Amazing Paper Grace

Hi Becca, this is a great feature. I don’t have a blog but wanted to leave a tip. At one sitting try to do production line stamping for simple cards and you’ll have many things done in a short time.ReplyCancel

I like to have all of my supplies on hand and easy to reach. I use two carousels for all my tools that I use frequently.ReplyCancel

Hello Becca,

I like to keep all my stamps in theme order eg; Christmas stamps in one box, floral in another and so on, saves me lots of time when making a specific card,

love this idea of sharing tips I’m looking forward to reading what everyone else finds is to their advantage.

Best Wishes

SusanReplyCancel

keep a checklist of things that you have already bought..so that you don’t duplicate a purchase..thinking that you haven’t bought it et (Ie cricut cartridges…nesties…dies..and even a copic check list)
some companies have downloadable lists that you can print out..and some bloggers have even been so kind as to share their lists as downloads…ReplyCancel

I have everything colored coded except for small embellishments: paper, markers, pencils,and i have two carosels that contain my tools, scissors,exacto knivesetc. I usually start with a color in mind and gather the materials from there, because my space is limted things have to organized.ReplyCancel

Cover your thin brush nibs with a short piece of plastic straw, this way your brush will last much longer and keep it in tact.ReplyCancel

When I make cards I make photos and just keep on a file in my computer. I can refer back to that if I want to repeat later and need to refresh my memory. When I go to a meet I can take a cd and share my ideas with others. This also is great for mini albums.ReplyCancel

I don’t have a blog post but I do have a photo album on Stamptv. I love this new aspect Becca and I’m always looking for tips in regards to stamping. I use a napkin holder to hold my tan embossing mats, cardboard, cardstock and my B and C plates for my Cuttlebug, it keeps it all off the table and definitely much neater.ReplyCancel

Make in inventory for all your stamps by stamping them onto paper into catergories, that way you won’t buy duplicates….same goes for ink, spellbinders etc.ReplyCancel

Becca, what a great idea! I will be spending lots of time reading through comments I’m sure. I love the idea of the wax paper in the Spellbinders. I have to try that. I had two methods of storage for my Spellbinders. I first took a sheet of magnet and attached it to my supply cabinet. I could then stick my Nesties to the magnet and see exactly what I had. But then we bought some property and on the weekends we go there so I take crafting stuff with me and my Nesties weren’t easily transportable. So I found an old CD case and used the magnets that people often include in mailings (like for calendars and schedules) and stuck each group on a magnet (sometimes it take two magnets to get a whole set in). Then I label the magnet with the name of the set and stick it in the CD pocket. Very transportable!ReplyCancel

My husband added a pipe across the front of my desk so I could store punches and they would be within reach when I needed them. Now I have way too many punches but I do keep my most used ones there.ReplyCancel

My first “project” with new stamps (Particullary those that come in a case, i.e.: Stampin’ Up) is to stamp an image on one piece of paper to show the set all together (which is cut to size to fit into the case) AND another image on pages in a notebook of categories, like words, flowers, birds, mice, etc. I quickly note which set the stamp is from to speed the process of locating it when needed. This has helped me a.) keep things together when I’ve gotten a lot of stamps out on my work space, but also use the stamps I have more creatively when I see like images together. I’ve even discovered duplicates (I’m embarrassed to confess) by this process.ReplyCancel

Becca, I love this new feature. One organizational habit I try to practice is to start with a clean desktop. If I’ve left a mess from a previous project, I clean it up before starting the next one. Don’t like to work in a mess, especially since I have a small space. Also, I keep my basic CS in hanging folders in a 4 drawer filing cabinet that was an office reject from a church clean up project. I keep my scraps right in the folder with the CS of the same color. It protects the CS from fading, as well.

Loved the tip about the waxed paper and Spellbinders dies.ReplyCancel

I treat my studio like a small store. I keep everything in sections, and make an area to highlight things I’d like to use or try. I have my samples in display, and I try to rotate them. There is no need to have everything out at one time. I have holiday sections, color sections, a stamp section, etc. I collect anything to do with cupcakes, so also have a special section just for everything cupcakes – it holds paper, stickers, dies, and everything. It’s nice having all that together to work with my daughter and friends. I’ve started making cross-reference lists for some of my supplies, to remind me what I have available. After all, I purchased all those things for a reason, and it’s a shame to waste them because I’ve forgotten I have them, or I’m having trouble getting to them. One thing I’ve learned in helping others getting their spaces straight is no one else’s system is perfect for anyone else. Learn how you work, and set up your storage and work areas to suit your style and your needs. If you’re a piler, that’s okay. If you work well in a mess, that’s okay too. Simply find your place, create your space, and respect it by knowing where everything is, and giving equal love to all your goodies.ReplyCancel

I corral all my smal loose ribbons on a large safety pin & hang them on
hooks I have on the wall~~not only do I use scrap ribbon up, but I can see what colors I have immediately. Great feature Becca!
cdjcape521.blogspot.comReplyCancel

A great way to organize for a Crop is to put everything in a medium size (clean) pizza box. You can put all items in there and and carry with you. If you’re able to get them you can cover them with wrapping paper to make them pretty. You can use them at home for storage as well. You can put all like items together and keep at arms reach….Ex: wedding paper,ribbons, embellishments, stamps to due with love and marriage etc…..

I dont have a blog!ReplyCancel

becca what a great idea. my organizational tip is to do a spread sheet with all of my stuff. not just a list. i found that i would go to a sale and not remember what i had. especially with my spelbinders. when i get back from the store i immediately add it to the spread sheet. i do not do that with paper because that would be too much. all of my stamos, spellbinders, embossing folders, inks and punches are listed. with the spreadsheet i can just print out what i need to bring with me when shopping or i can bring the whole thing. last year at a convention it was wonderful not to have to wonder do i already have that one. just refer to my sheet.ReplyCancel

When I make a card I make 4 copies at one time. I’ll sent one, keep one for the record and have 2 spare for an emergency. That way you save time as you only need to have all your supplies out for this one project.ReplyCancel

i use many of the tips already provided. i have a really small space to create in and am quickly running out of room, so go vertical as much as possible. shelves on the wall, stack iris carts two deep, etc. i use cheap things to keep things in, clear plastic peanut butter jars keep ribbon scraps , buttons, c’board ,(pretty as well as practical) shoe boxes for larger items are labled. it helpsReplyCancel

I have all of my SU boxes stored by the size of the box and then have each one numbered on the spine. I then catalogued each stamp set and when I want one I go to the index find the number of the set and just reach out and get it. I have also stamped the images of the stamp set in the binder with the index in front – that way I can also look at the stamp set if I’ve forgotten what was in it.ReplyCancel

I’m super organized as my craft area is very small. I don’t have enough space to share all my organization-I have to put everything away when I have finished using it. But I wanted to thank you for a tip you gave me the other day. You were using a tweezers to pick up glue dots. I have always used my fingers or tried to put it directly on a piece I was working on. Had a lot of sticky fingers and misplaced dots. I was thrilled to see you using a tweezer. Why had no one told me that before? Thanks you!ReplyCancel

I transferred my embossing powder into sandwich size leftover boxes. I find I emboss a bit more, there is no color contamination from stray specs of red or black in my white or clear powders. Plus the overall mess of embossing is nearly gone. Of course they are all labeled with the color of the powder in the box.
I don’t glitter much but I’ve started moving glitter into these boxes too.ReplyCancel

My best organizing tip is one that I got right here, on Becca’s blog. It is the way that you had organized your spools of ribbon. It was to take the ribbon off the spools and put it on a small rectangle piece of mat board. You used something that you bought, I think, but I find that thick mat board works well. Then sort them according to colour. I had so many loose spools of ribbon and this has decreased the space need. I love it. If I need a ‘green’ ribbon, I just go to the box and find the right colour.
Thanks again for this tip.ReplyCancel

I can use tips and ideas on organizing, what a great idea.

CarlettaReplyCancel

I use an alcohol free wipe to clean my stamp as soon as I have finished stamping – then I use a stamp cleaner and my cleaning pad. The wipe cleans off nearly all the ink and my pads stay cleaner and last longer this way.ReplyCancel

Wow… I’ve read each tip provided by some very organized folks. I found several tips that I just hadn’t thought of and will now utilize…so tku! So I will share two tips, 1) embossing folders – I found a box that is used to house 4×6 photos. With a sharpie I print the name of the folder (e.g., Swiss dots) on the bottom of the folder, then arrange by alpha in the box. 2) I went to hardware store and purchased an inexpensive 2″ soft bristle paint brush and use it to brush embossing powder, glitter, paper shavings, etc off my desk into a trash can to keep my area clean. I keep the brush in my carousel.ReplyCancel

My frequent habit in life is getting caught up in the “buying” spree. I have brought home so many duplicates of my fav’s, so now I carry a little 3 X 5 note pad. Each page at the bottom right hand corner has a corner punch punched out with the name and maker near by. Then each of the pages are divided into groups. ie., distress inks, pads, refills, embossing powders, and all thing T!m, making columns for haves and penciled in wants. Spellbinders is set up the same way. Generally my stamps are purchased only on-line so there are no pages for them. I also have cataloged my lines of paper packs that I have (I star my fav’s so that if there is a good deal I can pick up more). I have sections for Tattered Angels, snippets of ribbon, etc, and this small little book goes in a regular envelope (to prevent tearing or loss) in my purse – No more duplicates! I also have a couple of file on my computer for sketches, examples I may want to CASE and cards I have completed. All my stamps are stamped on pages in a book and sorted into categories so that I can look and find the type of stamp I need/want and then I know just where to go to look for it. And I agree with everyone above who says, “At the end of the Day, put your toys Away”! It is so nice to be able to find everything when it is where it belongs, and saves so much time as well! Thanks for the opportunity to share and read others tips, it is all sooo grande!ReplyCancel

I keep all the most used supplies like scissors, brushes, glue, positionerl i basic black, gold and versa mark ink pads…heat gun., rulers,glue dots,
I have no designated room to stamp in. When I get ready to stamp again it’s easy to get the one box out and I am ready to stamp…ReplyCancel

Great idea! Starting today I am going to follow this advice!!!ReplyCancel

I do not have a blog so I will send my tips in a private email to you, Becca. OK? There are two and they have to do with (1) storing small beads and such and (2) storing small sized pieces of cardstock.

Thanks for sharing all these tips. Everyone has such great ideas.ReplyCancel

I have admired your work for some time, Becca, and just recently watched several of your videos. They are awesome, very clear and easy to follow.

I have an addiction to the smaller clear stamps – you know the $1 kind that places like Michael’s sells – I store them in pages designed to hold baseball cards and then the pages are all in a big binder. 9 stamps to a page, can be arranged by theme. Makes it so easy to see what you have plus keeps those little guys together!ReplyCancel

Hi Becca,

Love this feature! My 2 cents: I saw some comments about using magnetic mats for storing Spellbinder dies. I have found that if I store the dies on a solid mat, some are rather hard to get off. The metal edge is not exactly friendly with short nails. So what I did was that I got several clear acrylic sheets from Home Depot (they come in different sizes, you can find one that suit your needs), and cut the self-adhesive magnetic mats into strips to lay over the acrylic sheets with about 1/2″ – 3/4″ space in between strips. That way, the dies will stay put but the spaces allow for easier detachment. Also, since they’re all on sheets, you can stand them all up on shelves and they take much less space than CD/DVD cases. They are quite portable for craft sessions too. :)ReplyCancel

Oh how I NEED to do this!
And to my desk every day as well!!
I am excited about your tips and I am going to share them with my downline!
thanks!! you rock!ReplyCancel

Hi Becca, I try to keep organized by using foamcore box that I made.It is 24″H x 12″W x 12″ D. It has 8 Shelves that are trays that can be pulled out. If I am putting away a project that is not yet complete I put all the supplies for that project in one of the trays. This box stays on my work surface so that I can easily pull any project that I want to work on.ReplyCancel

Being a Virgo, organization is my middle name. I have small photo albums in which I store my brass embossing templates and Spellbinders dies. There is a typed index in the front and they are arranged alphabetically.

I love reading all the comments but do not have a blog of my own.ReplyCancel

Actually I use a desk with a wonderful side table. Anyway, I was always told that a clean desk with the sign of a sick mind! I will take you up on cleaning after each card but it takes so long for me to make a card that I’ll probably be doing a lot of cleaning.ReplyCancel

I keep my scraps of paper in plastic pocket divider pages ( usually used in a binder). I separate them by color. I did not have the space for more than
5 so I put some colors together. I put red and pink together, greens, yellow, orange, brown and black, blues and purples, white, and creams.
This way when I need a scrap, for me scrap is anything less than 8 1/2 x 11, I just grab the folder with the color I need.
Thanks so much Becca for your wonderful Blog. I cannot wait to see what you post each day. Loved your bow tie bow.
Chris HandyReplyCancel

I am a collector of Kerr/Ball/Mason jars so my buttons and tid bit ribbon go in them. Old cheese boxes, are organizers within a old dresser. Old wood crates are shelves here and there. Multi pencil holders made by hand of wood are for my many tools to have on hand. Old pillow cases for shelve liners. Vintage suitcases for punches, 4×4 and 12′ dies. Old Napa Valley boxes converted to organize ink pads. Collection of tape holders for different tapes. Collection of staples for different depths. Collection of crocks for card sleeves/bags. Old telephone insulators made into a coat hanger to hang my cameras.
I am always thinking of ways to use my collections so I can enjoy them and they are useful.
Thanks Becca….I do clean my area each session for I am organized…most the time!
The art of living, collecting, enjoying and creating…detailing in Oregon…ReplyCancel

My crafting area may look a mess, but I know where everything is. . .well, almost!
My punches are kept three ways, just so they are visible: on a clear over the door shoe hanger, in 2 rain gutters attached to the front of shelves and the MS sets are displayed in a book case.
My spellbinders are displayed on an old cabinet door covered with sheets of magnet (bought at a hardware store for covering heater vents). If I see them, I use them, but basic shapes, that will always be used and never forgotten, are in CD cases, in a bin on my storage unit.
I unmounted ALL my stamps, put them on off-brand mounting material from ebay that works great and keep them in large 3 ring binders. It’s so much easier to flip through the pages than though boxes. I can get 4 or 5 SU sets on one page.
The older justrite stamps with the grooves I have in a binder also, using the pencil zip pockets to hold them along with a page showing what’s in them.
I love organzing things. Playing with all the stuff this way stirs my mojo to use them.
Great idea for sharing, Becca! Thanks!ReplyCancel

For all the stamp pads with plastic liners – use a foam dot to “attach” the liner to the inside of the lid and then it will come off with the lid AND go back on the pad when you are finished. I also keep all paper scraps in zip lock bags by color. I keep different kinds of embellishments in the Iris 12X12 project boxes ie; all bling in one, all brads in one, all rub ons in one etc. They are all labeled and stand label up in a large clear storage container. I do keep Christmas emb. completely in one box however. Also, when I am ready to leave my work table but not completely done with a project, I brush the items into a 12X12 project case so that the area is “neat” but not everything has to be completely put away … yet. Then, if I find that I have more time later in the day, I can quickly resume working OR easily carry it to a different part of the house to work on it. Thanks to all of the ladies who have shared tips so far!.ReplyCancel

I have all my stamps and dies organized in binders. I convert all wooden stamps to cling. I put the stamps in document protectors, trading card protectors or photo protectors depending on the size of the stamp or set. I put a picture of the stamp(s) in another document protector along with card ideas I’ve come across. The binders are organized by categories that work for me. Spellbinders and other thin dies are organized in a similar way. The dies are placed on a card with a strip of magnetic tape and inserted into 4×6 or 5×7 photo protectors. The very best thing I found for my Copic markers is the display case used by retailers. It was much cheaper than buying the individual cases and the markers are organized by color group and number.ReplyCancel

I have alwyas had a challenge with keeping my workspace clean and organized. One if the best tips and things I have actually been doing is as soon as I am done with my card I imediately cut all leftover scraps of paper into 4.25×5.30 pieces (I only make cards) I also save any usuable smaller peices for punching. I keep them all by color in clear containers. (I got mine from stampin up) You can cut them into any workable size for yourself (or the container you chosse to put them in) but I f I do it immediatly at least that part is always put away and organized for future use.ReplyCancel

I found a way to organize all my ribbon. I cut out 2″ x 3″ rectangle cards from thin cardboard and notched out the ends with a 1 1/4 ” square punch. I then wrapped my ribbon around the rectangle through the notched ends and secured it with a small rubber band. I lined up all the ribbon cards, by color, into photo storage boxes. You can fit at least 6 rows of ribbon in one box. The ribbon is easy to find at a glance and not wadded up. I probably started with having to cut and punch out 100 cards, but it was worth it.ReplyCancel

Label all your containers and draws, but remember to put your supplies away in the correct container.ReplyCancel

When stamping, if you want to add an image behind an existing one, use a paper mask of the stamp to cover the foreground image then stamp over this one to send the second image behind the first.
I use a paper mask simply stamped and cut from the sticky end of a “Post it” note pad. Though you can reuse this several times, my top tip is to cut several of the masked shapes at one time as they are conveniently stuck together anyway, only cutting once through a few layers saves time if you need that mask again for a later project.ReplyCancel

Wow Becca this is fantastic! Although I haven’t read them all yet I’ve already found some real gems. I hope my tips will be of value to someone

My major issues are a lack of space and finances. I made my own mounted stamp drawers out of pizza boxes and foam core. I sealed each box closed then cut out the spine of each box. I stack them and taped them together. I made drawers out of foam core and slide them into the boxes. It takes up less space then store bought and is so much cheaper. Each drawer is organized by type, Christmas, sentiments, etc and numbered on the front. I line each drawer with paper. Each stamp is stamped on the liner and again in my stamp catalog which corresponds to the numbered drawers. This saves me so much time. I flip thru my catalog to find what I need and can tell at a glance where to replace each stamp. This also works great for my smaller punches and to stash an unfinished project if I must abandon it temporarily.

I keep a pretty basket on my work space. As I work I put everything in the basket when I‘m done with it. I return things to their proper place at the end of the day but if I can‘t my space at least looks tidy until I can get to it.

I divided all my flowers buy color into zip bags and placed them in the pockets of an over the door shoe organizer nailed it to the wall. It’s not only easy to get to and saves precious space on my shelves but looks so cute too.
I’m so excited, off to read more tips.
Blessings BernieReplyCancel

As much as possible, store items in boxes of the same size, with lids, not too deep, and label them. Same size boxes stack neatly on shelves and it is easy to get to/see items on the bottom. This works really well for punches, larger embellishments, CD cases with stamps or Spelbinders dies and 6×6 paper packs. I use CD Kasset boxes from IKEA and photo storage boxes from Michaels. Both Re very reasonably priced.ReplyCancel

I am in the process of unmounting all my wooden (SU) stamps and getting rid of the plastic boxes. When I receive my stamps from SU, I always photocopy the small detail that goes on the back of the wooden blocks. I have a notebook that I put these pages in by color codes. I bought several packages of different colored dots from Office Depot. I have six seperate catagories now with a different color assigned for each. Each new stamp is assigned the correct color dot and is numbered with the next number available for that color. One dot goes on the page in the catalog and the other on the stamp box. For example all the holiday type stamps are red dots. A new set of stamps for the holidays might be number 35. Both the stamp box and the page have the red dot with the number 35. Then, when I want a stamp, I flip through the catalog, find the stamp I want, check the color of the dot and the number then go to my cabinet and pull that stamp by matching the dot and number. (I am in the process of streamlining this by consolidating the sets to four on a page, still color coding, and cross referencing all the words. All my greetings and sayings stamps will be together for ease of use, but I will know which stamp set they originated from.)
I also have a neat way to keep my flower soft and embossing powder. When Hobby Lobby has a sale I buy the 4X6 clear photo boxes by Iris. I get them when they are .50 cents. I label each one and they fit together well when stacking them. I also use them for my charms, pearls, etc. They sit on a shelf on my desk. Easy to use and the lid locks.ReplyCancel

Like many people I store my Spellbinder Nesties on magnetic sheets
in CD cases. Getting those puppies off the magnetic sheets can be a chore especially the little ones so I put a narrow length of ribbon between the dies and the magnetic sheet. The ribbon doesn’t interfere with the magnet’s grip but lifting it a bit brakes it’s hold making it easy to get out the die I need.
Blessings BernieReplyCancel

My workspace and storage space are not as convenient as some peoples so my stamps are stored away from my work area. When i buy a new stamp i stamp it onto a piece of acetate or clear plastic. I store all the acetate sheets in a folder with sets together in a page protector. Each image or set is labelled as to where they are stored and sorted by types (Christmas, flourishes etc) When i am doing a layout or card I can take the acetate sheet out of the folder (which is close at hand) and lay the acetate image on the page or card. Because it is on acetate i can layer the elements easily above or below it and still see everything. When i am sure that the stamped element is what i want to use i can get out all the stamping equipment and use it. Some stamps that i use a lot i have several acetate images so i can rotate them on the page or use multiple images on a page. (no blog)ReplyCancel

I have a collection of pretty bottles that I keep my flowers in and I keep my buttons in mason jars. I also have an old spice rack that I keep all of my brads in. I buy magnetic sheets at my dollar store to store my spellbinders on. They come in a pack of two and are meant to put photos in to put on the fridge, they are the perfect size. My husband put up a wooden dowel to hold my punches. I have several baskets on my table to hold things I use all of the time. I also find that if you store Glossy Accents upside down it doesn’t clog. I use it as a glue for my buttons after trying many glues that didn’t hold buttons I find Glossy Accents works the best.ReplyCancel

We drink sugar free crystal light. The new containers they come in perfectly fit Copic Markers. I have several empties that I take the labels off, wash, and separate my copics by color. Easy to lay flat or stand up on my desk. And the best part…..the containers fit nicely in my jet max cube drawers.ReplyCancel

I don’t have a blog (in fact, this is the 1st time I’ve “blogged!) but this is a wonderful idea. I love your site! I too keep a little 2 ring binder with color index cards. I list everything on color coded cards, stamps, inks, markers, chalks, etc. For punches, I punch the side of card so I can see design and for markers, chalks, I put a little color smudge by the name. The last card is a white one that is my “Need” list. I add to this as something gets low or something new comes along that is a must have. My little notebook goes everywhere I go just in case I “unexpectedly” get to drop in my local craft store. I’m always prepared and never duplicate.ReplyCancel

Becca
I am a big supporter of Michael’s 1.00 bin. I have quite a few of the clear stamps so I purchased the sleeves for baseball cards and store them by occassion in a 3-ring binder and for the larger stamp sets I use the 8.5 x11 photo sleeves. and it works well.

I think you have a great idea here allowing us to share ideas. I don’t have a blog.ReplyCancel

When I do a project I have a notebook on my desk that I write dimensions, diagrams, maybe a picture in case I want to make more.ReplyCancel

I try to be neat but in the end it back to normal mess but I must say that when I clean everything up that I am at wits end as it is in it”s place but I cannot find it LOL but knew where it was when in disarray!ReplyCancel

Becca, I think your “31 days” will be a big hit!!!! Great idea…. I think the most important tip shared is clean up when you are finished at the end of day, etc. When you do, you are ready for the next project. I think all crafters know that ideas come at any given time, so to be able to walk into your work area and begin crafting is a must! Also, keeping your most used items close at hand is helpful. I keep mine in a drawer of my work table so I can quickly reach them. I use them and then put it back in the drawer for the next time. No time wasted looking for an item any longer.
Thanks Becca for your wonderful blog and beautiful work. DorisBReplyCancel

I’ve enjoyed reading some of your comments and hope to read more. For me, asking someone else with fresh eyes to take a look and ask how they would organize better. Sometimes their tips are spot on, and other times, well just say sometimes their ideas just don’t work for me. I have a very small space and unfortunately no place to really store stuff away. It is all out for everyone to see. Thankfully no one usually goes out in their area–an enclosed front porch.ReplyCancel

Becca, I was going to say that my tip is to put everything back where it belongs after each session. Stamping minds think alike! This way my room/table may stay clear enough to work and I won’t lose stuff all of the time.ReplyCancel

What a great idea and what great ideas so far! A lot of my “organization” is from past tips from you, Becca. I do have a tip though: Rather than keep a copy of each card I make (space issue), I take a picture and put it in a folder on my computer. I have folders for holidays, birthday, thank you, etc. It helps when I want to look at what I did previously (ie. what did I send out for christmas in 2009). Thanks for the 31d idea.ReplyCancel

Just another timesaver (for me anyway!) I’ve started entering some challenges, and there are so many out there, sooooo I have a special spiral notebook, jot down the ones I am interested in Sun-Thurs. and then make a card on Friday. That way, I can incorporate a few requiresments in one card, instead of making ten~~HTH!ReplyCancel

I acquired some plastic video tape cases and I store my Spellbinder dies in them by shape or kind i.e. rectangles, ovals, squares/tags,frames, etc., on magnetic sheets so they won’t get seperated within the case. These cases are stored on end in a shoe box. I labeled each case on one end so it is easy to find what I need. I have also stored the case one on top of the other on a shelf, but please use rubber shelf liner or something similiar between each case as they are very slippery!ReplyCancel

Love this idea Becca, thanks for doing this. I don’t have a blog but thought I would leave a tip. I use the clear bags from inside the cereal boxes to put the small pieces of cardstock in that I can still use to cut things out of but fall out of folders easily. A bag for each color keeps things neat. Can’t wait to have time to read more tips.ReplyCancel

I love reading all this great tips – thanks so much! The only thing I can add is that I don’t throw away much. I keep plastic containers for scraps of paper, ribbon, yarn, etc. and as they get full I donate then to the local preschool, Sunday School, etc. They are always looking for supplies to use and it makes me feel good that I could help and it keeps my small area clean and uncluttered.ReplyCancel

Hello Becca,

I have quite a few hand held punches (lots of SU) and others I also have a floor to almost ceiling book shelf (that I store alot of other items on) but the outside (sides) of the bookshelf my DH took cafe’ curtain holders and wooden dowel the width of the side and then you take the punch and put it against the side with the handle hanging over the dowel to hold it in place.Its great as you can see the punch design on the top of the punch facing you so you know what your are getting, you can get quite a few rows and depending on how tall you are you can probably get more than I can.ReplyCancel

What a great idea Becca love reading the comments. 1) I’m a fanatic about scraps of paper and keeping them organized. I have several 3 plastic drawer bins that I picked up at Walmart and sort my scraps by color each color has it’s own drawer. 2) I’m lucky to have a Art room with a big walk in closet that makes organizing a breeze, ladies if you are lucky enough to pick the room in the house for your crafts go for the room with the biggest walk-in closet you won’t be sorryReplyCancel

P.S. I have thought of buying an Ott light before but we all have to work within our own particular requirements. For me, that is a very small space workspace…my dining room table. My husband is very kind about my “stamp passion” but everything has to move off the table very quickly at times. I have found a very large tea tray that I keep on the table when working on a project. If there is a knock on the door and company coming, the large tray accommodates my “mess” and it is swooped into the bedroom until the “coast is clear”. Therefore, my tips are space saving tips but have been life savers for this card maker with very limited work area availability. (Fridge light and very large tea tray).ReplyCancel

My favorite crafting tip is to use fine pointed tweezers to help place your glue dots, grab bling, remove the tape strip covers off the redline tapes, placing tiny paper bits & any other smalls related tasks. I have found that they are even helpful when placing your card front decorations when you are having a ‘fat fingers’ day. You can find the fine pointed tweezers at military surplus, online surgical supply, and electronic supply sites. I like the extra fine surgical tips since they are also sharp & work really nice for the redline tapes.
~C8>ReplyCancel

Oh how I long to be organized! Seems like it’s so bad that when I lay down an item…such as scissors…I imediately have to find them again before I can use them again! I would love some great tips on how to get organized and “stay” organized!ReplyCancel

Oh Wow! I’m already addicted to the comment tips. Such great ideas =)
I too have a small craft space, but feel so blessed to have one at all.
A favorite organization spot of mine is my stamp rails for my wooden stamps, I use the widest chair rails I could find at Home Depot. I got the white ones so I didn’t even have to paint them. The deeper the ledge of the rail the better. I found some 1″ thick, mounted them side ways and it made a lip. Cut them into sections to fit the wall spaces, and sat my stamps side by side in themes on the “ledges”. I love being able to glance down the rows to find what I’m looking for.The stamps never fall off, even when doors are slammed. An example of how much they will hold… I can place up to 25 stamps on each 3 1/2 foot section. When space is even tighter I stack them.
My blog is being updated, so I’ll link it on another comment later.
Thanks for this awesome spot on your blog Becca.
-Blessings, Kim K.ReplyCancel

I buy my spinach and spring mix (lettuce) at Sam’s Club in clear plastic containers that I save, reuse and recycle to store my cards in. Perfect size for that.ReplyCancel

Loved reading through some of these fabulous ideas! Thanks, Becca, for this wonderful feed! My Organizational Tip involves SPELLBINDER DIES.
I keep my Standard Shapes (circles, ovals, squares, rectangles and all their fancier spin-offs) in a hanging CD Case, each set in one of the Double-sided hanging sleeves (you can store front & back if you wish). Sleeves can be added as you increase your collection, and labelling them makes it easy to find what you’re after. My fancier dies – shapes, tags, labels, pendants, etc. – are also kept in a CD case, the double stacked wallet kind. The larger dies go in the bottom pockets so they don’t stick out the top, allowing the case to be zippered so they don’t fall out.
All of these items I picked up at our local WalMart. Have a lovely day! :-)ReplyCancel

oh this is a great idea Becca, we can always use a hint or two
I store all my clear stamps in old cd cases, it’s brilliant for letting me see at a glance what I’m looking for.
I also use an over the door coat hanger for those loose pieces of ribbon we all have to save them becoming tangled in a drawer
Anne xReplyCancel

What a great list of tips!

I have my Spellbinders on magnetic photo paper inside small photo albums. I also use photo albums to store my embossing folders.
In the UK we have clear plastic ‘takeaway’ boxes with lids (about 6″x4″x1″) which are great for storing all sorts. I have some with cut nestability shapes ready for any project.
I also use the small plastic boxes with lids which you get with business cards in and which you can buy separately. I write a letter of the alphabet or a number on each narrow end of the lids and then when I cut numbers or letters for a card, I cut extra and store them in their relevant box. I ‘file’ all the lidded boxes, standing with the narrow end up, in a drawer, so that I can see the relevant letter or number. I rarely have to cut from scratch.
As I have a very heavy commercial sized die-cutting machine, I wanted something solid to place it on, with room either side for the tray to extend when cutting items. The kitchen trolley (without the castors) which the children used whilst at university, came ‘home’! Just the right size – can be moved if necessary – has a cutlery drawer underneath – then two shelves – and pull out vegetable baskets which all hold lots of dies. The small knife containers which hang on the sides, store scissors, pens etc. The trolley is seriously loaded and I couldn’t have bought anything better.
I have a couple of metal office desktop filing stands with baskets which hold photocopies of all cards made, labels etc. There is a rack on the top of each in which I store my score boards, embossing boards, different sized cutting mats, strimmers and tabletop cutting equipment – except for my large guillotine, which sits on its own unit with a drawer underneath – and guess where all the offcuts go ;o)
Now I just need the willpower to organise my table so that I can see it lol
Hugs
Anne (UK)ReplyCancel

Sorry Becca…. no blog …don’t know how to set one up :-(
I am in the midst of setting up a new craft room. If any of you ladies are buying a new kitchen as I have just done, or any of your friends are and you have a spare bedroom, then use the old cabinets, drawers, worktops etc for your craft room….they make fantastic storage for all your stash!
A shelved wardrobe would be another good place for it.
My stamps are on a tiered unit inside a cabinet, my ribbon is stored in drawers, my glitter has been transferred to suitable boxes and then stored in a basket inside a cabinet as are all my embossing powders with plastic teaspoons for each box. My workbench (old worktop) has a pretty box on it to hold my current project if I haven’t finished it and need to go and make a meal etc. and a drawer storage sits on top holding my tools. I also keep a small rubbish bin for clearups and wet wipes for cleanups. My Nesties are stored in an A4 plastic ring sheet with 2 magnetic strips behind them and stored in an A4 ringbinder. Paintbrushes are stored in a tumbler always bristles facing up and put into shape while damp and I only ever use a small glass mini jam jar for water so that if I knock it over there isn’t too much water being spilt over my workspace, in fact I don’t knock them over they are quite stable little jars. I keep a soft brush separate for cleaning excess/stray glitter off cards.
I always have blutack handy and use it with a piercing tool to pick up small gems/embellies and a old washed out stickles bottle with glue in it to enable me to put a little tiny drop of glue on the gems/embellies.
Ribbon…..I buy lots of white ribbon and colour it to match my card with ink pads swiped over it and left to dry or dried with a hairdrier if I forget to do it before starting my card and need it in a hurry.
Scissors….I always clean with wet wipes or baby oil and carefully dried if using baby oil. Everything I put on my cards I do with tweezers, particularly when I have been using inks or stickles incase I have any I haven’t noticed on my hands and smudge my work! I keep a baskeet of folded CS in different shapes/styles/colours in case I need to do something in a hurry and always have a few cards sitting ready made just waiting for a suitable sentiment for absolute emergencies! I use permanent marker pens to colour co-ordinate my peeloffs with the card if using them. I use post-it-notes to rest my hand on when colouring in a card image with watercolour in case I get some paint on the side of my hand and don’t notice, that way I don’t get any on my card accidently. Those little tiny square double sided pads can be troublesome to remove the backs from but if you press your tweezers into the centre of them the corners usually release themselves and are easy to take off with your tweezers or do it with your nails if they are long enough…I prefer using my tweezers. I could go on and on, sorry Becca, I am getting carried away here so will stop now.
Take care, LOL Eileen in U.K.ReplyCancel

Becca to organise my flat back pearls i’ve sorted them into a 16 hole Ferrero Rocher choclate box, makes it easy to find just the right pearl. On my blog i’m selling a special tool to pick up jewels and rhinestones,,,much better than using the tweezers and it slips out of the nib, this is specially designed for picking up diamonds so you can just imagine,it works wonderful.
my other handy tip is,,, i cut off the bottom of a 2L Coke/Pepsi bottle, take out the inside of a toilet roll and put the bottle over the toilet roll, thread it through the bottle neck and this way you have paper to clean off anything at hand.I use it for everything all day long.ReplyCancel

I used to store my punches and stamps in drawers, not necessarily sorted out. After many times of trying to find a specific item, I’ve now organized everything according to holiday or theme. For example, all of my Christmas punches and stamps are together, all Easter, all Halloween, all Valentine, etc., are stored in a separate drawer or container. When I make Valentine cards now, I don’t have to search – everything Valentine is in one drawer. For me it works – it’s just so much easier to find something. Of course, I have a “miscellaneous drawer” but most crafting items are organized by category. Thank you.ReplyCancel

Wow, thanks for getting this discussion started all in one place. My favourite idea here so far is Maree’s comment about stamping the images on acetate so not only is storage taken care of, but you can try out layouts with them.

I saved all my old fridge’s crispers and door bins to store craft supplies. They slide out of the cupboard easily and are very sturdy. A crisper hold all my paper scraps in the top drawer of the filing cabinet by my desk arranged by colour. The back part of the drawer has a selection of envelopes and often used specialty cutters. The bottom drawer has full sheets of cardstock, while my paper cutter sits on top of the cabinet. That way all the paper supplies I need for a quick card are together, and leaving that top drawer open beside me as I work encourages me to use up scraps and try differnt colour combinations.
Janice (no blog)ReplyCancel

Haven’t read all the comments yet so hope I don’t repeat anything that has already been mentioned…
Ribbon that got wrinkled gets super smooth quickly again if you run it through a hair straightener on a low to medium setting.
When printing out digital stamps or sentiments that you generated on the computer, try to fill your page economically and cut up into usable pieces right away. If you colour (if necessary) right away and store in a box or file on your desk you always have ready made bits to use for quick cards and you don’t waste printing paper.
One thing I haven’t done yet but intend to do very soon to organise my immense stash of stamps is to stamp them all up on white paper and write down where it came from (Brand/Set/where I store it etc.) and organise those by theme in a ring binder to keep on my desk. That way I don’t have to hunt down a certain stamp I am looking for – very useful for sentiments particularly!
I might post more tips if and when I remember!
Thanks for starting this topic!
Love, AlexReplyCancel

Every stamp I have has been stamped in my “Book” which is organized by topics (Birds, Hearts, Flowers, Backgrounds…., etc). If it straddles two categories, I stamp it both places. Next to the image I write the location in which it is stored (B1-x for box, D1-x for drawer, CDxx, etc). I NEVER look through my stamps to find what I’m looking for; I just look in my book and go grab it. My book is text weight paper and I use 2 colors of pigment ink to stamp so I can stamp on both sides. The sets are always stored in the same box so if there is a related stamp, those are easy to find as well. Above link is a picture of a couple of pages from the book.ReplyCancel

I love the idea of storing my Spellbinders on on magnetic sheets in a binder! Great idea!ReplyCancel

Always clean your stamps as you use them,makes sure it is clean for the next use,and stops the big clean up at the end of a session when you are mostly called away to do something elseReplyCancel

When I find an appealing shade of cardstock, I like to cut and score it to the size I use most and then I store it (unfolded still) in a Sterlite clear bottomed tote with a handled, snap-off lid. I line it with a thin soft foam so the bottom is flat and the scored cardstock doesn’t flop around. A piece of foamcore or equivalent can be cut to fit about 4″ from one end, making a smaller pocket wherein smaller, layering pieces of cardstock can be stashed that coordinate with the ready to pull and use cardstock. And I can take it anywhere in the house or out and have a great supply of colors to choose from.ReplyCancel

I do not have a blog but this is a tip that is my saviour. I am by nature a cluttered, messy person – although I know exactly where things are. But because my work surface can get pretty overwhelming with “stuff”, I keep a 12×12 piece of marble tile that I bought at a home improvement center – around $2 – right in the middle. Even though everything around me is in disarray (to everyone but me…), I always have a clean, hard, smooth surface on which to work. It is great to stamp on, lay stencils flat, keep papers flat when applying glue/tapes, etc. No matter what I’m doing, I can always keep at least this 12×12 tile clean. “Know thyself.” Well, I do and this works for me.ReplyCancel

I just found a good solution for storing and having a way to see and get the colored pencil or copic marker I want and also be able to grab my caddy and go to another room to be with my husband. I bought a red metal utensil caddy that has 3 tall cups or cans that is attached to a lazy susan like base and has a handle on top that I got at Target for around $12.99,so far it is working much better than anything else of tried, I can just spin the cups around to find the colored pencil or marker I’m looking for.ReplyCancel

Great ideas! I use an old, large Q-tip container for storing my markers and a plastic bag to hold all my acrylic blocksReplyCancel

Becca, Love this new idea. I don’t have a blog but I do have some organization tips. I am one who needs to see what I have or I forget about it, so I try to keep most things visible. For all of my buttons and ribbons I keep them in clear glass or plastic containers and usually sort them by colors. I have lots of baskets and keep things similar in each, like stamps or punches.
~Gin~ReplyCancel

Wow! So many great ideas! I’ll certainly be back to read more of them. I use a wire kitchen rack that is meant to help organize your cupboards for my Stickles storage. My rack has a grid of squares in the top. They are the perfect size to store my stickles lid down so they are always ready to use. I can easily see the colors and there’s room to slide something else under the rack thus increasing my shelf storage space. I also frequently hang my scissors & tweezers on this rack too. You can see pictures on my blog in my Jan, 23, 2011 post.ReplyCancel

Susan Nel, thanks for the tip on using a straw….my brushes will be saved!
Great iIdea!ReplyCancel

Many of my ideas I’ve gotten from you Becca, really that’s true. But I’ve been work on this:
When I started stamping I was haveing trouble remembering what stamps I had and the sayings in each pack. So I made a book and stamped each set on a page or 1/2 page and tried to group them together theam not maker. So all my flowers are together, and my Birthdays, etc….
But now I find that I need to update this a little by restamping the saying that come with some sets by themself and some how mark or number each set so I can find that saying….. Havent figured this out yet but I’ve been running a few ways thru my brain…ReplyCancel

Funny I’ve just started organizing things in a better way. We now have a 14 month old very busy grandson. He just loves grandma’s craft room. So we’ve put the little things up higher.

I used three ice cube containers, one for all my pens, pencils and colored water pencils.
One for all the markers and one for gel pens and glitter pens. Then I took all those cans folks gave me from things like cookies and candy, put all my punches, stamps and inks in those. I had been given some awesome little containers from a friend and those I put my glitters in then into a box together. Next all the little sequence you get in a bulk bag from Walmart I’m separating the shapes to put in separate jars and so on. Easy to find and out of the reach from curious little hands.

Our room looks so much neater and last will be to decorate and label each large container. Thank you for all the inspiration here.ReplyCancel

I have storage baskets, containers and drawer organizers, all purchased from thrift stores. I use them in various ways, each playing its part in keeping my studio organized.

I also hang my newly made cards from a string with tiny clothespins. It is a great way to not only accent the room, but also inspire and encourage me to create!ReplyCancel

Becca

thanks for this.

My tip and one that works for me is to file away all your scraps of paper in poly pockets/plastic wallets in a folder – filing by colour scheme. Each time you need a piece of coloured paper for a card – look in the folder before cutting into another sheet – a great way of using scraps and saving whole sheets of cardstock/design papers.

Hope thats the kind of tip you are looking for.

Paula…

my blog is paulaspaperplayground.blogspot.com

hope you or anyone reading would love to come over and have a look at my blog.

Paula, Derbyshire, UK. x x xReplyCancel

Spellbinders – tricky to remove from die at times?
I always have a piece of blu-tack and the white equivalent, stuck on the top of my die-cutting machine, which I use to ease die-cut shapes from the dies. You know how very intricate die cuts (some Spellbinders, CottageCutz and Marianne D’s (not sure if you can get these in the US)) are tricky to remove without creasing the card or having a mark from a pokey tool or corn on the cob spear ;o) ? Well, just use a piece of blu-/whitetack – or sometimes a piece of low tack tape is sufficient – and lift the shape out intact :o)
Also, if you don’t want the tiny pieces which are cut out of the design, or don’t need them embossed, remove these before embossing the main shape. They are easier to remove at that point!
White-tack makes a wonderful rubber/eraser and I run a piece round the outside of die cut shapes if I have that tell-tale black mark after cutting. I use it as well for removing marks on card – but always test it on a scrap first if you are using pearlescent card to ensure it doesn’t affect the pearlised finish.
I keep a couple of corn-on-the-cob spears with wooden handles in my rotating tool holder on my desk. The ones I use have angled points which I apply on their sides (rather than using a point which can leave a mark, the shape is more triangular and blunt which suits some shapes) to push out certain small decorative elements from Spellbinders dies. The rounded top of the handle is also useful for die removal at times. You soon get to know which technique works best on which dies :o)
Hope this helps!
Hugs
Anne (UK) xReplyCancel

I haven’t been stamping very long, but I keep my stamps in clear picture frames, they are like boxes. Stamp the image on the paper that comes in the frame and they always go back where they belong. I store them by- sentiments, flowers, etc. I am in the process of organizing my room so this has been wonderful. I tried the wax paper on the intricate Spellbinder and viola! It works great! Thanks!ReplyCancel

Two things. I found that CD cases will hold 2 sets of spellbinder dies. This is useful for things like storing the small classic circles with the small scalloped circles, etc. I put a sticker with the name of the dies on the end of the case and store them in a photo storage box with the end facing up. I also put them on metallic strips which I cut from an 8×10 metallic sheet and store them back to back – buy the cd cases which have a spool which can be taken out. I saw this on one of Becca’s blogs and what a help it has been.

I also use one of those shoe storage bags which go on the back of a closet door to store my punches.ReplyCancel

I have hundreds of punches, I never met a punch I didn’t like. I store them on a 2 foot wide book shelf, and add additional space using a closet organizer for shoes providing two additional surfaces. These can be stacked on top of a counter or other spaces. For smaller punches, I put them in clear plastic shoe boxes, place them on one of the shelves – they then easily slide out for selection. I love reading all of these tips.ReplyCancel

Sorry Becca,I just re read my post and it should say CD pouch and not holder.
Thanks DianeReplyCancel

When I first started stamping years ago, I created a notebook. In the notebook, I’ve stamped every stamp I have and then organized by holiday, trees, flowers, words, etc. There’s a punch out of every punch and, again, organized by category. Every Copic, colored pencil, die, etc., is in the book. There’s also a plastic zipped pouch that holds a tape measure, pen and note paper. I take the notebook with me when I shop so that I always know what I have and keep a running list of things I want. This has helped me to not buy duplicates because I’m never sure of what I have and don’t have. If I see a flower stamp, I page through the “flower stamp” pages to see if I have it, etc. Sounds like a difficult thing to organize but it really wasn’t and it sure has saved me!ReplyCancel

Becca,
I am thankful for reasonably good health, as I hear from some of my on-line stamping friends who are not in good health.
I love to learn new techniques and mechanical cards. How about doing a technique/mechanical card. Then have a contest on your blog, so we can practice and show you our cards. You can have a small prize only. Sometime it’s not the prize, but just the winning that counts.
Virginia MontagnaReplyCancel

each week on the same day so you get in the habit, take 1 item that you started and didn’t like or didn’t finish and complete a card. If you really can’t use it as is, turn it over and start again. If you already tried that, throw it away…Really it’s OK

blessings
patti moffettReplyCancel

I have several sizes of folder with dividers that I put small pieces of card stock in. I all the reds & pinks together then yellows, then greens, then blues, purples & brown & black together. I divide them by size. All the smaller sizes in a folder.then a medium together. And half sizes in a folder.ReplyCancel

If I leave my desk in a mess after a card session, I make it point to always put at least 8 items away each time I have to go into my craft area for any reason. In a short time my desk is empty.ReplyCancel

SPONGES/SPONGE DAUBERS: I keep these in small individual zip-loc baggies that are labelled and have a plastic ring tab on the non-opening end. I purchased 2.5″ rings from Michaels and hooked the baggies onto the rings in alphabetical order, and I also have a ring specifically for the Tim Holtz Distress Ink colours. Each time I need to use a sponge I know exactly where to go and when I’m done, it encourages me to put the sponge dauber back into it’s little zip-loc bag. BONUS: The cat can no longer use them as toys! :-)ReplyCancel

Wow! This is one FABULOUS collection of tips! Kudos to you Becca for thinking of this idea! The only thing I can think of to add is how I’ve separated and organized special trinkets, reminders, and tid bits of each of my 3 children to later help embellish and personalize their scrapbook pages. Each child has a ‘photo’ box, which I labeled “_ _ _’s Treasures” , which contains everything from a misplaced Pokemon card to the tag off of those special Abercrombie jeans! As I would pick up their rooms, these little pieces of them would suddenly spark a new idea for a layout!ReplyCancel

Hate wasting card and paper when die-cutting?
I’ve started cutting a sample of any new die I buy and measuring the size of card/paper required to accommodate the shape. Note the dimensions on a slip of paper which can be stored with the die, or, as I’ve started with my Sizzix dies, write the dimensions on the edge of the die with an indelible pen. It saves time and material when you next come to die cut, as you know immediately what size to cut your card to minimise wastage. As I sell cards for charity, I die cut extra sets of shapes, and when I have time, make a batch of similar cards ready for the next fundraising event. This saves so much time and I can divide up each A4 sheet of card in the most economical way when cutting multiple shapes.
Hugs
Anne (UK)ReplyCancel

I haven’t done this personally, but read it on a blog and it caught my attention. Take ribbon off the rolls and put in zip lock bags as it saves tons of space! Only downside I can see is your ribbon may get “shmushed”.ReplyCancel

Becca Ever since you introduced your new format I had been wondering what the features link at the top of the screen would be. I was thrilled to see it come to life and knew this topic in particular would generate lots of great tips. I had planned to reorganize my craft room this week but decided to wait till all the tips are in, there are some real gems here, some have nothing to do with organization but still worth the read. I can’t wait to see what your next topic will be and the one after that. Also can’t wait to see what Feature 2 (coming soon) will be all about. Knowing you it’ll be fantastic.
Thanks for all you do for us.
Blessings BernieReplyCancel

Just found great little storage containers at RealDeals (everything $1 or less!) They are like the 7 day pill containers only without those labels and made for crafting. Perfect for my tiny buttons, bells, bling, etc. They are narrow and clear, so will stack and be easy to access. Also found a “pretty,” HEAVY “cut glass” glass that won’t tip over on my desk and can hold pens and other tools.ReplyCancel

I have all my sponges in a plastic box with about 20 little places, in each one i put a sponge with a coloured piece of cardstock stapled to it, i can then just take the correct colour out if i want to do sponging on my card edges and put it right back when finish.

I have a special file folder with A4 size pockets, I stamp all my images in groups and file it in the folder, easy when buying new stuff to see if you have it or not.

I filed a sheet with all my stamppad colours on each like my distress colours, stickles ,alc inks etc, etc,, that way you wont duplicate easy.

I have a wooden box that i’ve decoupaged with all my rak /b/day cards postage stamps from overseas, i keep all my very special cards from friends in there, this is a reminder of all my online friends all over the world.ReplyCancel

I created an inventory system for my Stamps, Stamp Sets (wood and clear), Punches, Dies, Embossing Folders and anything else in the form of a durable product that I will use over and over again but not supplies such as tape, ribbons, brads, etc. I did this on my Excel program and I also use it for insurance purposes in case of a fire, etc. then I will have proof of my inventory along with my receipts. I use this list when I am creating something so I won’t have to look page by page thru a binder for a die to match – I can look it up on the list as we crafters normally have a good idea as to what is in each set by the title. My lists are created by manufacturer and the information necessary per each one.
Using my Stampin’ Up! sets as an exmple: I titled the page Stampin’ Up! Stamp Sets then I titled each column as follows: # – starting with number 1 etc, is only for a count of how many stamp sets I own. TITLE – the name of the stamp set. PCS. – how many stamps in that set. YEAR – their stamp sets have a year when they were created. COST – what I actually paid for the set excluding tax. CURRENT COST – this will be different than the cost if I purchased the set on sale or from another source otherwise it is the same amount. Some of these figures are not necessary but are there for my benefit incase I decide to sell a set then I will know how much I originally paid for it. But I do keep a running total on my last two columns (the cost and current cost) that way I will always know how much I have into my crafting hobby – lots of money with my 283 sets!!!ReplyCancel

Hi !! I posted a tip a few days ago but here is another of my favorites. I use the brass/stainless stencils quite a bit and have quite a few. Because they must be kept flat so as not to bend or crimp, I keep them in 3-ring binders. At a local store that sells collectible baseball cards, etc., they carry the plastic sheets to protect the cards and other things. They come in 9 per page, 6, 4 and 2 per page – so almost every size stencil can be slipped into one of the pockets and stored safely and efficiently. I insert a piece of blank cardstock into each pocket so I can store a stencil on each side of the cs. This way, it is easy to see the image of each whle doubling up on the storage. Depending on how many stencils are added, the binder can get fairly heavy. I store it laying down rather than standing up because of the weight. Also, I have filed them in seperate binders based on theme. So, my stash of metal stencils is always flat and protected. The metal stencils are relatively costly so it’s important to take special care of them. Hope this is useful to some of your readers.
Dolly BReplyCancel

When I have to make a card, I usually make two with the same card front. One is for the swaps I get in (usually I use a friendship verse) and the other is for whatever Birthday or Anniversary or Event is coming up within family and friends.ReplyCancel

Working on a new and intricate design?
Save the acetate sheets that you get sometimes in embellishment packs and use these as overlays on card blanks when working on a design. If you need a larger piece, cut up packaging from anything available! You can arrange your sentiment banners/tags/embellishments on this until you find the perfect design, without fear of damaging the card front (like if something is still a bit tacky with glue, glitter or ink) or accidentally transferring ink from your hands. Then carefully slide the acetate sheet off, with design intact, which enables precise placement of the individual pieces one at a time. The sheets clean up easily afterwards, take very little space to store and when past their best, can be re-cycled.
Becca, this is such a fun read!
Hugs
Anne (UK) xReplyCancel

My tip for today is: I have plastic drawers (4-drawer units) that I place scraps in, which coordinates with the plastic filing shelves that I keep my 8.5 x 11 sheets of colored cardstock in. In the top drawer I put all the Nestabilities shapes that I cut out and decided not to use, so try to remember to look through that drawer first before cutting out any new shapes with my Nestabilities.ReplyCancel

I keep track of the *scrap colors* by labeling them in drawers, Cool/Warm/Neutral and SU. So if I want to embellish I can go to that drawer. If I am using SU inks I go to the SU drawers.ReplyCancel

I try to have several items ready to put on cards, just waiting for a special day or a last minute invite. (Wedding, shower, birthday party etc.ReplyCancel

Becca, How cool is this, a place for tips. And we all have things that work for us, don’t we. I love Spellbinders dies and have so so many, I store mine in jewel cases and then they go into a CD storage container/organizer. Picked it up at Staples and I have them organized by type and shape etc.I have found that I know right where specific ones are now. I just love this and it works well for me.Thanks for giving us this spot.ReplyCancel

Todays tip is something I do automatically……..I can’t work in a mess!!!!
I also store odd pieces of coloured card in an expanding file 7″ x 4″ (so nothing too big in here). When I need to punch leaves or petals, or even to mat sentiments and small images…. this is where I look first.
Thanks Becca for all these amazing tips!ReplyCancel

When I started creating my cards I went all out and bought every gadget pertaining to crafting I could find. Later as I progressed with my creativity I found that there were products out there that were better/easier to use/cost effiecient, etc., then the ones I had already spent money on. So my advice is to take your time and do the research. Ask other “experienced” crafters what they use. Go to your local craft store and sign up for a card class to see if you will really even enjoy creating. I have 3 cutters that I don’t even use but I love my 2 guillotine cutters. *Makes for a less cluttered craft room!ReplyCancel

For organizing my scrapbook room, I’ve purchases several “Jetmax” cubes. I find they are perfect for storing almost anything in. I use Becca’s idea for ribbon storage, this goes into a drawer in the 3-drawer cube. I also store my quickutz in the 3-drawer cubes, first I make little pockets measuring about 2 1/4′ square and put the die/dies in it, then I cut out the die and adher it to the front of the pocket showing what it should look like assembled. I also write the name and number of the die on the bottom and store them alphabetically. For my stamps and spellbinders I store them in DVD cases, I unmount all wooden stamps and make them cling mount to save on storage space. These go on a DVD holder.

I was lucky at Christmas and got a cabinet for my Cricut machine, there was only one problem with it – no place to store the 12″ X 24″ mat and papers. So my husband helped me make a sliding shelf 2″ from the bottom to put the cricut machine on and the large mat and papers fit under neath, the machine works great on the sliding shelf for up to 12″ out if doing extra large cut outs you would need to move your machine. Then the cabinet seats on top of 4 jetmax cubes that are placed 2 across and 2 high. (the cabinet is just as high as 1 cube and as wide as 2 cubes) Directly under the cricut cabinet is a 3-drawer cube with my cricut cartridges, books and overlays neatly organized alphabetically. I label all the tops of my cartridges so I can see them at a glance.

I store my Sizzix dies in the 4-drawer cubes alphabetically. I also store my cuttlebug folders there too after labelling them. My stickles and alchol inks are stored in the 3-drawers.

My 12 X 12 CS papers are in 13 X 13 Crop Case by colour on the bottom shelf of a bookcase and my 8 1/2 X 11 CS are in plastic drawers.ReplyCancel

Love all these tips! Thanks for the idea of starting this thread, Becca!
I keep acetate from packaging, round the corners, and use for shims when die-cutting. I use the backs of the acetate packaging from Spellbinders dies to catch the small pieces when punching. The back of the packaging is recessed, so it keeps all the bits together – some of which I might want to use.
Hugs
Anne (UK) xReplyCancel

Not sure how, but I managed to forget a very important tip on my last post:
Keep a bag beside your worktop in which you can toss paper scraps. Soo much easier than trying to sort afterwards! Also, as I already have a recycle bag in the next room, I found it infinitely easier to toss a closed bag rather than a lot of loose scraps in the big blue bin.
As I stamp, I also find using those little cut leftovers handy for testing the inked images as I go.
Hope these help!ReplyCancel

I have a filing cabinet in my craft room and I file all scraps into colours so I now use them as opposed to reaching for a new piece each time. I also have a magnetic board for all my nesties so I can hold my project up to them all to decide with shape fits best.
sueReplyCancel

All these ideas are so awesome. Here’s mine. This concerns punches. I put cafe curtain rods on my walls and all my punches fit nicely on these rods. They are all out and I can just glance at what I have when I’m working on a card. I also made bookmark sized template with all the punches that can be used for verses or stamps and covered them with clear contact paper. Then I just have to grab the template and place it over the verse or stamp to see if it fits. They are all held together with a ring clip.ReplyCancel

I have a binder with plastic envelope sheets (page protectors with top opening), I can slip instructions, special card ideas etc. in for future use. That way I never miss little steps that I might otherwise forget.ReplyCancel

My crafting tip for the day is: Whenever I see a card on-line that I like, whether it’s the way the particular colors coordinate, the layout, or there is something about the card that I haven’t tried before, I copy the card into a folder in Word with the name of the artist along with their website, and the date that I saw it, just in case I have questions and need to go back to check out specific instructions or maybe e-mail the creator.ReplyCancel

Stacey King designed and shared the directions for an amazing inkpad holder. I don’t have a great many full size inkpads but I was able to adapt her design to hold what I do have plus my Studio G 2″ inkpads. I’ve also adapted her design to hold my ribbon rolls.
Tip: Get Foam Core at your local Sign SUPPLY shop. The sheets are quite large but it’s great stuff and a lot cheaper then the smaller sheets in the craft store especially if you can get a damaged sheet at a discount. I’ve heard you can get foam core at Dollar type stores but mine only sells foam sheets which I find to flimsy for this purpose.
Blessings BernieReplyCancel

Keep all your tools in the area they are being used in.ReplyCancel

don’t hoard. the next piece of paper, embellishment, etc. will be the a better one. if you don’t use it, get rid of it by trading with friends, selling it, join a craft suppy trading group, etc. – any way to get it out of your house and into the house of someone who would happily use it.ReplyCancel

I organized my stamp by holidays, season like winter, spring, summer and by the themes. And stamps that are word I oranized the same way.ReplyCancel

woww so many ideas for getting organized, i think we all have our own way of doing but sometimes we can learn from a tip we recieve and it just makes life so much easier.
we are a group of ladies that comes together 1x a month and then we stamp,chat and eat together. at this meeting we stamp up a storm so the next time i want to make a card i just go to my ‘image drawer’ and pull out what i need , colour, cut out and attach it to my card, makes cardmaking so much easier. its good to have a few sentiments handy that you can just cut out with a diecut or with fancy scissors and add to your card. my friend makes these little baggies that hang from your table,it has sand in the top part to stay on your table, then its right next to you to put all your bits in, just clean it out when you’re finish, a great asset for your craft table. have a great day!!ReplyCancel

Keep a small notebook next to you when making a new project. Write down cutting dimensions and scoring measurements. This can then be a quick reference whenever you need to make that project again.ReplyCancel

Boy, do I wish I could see your craft area. I spend so much time re-organizing. I can’t wait to learn more of your tricks. Thanks for sharing.ReplyCancel

One of my favourite organizing tips is to share…much the same as you do Becca, but on a much smaller scale. There is always someone who would love to have those stickers you bought but can’t, for the life of you, figure out why you thought you just had to have them. Or would love some of those spare tools and punches that you don’t have room for. Even the extra pieces of paper can be packaged up and shared with another scrapper who would love to have some new pieces of paper to play with. Every one wins and your space definitely becomes much easier to keep tidy!ReplyCancel

When new items come into your stamping room, get them settled in before working on a project – even if it is in progress. Get all items into your organization , modifying if necessary. I always say “It fits. I guess it was OK to buy.” Piles of unopened products aren’t ready to use and may get lost. Handling them nudges your memory when you need to pull something to use and eliminates the time barrier of having to open before using. Helps prevent buying repeats if you see your supplies regularly. Finally, for me , it is the thank you to God for giving me these fun “toys” to enjoy. Being a good steward is important to me and the putting away process is a celebration of thanks.ReplyCancel

My idea for organization may seem a little strange, but I love it none the less. A few years ago I started searching for paper crafting storage furniture/crates/containers. Many of them were made of plastic, cardboard or heavy particle wood. Most were quite expensive and looked like they would not hold my heavy wood mounted stamp collection. So when an extra large 2 piece metal mechanic tool chest came on sale, I hinted to my DH about it making a perfect Christmas gift. It even came in blue, my favorite color. I now have 2 of them, one for stamps, the other for paper, tools and other supplies. They have a ton of drawers that run on steel rollers so are always stable and slide easily. Also the large wheels make the cabinets easy to move as I reorganize my craft room, or even for moving into my dining/living room for stamping get togethers. Seriously girls, go take another look at your guy’s tool cabinet and imagine the possibilities.
Hugs & Smiles & DreamsReplyCancel

Hi there Becca. I do not have a blog but visit here every evening as it is a great place to be. This is a light hearted tip for fun. When crafting get Hubby or suitable other to clean up and this will save lots of valuable time to do more crafting (he he)ReplyCancel

I was lucky enough an acquired a very large amount of rubber stamps. At first I had them all in their own bins, with labels so I would know what category it holds. And I took a regular 3 ring binder and used clear sheet holders to store any unmounted ones, plus I have a sheet(s) with all of the ones that are in containers also stamped on it. So this way, I grab my binder(s), flip through the pages and know right where to find what I want. I realized that special holidays – like Christmas, Halloween etc…these occasions have their own bins which stores everything (except paper) in it, so I decided why not store the rubber stamps in it to..one bin nice and neat. And those tend to be ones that you only need for those specific projects and don’t need to be out all the time.

Hope this helps someone!
JackieReplyCancel

One of the best organizing tools I have is the LABEL MAKER. Many things are labeled as soon as they are purchased including: Stamp sets, CUTTLEBUG EMBOSSING FOLDERS (name of pattern and stored in the plastic cover that they came packaged in), stamp pads (color name label adhered to edge of lid). By having items labeled it is easy to STORE ITEMS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER so they can easily be found and returned to the right place including SIZZIX DIES- each size/color is alphabetized as I oftentimes recall the size of the die first. NESTABILITIES are stored in a plastic pencil box (5″ x 8″) on labeled sheets of magnetic material (4 1/2″ x 6″) with the style name on the label. (plain circle set, scalloped circle set, etc.) Perhaps my real hobby is making labels! Thanks for all the organization tips!ReplyCancel

Hi Becca, another thought on organization. Actually this is a quick clean up option for your scissors. I like to index all my stamps thus my scissors can get a lot of sticky residue from the backing. I always keep a Goo Gone Mess-Free pen handy. The pen looks like a magic marker. I simply press the edge of the nib to my scissors and spread the Goo Gone on the edge and wipe with a paper towel. My scissors are all shiny and new again.
Thanks and I love this idea of collecting all of our fellow crafters thoughts on organization. I have picked up some really good ideas. Thanks to all of Y O U!ReplyCancel

An earlier entry from Sam suggested stamping the inside of the card first to eliminate the possibility of ruining all the work you’ve put into the front. That is an aggravating happenstance, but not necessarily a wasted front. One can always cut a full page size cardstock ‘layer,’ or something heavy enough to not show through,’stamp it correctly, and adhere it over the mistake; or cut the front from the card and layer it onto another base card (after the inside is stamped. :-). From reading blog material I have found some stampers routinely make ‘fronts’ only, finishing the card only when the need arises. If the design allows, I build the front from the first layer to the top layer, finish the inside, and then adhere the front on. This differs from the ‘front’ mentioned before because it allows for a margin of base card to show. This method is definitely called for if I’m using a computer-generated message that has to go through the printer. Usually the design of the inside comes to me during the process of creating the front.
Sorry, Becca, just remembered this is about organization. I won’t be hurt if you delete this comment.ReplyCancel

I’m lucky to have my own studio just for paper crafting. We covered one entire wall with pegboard. I would prefer slatwall now which gives you more choices for holders (shelves, etc.). I like to view my wood rubber stamps and have them all on 36″ long “J” style acrylic shelves which I ordered online. The pegboard allows me to lower the shelf in order to accommodate the taller stamps. I also have other types of holders that hang from my pegboard. I bought some from stores going out of business who were selling their display units and some from eBay. If you google acrylic slatboard shelves you should be able to come up with several buying options.ReplyCancel

Hi Becca,

I just recently found your blog, subscribed and have found myself going back through your archives. You have an inspiring God given talent, thanks for sharing it with us! Your tutorials are easy for me to follow and I have found unique techniques that I haven’t seen elsewhere.

As for me, I find I like clear storage so that I can easily see what I have on hand. I often use tool caddys to store my craft supplies. I’m interested to read about your organizational tips.

MaryReplyCancel

make “keys”. i have put spots of color from my inkpads on paper by manufacturer. i put these in rainbow order. when i need an ink that matches, i pull out the “key”. another “key” is for my decorative scissors. since the scissors are color-coded, i use the scissors to cut a same-colored scrap of paper. i adhere these snips to a larger paper and put them inside the box where i keep my decorative scissors. both of these allow me to search a key rather than looking at each item individually.ReplyCancel

I keep small alcohol swabs ( the single tear open packet used for injections) in my desk. If anything gets “gummy” ie, scissors or craft knife, I use an alcohol wipe and it comes right off.ReplyCancel