Scraps – what do you do with them??
Paper crafters understand there is a constant problem that needs to be tamed – the scrap pile! For those of us who have turned our hobby into a business, that pile is more like a mountain! I have tried so many ways to organize but it was always a battle. Thank goodness for our friend Lynn Williams!
Lynn is the Paper Crafting Queen of Organization! Need a specific embossing folder? She has it indexed and numbered to make locating easy. Searching for a specific greeting? No problem – she has a binder to help with locating it! And thanks to Lynn, her idea for scrap quality control is awesome!
These sheet protectors are the bomb!
Lynn shared her idea with me about organizing the scraps and it works beautifully! I have one Avery Secure Top Sheet Protector labeled for each of Stampin Up’s 50 colors. I have five large 3 ring binders, one for each of the color families – Neutrals, Brights, Regals, Subtles, and In Colors. The Binders are labeled by the Initial for quick identification.
Notebooks fit great in IKEA shelves!
I’m able to store 4 binders in one of my IKEA shelving cubbies. The Neutrals binder has to move to another cubby – this binder is always full! Since the protectors open from the top, I rarely have to remove the binder from the cubby -just pull it out slightly, thumb through the folders that are labeled at the top and at a glance I know if I have a scrap the size I need or if I need to use a full 8.5 x 11 sheet!
Makes class prep fast!
My husband Jim helps me with punching and die cutting, so when we are preparing for a class, I’m able to quickly retrieve the scraps he will need by simply removing the sheet protectors of the specific colors!
What scraps do you keep??
- I try to cut the scraps into rectangles – most have no ragged edges so they are easier to take in and out
- I keep scraps the size of a punched label or larger. If I can’t punch a label out of it, pitch it!
- I keep a few 1/2 inch white and ivory strips for small greetings in future projects
- If my protector folder is pretty full, I start tossing small scraps – you can’t keep everything!
- I try to add my scraps to the folders a couple of times weekly – keep that scrap monster tamed!
So if you have a large scrap pile that is growing out of control I encourage you to find a system that will help. I much prefer to craft in an organized room without the chaos of paper everywhere! Until next time, keep stamping, keep crafting and God Bless!
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