Jennifer Schaerer
We all know about card swaps, and some of us have probably dabbled in recipe swaps, too. I think we all know the version of a flea market that is called a swap meet – you know the saying, right? One man’s trash is another man’s (or woman’s!) treasure.
We also swap ideas all the time – my post about getting ready for the holidays yielded so many cookie recipes and other treat ideas that I’m just bursting while I wait for Christmas to get just a wee bit closer.
Guess what? It’s National Swap Ideas Day today, and we’re going to do just that – swap some ideas! I’m always looking for ways to organize my supplies, or use scraps, or put packaging to use.
Leave me your best idea (or three) for anything relating to organization, scraps or packaging use and we can all swap together!
In the spirit of swapping, here’s my idea – and it’s for organizing my scraps:
I have a legal-sized expandable file (like the one below) for storing my paper and card stock scraps. The key is the legal size, because it’s 14” long and 9” wide – a regular letter sized file is just a hair too small for scraps that are 12” long. I then organize my scraps by color and pattern and grab the whole file when I need to head off to my card swap group.
An expandable legal-sized file like this one from an office supply store is the perfect way to store your paper scraps.
I’m sure we’ve got something just amazing to give away to a random commenter, so be sure to toss in your idea by midnight (MDT) on Saturday, Sept. 12 and I’ll pick a winner.
Happy swapping,
Jennifer
P.S. It’s time to announce the winner from Susan’s So Long, Farewell… post and the three winners from Kim Hughes’ Magazine Monday – Back to School post!
Susan’s winner:
Stacy (Sept. 3, 3:39 p.m.)
Kim’s winners:
1. Diana Fischer (Sept. 8, 8:25 a.m.)
2. Margaret (Sept. 8, 9:28 p.m.)
3. Susan C. (Sept. 8, 4:30 p.m.)
Congrats, winners! Kelly will be contacting you shortly to discuss your prizes and get your mailing addresses. Thanks to all who left comments!
The best thing I ever bought was an over the door shoe holder. All the pockets hold my punches, extra adhesives, heat gun, sponges, etc. Anything loose or that I know I’d need in an instant goes in there. The clear panels make it a snap finding what I’m looking for…and the best part…it totally makes clean up a snap!
I have “color drawers” for scrap…Just 12x12x2 drawers for each of the basic rainbow colors and to find one, I just pull open the draw and search scraps! Easy peasy!
Kim Marie
I use a Starbucks Frappacino bottle (minus the label) for paintbrushes. And a big thank you to Kim and Kelly for the Holiday Cards magazine! Totally made my Thursday! : )
I just use a see-through 8 1/2 X 11 accordian file & separate pieces by color. I usually don’t keep anything smaller than 4″x4″ though.
After years of chasing cs scraps all over I decided to get organized once and for all. I purchased two carts from Costco.com that had room to hang either 8 1/2 X 11 file folders or 12 X 12. I use hanging file folders to store whole pieces of cs so on one cart I have my 12 X 12 paper and on the other I house the 8 1/2 X 11. Each file folder is labeled with the name of the color or a punched out dot of the cs. This way I can quickly find the color that I need. In each folder I inserted a smaller folder that is only open at the top and in that I keep all of the scraps of that color so now I have scraps at my disposal and don’t have to waste a big sheet of CS when a small one will do. The bottom of the cart has two drawers were I keep items that I don’t use frequently such as my embossing powders, embossing gun, extra ATG tape, etc. The top of the carts have a plastic covering sturdy enough to place things on so my paper cutter, scor-pal, etc are on those. I bought plastic cup thingies at Ikea that can hang off the side of the cart and in those I have my tape runner, scissors, acrylic blocks, pencils, hand held punches, etc. Everything is within easy reach so I love my carts.
I am soooo unorganized, but the only part of my hobby that is organized is my photos. They are in my computer by month, so when I print them, I file them in a coupon envelope by month, too. It makes it easy to scrapbook since I scrap chronologically.
This is a great idea. As for organizing–I keep all my inks in one plastic tub, all my embossing powder and acrylic blocks in another. I store like things together. Makes life a little easier. The biggest tip of all is to always put things away in the right spot–otherwise disorganization happens way too quickly for me.
I keep my patterned papers standing up in a big plastic cube (made for children and found in ikea…). They are sorted by compagny and divided with homemande dividers. So my collections are always together. I find easy to choose my papers because I usually scrap with papers from the same collection.
I use empty spice jars for my buttons, and have wrapped the ribbon around clothespins- which looks really pretty, but now I need organization for that!
I think I might check out the plastic gutter!! 
I have some little containers that had Christmas candy in them that are divided inside that I use to sort my brads, eyelets and smaller embilishments. They’re small enough to store nicely and makes it easy to find what I’m looking for.
The best organizational thing I’ve done the past couple of years is to use a label-maker to label my supply drawers, boxes, and stash. It just makes everything look more uniform, and helps locate things more easily (but you have to make sure you stick to your labels!
)
I have a lot of paper punches. Most of them are the large and medium ones in all different sizes and shapes. I bought (3) large clear plastic file storage containers from Wal-mart. Since they are deep, you can put a lot of stamps in each one. The file containers have a handle which is good to move around since the container can get heavy.
I have a cutlery organizer from Ikea – four metal buckets that hang from a wall-mounted rail. This holds my pens, scissors, adhesives, craft knives, tweezers, styluses, bone folders, etc., and keeps my shelf and desk space open.
Hmmm… that is a hard question! I don’t really have any ‘secret’ organization tips that you probably don’t already know! I have all of my 8.5 x 11 paper in a two drawer lateral file cabinet and I keep all of my scraps in with the full size sheets. Even with patterned paper! I had them in a separate drawer labeled for scraps but… I found that I didn’t ever open that drawer unless it was to put something else in it. Keeping my scraps and bigger paper together has worked out much better!! I am way more likely to use it first!
I am the last person to give organizational advice, my crafts are a mess! But I’m going to try the legal sized file folders. That’s pretty neat. Everything I’ve tried so far just doesn’t work for me. I tried buying plastic shoe boxes that stack for tools and adhesives buuuut they just end up every other place BUT back in the shoe box.
Hi Jennifer, I have a file like the one you showed for each of my SU! colour families. Plus one for the neutral colours. Each file is a different colour and is labelled on the outside with the family name. Each colour is labelled inside on the little tabs. Very easy….and all 5 files sit inside a plastic basket beside my craft desk. Works great:)
I use a file folder for my scrap pieces of colored cardstock. I also a shoe rack to hold my packs of paper.
Have a great weekend.
Tanya
I store my ribbon scraps in a large jar. It’s big enough to put my hand in to pull something out that I want to use and it’s fun to look at because you can see all the great colors together inside.
I repurpose old bulletin boards found at garage sales for under $2 and I turn them into fabric ribbon boards for my craft room and for my daughters’ bedrooms. I love having all my inspirational pieces in view without the holes that thumbtacks make.
I use a tool caddy (normally used to hold bolts, screws, etc.) with lots of clear drawers to hold all my embellishments, brads, eyelets, etc and have each drawer labeled. It’s great to have them all in one place. These can be found in the hardware area of a store.
I try to save all my packaging for 12 x 12 papers so I can reuse them for layouts that I take to display at a store or when I do a layout for a friend. This keeps them safe and clean!
I made ribbon holders from plastic organizers and melted holes for the ribbon to come through with a hot glue gun.
I need to find one of these expandable file books that is clear like this one.
My swap idea is to collect the packaging (clear plastic) that your scrapbook items come in (I am talking about the clear stuff that opens and closes easily with a sticky band). Group them into like sizes and use them as page protectors for your mini book pages.
Well I have one of the Making Memories spinning caddies {with the dividers up top and lil drawers in the bottom} and I was at a loss of what to keep in the drawers. I have most of my smaller embellies in lil jars on top of my desk, so I really wasn’t using those drawers for much. Well my button collection grew enough that I found the perfect use for those drawers- buttons! I split up my buttons two colors per drawer, and it’s working great. I did a post about it on my blog if anyone’s interested
{check the left sidebar for the link}
I have SO much scrap paper, I have a 12×12 drawer for each color. It took me forever to get it organized this way, but the result is great. I always go to the scrap drawer first now, rather than cutting a new piece of paper!!
I use the Creative Memories 12×12 clear folder for my paper scraps separated by color (solid & PP) in the ROYGIV except the IV is Purple, and then I have folders each for white/cream, black/grey, brown/tan, vellum, baby, birthday, christmas. My stickers and rubons are in the Creative Memories smaller 6×12 folders-each has 3 sections and I have about 18 folders (mostly because I cannot locate more). They are separated by alpha small, alpha med, alpha large, family-all, family-boy, family-girl, sports (6 different sports), special occasions (birthdays, weddings), Holidays (Christmas/NYE, others), words and phrases, misc. These are my two favorite organizing ideas and these work very well for me–I can even get my kids to find what they are looking for in those folders.
I use empty wipes containers of my grandson’s for stamp pads. I’m enjoying reading all of these though.
Small boxes are helpful when organizing embellishments.
A lot of great organizational tips going on here tonight. Just like another poster I love the stacking cubes by Memory Makers and JetMax. I have several of them that I use for paper, punches, inks, etc, etc.
I also have a large sheet of pegboard that hangs on the wall over my crafting table that holds my cutting mats, adhesives, scissors, stickers, pencils, and other items.
Now on to a re-use idea for packaging…..I like to keep some of the plastic packaging from embellishments to re-use for making shaker cards. I’ve made a few where just the belly of a clown or snowman would be the “shaker” and the recipient loved it.
The best idea of organising coloured cardstock that I’ve seen is getting a few plastic drawers and having one drawer per colour. I know a lot of people use magazine type files but this way you can put your smaller pieces in there too. And it’s all safe from dust.
I also like the idea of having a basket in your craft room that you can gather a few “in season” products and focus on using them on your cards. It surely follows the saying that you will use it if you can see it!
I buy really inexpensive cd cases and keep my clear stamps in them.
a portable file folder box i got real cheap at target because it was dented on 1 corner. i put all my paper scraps by color & season and collection. very handy & fast to search through!
recycled glass jars to hold buttons, primas and brads. makes for pretty decoration too!
cd cases to hold clear stamps in and then storing those into photo boxes.
I can not believe I found your expandable file folder scrap storage idea today. I just finished an all day clean-out of my craft room and the only thing left to put away are my scrap papers. I have just not found the perfect storage idea. I am going to Staples right after I post this comment and pick up a binder. Thanks for the idea!
I am a sucker for all those cute $1 stamps at Michael’s and JoAnn’s, but they were taking over my drawer space. I bought some baseball card pocket sheets(like page protectors, but with 9 pockets) and put all my dollar stamps in the pocket protectors and put them in a 3in. binder. Now I can find what I want much easier without digging through a pile.
I cut the side of page protectors open and then staple the middle and end shut. The two openings fit 4×6 stamp sets with their cardboard backing perfectly! Then I put them all in binders. It feels more organized that way!