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.

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.

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.