Get Organized With Becky
Appeared in Issue:
November 2001
of Creating Keepsakes

By:
Becky Higgins
Recently, my brother and his family were visiting us in our home. Jonathan is a civil engineer and architect, so I decided to pick his brain about something I love to think about—my "dream" scrapbook room. We talked about the details of my future creative haven, such as plenty of wall space so I can paint quotes on the walls and hang pictures. My "thinking" nook will have a big, fluffy chair and bookshelves. Of course I'll need lots of windows for perfect lighting and a walk-in closet to organize (and "hide") stuff. I know it's a stretch, but Jonathan and I agree: It's fun to dream.
Whether you've got a table in the corner of your bedroom or an entire scrapbook room, organization is the key to successful scrapbooking. Even though my ideal scrapbook room is just a dream for now, I've learned to make the best of my limited budget and space. In my 10' x 10' home office, everything has its own place, and that place is usually labeled. Keeping my supplies organized helps me get pages done faster because I'm not dealing with the mental chaos that comes from a messy workspace.

If you're itching to get organized, read on to learn how I've organized my scrapbooking space. I'll share what organizational products I use in my office, but you can find several additional organizational tools on the market.

__ workspace

Every scrapbooker needs room to spread out her supplies and get down to business. My workspace is a long "banquet" table I purchased from Costco and covered with white butcher paper (Figure 1). I change the paper from time to time, so I always have a clean surface. (In my dream scrapbook room, I'll have a countertop-like surface that I can wipe clean!)

I keep the supplies I use most at my fingertips, such as my paper trimmer, a few trays of cardstock and most of my pens. Above my work surface, I installed three long shelves, where I keep most of my other supplies in a variety of storage compartments. I'll talk more about these later in the article.
 
 

Figure 1. An organized workspace will help you scrapbook more efficiently. A long table covered with butcher paper gives you a clean area to scrapbook, and overhead shelves keep supplies within reach.

__ chair
A comfortable chair is a must for the serious scrapbooker. You can't scrapbook for hours if you can't stand to sit for that long! I got my chair at an office supply store. It swivels, and the height is adjustable. Take a trip to your local office supply store and check out the offerings. You'll find a variety of features to choose from, such as leather, fabric, caster wheels and armrests. No matter what your preferences are, be sure to select a chair that's comfortable for you.

__ lighting

Good lighting can make all the difference in your scrapbooking. I love the craft lamps made by The Daylight Company. They simulate true daylight, so you can match colors accurately. I use their tabletop lamp and their floor lamp, which has an arm that reaches over my workspace (see Figure 1).

__ 8½" x 11" paper storage

I don't know a single scrapbooker who doesn't have a large stash of paper. Keeping it organized is a must. I've organized my 8½" x 11" solid cardstock and patterned papers by color in clear, stackable paper trays (Figure 2). Since I use solid cardstock so much, I keep my supply on a shelf right above my workspace. The trays of patterned paper are stored in another area in my office, easily accessible.
 
 

Figure 2. Keep your 8½" x 11" papers organized in clear plastic paper trays.

__ 12" x 12" paper storage
My 12" x 12" cardstock and patterned papers are organized on shelves with plastic trays from EK Success (Figure 4). You can also buy wire racks in several designs and sizes.

Update! While EK Success provides these racks only to retail stores for display purposes, the company has arranged for Display Dynamics to handle consumer purchases for home needs. Scrapbookers interested in purchasing the 30-tray racks should direct purchase inquiries (prices and shipping costs) to Chuck Somers at Display Dynamics. He can be reached via e-mail at csomers@displaydynamics.net, via fax at 908/231-0491, or via phone at 908/231-1132 ext. 11. (Please do not contact EK Success directly.)
 
 

Figure 3. Plastic, stackable drawer units will keep your supplies organized and visible for easy access.
 
 

__ paper scraps

I hang on to all of my paper scraps—they're perfect for punches and other small embellishments. I keep them organized by color and store them in hanging files which are in a drawer close to my workspace. Because I have so many scraps, I've sorted them into categories such as red, red patterns, blue, dark blue, blue patterns, etc. With this system, finding the perfect scrap takes just a few seconds.

__ drawer units

For organizing general supplies, plastic, stackable drawers can't be beat. Most of my scrapbooking supplies are organized in the three-drawer units made by Sterilite (Figures 3 and 5). You can find a variety of brands at department stores like Wal-Mart and Target, as well as hardware and home improvement stores.

In addition to the units stacked on the shelves above my workspace, I've also stacked some in the closet in my office. I use them to store larger items like fabric, stamps, inks and other tools. Each drawer is labeled according to its contents, such as ribbon, buttons, scissors, adhesives, 8½" x 11" sheet protectors and so on.
 
 

Figure 5. Label your drawers according to the contents, such as imprintable cards, instant frames and chalks.

__ drawer units for "little things"
I store most of my punches in drawer units meant for nuts and bolts (Figure 6). They're available at most hardware stores. Each drawer is labeled with a black piece of cardstock with the punch design in white. I store my other punches, as well as my embroidery floss, in Tilt Bins by ArnonCaine (Figure 4). Sturdy and see-through, Tilt Bins can be mounted on a wall or stacked on each other on a shelf. All of your supplies will be easy to access—simply "tip" the drawer open and grab what you need.
 

Figure 6. Check the hardware section of a local store for "nuts-and-bolts" drawer units. They're perfect for organizing small items like punches.

__ trinkets
I keep track of my trinkets with Art Bin's clear, plastic arts and crafts storage containers (Figure 7). The compartments are perfect for storing tiny items like brads, rings, mini clothespins, wire and string, while keeping them separate from each other. Each of my cases is labeled and stacked right above my table.
 
 

Figure 7. Keep track of trinkets like brads, rings and wire in sturdy plastic containers, like those by Art Bin.

__ even tinier accents
For the tiniest accents, such as beads and eyelets, I love Stamp Studio, Inc.'s tins (Figure 8). Another great option? Clear plastic containers with snap-close lids. These inexpensive containers have compartments that hold five or more different kinds of items.
 
 

Figure 8. For storing the smallest items, like beads or grommets, try Stamp Studio's craft tins (shown) or plastic containers with snap-close lids.

__ pens
As an avid scrapbooker and creative letterer, it's no surprise I have quite a collection of pens. I store most of them in the cases that come with the EK Success pen sets (Figure 9). I simply remove the outer carrying case and stack the cases on my table. You can also purchase the empty cases so you can mix and match pens.

My thicker pens, as well as other miscellaneous pens, are stored in nuts-and-bolts drawer units. Whatever storage option you choose, be sure your pens are stored horizontally so the ink flows evenly.
 
 

Figure 9. Keep your pens at your fingertips in EK Success's pen cases. Your pens sit horizontally, ensuring the ink will flow evenly.

__ stickers
For storing stickers, I love the Paper-Sticker Binder by Crop-in-Style (Figure 10). The 14" x 16" three-ring binder comes with six plastic inserts for storing standard-size stickers as well as 12" x 12" and border stickers. I also store some stickers in Generations by Hazel's Memory Express totes, separating them by theme in the expandable pockets.
 
 

Figure 10. Crop-in-Style's zippered Paper-Sticker Binder keeps stickers of all sizes organized in plastic inserts.

__ magazines and idea books
All of my Creating Keepsakes magazines and idea books are organized on one shelf on my desk in—you guessed it—magazine holders! You can find them in a variety of colors and styles at any office supply store. I labeled the magazines by year and the idea books by type (Figure 11). Keeping all of my magazines and idea books organized in one spot makes finding ideas a cinch.
 
 

Whether you've got a few supplies or several, getting organized can seem like a daunting task. Just remember to implement the system (and the products) that work for you. Figures 12-14 show more of my favorite options.

If you're one of the lucky few who has her own scrapbooking room, you can add your signature touch while you're getting organized. Splash on a coat of red paint or add a stenciled border. No matter what, take some time to create an environment that's fun and inspires your creativity. Your "dream" scrapbook room can be a reality after all!
 

How to Categorize Patterned Paper

Creating a system for organizing patterned papers can seem overwhelming. My best advice? Categorize your papers according to your own needs. Since I'm familiar with most paper companies' styles, I've organized my patterned papers according to the company that makes them. Each company has a dedicated tray or shelf on my paper rack, so I can easily find the pattern I'm looking for. You might also consider organizing your papers by theme, such as sports, Christmas, pastels, dark plaids, dots and juvenile.
 
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ready to get organized?

Here's how to find the products Becky uses in her scrapbook room:

Arts and crafts storage containers
Art Bin
www.artbin.com
Check your local craft or scrapbook supply store.
 

Craft lamps and light bulbs
The Daylight Company
866/329-5444
www.daylightcompany.com
Check your local craft supply store.
 

Craft storage tins
Stamp Studio, Inc.
208/288-0300
www.stampstudioinc.com
Check your local rubber stamp or scrapbook supply store.
 

Paper-Sticker Binder
Crop-in-Style
888/700-2202
www.cropinstyle.com
Check your local scrapbook supply store.
 

Pen cases and paper racks
EK Success
973/458-0092
www.eksuccess.com
Check your local scrapbook supply store.
 

Scrapbook totes
Generations by Hazel
800/905-1888
www.generationsbyhazel.com
Check your local scrapbook supply store.
 

Tilt Bins (got mine at Home Depot)
ArnonCaine
www.arnoncaine.com
Check your local hardware, home improvement or scrapbook supply store.
 

Wire paper racks
Novelcrafts
541/582-3208
www.novelcrafts.com
 
 
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Organizing Die Cuts

Are you desperate to organize your die cuts? Laine Quilon of San Diego, California, discovered that CD jewel cases are a perfect solution for organizing (and transporting) medium-sized die cuts. Just pop out the plastic insert that holds the CD and you've got a see-through container that's just the right size. You can organize your die cuts by theme and store the cases in a CD storage rack. Got an unruly stash of oversized die cuts? Laine recommends storing them in page protectors in a binder

PAGE TOPPERS & POEMS	SOME OF MY SCRAP PAGES	FAVORITE SCRAP STORES & LINKS
ABCs FOR SCRAPBOOKING & IDEAS	TAKING BETTER PHOTOS	ABOUT SCRAPPERS & QUIZ
JOURNAL - WHAT TO WRITE	ROOMS FOR SCRAPPERS	MY SCRAPROOM
SIGN/VIEW MY GUEST BOOK	VOTE FOR THIS SITE FOR THE TOP 25 SCRAP SITES ONLINE	N2 SCRAPPIN' HOME PAGE