TIPS FOR GETTING ORGANIZED FOR YOUR SCRAPBOOKING DAYS
ORGANIZATION
Organization
One of the most daunting tasks for scrapbookers is organization! Here are a few tips to make the organizing a little easier. The amount of space on hand and the supplies in your possession make a difference but certain 'rules' are constant.
Take some time and get it ALL together. Gather all of you templates in one place, all of your rulers in one place, all of your pens in one place, etc. No matter what company they came from or what size they are it is easier to have a drawer or box full of rulers instead of keeping the Brand X ruler with the Brand X supplies and the Brand Y rulers with the Brand Y supplies. Merge your supplies together and decide how much storage space each item needs. I keep my rulers in a drawer in an Iris cart. You might want to use a box such as the one from Cut It Up. If you only have a few rulers you may simply place them in your scrapbooking tote or in a 12x12 Cropper Hopper with your other supplies. After the supplies are all together it will be much easier to assess your storage needs.
Write it down. After sorting through all of your supplies write it all down. Keep track of all your supplies and tools. When you are running low or out of a specific supply make a note of it while you are thinking about it. Keep the list handy for ordering online or running out to the scrapbooking store. This is especially helpful when you have a lot of tools, like punches or pens. Many scrapbookers use their planners or keep a small notebook with a list of all of their punches or the names of all the colored pens that they have.
Label everything. Whenever possible use see-through containers for storage, but if this is not an option make sure all storage containers are clearly, concisely labeled with like products together. Organization should be easy, not something you have to think about.
Put it within reach. Place the items you use frequently or daily in easy to access areas. Work in a circle. Place tools and supplies used frequently within arms reach. Your paper should be easily accessible but your 'Happy Birthday' rubber stamp can be stored in a harder to reach area.
At this time think about investing in shelves for your scrapbooking area if you have a desk or table that you have dedicated to scrapbooking. ***Remember that unsealed wood should not be used to store albums, papers and stickers because there is lignin in wood.*** Consider using shelves for pens, cutting tools and rubber-stamping accessories. Consider a pegboard for scissors. Remember that a few dollars spent on organizers now will save you time for years and increase your productivity.
If you use a lot of small items consider the utility drawer units sold at craft or hardware stores. The units can have 30-60 small see-through drawers that hold small items like punches, 'punchies' (the paper that is made by a punch), die cuts, small sticker modules, etc.
A good tote is a must for those who scrapbook on-the-go. Keep a special tote packed with all the supplies you need. Keep this separate from your other supplies. Then at a moments notice, you can grab the container and not worry about gathering up everything you need. This is true whether you crop at other people’s houses or if you just crop while waiting for your kids at soccer practice or ballet lessons. For attending crops away from home, I like the Crop In Style or Crop In Style XL. For small projects on-the-go, I use a Cropper Hopper case or a Cropper Hopper 12 x 12 case.
Avoid clutter. Keep supplies off the table top and put supplies away when done using them. The few seconds it takes to 'clean up' will save you hours of trying to find the supplies when you need them later. If you want to collect scraps, have a designated box or bag for scraps and place all scraps there at the end of a scrapbooking session.
Organization
One of the most daunting tasks for scrapbookers is organization! Here are a few tips to make the organizing a little easier. The amount of space on hand and the supplies in your possession make a difference but certain 'rules' are constant.
Take some time and get it ALL together. Gather all of you templates in one place, all of your rulers in one place, all of your pens in one place, etc. No matter what company they came from or what size they are it is easier to have a drawer or box full of rulers instead of keeping the Brand X ruler with the Brand X supplies and the Brand Y rulers with the Brand Y supplies. Merge your supplies together and decide how much storage space each item needs. I keep my rulers in a drawer in an Iris cart. You might want to use a box such as the one from Cut It Up. If you only have a few rulers you may simply place them in your scrapbooking tote or in a 12x12 Cropper Hopper with your other supplies. After the supplies are all together it will be much easier to assess your storage needs.
Write it down. After sorting through all of your supplies write it all down. Keep track of all your supplies and tools. When you are running low or out of a specific supply make a note of it while you are thinking about it. Keep the list handy for ordering online or running out to the scrapbooking store. This is especially helpful when you have a lot of tools, like punches or pens. Many scrapbookers use their planners or keep a small notebook with a list of all of their punches or the names of all the colored pens that they have.
Label everything. Whenever possible use see-through containers for storage, but if this is not an option make sure all storage containers are clearly, concisely labeled with like products together. Organization should be easy, not something you have to think about.
Put it within reach. Place the items you use frequently or daily in easy to access areas. Work in a circle. Place tools and supplies used frequently within arms reach. Your paper should be easily accessible but your 'Happy Birthday' rubber stamp can be stored in a harder to reach area.
At this time think about investing in shelves for your scrapbooking area if you have a desk or table that you have dedicated to scrapbooking. ***Remember that unsealed wood should not be used to store albums, papers and stickers because there is lignin in wood.*** Consider using shelves for pens, cutting tools and rubber-stamping accessories. Consider a pegboard for scissors. Remember that a few dollars spent on organizers now will save you time for years and increase your productivity.
If you use a lot of small items consider the utility drawer units sold at craft or hardware stores. The units can have 30-60 small see-through drawers that hold small items like punches, 'punchies' (the paper that is made by a punch), die cuts, small sticker modules, etc.
A good tote is a must for those who scrapbook on-the-go. Keep a special tote packed with all the supplies you need. Keep this separate from your other supplies. Then at a moments notice, you can grab the container and not worry about gathering up everything you need. This is true whether you crop at other people’s houses or if you just crop while waiting for your kids at soccer practice or ballet lessons. For attending crops away from home, I like the Crop In Style or Crop In Style XL. For small projects on-the-go, I use a Cropper Hopper case or a Cropper Hopper 12 x 12 case.
Avoid clutter. Keep supplies off the table top and put supplies away when done using them. The few seconds it takes to 'clean up' will save you hours of trying to find the supplies when you need them later. If you want to collect scraps, have a designated box or bag for scraps and place all scraps there at the end of a scrapbooking session.
