Prepare to make quick cards by having your paper supplies organized. A defined place is an effective way to keep cardstock and paper organized.
Here are some ways to store your cardstock and paper scraps –
Card Bases
When cutting your card bases, it’s a good idea to save the second half of the cardstock, as a card base, for another card. I save them in a container with others and arrange them by color family if desired.
It is helpful to have Basic White and Very Vanilla Thick Cardstock card bases pre-cut and ready to use.
Card Fronts
Organize colored cardstock or Designer Series Paper scraps cut into 4″ x 5-1/4″ pieces. Make a card front, and store it in a container, by color family or themes.
It is helpful to have Basic White, Very Vanilla, and Basic Black cardstock card fronts pre-cut and ready to use.
Card Inserts
Keep Basic White and Very Vanilla cardstock pre-cut (4″ x 5-1/4″) for the inside of cards with colored card bases. Yes, these are the same size as the card fronts.
These “card inserts” are helpful to put over a card front with higher embellishments. Mail the card and extra card insert in a medium – A2 envelope to protect them.
Colored Cardstock Organization and Storage Ideas
I store my colored cardstock scraps in a binder with a clear page protector for each Stampin’ Up! cardstock color that I have. Label the page with my P-Touch Label Maker. Put one piece of that color cardstock in the page protector. The individual page protectors go in a Heavy Duty 3″ D-ring Binder in alphabetical order.
Store the colored cardstock scrap pieces in the protector when they are a half piece of paper or smaller. When I need a colored piece of cardstock to add to a card design, I look in this binder. To save money, I use the scrap instead of a new full sheet of cardstock.
Designer Series Paper Organization and Storage Ideas
Slit one side of the new Designer Series Paper (DSP) packet. Keep the back piece of cardboard with the product information in the packaging. Write the “coordinating colors” on the product info cardboard in larger handwritten notes. I can easily read the colors that coordinate with the DSP without my glasses (haha)! I do this for my 12″ x 12″ and 6″ x 6″ paper packs.
Put leftover DSP scraps into the front of the DSP packet. Leftovers are a little something extra on a card that coordinates with the DSP. Without cutting into a new full sheet of DSP (save$$$)!
Organize Designer Series Paper (DSP) packets in cardboard magazine holders. Label the DSP by 1) dates, and 2) catalogs by type (Annual – Mini – SAB – Online Exclusive). The label on the front of the magazine holder will help to find a specific pack of DSP.
I keep a recipe box of index cards with one packet of DSP described on each individual index card. The index card includes the DSP name, source of the DSP (catalog and date), and cut-out pictures of the DSP. Plus a list of the coordinating colors in the DSP. These cards are a helpful reference to create card designs (a quick way to pick DSP for cardmaking).
Paper Strips Organization and Storage Ideas
I have a 3-1/4″ wide x 10-1/4″ long x 2-1/4″ deep basket for storing paper strips. Measurements are just for reference – you could use any size basket or container that you own. Store the colored paper strips that are less than 2″ wide in the basket. And, if they are more than 2″, I store them in the color scrap cardstock binder.
I store Basic White and Very Vanilla Cardstock paper strips separately from colored strips and use them for stamping sentiments. I keep other sizes of paper scraps in the same or another basket. These scraps work well for stamping images that will be die-cut for cards.
Die-cuts or Fussy Cut Images/Punched Images Organization and Storage Ideas
Whenever I cut images from DSP, I also cut extra images from DSP. Or when using a punch, I will punch an extra image when I have enough cardstock for “one more punch”. Store these images in the stamp set that goes with the DSP or the stamped images. I put them in a small cellophane bag in front of the stamp set case.
I also save extra die-cuts, cut-outs, or punched images in a separate small box. Images that go together are stored in a small cellophane bag or another small bag. I use snack bags or small “jewelry bags” for safekeeping.
When I am ready to make cards, I look in this box for inspiration to make a new card design. I use the extra die-cuts to make quick but nice cards since the time-consuming image creation is already done.
Sentiments and Sentiment Labels/Banners Organization and Storage Ideas
When I stamp sentiments, I make an extra for the next time that I make a card.
I also die-cut or punch out extra sentiment labels to use on future projects. I save them in the stamp set case or in a small box. They are ready to use for inspiration to start a card or a quick way to finish a card.
A “Magnetic Photo Album” does a great job of keeping leftover die-cuts, sentiments, and labels accessible for quick card making! I sort the items into categories and put similar sentiments or die-cuts on the same page. It may be helpful to label the pages with a tab to make finding a particular sentiment, etc… easier.
To see a video review of all the organization and storage ideas in this post – Click Here.
Note: Always separate Acid-free and Lignin-free paper from other less expensive or regular paper. Use the proper paper when scrapbooking to protect your photographs (which requires acid-free and lignin-free paper).
