How do you store...

[New England Eeyore]

Last year I reorganized my home office into my scraproom and I spent a lot of time thinking about how to organize things. I'm pretty happy with how it worked out and it's definitely "useable."

I put 5 shelves in the closet to house photo boxes and those plastic "shoebox" shape containers you can find at AC Moore. Some things take up more than one box but here are some of the 'categories' - Primas, Ribbon, Fiber, Pens, Small punches, Adhesives, Disney Tools (punches, stamps), Stamps, Ink Pads, Die Cuts, Misc Embellishments, and of course Photos. Things are stacked no more than two boxes deep so it's easy to pull things out and put them back.

For brads and eyelets I have a system that works really well, except when I have small amounts of a style (like from the embellishments swaps.) I found these little containers at Joann's in the sewing section that are about 4"x5" and have 16 sections of varying sizes. The larger sections are great for a full container of brads or eyelets or the smaller sections allow you to separate by color. But when I get a few of a lot of different styles I don't want to mix them all together so I keep them in little mini bags elsewhere. I put all the Joann's boxes inside a photo box in the closet.

I also LOVE the 12 x 12 Sterilite drawers from Walmart. I use 3 whole sets to store my paper scraps, organized by color or patterned paper. Other drawers hold miscellaneous things like Whale Punches and I hold 1-2 drawers free for whatever swap I am currently working on to keep all the supplies together.

For paper storage I don't have a ton of 12 x 12 yet since I still primarily scrap 8.5 x 11 so I have two accordian file type cases that hold those. My 8.5 x 11 paper is in those Rubbermaid storage boxes - one for cardstock, one for patterened paper.

I have two desks next to each other for my scrap area. One has drawers - I use those for Sizzix Dies, mini-albums and books, and non-photo memorabilia. The top of that desk is my "cutting and punching" area - my big paper trimmer and my Sizzix are there as are my decorative scissors (stored in flower pots with the handles labeled). The second desk is my work area with the 12x12 storage drawers underneath. Except when I get lazy, I'm able to keep my workspace desk fairly clean on top. I keep my most frequently used items (scissors, adhesive, black pens, etc) in a small box on top so they're always available yet easily out of the way.

My swap items are a disaster - they're currently stored in 5 priority mail boxes. I did make the big step of at least grouping them by park and eliminating a lot of extra bags, but I need to USE them to begin to deal with that storage issue.

When it's clean I'll take pictures! It's Disney themed also, so it's my favorite room in the house on two counts.

 

[BuzzBelleMom]

You guys have sooo much more stuff then me. I'm so jealous. I don't have any punches or any of those fancy cutter things. What I do have, and where I store it is;


I really want more stuff though, and a better way to store it.

You will get more stuff! I was once like you. Hint: get a good system going BEFORE it gets out of hand.

I forgot to mention before my Store n Style, I had a small bureau with lots of drawers. They were a great size. Unfortunately they refused to open. It is now in the dining room. It makes a great base for my vase of dried roses.

 

[Lisa]

Paper Scraps:
All of my papers are in Cropper Hoppers. I have 7, 5 for the colors, 1 for Disney, and 1 for Basic Grey and Daisy D's paper. Each color is divided by textured cardstock, plain cardstock, patterned card stock and scraps. My scraps are stored in Deco File folders from Creative Memories. The larger pocket holds larger scraps and the smaller on holds smaller pieces. These work wonders! Thanks Lisa!!!!

I have been trying to answer this thread for days. Each time I start writing, I get side track, no matter what, even if I don't finish it, I am going to hit the submit reply button, then go back if I need to.

What works for me:

Having my own 10 x 10 scrapbooking room. Granted my ironing board and sewing machine are in there too but it is so nice to spread out a layout and if I am needed elsewhere, I can just get up, leave my material as is, and close the door.

I have a L shaped desk that I got from Staples. In the corner of the L is a small tv so I can have background noise as I work. There is a shelf attached to the longest second of the L, which makes for easy access to my punches in plastic pencil boxes, my Sidekick, their alphas, brads and ribbon. (ribbon is wrapped around its own 4 x 4 piece of cardboard, then secured with a sewing pin, then all are stored in an open wicker basket. My CM power sort box is to the left of the tv, cricut cartridges are in front of that, my cricut machine is to the left of that, and further to the left is a multi tiered metal letter holder that holds my 12 x 12 pages and page protectors. Any completed pages before being placed in an album are in front of that.

Paper: Pieces smaller than 4 x 6 are placed in a box on the desk shelf along with 8 1/2 x 11 paper that is stored in a CM deco file. My 12 x 12 paper is store on a metal wire paper shelf thingie. I believe there are about 15 shelves in that. That is to the right of my desk.

What does not work:

Alas my large size scrapbooking room was built into the eaves of my house over my garage. When the weather gets cold and the wind blows, I can feel the cold air come up through the wood planks of the flooring despite having a heavy sheepswool rug and my faux fur slippers on. In the spring, summer, and fall it isn't too bad, but when it's cold, brr, despite having a heater in there.

I need to find a good system for the layout patterns that I have printed off or cut out of magazines, etc. I am a HUGE scraplifter. Right now some are organized in a CM binder, some are just thrown into a file.

 

[PrincessNancy96]

What works for me:

Punches: I have my punches in a 3-drawer stacking unit in my bookshelf. The 3 drawers are filled.. on the outside I have labelled what goes in each one for quick reference.

Paper Scraps: I have my paper scraps in file folders in a basket on the corner of my work station. Each color has it's on folder and is easily accessible. I have speciality papers in plastic baggies. It works well for me. I find now with the scraps in the folders on the table, I go for them before a new sheet!

Eyelets, Brads: I have them in spice jars and in a spice rack. I just did this last night. Other small items I have in a tool box unit I bought DH for his nails/screws/bolts but he didn't like it.. So, I took it over. I have my beads, gems, small decorative squares in there.

Stickers: I have my stickers in a binder that I can get to easier. I also have anything I have punched out or bought like tags and such in a binder too.

Stencils: I have in a binder that is labelled so I can get to it easier.

What kind of works:

Sizzix: I have my dies on a shelf in my bookshelf. Easy to reach and use. My sizzix die cutter sits on my dryer.

Sizzlet (2) sit on the top shelf of the bookshelf and is easily accessible. My Sizzlet dies are in a small 6 drawer unit that also houses glue, buttons, yarn, and 2 empty drawers.

Ribbon: I have a peg board that holds the bigger rolls of ribbon. Otherwise, DH created me a pull through on some containers so I can put my ribbons in there and just pull the amount I need to cut through and I don't have to worry about unravelling the whole roll. My Christmas ribbon is a plastic shoe box marked so I can find it easily.. It's on the scrapbook paper shelving unit about my pegboard.

Decorative Scissors: on my pegboard. I have about 4 hooks that are filled to capacity of decorative scissors.

Cardstock: Is currently in priority mail boxes that I have received and just didn't want to throw away once I found this site. This site was for storage solutions recycling things you already have.. So, I plan on decorating mine and making several more to divide my colors out even more. Right now I have my 8.5" paper in 2 boxes but divided by color in lg. plastic baggies. It works good but things will work better with more. I also have my 12X12 in the priority mailing box too.. However, I have taken one entire side off to accomodate the paper and it does not bend or tear!

Here is the storage box link: http://mvarticles.com/jen/shippingboxes.html

Speciality Cardstock: I have in a plastic 12X12 binder. I'm not found of it because you have to unlace it but when I get a few moments and decorate all my other boxes, I'll make a few more for my specialitly papers.

Christmas paper: Is in a box on one of my 2- 3 drawer units. It's in a box just because I have been working on our Christmas album and it was just easier to put everything together so I could just grab the box and go!

Xyron/Adhesive gagets/glue sticks: Are all located in a small photo box on the corner of my work station.
Glue dots/photo squares: are all in a small square basket I have hanging on the wall.

Swapping elements:
I have one 3 drawer units that holds elements: One drawer holds all the MK elements we have done. One drawers has all of Epcot. The last drawer and one that is completely full has all character related items.

The 2nd- 3 drawer unit has a drawer for all my stamps/inks; the second drawer has all Disney items that I have bought or have been given to me; the third drawer has page protectors, pipe cleaners and some scratch paper to keep my kids occupied when they are wanting something to do while I'm scrapping.

I also have a 9 drawer unit (it's a real small drawer unit that rolls). The top houses any of the magazines and books I have. Than the drawers are divide and house whatever is labelled on it.. MGM, family, girl/boy, sports, AK and the very bottom drawer houses the paper crimpers & those background templates that you can use to decorate your whole paper (they are like embossing templates).

My bookshelf houses: Stamps (Alpha); sizzix ABC set I have; photo boxes, 2- flat storage units that I have ribbon from swaps in and other miscellaneous goodies that I need somewhere to store.

Basket on the drawer houses my 3- paper trimmers!

I have a 5 shelf mesh unit that houses all my pictures that need to be gone through and scrapped along w/ cards, newspaper articles on the kids, etc. They are fairly organized but need to be scrapped. This mess was created when I took all our photos out of those sticky albums just a month or so ago. So, it's a work in progress...

What doesn't work:

I need more space!! I must say, I can easily access all of my stuff.. but I wish I had more room!! It may sound like I have a lot of room..but all of this is smushed on one wall...

 

[MissBubbles]

I'm really enjoying my scraproom I redid last June in my 2nd bedroom. So far, I'm pretty happy with everything I have for storage:

Paper:
12 x 12 paper is in a 30 gallon storage container separated by color with pieces of cardboard separating the colors. I also put all the solid color cardstock at the end of each section (starting with black, brown, then red, pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and miscellaneous - which is the paper that has pretty much every color under the sun and no dominant color).
8 1/2 x 11 paper: the solid color cardstock is in 2 small 3 drawer plastic cabinets, the printed paper is in an accordian file separated by type (child, pet, floral, Disney, etc.).
Scraps: are also in a 30 gallon plastic tub in folders separated by color. I have tons & tons of scraps mainly because I work for a mail-order greeting card company and our art department gives me the paper sample books when they have too many of them. Can't beat free, right?

Stickers:
I currently have 3 file boxes (the ones you'll find at Wal Mart or Target this time of year for tax prep) that house (1) - Disney stuff (separated by Mickey & Company, Pooh & Company, Princesses, Miscellaneous characters and Disneyland/Disneyworld stuff); (2) Sticker letters - separated by color with one for multi-colored letters; and (3) pretty much everything else separated by groups (animals, flowers, child, wedding, etc.).

Eyelets, brads, buttons:
These are in several fishing tackle boxes. I find these won't leave the compartments if the box is turned over where the craft boxes will. The eyelets are actually in small containers inside a Disneyworld lunchbox from a Child's Meal at MGM (along with the eyelet setter & puncher - wish I had a crop-o-dile but it's fine).

Punches:
The smaller punches are in a small cabinet that I found in the hardware section at Wal-Mart. The larger punches are in a wire mesh basket that sits in one of the bookcases in the room.

* The only thing I'm not happy with is ribbon storage. I'm okay with what I'm using for whole rolls but the floss box is just not working for me for a yard of ribbon. I love the idea of the Mason jars for storing these but I don't really have the room for them.

 

[mommy2mrb]

I have 12x12 paper stackers broken down by colors I use a lot, Disney (of course) Christmas and misc holidays.

For my stickers & Jolee's I have them in the Crop in Style PSB. Brads, eyelets, etc in a divided Crophopper box. Photos in the Crophopper photo box. Ribbons in a covered decorative box.

Other scrap supplies I keep in a wheeled storage unit I got from the Container Store, it has 8 drawers. My CutterBee and other cropping items in a rectangular basket. Everything of course is labeled.

I finally got it the way that works best for me, DH put up some extra shelves, so I have everything at my finger tips.

 

[LuvMV50]

You all have great ideas!! Thanks for sharing them!
I love my scrapbook space! My Dh built me a custom table with shelves and such and I have everything at my fingertips.

What definitely works for me:

I have two of these (except they are the bigger ones) that you can get at Home Depot. I store all my embellishments, eyelets, brads, conchos, ect in these. I also store extra tape runners, staples, chalk and my smaller Alpha stamps in these. They work great for me! I have my Sizzix Towers stored between these, with my Sizzix cutter to the side, which is probably why I use it so much because it is right there waiting for me to pick up!

I also love using the 12 x 12 sterlite containers that I got at Walmart. It holds all my Papers and cardstock. I also have one that stores my Disney stuff (paper on the top, embellies in the middle and stickers and alphas on the bottom one). They work great for me.

Eventually I want my DH to put up some peg board behind all of this so I can hang up my Sizzix Alphas. Right now they are all stacked on top of each other on the shelf above my table, which is fine, but too cluttered for me! LOL

I do like to be organized. Here is one pic of my table (I have to work out of my closet for now until DH builds me my own room! He did a great job though on the little space we had to work with...

What doesn't work...
Not enough space. I really need a bigger place for my scrapping stuff, which will happen eventually, but not for another year or so. I do like my space though, it is all right there for me to play with! LOL

 

[pjlla]

Well.... I did it. As I mentioned in my previous post, I wanted to replace a 6 drawer wooden dresser I was using with some of the 12 x 12 Sterilite 3 drawer units. I bought 5 of the units today (15 drawers!) and emptied the dresser into the units. Plus I partially emptied another large drawer, plus I put all my small punches that were in drawer organizers sitting on my scrapping table. All nice and neat and every drawer labeled! Including the two or three drawer units I already had, I now have a stack as tall as I can reach!! And I LOVE how nice and neat and organized it looks! I would love to be able to replace the bookshelf/photo box thing I have going on too, but at $10 a pop for the drawer units, it isn't going to happen any time soon!

This set up will definitely be working better for me... plus I was able to clear some table space and reorganize most ALL of my drawers. And it gave me an opportunity to put some stuff away for the Pizza Box swap. It was amazing to me how much stuff was in the bottom of some of those drawers that I didn't even remember I had. The drawers in the dresser were just too deep and the stuff got lost. Now almost everything has a drawer of its own. Rub-ons, alphabet diecuts, alphabet stickers, rubber stamps, quotes, small punches....etc, etc, etc. Thanks to you all for inspiring me to get more organized..............P

 

[BuzzBelleMom]

Well.... I did it.
P

Congrats!

Hope it will make your scrapping much easier!

 

[MyLittlePiglet]

12 x 12 Sterilite 3 drawer units.

Are these new, have I missed something? I saw something at target taht was just a scrap carry case that was heavy duty plastic. What are the sterile drawers? Does anyoen have a pic? Thanks!!!

 

[Fran98765]

Sterilite is the brand name. They are plastic drawers that stack.

 

[hopemax]

I think I've tackled the sticker monster!

I went to JoAnn's today with my 50% email coupon, and was disappointed that the Disney stuff was 30% because then I couldn't use the coupon on Disney stuff. So I went to look at the Cropper Hopper stuff, and I decided to get the sticker envelopes. I got my pack of 3 home and I started putting the princess stuff away. The envelopes have 4 pockets, and I realized that paper would fit in the largest pocket! The Sandylion stickers fit fine in the 3rd pocket (if they are out of the package) and I used the two smaller pockets for Jolees and smaller sandylion stickers and other small embellishments. So then I ran out to the other JoAnns with the 40% off coupon to buy another set.

So now I have 6 envelopes filled with Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and "multi-princess" stuff very nicely, and neatly organized. And all the envelopes are stored in a "Nancy Priority Mail Box."

I'm so excited about this, but now I have to wait for more coupons (which can be sporatic this time of year). Plus, I don't have to come up with paper storage for the Disney paper either.

 

[twinsr241]

I am fortunate enough to have an entire room dedicated to scrapbooking. Unfortunately, it is not set up very effectively and I rarely use it. I am one of those people who needs everything out and in sight so I will use it. This makes for a big mess!!
I have made several attempts at organizing and it is getting better.
I wanted to share my favorite item I got that really helped me organize. I bought a scrapbooking storage unit at Costco for around $35 or $40. It is made by IRIS. It has 5 drawers that are 12 x 12. The best thing is the drawers are actually cases with an attached snapping lid. I labeled each drawer for different albums I am working on or plan to work on. I included photos, embellishments, paper, memorabilia, etc.
A few weeks ago my neighbor invited me over to scrapbook and I was able to just grab the "Disney" drawer allong with a few tools and adhesives and I was on my way. Everything was contained inside the case and easy to transport.
I have seen similar units at Joann's too.
I have picked up a lot of tips from everyone. Thanks!

 

[PrincessNancy96]

I think I've tackled the sticker monster!

I went to JoAnn's today with my 50% email coupon, and was disappointed that the Disney stuff was 30% because then I couldn't use the coupon on Disney stuff. So I went to look at the Cropper Hopper stuff, and I decided to get the sticker envelopes. I got my pack of 3 home and I started putting the princess stuff away. The envelopes have 4 pockets, and I realized that paper would fit in the largest pocket! The Sandylion stickers fit fine in the 3rd pocket (if they are out of the package) and I used the two smaller pockets for Jolees and smaller sandylion stickers and other small embellishments. So then I ran out to the other JoAnns with the 40% off coupon to buy another set.

So now I have 6 envelopes filled with Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and "multi-princess" stuff very nicely, and neatly organized. And all the envelopes are stored in a "Nancy Priority Mail Box."

I'm so excited about this, but now I have to wait for more coupons (which can be sporatic this time of year). Plus, I don't have to come up with paper storage for the Disney paper either.

I got that 50% off coupon too..but I'm holding onto it a little longer..(well, it has to be used by Sat...so I'm holding onto it til Friday! )
Now, off to do laundry yet again! And decorate one of my priority boxes!!!