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I haven't scrapbooked since waaaay before Christmas and my scrapbook room was a mess. I got a lot of great new scrappy goodies for Christmas and I'm trying to re-organize before I break everything out and play.

Over the past couple of years I've ended up with several plastic totes (the kind with a handle and a tray inside) and no where to put them. I also have a couple of "grab and go" bags that have a variety of things that I use on a regular basis and take to crops. I've got so much stuff in here it feels like my scrappy room is closing in on me.

What's your biggest organizational challenge or your best tip for organizing scrappy supplies?

I just organized my stuff today. I made a drawer of “give away” things. It is mostly things that I would not use to give away.

I condensed quite a bit. Good luck!

lissahope26 wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 18, 2020 11:40 pm

I just organized my stuff today. I made a drawer of “give away” things. It is mostly things that I would not use to give away.

I condensed quite a bit. Good luck!

I like the idea of a "give away" drawer. That's a great idea!
 

I cleaned up my scrappy space on New Year's Day...it was a mess.  One of my goals for the year is to do a better job of putting stuff away when I finish a project.  So far, I've been able to do that.  I have a box in the corner that I fill with items I don't want or use.  It goes to my semi annual crop with me for the give away table.  I think it gets more out of control for me when the weather gets nice.  I dart in and out to meet deadlines instead of taking the time to clean up.  In the winter, I have no excuse!  LOL!

VickiR wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 19, 2020 8:44 am

I cleaned up my scrappy space on New Year's Day...it was a mess.  One of my goals for the year is to do a better job of putting stuff away when I finish a project.  So far, I've been able to do that.  I have a box in the corner that I fill with items I don't want or use.  It goes to my semi annual crop with me for the give away table.  I think it gets more out of control for me when the weather gets nice.  I dart in and out to meet deadlines instead of taking the time to clean up.  In the winter, I have no excuse!  LOL!

A box in the corner is a good idea too. I'm beginning to see a pattern here: Get rid of the stuff you don't use!
 

I cleaned out my scraps and what didn't fit in my cardstock totes is being donated to my grandkids daycare.  I revamp my room about every three months to keep myself familiar with what I have     

The best thing I am doing this year is not spending until I use some of it up nor increasing storage for anything.  Where and how stuff is, is how it is.   For example, I really really want Paige Evans new collection but I have all of Horizon, Whimsical, Truly Grateful and bits and pieces of others, with barely any use.  Just did a layout with Truly Grateful and once I have room for Bloom, I will order it.  

Good Luck on your space.  It is hard when you are overwhelmed to even work!
 

I think paper organization is key. Seasonal with holidays and other themes is working pretty well for me. Cardstock by color, of course. Some new collections may be ordered with CS and ephemera so those are kept together in clear storage bags. Having everything organized and within reach and trying to keep it like that after finishing a project is a challenge for all of us. Sometimes I just want to keep scrapping...

Right now I'm in the process of organizing my stickers and die cuts using the method Janet from RTS uses by putting them in binders.  It's very time consuming but hopefully this will help me have them where I can easily find them and not all over the place which is where they are now.

I keep a clear tote under my desk that as I work on projects anything I will not use in good condition I throw in there. Good for church groups, scouts, crop trading table and raks.

I have a tote bag that I keep with things that I know I won't use. I get together with my scrappy friends 2-3 a year so when they come over, I break it out and let them pick through it. Its also used for when I send out RAKS.

My big organizing thing is paper/cardstock and washi tape. I just recently outgrew my washi tape container (for the 4th time in 8 years). I go to Home Depot and get those HUSKY storage containers. They already have small compartments and I use them organize my washi tape by color or theme.

I also just re-organized my cardstock and now I need to figure out what I"m going to do with my "full" collections. Once my first nephew was born, I was buying up all the baby boy collections. Now with nephew #2 already 3 1/2 months old and me not scrapping very much last year, I've got bags of baby boy stuff just lying around. I also am running out of room in my DOG and CAT drawers.  

I am getting ready to tackle my scrappy space.  I want to purge some things (either to the local nursing home or schools) and better organize some other things.  I've had the set up I have now for a good while, maybe 6 years or so and it's just not working for me now.

  I've also decided that I only hoard washi tape, I've used it a handful of times and I have a ton of it - so I need to figure out if I think I will use it or if it needs to find a new home.  This year, I want to only keep the things I will use and try not to purchase things because they are on sale, etc.  - it's going to be tough but  I think I can do it.  I definitely think that it will help me become more productive in my scrappy time if I'm not always having to sort through things that I've accumulated but won't ever use.
 

I am pretty happy with my organization. Have a fairly limited space, so try not to let it get out of hand. Just went through my cardstock and got it reorganized to colour family. I have lots of PP and it is organized by Manufacturer. I have a box just filled with Christmas. This is what works for me. I don’t have that much Washi. Mine is contained in 2 bins and my Christmas in a drawer. My weakness is stamps and dies.

Thanks everyone for sharing what's working for you.
Paper, I think, is my downfall. My card stocks are organized by color. But my print paper is organized in so many ways; some by color, some by manufacturer, some by theme, some are in pads, some in packs that include die cuts or stickers. They're everywhere! When I scrap a lot I know what I have and where to look, but if I take a break, I forget what I have.

My solids, patterns including pads and collections aren’t too bad - I can usually find those. My bad area is my stamps. I really want to better catalogue them. We recently removed the wood and now I can’t always find the set I’m looking for. Those are my very old Stampin’ Up ones. I think I’d like to inter-file all the companies having them by subject. Right now the various companies are filed by subject. I think all “flowers” and such would work better. So, when I get home in 2 weeks I’m getting all my stamps dumped in the middle of the floor and categorize them and relabel the containers.

JillinIN wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2020 6:04 pm

Thanks everyone for sharing what's working for you.
Paper, I think, is my downfall. My card stocks are organized by color. But my print paper is organized in so many ways; some by color, some by manufacturer, some by theme, some are in pads, some in packs that include die cuts or stickers. They're everywhere! When I scrap a lot I know what I have and where to look, but if I take a break, I forget what I have.

Mine are by colors and theme.  If you are interested go look up Totally Tiffany's get organized challenge.  She is a scrapbooker and yes, she does sell her organizing tools but she has some really good organizing tips/tricks (whatever you want to call them).  I can pretty well find anything I want it 15 seconds or less in my scraproom.  

sdwhru wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 22, 2020 11:36 am

JillinIN wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2020 6:04 pm

Thanks everyone for sharing what's working for you.
Paper, I think, is my downfall. My card stocks are organized by color. But my print paper is organized in so many ways; some by color, some by manufacturer, some by theme, some are in pads, some in packs that include die cuts or stickers. They're everywhere! When I scrap a lot I know what I have and where to look, but if I take a break, I forget what I have.

Mine are by colors and theme.  If you are interested go look up Totally Tiffany's get organized challenge.  She is a scrapbooker and yes, she does sell her organizing tools but she has some really good organizing tips/tricks (whatever you want to call them).  I can pretty well find anything I want it 15 seconds or less in my scraproom.   

I also organize by Theme and color.  I can keep the manufacturer kits together in each theme, too.  TT's challenge is great for anyone, even if you aren't interested in buying anything from her.
 

JillinIN wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2020 6:04 pm

Thanks everyone for sharing what's working for you.
Paper, I think, is my downfall. My card stocks are organized by color. But my print paper is organized in so many ways; some by color, some by manufacturer, some by theme, some are in pads, some in packs that include die cuts or stickers. They're everywhere! When I scrap a lot I know what I have and where to look, but if I take a break, I forget what I have.

The best thing I did for myself with let go of the paper organization because it was anxiety driven for me. I throw all my patterned papers in a cute tote with them all facing one way upright so i have thumb through them. My solid cardstock is the same way but I did put all the blues, greens etc together not necessarily by the shade but just by the color. My paper pads that are 12x12 are in a tote upright and anything else sits on my desk stacked on my shelf so they are at arms length.

I have started the Great Scrap Room Organization Project of 2020 at my house.  I've made a goal to touch every item in there and decide whether to keep it or send it elsewhere.  So far, I've made it through patterned paper and cardstock, metal embellishments (other than brads and eyelets), bling and washi tape. I made myself a list of the categories I have to go through.  It's time consuming but I am weeding out a lot of items that I will never use.  I probably won't get ANY scrapping done this month but I feel like I am setting myself up to be far more productive!

Monroe1218 wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 23, 2020 2:48 pm

I have started the Great Scrap Room Organization Project of 2020 at my house.  I've made a goal to touch every item in there and decide whether to keep it or send it elsewhere.  So far, I've made it through patterned paper and cardstock, metal embellishments (other than brads and eyelets), bling and washi tape. I made myself a list of the categories I have to go through.  It's time consuming but I am weeding out a lot of items that I will never use.  I probably won't get ANY scrapping done this month but I feel like I am setting myself up to be far more productive!

I need to do this too!

JAire wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 22, 2020 7:01 am

My solids, patterns including pads and collections aren’t too bad - I can usually find those. My bad area is my stamps. I really want to better catalogue them. We recently removed the wood and now I can’t always find the set I’m looking for. Those are my very old Stampin’ Up ones. I think I’d like to inter-file all the companies having them by subject. Right now the various companies are filed by subject. I think all “flowers” and such would work better. So, when I get home in 2 weeks I’m getting all my stamps dumped in the middle of the floor and categorize them and relabel the containers.

That's a great idea. I keep things less by manufacturer now and more by theme, but there are several stragglers that I haven't got around to re-categorizing. I've been afraid to pull all my mounted stamps off of their wood blocks. How are you liking it?
Great idea to dump them all on the floor and tackle it at once!