Amazing Paper Grace

Oh to have such a space for papers. Mine are stacked on shelves and in boxes. My craft room is a total disaster but I can usually find most things, lol. I also “leave things scattered” so as to be inspired AND to be able to see them. In my case if it is out of sight it is out of mind and I sometimes forget what I have and upon finding something I have often wondered where and when I got it and for what!ReplyCancel

‘Love the organized look! Currently my paper is in a tower thing that my husband made. Some is horizontal, some vertical. I can’t decide which way I prefer. Vertical is easier to remove, but horizontal keeps the paper flat. My new craft room is just about finished, with the counter tops arriving tomorrow morning. The tower is still in another room and I think I just want to keep it there and maybe refurbish it a bit–not sure yet. It takes so much space for paper. But it would be great to have it within arms reach. I have a couple are areas not fully finished, that I still have to figure out my punch storage. So it will be a battle for space between paper and punches… how do you store your punches? I will search your blog–maybe you already have covered that. Thanks for putting your Neenah paper weight on your projects–I am thinking about trying it… :)ReplyCancel

Becca, I am inthe process of cleaning out my space also. I moved into the front porch with no intention of having full blown paper crafting take over my leather studio. Well, we all know where the best intentions lead! So now, after cleaning out the two upright, store bought closets we are ready to move them out and put in shelves where the closets were. I have looked all over and find I really like the Ikea Billy System shelves and corner unit. I believe that will be the new home for all my “paper people” goodies. I hope to take photos as I go along and will post as soon as my blog is set up! There is always something! ;)

Don’t forget to dream,
MelindaReplyCancel

My dear Becca. I don’t know whether it is appropriate to ask my question here but your display of delicious card stock prompted me to ask. Like your many blog followers I am spellbound by your inspired creations , in particular your clever layering of various die cut shapes. When trying to work in a similar manner I find that my cards become really thick and heavy and unbalanced. Do you use all card for your layers or a mix of card and paper ? I send all my best wishes from here in the UK and thank you for your continued crafting inspiration and your kind words and thoughts. Bless you. JudithReplyCancel

What an array of papers you have – and how beautifully organised!
I stack my card horizontally which does make it harder to retrieve, but it stays flat. I use IKEA Expedit cubes for static storage and have various racks for paper and card (Costco) for my A4 sheets. My A3 sheets are kept on a shelf in a cupboard and I keep promising myself that I will make some dividing sections so that it doesn’t sit in one large pile! One day……
Hugs
Anne (UK) xReplyCancel

I hope I’m not overstepping my bounds by responding to a question of storage here and please forgive me, Becca, if I have. Someone asked about storage of punches and paper when I thought of my Iris carts for most small stuff; I have 3 -small and one large one for my wooden rubber stamps. They work beautifully and can roll around. DH built me a long 3 shelf thingy to set on my 6ft table for stuff I grab for with every card. My cardstock is horizontal shelving unit I got made of very durable cardboard like my scrapping store uses. They are awesome; easy to find from a big box store or Office Depot etc. Hope this helps some of the gals.ReplyCancel

I too am trying to reorganize my stash! I am currently using some vertical files from CropperHopper for my paper. I have a walk-in closet with shelves that my dear Hubby made for me several years ago. That is where I keep all of that paper! I have card stock divided by colors and printed papers by Designer/Manufacturer and also some by subject matter i.e. Christmas, Boy, Girl, etc. This has worked well for me for several years but I really need to get in there and cull the accumulated stuff! I need to be kept somethings, others need to be given to a local charity for their projects. My winter project is going to be getting things REorganized. It is never ending. I am always looking for new ideas on how to store all my things. Thanks for your inspiration, Becca dear. Blessings to you and lots of hugs too.ReplyCancel

Such tidiness!! Just a suggestion, Becca, because I have stored my papers the same way and had a little problem. The papers in pads are fine (until the pads get pretty empty) but the single sheets did better being stacked flat. I think it would only require that you turn the box once to have some of the slots running sideways. Over time, that curve in the paper gets harder to flatten and can create a bend in the paper.

Enough about that… I would be in quite a state if I had to move my crafting area! Youch… what a job! Little by little, right?ReplyCancel

I love how you’ve organized this!! It’s wonderful to have things where you can get to them easily. You challenged us – oh, almost 2 years ago now – to organize the work space and I took that to heart! Now my papers are stored horizontally in some narrow shelves my DH made for me. You are always an inspiration, Becca. Even when organizing your work space!ReplyCancel

Just a slight diversion, something that has simmered since joining Pinterest, and that’s the desire for neat opposed to creative stimulation: It seems I can’t have both! My craft room/area is now lovely i.e. contained to a fare-thee-well but the zing-n-zip that flowed non-stop when looking at my goodies has slowed significantly.
It is a real dilemma and I wonder: how do others cope? It took much time, effort and money to pretty up the space but it just isn’t working this way……. HELP!ReplyCancel

Congratulations on your tidiness, I also have all my card and papers stored neatly, as I have virtually all the other products. Dies, embossing folders, masks, stamps all catalogued. Smaller items like pens, stamp pads, glues etc also stored in drawer unit.
BUT………. I fall down when it comes to offcuts/scraps. Can’t bear to throw them away and consequently have absolute mounds in boxes, all separated into colours, whether patterned or plain. Problem is that that pile is growing all the time……… and my craft table seems to be a never-ending chaos. But hey, one cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs.
Happy crafting to you all
RoseReplyCancel

I also have two craft rooms and no matter how many things I buy I still can’t keep neat. When storing your papers as shown in the photo does the paper get too bent? I bought a stacking rack and each shelf has its own color and seems to be working.

There is nothing more detrimental to creativity than tidiness.Clutter is part of the creative process. If you stop to clean your mess it will totally destroy your creativity. Ladies feel good about your craft mess!ReplyCancel

My craft room is in the basement. Card stock is stored on shelves, envelopes in plastic containers, decorative papers in wire magazine rack and Isis carts. Ink pads are stored in old cassette shelves, stamps are stored in plastic picture frames from Michaels in tall bookcases.

Because I work in the basement…….I have a terrible habit of leaving STUFF out, not a pretty picture.

PS. My Becca Bow Maker has a very special place all its own!ReplyCancel

Love those cubes – great idea. I store my card/paper on IKEA bookshelves. I also have some 4 drawer filing cabinets with clear drawers – they are fab for storing things in and you can see what’s in them without opening them. Would love more space and more storage – but what do they say – stuff expands to fill the space allotted – that’s certainly true in our shed and garage! I keep my craft room under control though, clearing up and tidying after each project. I have started the gatefold card for our 25th wedding anniversary!! The outside is done – just the inside to do. Really pleased with it so far – might send you some pics when its finished. Great design and looks even better in real life than it does in photo.
Thanks for the inspiration.ReplyCancel

Good morning Becca and all your lovely crafters,
Can i just say how lucky you are if you have a craft room anywhere as you then don’t get a moanin’ minnie or minnies not letting you play anywhere because you’ll mess it up. My home has been turned into a house because of my lot as i don’t have any where that i can craft except at the dinning room table which is a fault. See if i leave home, can i share someone else craftroom, please?
I have my papers and card in A4 plastic boxes and 12×12, but i’d not like to count how many of them i have, but they are kept flat wherever i can as upright they just buckled on me and were no use. Although i’ve solved that problem by making sure my boxes are jam packed so there is no room for them to buckle.
Love and crafty hugs
Norah
from across the water in ScotlandReplyCancel

Wow, dead envious of how tidy your stash is, and dead envious of how much you have! Boy, could I have a field day playing with all of that! Well done for getting so tidy.ReplyCancel

I keep my paper in cardboard magazine holders that I got from IKEA and stored in a bookcase. I keep them sorted by color so I can just grab that holder and try out the different colors.ReplyCancel

Hi Becca,
As we make do with european DIN sizes, I switched to 13″ pizzaboxes for storing my papers in IKEAs Expedit/Bonde shelves.
Thankfully there are different spinesizes for more or less content so I can adapt. My Pads go the same way as your: Title on back like a book….
Looks great in your space!!ReplyCancel

If only I had enough room in my craft hovel for this wonderful idea! Alas, I only have a 3-drawer chest, which is getting dangerously full. The answer, of course, is to use up my stash by being crafty lol! I can certainly say that your lovely blog inspiration helps a lot! :)

love Mags B xReplyCancel

I love a good organization tip. Thanks.ReplyCancel

After reading Juliann’s question I thought I would crowd in here and give my input. One English lady I saw on YouTube leaves all her dies in the original folders they came in and just puts them like that in a plastic shoebox or bin. I use large plastic cd’s as Becca does also. They work beautifully but there is a cost to organizing this way as you also need magnetic sheets applied in them to hold the metal dies from slipping all over the place. Hope this helps.ReplyCancel

Being organized is the best thing a crafter can do for her/himself. I get so much more accomplished when my studio is organized. I had an art studio built into my home before retirement and it is my solace away from everything and everybody. I can spend hours upon hours in my studio when it is organized. Now, the key is to stay organized! Smiles and joy!ReplyCancel