If you are like me, you can't resist a good roll of washi tape!  I have been collecting these over the past five years and now my challenge has been how to organize them.  See how I have handled my growth spurt here:

Check out my second youtube video in a series of craft storage and organization ideas!

You have probably heard me talk about wanting to make a youtube video.  While I do not think I have ultimate wisdom to share, my goal is that viewers might be able to pick up a tip here or there to help them or inspire them in their crafting journey.  Below is the first in an upcoming series of storage ideas.  Hopefully, I will learn along the way and the level of recording gets better!  Thanks for watching!

About a year ago, Stampin' Up! changed the packaging for stamp sets so now the cases all stack up neatly! Love the new organized look!  If it is a retired set in an old box, I am motivated to sell them now that they don't look as organized...even though they stamp just the same.  My retired sale is coming:  September 12!

Stamps come in three sizes of cases:  full size for wood mount, half size for wood mount, and dvd size for clear stamps.  So, this summer, I decided to convert all my old cases to new.  Here's how:

STEP 1:  Order the new cases which come in packs of 4. You can order them here. 

STEP 2:  Print out covers for your new cases customized with name of stamp set and number of stamps included.  Stampin' Up! made it easy for us by creating these templates:

How many of you receive a card in the mail, read it with a smile, and then throw it straight into the trash? Over the years, I have found myself doing this, mainly because I have been running out of a convenient way to store them.  I used to throw them in a large wood keepsake box, but the box was turning into to nothing more than cards, and I wanted space for other keepsakes.

So I trudged to Michaels.  I actually found a possible solution located high up on a shelf that looked big enough for even those oversized cards.  I couldn't find any at eye level, and, as usual, there was no worker in sight to help me. So with two toddlers in tow, I decided to scale the wall to get them down.  They looked perfect, but had no price tag, so I took them up to the register to ask.  She rang them up at 8.99 each and then as I proceeded to check out, I was told my 40% off coupon didn't work because they were already on sale.  So, I naturally inquired, "how much are they regularly (in case I needed more in the future)?"  She didn't know and was about to go find out elsewhere.  Again, with two toddlers in tow, I told her not to worry about it.  Have I mentioned how much I dislike Michaels? 

I got them home and was able to file all of my cards received separated by sender with the included dividers  Love it!  Now getting cards might even be as much fun as sending them-now that I have a place to immediately put them, rather than debating whether or not they are worthy of being saved!       

As with every new year, we all seem to be motivated more than normal to get organized.  This holiday break afforded me the time to make a trip to IKEA, the Container Store, and Archiver's (which sadly just announced it is closing). 

First at IKEA, I wanted to tackle organizing my boys' desk area.  Markers always seem to be all over the place, so I figured this might be the only solution.  I got my hands on the last three silver cups to hang on the mounted rod, all for $25.  So far so good.   Also at IKEA, I found this wire mesh cart for $14.99.  It's a perfect storage space for my Stampin' Up! catalogs: the annual catalogs on top, the mini and Sale-a-bration in the middle, and order forms in the bottom. 

At the Container Store, I found all sorts of storage solutions for the house, but for my craft room I was able to find a medium 4 sort divider to prevent piling all my trimmers on top of each other. 

And lastly at Archiver's, I got the idea for the 2 wall hanging trays, where I bought a pack of school-themed paper to go in each of the 12 squares.  My plan is to display the boys' school pictures, grades 1-12, in each space (And no, my oldest is not in kindergarten yet!).  My husband gives me a hard time for planning this far ahead.  But hey, better early than late!  

Bring on 2014!