I love the idea of starting something new–having a fresh start, a blank canvas. Isn’t that what a new year is all about? It’s a great time to get organized and start fresh with your scrapbooking goals for the year.
“When I work, I work very fast, but preparing
to work can take any length of time.”
Cy Twombly
We’re starting our year here focusing on organizing our scrapbooking, which will enable us to be better and more efficient scrapbookers. If that’s our goal then organization is key. Let’s look at some questions that will help us review our current scrap space and begin anew!
Where do you scrap? It’s important to have a place to scrap. It doesn’t have to be a room or even the corner of a room, a desk or a spot on the floor will do just fine. The important thing is that you have a space that you enjoy and works for you. Make sure your space is comfortable, that you’ll be able to relax and stretch while you’re working. This includes your desk (it’s height) and your chair (ergonomical for the back). Lighting is also important, especially since scrapbookers have a reputation for working into the wee hours of the morning.
What do you need? It’s the most basic thing in organization: you’ve gotta have stuff for your stuff. Whether you have a desk, binders, a tote, or a plastic bin, you need have a place for your tools and materials. There are plenty of products out there for storing your scrapping materials. Assess what you need to store, the space you have available, the accessibility you desire, and your budget; after you’ve reflected on these you can shop with success. Remember, buying on impulse is rarely a good idea. Know what you need before you shop.
Where’s your stuff? To stay efficient and organized it’s best to have your materials in close proximity. You don’t want to have to go searching for a certain pair of scissors or that slab of paper you know you have somewhere during your precious scrap time. Here’s a tip: keep the items you use the most closest to you or if you don’t have a stationary scrap space, keep them in a shoe box or tote. My scrap space is also our office space, but I have a drawer in the desk with my most used scrap items: scissors, pencil, ruler, 8″ paper trimmer, tool kit, pens, and adhesive.
Stay inspired. Decorate your scrap space. Change it up every now and then. A good tool for staying inspired is having a cork board where you can hang articles you like, sketches, pictures, color samples, etc. that reflect your scrapping style and goals. Don’t forget to keep a picture of your loved ones around…you know, the people and the reason you scrap. Create for the space you create in, hang your own work and enjoy it.
This is a basic overview of organizing your scrap space, throughout the month we’ll look at each of these areas a bit more as well as organizing our photos, albums, and materials.
