ScrapbookAddict Scrapping Tip of the Month

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kathy m from San Jose CA writes...
Trial and error is the only way to find a method that works for you. I\'ve started keeping a notebook by the computer to write down those quotes/phrases that I like as a I come across them. There isn\'t a particular order or rhyme or reason to this notebook abut it works for me. I\'ve given up on keeping small scraps. I found that I would keep them and never use them. Wasteful, I know, but I\'ve made peace with it. What ideas/solutions work for you?

Judy in AK from North Pole, Alaska writes...
I keep my quotes and poems in 2 file folders, adding new computer print outs, clippings, or handwritten notes as I find them. My scraps are divided up by color and placed in separate, large, clear envelopes by \"Generations\". My small embellishments (stickers and die cuts) go into a pockets of \"Crop In Style\" protective binder sheets. My larger embellishments go into Rubbermaid tubs. So far this has worked for me.

Michelle Rae from Washington PA writes...
I use two tackle boxes I got a gander mountain for all of my buttons, ribbon, metals, beads, etc. LOVE them. I was turned on by these particular ones by Sherry in WV. I\'ll have to post a pic sometime! But everything is easier to find in these and its not an ordinary tackle box. Michelle Rae

Kim from Bothell, WA writes...
I have a large plastic box that holds lots of craft keepers (plastic portfolios). Each craft keeper is devoted to a theme: back to school, Christmas, sports, etc. I throw all of my themed embellishments into those craft keepers. Even patterned paper and sticker sheets will fit into the 12x12 craft keepers.

Meesie from Chambersburg, PA writes...
I\'m always coming up with new ideas to organize and reorganize things. I recently took my embellishments and put them in small plastic containers then combined the containers and slightly bigger things into photo boxes that are all the same color. I used a labeler to mark what was inside (i.e. metals, eyelets, tags, etc.). It looks so much more organized and they\'re all in one area of my workspace. I also put my fibers in these. I took small baglets and put a fiber in each. Then I put the baglets into sandwich bags by color family and toss them into the box. It\'s so much easier to find what I want!

Claudia in TX from TX writes...
I store my scraps by color. Each color has it\'s own 81/2 x 11 plastic sleeve (like for reports) and they each go into an accordian file. When I need a certain color scrap, I go straight to that color, pull out the plastic sleeve and find the right size I need. Small embellishments go into either small plastic boxes or I discovered this great system that has bags one on top of each other and they are layered. Cant remember who makes them, but there are 2 rows and each baggie has a ziplock on it so nothing falls out! I try to keep all my like embellishments together or I also keep big brand names together like Making Memories.

Mindy writes...
I dont have any great advice. I try to file my scraps into colors , I have a cm huge binder full of them but often I forget they are there. I also keep a journal of sayings when I find them in word and also in a small journal I keep in my purse. Dont have any other brillant ideas but really like seeing what other people do.

INJacqui from Brown County, Indiana writes...
First off - I\'ll be watching this question closely. I have never found a good way for storing quotes I like. Right now, if I remember, I put them in my My Docs folder. As for scrap paper, I don\'t keep anything that can\'t mat a photo or be used as a border unless its an expensive specialty paper. When I went vertical, I have a 12x12 folder for each color of paper and an 8.5x11 folder in that folder for the scraps. As for my embellishments, I have a little hardware drawer dealy for my lumpy stuff. Its catagorized by item (brads, eyelets, charms) and color. The outside of the door is labeled. For my fibers, I unwound one I had bought that was on a cardboard \"spool\" shaped holder. I traced it out on some heavy cardstock and cut about 50 of them out. Then every fiber I own that wasn\'t already on a spool got wound around one. That I sorted all the spools into baggies by color. -Jacqui

Kim in TN from Nashville, TN writes...
I have a computer program that I use to put all those quotes and little sayings in. It\'s a Mac program (but I\'m sure there\'s something kind of like it for windows) called Circus Ponies Notebook. It\'s basically just like a notebook -- you can add tabs and dividers and organize things into categories. An awesome program if you have a Mac, I use it for school too. For little doo-dads and embellishments, I have a Black and Decker organizer that I found at Lowe\'s. It\'s got plastic cases that slide into a larger case. I love it, it\'s the best organizer I\'ve found for my stuff. I keep my scraps in 8.5x11 hanging file folders in a hanging file folder box. Organized roughly by color. I only hang onto scraps large enough to make a photo mat out of them, the rest go in the garbage unless they\'re cool scraps like Basic Grey, I hang onto those.

mamichelle from ma michelle writes...
I use a binder to organize quotes, sketches, ideas, etc. I use a pencil box for scraps that I use mostly for cardmaking but sometimes to cut letters out. If it\'s a small enough piece, I just automatically cut it into a shape for future use (sm. square, circle, etc.) I\'m still having trouble keeping my little embellishments under control. I use those little iris carts but I\'m overflowing out of one that\'s full of stamp pads, another with brads, clips, fibers, and another with embossing powders, eyelets, etc. Some day I will find a way to get it all under control! :-)

FSM from Washington writes...
I\'m a binder girl. I installed a wooden magazine rack on the side of my kitchen counter, under the phone. It holds the phone book (1/4 inch thick in our little town!) and a binder with 3-hole punched, large manilla envelopes. These are labeled at the top: school, pictures and memorabilia. This gives me quick and easy access to putting aside scraps, school awards, bookmarks, love notes, momentos etc. When they get full, I pull them out, date them and file them in the scrap room file cabinet, upstairs. That is the best system I have for being able to retrieve the stuff when I am ready for it. The embellishments are sorted into clear dollar store zippered pencil cases, (the kind that have three holes) and held in binders. I buy the white binder packs at Costco and slip in a colored paper along the spine, so that I have a binder of each color. They are nice looking all lined up and make for easy scrapping and clean up. You just flip open the binder and take out the case you want. Little things like eyelets now go into small zip locks, inside of the cases. I have another set of binders for stickers, die cuts, unmounted stamps, plastic stencils and brass stencils. I like everything enclosed and lined up, so the binderswork for me. Quotes go in a quote file on my hardrive with the same headline each time: Quote/ and then the first few words of the quote. This has been the easiest way for me to keep track of them. I have even once text messaged a quote to myself from my cel phone when I was reading a magazine in bed.(Lazy? or Smart? - I dunno - got a real eyeroll from DH though!) Anyway, having them in a file on the computer helps me remember to use them.

JoLynn from Utah writes...
I file my scraps by color and place them in hanging files. Easy to find and I use them all of the time. My quotes I also file into hanging file folders. I have different folders for quotes, lessons, patterns and pictures. I bought a tool sorter from K-Mart (can also buy at Wal-mart) that I have placed on my wall. It has 48 drawers with dividers if I need them. I place all my small embellishments in here. I try to bunch them into categories. Such as brads, ribbon, metal embellishments, wire and buttons. You can see through the front of the drawers to know what\'s inside. Helped me a bunch to find all those small pieces that were always lost.

Barb from PA writes...
I use alot of those different sized plastic containers. I then put labels on them. As for magazines I cut up with quotes or just layouts I like, I cut them out and just put them on cardstock and have sections of how many photo\'s are on a page. Like one photo, two, etc. would go into that section. I figure you can always change it to whatever season, etc. you want to, to match it by using the amount of photo\'s you have. Hope this makes sense. If you do cards, the layouts are good if you use a design for one photo. It\'s just scaled down.--I have one of those picnic type baskets that you put napkins and silverware in for my scissors and pens. --I put my rubber stamps in a regular tool box I bought at Wal-Mart.

Lisa from Ontario writes...
small little ribbon pieces - I hate throwing them away. I keep a binder ring on my magnetic board and when I have a little piece left I tie it onto the ring. I keep quite a few - pastels, black & white, neutrals. Then when the ring is filled up, I can use it on the edge of a journal, altered item or paint tin. That way I never waste the \"too little\" pieces and I have an embellishment at the end of it all to coordinate with my larger projects.

Susan from Central PA writes...
Quotes/poems - I keep them in documents on my computer. I have separate files for different categories (like one for cats/pets; one for birthdays, etc.) and can print the file if I need it in hard copy format. If I have mementos or small embellishments for a specific group of photos, I put them with the photos. My basic embellishments are kept in floss boxes so I can easily see the variety I have to choose from. I don\'t save many scraps. If they\'re 4x6 or larger, then I save them. Photo matte sized ones are kept with my Club Scrap POPs and anything larger than 1/2 sheet of paper is kept with the cardstock itself.

K from Wisconsin writes...
How do you organize those little things that you want to save for future use? I\'m talking about quotes/phrase, scrap papers, little embellishments. Do you have a system or method that has worked for you? Share and inspire others. I organized all my supplies recently and I had lots of items scattered all over so started fresh again putting things together. I have those small drawer boxes from target for many of my small embelishments. I have labeled the drawers for ribbon,tags etc. I really like this method because its right on the desk if I wish to look for something but also it lays flat till I need it no bent items. One thing I really like and enjoy is a small lunch box that is decorated on the outside from a ss swap. inside I have the tiny baggies with like items. tags, metal embelishments,buckles, slides buttons all in bags and I find I enjoy going shopping in my box for items when I am creating. I also have a market day basket that I use to catch stuff while I am working so I don\'t misplace items. I have been saved by that basket more than once. If i get sidetracked my items are all there till I get to them.

Paula from Wabash writes...
I keep my small embellishments in the plastic organizers that usually hold embroidery floss. I keep like items in boxes and then label the sides like buttons, eyelets, metal embellishments etc. They take up very little space and look nice when stacked. As far as quotes etc... I too am a \"binder\" girl. I three hole punch stuff I print off the computer and stick in my binder which is separated into sections (friends, pets, love, etc...). As far as \"sketches\" go, I found at wal-mart index cards that are two-hole punched and a binder made for them, so I keep my sketches in a \"mini\" binder that is easy to flip through.

doglady from Florida writes...
I use 12X12 page protecters. When I go on a trip or to an event I put any memorbilia in the protecter then add any quotes, stickers etc I think might go and finally I put the pictures or a copy of the CD (digital pics) with it and place it in a file cube (hanging folders). I can add more than one protecter if the trip or event was long. When I am ready to scrap I match the paper and also put it in page protecters. When I go to a crop or want to scrap quickly most of the work is done! I also have the protecters handy to place my completed pages in.

writes...
Hi, I have a big CM binder that holds a bundle of these embellishments, poems, phrases etc. I first took the little file names and placed them on top by catagory. First I have then listed as follows: Alphabets,second file is baby, then food, then birthday, then borders which consists of stickers, poems, saying, etc., then heritage, holiday, kids,water/vacation, wedding, then wilderness(which consists of stickers, anything flowers, mountains, etc.). This is the most organized thing to do ladies. I have never a problem finding a thing. As in the back is an extra spot I place little scrapbook paper and my plastic envelopes so I don\'t lose them. I also have those wonderful baseball card holders in an old fabric album that work well for stickers, embellishments and little pieces of scrapbook paper. This is just two of my fun ways to keep organized. Every day is a great scrapbooking Day!

Michelle Aguilar from Mesa, Arizona writes...
Hi, I have a big CM binder that holds a bundle of these embellishments, poems, phrases etc. I first took the little file names and placed them on top by catagory. First I have then listed as follows: Alphabets,second file is baby, then food, then birthday, then borders which consists of stickers, poems, saying, etc., then heritage, holiday, kids,water/vacation, wedding, then wilderness(which consists of stickers, anything flowers, mountains, etc.). This is the most organized thing to do ladies. I have never a problem finding a thing. As in the back is an extra spot I place little scrapbook paper and my plastic envelopes so I don\\\'t lose them. I also have those wonderful baseball card holders in an old fabric album that work well for stickers, embellishments and little pieces of scrapbook paper. This is just two of my fun ways to keep organized. Every day is a great scrapbooking Day!

Barbi M from Lehigh, FL writes...
Ihave recently converted everything to the Cropper Hopper vertical system and the embellishment boxes. It has saved me so much space to take everything out of the packages and into the smaller boxes. On the quotes, I just have a notebook that I have a different page for different occasions (boys, holidays, family, sports etc) and when I come across a quote I like, I simply write it on the page that it fits. Then I can just look to the notebook for whatever category I am looking for.

Karrie from N Illinois writes...
I write down quotes and things from sba or mags on post-its and then every so often I transfer them into a little binder (about 4x7\" or so) by topic.... parents, siblings, nature, feelings..... I\'ve found this to be the best method for me! hth someone!

Gail from NJ writes...
For small embellishments, I\'m using the cropper hopper case with all the little compartments and the very small plastic boxes that fit inside. That holds my eyelets, brads, fibers, charms, and anything else small. For scraps of paper, I\'m using a CM expandable file folder. I bought this a long time ago when I used a lot of CM paper, but once I went to true 12x12, it couldn\'t hold the paper, but its good for scraps. For quotes and other little ideas that I may cut out of magazines, I glue the idea to large index cards and keep them in a file box.

crazedscrapper writes...
I save my paper scraps in an accordian folder, sorted by color. I don\'t know why, I very rarely use them. Once the folder starts to bulge, I go through and trash smaller pieces. As for ideas, I have a notebook that I write things down in. I have a horrible memory, so if I don\'t write it, I forget it. As for memorabilia, I have a drawer in my iris cart for just that type of thing.

Angie from Ar writes...
I had made a database in Access for my quotes,poems. It worked really well until I came across this board. Too much info to constantly have to enter in! So I just have them stuck in a notebook for now - not organized! My small embellishments is in a storage container that I got from Michaels. It has 4 closed drawers that come out for you to put items in. It\'s the perfect size for eyelets, etc.

Cynthia from Indiana writes...
I put my quotes in a three-ring binder by category (I actually need a bigger binder!). Any brochures, programs, and other papers to be scrapbooked are filed in two file folders: vacation or other. All my stickers and diecuts are filed in file folders by category (the PSB just didn\'t work well for me; I\'m using it to hold pre-planned pages). So far, everything has been easy to find and works real well for me!

bluejean writes...
I\'ve found that if I can\'t see my stuff, I don\'t generally use it. All my small metal stuff is in a divided box that Kathy M sent me. It\'s got one large box and three smaller divided boxes, they are all clear so I can see what is in all of them. I also got some little metal baskets to put all my embellishements in on my desk. I can see most of them and it lets me root easily. Before, I had them in drawers in iris carts and never really got around to using any of them. Yes, its more cluttered looking but I find I use stuff more. I have all my eyelets and brads in watchmakers tins right on my desk so I can just open it and look. I found that if I had to get up and go across the room to get something, I didn\'t use it. The more steps I had to take to get something or put it back, the less I used it so I went with simplicity to make it easier in the long run. I\'m actually using my stash now!

Deb writes...
I use two organizers that I bought in the hardware department with 3 different size of drawers (usually to hold nuts and bolts) but they work perfectly - the drawers are see thru which helps alot. As far as quotes, stickers, clip art - I put them in file folders in a rubbermade file - with labels for like seasons, holidays, babies, little boy stuff, graduation. So far so good - hope this helps

Kris in KY from Kentucky writes...
I use index card to write dates, events, funny things my girls said or thoughts I had and want to include in a LO. I filed the cards in a recipe box that has a divider for each child, one for family, etc. Then I keep memorabilia in those 12x12 boxes also marked - one for each child, family, school, etc. Within each box I use page protectors to divide and organize, or just keep the contents safe. The boxes are large enough for me to throw things in as I get them, and then I will go through each box every 2 weeks or so to organize.

Cindy from North Carolina writes...
My tip really works well for me. When I print my pictures I immediately put them in one of those photo cases with the accordian files inside. I got mine at Walmart but other places have them as well. They have a metal clasp and handle making them ideal to transport. I put all my embelishments and any ticket stubs, maps etc right in with the pictures. When I am ready to scrap my photos of my trip to Chicago, all my stickers, embellishments etc are ready to go. No hunting for them. All I need to find is the paper I want to use. I also belong to the Little Red Scrapbook monthly club and they are fantastic. I keep each kit in its bag along with the embellishments that were sent with it so everything coordinates, papers-brads-ribbons etc. Each kit is filed in my file cabinet under a theme such as holidays, vintage, boy, girl oe seasonal. I try to avoid buying things just because they are cute. It keep the clutter down. All my extra brads, buttons, tags etc I keep in a tool organizer from Lowes with each pull out drawer labeled so I can locate things easily. This is what I have found to work the best for me after 7 years of scrapbooking. Thanks for listening. :)

Mindy writes...
I have most of my stickers in PSB and love them there. I keep all my embellishments and tags in the cropper hopper embellishment boxes. I have photo storage boxes of things that dont seem to fit anywhere like my ribbons, and thicker embellishments. I am thinking of buying a scraprack for all this stuff. But not sure if I want to buy the rack or more supplies!

Krista from Amarillo, TX writes...
I like to fill up my album before actually starting the pages. I buy albums that are post bound and have top loading pages. I am currently working on a vactation album that my family and I took to Oklahoma City. Before even starting the first page I took all my photos from that trip, organized them into a time line and inserted them into the book. I just drop them in the top, then I write down what photos I plan to work on first, usually the first 5 protectors, and place the information in my purse. That way when I go to the store I know what is coming up next in my book. When I buy stickers, backgrounds, or die cuts that coordinate with my pages I simply place those in the protectors with my photos. When it\'s time to work on my next page, I just dump out everything on the table and get started. This is especially handy when going to crops. All I have to grab is my book and go.

Mary Dallas from Houston writes...
I carry a small 6X6 spiral notebook which has been divided up by stick on tabs. It is small enough to carry in my purse. In the notebook I have different sections for everything.(ex:quotes,punches,web-sites,ect...)I also have examples of my punched shapes so I don\'t duplicate. This way I can jot done something I read and know where to look for it. As for organizing my ribbons and fibers, I use the floss boxes and plastic floss bobbins. I wrap the ribbon or fibers around the bobbins and put them in the boxes which stack neatly in my XXL Tote. Each box can hold about 50 to 100 different bobbins. I love shopping for scrapbook supplies but hate to waste so the notebook has been a lifesaver for preventing duplicate purchasing.

Jill in ohio, now TX from Burleson, TX writes...
I have folders labeled by season or category and put in stickers and other specific-type embellishments. If somthing crosses over into two different folders,then I clip the two folders together so I can\'t look in one without the other. I have them labeled family/friends, party/celebration, Christmas clipped to winter, etc. Jill

Krafty Kathy from Krafty Kathy writes...
When I am at antique shops, I pick up an assortment of their ziplock bags. They come from 2x2, 2x3 3x4 4x6 and more. They are great for buttons, charms fibers, ets. And they are inexpensive. the small ones run $1 for 100 bags.

Paula in GA writes...
I\'ve tried many different methods & these work for me. I put all my stickers in an accordian file, alphabetically by type. I tried a lot of different things to organize ideas I pulled from magazines, etc. & finally settled on one that works for me. I cut out whatever I needed from the page & glued it to a 4x6 index card or 3x5 rolodex card. Then I filed them by catagory in a file box for the 4x6s & a rolodex for the 3x5s. This got rid of a ton of paper & I can find quotes, colors, layouts very quickly.

Nicole in TX from The Tip of Texas writes...
I keep a page protector for each future layout. I put my memorabilia in the protector, then when I get my photos back I slip those into the same protector. If I have a quote or an email or brochure with information that I want to include I put that in there also. If I have certain patterned paper or embellishments I want to use on the page I will add those. Then, when I have time to scrap the layout, everything is all together and ready to go. Because everything is all together, I don\'t forget things I wanted to include.

Jill in Chicago writes...
I have a blank book for quotes that I began in H.S. It has tabs for categories: love, friendship, living each day.... I filled that up a couple years ago and began a new blank book. I wrote little tabs with cardstock, folded them over to make them sturdy and stapled them to the pages. I have another book just for Bible quotes. I have a drawer for beads. Each different kind of bead is in its own clear plastic box, from the container store. I also have large clear plastic boxes, with small square dividers. In this goes buttons, tokens, anything tiny. If I find something specific I want to use on a page I put it with the photos, which I have divided up by page layout, in clear plastic 12 x 12 folders.

Miss Sellanious writes...
PP and cardstock scraps are separated by color in those poly doc envelopes ($9.99 for 25 at BJ\'s). Ribbon scraps are kept only if at least 3 in. long, and those are stuffed into a big Mason jar. Stickers - incl. alphabet - are kept in their original spot in the blue PSB. The purple PSB has vellum and specialty paper scraps. Quotes and card sentiments are cut and pasted into Word - when I have another full sheet, I print it out and add it to a binder I have at my desk.

CandyS writes...
I sort my scraps by color (ROYGBIV) in a rolling cart of drawers. Every once in a while I take the time to thin down the contents of the drawers by trimming the larger pieces into 5x7 or 8 1/2 x 5 1/2, 4x6 or 2x3 pieces. I also put these in order in plastic shoe boxes by size. It really helps me to use up my scraps---I go to the bigger, 5x7 pieces for matting or cardmaking, then the other sizes for paper piecings, punching, smaller mats, etc.

Angie in SAC writes...
My scraps are in big plastic baggies, sorted by color, both cardstock and pp. I would later use them for cards and kids\' school projects. Brads, eyelets and buttons are in plastic containers found at Walmart, one container per embellishment (think they were 97 cents!). Same with letter embellishments. Quotes are either in a notebook or word doc, sorted by subject matter. Sticker quotes are in a big Crop and Style binder, with a page protector.

Chris in CT writes...
I keep quotes I like in Word documents on my PC. I put memorabilia in photo boxes with the pictures that go along with the items I am saving. Small embellishments are kept in floss boxes and plastic storage drawers.

Phyllis in IL writes...
When I looked at all the containers I had started using for all of my small things I decided it was time to use my stuff and not buy anymore. What I do is use an accordian file for scraps and put them in according to color. I use an Iris cart for some of my embellishments and mark the drawer - like METAL things, WORD PHRASES, etc. I use plastic type divider boxes for the eyelets etc.

TLC Meesie from Chambersburg, PA writes...
One of the best things I do is double and triple containerize things. For instance, I put my fibers in little baggettes then combined them by colors into bigger zipper bags. All then fit into one of those photo boxes that I\'ve labeled. I do this with everything that I can. The plain color photo boxes stack and look nice and neat on my desk. Most important is to label things.

Chris from Indiana writes...
I store all my quotes and phrases in a 3 ring binder seperated by general catagories. I have a row of binders on my shelf that are labeled and easy to grab. I have quotes and phrases in one, one with BH sketches I printed from the computer, brass stencils, printed diecuts, card ideas, and plastic stencils. This is really handy because I can always add to it easily and the binder part is neatly labeled.

Brenda Burger from Bjb writes...
I prefer to automatically drop things onto CD. I have one per each topic. Graphics, fonts, sidebars, tips and then they stay organized and I don\'t fill my hard drive. Each CD is kept aside of my PC for flexibility. Gotta have a routine when I find such great stuff on the web.

Stacy in Austin from Austin writes...
I use one of those jewelry sorters with the clear pockets that hangs on the back of my door. It is about 18\" wide and about 30\" long. It is two sided and has TONS of little bitty pockets for those little bitty embellishments. It is my most recent --- and successful -- organizational \"trick\" to date! Thanks!!!

lana from Ohio writes...
Iusually buy these embellishments with a purpose in mind. I have a storage cart that has 6 drawers big enough for 12x12 paper. When I buy paper, or some small thing, it goes into a labeled drawer so that when I am ready to scrap, I can pull out everything I have saved for that topic. The drawers are labeled things like travel, holidays, family, sports, garden. This has worked for me!

Jody Jackson from Oconomowoc, WI writes...
I use a plastic box sold at craft/fabric stores meant for embroidery floss or beads to store paper punches made with my Creative Memories shape makers. I am able to use leftover paper as I am a tree hugger :) and have punches handy, visible and ready to use when needed.

krystie from K writes...
I use a file folder w/tabs for various journaling, quotes, things I want to include in future lo\'s for journaling purposes, card sayings and much more!

Donna Scraps from NC writes...
I have two major categories that I scrap often - Christmas and Beach. I use a Rubbermaid 12x12 3-drawer organizer and keep each category in a seperate drawer. Unfinished pages I keep in the 3rd drawer. I use large envelopes to sort memorabilia from various places or for specific albums and write the topic on the outside, ie. Bald Head Island, Brother\'s Gift album, New York Trip, etc. All of my paper scraps are in a 12x12 ziplock bag. I don\'t have that many. I try to make cards with scraps as I go so as not to waste and to keep down on scraps.

Michelle Rae from Washington, PA writes...
I just started this system and like it so far. I bought the 12x12 Sterlite Drawers from Walmart. I have 8 sets of them = 24 drawers Each drawer has a theme Birthdays School Christmas Cousins Baseball Soccer/Karate (don\'t have alot for either of these) Basketball Summer Spring Winter Vacations Love/Weddings/Valentines Easter, St. Pat\'s Halloween Fall Portraits Girlie pages (for my nieces) All Boy (for random layouts I hope to do of Austin just being a Boy) Profession (I hope to someday do an album of my career) and a few other themes In each drawer go all of the embellishments I have for that particular theme. I put any kind of Diecut, ribbon, sticker, in this box. If I\'ve bought paper for that theme it goes in there. Example: School Days Drawer Report Cards, Special school papers I want to scrapbook, Awards, Stickers, Diecuts, Ribbon, school themed buttons, Patterned School cardstock, letters from teachers etc. Now when I go to crops I can take three drawers (in case I want to work on layouts from a few different themes) Saturday I\'m taking a set of three drawers. School Days, Baseball and I\'m not sure what else. I\'m hoping instead of searching high and low all over the place when working on layouts that I\'ll be able to find what I\'m looking for much easier this way.

Ginney from Pittsburg, CA writes...
I use poly 1\" binders in different colors and put the plastic sheet protectors in them. I keep red die cuts or anything red [scraps, etc] in the matching colored binder, yellow in yellow. The list is as large as the colored binder. They also have clear binders for velum. I found a plastic see through file box at WalMart for about $4.00 that the binders fit in. Easy to file and carry with you if you are scrapbooking at another location.

Cheri from Acton, Maine writes...
I shouldnt tell you because I havent bought mine yet... but I have just found the ultimate in scrapbooking organization.... 2 pieces... 1. www.thescraprack.com It is a rack system that you can take with you where you can see EVERYTHING you own. I am getting one next week.. there is a cart you can buy where you carry the rack in and then set up next to your chair so you dont have anything on the table. Everything is in pockets and in an easy organized fashion!! 2. Memories to go... a 3 pc case with lots of pockets to hold all your tools right at your fingertips!!! you can get this on qvc.com or EBAY!! I got mine from seller prettypenny210 Please be sure to tell her Cheri sent you ... Im hoping for another one free...LOL It really is the BEST case for scrapbooking... all kinds of pockets and a nice roomy compartment to put paper, cutters or what have you in... MY TWO YEAR OLD FITS IN IT!! Good luck!!

kiTtyScRaPs from NC writes...
I use a Comp book to write quotes in along with stetches of LO\'s I want to scraplift! Paper scraps are sorted by color into hanging file folders in a file box which is kept at my Sizzix station. I even save tiny scraps as they work great for Sizzlits. As I have cabinets in my scrap space, I currently have 3-D sticker embellishments & rubon packs stored in 6 canvas baskets. My ribbon is stored in big Synder pretzel jars from Sam\'s Club and I covered the tops of the jars with fabric and raffia. My paper is stored on my countertop in 12x12 Cropper Hopper vertical file folders. My large portraits and school photo packages are stored in a large box with dividers. My brochures and menu collections from my travels are sorted in ziploc bags by trip and are stored in a drawer of a rolling Sterlite chest alogn with small keepsakes, mementos, and cards from my friends and family. I have a lot of bookmarks on my favorites list which I keep half way organized for remembering my favorite quote sites, etc.

Beth Warren from NJ writes...
I usually put my scraps in a 12 by 12 craftsaver or craftkeeper bag, or else put them with the papers it\'s meant to go with (if I have more of the same paper) so when I go to make another page with those papers, I have the scraps there and ready to use.

lorra from PA writes...
i keep my embellishments in a little white plastic box, that has all kinds of dividers in it, 2 layers that are removable, little cubbies perfect for beads, diecuts, paper clips, fastners, brads, eyelets, etc. and it has a lid. i believe i paid 1.00 for it, it was supposed to be for sewing stuff, but i was like, oh this would be perfect for my embellishments. And for a buck , who can beat it. My papers snips and scraps i keep in a white 3 drawer bin thingy..kwim ? i just organized my things, it was total chaos, and now scrappin is enjoyable ! i can actually SEE what i have !

Neece a.k.a. {ShAbBy-ScRaPs} from TN writes...
I store small embellishments in bolt organizer drawers from Target. All my alphabets are sorted in these by letter. And I have individual drawers designated and labeled for different categories like: brads, eyelets, washers, photo turns, stars, hearts, squares/diamonds/triangles, small flowers, circles/ovals, etc. etc. I am very pleased with the results since I went to this system. I have had so much fun dumping out a drawer and looking through the contents while scrapping.

Danielle in UT writes...
Most of my small embellishments are in my 3 PSBs. Things that don\'t fit well in there (like eyelets, brads, etc.) are either in tic tac type boxes that go in a bigger box that holds them or in floss boxes I got for cheap at the craft store (these are my extras, that don\'t fit in the tick tack boxes). I haven\'t found a good way to store quotes, since I can never find what I\'m looking for : ). My pattern paper is divided by color in 8 1/2 x 11 page protectors that are in a craft keeper. Danielle

from momtoAAA writes...
I keep my scraps in a roll cart - top drawer (my kids usually get to them first for making Sizzix people and clothes and Punchkins.) I recently purchased The Scraprack - I love that thing - the best thing I EVER bought. I have a whole section for quotes and sayings. I just keep adding new sections, subjects and organizing. Got rid of 2 PSB binders, lot of peg hooks and peg boards and pull out drawers. Susan

Katherine from Denver, CO writes...
For sayings, poems & quotes I find online, I cut and paste them into folders I made in Word. Then I can easily get the entire quote or whatever - including the author\'s name - and it takes me like 2 seconds. When I\'m looking for something to use I can scan through them - then just change the font using Word Art and print. For little odds & ends and left over embellishments - I use empty Tic Tac containers. They are the perfect size and fit in a shallow drawer.

Tyann from Ms writes...
Storage Tip I went to a resale shop and for a $1.00 I bought a long metal filing draw that index cards fit. I put on the cards web sites ideas, crafting paper Example ribbon websites; sometimes I cross refrence to diff. cards. It will hold a lot of cards and save a lot of paper. Quotes, etc. I buy steno pads for different subjects and keep them my my computer. Working great!!

pattib from duluth, ga writes...
In the past, I have purchased paper and embellishments for albums that were in the planning (example: my grown children\'s childhood albums). But when I start the album I forget that I had purchased specific items in the past, forget to use them, went out and purchased new items just to find the original paper and embellishments months after the album is complete. So I recently purchased several (15\" x 15\" x 3-1/4\") see thru craft storage box from www.lakeside.com for $5.95 each. I labeled each with the title of the future albums. I went through all my paper, stickers, embellishments and abc/123 stickers and sorted items in to the labeled storage box. Now when I start a new album I will sort though the corresponding box and plan my album accordingly. I think this will save me time and money in the long run.

Debbie Jones from Geneva, IL writes...
Quotes/phrases are stored by subject on the computer, ready to be printed out when needed for the front or inside of a card or a scrapbook page. Embellishments are kept in a fishing tackle box from Walmart. It is a tote with 4 boxes that have small dividers so very small die cuts and brads are stored together thus having small items grouped and it\'s cheap. Larger die cuts and/or stamped images are stored in binders by category and within the category according to sizes. Use slide plastic sleeves for smaller ones, baseball card plastic sleeves for the next size, then 4x6, 5x7 and 8x10 picture sleeves. Wooden crates can stack on their side for your magazines and books. Place your large rubber stamps in 11 x 14 clear plastic shadow box picture frames and then use wooden shoe racks that stack to store these, much cheaper than special made to order cabinetry. Small rubber stamps are kept in binders, after school sales are great for binder pencil cases, that also hold small embelishments. Old cigar boxes stack neatly also. The list goes on.

Katherine B from Denver, CO writes...
I have different files in Word where I cut and paste quotes, ideas, etc. And I have a file on my desk top entitiled \"patterns\" where I keep different patterns, fonts, etc. For tangible items I use an accordian file. I can change the labels whenever I want and even the small checkbook style can hold a lot of little treasures. For really big items I use Itoya portfolios and fabric-lined baskets.

Vicki Williams from Conroe, TX writes...
If you have a Sizzix machine, you can use it to make paper photo clips. I was cutting \"O\"\'s for BOO and the inside of the letter falls out and it\'s the exact shape of the clips. I used the smallest circle punch McGill makes and punched holes in the ends. Voila! Instant embelishment you can use on your layout. Vicki

Louise Erekson from Chantilly, VA writes...
I store my paper scraps by colors in ziplock bags, and keep the ziplock bags together in a container. It\'s quick and easy to find what I want and the ziplock bags keep the paper scraps from falling out (much better than the file folders I used to use). I keep small embellishments in a 2 sets of tiny drawers that I found at Wal-Mart. They store quite a lot of small embellishments without taking up a lot of room on my scrapping table. They\'re handy and easy to look through when I\'m looking for something to add to my page. I use a carousel for my tools, that is made by Pampered Chef. It holds pens, scissors, embossing stylus, glue pens, and even my small hammer and a Hermafix tab dispenser all at my fingertips. Quotes and title ideas I keep either on the computer in a folder, or in a binder. I use the binder for those I\'ve pulled out of magazines, which I rip apart and sort the ideas into different categories: Tips, Techniques, Layout Design, Layouts that Inspire, Journalling & Quotes, Titles & Lettering, and Photography helps. If I gleaned ideas or quotes from the internet, I have a special folder on my computer just for those so that it is easy to find a quote or title idea. They are sorted by themes when possible and saved accordingly. Some items, such as stamps and stamp pads are kept in an Iris cart storage set that has 12 x 12 drawers which lock closed. It\'s easy to take one out and put it into my cropping bag if I need to. I use many of the drawers to sort my Coluzzle templates, punches, and of course, papers & cardstock. None of my storage is fancy, costly, or pretty, but it\'s all functional, and I no longer have trouble finding what I want when I want it.

Mindy Smith-Pace writes...
I have a place for everything. A little basket on my desk , and a drawer for scraps which I clean out every month. I put everything else back where I got it. It works, but it is still sometimes hard to keep small stuff organized.

jeri from texas writes...
for quotes I use a rolledex file, which can be a big or as little as you like and I pull the card out, write the quote. I can also embellish the cards to make it pretty, i.e. ribbons,stickers,

Nancy from Nancy writes...
Ok Ladies, I am a scrapbook addict myself. For all those small embellisments, buttons whatever i have found the perfect storage solution! If you have baby\'s or know someone who does, ask them to save you the plastic baby food containers that baby food comes in. Many brands still come in glass jars, however Gerber has their fruits now in these little plastic containers with covers that are perfect! They are rectangular in shape, clear so that you can see what\'s inside and they stack nicely. I love them!

scrapaddie from ohio writes...
quotes - I keep a database and organize quotes by topic - it is easy to find the one that I want by doing a simple word search or sort. embellishments - all those little pieces are in a divided box - kind of like a tackle box ribbons, yarns - in clear jars embellishments I rarely use are in labeled drawers of iris carts.

Stephanie in VA writes...
Quotes and titles I keep in a Word document divided by subject. Small embellishments are in tic tac type boxes in small scrap boxes by color. Scraps are tossed into a large rectangular cloth-lined basket under my table until I have time to sort into page protectors. I saw an idea I liked better for scraps in another group I am in. This scrapper has a photo box of every color (almost) and sorts her scraps into them. Red-pink in a red box, yellow-orange in a yellow box, etc. They are easy to stack and get into or out of.

scrapaddie from ohio writes...
Quotes - go into a database, organized by topics. First column is the topic, next is the quote. embellishmants - stored by type I also have some 12x12 boxes for the topics I scrap most : pets, travel; sports; family; garden; christmas; heritage and any paper or embellishments I buy specifically for those go straight into the boxes.

Debi Alexander from North Branch Michigan writes...
My embelishments were always getting lost in the shuffle. I could never find them when I needed them. They now rest in sticker binder! It makes them so easy to find with just a flip of the page. All my friends now have theirs in a sticker binder too. It also eliminates extra storage containers to carry to crops.

Melissa in WI from Wi writes...
I have a pretty box that came with a gift basket that I keep all my random leftovers in ... buttons leftover from a kit, bits of stickers and ribbon that isn\'t large enought to put back into my stash. Really, any partial package of small embellishments go into the box. When I am working on cards or layouts, I peek in the box to see if anything in there will work with the project. I have had to clean it out when it got too full... but only once. It really helps me track the leftovers and use them up!

Robin from SC writes...
I\'m like many others, but because I go to many crops...I love the craft mate storage unit found in the beading sections...comes with 5 small plastic containers, each with approx. 20 locking slots...the tote that it comes with is great to carry additional tools too. I also use my old prescription bottles, small jelly jars, frappucino jars... I have a ton of stamps and recently decided to put a magnet on the back of them (especially the foam ones) and adhere to a metal board...Works great!

Michelle from Wayne, Mi writes...
I\'m with Robin! The Craft mate is awesome! It comes with five of the keepers and you can buy more It holds about nine altogether. So much better than the Cropper Hopper each embellishment stays in it\'s place. I love your magnet idea for your stamps also. When it comes to my card stock I have an accordian file and I put tabs on each section with all the reds, oranges, tan/brown, ect it\'s so much easier to fine what I am looking for.

Michelle writes...
Well, for use of ribbon without the rolls in stock, just for scraps. I use a big, tall, skinny pickle jar from walmart. this holds so much ribbon and is very nice to use. Nothing gets tangled. For the rolls you can put them in there also or bins. I use a big pill box for brads, eyelets, as S.E.I. gave us a brad keeper for filling out a survey from Convention. Well, then my bazzill chips etc. I use my tool box from my cropper hopper. I use the new tool keeper for everything else I take to classes. For paper scraps 12x12 ziploc bags work well. For paper, I use the roll away carts and I have way too many of them.

Karenraye from Wisconsin writes...
My best tip is make it visible. If your supplies and tools are out of sight you will forget about them and not use them. I Have my supplies stored in clear plastc boxes but I still lable them clearly so I know EVERYTHING that is in the box, not just what shows from the front. I also have various sizes of heavy zip lock bags held together with binder rings which I keep hanging where I can see them. I use small bags for fibers and embelleshments that don\'t fit well in bead boxes, and larger bags for my miscelaneous one-of-a-kind embelleshments. The Gallon size ziplock bags I use for ephemera that I will be scraping soon. These bags I sometimes punch holes in and keep in a binder on my shelf until I get them in my scrapbook so they don\'t get bent. I always lable the binders. For the buttons I buy in bulk and the cloth flowers I use jars with lids so they don\'t. get dusty. My scrap paper is filed by color, with patterns for the most part with the main color in the pattern, unless there is a theme in which case I may keep it with the full sheets of that theme. Thank you for reading.

jill in ohio, now tx from TX writes...
I keep everything sorted in a folder, labeled with the theme. Then if I have quotes or anything related to that theme, I drop it in there. I have some themes that are so big, they get their own drawer. --each of my kids has a drawer. I also use the temp hermi. That way, I can stick the little stuff onto a page and slip it in a book ready to scrap later.

Diane T writes...
When I first started getting poems, paper pieces, quotes etc I just seperated by what the were like poems in one part of the 3 ring binder etc. As time has gone on I seperated by cat like kids, girl, boy, love, family etc. with tabs for each section. I know have a good selection of choices. This also helps me when I get stuck and need something to motivate me cause I can look through these for inspiritation. Diane T

Alice from USA writes...
Hey everyone. Not a tip but thought you might like to know about the Great American Vinyl Contest. Just received an email from www.printonit.com about it. Looks like you can submit any vinyl project that is cut with a cricut. Top prize is $1,000 gift certificate. Not sure what I am going to do yet but I love cutting vinyl so I will have to come up with something. Gotta luv the bug!

Linz from Ohio writes...
I keep all my stickers in a Crop In Style PSB Binder. I have a CTMH My Accents Organizer for all my brads and eyelets. Those two items make it easy for transporting my goodies to crops. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE my All My Memories Tote-Ally Cool Tote 3 for all my tools. It holds two trimmers in the center and it also rotates for easy access....

Tracy (scrap_fever) writes...
I have bought the small 3 drawer containers and also the ones for 8x8 or 12x12. I find that you can organise even by seasons/holidays, birthdays, and other events.

Susan from Knoxville writes...
I broke down and bought a craft cabnet I found on line. It it a lovely piece of furniture when closed. It has all sorts of baskets of every size and a pull out table to scrap. Scrapbox.com is where I found the product

Linda Slattery from Omaha, NE writes...
My favorite storage for all my small items like brads, are the Craft Mates plastic containers that lock and are individual compartments. Stickers, rub-ons, chipboard, alphabets, etc. are stored in Iris brand carts that hold 12x12 plastic cases. I categorize these by \"Baby\", \"School\", \"Boys\", \"Girls\", etc. I currently just use a tabbed notebook for recording sentiments, and sayings I like. I have tabs for B\'Day, Sympathy, Anniversary, etc. My scraps are filed by color in baggies and expandable files. This system is becoming \"too much\" for me, so I am very interested in reading how others keep their scraps under control.

Scrapbooking Tip of the Month

How do you organize those little things that you want to save for future use? I'm talking about quotes/phrase, scrap papers, little embellishments. Do you have a system or method that has worked for you? Share and inspire others.


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