Organization tip #3: Rubber stamp storage

I love rubber stamps.  Lately, I love unmounted stamps, because they are so easy to store.  My unmounted rubber stamps are stored in three-ring binders.  Each stamp set is in a plastic sleeve.  The front of the sleeve has a sheet of cardstock with index images.  I write the category of the stamps on the cardstock.  I try not to use too many categories (All Occasion, Nature, Great Outdoors, Borders & Backgrounds, Hobbies, and Nostalgic).

Stamps are stored in plastic page protectors.  The front of each page protector is a piece of cardstock with the images printed on it.

I print the index images on a second sheet of cardstock that I run through my xyron laminator.  My rubber stamps are coated with a tacky glue that allows repositioning (I like the Mount It glue sold by Club Scrap, or Aleene's Tack it Over and Over).

I make a paper copy of each index page and put them in a three ring binder.  This way, I can sort through my images without pulling the larger binder off the shelf.

My wood mounted stamps are stored in some various ways.  Some of the Stampin' Up! stamps are still in their boxes, but others are unmounted or stored loose in a cabinet.  I didn't get to do too much sorting of stamps yet, but I hope that I'll have time to do a purging of those soon to make room in my cabinet.

How do you store your stamps?  Do you like unmounted or mounted stamps better?  Cling, rubber or acrylic?  I'd love to hear what you think.

Organization tip #2: Organize your stash

Over the years, I've changed how I work with paper.  I used to use my Fiskar's shape cutter on every layout.  As a result, I kept my templates in the handiest drawer in my storage cabinet.  Fast forward 10 years, and I can't remember the last time I used my shape cutter.  But, my templates are still in the same spot.

So, I started thinking about what I want to use more often, and it was my inks and paints.  But, I wasn't using some of them very often because they were buried in several different drawer.  The first thing I did then, was to purge enough of my shape templates to fit into a different location, and put my distress inks and paints into the newly open drawer.

On my desk, I have a rotating caddy.  For a long time, it sat nearly empty, while I continued to stuff scissors into pencil cases.  I then realized its potential by putting all of my commonly used tools in the outside pockets (scissors, craft knife, bookbinding glue, bone folder, etc.).  My crop-a-dile fit into a larger pocket, and presto!  The large caddy is now useful, and I got rid of several smaller caddies.

Die cuts are now a big part of my crafting.  I just love how I can cut paper into any shape I like.  I had this great wine box on top of my cabinet, and I had my long sizzix dies stored here.  The problem was that they didn't fit, and hung over the edge.  I emptied another drawer in my storage drawers, and moved the dies there.  This accomplished two things - the newly empty slot perfectly fit more of the thick dies that I love, and the drawer with the long dies had some great space for new punches I wanted to have better access to.

Here is my die cut area with my big shot (far left) and the wine box (far right):

Here is the newly empty drawer with my long dies and new punches:

For the other drawers in my space, I tried to create new groupings of items.  This drawer now has sewing supplies - buttons, ribbons, elastic, etc.:

Here is an overall view of my desk.  I like to use baskets to group things (although some of them just serve as catch-alls), and the more commonly used things are front and center.

So, my process involved:

• Thinking about things that were difficult to find or use.
• Reducing the supplies I didn't use as much.
• Moving the supplies I wanted to use into high traffic areas, while moving things I don't use as often into lower traffic areas.
• Grouping items with a common theme (die cuts with punches, inks with paints) to make them easier to find later

I've got more to come!  Next up is stamp storage.

How do you organize your work area?  What about those pesky stamps?  Leave a comment and a link to  a picture of your space!

Organization tip #1: Purge your stash

I've been scrapbooking in the "modern" way for 11 years.  I had a scrapbook when I was 10, but since my supplies consisted of crayons, newspaper clippings, and tape, I didn't accumulate many supplies at that point in my scrapping life.  I've found a lot of stuff over the years on sale, at craft shows, and local shops.  I also live in a rural area, so when I go shopping, I tend to overdo it a bit - who knows when I'll next see interesting things?

After 11 years of this, however, I simply have too much stuff.  I can't cram any more stuff into the space I have.

So, step 1 is to purge your stash.  This is but a sampling of what I purged.

I got rid of things that...

• Didn't fit my style anymore.  Things I bought even 3 or 4 years ago aren't necessarily true to how I craft today.
• Were duplicates.  I've actually bought things more than once because I forgot I had them.
• Didn't inspire me anymore.  I had plenty of stuff that I could use, but if it didn't give me a thrill, I weeded it out.
• I had too much of.  I have loads of patterned paper, particularly from "stacks" of paper.  They're a great bargain, right?  Well, they're not such a great bargain if you don't use them.  I sorted through these stacks and got rid of paper that I didn't love.
• I haven't used.  I've changed tools over the years (from a fiskar's shapecutter to a big shot die cut machine), so I eliminated the tools that weren't doing the best job for me anymore.

As I did this, I kept reminding myself that the things I got rid of would make it easier to find the supplies I love.  I did this quickly - no point in prolonging this longer than necessary.  And, in some cases, I purged things so that I would fit into a certain space.  I have one drawer, for example, that I wanted to devote to patterned paper.  I needed to purge enough other paper to fit what remained in one drawer.

Here are a couple of ideas for how to recycle these items:

• Donate them.  There are plenty of groups that would love these supplies, like a school, shelter, or kids organization.
• Sell them.  My local scrapbook store has a rummage sale, or you could have your own.  I'm going to sell most of these items at my local scrapbook store - it brings in good business for them, and helps me with a little extra cash.  To make things easier, group some items together for pricing - nobody wants to price individual sticker sheets.
• Give them to your kids.  Your leftovers are their treasure!  Unfortunately, I don't have any kids, but my friends swear by this option.  Of course, the supplies don't leave your house, but they are out of your hair!
• Trade them with your friends.  There are several "pay-it-forward" groups on the internet, or your local friends might be up for a swap.  If some of my items don't sell at the scrapbook store, I will trade some of the items so I can get other things that I'm looking for.

I'm probably not done purging yet, but I've reached my limit for the moment.  I'll show you more pictures this week of how I've been organizing my supplies.  What's your favorite tip for sorting through your items?  How do you recycle items you no longer need?  I'd love to hear your ideas!

Coming this week - organizational tips!

I've been out of the creating mode for a little while now.  I love creating, but I can't find anything anymore!

So, I have decided to make order out of the chaos, and have been doing a major reorganization project over the last few weeks.

This week, I'll share how I organize..

• Stamps
• Spellbinders dies
• My work space

I'll also share some ideas for what to do with the things you don't have room for anymore.

I hope you enjoy the ideas and that it inspires you to do some "fall cleaning" in your space!

Easy Labels for Home Canning

I love canning.

I never thought I would say that, but I just love to hear that "pop" and opening the cans later to find some deliciousness from the fall.  This year, we made a few cans of chutney.

Of course, I also love paper, and I was super excited to find that the Tim Holtz Lost and Found paper contains 2 x 2 inch squares of his paper.  These squares fit perfectly on a canning lid (after being cut into a circle).  The other benefit of this paper is that it has a micro-version of the print, so instead of a small piece of a big pattern, you get a really nice scaled version of the paper.

Some people think I'm strange to make pretty labels for the cans, but I think it makes it easier to give them as gifts later, and it feels more special to me.  Why shouldn't my cans look fabulous?

After a few years of hand-stamping labels, and storing them in my (slightly yucky) basement, this is the process I use to make my labels.

1. Print the text on a sheet of desired paper.  For these labels, I chose a slightly translucent paper, since I wanted to see a bit of the pattern.  I use a table in my word processor, with the width and height of the cells equal to the size I'm going for.
2. Cut out the labels with a circular punch, die, etc. of your choosing.  I used my spellbinders dies.
3. Trim the patterned paper to 2 x 2.
4. Glue the label to the patterned paper.  For a translucent label like this one, I just put a little glue behind the black writing.
5. Run the 2 x 2 patterned paper through a xyron with a laminate/adhesive cartridge.  This makes the top protected with plastic (good for our basement), and the bottom with a strong adhesive.
6. Cut out the label with a die, punch, etc. of your choice.  I used a spellbinders scalloped circle.
7. Stick on your can and admire!

And what, you might ask, is Marrow Chutney?  Well, chutney is a sweet-and-sour type of relish that is popular in indian food, and in England.  Marrow is the British name for zucchini.  We got a huge zucchini from a friend, and Paul has been wanting to make marrow chutney for a while.  We use this on our sandwiches quite a bit to add a bit of zing.

Just love these new papers by Tim Holtz - I can see a lot of crafting possibilities with these.  And, the spellbinders dies are used constantly in my craft room. Basic shapes are the best - circles never go out of style, so you can't go wrong stocking up with these shapes.  And, the laminating/adhesive cartridge for my xyron is something I make sure is always in stock for canning season.