Creative Chat - Organizing Patterned Paper

Hi all and welcome to this month's MFT Design Team Creative Chat.  Today, we are chatting about organizing patterned paper.  If you'd like to see the rest of the team members' organization methods, please be sure to click over to the MFT Blog to check out the list of participants.

Before I get in to my organization, how about a little dose of "keeping it real".  We all know that stamp rooms get messy.  More often than not, mine is in a state of disarray.  Like right now for example.  Here is a "real time" shot of my desk.  I have piles of new 6 X 6 patterned paper pads sitting on my desk like this.... with no rhyme or reason.  

And here is another pile.... and to be honest... this is kind of NEAT.  LOL 

I buy primarily 6 X 6 patterned paper pads.  They are perfect for card making, have scaled down patterns, and are cute as a button.  I have quite the stash and I found they fit perfectly in a plastic storage drawer system I bought at Walmart some time ago.  I have 3 drawers full, and am precariously bordering on needing a 4th... LOL (where ever am I going to put my western stamps?  LOL)

In one drawer I have Basic Grey (which I alphabetized by collection name), in another I have mostly My Mind's Eye, and in the 3rd, it's a mix of other companies.

For me, the location of my 6 X 6 patterned paper pads is important.  I don't want to have to get up out of chair and hunt for paper.  Here, you can see that I just have to swivel around from my work space and open my drawers to choose my patterned paper.  I like to have my most-used tools and supplies within reach of my swiveling chair.  

Nearby, I have several larger drawers that house my limited collection of 12 X 12 patterned paper.  I have them sorted by company so I can easily find what I am looking for: Echo Park, Pink Paislee, misc, My Mind's Eye, Girls Paperie (now out of business), Basic Grey, and October Afternoon.

I also have a drawer for my October Afternoon 8 X 8 pads since they won't fit in my other drawers.

Some of the 6 X 6 patterned paper pads fall apart the first time you try to rip a sheet out of them.  *grumble grumble*  I have found that inexpensive binder clips like this work to keep all the bits and pieces contained. (binder clips are from Staples - 12 for $1)

One last tip I want to share with you is color matching your Copic markers to your patterned papers.  When I use the patterned paper pad for the first time, I grab my Copic color chart and color match the papers.  I write them all down on the cover of the patterned paper pad.  This way, next time I use the paper, I can just grab the coordinating markers and not have to start from scratch each time.  I grabbed some from my desk that I have done this with to show you.  

I hope you enjoyed the peek into my stamp room (and patterned paper addiction LOL).  


See you TOMORROW for the start of My Favorite Things TEASER TIME!


Psst - I hear there is an ANNOUNCEMENT over on the MFT Blog.  There is a new designer joining the MFT Design Team.  Head on over to welcome our new teammate.