will fit in standard 3-ring binders.

Storage bins like these work great too: http://www.accucut.com/Die_Cut_Storage_Bins- c309-p2,309...

Does anyone else have a storage solution to share? I am hoping this will be an easy challenge for you all tonight since we are tackling our paper storage this week.

 

Patterned Paper & Cardstock Organization Challenge

Challenge #8 Week #2 PART 1 - Patterned Paper/ Cardstock

Every single one of us has it... but is it working for you the way you have it organized?

THE KEY TO GOOD PATTERNED PAPER ORGANIZATION IS TO: have it organized to match your train of thought.

HORIZONTAL OR VERTICAL?(from http://www.creative-scrapbook-layout s.com/scrapbook_pap...

"Scrapbook Paper Storage Idea #1: Horizontal Paper http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=257936...

Most scrapbook stores will store their paper horizontally because they have the room for rows and rows of shelves and racks. Now, most of us don't have room for all those shelves, but horizontal storage is still a possibility with 12" x 12" plastic snap top cases. You can buy them individually or as part of a three-drawer or six-drawer cart, so you can make the most use out of your vertical space.

Racks: http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=257017...

Wire cubes: http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=226956...

Cubes: http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=251533...

Scrapbook Paper Storage Idea #2: Vertical Paper http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=258040...

Depending on your preferences, you can use traditional magazine storage files for 8.5" x 11" paper (or on your scrapbook table to store scrap paper), but you will have to get special storage files for 12" x 12" scrapbook paper. Vertical paper storage is best for cardstock or other papers that you will be accessing frequently because you can just slide the storage file out and pick the paper you need.

These paper holders also come with dividers, so you can store multiple colors within a singe file! Just one thing to keep in mind is that you will need very tall shelves if you plan on using these vertical storage files in a bookshelf."

Baskets: http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=250118...

Cubes vertical: http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=250438...

Files: http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=888475...

HOW TO ORGANIZE IT - Now that you have thought about WHAT to store them in lets talk about HOW...

Cardstock - seem simple enough, by color right or brand? But what about those patterned papers? Do you Separate your cardstock from your patterned paper? Or would it work better for you if you had all the pink patterned paper then pink cardstock together?

Patterned Papers -

1) By color - Are you the type that reaches for the color first when you need something in your scraproom? Within each color do you organize it from lighter to darker colors?

Cropper hoppers by color:
Scraproom Re-org - Photo 5 By Deend31

http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=130054...

http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=210448...

2) By Brand - do you have a great memory for brands. Do you think to your self when you are scrapping..."that rust and white flourish paper from the Everafter line that Cosmo Cricket put out would be perfect!" If so they by Brand and collection would be the way for you to organize.

Great way to organize by collection and brand if you like to keep them in their stacks...
Paper storage By Missqueen

3) By Theme and Pattern - Are you a graphic scrapper? One who knows they need a stripe or a polka-dot paper to balance out the floral you just picked as the background paper. Or do you scrap by theme a lot. Maybe you create a lot of mini albums or you prefer ballet shoe paper for your little princesses recital page.

There ya go... these are the best ways to organize it... now you can do it in sub categories... say you want to organize it by Brand but within each brand you want it by theme or color. Maybe it is by color first and within that color it is by pattern and theme. That works too but one of these three will be the Main way you will organize with a possible sub category.

Consider size - do you sort the scraps (if you separate these from your full sheets we will go over how to store them latter this week) into your full sheets or maybe you buy 6x6 paper. Do you sort it into your 12x12? That is up to you. Just keep in mind that when you are working on a 12x12 page you can't always use the 6x6.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW...

1) never store in direct sunlight preferably a cool, dry place

2)Store it completely separate from other supplies. If you mix them you are undoubtedly asking for creasing or tearing.

3)When looking for storage make sure that you choose a container that fits a 12x12 piece of paper or a 8x8, if that is your size preference. Keeping the paper fitting snugly will keep it from getting bent or damaged.

4)If you keep it organized it will lead to an easier scrapbooking experience. So make sure you keep it organized.

You can store them on shelves without organizational units. Keep in mind though that they will slip easily and have a chance of making a mess. Storing horizontally with out organizers creates the same problem. When you need one near the bottom all the others will begin to fall and it becomes one large balancing act.

**** Don't have the cash to fork out for these organizers? Try these almost free solutions -

Horizontal: http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=65087&...

Vertical: http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image& id=123371...

Step by step instructions: http://www.wescrap.com/scrapbooking-resource s/tutorials...

JUST TO DROOL OVER....

Scraproom Challenge By Ande

 Here is my patterned paper and cardstock. I organize by "P(pink cause I have a girl) ROYGBIV N(neutrals such as black, grey, white and shades of brown)" Patterned paper on the left of the divider and CS on the right in each cropper hopper. 12x12 on the top, 8.5 x11 on the bottom left and scraps and chipboard in the binders on the right.