My Scrap Space: Confessions of a Copycat

Like many other scrapbookers, my space is ever-evolving and changing as I acquire new products. I had graduated from the kitchen table to a card table in my bedroom and now my space resides on one wall in our guest room/office. I've had several family members and friends ask me where I get my organizational ideas and my answer is, "from other people!" These are the confessions of a copycat.

I was first introduced to scrapbooking by my best friend, Andrea. My system of organization in those early days closely matched hers. All of my supplies fit in a Rubbermaid container. I used a hanging file box for my cardstock, using a separate folder for each color. I used one small plastic tackle-box-type container for all of my embellishments. I still use my trusty hanging file box for cardstock, but my miscellaneous embellishments now fill three tackle boxes.

Recently I graduated from a card table to a small wooden computer table from IKEA. I love that I can keep my mess in a more consolidated area. I love neat piles and this table really works for me because it has a pull-out shelf (for a keyboard) that allows me to have two levels of piles!

At the top of my table, I have a Making Memories mesh garbage container for small pieces of garbage. I "stole" my tools storage idea from someone on another website. I store my pens, punches, scissors and other frequently used supplies in metal mesh cylindrical containers. It's easy, it's accessible, and it's rather generic, but it works. I also store my Prima flower bottles and stacks of pictures on my table. Underneath my table I store my hanging file box of cardstock.

To the left of my table are four wire cubes stacked vertically. Many of you Scrapjazzers talked about "these cubes from Target" and suggested using some of the parts for shelves to stack patterned paper. I loved this idea because it easily fit into my budget.

On the top shelf I store two boxes-- one of envelopes for cards and one of handmade cards ready to send to my friends and family. In the top cube I store my bottles of ribbon. I completely "lifted" this idea from Lindsay Teague, a Retired Blue Crew member. I also have small stackable drawers filled with chipboard, tags, rickrack, and other embellishments. The next cube has my tackle boxes and file folders filled with alpha stickers and paper embellishments. My patterned paper is next and is organized by brand and color. I store my large scraps in a box from the Container Store. My paints are in a Rubbermaid tub on the bottom shelf.

To the right of my table I have an old chest of drawers that I inherited from my husband's grandmother. It sat in my closet for over two years still filled with her old sewing supplies until last year I happened across Cathy Zielske's weblog and I saw a picture of an old card catalog chest she used for her organization. I immediately got to work cleaning it out and within a few days it was functioning as my very own antique-ish organization chest. I do believe it is a thing of beauty! I store my rub-ons and chipboard alphabets in one drawer. My alphabet stamps fill another drawer, adhesives another, foam stamps another, And inkpads and other miscellaneous items another.

That's my space for now. Sitting down in it makes me happy because it is my very own. I hope someday that I will have a larger space and maybe even my own room. I'm sure as I continue to grow in my love affair with scrapping I will find others to copy, lift and pattern my organization after.

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