scrapbook tote question

[nicurn]

hi guys, what kind of storage/tote bag would you recommend? Right now all my stuff is in drawers, not very portable. I don't really have a ton of scissors and pens, I do have a bunch of 12x12 paper, punchies, stickers, the 12 inch paper cutter, and random other stuff. Any suggestions? thanks, maggie

 

[chessie]

I started off with the Cropper Hopper Jr. tote. It didn't last long as once you get it filled it is much to heavy to carry. I jumped right to the XXL Cropper Hopper. The wheels are a definite back saver. Some people don't like being compartmentalized but it helps to keep me organized. Whatever you decide on, think wheels.

 

[etwinchester]

I have the generations tote (create-a-bag). I have so much stuff now that I had to take everything out and now I use it only for my disney items. I also have a Creative Memories album tote for traveling. It has plenty of room for a trip to a friends house or a crop shop.

One thing I just purchased and LOVE is my Iris Storage on wheels. I purchased it at K'mart but they are also sold at Wal-Mart and office supply stores. I have a 5 drawer labeled:

1. Animals
2. Outdoors
3. School Days
4. Seasons/Holidays
5. Miscellanouse

I keep all die cuts, stickers, and punchies (in bags) mixed together in a drawer according to the themes. You can wheel it around the house to where ever you decide do scrapbook. Sometimes I just pull out the drawer that I will be using and everything is right there.

I also have a 6 drawer Iris Storage that I keep for scissors, Creative Memories cutting systems, adhesives, templates, etc...

For my paper, I went to Office Max and got a filing system on wheels. Everything is so excessable and moveable this way. Sometimes I work in the Dining Room and other times, in the bedroom. I'm working on making a scrapbook room so it will be nice to store these in the corners of room or closet and wheel next to the table when I scrapbook.

I purchased all 3 of these for $70.00 and to me, it's well worth it! Hope this helps. You may be able to catch some sales or coupons for the office supply stores.

Let us know what you decided to get.

 

[BevS97]

I use a Zag 4 in 1 tool box - it works great and it is very cheap, it cost me about £20 - which is $15.
It has a box at the bottom with a tray in it, if you remove the tray then you can fit 12x12 paper or albums in the bottom.
The top is a typical toolbox, and holds a paper trimmer, tons of pens and anything else you need to stash.
There's also a bit that swivels out which is good for small things like buttons, and space in the lid for flat things, like pens etc.
I don't travel to crops often, but I've found this works really well - I can take nearly everything with me.

here in the UK, where totes are very expensive, and we don't have a michaels with the lovely coupons, the Zag is king.

I think Stanley have bought Zag, as I saw some marked Stanley the other day.

Bev

 

[Lainy67]

Have you seen the new Creative Memories Memory Mate Cart? It is huge. My SIL has one and my neighbor has one also. My SIL is a consultant, and she said she emptied almost two of her consultant cases into it. Apparently it is very well organized and she was able to put a lot of stuff in the side pockets that was in the single compartment on her old bags.

 

[Pammy jo]

I have the Crop in Style Navigator which is great for holding all my pens, scizzors, punches etc. But I still have to have a paper holder, I suggest a heavy duty one, and I have a set of 6 drawers which I got from Office Mart to hold all my stickers, die cuts, etc. The navigator is great for going to crops, but you still have to pile a few necessary items on top of it.

 

[lisaschu]

I, too, vote for the CM Memory Mate Cart and bag. I have both and I'm amazed at how much I can stuff in and still have room. They're awesome and I highly recommend them!!

Lisa

 

[Spinning]

I started with the Crop in style Jr. I loved it (past tense!) as I got more into it the more stuff I have. It now weighs too much to carry and doesn't hold all of my tools.
So I am waiting for my LSS to get in the crop in style XXL she offers a 40% coupon each month so it is a great deal! around $80! it has lots of space, wheels and pockets great handles to lift it in and out of the car.
I tried to empty out my Jr when I went to my last crop but then didn't have the paper I wanted and other stuff! So in a few weeks I will have my XXL!
So in my opinion bigger is always best!

 

[DVCajun]

I'm also in the market for a new tote. I have the ZAG and while it's definitely a great cart and a steal of a deal (Walmart has them for $25), it just isn't big enough! The other day I went to a crop and I looked like a bag lady I had so many bags strung over my shoulders or hooked over my wrist. In *addition* to pulling my ZAG! So now i'm trying to decide what to get next.

A friend of mine used to be a CM consultant and she has one of the CM totes. They're HUGE but that's also a big drawback as she says it's virtually impossible to pick the thing up. Have those of you who have the CM tote found this to be the case?

Right now i'm leaning toward the XXL. I like the fact that I can hook something onto the pull handle (like something with paper in it) if I want to. I'm looking for a good deal too. My LSS only offers 20% off every couple of months. I'm hoping to get a better deal than that!

 

[BevS97]

I do know what you mean - my first crop the zag was ideal, but last time Ihad to take a seperate bag for my albums.

i have also heard that the xxl is extremely heavy to lift when it is full - I've heard good things about the Navigator being a good size, big enough to hold everything, but not so big that you can't lift it.

Bev

 

[PamCo88]

I bought the XXL bag and am now trying to get rid of it. It is too heavy when filled, I live on the 3rd floor and even when empty it is heavy by the time I get to the door. Haven't found anything I like yet. But most of the time I scrap at home now anyway.

 

[Peter Pan Fan]

The CM memory mate cart is on wheels, so you can fill it up and not worry about having to carry it. The CM carry-all does get heavy, but you can fit a TON of stuff in there. I shortened the strap and that made it much easier to carry (the strap is really long if you don't tighten it up). There are so many pockets and sections for stuff. I think either of these (or both) is a great investment.

Last year I bought the Pack & Roll cart from Officemax, it was only $14.99 and it holds quite a bit. Certainly not everything I have, but enough to take to a workshop and get a lot done. It's not specifically for scrapbooking (probably the reason it is so cheap). It holds my 12x12 albums. Only thing is there are no sections, it is just one big square, so you would need little containers for the small stuff.

 

[DVCajun]

Even if a cart has wheels it has to be lifted in and out of your car and up and down stairs. My scraproom is on the second floor of my house.