Welcome! I'm back with a third MFT craft organization post, with today's topic being cardstock organization. All of today's participants are linked on the MFT Blog. I really haven't had much of a challenge in the cardstock area in past years, because almost all of the cardstock I used was from the same company. That meant that all I had to keep straight was color--and that's easy! But when I suddenly need to keep two lines of cardstock unmingled, I was a bit concerned about how I would store it.
You see, I really didn't have room, even with a walk-in closet, to add another cardstock storage shelf! (You caught me: these aren't in rainbow order, and I have no idea why--must fix!)
I looked around the house and found a couple of old, short filing cabinets that could be repurposed and decided that repurposing was better than buying another new shelf or two and creating space issues in my studio closet. Since these are just two-drawer cabinets and not very deep, I was able to put then under my computer desk, in the knee-hole area. (My oh-so-handy husband built me a pull-out keyboard shelf, so I didn't need to sit in close to the countertop to work.) At the moment, my MFT cardstock is happy here. But when I start collecting more full packs (instead of mostly sampler packs), I may eventually need to switch out with the cardstock shelves in the closet. As long as my filing cabinets will hold the cardstock, I'll be happy to leave it this way, mostly because of a FABULOUS idea that watercolorist extraordinaire (among numerous other talents) Kay Miller shared! I asked Kay how on earth she kept everything straight, as many companies as she works for, and Kay graciously shared how she was organizing her cardstock.
Kay said that she cuts a piece of cardstock into four pieces--4-1/4 x 5-1/2"--and uses the same refrigerator bins that most clear stamp sets fit into to store labeled cardstock right beside her paper cutter. (Is that genius, or what?) I can't even tell you how much Kay's idea has simplified my life when it comes to keeping up with cardstock! I can grab exactly the line and color that I need, and I can easily check to see what color I have used in cases of similar colors. I also have room for cardstock scraps right in front of the quarter-sized sheets (see below). And when I get to the last quarter sheet, it's time to cut down another full sheet of that color.
By the way, that's also how I decide what cardstock colors to purchase next: I started with only two variety packs of cardstock, along with a few colors that I knew I already loved and would use often--like blue-greens and pinks. (Oh yes, I adore blue-greens and pinks!) Anyway, when I have cut into my last sheet from the variety packs, I put that particular color on my list to purchase next time I have enough on my want/need list to earn free shipping. Pretty slick! (And, thanks, Kay, for the help!)
It's handy and accessible--just what I needed. The tall half sheets in the back are for card bases since most of my cards are vertical. I still make a few trips to the closet and filing cabinets, but not so many now. I hope you get a chance to go to the the MFT Blog Blog and see a full list of designers playing along with the storage and organization ideas week! Thanks for visiting,
P.S. I didn't link to the refrigerator bins yesterday or today because Jennifer McGuire has linked to them in her organization lists HERE. I thought since she had gone to all of that work making videos and had been kind enough to share her ideas, she should be able to get affiliate credit for it. Thanks for understanding!
