Scrapbook Paper Storage for Beginners
Scrapbook Paper Storage for Beginners
Newcomers to scrapbooking often find themselves with a lot of new supplies, and no place to put them! Scrapbooking storage is often an afterthought, but finding a place to put your new materials can be as fun as scrapbooking itself!
The backbone of any scrapbooking project is paper: patterned papers and solid stock papers, embossed papers, and themed papers… you will need a place to put them! Scrapbooking paper comes in a range of sizes, but 12 x 12 is the conventional scrapbooking paper size and is difficult to store if you do not have the right storage product. Scrapbooking paper is often bought by the sheet, lovingly purchased for a special project. Improper storage will increase the likelihood that your paper will become bent, creased, stained, or damaged in some other way before the project even commences. Scrapbookers will find that purchasing storage for their paper will save them money in the long-run by protect their most valuable scrapbooking commodity! (After personal photos, of course!)
Deciding what type of paper storage depends on where you plan to stock your scrapbooking supplies. You may have craft table or desk devoted to scrapbooking. Perhaps scrapbooking supplies need to be relegated to a closet or stored under a bed or in some other remote area. Those very short on space may want to store all their supplies in one easy, portable location.
For those who have room to spare, having stackable trays to place on your workspace makes organizing your paper easy. Stackable trays are available in most craft stores and are made to fit a range of paper sizes. You can generally buy as many or as few as fit your needs. Stackable trays make it simple to separate paper according to color, type, or theme.
Save room by storing your paper on an organizer that is attached to the wall. The Clip it Up Swinging Arm comes with 15 metal swivel clips, perfect for organizing and hanging paper. The arm simply mounts to the wall.
Those who plan to store their scrapbooking supplies in a closet or cabinet should look into containers that can be easily put away. The Container Store has sturdy plastic paper containers that are perfect for separating and protecting your papers. The containers are clear so that you can easily see what’s within. They are perfect for labeling.
Do you have extra cabinet space? You may want to consider a folding file or upright cases. The ScrapOnizer Ultimate Toolbox Organizing system includes four 12 x 12 cases that fit together in a holder. The cases are clear, perfect for labeling, and provide a neat, streamlined storage system for your paper.
The Advantus Corporation Cropper Hopper 12×12 Expandable Paper Organizer is an accordion style file folder specifically designed for scrapbooking paper. It is sturdy, has large, extended labels, and folds to fit neatly in a cabinet or drawer.
Those who want portable storage can choose simple portable paper holders or all-in-one totes that carry all their scrapbooking supplies in one spot. Crop In Style is a brand that sells transportable scrapbooking storage in a number of scrapbooking stores. The totes always come with ample space to store paper. Often, the totes are large enough to place an accordion file folder within, making papers that much more organized.
Crop in Style also makes a Paper Taker tote that organizes and carries just papers; it is smaller, lighter, and easier to transport than an all-in-one tote.
No matter what the type of paper storage, follow this checklist to make sure the storage will properly protect your papers:
1) Make sure the storage container or folder protects papers from getting bent or creased.
2) Make sure the storage container provides organizational qualities: can the papers be separated and labeled accordingly?
3) If papers will be stored for a long time, make sure container can be sealed tightly, to preserve the papers and to prevent aging.
Organizing your paper will make scrapbooking more enjoyable: no more scrounging for that perfect red background sheet! Make the best of any scrapbooking project by storing your papers correctly.
