Paper Scraps???

[DisneyIsTerrific]

How do you store/organize your paper scraps so that you actually use them? I've got a bin full of them, but rarely use them because it's a pain to dig through it to find a piece to use. I decided I need to get organized and actually use them, so last night I sorted them all into groups by color which will help some, but they are still just piled in a box. So, what do you do with them?

Thanks for any suggestions!!!

 

[PrincessNancy96]

I have mine divided by color in file folders... and I've taped a note to my cricut asking myself do you have a scrap piece that would work.. It's funny that I tend to check more often when I turn on my cricut to see if I have that color in a scrap piece to use...

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

http://www.staples.com/sbd/img/cat/std/s0065870_std.jpg

I use these with dividers. they are 5x8.

 

[hopemax]

I bought a pack of page protectors from Office Max (200 for $10). I started by putting them in binders, but then I ran out of binders so I have some organized by color in a used Priority mail box. So I have 5 binders and the priority box. I have a binder for Patterned Paper, Bling, Bazzil, non-bazzill, non-Bazzill neutral colors/vellum. The Priority box has overflow Bazzill and Patterned paper.

 

[New England Eeyore]

I fully admit I have a hard time letting anything go, so I take it to the extreme. I have 4 sets of those Sterilite 12x12 drawers (12 drawers all together) with one drawer for each color or style of patterned paper. When it gets so I can't close the drawer easily, I weed out the little bits I won't use. But I need to go through them better and weed out a lot more. It's rare that I actually find a usable piece that matches what I'm already using. But they're not in my way and they have a home, so there's not a huge motivation for me to do that.

 

[MazdaUK]

I find it really hard to part with scraps and did have them in an A3 ziplock. Then I read an article in a mag (SS or CK?) and now its in 3 smaller ones - one each for odd pieces of plain and patterned for use with punches, and one for "regular" pieces - rectangles, strips etc. which I can slap on a page or use in my Xyron. And no, despite buying my X sticker I still haven't made any serendipity sqiuares

 

[123SA]

I have a large accordion file that fits 12x12 paper. I have a section for each color (not for patterned papers). I keep it near my cricut. My DD sorted all the paper for me and labeled the tabs -- she had a great time doing it too! Since it is organized, I use it frequently. For the surprise swap, I did 9 groups almost entirely from my scraps.


Nancy -- I like your idea of a reminder on the cricut itself!

 

[MazdaUK]

I might swap my CM one over to just scraps and take out any pieces A4 or bigger

 

[TPCShauna]

I keep my colored CS scraps with full sheets of the same colors. They are sorted and stored in these:

.

My patterned paper scraps are sorted into a Misc. folder with themed scraps such as Christmas, Halloween, Spring, etc. kept in the corresponding Iris case for each of those themes. I have all of the folders and Iris cases labeled using my Label maker so I can grab them quickly.

The folders can be purchased at Michaels in a 10-pack for around $17.00. I've been using this system for three years and I've still not had to replace any of my original folders. It works very well for me.

 

[DisneyIsTerrific]

Thanks for your help. Since I sorted my scraps by color, I've actually been using them!!!! But, I still need to put them in something that makes it easier to get to the color I need. I'm going to look at some of the things y'all do and see what will work best for me!

Thanks so much!!!