Organization: Paper Scraps

Since I'm always going on about using up paper scraps, I thought I'd share my organization technique for this.  The key to being able to use your scraps is to have them organized enough so you can quickly put your hands on exactly what you need.  It's taken me several years and versions to perfect this system for myself and I hope it's helpful if you don't yet have a system of your own.

All my scraps are held in this letter-size hanging file box.  There's no particular reason why I went with this particular box style other than I already owned it and it was sitting empty.  If I had to buy new, I would get a solid box with a lid.  And wheels, if possible. However, this box works fine in my studio and is portable, which is key for me since I travel with my supplies a few times a year.

The hanging folders are great because if I know exactly what I need, I can just go to the tab and pull a scrap.  If I need to browse the selection, I can pull the whole folder and leaf through it like a book.

Green folders up front house solid papers and card stock.  All my solids are separated by color family:

1. Red & Pink
2. Orange & Peach
3. Yellow
4. Green
5. Teal
6. Blue
7. Purple
8. White
9. Cream & Sand
10. Brown & Tan
11. Black & Grey

Blue folders contain pattern and specialty papers.  These are organized by theme or type:

1. Floral & Paisley
2. Novelty & Background
3. Stripes & Plaids
4. Geometric
5. Spring & Summer
6. Autumn
7. Winter
8. Vellum
9. Mulberry
10. Metallic

And lastly, red folders hold cardboard.  I use a ton of cardboard in my projects lately and save every kind of box suitable:  cereal, cracker, frozen pizza...if you really pay attention to what you normally throw out, you'll have a stash in no time!

Well, that's my system.  I'm sure I seem quite the type A to you now, but like I said, having your scraps organized means you are much more likely to actually use them.

Organization: Ink Blending Foam Storage

Okay, so I'm not above changing out my many foam pads on my one ink blending tool to save a buck.  I use my Tim Holtz Distress Inks and the blending tool all the time, but I just haven't felt the need for several tools, or that really nice storage spinner that Tim has.

The problem with this is I had a bunch of foam pads floating around my work table.  There's really not a good way to label them.   I tried writing in Sharpie on the back, but it was barely legible.  And I was constantly sorting through them looking for the right color (geez, multiple tools and that fancy spinner rack that Tim has is starting to sound pretty good...wait, no!).  Well, I came up with the simplest solution.  The pads are attached to the tool with Velcro, right?  So I just put a Velcro dot on the bottom of the ink pads and problem solved!  Now, I pick an ink, rip the foamie off the bottom, attach it to my tool, and go!

I positioned the Velcro so that I would still be able to read the color label.

If you stack your Distress Inks, this may not be the best solution for you.  The foam pad makes them stack a little wobbly.  I keep mine in a basket, so it works great for me.

Organization: Great Storage Box!

When you have a stash of crafting goodies--especially with a stash the size of this squirrel's--you have to be organized.  I have had one of these Darice storage boxes for a while now and it has become my absolute favorite for several reasons:

1. Holds a lot!  There are 48 compartments.
2. Slim and easy to stack / store / travel.
3. The lid has grooves so that embellishments stay in their respective compartments.
4. The bottoms of each compartment are rounded so you can easily remove those tiny embellishments.
5. Extremely durable.  I've had mine for at LEAST five years and it looks brand new.

Since every crafter/artist is continually looking for great organization tips, I wanted to share my love of this box.  It's good for small to medium-sized embellishments like buttons, brads, eyelets, rhinestones...you get the idea.  I purchased the box at Crafts 2000 in Monroe, MI, but since it's Darice, I'm sure you could find it in other stores or online.  I know it's still available because, as you see, this one's brand new...yep, bought two more of these babies on Friday.  Note that the label says "Jewelry Designer", so be sure to check the jewelry aisle!