Organizing Your Tools
January is a notorious month for organizing. I don't know about you, but it always makes me feel like I'm starting a new year off right when my things are organized. My scrapbooking stuff is no exception. Scrapbookers have a lot of tools paper, ribbon, you name it.
Every Thursday this month MM's designers are going to share their organization tips with you. If you check back each week and organize along with them, by the time the end of the month comes, your scrapbooking supplies will be in perfect order.
Today Laura Vegas is going to share her tips for organizing your tools and paint. And by the way, we definitely don't have all the answers, so feel free to post your tips each week. Also, if you have organization problems with certain supplies, let us know so we can help.
----
If you're like me, you've probably built up a good sized collection of paint. Who can resist those little bottles of color? And they are so inexpensive. So I like to buy every color in every shade possible because you just never know what you might need. But then you have to store them, right? I got tired of digging around looking for that color that always seemed to be at the bottom of the pile. So I decided on a small paint shelf to hang on my studio wall. I drew up the dimensions to fit the bottles perfectly and then my handy mom built it for me (thanks mom).
She made this shelf using simple strips of scrap wood that are 1/2 inch thick and 2 inches deep. The entire shelf is about 12 1/2 inches wide by 33 inches tall and it takes up so little space on the wall. The best part it holds 56 bottles of paint! Just walk over, scan the colors, and easily find the one you need.
Of course, I do have more than 56 bottles of paint. So I also do use the jar method which does require some digging. But I love how these smaller jars look on my studio shelves filled with my paints and glitter paints. I have smaller amounts in these jars. It makes it easier to dig through than a big box like I used to do. And I use these paint jars as a decorative element in my studio at the same time.
And then I have to find a place for all of my tools. My punches, circle cutters, tag maker, scissors, staplers, eyelet setters, extra blades, paper piercers, and so much more. I keep mine in baskets, grouped together in like items. I have an island in my studio that I work on. And the top shelf all the way down the length of the island is about six inches tall, just enough to hold these inexpensive baskets. I have eight of these all lined up that contain all my tools and main supplies. It makes it so easy to just slip the baskets in and out, and grab what I need. And when I'm done working on a project. I just drop everything right back into the baskets and it's all hidden away.
Of course, the new MM desktop carousel is a new favorite of mine to hold some of my most loved tools and supplies. I have recently emptied some of my baskets to fill up the carousel with goodies to keep close at hand! Guess that just means I have room for new tools!
