I like paper. I like paper a lot. OK, that’s an understatement. I lllloooovvveeee paper! I’m actually a bit of a paper whore, and I even have the shirt to prove it!
Keeping my addiction organized is a challenge, but a challenge I face with open arms. I love paper so much and have so much paper that OCD with Amy D. will need several posts to showcase how I organize my paper.
I am also asking that Create and Craft followers email me at amydaycreates [at] yahoo [dot] com with how you organize your paper. I would love to share not only my strategies but the strategies of our followers. I might be the queen of organization, but I get a good deal of inspiration from my loyal subjects!
We’ll start this paper organizing extravaganza by looking at how I organize my 12×12 sheets of solid card stock!
A couple years ago, my wonderful husband built me this great scrapbooking desk with one side full of shelves for paper.
My shelves are divided by full paper pads; whites, blacks, and greys; browns; yellows and oranges; blues; reds; greens; purples and pinks. I will admit – not that spectacular. The real OCD comes into play when we look at the individual shelves.
Within each shelf, there are 3 categories per color which are separated by white chipboard. On the very top, I have single sheets which are perfect for photo mats or small projects. Next, I have matching shades of at least 2 sheets which are perfect for creating 2 page layouts. Finally, I have the specialty papers (i.e. glitter, Coordinations, glimmer, etc.). If that wasn’t OCD enough, I haven taken a play from my old Disney Store days where we shelved our shirts from darkest to lightest color, bottom to top.
Can you see the organization in this picture? Notice how the 3 sheets on the right are single sheets? The fourth sheet from the right is the white divider sheet. Notice how the middle section goes from dark to light? See the specialty paper at the far left?
While it may take a little time to sort my paper into the appropriate order and stack, it makes my paper crafting much easier. Instead of leafing through several sheets of paper, I can quickly go to the appropriate shelf, speedily find the shade I need, and immediately know if I have enough of the right color to complete my project.
Create and Craft followers, how do you organize your solid card stock? Email me with descriptions and/or pictures!
Tune in next week to see how OCD with Amy D. organizes patterned paper!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I love the way you organize by color family and don't separate out your specialty papers. Do you ever use patterned papers? That is the hardest to organize. I am using a system of ROY G BIV (Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet) and then of course white, Ivory/ecru/off white, tan, brown, black, gray/silver. So, as I am just organizing everything now, I am trying to organize my patterned papers the same way with the predominant color taking the lead (that is for patterned papers that do not fall into a category below (I use these categories for consistent organizing of stickers embellishments and stamps) Categories are: Alphabets, Angels & Fairies, Animals, Babies/Children, Backgrounds/Borders/Frames, Beach/Tropical/Nautical, Birds, Birthdays, Bugs/Butterflies, Celebrations & Congrats (accomplishments), Christian, Christmas/Winter, Design elements/Flourishes, Easter/Spring, Encouragement/Coping, Thanksgiving/Fall, Family, Father's Day, Feminine, Florals/Trees/Botanicals, Friendship, Halloween, Handmade by, Journaling, Love/Anniversary/Valentine/Weddings, Masculine, Mixed & Misc., Mother's Day, Music, Numbers, Patriotic, Sentiments/Quotes, Sports, St. Pat's Day, Sympathy, Tags, Thank You, Tiny Stamps, Travel/Recreation, Words.
Thanks for following! I definitely DO use patterned paper, and I agree it can be hard to organize. In fact, the next OCD with Amy D. will be about how I organize my patterned paper! I love your use of the ROY G BIV system. Our very own Joe Rotella has organized his solid card stock in the same manner.
You definitely have more categories than I do, and I love it! I love how you use the same categories for your stickers and paper. That has to make your crafting so much easier. I do love it!
Thank you so much for sharing your system. I can't wait to share it with the other Create & Craft followers. Tune in next week to see my patterned paper system!!!
Amy Day
Joe,
I am so excited that Asian designs are finally creeping into the world of papercrafting. We spent three years in Japan and I have a treasure trove of (true) Washi paper that I accumulated in Japan and have stashed away in my studio. It's so pretty, I am reluctant to use it, but when I do, it really makes the page/card pop.
I sometimes the papers out to just admire them or when I make Washi eggs (real eggs; no plastic substitutes) as presents.
I also have books (in Japanese) that detail the creation of three/two-dimensional paper dolls. The flat ones are easy to create, but I have never tried my hand at making one of the three dimensional dolls. I did buy quite a few from a local artisan when we were overseas and I display them in my livingroom.
Good luck with your card line.
First off that tee-shirt is HILARIOUS! After catching up on your posts I am totally floored how much paper you have. But most of all how organized you have everything. I imagine it helps with your creativity to be able to see all the colors and of course to find everything.
Loved the other comment ideas too!