When asked what methods I have used to get organized, there are a number of things that can be done simply and inexpensively to maximize space, efficiency, and happiness. This organization series will be in four parts:
1. Room – determining what is needed; layouts
2. Boxes and Bags - practical ideas for storage
3. Sorting - sorting items to keep things de-cluttered
4. Creativity – finding your muse
Part 2: Boxes and Bags
There are a lot of different storage options on the market, as well as off the market, that can be used to organize all of your supplies. It really is a matter of personal preference as to which ones will work the best for you.
Shoe Boxes – Inexpensive and easy to acquire, shoe boxes work well to store items of any size. If you don’t like the printing or are wanting to have all of the boxes coordinate, you can pick up self-adhering drawer liner material at Wal-Mart or any dollar store, which will help mask the printing and give you the coordinating boxes for your space.
Unused Pizza Boxes – Many people like to use these for individual projects, as the boxes are roomy enough for paper, embellishments, and other goodies. Do make sure that they are unused, though, as used ones have greasy spots that will damage paper. They can be purchased in some office supply stores, or you can also approach the local pizzaria about purchasing new ones from them.
Photo Boxes – Available from Wal-Mart, Michael’s, and select other stores, they are handy for more than just photos. Label holders at the end of each box allow you to move things around box to box, while still ensuring you can find what you need. Since they come in a variety of colours and patterns, they are easy to coordinate with your scrapbooking space and personality.
IKEA Boxes – Anyone who knows me knows how much I absolutely adore IKEA. They have a number of boxes and bags that are extremely useful for keeping your scrapbooking supplies organized and easily accessible. Don’t be thrown off by their categorization for CD’s and DVD’s, as those boxes are the perfect size for most scrapbooking spaces, and they have clothes storage solutions that are magnificent for holding cutters, papers, stamps, and albums.
Boxes from Dollar Stores – Many dollar stores also carry a line of boxes that are easily assembled, and often found in the kids’ aisle. For the low price they charge, often you can get the number of paper or plastic boxes or bins that you need for your supplies. Prior to buying, though, check the durability and the composition of the material. Some bins will deteriorate over time and will shatter if placed in sunlight or in colder areas…as I discovered this last weekend with the plastic bins holding my 80’s CD’s!
Office Supply Store Boxes – The large office supply chains all carry cardboard boxes designed for holding file folders or binders, which can also be used for scrapbooking. These boxes are often large in size, so you may want to use plastic bags to separate items held within the box (ie. eyelets, brads, frames, tags, etc.), to keep things neat and orderly. As well, these boxes are often a little dull and plain brown. A bit of paint can brighten them up in no time, though!
Restaurant Cardboard Boxes – Many restaurant chains use uniformly-sized boxes to ship their food between the warehouses and the actual restuarants. A&W is a good example of this. Their fry boxes are just over 12 inches long, making them ideal for storing albums, paper, etc. Ensure that they are clean before using them, as you wouldn’t want to damage any supplies. The restaurants often pile them out back, so grab what you need once they have decided to discard them.
Plastic Containers – Plastic containers is a broad category, as this can encompass a lot of ground and a lot of suppliers. Containers from Ziploc, Glad, or any dollar store variety will work well to organize and store all sorts of supplies. If you are on a tight budget and aren’t looking to spend a lot of money, then saving sour cream, yogourt, or chip dip containers with lids also work great for goodies. To get rid of the printing on the containers, try covering with patterned paper or thin cardstock and ribbon.
Empty Cans – Once done with that soup can, use it as an essentially free storage container! Ensure that there are no sharp edges that can cut you later, wrap with paper and ribbon, add a tag with what is going to be contained in it, and voila! you have a storage container!
Mint and Lozenge Tins – These work great for smaller items, and can be additionally stored in boxes or bins. Or, you can purchase a strip of adhesive magnet, cut a piece, stick to the bottom of the tin, and use it as storage and a magnet, all in one! Dollarama has magnetic bars for $1, or IKEA has magnetic boards for a very reasonable price that will hold a number of tins. IKEA also sells smaller containers with magnets on them, should you want the functionality, but not the printing on the tin.
Shoe Holders or Racks – Over-the-door plastic or fabric shoe holders work great for storing roller wheels, stamps, ribbon, and anything else that approximate size and dimension. Often the space behind the door is wasted by being empty, so this helps capitalize on some additional room. Shoe racks also work well as ’shelves’ that can be placed on pre-existing shelves in a cupboard or on a wall, giving you more space for supplies. Once again, IKEA!
Tie Racks – Tie racks work really well for storing ribbon, depending on how the rack is put together. Stringing spools or slips of ribbon onto the various ‘fingers’ will allow you to keep things organized and on-hand.
Organizers on Wheels – Wal-Mart (and other stores with household products) sells great plastic units with drawers that also have caster wheels, making them very handy for the scrapbooker who does not have a determined hobby space. A note of caution that the wheels will break the plastic if too much weight is in the unit, so avoid putting heavy items in them.
Pill Bottles – Used pill bottles work great for those super-small items that often get lost. Peel the labels off them, so that you can easily see what the container holds, or opt for a slip of paper with a hand-written or stamped label on it. As well, the contents can be indicated on the top of the container by using a Sharpie.
Getting organized is one of the best feelings in the world, and there are a plethora of options for you to determine the best way that you can get, and stay, organized!
To finish, a wonderful quote from Florynce R. Kennedy: “Don’t agonize, organize.”
- T 
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