Organizational Tips: Scrapbook Part 2

Week 2 of this month's organization tips is all about storing scrapbook paper, stickers, and embellishments. Like most of my craft supplies I tend to accumulate lots of papers and stickers along with various other "souvenirs" from trips. I don't tend to use embellishments, such as brads or flowers, but many people do and so I will include tips for storing embellishments. Before we begin organizing and storing your stickers, papers, and embellishments, gather all of the materials and begin sorting. 

Tip #1: Sort your papers, stickers, and embellishments by theme and/or color. Grouping your supplies by theme makes it easier to find when you want to scrapbook. Depending on how many types of paper you have you might have many piles right now. The paper, stickers, and embellishments you are going to use on projects soon should be pulled now. Like the pictures last week you can set these aside and next week's organization will address these items. 

Tip #2: Decide if you want to store your scrapbook papers and stickers together or separately. I like to store all of my scrapbook papers by theme in a spare scrapbook. Stickers that match the theme are then stored in pockets or page protectors in front of the themed paper. Paper is sorted by color and then theme. I have seen some people sort the paper alphabetically: blue, Christmas, Easter, green, etc. There are various ways to store scrapbook paper and stickers. Scrapbook paper can be stored in folders or in trays while stickers can be stored in a binder in page protectors. There are many DIYs for making your own scrapbook paper storage instead of buying the pre-made paper storage. 

Tip #3: Store embellishments, like you would store buttons or beads, in small clear containers. I love these storage bins, that are divided, from the Home Depot. I use these bins to store buttons, appliqué pieces, and embellishments for crochet/knit/sewing projects, but these bins would work great for scrapbook embellishments. Oriental Trading actually sales their embellishments packs in similar bins for storage. If you don't have many embellishments consider a smaller bin or if you have a lot of one embellishment consider larger clear jars.