Paper Scraps!

If you keep your scraps, you may want to have a solution for them!

Here is my cardstock and scraps storage...

Smaller "paper pouches" inside the respective cardstock color holder...

Works GREAT for me. I know a lot of people use these too...

(Umm... that would be too small for me. LOL. I must keep too many scraps on hand... LOL. BUT I use them A LOT... WAY more than I use full sheets. And now that I think about it, it may be a good idea to have something small like this. It will force you to use them or lose them because you just don't have the space! ;-) )

You can also keep scraps in an accordion file. (If you're short on space, you can store ALL your paper in these!)

Or maybe an Iris box if you like to "dig"! This works great for some people because they're all in one place... and contained!

p.s. I store kits, collections and themes in these Craft Keepers. And if I have scraps for a collection or kit, I put them in one of these 4x6 acid free bags...

and then *that* little bag (unsealed) goes in the larger envelope, so it's all contained. I really like how this system works for me...

Do you keep scraps? If so, how do you store them?

Storing Paper!

Figure out what works for you... storing your paper horizontally or vertically.

I used to store mine horizontally, using this cube method.

It worked for me for a while, but I determined I much preferred storing it vertically. Find what works best for you!

If you want to store vertically, they are several options. This easy access version is fun. Here is a photo of my cardstock storage, using these...

I think I have like 20 now. LOL. Both cardstock and patterned paper go in them.

This Rolling Cart is helpful if you're going to store full kits/collections or make your own kits...

This one from Target is neat... and could work if you buy lots. (Photo comes from YoungHouseLove.com) I have one similar (that has since been discontinued), but mine has 6 shelves. I use it for "in progress" pages. Jo-Ann also sells one similar.

If you've ever been to a brick & mortar scrapbook store, you've seen these...

I've seen quite a few people with them in their own rooms at home though!

And I like to house my paper collections (say, you buy a whole line or collection like this) and kits in their own Craft Keeper envelope. Then *these* envelopes go in the Cropper Hopper Holders!

There are TONS of ways to store your paper! Just figure out what works best for you. And in the coming months, I'm sure I'll have MANY more photos of how people store their paper!

Organizing Paper!

HOORAY FOR PAPER!

A few months ago, I took out ALL my patterned paper (and Studio Calico kits...) and placed everything on the floor. Okay, I kept it *mostly* contained (in crop bags and Cropper Hoppers), but while I was going through it, it was EVERYWHERE...

And that's okay. It REALLY helps when you're organizing to take EVERYTHING from its place and stick it, temporarily, in a box or different container... or strewn about if you have the room. Tee hee. ;-)

I even broke up some kits. My favorites, or ones I hadn't touched much, stayed in tact. But I wanted to go through, LOOK at everything I had, and PURGE too. I went through Basic Grey collections and found several pieces that I just didn't like. Even though I had full lines, I ditched the ones I knew I wouldn't use.

Helpful Hint:

If you're on the fence about a certain sheet of paper, come up with THREE ways you can use it. Write it on a post-it or sheet of paper and stick it on the back, so if you do come back to that sheet of paper, you'll have a jumping-off point for inspiration!

Just get rid of stuff. Really. You will never use all that paper. Okay, probably never. ;-)

Mmm... feels good.

Organizing:

Cardstock organization is usually a given for most people: store by color. Patterned paper, though... you can organize lots of ways!

• Manufacturer (alphabetically or store by which ones you use most often)
• Color
• Theme (I have tabs for Floral, Ledger, Woodgrain, Christmas, etc)
• Season (may be helpful if you scrap chronologically)
• Make your own kits (and perhaps take photos, so you can find something if you need to)

Do you have any other ways you've tried that works for you?