Scrapbook space...do you think storage/clutter stops you from scrapbooking?

I'm asking because before we moved from MN to AZ I could scrap all the time, and once moving here I haven't really wanted to do it as much as I used to. I originally thought it was because I didn't have a space and maybe that was one reason at one point. But honestly I don't believe that is the case for the last year and a half. I scrapbooked but my space was never right, it was so messy and the clutter (being able to see everything) made me really not even come in the office at all.

But the last couple of weeks since I completely took out all the old containers and table and put in more functional storage I can't wait to get to scrapbooking. I mean I am really trying to finish it before I start to work on projects. I am excited to have a desk again instead of a table. I honestly think that I have always been an organized drawer kinda girl. I hate to get rid of all the open type containers that I found during thrift store hunts and garage sells but honestly I'm so glad that they are not going to be in my space.

So do you think that a space can affect your mood enough to make you stop scrapbooking?

I always start with a tidy space. I love to organize and reorganize! I purge often because space is limited and I won't have anything overflowing or looking tacky. My craft space is also out in the open, ready for the world to see.

Oh heck yes. We live in a small apartment so I have to pull everything out of a closet when I want to use it - including my craft table and chair, and put it all back again at the end of the day. It is absolutely essential to have storage solutions that makes this easy, and I am constantly rearranging stuff when I decide that something is a pain in the butt. If it's a pain, I'm just not going to do it, which is also frustrating.

Yes & yes.

I currently do not have a designated space & basically have to scrapbook downstairs on the diningroom table.

Not only do I have to 'dig' out my supplies, but ever since moving here this summer, I still do not know where everything is.

It's a pain. A process. And more often than not, a total mojo killer.

runzalot81,
I think that being out in the open is also what made it hard to enjoy the space too. But I saved one drawer to be able to put a current project in.

I haven't purged since moving from MN. And honestly I did alot of purging then, even got rid of some of the stuff that I fully intended to keep (by accident) but I went through things during this project and weeded out things that I no longer wanted. Mostly papers that the girls could use and some supplies. They aren't really gone, but it did feel good to give it away to them.

I am now waiting on my stampin up order so that I move all my stamps to their stamp dvd cases instead of having 100 cd cases of stamps. This is the only thing that is going to be another major change in the look of my new desk.

I have so done the closet thing and the kitchen table. I can feel your pain. But that was the hardest to even think about scrapbooking through. I could have spent hours looking for something, and then just a little time scrapbooking before I had to put it all back. And because I was in an apartment, we couldn't really build anything either.

I bought an antique buffet that is exclusively used as scrapbooking storage. So, the two times a year we use the dining room, I can pack everything away and the buffet looks like it's part of the dining decor. I also repurposed an entertainment center designed for old tube TV. It's perfect for scrapbooking supplies! One of these days, I'll paint the furniture and give the space a nice shabby chic cottage feel, making my crafting look more decorative than disastrous. I have some photos in my gallery.

Even when I start with a clean room, within an hour, it's a mess again. Half the time, I have a hard, flat binder on my lap and use that to scrap on. I spend more time shopping, looking at videos, and organizing, than creating.

I have to start with a clean space. I try to pick up as I go, but before you know it it's a mess again. If I walk away mid project, it's hard for me to jump back in unless I kind of pick up and sort and start again.

I'm bad about when I buy new things, I stick them in one drawer till I get time to put them where they belong. I have to clean that drawer out every once and a while. It gets packed!

Yes, it definitely makes a difference. I am in a small apartment too and it's a challenge. Of course, my addiction to this site also cuts into my actual crafting quite a bit

I have to clean in between projects too but I think honestly I never felt like the space was clean because it was all still all out. I don't think I am a need to see it all kinda person. I hope that new storage can really make that feeling of not being able to scrap because I couldn't focus in such a cluttered and tight space. I hope to have much more of the space finished.

I went as far as to repaint my room to get me back into scraping after almost two years of not.

Seems like a lot of people stopped scrapping in that same time frame. No wonder some of the little stores had closed! We stopped!!!

Absolutely can agree with you on this. I have found that the way things are stored makes an enormous difference in actually using it.

I totally forgot I had templates until I created this
Template Album By CrimsonMama

And since I made labels I use my Distress Stains on every LO.
Distress Ink Bottles - completed project By CrimsonMama

And this is great, it keep s me from rummaging for small things. 60 pockets!
Waverly Storage Find By CrimsonMama

Oh yeah, clutter kills the mood for me. I make a huge mess when I'm creating and sometimes I don't clean up right away....especially if I finish a page late at night. I can't jump into another project unless I put everything back where it belongs so I can start fresh.

Just uploaded some pics of the space in progress. I am nearing the finish line but have gotta figure out how to get my vertical paper holders to fit inside of the expedite. Hubby cut one with the saw and lets just say it is one that I will have to replace. Men and powertools lol....

I dragged it all out of a closet originally. I finally told hubby we needed another bedroom (and deck) added to the house. It was only 40k later, but who is counting. I love the house and deck now. We'll also have the whole thing paid off in two months, so that little bit of guilt will be gone. Yes, for me a clean uncluttered space is everything.

Clutter and disorganization kills my mojo every time. Sadly, I don't have a lot of room to store things or to scrap. I find it very helpful to put every little thing away before starting a new layout. I seriously will put my scissors and pens back, even though I plan to use them on the next layout. There is something about a fresh, clean start that helps me tackle the next layout.

• scraplady4life Said:

I can't remember where I saw it but I saw that they are now making the vertical paper holders so that they fit in the expedit cubes because those cubes were so popular. So maybe if you have to replace some of them they will already fit for you.

• 950nancy Said:

This is what I tend to do & plan to do (the right way) this weekend. Our upstairs walk-in storage closet that serves as my scrapbook storage needs to be cleaned out & organized (the right way!)

- I need to unpack, label & organize all of my paper (after having moved).

- I need to find my ATC supplies.

- I need to find my border punches & my Fiskars templates.

- I need to buckle down & commit to finally hanging up my MM Embellishment Center. (I miss not having it!)

- Lastly, I think if I could empty out & neatly organize my main tools downstairs on the bookshelf & in our armoire, then I wouldn't be nearly as stressed (as I tend to feel when it comes to sitting down & trying to scrapbook without 'a real space').

Here are a couple of pics of my old (beloved) spaces.

As you may have guessed & as mentioned, now I just feel totally homeless.

Corner Scraproom (2009-2012)

{Scraproom 2011} By KellyCali

{Scraproom 2011} By KellyCali

(Walk-in Scrapbook Closet 2006-2009)

28-Day By KellyCali

28-Day By KellyCali

Yes. My old desk had so much stored it was a tower of mismatched furniture. Now with my simplistic table and everything else tucked away in the closet (see my gallery for further explanation) I feel so much happier being in there and have been getting a lot more done!

We are currently having a "scrapbook yard sale" at my local sb store. I cleaned up my office not to long ago and once again for this event. I love it but I know that it won't last long I don't like to put things away because it ruins my train of thought. I don't like all the baskets and clutter that I have and am always looking for different ways to store things. Right now I am on the hunt for a place to put all my stickers that I currently have stacked up in a basket on my scrapbook table area.

• cdsqueen Said:

(Depending on how many you have), have you ever thought about or tried using binders?

You can file them according to either theme or product.

I have one of those purple and black binders but it doesn't fit anywhere plus I'm the type that likes things out for viewing/clutter pleasure

I went with a binder system too for my stickers. I loved it because you could turn the page and see what you had. I believe that binder system was also a cropper hopper product too, it had divided pockets and all that for different sticker sheets. But since the move I store my stickers in a turquoise bin on my desk using the sticker keeper pockets. I sort them by color and by theme. I don't have many themed stickers most of the ones that I have are letter stickers.

organization is the key to a happy scrapping area. i know i want to redo my whole storage system but don't have any idea how to.

on the SCrapRack site i saw these pages called Flip its or something like that I'l love to get some to organize my cards and cards in progress.

oh well.

Yes, yes and yes!
Similar to most others here, I guess....I clean up after each project and can't scrap if there's a mess (I make quite a mess when I scrap, tho)
I purge 1-2 times per year....I sell stuff in LSS yard sale and/or donate to our local children's hospital.

I NEED to organize so everything in my space is organized and labelled...
I keep my most used items close to the desk area and then I have an Expedit bookcase for storage and another bookcase that I store all my stuff on....

Alison

For those of you looking for a binder system....
I wanted something to store my tags in (yes, I have a lot of them with different themes!) and decided to use stuff I had on hand.....
The TH pocket pages fit inside the Bazzill chipboard albums (so do the QuicKutz ones) so I decorated the front with some pretty patterned paper and labelled all the pockets inside and voila!
I have a perfect little binder that sits on the shelf of my bookcase labelled, "TAGS".....
and it cost less than some of the other systems!

Alison

I think I must be the odd scrapper out here, lol. Although about once a month or so, I do a major clean in my room and put everything in it's place, once I start a project my room and scrap table become a total wreck and I just work through the chaos until the next cleaning spree. The chaos doesn't bother me, but once it gets to the point that I'm afraid of a major avalanche, then I clean it up, lol.

I have to keep my space tidy because I use the same table for scrapbooking and for writing. I keep all my paper in those Cropper Hopper things (like magazine holders but sized for 12x12 paper), my kits in a couple of the 12x12 (or slightly larger) priority mail boxes they came in, my stickers and die cuts in binders, and odds and ends in a couple of plastic drawer units. I've found that when I have to put everything away when I'm done, I actually get more done because there's room on the table to work.

I love what you are doing with your scrap room. I'm sure once you are finish you will be inspired to create. I love an orderly scraproom and everything has a place and things must go back. I use sticker stands to keep my area organized and nest, I must see what I have. I also purchased a black high boy that fits my 12 x 12 paper and I love hiding my finished LOs in it. I have a small one and 1 tall one, I'd love to add another one. I recently tweaked it , but adding a big sticker stand that holds a lot! Pictures of my room are in my Gallery, Good luck with your room.

If I am in the middle of a short-term project (this week it's a mini album for my bonus mom's birthday), I never tidy up, with the exception of cleaning up scraps that mysteriously jump off my desk to the floor. I leave out the paints and inks and piles I'm using because if I move anything or put it away, I am likely to forget it had a purpose in the current project. If I'm just scrapbooking pages that go into my album, I clean up the end of every day.

I have a designated space in the corner of our bedroom with storage that started out being sufficient and is now bursting at the seams....the longer you scrap, the more you have, and the more you have, the more you need, right?

I totaly think space affects the mood. Before I got married I lived with my parents and had a big bedroom. I had my dad build me custom shelves in my room and turned it into a scrapbooking paradise. When I got married, my hubby and I moved into a small appartment. For a long time all of my scrap goodies were stored away. If I wanted to scrap it turned into a big thing, pulling out everything , not finding what I needed,and then the clean up after was just not worth it! My hubby let me take over the closet in our hallway- it is not huge but I was able to take down the bar and put in jetmax cubes. Now that I have everything organized I am a scrapaholic lol.

Well, it (literally) took me all day (from 9am - 5pm) to clean out my scrapbooking closet, but I'm happy to report that it's not only clean, but organized!

Thank You for this thread & topic. It gave me just the push & inspiration I needed to finally set aside some time & get it done!

{Scrap Space 2013} By KellyCali

I love your room!, I am currently trying to organize my space. Thanks for the inspiration!

My scrap room is currently a closet. As in, everything is in a closet and when I want to use it I go rummaging. Hoping to set something up in my new living space when I move in August. We shall see!

If I did I'd e in big trouble and never get anything done

• chocolateaxel Said:

Ok I've now met my sister, I'm the most messy scrapper in the world and like you scrap until it overwhelms me then I clean up. I'm in the middle of a big clean up right now.....and I can't find anything I've been moving stuff and reorganizing.

Absolutely. My area has finally hit a critical point where the amount of supplies I have is excessive and between too many options and clutter, I can't get much done. My idea of clean is merely enough space to get things done but I can't even get to that level lately. I literally need to put my cutting board on my lap and use that as a flat space. It has definitely affected my scrapping.