How To Organize Your Scrapbook Supplies

Once you start getting any amount of supplies together for scrapbooking, you will realize that you have to have some way to keep everything organized. Things can quickly get out of hand and more time will be spent just trying to find what you need than actually putting scrap book page layouts together! Since scrapping time is precious and often hard to come by, I have come up with 5 inexpensive tips to keep everything in order!

1. Invest in a good paper storage system. I have been using an accordion file system for all my papers. I have them separated by colors and by type, so all the red cardstock is in one file and all the red patterned paper is in another file. This helps reduce the amount of time I spend looking through paper! I also have a smaller accordion file for all the scraps I have and organize them by colors, too!

2. Eyelets and brads can be some of the most troublesome scrap book supplies to keep in order. They often come in little plastic bags that can’t be reused, so unless you like them spilling all over everything, you have to get some containers to organize them. Most craft stores sell small boxes with dividers inside that make keeping colors and shapes apart very simple. I also like some of the plastic screw top containers. Or, if you are on a really tight budget, you can take small baby food jars, spray paint the lids and use them to keep everything nice and neat!

3. Ribbons, fibers and yarns can be such a pain in the neck to keep from becoming one big tangled mess! Ribbon spools can be thread onto small dowels or even pant hangers. These methods are nice because you can see each ribbon and cut from the spools easily. I know many people like to put short pieces of fibers and ribbons in large canning jars. Not only is this a good way to keep colors together, but it makes for a nice display. One way I have used to store yarn on the skein is by unwinding a small piece and putting the skein in a zipper plastic bag with the unwound piece hanging out. This makes finding the end to cut from much easier than trying to fish it out every time.

4. Stamps can be a challenge, especially if they aren’t the new acrylic stamps that can easily fit in binders and other small spaces. Again, using storage boxes for wood mounted rubber stamps and organizing by themes is a good way to keep them organized. To make the process of finding a specific stamp easier, just stamp each image on a piece of paper and adhere it to the outside of the box.

5. If stickers have got you stuck, I have the best suggestion I’ve found: the Crop in Style Paper Sticker Binder. Not only does the binder keep all the stickers in a zipped up unit, but it has divided pages and dividers to keep different sizes and themes apart. Once I started using it, it not only helped keep everything neat, but it makes it so much easier to actually use the stickers I have! It saves you money by not buying more of the same kinds of stickers!

I hope that these five tips can help you get a good handle on all your supplies. All these tips are inexpensive tricks, but I have also really enjoyed having large totes and bags to take with me to crops. These products often have organizational pieces integrated into themselves like bags, pen and scissor organizers, etc.

Want a secret?? If you search some of the tool departments of your local discount stores, you might just find a rolling hardware tool box that will work beautifully for your scrap book supplies. I found a great one for under $25 several years ago and have loved it! It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that the ones specifically made for scrap booking do, but it serves its purpose and I had some money left over to invest in more scrap book supplies!

Just find a system that works well for you. You might go through a couple systems before you find one that really works for you, but don’t give up! The time you will save by keeping all of your scrap book supplies in order will be worth all the effort!

Susan Whitehead has been scrapbooking since the birth of her first child in 1998. Her love for the craft has grown exponentially since then and has resulted in her becoming a scrapbook instructor with her own online scrapbook business. Her website is http://www.BarefootMemories.net and her blog is http://www.scrapbookbarefoot.blogspot.com

How to Get Organized for the Artist

How to Organize Your Workplace

Some artists have an issue with keeping everything organized. A way to solve this problem is to separate things into different spaces. All the work should be in a certain space and there should be a drafting table for the work to be completed on. There should also be a drafting chair to sit in and get comfortable while creating art. Art is something that is created and for most people getting creative requires a comfortable and organized workspace. Separating certain things into certain areas would really create a different space to work in.

The table where an artist created their art at should be used for one purpose and that is all. This purpose is to create art. If the drafting table is all cluttered with papers and things it is next to impossible to be creative and get work done. It does not take much effort to clean up the work area so there really is no excuse not to. A good drafting table that is clean and organized can make a huge difference. It is a much more efficient workspace. It is also much less stressful without the clutter and disorganization.

Having an organized drafting table is one thing that can be extremely helpful, but it is not the only thing. Having a comfortable, efficient drafting chair can make a difference. It may not seem like it would make a huge difference to have a chair with the drafting table, but it does. Without the chair the table would be pointless. The chair could create a feeling of limited stress, which can bring a feeling of relief. When this feeling is present working is much easier. The drafting chair does not have to be top of the line expensive it just has to get the job done.

There are many things that can be done to organize a place of work. The first thing to do is to get rid of any clutter around. This just eliminates the things in the space that are pointless and meaningless to the job that is being accomplished. When there is a clear area to work in, more can be accomplished in less time. It is a lot easier, less stressful, and much more efficient. It is not a hard task to complete if it is done the right way. There are also many ways that you can organize a space. It can be done in any way that is necessary to meet any particular expectations.

Organization can be the key to success. It is not something that is extremely difficult. If things are kept organized in a place of business than the potential of something going wrong is slim to none. The important key is to have certain spaces for certain things. For example having a drafting table and chair are used for drawing or anything else only. If the desk becomes used for other things it loses its general purpose and most of the time it is hard to restore it to how it used to be used.

Connor Sullivan usually buys his drafting tables online for his office. He also purchased drafting chairs online for the office as well. http://www.artsupply.com/alvin/tables/alvintables.htm

How to Organize Your Life to Eliminate Stress and Worry

If you are not a very organized person, then you may realize that your disorganization can create a tremendous amount of stress in your life. If you take the time to get organized, you may notice that your level of stress goes down. Sometimes this can be just want you need in order to reduce the stress in your life. Stress can really take its toll on your body and your life. It can bring you down, and ultimately make you unhappy. If you want to look into reducing your stress level with some easy steps, then take the time to get uncluttered and organize your home.

The first thing that you should do is to make a to do list. If you have a list that you will follow when working on your things then you will be that much more likely to get everything done. Have you ever had a whole list of things in your head to get done, just to find out that you forgot to do a few of them? This is very common, especially if you do not make a written list. Writing things down will not only help you with your memory, but having them in writing will allow you to check them off as you go. This can be very effective when you are getting ready to get organized.

Once you have a list of the things that you need to do, then you need to add some priority to it. Remember what you need to do in order to get organized, and then take the steps to check them off one by one. If you have a long list, delegate certain things to do on certain days. If you do this, you are likely to find that you get everything done more quickly than you would sitting around looking at the list of things to do. Do not stress out over having a lot to get done, just start doing them one by one and only bite off as much as you can chew. This will give you a sense of accomplishment in the end.

If there are some things that may not be very important, then you should think about not doing them at all. While you may not want to think about things and then cancel them, it may be the best way to reduce your stress. Do not take on more than you can handle because that is the sure fire way to get stressed out. Remember that you do not always have to say yes to everyone. Practice telling people no if you do not feel like taking on another task.

Make a daily list each morning. This will help you when it comes to getting everything done in a timely manner. When you look back at the things that you are able to accomplish once you are organized, you will be that much more prepared to take on the day without the load of stress that you may have had before hand.

Herb enjoys learning how to become a more organized person. Please visit his website with information on outdoor floor lamps and tips on outdoor post lighting. http://www.outdoorfloorlamps.net/outdoor-post-lighting.html

6 Organizing Habits For Clutter Control

How many times have you said to yourself I wish I could stay organized? I am a professional organizer and I tell the women I work with it is possible to keep organized but I don’t think it is possible to stay organized. The word stay gives the impression that once a task is done it is done for good. But if you have a life, live with someone, have children or have a home no matter how organized things are they just get undone. Here are six tips to help you keep organized by clearing clutter and getting a grip on clutter control on a consistent basis.

1. Put things back after using them AKA: get rid of the evidence. This is an easy habit to get into and it will make a big difference in clutter control. Teach your family to put things back after using them. If you make a sandwich put everything away that you took out to make the sandwich before you sit down to eat it. Put the bread back, replace the perishables in the fridge, and put the utensils you used in the dishwasher and wipe off the counter. No evidence remains that you fixed a sandwich. This will help eliminate clutter around the home when you get in the habit of doing this in every room.

2. Don't set something down to deal with later. Later usually means clutter is starting to creep and piles are being made. When you have something in your hands, go ahead and deal with it then and there. Put it where it belongs. You may think it is simpler at the moment to set something down and deal with it later, but it just creates more work later. Get in the habit now of putting it away the second you're done with it. Teach your family members to do the same.

3. Every night plan on a nightly pick up that will take no more than 10 to 15 minutes. Things do get undone and left out and papers and magazines dropped where they were read and maybe the laundry is folded and sitting on the couch—you get the idea. Have family members help pick up before going to bed because then you won’t have a mess staring you in the face the next morning. This is doing clutter control a little at a time which makes the task easy.

4. Involve the family in learning to keep organized. The reality is that every member of the family plays an important role in maintaining an organized home. Hold a family meeting to decide as a family which responsibilities will be done by each family member.

5. When you are living with the things you love and use and that light you up keep it that way by making sure that everything you bring into your home has a purpose and that you need it or just can’t live without it. Clutter control can be possible if you can adopt the attitude of one in and one out. When you buy something, let something else go. This isn’t always possible to do if you are buying things you need and use but it is something to consider.

6. Keep a toolbox in a place where everyone knows not only where to go to get a tool, but where to go to put it back when they are finished with it. By keeping a toolbox handy, you'll have the correct tool for the job. It is much easier to pound a nail with a hammer than a shoe, or screw in a screw with a screwdriver rather than a butter knife (which scratches and bends your good knife). Get into the habit of putting the tools back in the tool box as soon as you finish with them.

Clutter Control will be effortless when you use these timely organizing tips and you will be able to Keep organized.

Marilyn's Bio:
Marilyn is a professional organizer who works with women and seniors in clearing clutter and providing organizing tips. Clearing clutter helps those she works with to have less stress in their lives and feel more joy in living.
Marilyn invites you to visit her website http://www.marilynbohn.com where you can find organizing solutions. You will find fun stories and free organizing tips in her blogs, articles and videos.

Marilyn is a creative organizer who helps women, seniors & their families to create space and end clutter in homes and offices by setting up custom made systems. Visit her website http://www.marilynbohn.com for free organizing tips.

How To Organize Bedroom Closets

Whether you have a standard closet or walk in, organizing your bedroom closets can be easily accomplished. It gives me a great sense of pride to open my closet and have everything organized and accessible.

Even if you have a small closet there are techniques that you use so you are using all the space you have available to your organizing advantage.

Take everything out of the closet and measure length, width and depth. The worst thing is to buy a product and it does not your space or your needs. Decide if you need more shelving space or hanging space. Make a layout of your closet and space in your needs. Now that you have decided what you need and what you want you are ready to start organizing your closet.

The first step to organizing your bedroom closet is to get rid of the clothes that you do not wear. Yes, you may love it but do you wear it, is the garment your style, does it fit? If you have answered no to any of these, then it is time to donate the garment. Make piles as you go through your clothes, donate or throw away. I personally donate all my clothes to Good Will.

When you put your clothes back into the closet, organize them so it will be easier for you to find items that you need. Hang all long sleeve shirts together by color and all short sleeve shirts by color. The same for pants.

There are add on clothing bars you can add into your closet or closet rods so that you can hang your shirts on one row and your pants below...saves a ton of space. You could also install shelving that doubles as a shelf and rod together increasing your shelf and bar space.

And for us short people an easy reach closet hook is great, no more standing on a stool to get what you want from your closet. Utilizing the higher space in your closet will increase your usable area.

I know that you are with me when I say all those little things in the closet drive you crazy! Belts and Ties slipping off the hangers is the worst. Invest in an inexpensive non slip tie and belt holder and not only will your bedroom closet be more organized but will lessen your aggravation level.

I know that most of us women, have more than 1 handbag, some lots more. There are also great ways to organize your handbags and still keep your bedroom closet organized.

OK, so I admit it, I am a shoe addict! I love shoes, heels, wedges, sandals, sneakers I have them all and then some. Hmmm now where to store than all and keep them organized.

You could keep them in their original boxes but then you can't see what's in each one unless you label them or use clear shoe boxes.
Depending on your space limitations, there are many ways to keep your shoes neat, orderly, organized and easily accessible.

Another option is to utilize under your bed as storage. By storing your shoes or other items under your bed, you will be freeing up space in your closet. This is a great option if you have a small closet or limited space.

I just have to say a word about hangers, it's a thing with me. I actually have colored hangers, blue to one son, green to another, black to husband. Plastic hangers or wood hangers with no slip pads are great. There are so many different types of hangers it's actually surprising. Wood, Plastic, Tiered, Pants, Shirts and the list goes on.....

Tiered Shirt and Slack hangers will save space in your closet by not using so many hangers.

Ann Cohen is a mom, wife, friend and caterer who love babies, "green", decorating and holiday's. Being able to entertain and decorate on a budget is important today and loves finding that "great deal." To get some more tips on how to's, green, organizing and saving money tips check out Organize Your Bedroom Closets and browse her selection.

Ann Cohen is a mom, wife, friend and caterer who love babies, "green", decorating and holiday's. Being able to entertain and decorate on a budget is important today and loves finding that "great deal."

Kitchen Organizers that Clear Cabinet Clutter

Are you tired of searching your kitchen cabinets and not being able to find anything? When you open a cabinet, are you flooded by an avalanche of cans, pans, or spices? These are some of the signs that tell you it’s time to organize your kitchen cabinets. The good news is that there are numerous solutions to help you address this problem.

Let’s start with the cabinets where you keep food, canned items, foils, wraps, and similar items. Get those cans out of the way with a three-tier can rack shelf that can hold up to 60 cans. It has an angled roll down rack — so when you remove one can, another rolls down to take its place.

Organize your plastic wrap, wax paper, aluminum foil, and freezer bags with an under shelf wrap wrack. This item clips to the underside of your cabinet shelf to keep all of these items in one place. You can also turn your shelf into a dual-level storage area with an additional kitchen cabinet drawer. With a drawer that slides out from underneath a wire shelf, this simple storage device doubles your cabinet space.

Okay, now it’s time to tackle the cabinets underneath your kitchen sink. You probably have sponges, cleaners, brushes, and other cleaning products scattered about in there. One thing that can help is a set of under sink sliding drawers, which are large enough to hold bottles, spray cans, and boxes as well as brushes and sponges.

If you want a storage system that perfectly fits your cabinet space, you should opt for an expandable under sink shelf. This shelving system has five removable rungs on each side, which allow you to customize the shelf to suit your specific storage area. You can also position the shelving trays to fit around your sink’s drainpipe if necessary.

You can’t forget about your pots and pans, which can swallow up cabinet space in a hurry. First, use a pot lid holder to organize the multiple lids you use to cover your pots and pans. This rack mounts to the inside of your cabinet door and holds up to five pot lids.

For more convenient access to your cookware, try an expandable chrome kitchen shelf. This product features a shelf that slides forward to make it easier to retrieve your pots and pans without digging through the back of a cabinet. If you want a storage system with flair, look for a Pan Tree (no, not a pantry)! This cylindrical plastic storage rack, which requires no tools for assembly, can organize up to 14 pieces of cookware so they are always within easy reach.

Wouldn’t it be nice to find the spice or seasoning you want quickly and easily? There are several spice storage solutions for you to choose from. Use a wire 3 tier spice rack to store seasoning containers on the inside wall of your cabinet. If you need something a bit less bulky, you can choose a spice clip set, featuring rows of plastic clips affixed to your cabinet wall to keep spices organized and uncluttered. Or you can select a more complete spice storage system like a spice stack. This three-tiered storage device holds up to sixty spices horizontally — but each shelf slides out and pivots downward for easy display and retrieval of all your seasonings.

Finally, let’s move over to the cabinets where you store your dishes and glassware. Again, there are lots of solutions that can help you get the most out of your storage space allotted for these items. Keep your wine, martini, and other drink glasses safe with either a stemware rack or a large stemware holder. Both of these racks are made of sturdy metal wiring with a chrome finish, and they mount easily to the top of the inside of any cabinet.

Instead of trying to stack your coffee mugs and risk breakage if the piles collapse, you should install a handy pull out mug caddy in your cabinet. This rack, which mounts to the underside of your cabinet shelf, has hooks for eight mugs and slides forward for easy access to all of them.

All of these creative, space-saving products will vastly improve your kitchen storage situation. Now you can save time by finding exactly what you need without rooting through all your cabinets looking for that can, pan, or spice. Not only will these organizers keep your items from falling out when you open cabinet doors, but they will also keep your kitchen looking clean and tidy.

Chris Martin is a freelance writer who writes about kitchen organizers.

Cleanup Is a Snap with these Kitchen Organizers

American kitchens are busy places. Today’s women spend on average over 1,000 hours a year in the kitchen, along with everyone from husbands to friends, teenagers and dinner guests. As a central hub of activity, kitchen organization is essential. Add to that the fact that kitchens often exemplify the excesses of American living, which inevitably leads to clutter. We have more dishes, pots and pans than we need. We purchase the newest kitchen gadgets in the hopes that, one day, we will have the need to make homemade bread, or freeze dry 200lbs of green beans. And when we think our kitchens have everything, we realize they lack the one feature we need the most — space! However, with a few helpful tips and some space saving kitchen organizers, your kitchen clutter woes will be a thing of the past.

Discard or Donate Seldom Used Products

When is the last time you used the food processor on top of the refrigerator, or the bag of pinto beans in the back of the cabinet? Donate food items you don’t need to can drives and charities, pass kitchen devices on to relatives who might actually use them, or have a yard sale.

Making your waste receptacles easy to access, and separating your recyclables is another great way to reduce clutter. How often do empty juice bottles sit on the counter, waiting for someone to take them to the recycling bin in the garage? Eliminate that aspect of clutter with stackable recycling bins. These recycling bins provide an economic, odor-reducing design for recyclables and trash. The bins’ lids are recessed slightly for easy stacking and condensing. The color-coded dials allow you to label the contents of each bin, and they fit beneath most counters for out-of-the-way storage.

Make Frequently Used Items More Accessible

Recognize what you use most often, and make those items easily accessible. Infrequently used items, like the roasting pan that you only use during Christmas and Thanksgiving, can go on high shelves or in the back of cabinets. They can even be stored outside the kitchen in the garage or attic. Store frequently used utensils together, separating stirring spoons and steak knives in easy to reach places, and put the melon baller and lemon zester in the far back of the drawer! Utilize drawer organizers to help separate utensils that are used frequently from the ones that are not. The same goes with pots and pans.

Free up Cabinet Space by Hanging Items and Utilizing Alternative Storage

Items like pots and pans can be hung underneath shelves and cabinets, freeing up cabinet space for other items. Organizers like a shelf pot rack keep kitchens clean and clutter-free in true restaurant style. These racks instantly free up cabinet space, offer easy access while cooking and look fantastic. Plus, these racks easily install into drywall, with no studs required, and are made of steel.

Other handy products like a xix-tier kitchen wall rack helps to relieve clutter on tables, counters and drawers. This rack has a slim, understated design, but the strong steel frame holds anything from cookbooks to cans of food. Standing 45-inches high, this rack provides great storage in a place where you might never think to utilize space.

Create Convenient Centers of Activity

Store related utensils, food items, and devices close to where they will be used. If you can successfully break your kitchen down into practical centers of activity, this will greatly assist you in reducing kitchen clutter. Whether you store foods in a pantry, cabinet, a closet, or someplace else entirely, don't forget to go through periodically and clear out items that are hopelessly old or will never be used.

Stacking and condensing items in this area can be very helpful. Items like a stackable roll down can rack saves space and organizes canned food and drinks on easy to access shelves for fast retrieval and restocking. The rack’s compact shelves will fit neatly in either your pantry or cabinet, and stack or separate for custom fits.

Your cooking area includes your stove, oven, and the utensils that go with them. Make sure to store pots and pans, pot holders, spoons and spatulas in this part of your kitchen. A great item for this area is the Pan Tree, which organizes up to 14 pieces of cookware, including six pans, four lids and a Dutch oven conveniently. The Pan Tree easily stores in a cabinet or on a countertop.
Kitchen organization can be a daunting task. Remember to pace yourself. Unless you are moving in, don’t try to organize your kitchen all at once. It will be much simpler to go drawer by drawer, shelf by shelf, reducing clutter and creating the ideal kitchen
Leslie Silver is a freelance writer who writes about kitchen organizers.