Purge Those Magazines

Do you have scrapbooking, stamping, craft or any other magazines piling up? It is easy to get lots and lots of these, but here is a solution to keeping your magazines in control.

First...remember that crafting or any kind of magazines do get dated. If you look back (and I say IF you look back) you will see how dated they are and will probably never use those ideas. So, what you need to do is keep a full years magazines...then when the next one arrives, pull the oldest one out and recycle it. Then you will always just have 1 years supply.

If you know, once you look at it, that you will never look at it again, recycle it right away. You can throw it in the recycle bin, but why not share them with your friends. If you all subscribe to a different magazine and all switch after you read it, then you will get the benefit of getting several magazines for just one low price and save a lot of trees!

I also get those plastic magazine holder to keep them in. I put a piece of patterned paper in the front of it to make that clear plastic holder pretty. Dress up your magazine holders and put them in your bookshelf.

So take a little time to go through your magazines and purge. Once you purge them...keep them to a years worth. Your house will be happy you did!

Time to Get Organized!

January is all about being organized...unless of course you live in my house then EVERY DAY is all about being organized! LOL My poor husband!

If you would like to start being organized, then here is one way to start.

This is our Exclusive Inks Organizer that is perfect for storing all your stamp pads and markers! You can buy it all assembled already (stamp pads and markers sold separately) or you can buy the individual towers until you have your stash built up and then assemble them once you have them all.

This organizer is $69.95 or the individual towers are just $11.95 (stamp pad) or $14.95 (marker tower). AND, if you travel with your supplies, we even have a bag with handles that it all fits in (plus has room for more) for just $34.95.

What about getting either (of both) for 1/2 price? You can when you host a party of $250 or more. You can take this as a 1/2 price item. It is a GREAT way to get this item for a VERY reasonable price! Call or email me to book your party!

Also, I found this interesting. I am reading a book on being organized by Peter Walsh called It's All Too Much. This is what he said about scrapbooking, "you cannot preserve every single memory. Take only the best, the most exciting, and the most memorable moments as your starting points." I totally agree. Start with those memories and then you can go back and fill in with the others that are not as important to you.

Here's another thing he said, "clutter is one of the biggest blocks to creativity. You cannot think creatively when you are overwhelmed with the tool or materials of your craft." Again...I agree! So get those supplies organized! And start with our Exclusive Inks Organizer! If you already have it, make sure all your stamp pads are in it...if they are not...take the 15 minutes it will take to load it all up. You will be happy you did!

Organize Your Scrapbooking Projects

Have you ever been overwhelmed with all your scrapbooking supplies and just felt like it takes more time to get it out then you have time? Or you feel like you have to take EVERYTHING in order to go to a crop or a friends house to scrapbook?

Fear NOT! I have 2 solutions for you.

The first solution is for those little projects. Like when you have your group...you make your 4 layouts and you have all the extras to make more on your own. I recommend putting those 4 completed layouts in your ziplock bag that the kit came in (we do sell these if you need more or don't have any). When you have time, find pictures that will work with those layouts. Put the pictures in the ziplock with all the supplies and put in a place where you can find them. Then, as time permits, you can pull the bag and you have just about everything you need to finish those layouts and make more. All you need to do is pull the stamps, accessories and stamp pads. This is a VERY easy way to grab your supplies and go!

My second idea I have for you is when you are working on a large project, like a vacation when you take a million pictures! LOL I have taken these bins, and put my supplies, maps, notes etc. Everything that I need for this trip. I then label the box and put a checklist in the box. This list tells me what kit I used, the colors, stamps and accessories. So I can grab the box, grab the album, look at my list of supplies I need and I am out the door! This not only helps me stay organized, but I can get to scrapbooking MUCH faster and I don't have to take it all with me.

One other thing I don't scrapbook without...post it notes! If for some reason I forgot something I can just stick a post it note when I need the item and make a note. Once I get home I can add the needed item and throw the post it note away.

I have also recommended these boxes to my friends to put their supplies in. You can organize your supplies by season, theme...whatever. This will help keep your supplies organized also. I have a friend that is going to fill a box with all her "sports" paper, sticker, and embellishments. Now when she is ready to scrap, she can pull that box and those sports pictures and she is ready to go.

Organize your supplies and you will get more scrapbooking done!

Organize Your Patterns

Do you use our How To Books? If you have our How To Books (Cherish, Imagine, Reflections - all scrapbooking and Originals and Wishes - for card making) you know that there are patterns to print from the CD that is enclosed. What do you do with those patterns once you have them printed? You don't want to print them each and every time you need them. So what I have done is make a pocket and adhere it to the inside of the front (or back) cover. My pocket is just a large envelope that I cut off the top part and stuck it to the book. Now I have my patterns and don't need to reprint them each time I want them.

I also notate on the layout (in the book) that I have the pattern printed already. So then I know it is in my pocket in the front! How organized is that! And just in case you are wondering, we have a NEW How To Book coming out September 1st! Do you believe in Magic? I DO! And on September 1st, you will too!

Organize Your Scrapbooking Supplies

Do you LOVE our dimensional elements, but they are getting out of hand? Do you have too many of them and they are out of sight and out of mind?

Here is your answer. I took our My Acrylix
Organizer ($12.945) and our Stamp Organizers ($5.25 for 3...these are the same sturdy organizers that our stamps come in) and filled them with our dimensional elements alphabets. Now I can grab the box and go! I have all my alphabets with me when I need them!

If you want one for each letter like I have here, you will need 2 My Acrylix Organizer boxes to fit all 26 letters in the alphabets. I find when I am organized not only do I feel better and have less stress, but I also know what I have and then I use what I have...wow...what a concept! LOL

It's time to get your dimensional elements organized! And just in case you were wondering what to do with these "white" letters...they are so fun...you can stamp them, sponge them, cover them with patterned paper or just leave them white! The possibilities are endless!

Packing for Crops

Have you even gone to a crop, felt like you packed every single supply you own (had to rent a Uhaul) and yet when you got to your crop you still seemed to forget something?

I have a idea for you to help with this problem. Always keep a pack of post it notes in your scrap bag. When you have something you need to add to your layout, write yourself a note on the post it note, stick it to the layout and finish it up at home. This way you are less stressed.

So stop thinking you have to take EVERYTHING to your crops. Just bring a pad of post it notes!

Great Idea!

Have you ever had a GREAT idea when you were getting ready for work or your day and knew you could remember it? Then when you got to a place to write it down, you forgot it!

Then remembered it again when you are driving to work or on errands and don't have anything to write on?

This happens (happened) to me ALL the time! But I have a REAL SIMPLE cure for it. Now I keep a post it note pad and pen in my drawer next to my sink in my bathroom. When that great idea comes, I get my pad out of the drawer and write it down. I use post it notes so I can stick it to my finger so I know where it is until I get to my office. Sometimes during the bed making process I have lost them (temporarily) that is why I went to post it notes. They stick! lol

So whether it is a scrapbooking idea, cool idea for a card you want to make, getting low on makeup, a great idea for a workshop or picking up that new Summer catalog (coming May 1st), get yourself a pad of post it notes and a pen...now you will never forget those great ideas!

Organize Your Photos

Have you taken a lot of pictures for one event and the task was daunting to get them scrapbooked? Well, I think I can help. I had my pictures developed from our recent New Zealand trip and just looked at all of them and thought...UGH! So I developed a plan. I took all my pictures and arranged them by day, then by event. I looked in my closet and found some envelopes I wasn't using (use what you have) and organized my photos with those. What I really like about these envelopes is they hold both 4 x 6 and 5 x 7 photos. Here is a picture of what it looks like now.

Each envelope has the date and event written on it and any notes I might need to know. Maybe it is the stamp set I am using, the marker color I will color the lamb (I know...but it keeps me from having to rethink it). When I am ready to scrapbook, I can grab an envelope (whatever my mood decides) and get to my scrapbooking and preserving all those memories.

I hope this helps you a little more organized.

Book Easel

Here's a great idea if you are using one of our How To Books while you are scrapbooking or making cards. This is a recipe book holder you would use in your kitchen while cooking. But I use it when I am scrapbooking and need our idea books (which is all the time).

This keeps your book open, gives you more room to work on your desk or table and when you are done or if you "travel" with your supplies, it folds flat for easy storage. The top right picture is it folded and stored on my bookshelf with my albums. I make sure I don't leave without this when I scrapbook away from home.

I believe I got this one at Bed Bath & Beyond several years ago. I think the most important thing when getting one of these is to make sure it folds flat for easy storage and ease of taking it with you when you scrapbook.

This is just another way to not only keep your scrapbooking area cleaned up from clutter, but you will be able to see the How To book much easier. Hope this helps you get a little more organized and more scrapbooked!

Use What You Have

This year is going to be my Use What You Have year, and with that one must organize. I am organizing all aspects of my life, but one I wanted to share with you is organizing your stickers and rub ons. I took some of our page protectors and measured our stickers. Then I sewed them to the desired size. Then I cut the excess off and put the metal clips where the holes are and tada...I now have organized stickers and rub ons! I find if they are out of sight, they are out of mind. Now I have them all together and I can just grab my pack and go! One other cool tip...the little seam allowance that are built into the CTMH page protectors...that is where I put the wooden stick for my rub ons. How handy is that! Now I can USE WHAT I HAVE.