How do you keep organized for swaps?

[mycutiepatooties]

I'm a newbie here in the swaps section. I'm picking up great tips along the way but I am just wondering how you keep track of everything.

So far I have learned:
1.print out the element requirements/dates etc. for each swap
2.keep a kit of my materials/sizes etc. written down in case I need to make my project again


What else are you doing to keep on track...and keep organized?

Thanks,
Traci

 

[kkbeaton2]

I have a binder that I keep all of my swap info in (the printed out info for each swap), as well as a list by month of what swap is due at what time. That way I can make sure that I am doing them in a logical order! I also have a PDA phone, and I keep all dates (whether they are due dates or dates to check into a swap) in my calendar. I also keep a list of how many elements are needed for each swap as well as how many in each group so that I don't get overwhelmed in what I have signed up for. In the papers that are printed out, I write down ideas for each of the elements I plan on doing. That way, even if I can't get to it right away, I have an idea and sketch of what I want to do, so that I will remember at a later date what exactly I wanted to do! HTH

 

[MazdaUK]

I write a mail date in my diary, as well as printing out the instrucitons and then pulling all my materials and putting them in a suitable baggie.

On the instructions, I write colours/sketch ideas as they occur to me for each of my groups.

 

[DisneyIsTerrific]

I print out the requirements and list of groups I'm in for every swap. I highlight the dates. I put these on a clipboard in due date order. I work on the swap with the earliest due date first.

I keep a notebook on my scrap table to write down what size I cut things.

I have an craft envelope for each swap and put any supplies I purchase for that swap in it's corresponding envelope so that when I'm ready to work on that swap, it's all there together.

I try to work on only one swap at a time and get it bagged and labelled and ready to go before working on the next one.

 

[tyniknate]

I'm finding organization to be the hardest part of the swaps since I only get a half-hour here and there to work on them. Then, I have to put everything away each time I get it out because I've got a four-year-old in the house who loves scrapbook supplies and he will use anything if I leave it out of the locked cabinet. I've gotta find a better system! Keep those ideas coming!

 

[rlovew]

To organize my swaps I keep a computerized list by board I am on. For each bnoard I have the swap listed, the mail by date, and requirements. Under that I list each of the groups I am in and any other specific group requirements (an off size or such).

As I mail out a swap I movce it to my mailed and not recieved list. When i get it back i remove it for the file.

As far as working on swaps are concerned I keep a detailed sketch and list of what needs to be done- designing a file, cutting, glueing, decorating, bagging, listed on it. All of my sketches are ina journal I take with me and each group has a page- if I am out somewhere waiting I will work on sketching- deciding on colors, listing things to be done, ect in the journal.

For working- I keep the 2 gallon size ziplocks around and assign one to each group - as I pull paper and embellishments I put them in the bag. I can then take it anywhere in the house with me to work on. Sometimes if I onyl have a few minutes I will put what needs to go through the xyron or do one step in a paper piecing or cut a certain part - maybe the outside of photo mats. I generally keep all of my ziplock bags in an iris box. If I am going somewhere and know I will have time to do a little I will bring a bag.

Rebecca

 

[YodasMom]

I consolidate my swap lists for each swap and print out. This contains the group titles, spots I've signed up for (element spots), number in each group, and for the Bazzill swaps I do, the colors assigned for each group. I keep a copy of this at home and in my car. So, when I'm out running errands or between work meetings, I can check the lists in case I need (or want!) to shop.

Then, I pull the embellishments and paper and place in a 12 x 12" heavy plastic craft envelope (can get them at Michaels for a dollar). I also put specific tools, dies, etc that I'm going to use on that group in the envelope if they're small enough. Then, when I'm ready to do that group, just grab the envelope and work on it wherever I want. If I need to cut out some things, I sometimes take that with me and work on it while I'm sitting in traffic jams!! Hey, the light is good!

I label the gallon bags before I get started as well and also print out the individual baggie labels, cut them, and have them ready to stuff in the small baggies for each person.

After I complete a group, I photograph, stuff the individual baggies, add the labels, stuff in the gallon bags and close. Then, I place the completed group in an assembled box.

For swaps that are large and entail a lot of tools and stamps, etc, I will pull all those items and place in a clear plastic container so they're all available for me to pull as I need to for the swap. I did that for the ATC swap which I'm using a lot of stamps and ink.

 

[Michi Belle]

I consolidate my swap lists for each swap and print out. This contains the group titles, spots I've signed up for (element spots), number in each group, and for the Bazzill swaps I do, the colors assigned for each group. I keep a copy of this at home and in my car. So, when I'm out running errands or between work meetings, I can check the lists in case I need (or want!) to shop.

Then, I pull the embellishments and paper and place in a 12 x 12" heavy plastic craft envelope (can get them at Michaels for a dollar). I also put specific tools, dies, etc that I'm going to use on that group in the envelope if they're small enough. Then, when I'm ready to do that group, just grab the envelope and work on it wherever I want. If I need to cut out some things, I sometimes take that with me and work on it while I'm sitting in traffic jams!! Hey, the light is good!

I label the gallon bags before I get started as well and also print out the individual baggie labels, cut them, and have them ready to stuff in the small baggies for each person.

After I complete a group, I photograph, stuff the individual baggies, add the labels, stuff in the gallon bags and close. Then, I place the completed group in an assembled box.

For swaps that are large and entail a lot of tools and stamps, etc, I will pull all those items and place in a clear plastic container so they're all available for me to pull as I need to for the swap. I did that for the ATC swap which I'm using a lot of stamps and ink.

Wow! I just learned a lot from you guys too. You guys are in deep huh? lol. Well, I guess we all are. Look at us.. We do amazing things here...
I have a TON to do as far as getting my stuff organized. I like the idea of Yodasmom. Putting everything for that group you are going to work on a in a plastic bin. Thats great. Istead, I have this table loaded with stuff & have no idea what's going on with that anymore.

I have a book, that I bring with me everywhere & everytime I go shopping for goodies. I have samples of the Opaque colored markers I have, so I don't buyt the same ones. I also do the same for my Cricut carts, & embossing folders, & Stickles. Plus, everyone's info that I need, & all the groups info all in the same book.
But I gotta tell you, that's all the organization I have for now. Not impressive, I know

 

[tyniknate]

You're lucky you can even find your table. I keep buying and stacking and now I don't have the ambition to organize. My table doesn't have a surface to work on and I've been outlawed from taking over one more square inch of the house for scrapping stuff. Hard being the only female in the house. My DH & DSs call it crap book stuff. I know, I know....they're hilarious.

 

[kkbeaton2]

You're lucky you can even find your table. I keep buying and stacking and now I don't have the ambition to organize. My table doesn't have a surface to work on and I've been outlawed from taking over one more square inch of the house for scrapping stuff. Hard being the only female in the house. My DH & DSs call it crap book stuff. I know, I know....they're hilarious.

I am laughing so hard at this right now! When I say that I'm going to the scrap room, my DH and DS call it the crap room! Boy... they must be the same breed!

 

[MazdaUK]

My DH & DSs call it crap book stuff.

My Dh and DS(15) are the same - luckily DS(9) scraps, and I borrow DNiece (14), and DNeph(10) is also showing signs of interes (evil cackle - my DSis HATES it) I have albums on one shelf (and a cupboard full), with another shelf containing my xyron cutter, a box full of swapas waiting to be used and other odd bits (yes, it needs tidying). On the floor are 5 totes of different sizes (includin one with wheels and two big CM ones) full of paper, punches, embellishments etc. I also have a sewing box with 2 pizza boxes of cardstock, my MM cutter and ziplocks of paper scrpas, plastic bags and a folder with swap info. all this is round one corner of my dining table. Organsied it aint

 

[tyniknate]

kkbeaton.....my condolences on our boys all being the same breed. It ain't easy.

My stuff has taken over the bedroom and DH isn't happy about it. There isn't another free room in the house and besides, what does he need the room for? I'm the queen and my bedroom is my castle.

 

[hopemax]

You're lucky you can even find your table. I keep buying and stacking and now I don't have the ambition to organize. My table doesn't have a surface to work on and I've been outlawed from taking over one more square inch of the house for scrapping stuff. Hard being the only female in the house. My DH & DSs call it crap book stuff. I know, I know....they're hilarious.

Tyniknate, over on the Scrapbook board, I've been running an Organizational Challenge. I made a list of the typical stuff we have filling up up our space, and challenged everyone to work on one item per day. The idea being if we could commit 15 minutes or so per day, eventually we would be able to see our tables again. The first run through, I had included extra days, because not everything could be done in 15 minutes. So the first time through, it went for 2 months. Then I condensed it down to one month. You don't have to work in the order of the list, if you aren't up for tackling a specific job this month, skip it, and come back to it the next month when hopefully you will have less to do, because the things you worked on in the first month are still in good shape. Several people posted what works for them for organizing stuff, so check it out.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2045077

Since I was running the challenge, I HAD to clean my space. And since I made sure that I had spots for everything, and those spots were large enough to hold future purchases, I've found that my room can look like a bomb went off again, and I can clean it up in about a half an hour, because I know where everything goes.

We also call it "scrap crap" here.

 

[tyniknate]

Thanks. Later tonight when all is quiet and sleepy boys are in their beds I will have to take a thorough look at what you've done. Can use all the help I can get at this point.

 

[aries1980]

Maybe a swap this is an idea to create a swap for 3 ring binders... to help organize your swaps.

You can have people buddy up and make binders specified to a short questionaire your buddy answered..

Then possibly if you close off to say 12 people each person in turn also makes 12 tab dividers for one month they chose .

This way when your done each person has a custom 3 ring binder and the 12 month tab dividers.

just an idea

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

cute idea!