Organizing Ephemera...

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

I'm trying to organize all the odds and ends of ephemera I've got scattered everywhere and was wondering...

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

if any of you have a cool way that your organizing such stuff?

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

or if you may have a link or two to someone who does?

[SteinwaysMom]

I don't have a big collection but I got a ring binder and put those plastic sheet protectors in it and put papers and stuff inside the sheet protectors. It works pretty well. I also got some 8.5 x 11 sheet protectors for 4x6 photos and put smaller items like tags and stickers in the pockets.

If I don't stay organized I get all flustered and freaked out when trying to do anything creative.

[SteinwaysMom]

I also saw where this lady took a clear plastic hanging shoe holder thingie, hung it on the wall and put all her embellishments in all the pockets. She seemed pretty happy w/it.

[CathyRose]

As good as I am with organizing my rubber stamping stuff and digital kits, I am sooo bad about storing my stuff for collage and altered items. I have a couple of Iris carts with the big drawers and it is just all thrown in there!

[skyescrapz]

My stuff is kinda organized, but mostly not. I have some plastic containers with different bins in them that are filled with some semblance of organization. And I have drawers with different types or categories of items in them. I am constantly trying to come up with better ways to do this, but I don't have an area where I can keep stuff in sight. It's all in a closet in my laundry room, so stuff that is stackable or drawers is the answers to my ongoing conundrum (ah, Nevermore's off golfing and I use a GREAT word!) in this area.

[Vania16]

I have a snapware storage thing from Target - kind of like this one, but I think mine's bigger - it's 12x12. It's worked pretty well so far, but I don't have a terrible lot of stuff. I like that it has a couple of parts so I can divide things into a couple of broad categories (you could add more pieces too) and the handle is great too - makes it easy to take out of its storage spot and onto the table :)

http://www.createforless.com/InterchangeData/images/2/200603090246412b2006-0308-9517.jpg

[CathyRose]

I used to be able to keep everything in these carts, but now I have taken over a few other areas of the house. ;)

My Iris Carts (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/crich/stacked_Iris_carts.jpg)

[kygirl]

I'm embarrassed to say that I work out of stacks -- stacks of photos, stacks of letters, stacks of magazines. It wouldn't be so bad if I would keep them in one place, but no, they're everywhere. I really do need to finish up that craft room.

I'm looking at the ScrapRack as a way of organizing paper, ephemera, and elements. It's a notebook system that uses plastic sleeves so that you can organize by color and topic.

[CathyRose]

Donna, that ScrapRack sounds good! Do you have a link?

[kygirl]

It's www.thescraprack.com. I'll warn you in advance that it doesn't look very sophisticated and it is a little pricey (or at least for me; I'm cheap). But I saw it demonstrated at a convention, and was impressed with how much material it can hold. I also like the idea of it all my stuff being visible there on my work table.

[skyescrapz]

It's www.thescraprack.com. I'll warn you in advance that it doesn't look very sophisticated and it is a little pricey (or at least for me; I'm cheap). But I saw it demonstrated at a convention, and was impressed with how much material it can hold. I also like the idea of it all my stuff being visible there on my work table.

That's why I hate having to store all of mine in a closet. I have to actually remember what I have AND where it is. Such a drag. Maybe I'll have a craft room someday (says she who is married to such a packrat that the extra bedroom is overrun with his stuff and you can barely walk into it... so not fair!).

[kygirl]

Tip for the Day: You all may have realized this already, but I just discovered that 2-gallon freezer bags are ideal for putting together your own kits of coordinating 12x12 paper, ribbons and elements. I'm going to try hole punching them to see how they work in a large notebook. This might be a good way to organize your ephemera at very little cost.

[CathyRose]

I use the large zip lock bags all the time. Before you go look for a huge clunky notebook, let me tell you how I use mine. I use one of those metal shirt hangers the kind that have 4 or 5 one on top of another. Then the bags hang in layers so you can see them. I hang that on a hook on the peg board in my craft closet but you could hang it over a door too.

skirt hanger (http://stacksandstacks.com/html/22000_clothes-hanger-multiple-skirt-set-of-2.htm)

[Vania16]

That is brilliant! I use big ziplocs for storage a lot too, but have them just kind of thrown wherever - hangers would totally solve that problem!

[skyescrapz]

I use the large zip lock bags all the time. Before you go look for a huge clunky notebook, let me tell you how I use mine. I use one of those metal shirt hangers the kind that have 4 or 5 one on top of another. Then the bags hang in layers so you can see them. I hang that on a hook on the peg board in my craft closet but you could hang it over a door too.

skirt hanger (http://stacksandstacks.com/html/22000_clothes-hanger-multiple-skirt-set-of-2.htm)

Wow, what a fab idea! The bags that bedding comes in (clear plastic, big, with a zipper on them) are great for spools of ribbon! I have ALL of my ribbon spools in one bag that a huge comforter came in. :)

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

I was reading on the Altered Diva's site that she has a box with everything thrown in there so that she can just pull out what ever catches her eye...I've been thinking about trying this but I'm a little scared. So I was just wondering what you all think of that?

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

Like most of you gals...I'm pretty organized with my supplies so that's why that sort of scares me!

[skyescrapz]

I was reading on the Altered Diva's site that she has a box with everything thrown in there so that she can just pull out what ever catches her eye...I've been thinking about trying this but I'm a little scared. So I was just wondering what you all think of that?

Well, it's not a bad idea actually. Because it can really get your creativity juices going. But I don't know if I could "un-organize" my stuff that much, you know? I'm a little on the anal retentive side with my craft supplies...

[CathyRose]

Lol, hear you on the afraid to un-organize my craft stuff! If anyone ever broke into our home to rob it, I would freak if they messed up my craft room!
DH would freak if they took the TV's! :D

[skyescrapz]

Lol, hear you on the afraid to un-organize my craft stuff! If anyone ever broke into our home to rob it, I would freak if they messed up my craft room!
DH would freak if they took the TV's! :D

I'm so glad you have your priorities straight, Cathy. (I think my DH would freak about the TV's too, actually.)

[Ursula]

I am soooo NOT organized. Everytimie I try I just get overwhelmed. I'm am not a detail person

[SteinwaysMom]

Regarding the Altered Diva thing,,,it would be cool to start with a 'junk box' of crazy miscellaneous stuff. But for other stuff I think having it organized makes things a lot easier. Everybody's different. Me I can't stand to have too much 'stuff' but I sure like buying it!

[CathyRose]

Wait, is there a such a thing as having "too much" stuff?

[skyescrapz]

Wait, is there a such a thing as having "too much" stuff?

Hmmmm... if we're talking ephemera, I think the correct answer is a big NO.

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

Well, it's not a bad idea actually. Because it can really get your creativity juices going. But I don't know if I could "un-organize" my stuff that much, you know? I'm a little on the anal retentive side with my craft supplies...

That's exactly why I'm both tempted yet very afraid to try this!!
But I'm thinking...of just doing this but with only 1 box! Just to see
if it does help the creative juices to flow a little easier!!

[skyescrapz]

That's exactly why I'm both tempted yet very afraid to try this!!
But I'm thinking...of just doing this but with only 1 box! Just to see
if it does help the creative juices to flow a little easier!!

Let me know if it works!!!!! :)

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

Let me know if it works!!!!! :)

Sure! I'll be working on my box soon and then I'll post an update!
We can call it Mission Unorganization! :D

[AmyK]

Okay, I'm glad I finally popped in on this thread. See, I was scared off by that term "Organizing." Because I am not organized at all. I have an Iris cart like Cathy, but everything is everywhere. Paper in all of the drawers, stamps in all the drawers, ribbon spools in the drawers and on top, inks, pastels, clay, stencils - there is no organization. As long as I don't have a plan for what I want to create, it works for me. :rolleyes:

Actually, I believe my disorganization to be a form of self-sabotage so that I never complete projects I would like to finish. So if you are going to go Unorganized, I might try it on a smaller level first - just one shoebox or something of things you're not sure about using. Then do a few grab and glue exercises and see if that method works for you.

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

Okay, I'm glad I finally popped in on this thread. See, I was scared off by that term "Organizing." Because I am not organized at all. I have an Iris cart like Cathy, but everything is everywhere. Paper in all of the drawers, stamps in all the drawers, ribbon spools in the drawers and on top, inks, pastels, clay, stencils - there is no organization. As long as I don't have a plan for what I want to create, it works for me. :rolleyes:

Actually, I believe my disorganization to be a form of self-sabotage so that I never complete projects I would like to finish. So if you are going to go Unorganized, I might try it on a smaller level first - just one shoebox or something of things you're not sure about using. Then do a few grab and glue exercises and see if that method works for you.

Yes, I agree...I will definately starting small! :D

[smwhite]

lots of good thoughts on this thread... I've simply taken the photo boxes from Michaels et.al. and taken 4x5 index cards w/ alpha tabs... and currently I've got 3 boxes of ephemera items. I just file stuff by subject. I take #10 envelopes and whack or fold them so they fit the width of the box and tear the flap off. I label the front of the env. w/ the subject matter i.e. postal, tickets, labels, floral, fall, butterflies etc. then file them in an alpha format behind the letter. Pop on the lid and they sit on a shelf in my studio looking at least tidy!

[Mish]

There is a reason I don't paper scrap...I can't handle all the junk involved!!

So I'm keeping the same philosophy for doing ATC's...all digital! If I find something I like, I scan it in and then THROW IT AWAY!!!

I know that probably doesn't help you...but that's what works for me. :D

[Pixeldigger]

Hmm, I am so lucky. I started with digital scrapping only a couple of weeks after hand-scrapping, so all my supplies are in one tiny box - and one huge hard-drive.

[TammyMoore]

I use the large zip lock bags all the time. Before you go look for a huge clunky notebook, let me tell you how I use mine. I use one of those metal shirt hangers the kind that have 4 or 5 one on top of another. Then the bags hang in layers so you can see them. I hang that on a hook on the peg board in my craft closet but you could hang it over a door too.

skirt hanger (http://stacksandstacks.com/html/22000_clothes-hanger-multiple-skirt-set-of-2.htm)

This looks GREAT for me!! I have to have everything visible, but since a lot of my stuff is from my own family, and I'll have to scrapbook it (someday), I'd like to have it available to both my collage work and scrapbooking.

Great idea! :)
TFS!
Tammy Moore

[Artist in Residence]

Donna,

What a great idea...and yes, a little Martha Stewartish it is!

Thanks for the great tip.

Juli

[sherriejd]

my 2 cents:

i am horribly disorganized and i was always buying new stuff because i couldn't find the "old" stuff. so by desperation, i have found a bunch of faves and put them into 1 big plastic box. then when i start doing my collage, i use stuff from my plastic box. so far, i haven't even emptied the plastic box enough to even consider going back and grabbing more stuff to put into it.

i'm finding this is working pretty well. i'm discovering that the things that i like work together for the most part and i don't have to find the exact piece of ephemera or embellishment because i had so many to choose from to begin with. kwim?


I was reading on the Altered Diva's site that she has a box with everything thrown in there so that she can just pull out what ever catches her eye...I've been thinking about trying this but I'm a little scared. So I was just wondering what you all think of that?

[indybev]

I bought some of those lovely decorative boxes in graduated sizes, and made a tower of them, one for papers, one for paints, brushes, pencils, etc, one for trinkets, and so on. There they are, just a lovely tower .... until I want to work. Then, of course, I have boxes and box lids all about me ...... sigh ....