If you’ve been following my blog for a while you’ll know that I like to get full use of my craft supplies and tools. As a crafter I have come to realise that the only way to do this is to be organised. I’m still using the same card scraps solution I designed 4 or 5 years ago, and everything still fits into one biscuit tin. This week though I decided I had to tackle my Paper Pumpkin pile up.

47 BOX PILE UP!

This is where I started the day, with a 47 box Paper Pumpkin pile up. All the kits were made but these boxes are full of the leftover pieces.

Every month when I get my kit I always open it and make at least some of the projects. Sometimes though I run out of time, or there are more of a particular thing than I want to make at that time. Sometimes though the kit simply includes lots of extra pieces that you don’t need to complete the projects. Once I’m done I then put all the unused pieces back in the box and put the box on a shelf. The theory was that I’d use the pieces at a later date on other projects.

Before the boxes had the kit name printed on the end, I even wrote the name on so I’d be able to see each kit at a glance. When I wanted something I simply had to pull out the appropriate kit and the leftovers would be right there. Well it was an idea, however as time has proven, not a very good one. The problem was over the years I’ve forgotten what each kit was about and what pieces I had leftover. So I never went to them when I was creating. What a waste!

Now I have 47 boxes and have run out of shelf space. I thought I’d store them in a couple of large boxes, but I had too many to fit them all in. Instead of reorganising a couple of shelves I ended up with a pile up in the middle of my craft room floor. There had to be a better way, and then and there I decided to find it!

STORAGE SOLUTION RIGHT THERE

As I looked at the pile of boxes I realised Stampin’ Up! had already provided me with the storage solution. All I had to do was organise the boxes more efficiently.

With no adhesive used to create them, Paper Pumpkin boxes are so easy to deconstruct. To start I took some of the boxes and opened them up by lifting the side flaps on the inside. Then I opened them out completely and flipped them over. Next I folded each of the creases in the opposite direction and finally reassembled the boxes inside out. Now all the boxes looked the same.

Starting with a few brown boxes on the table I began by sorting out the contents I’d taken out of them. Into one box I put any ribbon, twine or thread. Into another I placed embellishments. I used another box to collect adhesives, and so on. If I decided I needed another category, I simply turned another box inside out and continued on.

It took me a while, but in the end I had gone through all 47 boxes. With the categories I had chosen I ended up with all the leftovers stored in 18 boxes. That makes a huge difference in terms of storage, and is so much more manageable.

FROM PILE UP TO PROJECT PIECES

Now instead of two large and overflowing boxes of partial Paper Pumpkin kits, I have a system that works.

You can see how I categorised my new boxes of kit leftovers. These were the categories that made sense to me. Now I can easily find what I might need for a project. It’s already proven a successful organisation solution in my craft room and might just help you deal with your own Paper Pumpkin pile up.

The trick to organising the craft room is to be able to put your hands on something as soon as you need it. It’s no good knowing you have something if you can’t find it. You’ll simply give up looking (or not even start) and buy more, or use something that wasn’t really what you’d planned. So now I know exactly what is in each box, I’ll be more likely to use the exclusive items received in my Paper Pumpkin kits.

PAPER PUMPKIN SUBSCRIPTION

Every Paper Pumpkin kit contains all the prepared pieces and instructions for a fun crafting experience. Also included in the box is an exclusive photopolymer stamp set and mini ink spot. If you’ve never subscribed before you’ll also find an acrylic block included to get you started.

When you subscribe to Paper Pumpkin there is no minimum subscription period. You are free to skip months if you wish or cancel altogether with no penalty.

Although the project each month is supposed to be a surprise (think of it like having Christmas 12 times a year!), we do get hints. I always pass on what I know to my customers so that they can make their decision whether to try the kit or skip it. Paper Pumpkin guarantees your satisfaction so if you don’t like the kit when it arrives, just let me know or contact Stampin’ Up! direct. Why not give it a try and subscribe to Paper Pumpkin today.

CARD SCRAPS STORAGE SOLUTION

I mentioned earlier that I’m still using the same storage solution I designed for my cards scraps. I keep quite small pieces but even so, everything I have still fits in a biscuit tin.

Do you have a craft organisation issue to resolve? Let me know and let’s see if I can help.