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?

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?

No Dedicated Scrap Space?

If you don't have a dedicated scrap room, you can make it work in ANY space in your home! There are tons of solutions out there!

You can even buy a rolling cart (like this one by Fiskars...)
... or this Legal-Sized one or this one (without the wrapping paper add-on)...

and use it ANYWHERE in your home!

This storage stool...

may also be a great idea if you scrap in your living room or other common area. (Since it's on sale and backordered, it may very well be discontinued, but you can check your local store or Google for one similar.)

Storage chests (I found ours, made out of basket material, for like $30 at Ross or TJ Maxx) or trunks...

are also a great place to house your stuff in a living room, den or bedroom! You can put stackable baskets...

or small totes...

inside to make it easier to find things and store things.

Perhaps you want to craft on the kitchen table... Maybe clear out a cabinet or a shelf in the pantry.... so you can have a dedicated place *right there where you'll be scrapping* for your scrap stuff. Move un-used stuff to high shelves or a labeled box in the garage. Get rid of multiple items you probably don't need. Find cheap, plastic baskets/containers at Walmart or The Container Store...

(or this one)...

to consolidate food or other kitchen items to make more room for your scrap stuff.

Even in a coat closet or linen closet (or any empty shelf, really), you can store your items in these bins...

or these handled baskets...
No matter where you choose to scrap in your home, you can always find a solution for your stash!