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Right now I have a big pile that I can rarely find anything in, so it's time to get a system for this. What do you do with any piece of cardstock that has already been cut?
I sort them by color family, neutrals and patterns/prints - so six groupings. Storage is in small drawers (like spice drawer size). I've been using my scraps MUCH more frequently since I've sorted them out this way.
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I too sort by color and keep them in small drawer containers (I got mine at Target) I use 9 drawers -- R O Y G B P Black White Browns. I put cardstock and pattern in the same drawer. I do throw away scraps that are smaller than 2x2.
I keep them in the hanging file folder with the full pieces of cardstock. It makes the folder a little bulkier, but they are right there when I grab for the color.
I keep them in the hanging file folder with the full pieces of cardstock. It makes the folder a little bulkier, but they are right there when I grab for the color.
I do the same thing. It forces me to see them when I go to get a piece of C/S. And then if I need a smaller piece I grab what's already been cut. Otherwise my scraps just get out of control.
They're stored in a 2 drawer file cabinet. Only the top has scraps.
I keep the full sized paper somewhere else. B/c I hate to cut paper I always look at the scraps first to see if something in there will fit what I"m working on.
It's sad how many scraps I keep, but I bet other ladies can relate!!
I have an alphabetized accordian file (not a hanging file, so I can just cart it around with me). For printed papers, I file by design (i.e., paper printed with hearts is filed under H, paisley--p, etc.) I sort colors weird though. Usually, any shade of a color I file under the color, like burgundy is filed with red. Lavender is filed under purple...it makes things easier for me. If I am looking for something purple, but maybe not EXACTLY purple, all of my shades or variations of purple are together, KWIM? I love my accordian file.
I have pencil boxes from Wally world that I got on sale last year for 10 cents, I use those to store the littler scraps by color. Like, reds, oranges, yellows, greens etc.
Anything that won't fit in those boxes goes in hanging file folders in my file drawer, by color too.
HTH
Laurie
I have them in a 3-ring binder. Each color has its own top load page protector sheet and they are alphabetical by color family. When I first read the thread from someone else I thought, gee that's overkill, but it's one of the best things I've done! Now I can find things so much more easily.
If I only use part of a full sheet of CS, and there is enough left to make a full card, I'll pre-cut that and keep all of those together in a hanging file.
For smaller scraps, I have white photo boxes that I stamped on, and have them grouped by colour family. I have Brights and Subtles together, and Earths and Regals together. They sit on the bottom of my Cropper Hopper 12x12 file cabinet (there is a shelf). I also try not to keep anything smaller than 2x2, but it happens!
__________________
You don't have to take on the world, just get on its good side.
I also use the binder and page protectors to hold my scraps by color family. everything that can't make blank card goes there. I also keep my ribbon scraps in there. If I have enough to make a card I keep it in a shoe box also sorted by color family so when I need to whip one up I have it. I Also cut blank cards while I watch TV.
Amy
You gotta get to Michael's... I just got this faux leather tote that holds 10
8 1/2 by 11" hanging file folders. I store all my scraps by color in the folders. When I'm looking for a specific color, I just pull out the corresponding folder and stick it back in when I'm done. It's a must-have for my organization. It's regularly $40 but I used a 50% off coupon to buy it. They come in red and black and they're just too darn cute. And easy to carry with you if you're going somewhere else to stamp.
Sort?binders?files??Oh, someone please come save me!!!! LOL I have no organization with my scraps!! The rest of my stamp supplies I have organized, but when it comes to the scraps, OYE!!!!!
Sort??? Organize???? What's that??? Right now they're still all over my stamp table in a corner, or in a big baggy. The rest of these ideas sound great.
I am fortunate enough to have a 4 drawer file cabinet in my stamp room. I use one whole drawer with hanging files to sort my solid colored scraps. White, Red, Pink, Orange, Yellow, Blue (Dark & Light), Green (Dark & Light), Purple, Brown, Black, Cream, Metallic. Right now the drawer is absolutely full. The full sized stock is on shelves. My patterned stock....I put back into the notebook sleeve that it came out of.
__________________ Ann Here is my oily blog! CLICK HERE Certified Copic Instructor - Local ClassesI love cars, stamping and essential oils!
I keep mine in a plastic file box w/hanging folders by color family and neutrals. I like to keep it out and accessable. I try to use the scraps first then go to the big paper. I like to use them when friends come to stamp.
Once a quarter I try to challange myself to use scraps only for a few days to use some of them up.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet, maybe the way I do it doesn't work for many people. I use gallon sized ziploc bags to keep scraps of each color in each bag and throw them in a drawer. When I need a certain color, I pick up that specific bag and dig through to see what I need. It's pretty convenient for me. I have LOTS and LOTS of scraps so this works for me and is easy for me to see through the bags. LOTS of shades of each color. Those are non-SU cardstock. Since I just became a Demo, I scrimp on my SU cardstock as much as I can, not so much with the other kinds of cs.
__________________ ~ Wendy ~ *AVATAR--That's my DD's cute feet at the beach when she was 18 months old! She's 5 now!Where did the time go???
You ladies are so organized! My scraps are in 3 places.
1. in a big drawer just thrown in willy-nilly
2. in a big pile on the corner of my desk
3. on the floor
I have to search through these 3 places to see what I have. I have tried other 'systems' but it always ends up back in these 3 places! So, I have just accepted this is my system!
I store mine in hanging file folders...and then in each folder 1color and behind the paper I have a manila folder to hold all the scraps...so there are full sheets and the scraps in the same spot. HANDY!! I love it that way and I have done if for over 10 years!!
I hope that helps
j-me
Ok, ok, so I have a tendency to get obsessive. I can't stand to throw away any usable scrap of card stock. The drawer I had them in was overflowing and it was hard to see if I had what I was looking for. I had some non-SU card stock that I had bought when I first started stamping and never used. I cut and scored it to make little file folders that would fit in a photo box. Then printed up address labels for every color and kind of cs to make name tabs. Any cs a quarter-sheet size or smaller goes in the photo box organizer. They are in order by color family or type like I have my big hanging file storage boxes of paper. It took some time to organize, but was well worth it. I keep the boxes handy on my work table and lots of time I have a piece that is just the right size or only needs a little trimming. Then I don't have to cut up a full sheet for just a little piece.
I do the same thing. It forces me to see them when I go to get a piece of C/S. And then if I need a smaller piece I grab what's already been cut. Otherwise my scraps just get out of control.
When I pull out the file, I have all my scraps in front of me, so I can usually find one that works. My white seems to be out of control, though. I have it in a large ziploc on my table and add to it more than use.LOL
When I open a new pack of paper, I only slit the end with a pair of scissors, then as I get scraps I slip them back into the original packaging, with my full sheets.
I'm with Wendy only I use the 2 gallon zipper baggies. They are the perfect size for 12x12 paper so if I have a scrap that is still 12 inches long it will fit in the baggie. I do LOTS of iris folding so I usually have strips of paper 1 x 12 inches. I keep a baggie for each color family, one for special papers (such as special prints or metallics) and one for seasonal papers. I also have a baggie for the pieces that are "shapes" so if I have a square I cut out to make a window, it's more or less a perfect square, it goes in the shapes baggie. This has come in handy when I'm doing a collage type card and I'm looking for something to layer. I also organize my uncut papers (by color family) in the 2 gallon baggies and lay them all flat in cardboard trays that slide on my shelves (the wire cube setup).
What great ideas you ladies have...I just LOVE this kind of thread!
I'm really glad someone posted this thread. I've been wondering myself how to organize paper now that I have way too much of it, and I'm thinking that hanging file folders with the scraps included is the way to go. I like the Idea of forcing myself to use them, becuase knowing me, I would get lazy and not bother finding them if it took work.
Thanks for the ideas!!
First off I store all of my 8 1/2 x 11 paper in a mail sorter (I think that's what it is called) it has 24 slots. I got it at office max. Anyway I keep each of the four color groups in the bottom 4 cubbies. In the next row up of cubbies I keep all the extra paper of that color group. As for the scraps I keep them in a cello bag (the wrapper from an old pack of SU card stock, now they come in plastic wrap), and I store all of the scraps from each color group in their own bag. I store these bags in the cubby with the corresponding color group. That way when I go to get a piece of paper I see the bag, and I check to see if I have the color in the size I need. I hope that made sense to you.
I bought some colored accordian files at Wallyworld and have blue, red, green, yellow (gold/tan) in their respective colored files then put whites in one and blacks in one. But I put all 1/4 page in a zip lock and 1/2 page standing on end in front of my full-sheets. Works for me. I do need to sort through all of them and throw away the itty bitty scraps but I so hate to waste any of that pretty stuff :>)
I know everyone loves the way that works for them. . . sorry ladies - I LOVE mine more!
I use a photo storage box (You know the ones from WM or Mick's). I used the large recipee cards and made a spot for each color - sorted by color groups. So there is one for Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, etc. I have also included the neutrals and a spot for the metallic cardstocks.
This box sits on my desk - doesn't take up too much space. Any scrap big enough to go in there does - the pieces that are bigger go back in with my full sheets of cardstock.
The best features for me are; cheap, very handy, very easy, minimum maintenance. . . need I say more?
I have one of those dividers for cs from generations I think, it's clear and has handles at the top. It has 7 dividers, so they're sorted by color and one for neutrals. It's handy to stick in my bag to take to crops, I found that I was really missing my scraps while I was away from home, and it was sitting there empty.
whole sheets: go into my literature sorter (24 slots) i keep them in the plastic wrap until it's all gone (feels brand new haha)
scraps (anything less than a whole sheet): i have 8 in/out boxes and i organize by color
1.yellow and orange
2. pink and red
3. purples
4. blues
5. greens
6. neutrals and browns
7. white and vanilla
8. non-su papers
patterned paper scraps go back into the plastic wrap with the whole sheets
I keep all my cardstock in a filing cabinet. The colors are arranged in alphabetical order. I have a hanging file for each color and within each hanging file there are two folders ... one for full sheets of cardstock and the other for scraps. This system works great for me.
WOW - You ladies are SO organized! I keep my scraps all together (and messy) in a poly-envelope that I got for 0.99 at Target. All though now they have spilled over into the one where I keep my 12x12 paper.... I have WAY too many scraps....
How do you sort your paper scraps?
