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I am pretty new to paper crafting and stamping and I was told early on to keep all my scraps. Great advice! I use them a bunch. I have made complete products with scraps. BUT - I am overflowing with scraps and was wondering how everyone stores them. I bought one of those plastic bins from Michaels that are for scrapbook storage but it won't be long and it will be overflowing. Plus you are digging quit a bit. Thanks for all the input. I appreciate it.
I keep mine in an accordian style file folder.
It's not ideal, but it's what I have now. It's stuffed to the max!
...and I agree, I'm always using my scraps.
I keep all my scraps in a 3 ring binder. I use page protecters to sort the scraps by color. It works quite well as I can see what scraps are in each page.
I have a file drawer in my craft desk (but a portable file bin would work too.) I have one hanging folder for each color (pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, white, cream). In the hanging folders, I have 3 manila folders: one for regular cardstock, one for textured cardstock, and one for patterned paper.
In the back I have a few more hanging folders for themed patterned paper (Cmas, baby, other holiday, multi-colored striped papers, etc)
I try to put bigger pieces towards the back of the manila folder and smaller ones in the front.
They're definitely organized but totally overflowing! I need to have a 'scraps only' card day, I think. :rolleyes:
Oh wait.... one other thing.....
DON'T keep all of your scraps!!! I'm serious! It's good advice at the very beginning but in a few months..... *whew*. You leave those little bits of paper alone overnight and they multiply like rabbits! ;)
Try to think of the smallest size you would use on a card (perhaps 4.5 x 5.5 or 2x3)... if the scrap is smaller than that, pitch it! Or keep a donate folder handy to give them to a pre-school or church class for craft time.
I have so many little bits that I kept because 'I-paid-for-this-paper-even-though-it-probably-only-cost-me-.03-because-it-was-in-a-stack-and-I'm-gonna'-use-every-last-sliver' that I will in reality never be able to use in an artistic way. Maybe in 2nd grade art class way but I wouldn't be happy with the end result.
Take a look at your style or the cards you admire and see how small the pieces actually are. Then selectively keep your left-overs. Down the road, you'll probably feel less overwhelmed.
Oh wait.... one other thing.....
DON'T keep all of your scraps!!! I'm serious! It's good advice at the very beginning but in a few months..... *whew*. You leave those little bits of paper alone overnight and they multiply like rabbits! ;)
Try to think of the smallest size you would use on a card (perhaps 4.5 x 5.5 or 2x3)... if the scrap is smaller than that, pitch it! Or keep a donate folder handy to give them to a pre-school or church class for craft time.
I have so many little bits that I kept because 'I-paid-for-this-paper-even-though-it-probably-only-cost-me-.03-because-it-was-in-a-stack-and-I'm-gonna'-use-every-last-sliver' that I will in reality never be able to use in an artistic way. Maybe in 2nd grade art class way but I wouldn't be happy with the end result.
Take a look at your style or the cards you admire and see how small the pieces actually are. Then selectively keep your left-overs. Down the road, you'll probably feel less overwhelmed.
Excellent advice! I don't have many scraps at all. I also use the hanging folder for each color storage technique. But I most pitch anything less than 4"x4" I know I won't use them often (if at all) and once the bits are gone, I feel less guilty when I buy new paper.
I totally agree with yankeewifey!!! Decide on the smallest size you can reasonably work with and toss the rest. If its less than a 3 inch square I generally throw it away, unless I know I will use it that day.
I store my scraps in general color families in a three ring binder in those plastic sleeves. When I start a project, I go directly to my scrap binder FIRST before even looking at the whole sheets of paper.
You will not regret being selective about what you keep!
I store my scraps in a file box,(I think its called an accountant box) I have it sorted by color and then all DS in 1 file. Good luck I know its challenging to keep it organized. Have fun what ever you do. Stef
I have a drawer that holds hanging file folders. I have one folder per color. Then as I cut cardstock or designer paper, I put my leftovers into the appropriate folder. I always check there first to see if there is a scrap to be used up BEFORE cutting into new stuff.
It's been working well for me for over a year now.
When I have decent sized scraps, I run them through my die cut machine with a Nestability. I put them in an envy and have backgrounds for images and sentiments at all times.
Love my Nesties.
Cyn
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I keep all my scraps in ziplock bags by color. I keep the ziplocks in my paper drawers
with the same color. I keep the bag on top of the full sheets that way I always check my scraps first. I am guilty of keeping every last smiggen, I don't have a size limit. I find
that that little 1X1 piece is just what I need for a punch, or the strip of paper can become a ribbon like embelishment.
__________________ Bev
Organized People are just too lazy to hunt for things!!!
I just cleaned and reorganized my scraps this weekend. I'm a very visual person and need to see my supplies so I remember to use them! So I store everything in clear plastic boxes. I organize scraps by color and put them in clear ziploc baggies. I keep all the baggies r in a basket by my desk. For full and half sheets I keep in file cabinets. I keep all my SU paper together and all other papers get organized the same way by color and kept in another basket.
everyone is so neat and organized!! i try to keep a box on hand but it usually gets out of control and i end up throwing a ton of scraps away cus i just can't deal with the mess, lol.
I have photo boxes for some larger scraps, hanging folders in a drawer for much smaller pieces. I do a lot of punch flowers (a LOT), so use all my scraps at one time or another. I save everything that isn't so small it's dust.
I have one of those plastic filing crates from Staples. I put casters on it, and keep it underneath my desk. Really easy to roll out and roll back under. I use legal size file folders, organized per families and each colour within. I use one for DP too. My desk is a "wrap around a room" kind, so I have lots of space underneath for stuff like that.
right now I have them in a box, and go through them each time I make a card.
but if they are too small, I start throwing them out now, because I just had to many.
I keep my paper in hanging files and I keep the scraps in front of the matching full sheets. I save everything! You never know when you'll want to cut a small sliver to faux-thread a button or use a punch, etc. But then I tend to hoard everything....
OK, I'll confess, if the scrap is smaller than a quarter sheet I toss it. For my first couple of years with Stampin' Up! I kept ALL my scraps, but after I filled my second file box and needed another I realized that I couldn't save them all! I started planning my projects to use as much of the paper as I could. When done all the scraps get tossed. I know... bad Debbie - but it works for me.
I keep all my scraps in a 3 ring binder. I use page protecters to sort the scraps by color. It works quite well as I can see what scraps are in each page.
Ditto, I do this too. Also, I post every now and then ideas for using all of these scraps on my blog and sometimes in my gallery here on SCS. Here is a link to my blog in case you are interested. http://www.inspiredbypurple.blogspot.com
You just have to scroll down and keep looking for past posts that have using scraps ideas. I hope I have helped.
I keep full sheets AND their scraps together in file folders. When I run out of the full sheets, I keep only the largest of the scraps and throw the rest away, because I know new scraps will be generated by the new full sheets.
I use Creative Memories thingies and have 4 of them. They're sorted by color/pattern and I even have file folders INSIDE the thingie so I can pull it out as necessary. I always check in these BEFORE I cut into a new piece. The pictures aren't really close, but you can see them here. The first picture shows them lined up on the table against the wall. In the fourth picture, they are the things on the far right of the picture. ;-)
I use 3 plastic boxes that are, I think 8x8 that just fold up and snap together and one photo box. The photo box sits on my desk for scraps as I am creating. Each of the plastic boxes sits on the shelf. One is for white, one for colored CS and one for DP. Periodically I take all the paper from the photobox and file into the plastic boxes. However, any colored cs scrap that is larger that 2x2 gets filed back in with my cs so it is right there when I go to that folder. It works well for me and keeps the clutter under control.
Scrap, what to do???? lol! I started with a small box and just trew them in there and got a bigger box, i found i wasn't using scraps. so I did the large zip lock baggie thing and put those in the box, still no good. So I got a rubbermaid bin and put the scrap biggies in there but it so plump full! So I decided I need a file cabnet and found one at a garage sale for $5. It has 2 drawers and A hanging folder for each color. I like this the best cuz I finally using my scraps.
I use the hanging files for my cs, I put the big scraps in with the full sheets so I will use them first. I put the smaller scraps in a box for punches. I do toss the extra small scraps.
Scraps!! I keep all of my scraps in large ziplock bags, and I have a tall piece of white cardboard in each one with the color name on top, and I store them in alphabetical order accoring to color. They stand in a clear Sterlite container just to the left of my crafting area, so I can always keep them in reach. All of my DP is in a rubbermaid tote just behind it.
When I cut a fresh piece of cardstock to make a card, I automatically score and fold the extra half and put it in a little basket, so it's ready when I'm going to make another card.
Works for me!!
__________________ Cindy Please visit my BLOG I'd love to know what you think!!
I use the cropper hopper scrap storage. It is really nice. Has space for bigger sheets as well as small ones. I have them sorted by color and have labeled it such. I have these in a big wicker basket near the foot of my table. So when I need a piece of paper, I go here first and then later to my paper stash.
I have another idea for the very small pieces of scrap - I just stamp them with various sentiments..like happy birthday or something and keep it handy in a small tray on my table. So when I need a sentiment it's there. Or I punch it out with word window punch or something and keep it my tray. That way I am not wasting those small pieces.
Another idea I have for small pieces of patterned paper is, I just glue them to a 8.5x11 sheet of paper. Once that is full, I just stamp on it randomly or emboss on it and then can cut it out into tags or squares and use it on your card or scrapbook page. They are called Serendipity Squares. If you search in google, you can see lot of tutorials for it.
Sometimes I even out some crystal lacquer on it and make them like epoxy squares or circles.
I have a file box from Office Depot. I keep my scraps in hanging file folders by color in this box. The labels basically say Light Blue, Dark Blue, Blue PP, etc. Yes, the patterned papers have their own file too. I have been using scraps for many, many years, and my box does not get full because I use them literally every time I create something. I go to my scrap box first before ever cutting into a new sheet of paper. Love it! You can see complete details here and here. Hope it helps.
__________________ Patter
Mom to Adult Identical Triplets--a police officer, 3rd year medical student, and special education teacher
I keep all my scraps in drawers in 2 small iris carts.
Since this picture was taken, I've cut strips of matching cardstock and tape it to the drawers instead of labels. Red drawer, pink drawer, etc.
I don't keep scraps under 3" - but now I'm doing inchies, so I may rethink this, but usually a scrap under 3" is just a pain and they multiply like rabbits.
I've made myself look in the scrap drawers before I can grab a full piece of cardstock.
Oh, and I store by 1/2 sheets of cardstock in a separate area. These are actually lucite display stands turned upside down.
Scrap Storage
