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Oct 25, 2011

Creative Chat - Organizing Patterned Paper

Hi all and welcome to this month's MFT Design Team Creative Chat.  Today, we are chatting about organizing patterned paper.  If you'd like to see the rest of the team members' organization methods, please be sure to click over to the MFT Blog to check out the list of participants.



Before I get in to my organization, how about a little dose of "keeping it real".  We all know that stamp rooms get messy.  More often than not, mine is in a state of disarray.  Like right now for example.  Here is a "real time" shot of my desk.  I have piles of new 6 X 6 patterned paper pads sitting on my desk like this.... with no rhyme or reason.  



And here is another pile.... and to be honest... this is kind of NEAT.  LOL 



I buy primarily 6 X 6 patterned paper pads.  They are perfect for card making, have scaled down patterns, and are cute as a button.  I have quite the stash and I found they fit perfectly in a plastic storage drawer system I bought at Walmart some time ago.  I have 3 drawers full, and am precariously bordering on needing a 4th... LOL (where ever am I going to put my western stamps?  LOL)



In one drawer I have Basic Grey (which I alphabetized by collection name), in another I have mostly My Mind's Eye, and in the 3rd, it's a mix of other companies.



For me, the location of my 6 X 6 patterned paper pads is important.  I don't want to have to get up out of chair and hunt for paper.  Here, you can see that I just have to swivel around from my work space and open my drawers to choose my patterned paper.  I like to have my most-used tools and supplies within reach of my swiveling chair.  



Nearby, I have several larger drawers that house my limited collection of 12 X 12 patterned paper.  I have them sorted by company so I can easily find what I am looking for: Echo Park, Pink Paislee, misc, My Mind's Eye, Girls Paperie (now out of business), Basic Grey, and October Afternoon.


I also have a drawer for my October Afternoon 8 X 8 pads since they won't fit in my other drawers.



Some of the 6 X 6 patterned paper pads fall apart the first time you try to rip a sheet out of them.  *grumble grumble*  I have found that inexpensive binder clips like this work to keep all the bits and pieces contained. (binder clips are from Staples - 12 for $1)




One last tip I want to share with you is color matching your Copic markers to your patterned papers.  When I use the patterned paper pad for the first time, I grab my Copic color chart and color match the papers.  I write them all down on the cover of the patterned paper pad.  This way, next time I use the paper, I can just grab the coordinating markers and not have to start from scratch each time.  I grabbed some from my desk that I have done this with to show you.  






I hope you enjoyed the peek into my stamp room (and patterned paper addiction LOL).  


See you TOMORROW for the start of My Favorite Things TEASER TIME!


Psst - I hear there is an ANNOUNCEMENT over on the MFT Blog.  There is a new designer joining the MFT Design Team.  Head on over to welcome our new teammate.  

16 comments:

  1. WOW, so I love your 6x6 paper pad drawers....that is so cool! I think I need one of those instead of my method! And what a great idea about writing down the Copic #'s on the pads...love it!!!!

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  2. that looks so yummy! Great idea on the Copic numbers! thanks for the idea :)

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  3. what an amazing collection & crafty space! if we move this summer will you please come to Vegas & help me reorganize my space again-i LOVE IT!

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  4. wow you even have your pads in alphabetic order LOL... loved seeing all your patterned papers!

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  5. Awesome idea to write down the copics that match the papers on the pad themselves . Thank you so much for sharing!

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  6. So smart to label the pads with coordinating copics. I'm drooling over all those pads. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Loving the drawer storage for the 6x6 pads . . . does Wal-Mart still carry this storage system?

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  8. Love this Jody!! They do fit in those drawers perfectly! I love how your room is set up and everything is within reach!!

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  9. Wow - great tips Jody, thanks! I'm feeling quite envious of your crafting space ;)
    Rx

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  10. Jody, your stamp room is AMAZING in every possible way! Your storage is FABULOUS and I LOVE those drawers for your patterned paper! They are SO perfect!
    LOVE that you write the corresponding Copic colors on each...that is SO smart!!!

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  11. Oh my, I am so so jealous. You are so organized. Your space is AMAZING!!

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  12. wow! IMPRESSIVE....I knew you had a lot of paper....but I'm still drooling.

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  13. Thanks for sharing such great ideas -- I'm always looking for better organizing tips.

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  14. Jodi, I belong to paper hoarders on FB, maybe you should check us out! LOL! I have TONS of 12x12 paper having started as a scrapbooker, I am being more disciplined about using them -- hard once I discovered the 6x6 pads were scaled down versions and my kids moved out -- less to scrapbook! Thanks for sharing the genius copic clue!

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  15. You are a lot more organized than I. I am so impressed with the way you catalog eveything and label your papers for your copics! I really need to get with the program! LOL!

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  16. Love your organization Jody! The drawers look perfect. I am guessing they are fairly heavy though! LOL LOVE your method of writing the Copic colors on your pads, I really need to start doing that!

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