If you look on the newsstands these days it seems
everyone is talking about getting organized. And why not? A new year - a time for new beginnings, etc. etc.. Anyone who knows me well, knows I love for things around me to be organized and accessible. I'm willing to admit that I'm a little OCD and I'm more content when there is order in the chaos around me. And while I don't have my canned goods alphabetized - they ARE organized in the pantry according to 'group' - fruit -veggie - beans - starch - etc. and my spices are in bins according to use [mexican - itailian - or baking, etc.] Oh! And my calendar [organizer] - definitely color-coded according to each family member's activity - and a color for work & play activities as well. I can be a little hyper-organized at times, but can also let things go and have the need to regroup at times too. I believe organizational needs change as our interests and lifestyles change [for instance while the boys' activities used to be two separate colors in my organizer - they are now both coded with the same color because as they've grown older there are fewer things of theirs that I'm responsible for.]
Every few months [or maybe once a year or so] I re-group and re-think my scrap space and how it works for me. Just recently I realized that one of my favorite products was spread out in several different areas, causing me to search different places to find just the ones I wanted. So a couple of weeks ago I gathered all my alphabets [stickers - rubons - chipboard - etc.] and placed them in a cute basket purse I got in the bahamas a couple of years ago and placed it right next to my trimmer. So easy now to just glance through my selection and choose the ones I want to use.
Good organization is about more than having everything 'put away' and looking pretty - really good organization helps the person work better and more effectively. To help you get more organized I'm giving away Wendy Smedley and Aby Garvey's book,
The Organized & Inspired SCRAPBOOKER. This book is full of wonderful organizing ideas and tips on how to make your space work for you - big or small - whole rooms dedicated to scrapping, or areas that need to be put away from little hands -- it's all in here. I'll do a random drawing from comments to this post. THE RULES: I need to have 25 individual comments before a winner is chosen. The deadline to enter is January 9th [or will continue until there are 25 comments.]
To enter: simply post a favorite way you organize your scrapbook area.
Every few months [or maybe once a year or so] I re-group and re-think my scrap space and how it works for me. Just recently I realized that one of my favorite products was spread out in several different areas, causing me to search different places to find just the ones I wanted. So a couple of weeks ago I gathered all my alphabets [stickers - rubons - chipboard - etc.] and placed them in a cute basket purse I got in the bahamas a couple of years ago and placed it right next to my trimmer. So easy now to just glance through my selection and choose the ones I want to use. 
Good organization is about more than having everything 'put away' and looking pretty - really good organization helps the person work better and more effectively. To help you get more organized I'm giving away Wendy Smedley and Aby Garvey's book, The Organized & Inspired SCRAPBOOKER. This book is full of wonderful organizing ideas and tips on how to make your space work for you - big or small - whole rooms dedicated to scrapping, or areas that need to be put away from little hands -- it's all in here. I'll do a random drawing from comments to this post. THE RULES: I need to have 25 individual comments before a winner is chosen. The deadline to enter is January 9th [or will continue until there are 25 comments.] To enter: simply post a favorite way you organize your scrapbook area.
25 comments:
I sort all of my cardstock by color in clear storage pockets. I put all of the scraps in the front of each pocket folder too. This way when I am looking for a certain color of cardstock to use on a project I can see if there is a scrap the size I need first, before cutting a new piece. I store all of my pocket folders in a LARGE rolling cart, so that can take it with me to crops.
i need this book! i am so unorganized!!!
Just this morning I did a general clean/reorg of my scrapbook space. One item that has helped me is the 12x12 plastic envelopes. I have used them to put like items together (ie my letters) to holding all items for a certain project or page (incl paper, embellies, etc.). Thanks for doing such a cool give away. The book looks great!
I sort my cardstock and most of my printed paper by color and keep it in the magazine-style paper holders. My ribbons are sorted by color, too. Other items are sorted by type (such as metal embellishments, alphabet stickers, fibers, etc.) and most of them are also sorted by color. I have my rubber stamps in drawers, and they are sorted by topic (flowers, birds, people, celebration, etc.). And for recurring special events, I have separate clear boxes that I use for things such as Disney related items (we go to Disney World a lot), birthdays, my daughter's wedding, baby/child items, Christmas, etc.
The key, for me, is being able to see what I have. If it's hidden, I forget it's there; so I mostly use clear containers and tend to label everything.
Thank you for a give away chance.
My way to organisation is to pack things away before I start my new page.
This doesn't happen though.
I use the 12x12 Artbin boxes (with nice handles and secure latches) to keep all like items together as well as work in progress such as Christmas, a travel album I'm working on, etc. It's very portable to take to crops (I also use the Artbin Totes) and stackable in my craft room. Now if I can just get the craft room reclaimed and reorganized so I can actually do some work... Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. I would love to see it. Terri
Suzanne Q and I are just the same when it comes to scrapbook organization, 'cause we do all the same things!
I am reorganizing my Craft room it has been over whelmed by products. I have not been getting anything done, I realized it was because I am a visual person, I need to see what I have. I came up with the Idea of recycling using containers that I can see into or that I can Cover with some of the pretty paperI have then just Mark What is in it. I also Love The Idea you showed in this article with the Baskets I have a few that I may use for Some of my albums to show them off!!
I like keeping things so I can see them like buttons, flowers, etc. in clear containers/jars. I keep them out on the shelves in my scrap room. That way I use up what I have and don't duplicate buy.
Hi - I try to keep everything in see through containers so I can see what I have, so I remember to use it. I also have kept to black as the storage containers, frames and other accessories to try have a cohesive look in the room - even if it isn't organized. Thanks!
Hi Judy! I'm always up to learning about time-saving techniques! Thanks for the chance!
Gloria L.
I have clear boxes for stamps, a roller cart for odds/ends papers.
And son made me shelving in my closet to store things on.
Alright, I guess I can say that I am organized since no one really sees my scraproom! ha ha. I do have all my paper together - some by color - some by theme. As for the embellisments, well that's another story. I need help!
I store my stamps in photo boxes by holiday/season (ie. Halloween, Christmas/winter), or whatever I have a lot of--such as nature/flowers. I store cardstock in a paper organizer by color. I'm still trying to figure out the rest.
Jan
I like see-thru containers so I can see what I have and keeping like paper (manufacturer) together.
I am in desperate need of organization, and have been in the thick of it for the past couple of weeks. I hope to sort all of my crafting materials (since I dabble in lots of different things) put them in clear containers, or a rolling cart with drawers and label everything! The biggest key to staying organized (and something I'm trying to work on) is not to buy stuff in the first place that I don't have a need for! Too much clutter just clogs the mind and is totally overwhelming! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
I bought clear bins from The Container Store so I can see all my supplies.
Happy New Year! My favorite all time organizational tool is the "Clip-It-Up" - I got it for Christmas last year and don't know how I ever scrapped without it. I love how all my stencils, stickers, rub-ons, etc. are out in the open so I don't forget what I have and everything is within an arms reach!
Hope your 2009 is the best and blessed year ever, hugs, Cindy Lee
I am ready for a revamp. A lot of my stuff is in boxes that I have recycled (Velveeta ones seem to fit stuff well. OK not the best). We are moving to a new house in 60 days. I will no longer have a craft room and will be taking a corner of the game room for scrapping. I am looking for a new system. I am taking Wendy's class in the midst of this so I can redo my scrap area. Thanks for the chance to win this book!
Oh boy, I could really use this book! I am an organizational mess. My best tip is to have a more organized friend come over and get you started!
Deb H
I sort my scraps in a CM accordian folder according to color, so that when I want to make cards, I can grab a folder and just start playing.
I also use my Pampered Chef Tool Turnabout to store my most used tools so they're close at hand when I need them.
I've recently sorted all of my sortable embellishments into color drawers, following an example I saw from Stacy Julian. This has helped me actually incorporate embellishments into some of my layouts.
Now, I just need help with my pattern paper scraps and letter stickers and stamps and... the list goes on and on! :)
Thanks!
Kim (aka ZoezMom)
Completed the major rebuild - working on details now. My favorites - open shelving, baskets/buckets which can be moved onto work-space and then put back neatly, my shower curtain rod, hung above my work area with clear bags hung on shower rings so I can see what I have...VISIBLE and NEAT are my oragnizational tips - then you don't forget what you have and can find it easily when you are working. (And donate what you don't need or won't use to a school or child-care facility to purge as needed.)
Tracy said . . . I use an open file container with hanging file folders to sort my paper and stickers by season, holiday, sports or event to help keep things organized. When I need supplies I just pull the folder and I have everything in one place.
I sort my other supplies by type in clear containers.
Hi Judy - I see where you only have 24 comments for this, so I will add mine organization 2cents worth!
I love those $7.99 12x12 boxes with attached lids for my organizing - I have all my letters in one box, chipboard in one, rubons in one, and then current layouts in another until they get into a book. I love the Craftmate organizers for my embellishments - I have one for all of my brads/eyelets, another for buttons, special brads, special embellies, and my paper is organized by cardstock / patterned paper in thier own respective cases - I am able to carry these to crops. I have a cropper hopper 12x12 filing system where I keep my overstock cardstock & Patterend paper. My ribbon I have stored in a little $3 clear plastic purse I purchased from Family Dollar - Made my own holes in it & put my ribbon inside & pulled each one through the hole to the outside! I saved myself about $20 on this little jewel! I love organizing & am always on the lookout for books/articles that will give me new ideas! See you soon I hope!
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