Club CK Blog : organization

NSD Countdown/Garage: Take the Scrapbook Organization Challenge!

Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks Editors — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:31:00 GMT

Greetings, scrapbookers! This week we’re celebrating the week leading up to National Scrapbooking Day 2012 (Saturday, May 5) with the theme “scrapbooking around the house.” Each day we’ll host a variety of activities to get your scrap on, including tips, challenges, and prizes GALORE on both the Creating Keepsakes and Club CK blogs. On Saturday we’ll continue the festivities in both places, and we’ve also teamed up with Big Picture Classes to bring you a FREE 12-hour Creative Crop (sign up to reserve your spot today).

As we scrapbook around the house, today we’re visiting the GARAGE. Let’s see how CK Dream Team member Linda Barber approaches it.

Hey there! Ready for another scrapbooking challenge? How about an scrapbooking organization challenge? I sure could use one, because I'm organizationally challenged! My husband will be happy to tell you about the mess that is my scrap area. But let's not involve him. What we can do is involve his man cave: the garage! There are so many items in there that could be used for the greater (scrappy) good. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

How about this sorter thingie that's normally used to sort screws, nails, and other small garage-y supplies? I personally think it's even better for loose chipboard shapes, brads, flowers, tags, etc.

Another find from the dark and dank garage? An organizer that can hold a lot of small ink pads! (What? You think I should stop buying ink? You are right, of course!)

Here are a few more items that you can "borrow" from the garage for your scrap room.

Kinsey Wilson got this four-tiered holder, covered it in some yummy woodgrain paper and voilá: her tabletop is all nice and neat, her supplies beautifully organized.

Let's not forget that we can always turn to the queen of organization herself, Martha Stewart. The Apartment Therapy blog lists seven Martha-like ways to use a pegboard!

Jen Caputo put a pegboard to work in her scrap room, and now her punches and stickers are out so she can see them (and use them!)

Do you have any formerly-garage-supply-now-scrappy-org ideas to share with us? Please do; I could use more help! And here's your challenge for today:

Pick one part of your scrapbooking stash or one area in your scrap space and reorganize it so it makes more sense for you. Be sure to take a "before" pic as well as an "after" photo, then share links to your photos in the comments below for a chance at a prize.Check out today's post on the CK blog and the Creating Keepsakes "Organization" Pinterest board for even more inspiration.

--Linda Barber, CK Dream Team member

Pick one part of your scrapbooking stash or one area in your scrap space and reorganize it so it makes more sense for you. Be sure to take a "before" pic as well as an "after" photo, then share links to your photos in the comments below for a chance at a prize. We'll randomly choose one challenge participant to receive a bundle of scrapbook and organization supplies from companies like American Crafts, Xyron, X-acto, and Red River Paper. We'll randomly pick one challenge participant to win.

If you'd like to participate in the challenge, here's what to do:

Take before and after pictures as specified above.
Upload your photographs to the Club CK gallery. (how to upload to the gallery)
Leave a comment below with the URL link to your photos in the Club CK gallery; for example, your comment could look like this: "Thanks for the great challenge! Here's my project: http://clubcreatingkeepsakes.com/media/p/31086.aspx."

Note: Previous projects are not eligible; images and comments must be posted on or after May 1, 2012, to be eligible.

Your images and comments must be posted before 9:00 am MDT on Monday, May 7, 2012, to be considered for the contest.

Congrats to our winner, photochic. To claim your prize, watch for a message on your profile page.

One-Hour Challenge: Creative Spaces

Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks Editors — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:15:00 GMT

H i there! I'm Megan Hoeppner, Creating Keepsakes' creative editor. So happy to be here, partying in da club today. :) I'm here to celebrate Creative Spaces, our newest special issue with you. In this issue, I take you on a craft-room tour of scrapbook rooms around the globe. It's all very inspiring and fun!

You'll find an entire chapter all about using your scrap stash to decorate your home and craft room, and all through the issue you'll find ideas for using nontraditional supplies for organizing and decorating. Today's one-hour challenge is all about decorating YOUR creative environment. Ready? Let's do this!

If you'd like to make your scraproom shine, add some twinkle lights! They make a great banner with a touch of whimsy-- just use binder rings and clothespins to add photos and accents.

Decorated binder clips are a fantastic way to display your photos.

I created this banner, which hangs on the cork board in my office, using nontraditional supplies (office supply tags, baker's twine, and cupcake liners).

Here's how:

Step 1: Spray office tags with white spray ink. I used Mister Huey from Studio Calico.

Step 2: Flatten cupcake liners out and adhere them to tags using strong adhesive. I used Fabritac by Beacon's, as it holds really well. *Cupcake liners are non-stick, so you need something that will hold well.

Step 3: Adhere letter stickers to centers of cupcake liners and add baker's twine to tag holes.

Step 4: Create baker's-twine tassels; string tags and tassels up on baker's twine to create banner.

Just like that, you've got a unique piece of decor to enjoy in your creative space.

Your Challenge

Use a few unexpected supplies to create a decor piece for your craft area. This can be cupcake liners, coffee filters, paperclips, Christmas lights, tea cups, paper bags...anything you wouldn't ordinarily use in a scrap room.

You have two chances to win!

If you'd like to participate in the live challenge, you have 60 minutes to complete your project. At the end of the 60 minutes, photograph or scan your project, and upload the image to the Club CK gallery (learn how to upload your project here). Then leave a comment below with the URL link to your page by 7:15 p.m. MDT today. For example, your comment could look like this: "My page is posted here: http://clubcreatingkeepsakes.com/media/p/31086.aspx."

If you weren't able to complete your project during the live challenge, or you'd like to spend more than an hour working on it, you have until 9:00 a.m. MDT Monday to complete the "long challenge". Follow the above instructions for posting your layout and commenting.

A winner from each group will be selected randomly and will each winner will receive a copy of Creative Spaces! Hooray!

More to Enjoy

* My banner was inspired by the creative folks over at Whisker Graphics. Find instructions for making tassels on their blog.

* I'm giving away a copy of Creative Spaces on my blog. Come on by for a chance to win.

* Take a look inside this issue all week on our blog, and be sure to check out our online sneak peek. For free shipping in our online store, use coupon code SPACESCC. (valid for USA orders only, expires 5/27/11)

Thanks, peeps! I can't wait to see your work soon. :)

Happy creating!

Megan Hoeppner, creative editor

Congrats to Kelly and chastity who were our randomly selected winners. To claim your prize, watch for a conversation on your profile page.

One-hour challenge: Organization

CK Erin Weed — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:54:00 GMT

This week's one hour challenge is going to be a special organization edition, and it's going on all weekend!

Once you've decided to organize your scrapbook supplies, the thought of going through your entire stash may be overwhelming--enough to make you decide to turn back. But before giving up on the idea, try breaking the job down into small bits of time.

If you have 5 minutes:

Clean up the scraps on your table
Empty your trash
Toss out drink cups and snack wrappers

If you have 10-15 minutes:

Put your tools away
Put unused supplies away
Put unfinished projects in a works-in-progress folder
Put completed projects in page protectors
Put finished projects in albums

If you have 20-30 minutes:

Line drawers or baskets with smaller containers so they are ready to fill with supplies.
Organize the items on your desk or work surface.
Put items that you've saved for inspiration into a file, notebook or some other type of organizer.
Create a kit for your most commonly used supplies

If you have 45-60 minutes:

Make labels for your containers, drawers, etc.
Mount shelves, hooks or other storage units to walls so they are ready to fill with supplies.
Remove items from packaging and place into organizing containers. This will save on space and better organize your products.
Choose one product type and organize it. Repeat this process with each product type: Cardstock patterned paper, buttons, chipboard, etc. If you also organize by theme, be sure to pull out anything that would be best kept with your other themed supplies.

As you organize your supplies, weed out those items that are outdated or no longer appeal to you. Set these aside to share with others or donate to charity.

Before you begin the challenge, take a photo. Then, sent a timer to 60 minutes and organize your scrapbooking supplies. Whether you plan on organizing your tools, products, photos, or memorabilia is up to you. Then, at the end of 60 minutes take a photo (or photos) showing the progress you've made.

At the end of the 60 minutes, upload the photos to the Club CK gallery (learn how to upload your project here). Then leave a comment below with the URL link to your page by 1:15 p.m. MST today. For example, your comment could look like this: "My photo is posted here: http://clubcreatingkeepsakes.com/media/p/31086.aspx."

Note: If you're new to Club CK, you'll need to create a free account here in order to be able to upload your project. I suggest registering now so your account will be active by the time you complete your project.

If you can't join us for the live challenge, that's okay! You can still enter to win 4 additional prizes. Additional winners will be selected at midnight MST Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday! You can even enter to win up to 5 times by spending an hour each day organizing your scrap space, although you will only be selected up to one time. We have some fabulous prizes for this challenge too (first winner will have first pick!)

Manhattan Scrap-N-Style Tote from Karen Foster Design

The Scrap-N-Style tote features removable storage pouches, multiple pockets, and an expandable file folder, as well as a unique scrapbook layout magnet board for protecting those half-finished projects during your travels. For more information, click here. (product not included)

Large Desk Organizer from Kaisercraft

It comes ready to customize with your favorite papers and embellishments. For more information about this project, and Kaisercrafts other organization solutions, click here.

Pink Lift N Lock Organizer from PDY Systems

This organizer is perfect for storing all of your embellishments, small tools, stamps etc. For more information on this prize, click here.

Tote-ally Cool Purse Tote with Roll-up Tote from All My Memories

Keep your scrapbooking supplies stored hanging in your scraproom for easy access, and then roll them up for crops and parties. For more information on organizing products from All My Memories, click here.

Crop in Style from Creativity Inc.

If your kitchen table is your main scrap space, then this tote is perfect for you. You can easily bring your supplies in and out of storage with this large tote.. For more information on organizing products from Creativity Inc., click here.

Winners will be announced below. Happy organizing!

--Erin Weed, Club CK social director

Congrats to our winners!

1. Marebear

2. SandyP

3. Heather

4. Ashley Horton

5. memorieswithtrish

Quiz for organizing photos

CK Erin Weed — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:14:00 GMT

Use your answers to the quiz to make your decisions about how you will work with and store your photos. If you like to work through your photos chronologically and you also want them stored so that you can still share them with others, you could sort your photos into albums organized by year or seasons within a year. But if you decide you'd like to work through your photos thematically and that you also want them stored compactly but with easy access, you could sort your photos into storage boxes (one for each topic, with sub-topics dividing them up inside). However you decide to organize your photos, use the opportunity to sort them as a chance to pare them down at the same tome-two birds, one stone!

1. What stories do you want to tell with your scrapbooking?

2. Think of the photos you already have-what's missing? List the photos (or kinds of photos) you'd like to take to help you tell your stories.

3. When you scrapbook, do you tend to move through your photos chronologically or topically? Or do you think of your photos in terms of their size/how they'll fit together in a layout?

4. If you have 30 photos from one event, what method do you use to sort through them and decide which ones to scrapbook?

-pick your favorite one (or two or three)
-pick seeral photos that represent the highlights of the event
-focus on finding photos that, together, show everyone who was there
-different filtering system

5. What's most important to you in storing your photos?

-compact, portable storage
-backup of digital data
-ease of access
-being able to share your photos with others, even if they aren't scrapbooked yet
-creative displays (to inspire you to scrapbook them!)

Organizing memorabilia quiz

CK Erin Weed — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:57:00 GMT

The degree of importance memorabilia has to you should dictate its prominence or placement in your home and scrapbooks. If you listed memorabilia as extremely important yet you keep it in a box in storage in your home (attic, basement, garage, etc.), things are out of sync. Consider bringing these items out of hiding and into your life so you can enjoy them.

1. What types of memorabilia do you have?

2. Where is your memorabilia currently stored?

3. How important is your memorabilia to you?

4. Do you enjoy your memorabilia--either by going through it, seeing it, or displaying it--on a regular basis?

5. Do you or would you like to use your memorabilia in your scrapbooks?

6. Are you able to find your memorabilia to incorporate into your scrapbook pages when you want it?

Product organization quiz

CK Erin Weed — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:58:00 GMT

Do you tend to keep only things you love-items that inspire your creativity? Or, through the years, have you held onto products that no longer fit your vision for scrapbooking? Give yourself permission to let go of things that you really won't use and free up some room, both physically and mentally, to focus on the things that really get you excited to scrapbook. Use the questions below to help you decide which products to keep, and which products to let go of.

1. Which products in your stash do you find uninspiring, cumbersome, or not in line with your reasons for scrapbooking?

2. Which products in your stash are you holding onto out of guilt? (If you look at it and think, "I paid good money for this, I may need it someday, it was a gift, or it's wasteful not to use this," you're probably keeping it out of guilt.)

3. Which products make you want to create?

4. List the products that you need to reorganize (the ones that are hard to find or that you keep forgetting you have).

5. List which products are well organized for you (always easy to find, simple to know what you have).

6. Which storage solutions are working best for you? Write down products that are stored in ways that make them easy to retrieve and put away.

7. What types of storage containers are you using that work well for you? (Use your answers to question 6.)

8. What types of storage containers are you using that don't work well for you?

And next time you're at the scrapbook store, remember, it's better to buy a little of something that you truly love than a lot of something that's on sale but doesn't fit your style or feed your creativity. You'll just end up giving it away later anyway.

Tools organization quiz

CK Erin Weed — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 02:37:00 GMT

Tools can be a blessing and a curse to the scrapbooker--we love what they can help use do, but when they overtake our workspace, they can keep us from getting anything done. Use your answers from the quiz below to determine which tools you cannot live without, which you only use once in a while, and which you can part with.

Understanding how you use your tools helps you come up with an effective way to organize and store them. For example, if you use your scissors, adhesive, and ruler on every layout you make, keep them together in an easy-to-access bin on the top of your workspace. The next time you sit down to scrapbook, you'll have your essentials ready to go!

If you aren't sure of your answers to the questions below, scrapbook a few pages and pay attention to the tools you use for every page. Or look through some of your most recent layouts and projects to see which tools you used the most.

1. What do you consider to be your essential tools? List the tools you use every time or nearly every time you scrapbook.

2. Are there tools that you don't use as much but that you still enjoy? List these less-essential tools.

3. Now take a look at the rest of your tools. Be honest-which ones should you kick to the curb because haven't used them in years?

4. Are there any tools that are large, bulky, or unattractive that you'd like to hide away? Which ones?

5. Do you prefer your favorite tools to be visible and within reach when you're working, or do you prefer a clean and uncluttered workspace?

6. Are there any other considerations you need to make in terms of workspace for your tools? For example, are there tools that need to remain out because they're too heavy or cumbersome to hide away?

7. Do you own any tools that would be easiest to use a standing counter-height work surface? Where are they?

Organization Week

Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks Editors — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 19:21:00 GMT

Recently on the Creating Keepsakes Editors' Blog we asked our readers what their scrapbooking New Year's Resolutions were, and getting organized was at the top of the list. Whether you have a dedicated scrap room, or just a corner in a closet, this week we're bringing you lots of ideas to help you clear the clutter and find your inspiration.

Monday : Tools

* Discover some great solutions for organizing your many scrapbooking tools.
* Take a quiz to help you organize your tools more effectively.

Tuesday : Products

* Learn some of the best ways to organize your scrapbook products.
* Answer a few questions about the products in your stash to determine the best way for you to keep them neat and tidy.

Wednesday : Memorabilia

* Read some great tips on organizing memorabilia .
* Take a quiz to get some insight on how you should organize your memorabilia

Thursday : Photos

* Whether your photos are printed, or only on your computer, learn ways to organize them.
* Answer a few questions to discover the best way for you to organize your photos.
* Download a photo organizing checklist on the Premium Member's Blog. Note: This article is exclusively for Club CK premium members. To learn more about the benefits of Club CK premium membership (only $19.95 a year!) and to sign up, read here.

Friday : Misc

* Download CK Scratchy Box for free! Each Friday we make one of our exclusive fonts available for one week only, so be sure to check back again each Free Font Friday for a new font.
* Learn ways to organize your fonts to help you find exactly what you're looking for, and keep inspired.
* One-hour challenge! Grab your camera and a garbage can and join us for the one hour challenge at 12 PM MST (2 PM EST, 1 PM CST, 11 AM PST)
* One you have finished organizing your scrap space, learn ways to donate your unwanted supplies.

Enjoy more inspiration from Creating Keepsakes!

* Many of the ideas for Organization Week are from The Organized & Inspired Scrapbooker. To get more useful tips on organization, order this beautiful book today! Use coupon code CKTW15 for free shipping on all order of $25 or more.
* Registration is now open for CKC Portland, Louisville, and St. Louis. Don't miss out on an amazing experience, register today!
* Whether you've always wanted to try digital scrapbooking, or you've been doing it for years, check out The Best of Digital Scrapbooking.

5 Easy Ideas for Storing Your Stickers

Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks Editors — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:03:00 GMT

Organizing your sticker stash doesn't have to be a sticky situation. Thanks to these five simple approaches, it's a breeze to find an orderly system that works for your unique scrapbooking style.

1. On-the-Wall Container: Store your stickers in a decorative rack that you can hang above your creative workspace. This approach will keep the creativity at your fingertips without interfering with your desk space.

2. DIY Sticker Spinner: Finding the sticker sheet you need is just a twist away with this organized approach. Turn a paper-towel holder into a rotating sticker station by first sliding pieces of sturdy cardstock into 8.5" x 11" sheet protectors (for added stability) and then inserting your stickers. Once your page protectors are loaded, attach them together with binder clips, and slide those clips around the center of your paper-towel holder.

Bonus Idea: If premade is your preferred method when it comes to finding organization solutions, check out the Clip-It-Up by Simply Renee.

3. File-Folder Organization: You don't have to be a legal eagle to find the benefits in accordion-file folders. They're an ideal choice for stashing your stickers. For one, they open up nice and wide, giving you easy access to the contents. Also, they can quickly be tucked away when you're in between craft happenings. Plus, if you like to scrap on the go, they're a wonderful grab-and-go solution!

4. Basket Case: Add a decorative touch to your creative space that doubles as organization with a stylish basket. Whether you have one basket for all of your stickers or you choose to keep separate baskets for separate sticker themes, this approach will keep your collection out where you can see it and make the most of it!

5. On the Wire: Maximize your closet space, and hang your favorite sticker sheets across a curtain wire. This will leave you more shelf space for larger and heavier items, and you can just slide the stickers aside whenever you need to access the rest of your closet-contained goodies.

Ready to try out these sticker-organizing ideas? Enter here to win a stash of 100+ sticker sheets.

--Megan Hoeppner, Creating Keepsakes creative editor

Share Your DIY Organization Idea for the Chance to Win

Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks Editors — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:14:00 GMT

In the "CK Shows You How" column of CK's Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks organization issue, Lori Fairbanks shared three DIY ideas for organization, like storing embroidery floss on ribbon spools. Lori made this DIY project especially beautiful by spray painting the wooden spools silver before adding the embroidery floss.

What are your favorite organization tips? We'd love to have you share them with our Club CK community by weighing in here. If you share an idea by March 9, 2010, you'll be entered to win this faux book front unit.

This unit was featured in the "Creativity under Cover" article in the Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks organization issue. It's the perfect disguise for storing scrapbooking supplies in an open space, like an office or a living room. For more ideas on creating scrapbook storage that blends with your home, check out the full article in print! And be sure to share your organization ideas for the chance to win! We may even contact you to publish your idea in an upcoming issue of CK!

Edit to post:

Winner Announced

Congratulations to iheartart08, who won the contest!

--Brittany Beattie, Club CK social director