October 18, 2010

A Different Kind of Challenge...

I have a confession - I'm a messy stamper, and yup, I might be a bit of a hoarder. I keep lots of paper scraps, knowing I'll use them with punches or die cuts or for paper piecing. I make a terrible mess whenever I craft, then have almost as much fun putting everything away, ready for next time. There's something so inspiring about a clean workspace isn't there? It just calls to be messed up!

The problem is.....I had a ever growing stack of one kind of supply - cardstock. Toward the end of last week I finally got sick of the cluttered piles littering my craft room. Seriously, I had a stack of paper scraps that was approaching Leaning Tower proportions. I felt guilty every time I looked at it, knowing there were almost full sheets of cardstock being bent or bashed around the corners. I have a system for my cardstock that works perfectly for me - the problem? the system was WAY out of date! So I finally did myself a favor, pulled out the label maker and updated my filing system.


It took awhile. I hadn't updated it since BEFORE last years In Colours! With all the recent colour changes and additions I needed to prep quite a few folders. But, oh, just look at it now! All those gorgeous colours (this is one of four drawers) the scraps right where they belong, waiting to be used.

So that's my challenge to you. Identify the "problem area" or zone in your room, on your desk, or just in the cupboard you keep your supplies. Work out a solution - then DO IT! You'll feel SO much better, so inspired, and you may just find something you completely forgot you had!


This is how I store all those pretty little lengths of ribbon and trim that might otherwise sit tangled in a drawer, forgotten and unused. Pretty, functional, and it's easy to grab a ribbon or two for a project I'm working on.


Larger rolls of ribbon? Longer popsicle sticks and a hurricane vase! These storage solutions cost me nothing, I used things I had around the house already and most of my non Stampin' Up! ribbon is stored this way. I definitely use it more now I can see it.

If you have a fun organisation idea I'd love to hear it! Or, tell me YOUR hoarding horror stories so I feel better about mine!


4 comments:

  1. What a great idea! I so love seeing what others do for storage. I too have the scrap box of horror and need to get it oraganized. Do you use a regular filing cabinet for yours? I'll be popping back to see what others use too. Love that popsicle stick idea too!

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  2. My file cabinets were really cheap - I picked them up at k-mart - they're NOT full size though, these ones hold A4 hanging files which are a bit smaller width than regular - so you have to make sure to buy the right size files for your cabinet (yup, I had the wrong ones! lol)

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  3. Thanks so much for the tips! My cardstock is under control ... but the ribbon idea is FAB! hugs xxaxx

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  4. I LOVE the ribbon idea! I had no idea how to store ribbon and this idea is just SO creative. thanks!!!

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