Organize and Use your paper Scraps

Organize and Use Your Paper Scraps
It’s only inevitable that if you are a scrapper than you will have tons of scraps!
Now for my story. When I first started out I didn’t see any point in keeping those scraps and usually when I ended my scrapping session those scraps went right into the trash. I finally seen how I was using up tons of new cardstock and paper and decided that I should try and keep my scraps and see if I could save me a few more bucks. For a while it was great, and I just kept them in a gallon zip lock baggie. Then the one baggie turned into 2 and then the baggies finally turned into folders and then it was throw them in the big box. Now it was such a mess to just find one piece of paper I wanted that I turned back to my old habits of just getting another sheet of paper out, hence the cycle continues, more paper, more scraps. Finally it was inevitable that something be done with all those scraps, so I turned to organization ideas for scraps and came out with some great ideas that I would definitely like to pass along to all of you. Basically its sort, store and use, use and use. If you have organization and find them readily you will use your scraps. So here are a few ideas to get you started at using up your scraps by making them readily available for just that.

How to Sort and Organize Your ScrapsThe first step is to set aside a block of time so that you can finish your paper scraps organization project and have everything cleaned up and put away in one sitting. If you walk away, you'll end up with little pieces of paper flying around the room, and scraps of paper all over the floor.
Begin the process by sorting your paper scraps into piles. Create a pile for each color, and separate colors into piles of solids and patterns. Also separate textured and specialty papers into their own piles by color, as these are often used for different purposes and you'll want to find them easily. I usually just sit on the floor and create different piles for each colors. I don’t separate light colors and darks, such as like pink and dark pink, I just put them all in one category.

How to Store Your ScrapsIf you are a scrapper that doesn't have a lot of scraps, then an accordion file will probably work best for you. Find one that has index tabs so that you can easily identify at a glance where each color is stored. You can either write the color on a tab or simply cut a piece of paper in each color to place in the tabs.
For a larger scrap collection, try vertical hanging files in a file drawer. With this method you can have multiple files for each color and expand your storage files as your scrap collection grows. Another handy solution is to use poly envelopes for each color and store them on a shelf.
There are other ways to store your scraps. Those nice little clear colored storage trays work great. Or some people do shoe boxes. These are all fine; just make sure you label it somehow with the colors for easy choosing.
***For Shoe boxes try decorating the fronts with the color of your papers. Makes a great and easy way to store paper scraps.

Organization of all those scraps can be very trying, but I am here to tell you if you start with some kind of organization and keep up with it, you will be scrapping much more easily than just throwing them in a big box. Take it from me with that kind of storage all you do is cut up more paper or fumble through the whole mess looking for a certain piece of cardstock. Remember like everything organiztion is the key to success and believe me one less headache!