Scrapbook Organization 101

Are You Ready?
You can't wait to document your memories and have some fun with creative and colorful layouts. But before you head out to buy your papers, tools and accessories, think about what you will do with all of your purchases when you return home.

By taking some time up front to plan for the organization and storage of your scrapbooking materials and supplies, you will have much more time to spend on your new hobby. You will also avoid the frustration of looking for lost items, and help prevent damage to a growing inventory of scrapbooking supplies.

Location, Location, Location
The first thing to consider is where in your home you will locate scrapbook supplies and work on your new hobby. A separate room or portion of a room with dedicated shelving and workspace is ideal, as works in progress can be left out in the open.

If that isn't an option, survey open spaces in your home for a low-traffic area. Create a temporary workspace using a craft table or card table. Store supplies in portable units that can be moved to and from more permanent storage space, such as a closet.

When no other space is available, an open dining room table works well. Again, supplies can be transported to and from the table during scrapbooking sessions.

Whatever location you choose, be sure that there is adequate lighting with ceiling fixtures or task-type floor lamps that you can adjust as needed. Scrapbooking often takes place in the evenings, after everyone else in the house is off to bed.

Organizing at Home
With your scrapbooking station decided, you'll next need to look at organizing that ever-growing collection of supplies. Sort your materials into basic categories, such as Albums, Photos, Pages-in-Progress, Papers, Accessories, Embellishments, and Other Supplies.

Albums — Albums are best stored upright on shelving, preferably in a closet or an area without direct sunlight and where the temperature remains near 65° to 70° Fahrenheit. Place them high enough so they are out of reach of curious little (and sometimes sticky) hands. Also, keep them away from walls containing water pipes, away from heat sources such as fireplaces, and in an area that stays near a 50% relative humidity level.

Photos — Even if you have years' worth of photos stacked into a box or drawer, there is hope for getting them organized. First, don't panic. It took years to collect these stacks of photos; don't expect to organize them all in one day!

Starting with the most recent photos you have, remove the photos from their developing envelopes (most are not archival quality). As you take the photos out, throw away any that are out of focus or unnecessary duplicates. If you want to document names, dates and/or location information, be sure to use a pen or pencil designed for writing on the backs of photos. Regular pens can scratch or leave impressions and over time the ink can bleed through to the front of photographs.

Select the photos you may want to include on scrapbook pages. Photo envelopes (such as Retrospect #89582) are useful for keeping these photographs together until you are ready to plan the individual scrapbook pages or layouts. If there is a chance you will forget the dates of the photo events make a note to yourself on photo-safe paper and store it with the photos in the envelope.

For long-term storage of photos that you do not want to include in a scrapbook, a collection of small, multi-pocket expanding files (such as Retrospect #70970 Expanding Photo Organizer) works very well. Each pocket can be labeled with the appropriate event title or time period of the enclosed photos. As with albums, it is important for photos to be stored in an area that remains between 65° and 70° Fahrenheit and retains a relative humidity level of about 50%. If possible, also keep the photos away from light, direct heat sources and water pipes.

It is highly recommended that you keep your negatives separate from stored photos, in case of fire or other catastrophic damage. Place negatives in a separate, labeled Expanding Photo Organizer and store them in a fire-safe box in your home or safety deposit box at a bank.

Pages-in-Progress — Rome wasn't built in a day, and most scrapbook pages aren't built in a day, either! Chances are you have a photo or paper that you want to base a page on, but you need to do some thinking and shopping before you assemble your new page. Products designed for pages-in-progress (such as Retrospect #85792 Page ManagersTM) are an ideal way to keep your page parts together before you are ready to assemble. These products fit into a hanging folder system, and can also be used with expanding organizers, totes and scrapbook caddies.

Papers — Most cardstock and background papers can be organized by color groupings, such as Light Blues, Dark Blues, etc. A large library of specialty papers can also be organized by theme, such as Baby, Birthday, Travel, etc. If you have the space, a hanging folder system is an ideal way to organize and protect papers in a home filing system. Retrospect folders and pockets are available for both 8-1/2" x 11" and 12" x 12" size papers. (Retrospect #64494 Hanging Folders for 12" x 12" papers will fit into systems that incorporate legal-size hanging folder rods and have at least 13-1/2" vertical clearance.)

Portable expanding organizers for paper (such as Retrospect #70974) are also easy to pull out when you need to use them and tuck back into a closet or on a shelf when they need to be out of the way. Note: it is a good idea to take an extra folder with you to the store when shopping for new papers. You will have a safe way to get your newly purchased papers home and added to your home filing system. (Retrospect #85790 Paper Savers and #76415 Paper Pockets both work very will for this purpose.)

Accessories — Accessories such as stickers, borders, scraps, and die cuts can be organized along with theme papers by adding an Adhesive Pocket (Retrospect #68111) to your hanging folders or storage folders. They can also be organized in products designed for pages in progress (Retrospect #85792) or in portable expanding organizers designed specifically to hold stickers and accessories (Retrospect #70971 & 70980).

Embellishments & Other Supplies — Storage for embellishments and other supplies such as tools, cutters, punches, photo corners, markers and pens will depend on the quantity of supplies you keep. Starting out, many people find that poly envelopes are all they need (Retrospect #89581 & #89582). As your collection grows, a make-up caddy, toolbox or tackle box works nicely. Over time, you can expand to additional containers, keeping groupings of similar items together.

Good to Go
For many people, scrapbooking is a social activity and they often leave home to attend "crops" and workshops. Instead of bringing all of your supplies with you, you can travel lighter by being organized and planning ahead.

Determine which project you will be working on and bring along only the things necessary for that current project. If your home system is based on hanging folders, select the folders or pockets from their hanging folder locations and transport them in an expanding organizer or tote (such as Retrospect #70972 & 71582).

It's also a good idea to find out what supplies and tools are available at your destination so you can leave duplicate items at home. This lightens your load and reduces the chance of losing supplies or tools. Additionally, be sure to ID tools, supplies and containers with your name to avoid any confusion as to which belongs to you.

By organizing your scrapbooking materials and ensuring that they are protected, you will have more time to spend on the real fun: creating a memorable history that will be enjoyed and treasured for years to come.

Louise Kurzeka has been working in the field of organization since 1992 and is co-founder of Everything's Together®. Her business has helped hundreds of business and resident clients overcome the challenges of clutter and disorganization. Through her popular seminars and presentations, Louise has shared her secrets with thousands of individuals interested in developing and improving their organizational skills. A frequent TV and radio guest, she can be seen regularly on HGTV's TIPical Mary Ellen Show. Louise is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and a Founding Member of the Minnesota Chapter of NAPO.