So you have decided to start scrapbooking. This is such an exciting time! You have done the research, watched some of our tutorials, gone out and purchased everything you think you could possibly need and are now ready to get started on that first project. The problem is there is no room left to actually do the work because your supplies are everywhere! A good idea for scrapbooking is getting organized.

To make sure you have enough room for you, the most important one, you need to take extra steps to get your stuff organized. In the long run, it will save you time, leaving you free to work, get inspired, be creative and of course, do more shopping.

The first thing you will need is storage containers to put all of your scrapbooking supplies in. You can find all kinds of different containers at your local scrapbooking store, craft store, and sewing store. Make sure to check out your local hardware store as well. You can find great containers in the tool box section and even in the fishing/tackle box area.

Another source for great containers is your own home. Jars of all sizes come in handy as do small boxes, bowls and even baby bottles. You can also use old jewelry boxes, tool boxes, and tackle boxes. Anything that will help separate bits and pieces and is easy to get into will work so be creative and let us and others know what you have come up with.

Now that you have that done, next on the list is shelves. As we already discussed, you will have many different shapes and sizes of containers containing all of your odds and ends for scrapbooking, but if you don’t have shelves to put them on then they will still be all over the place using up your precious work space. Make sure your shelves are sturdy or you will not be able to put much on them. As you start out, you may not have very much in the way of supplies but trust me they will be overflowing in no time.

Many of us like to get together at a friend’s house for scrapbooking, and lots of times the local scrapbooking store will have monthly meetings or give how-to classes that you would like to attend. If you think you would like to take your scrapbooking supplies with you when you leave the house then you will want an easy way to do that. You do not want to be leaving a trail of your prized materials behind you as you go. Also remember to take just what you need. I know that is hard to do sometimes.

Again, check out the scrapbooking stores, craft stores or sewing centers for a large enough bag to hold everything you will want to take. Get creative with a tackle box or knitting bag. Try to label everything you take with you, especially your tools, so that they do not get mixed up with anyone else’s.

One of the best ideas for scrapbooking supplies that we came up with is one of the newer tackle boxes with the soft sides and the plastic divided containers that fit snug inside. They usually fit 4 or 5 containers and also have pockets on the outside. We purchased extra containers and just set them up on our shelves at home. When we want to take our stuff with us, we just grab the ones that you need, put them in the tackle box and away we go.

We cannot say it enough. The best idea when it comes to scrapbooking is getting organized, and the most important thing to know when it comes to staying organized is to pick a system that works for you and stick with it. Color, sizes, themes, patterns; it doesn’t matter how. All that really matters is that it works for you, that it is organized in a way that you can easily find what you are looking for and that it gives you that all important space you need to be your creative self.