Hi there blog friends! I’ve mentioned several times that there were some new things I wanted to try out at Amazing Paper Grace. This is the first of those new things. At the top of my blog I have a feature category and in the past if you followed it across it said 31D. Well, that was my shorthand for 31 Days. What is 31 Days? To read all about it, click on this link: 31 Days – A Compendium of Crafters Advice.
I consider you all the experts and you’ve shared some pretty special tips here in your comments in the past. Now I’ll be doing themed comments each month. Instead of scrolling away in a post over time, I’m preserving them on a page so that they can be accessed at any time.
The topic for the month of February is up and ready to go. You can start leaving comments HERE. At the end of the month I’ll edit and post the 31 best tips (someone has to pick, lol, but I’ll certainly look to your feedback to let me know if there are some shining examples) along with the author and a link to their blog. Just remember type your link in the comment form but do not leave it in the body of the comment because it teleports it straight to my spam folder. Leave as many tips as you like. At the end of the month, I’ll pick a random comment from the 31 to receive some goodies.
What a wonderful service you do for all of us, Becca! And by starting with organization you certainly have the right priority of topics. I will follow this topic closely – I spend an inordinate amount of time looking for ‘stuff’ that hasn’t a place to call its own.
Oh Becca, what a brilliant idea – I know it will be a big success. Cheers!
I do not save a scrap piece of paper that is smaller than a playing card. At first it was hard to discipline myself to throw away a smal scrap but now it comes naturally! : ) I also have my scraps in alphabetical order by color . . . . blue, brown, green, pink, red, etc. Once I put them in my container that way it was easy to keep the scraps organized and also easy to put a scrap right where it belongs! Cuts down on “looking,searching” time!
As soon as you’ve used your spellbinder die, put it back where it belongs so it won’t get lost or separated from the rest of it’s group. I keep mine in a folder on magnetic pages that are in plastic sleeves. Edna B.
What a great idea Becca. I think this will be very successful and very useful. SO THANK YOU!!
Thanks Becca.
Oh, Super idea! Should B very useful 4 everyone.
I need all the tips and suggestions I can get.
ColleenB.
Keeping craft items organized is the bane of most stampers. One of the things i have done is to have double of some of the crafting essentials. I keep one set in my travel crafting tote i bought several years ago. So in this tote I have my doubles of a piercing tool, my adhesives, my pop dots, my white Ink Essentials pen, 1/16th hole punch, 1/8th hole punch, 2 black stamp pads (pigment and dye based), a small self healing mat, a craft knife, an adhesive eraser, some brads and eyelets, aqua pens, a few pairs of scissors for different purposes, and so on. That way, when i go to a friend’s house to stamp (which I do once a week) I just grab my tote and away I go. I only have to remember to take the card stock, stamps, ribbon, and any other special tools I may need for a project. Nor do i have to put away all of the doubles when i come home. They are already put away!
I’m looking forward to exploring what will be a fabulous addition to your already-fabulous blog!
I have found that using Staz-on ink remover on new stamps, takes the “conditioning” off so that when used the first time, you have a crisp stamped image. I don’t have to worry about “sanding” the image too far to get the conditioning off. I got this idea from what Gina K. said on one of her videos.
Hello Becca, love this new feature…women connecting once again. An idea I came up with after purchasing duplicate stamps, inks are the $1.00 photo books I found at AC Moore; measured the page, stamped on each page, inserted into album, then I am able to carry them in tote when I go shopping or to Creative Memories, Stamping Up events. Thank you dear, for all you share with all of us….sending many blessings your way….Dottie
To better select ribbons for my creations I use cafe rods that I have mounted on the back of my craft room door. I just put the ribbon spools on and keep them by color group so when it’s time to choose the perfect ribbon for my new card it’s a lot easier because they’re right there handy at eye level(or close as I have more ribbon than a store) LOL:) ! You can fit about 6 rods on a door if spaced about 10 inches apart to allow room for the biggest spools and for them to turn freely.
What a SUPER FEATURE!!!!!!! I need ALL the crafty advice I can get!!! LOL
Another fantastic Becca idea…. I’m looking forward to reading all the great ideas….
What a fabulous idea. You have had some
of the neatest ideas. And I like you know you have a following of some smart cookies! Can’t wait to see all the great ideas…and away we go!
I love your site…
Always be sure that lids are back on all glues, stamp pads, and any
other supply that could dry out.s
I love your site…
Always be sure that lids are back on all glues, stamp pads, and any
other supply that could dry out.s
I love your site…
Always be sure that lids are back on all glues, stamp pads, and any
other supply that could dry out.
Neat idea, but then, everything you do is super neat! I keep my Spellbinders in “books” with magnets built inside the covers ( I don’t remember the mfg) and then store all the books in a large tote box sitting next to my work table. After using them, I put them right back in and they are ready for the next time.
Looking forward to what you have in mind for next time!
I have a paper scrap box by my chair, it is a wicker basket that has file folders in it, and when I have a scrap of paper that is a usable size, I then take it and file it in the proper color folder..ie..black folder, blue folder, and that way if I need a smaller piece of paper I go right to my scrap basket and use one of the smaller pieces, that way nothing goes to waste.
Fabulous idea, Becca; you are always thinking of your readers. My tip is:
I store my Spellbinders Dies in CD holders w/middle removed. I put 1 set to a box with a magnetic square inside. Don’t make it the full size of the CD because it is harder to remove. I put about 3 strips on the back cover. I cut the Die name off the pkg. when I purchase it and affix it to the end. They are filed in a CD rack and are easy to find. Rack is placed next to my paper cutter for easy access.
Every thing you’ve said so far sounds like a good idea! Course, I love
everything you do anyway.
Another wonderful idea, Becca.
You have so many of them.
Looking forward to reading all that the girls have to offer.
Sorry I don’t have one today – I am just starting to organize and learn.
Hugs, Candy
Hi Becca. First of all “thank you” for the beautiful inspiration each week. You are the only reason I bought five Spellbinder dies this weekend…all on sale. When I scrap or make a card I keep an empty basket on the table and as I go along and use something it all goes in the basket. Then when I need to go back and use it again I know without a thought where I placed it. Then once I have finished the project if I wish to uploaded it to a website I have all the product info in one place and can then empty the basket and put everything back where I got it prior to starting on another project. I also have a plastic tub filled with color coded folders. When emptying my basket I will put all of my scraps in the front folder and then at the end of the week I cut each piece down to a square and color sort them. It is amazing the paper the new paper you will save by using your scraps first.
Hi Becca. First of all “thank you” for the beautiful inspiration each week. You are the only reason I bought five Spellbinder dies this weekend…all on sale. When I scrap or make a card I keep an empty basket on the table and as I go along and use something it all goes in the basket. Then when I need to go back and use it again I know without a thought where I placed it. Then once I have finished the project if I wish to upload it to a website I have all the product info in one place and can then empty the basket and put everything back where I got it prior to starting on another project. I also have a plastic tub filled with color coded folders. When emptying my basket I will put all of my scraps in the front folder and then at the end of the week I cut each piece down to a square and color sort them. It is amazing the paper the new paper you will save by using your scraps first.
Oh Becca this is a stroke of genius! There are tips and tricks all over blog land but to have your adoring readers share theirs and have them gathered in one place is simply brilliant. I can’t wait to see what other categories you come up with.
I’m off to share my tips and hope they will help someone.
Blessings Bernie
Hi Becca,
You are so very talanted. Seeing you work gives me so much inspiration. I love what I do and your work is a tribute to your passion for paper crafts.
Thanks for all of your tips, videos and ideas!
This is a Great Becca I love to hear how others keep their crafting supplies organized. I have a shelf with all my punches and in the bracket holding up the shelf I put a dowel and have my spools of ribbon on it!!!
Great idea! As my collection of Spellbinders increase, I have tried to keep them organized. I use a piece of chipboard and separate it into 2 or 4 sectiions. I hot glue (the adhesive is not always sticky enough) magnetic strips that I custom cut from magnet sheets sold at Hobby Lobby. I write the name of the dies in each section and can get up to 4 sets on each side of an 8 by 11 sheet of chipboard. I found some page protectors with a top flap that I slide my Spellbinders into and then put them all into a binder. You can get creative and cover the chipboard with cardstock to dress them up, but the bare chipboard is quite functional, cheap, and it does the job.
Hi Becca,
I have a Grocery List app for my Iphone. In addition to my grocery store and drug store, I have stores called Copic, Spellbinders, Memento Pads, etc. This way I know exactly what I have at home and don’t rebuy some of the same things. If I am running out of a product, I remove the “X” and know what I need when I arrive at my stamp store. I have just started doing this and am thinking of adding other stamping supplies like Stampin Up Sets, Justright Stamps, etc. I always have my cell phone with me and after paying so much for my phone and service, I wanted to use it at its capacity. Just remember to sync your phone often so that you don’t lose your lists if you lose or destroy your phone.
Hope this helps others.
Where I saw this done at present I don’t remember but it works well. If you have the wooden rubber stamps and storage is a problem try this. Take a piece of cardboard and arrange your stamps on it. Now take each stamp and stamp the image where you removed the stamp. Replace all the stamps and place in a large zip lock bag and store upright in a box.
Love this idea Becca! Off to leave a tip
R/
Once again, you have inspired me. I decided to challenge myself to do something that I’ve been wanting to do for years. I scrapped a picture that has really special memories for me and prepared it for a frame. It really turned out cute. Also, I included the memories I had of the event. I thought my children may one day enjoy remembering too! Have a great day.
BECCA BECCA ONE TIP IS WHEN YOU RETURN HOME WITH A
NU7MB3R OF ITEMS, I TRY AND PUT EVERY THING WHERE3 UT
BELONGS. THEN WHEN I NEED IT , IT IS WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
BECCA BECCA WHEN I PURCHAZE AN ITEM, I PUT IT RIGHT WHERE IT BELONGS. WHEN I NEED IT, ITS THERE. SOME OF
THE TIPS FROM THE OTHER PEOPLE WERE GREAT TO READ
CYNTHIA
I started out with a spiral notebook for my inventory record. I stamped every stamp that I had and each new one in a section of this notebook. There are no lines in the notebook. I have the notebook sectioned with paper tabs. I have holiday, flower, sentiment, etc. of stamps category. I also list inkpads, markers, Cricut cartridge, Nestabilities, and other categories in the notebook. Sometimes I would paste in extra sheets to use when the notebook was getting full. I finally cut the pages out and put the pages in a 3 ring binder so I can continue to add pages as needed. I would take the notebook with me to conventions or shows where I might purchase supplies. I would look in my inventory to see if I already had that stamp or whatever. I found if I liked the supply the first time I saw it, I might like it at another show and might end up with duplicates. Taking the inventory notebook with me and refering to it, before purchasing, saved me from purchasing the item again. The notebook is getting big and heavy. I like to go to a convention with a case on wheels. I pack my camera, to take pictures of cards or demo, inventory notebook, notebook to take notes on, and maybe a drink. I have a pocket on a string that I put around my neck to hold my credit card. That way I don’t have to dig into my purse each time I make a purchase. The cart is handy to hold the purchases. I love to go to vendor fairs at conventions. I don’t have a LSS so I purchase a lot of my supplies at these conventions. They are a great place to see and learn new techniques.
These organizational ideas are wonderful, and so needed here! I’ve ripped into my craft room and used several of the ideas to make things easier to find and keep things handy. (Found some treasures I forgot I had along the way too! )