Organization is key to making a scrapbook project fun, fast, and efficient. | |||||
Can't remember if you have a particular punch? I never can remember which ones I have, therefore I own a number of duplicates. My solution was as follows: I purchased an address book that would fit in my purse. I punched a sample of each punch that I have. I glued the samples to my address pages. Square punches under the S. Bear punches under the B. Flower punches under the F. Get the idea. I also measure the punches and indicate the size. For example 1/2 inch, 1/4 inch, etc. Now I know what punches I have when the opportunity arises to buy ONE MORE PUNCH. Gloria Reeves - Crestview, FL | |||||
I bought several car garages (for matchbox cars) in the toy department. These make wonderful holders for small and medium punches. They are made of clear plastic so you can see the punches. They have 22 small slots and one long slot on each side so even a few long handle punches ca be stored. They have a carrying handle and since they open up on both sides so you can store at least 46 punches in each container. They cost about $8 each. And for those of you that sew, these make wonderful thread organizers too. Madonna Roberts | |||||
To assist in experimenting in what embellishments look best with my pictures, I have precut single edged borders, as well as double edged with center cut "lace" type borders with all of my different scissor edges. Then I laminated them to make them more durable. Now I just hold each edge up around a picture or page to see what looks best with the layout. Tina Daniels | |||||
I love templates!! I have so many of them that I don't know what shapes I have. I punched holes in each template (trimming some if necessary), placed a blank sheet of paper behind it, and store the templates in an old three-ring binder album. I traced the shapes on the paper so they can be returned to the proper place, and if a template is missing, I know which one. I use a binder that used to store magnetic pages - great recycling idea!! Janet Alexander - St. Joseph, MO | |||||
I love all the wonderful ideas I find in my scrapbooking magazines, especially the "Creative Lettering" sections. They give such unique ideas on how to create fun titles for your pages. But who has time to go back through and find that perfect lettering style right in the middle of your scrapping time? To remedy this, I purchased a 3 ring notebook and some clear page protectors (very inexpensive at discount stores). When I see a great idea, I tear it out of the magazine and file it in my notebook. Then, at a glance, I can find exactly what I want! I organize by month to make it even simpler." Lea Abbey - Arkansas City, KS | |||||
I have found that diaper bags are perfect for storing scrapbook supplies. They have several pockets, plus the detachable bag for wet stuff. The wet bag is perfect for holding pens and pencils, and not losing them. I'm going to finish a memory book fo my dad on our vacation and this will be perfect for carrying what I need. Hold on to your left-over diaper bags because they are perfect for use as 'project' bags! | |||||
I store my punches in the storage units you buy at hardware stores. They are cheap and hold lots of punches! The small drawers hold six small punches, or four border punches and lots of minis. The medium drawers are perfect for the medium and large punches, and the jumbo drawers hold the jumbo punches and other items such as some of the circle and oval cutters. I even use them to store small stamps. If you don't want to buy several different size units there are units available with different size drawers. The best way I have found to find my punches once they are in the drawers is to cut a piece of cardstock the size of the drawer front and punch the paper with the punches in the drawer. Then I tape the paper to the drawer. This way I know at a glance what is in the drawer! Roxann Patzman - Savage, MN | |||||
I keep a supply inventory in a notebook that fits in my purse so I can make sure I don't buy something I already have. Not only do I list my scissor , but I glue a sample on a page of the notebook. I glue samples of punches, separating them into small, medium, large, etc. I also keep a list of templates, Journaling Genies, and other supplies. This is very helpful when I go to a craft store or shop on-line. Bonnie Loyless | |||||
I finally found use for some lighter weight (side-opening) page protectors (they were MUCH too light-weight for use in a scrapbook). I use them as 'picture holders' inserted in a large 3-ring heavy-weight binder for BIG projects. For instance, I am working on a book of months for each of my kids. I have sorted the pictures from each month that I have and put them into these page protectors along with the approximate date. As I get ideas for pages I can easily find that set of pictures and put additional stickers, die cuts, or memorabilia into that page protector. The pages are ready to go when I'm ready to put them in the album. Kati DeLaurier - Pine Mountain Club, CA | |||||
I sort my photos for several pages and put the stickers I want to use and the die cuts with them. I then file them in a cancelled check keeper (accordian style). When I'm ready to do a page, I just pull out one section and go to work. I don't need to get out all my stuff and it saves space and time. | |||||
My husband put up a peg board above my craft table to hang my tools and troll heads on and I love it! Everything is now at my fingertips! I have rows of my Fiskars decorative scissors, corner edgers, decorative rulers, gem punches, straight scissors, and embossing heat tool right in plain view and at an easy reach. This leaves space on the table free for spreading out my pages layouts, and working on my albums. The peg board was purchased at our local Home Depot hardware store (pre-painted in white) and was very inexpensive (less than $10). There are a variety of different hook sizes and I even found little square containers that fit into the peg holes, which I keep my various adhesives in. If you have the wall space and a craft table, this is the best way to organize your supplies! Lori Farrel - Phoenix, AZ | |||||
I was constantly searching for 'that perfect die cut' or 'perfect sticker' in the inventory I had and could never find a good way to organize them all. I now use plastic day timer folders that have areas sectioned off and come in several sizes, from business card size to a full page sheet size (my favorite is the computer disk size). They are perfect for organizing all my stickers, die cuts, scraps, pre cut pictures, papers and templates. I even categorize them by season or event (for example, Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Summer, Winter, etc.). I put all of the sheets in a three-ring binder, and it's a snap to find what I'm looking for! Now I get to spend more time scrapbooking and less time searching! The best part is the binder takes up almost no room at all, and it travels really well! Sandy Sirois - Ridgefield, CT | |||||
I have 2 wooden baskets with handles and dividers to store scissors and pens in. The handles make them easy to carry to a crop, and the dividers keep everything standing up so I can find it. Karen Moffatt - Maryville, TN | |||||
I have a couple of the old magnetic photo albums just lying around and too many magazines to thumb through when I'm stuck for an idea. So I decided to combine the two. I cut out the page layouts, lettering samples or anything else that piques my interest and stick it to a magnetic page by category. This way I have 'created' my own idea book, and I throw the rest of the magazine away, thus saving time and space for my supplies. Shaleana Benson | |||||
I love using the scrapbooking magazines for ideas (i.e., Creating Keepsakes, Memory Makers, etc.). After I have read the current issue, I take it to work with me and copy the page layouts that I would like to use for my own pages. Most of the magazines print the magazine name, page number, and issue in the corner of each page. I use this information as a reference when wanting to look back at that idea in color. I then sort the pages by category and have three hole punched them and put them into a notebook by category. When I sit down to scrap, I go to that notebook and open the section on the topic I am working on. For instance, if I am working on Christmas pages I refer to the Christmas section of my notebook to find great ideas! Lori Farrell - Phoenix, AZ | |||||
I was accumulating so many ideas from different idea books and magazines that I couldn't remember where I saw an idea that I wanted to use. So, I took a 3-ring binder with notebook paper and started a file with a different topic for each page (i.e. Baby, Birthday, Borders, etc.). With a permanent marker I label each magazine as I receive them with a number, using the initials of the magazine for reference (CM-1 or MM-1, MM-2, etc.). As I come across a great idea that I'd like to save for future reference, I right the code in my notebook under the appropriate topic heading. For example, a birthday idea found in a Creative Memories idea book on page 26 would be listed as 'CM2-26 Kid train' or another would be 'CM2-27 Animals/Clowns'. This not only helps me find topics but gives me an idea of what the layout was about. It takes a little time to set it up if you have lots of back issues of magazines, but I save hours when I'm stuck for an idea and where to find it. Colleen Hammon - FL | |||||
I love scrapbooking, but it can be messy and hard to organize all your supplies. Saving scraps of papers to use at another time was the part that felt most unorganized for me. I have converted my file cabinet into a scrapbooking supply storage area easily accessible beside my desk. I have each file folder labeled by color of paper, holidays, themes, etc... And I keep my die-cuts and stickers in convenient plastic bags, like how Cut'N'Fun sends them, slid inside the folder with the coordinating holiday. Rosalie Scott - Gas City, IN | |||||
For organization, I use a plastic accordion file, letter-size, for my paper scraps. I hate to throw them away, since the scraps can be used for mats, punches and accents. I separate them by color, and it makes it quick and easy to find a small piece of a specific color paper, without having to dig through a huge pile. Sandy Blais - Cincinnati, OH | |||||
Ever wanted that neat lettering or project idea you saw in a magazine a while back, but have so many magazines to flip thru you just cannot put your hands on it? Well, I photocopied the first page of the interesting articles in each of my magazines and am keeping them in a binder. I now can just flip thru to see all the ones I have, and if I need more direction, the issue info is right on the copy, so I can grab that magazine, flip right to that page. Lori Bickford | |||||
If you have a lot of different die-cut letters and numbers and are tired of sifting through them to find the letters you need for the page you are working on, I have a good suggestion! I went to Wal-Mart and purchased a 60 drawer storage unit in the hardware department, the drawers are about 2" wide and 4" deep and it was relatively inexpensive. I sorted the die-cuts by letter, number, color in each of the drawers. I even used letter and number stickers to put the letters and numbers on the front of each drawer, it looks really cute when finished, and everything is so organized! It works out really great, and cuts down on the time it takes to find the right letters and numbers you want for your page! Chel Morgan - Jacksonville, FL | |||||
As soon as I get pictures developed I sort them and put them in page protectors with paper and stickers or die cuts that I might use. When I find some time to do a layout all I have to do is grab a filled page protector and I'm set to go. Kristi Clair - Victorville, CA | |||||
Instead of buying a fancy storage compartments for my stamps, I used a hole punch to punch three hole in the side of a large zip-lock plastic bag. I fill the bag with the stamps, put a label of contents on the outside of the bag and put the bag in my three-ring binder. That way the stamps don't fall out. Janice Sheinbaum - Commack, NY | |||||
I put a punch piece from each of my punches on a 4x6 card and keep it in my purse. This way, when I go to a store or shop online and see a punch I like, I pull this out of my purse and see if I already have it or not. On the back (lined side) I write the names of all of my scissors so I don't buy duplicates of them. This has saved me from accidentally buying the same or similar item many times. Also, my teenagers wanted to buy me some punches for my birthday so my husband got my card out of my purse and took them out to buy them without my knowing it and didn't get duplicates! Susan Newell - Hartwell, GA | |||||
I found that Rubbermaid makes a drill case that is good for transporting supplies. It has two compartments, the top has a clear top and is divided so you have many different size storage options, and the larger bottom half is a good area for your smaller scrapbooks, idea books, papers, stickers, notebook, etc. Not only does it allow me to carry most of my items at once, but it also keeps me from having my supplies all over the table. Heather Sandberg - Loganville, GA | |||||
To prevent stickers from sliding out of baseball card holders, slip the holders into sheet protectors turned bottom-side up. With just a little bit of trimming the baseball card holders fit snugly into the sheet protectors. Naomi Watson - Grants Pass, OR | |||||
When I am cropping at home I organize all my scissors, rulers, pens, glue sticks, and even my tape runner so they are right at my fingertips. I use a Pampered Chef tool caddy. The kitchen tool caddy spins around so that anything I need is accessible. I never have to search for my cropping tools anymore. Marti Bohlmeyer - Morehead City, NC | |||||
I like to use 'coupon caddies' or check sorters to store my die-cuts and die-cut scraps in. They are similar to the bill accordion folders that many people use for taxes. Smaller ones are great for storing die-cuts. Also I found that tackle boxes for fishing are great to store your punches. Usually tackle box drawers can open and sit staggered so you can see everything at once. Your supplies travel well in the tackle box too. Dawn Bryum - Stevens Point, WI | |||||
I have a 3 ring binder where I place sheets that I've torn from magazines with lettering or page ideas. I also purchased baseball card plastic sheets that are punched for a binder. They hold 9 pockets where I place my stickers. Because they are clear, I can flip the pages to see what stickers I have on hand. I organize the stickers by holidays or themes. Other pocket sheets are available with 4 quarter pockets, or 2 half pockets for bigger sheets of stickers. I place my border stickers in a full size sheet with one large pocket. Lechia Davis - Danville, WA | |||||
Many people have trouble finding a way to store all their scrapbook supplies. One idea that might help is to use a brief case. They have lots of pockets and spaces to store pens, scissors, stickers, rulers, and punches. The file folder pockets are also helpful in storing paper, templates, page protectors, and magazines. The center area works well for storing the album you are currently working on. This is a great system for scrappers on the go! Melissa Bauska - Castle Rock, WA | |||||
The little free album that some film developers send back when you have a roll of film processed works great to store die-cuts and stickers. I use one album for a theme (ie. Christmas, Fall, Party, etc.) It really helps cut down on time to look through a big notebook of supplies and it's easy to view the die cuts (plus it accommodates lots of sizes). Vicki King | |||||
I find that by using baseball card collectors plastic sleeves for my sticker it allows me to view all my stickers at once and these plastic sleeves fit in a three ring binder. Sandie McElroy - Hemet, CA | |||||
If you are distracted by too many commitments and too much clutter, you will find it difficult to focus on your work and family...Simplify your life using seven easy steps. Learn to say, 'No.' Plan ahead. Clean up with thought. Reduce the activities of your children. Hire help. Match tasks to opportunities. Create time. [Find out Juli help's you accomplish these things in her book!] Juli Shulem - Home-Based Business Mom | |||||
When you are thinking about the layout for your pages, remember to coordinate pages that face each other. If you like to remove the pages out of the album while you are working, remember to think about how facing pages will look when they are placed back in the scrapbook. John and Carrie - Cut'N'Fun | |||||
Before you start any of your pages, gather all the items you want to include in the project. Arrange your pictures in chronological order and fit in stickers, die cuts, and memorabilia that correspond to appropriate pictures. After you sort all the items, take a moment to think about how you would like to document each page. Spread out on a large table and layout each page so you can get a quick overview of the entire project. A little pre-planning makes a huge difference in how the final pages comes out and prevents having to redo things. John and Carrie - Cut'N'Fun | |||||
Keep a box of gallon size ziplock bags, permanent marker, and small notebook or journal in a shoe box in your car so that on trips, special outings, etc., you can store tickets, programs, brochures, maps, postcards, etc. from these special activities. Keep a permanent marker in the box to write on bag the date and event. The notebook is to record any special quotes or narratives about the event. This way all of the special souvenirs that you might want to include in your scrapbook will be organized and safe right on the spot. You also can journal right on the spot to avoid forgetting the "little things" at a later date. Don't leave snapshots in the car as heat will damage photos. Angie Alderman - Waycross, GA | |||||
Group your pictures by theme (holiday, birthday, etc.) and put each theme in its own ziploc baggie before you get started. Make a list of all the bags and what’s in them. Go through all your idea books and magazines and when you see something you like, write down what idea book and what page it is on next to the name of the bag on your list. Organize your pages in larger bags or binder sleeves, and one bag of photos per bigger bag. Add all the stickers/diecuts that you will need for that page in that sleeve with the pictures. Put your colored paper, the birth announcement, etc. whatever you will need to complete that page. Pretty soon you will have all your pages layed out and all the materials you need to do the work. Rachel Leshko - Goldsboro, NC July 1997 Contest Runnner-Up | |||||
I have found now that I have organized all my die-cuts, stickers, etc. by category as well as filed all my paper, clip art, etc. I know what I have so when I go to do a particular theme page, I can easily get ready and get all my supplies out. It really makes the page go fast! Jennifer Wegh - Terryville, CT | |||||
When you have a large scrapbook to do, with lots of pictures, it's best to number the back of each picture in the order that you want to use them in the scrapbook. Michelle - Bakersfield, CA | |||||
When on vacation, save all your brochures from places you visit. Then you can cut out logos or what have you to go along with your pictures. I did this on vacation pages from last year and it really added alot to the page. Christine Hamman - Wichita, KS | |||||
Buy plenty of film and a small journal (notepad or just scrap paper). Take your rolls of film and number them. When you take your vacation, make a note in your journal as to what you did on that particular day/date and put the roll of film number beside it. When you get home, and your film has been processed, and you sit down to do your scrapbooking, you can open your journal and know exactly where you were and what you did, and things you thought of, etc., and your pictures will be easily journaled. Lisa D. Medeles - Coppell, TX | |||||
The minute I get my pictures I get three separate envelopes out. One is marked for my daughter, one for my son then rest that I like are for my book. Then when I get a chance I trim them so they will be ready for placement. I also mark on the envelope the date and event that pertains to the pictures. Pamela Curtis - Owls Head, ME | |||||
I have found that by using hanging folders to store my paper saves me time and money. I cut a strip from each color of paper and slip it into the clear tabs that come with hanging folders. Each color is organized by shade. It helps in choosing the right background color as well as keeping track of what colors I have on hand. Kim Hamlin - Beavercreek, OH | |||||
To organize my stickers, I found a 3-ring binder notebook and some loose leaf notebook paper around my house. I bought the 3-ring dividers with tabs and some double sided tape. I organized my stickers by holidays, sports, etc. Using a strip of double tape, I attach the stickers to the paper in the binder. I can usually get about four strips of stickers on one page. When I have used all the stickers that were mounted on the notebook paper, I just tear it out and throw it away. Amanda Drenning - Columbia, SC | |||||
When on vacation, keep a journal handy to jot down info about each picture that you take, funny things the kids said, etc. Use a small sticky label to label each roll of film (A, B, C, etc.) and each picture by #. A journal entry might read A3; "Custer State Park donkey poked head in window, scared Stephen, and ate his chips!" When I get my pictures ready to put into my album most of the journaling is already done and I remember the funny things that happened on our trip! Margaret Hofer - Sioux City, IA | |||||
I like to take my seasonal clip art, stickers, etc. and paper clip them to my calendar page so I'm organized and ready to work on my scrapbook without hunting for what I thought I wanted to do for a specific month. Dawn Johnson - Earlville, IA | |||||
I store my pictures while I'm working on them in old Daytimer card cases. They hold 3x5 and 4x6 pics perfectly and come with dividers labeled by month. Kristen Stone - Orlando, FL | |||||
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