The calendar says Spring, but the temps and howling wind outside says it isn’t so. I do know though from how I am feeling that Spring is truly here since I have Spring fever… BAD!
When Spring rolls around I always get the overwhelming desire to purge, clean, and re-organize every nook and cranny in my house. It doesn’t happen often, so I try to get into action before I lose the desire.
Over the winter months things just seem to pile up. I have been trying to work on art for the powder room and my worktable and area in general were such a mess that I could not stay focused on my task. I just could not take it anymore. I had to stop and start cleaning things up before I started one more thing.
I started my clean-up and reorganizing by finding a way to make a scrapbook paper organizer for all the scrapbook and decorative papers I have. I used to keep them all in this drawer, but I have way too much now and it is impossible to find anything.
I dearly would love to have organizing racks that are made specifically for organizing scrapbook paper, but they only come in certain sizes. I want to put them under my work table, so I needed custom, but don’t have a custom budget for wood, plus I didn’t want to turn my organizing into a major DIY project. I wanted a thrifty custom way to make organizers to fit in the cabinet that could be done in an afternoon.
I found a way using cardboard boxes that I bought at The Container Store. The store just opened near me and I got to take a tour the day before the grand opening with a few other bloggers.
They carry everything you could ever think of to store and organize every item in your home, including all sorts and sizes of boxes. I bought 8 – 14″ x 14″ x 4″ cardboard boxes to make into stackable organizers for my work table cabinet. Cost $20.
I initially was thinking about using pizza boxes, but the pizza place near me only had boxes that were too big to fit in the cabinet or too small to hold 12″ x 12″ size scrapbook paper. The 14″ x 14″ boxes I found were wide enough to hold the paper and fit perfectly into the cabinet.
My cardboard paper storage may not be the prettiest, but since it is behind closed doors – I don’t mind or need perfection, just stacked organization for the paper so I can easily get to it immediately and find the desired color.
By finding a new home for the scrapbook paper, I now have a new place to store the rolls of gift wrap I have that don’t fit on my gift wrap wall organizer. I have a hard time passing up a $2.99 roll of pretty and colorful paper. Now they fit perfectly in the drawer right where I need them.
All the stuff that I was throwing into the cabinet before is now in baskets and storage boxes in my basement. I still need to label them, but will leave that for another day.
How to Make a Stacking Scrapbook Paper Organizer
supplies needed:
- 14″ x 14″ cardboard boxes
- Craft knife
- Straight edge
- Packaging tape
- Optional: Washi tapes
1. Fold box following the scored folds. Tape outside bottom and inside bottom.
2. Cut off one side and flap of box with a craft knife. Trim edges with scissors if necessary so you have nice clean edges.
3. Fold box tops on top of box and secure with tape.
4. I placed a cut piece of the box inside on the bottom of the box to go over the box flap in the back of the box. I also just like seeing white and since it was scrap, I figured I might as well put it to use.
5. Add Washi tape to all raw edges.
6. With some of the leftover cardboard, I made a shelf to go inside a few of the boxes. This gives me two divided sections in the box.
I am now much happier that I got my work table squared away. All the paper I have is now organized and easily accessible.
Now onto the next space. I think it is under my bathroom sink.
Sharing with: Living Well, Spending Less
*Check out my Organizing Archives to see how I keep order in the rest of my house.
Susan says
Love, Love, Love this idea. I must have 500 12 x 12 papers and this is a great way to store them.
Melanie says
What a great post! I have been away from scrapbooking for a while but this really inspires me to start back. Love all of the colorful paper!
Korinda says
Wow, that looks really good! I love organizing. I’m a bit jealous when I see all that colorful paper!
Lynn says
Also could have taken the box seam apart, reversed it and retaped or glued and have the white side on the inside. That’s what I would do as I, too, would rather see white, and have so much paper the extra layer of cardboard would cut into my storage!
Thanks for all your great ideas!
Cassidy White @ lifeoncasslane.blogspot.com says
What a great idea. I’ve been looking for a way to organize my scrapbook papers and every option seems to pricey… Thank you for the tip and easy solution!
Melissa L. says
Sorry! I just found your paper source in your “Hidden Chic” post–Homegoods and Marshalls!! I have seen the papers there before, not quite as many as the cute designs you have but I’ll have to check again:)
Melissa L. says
Diane,
cute and thrifty and easy and quick, as usual!! Where do you find those cute papers at $2.99 a roll? You have the greatest styles and colors. I especially would love the brown/kraft paper with the white polka dots. I am looking to paper the back of a traditional china cabinet to freshen it up and that would be perfect. But I either can’t find cute, or it costs a bundle! Thx!
Jhon Carter says
This is very nice Idea .. Thanks for Sharing…
[email protected] Interior Frugalista says
Hi Diane, your great DIY scrapbook organizers caught my eye over at the Link Party Palooza. Great idea and one I desperately need to apply in my office/craft room. I like all your pretty wrapping paper and how you’ve organized it too! Thanks for the inspiration.
Maria B says
Hi Diane, this is such a creative idea! Those boxes work perfect and I want to make this right now! I would love for you to link this up over at the Krafty Inspiration Party. Have a wonderful weekend from your newest feedly follower.
http://kraftycardsetc.com/2014/03/krafty-inspiration-thursday-party-34.html
Louise says
frugal, cute and efficient…..I love it!!
Jill says
Simple, inexpensive, practical and done! My favorite kind of project for organizing! Thanks for the great idea!
Unique says
wow Another great idea!
Marty Walden says
This is clever! Unfortunately (or fortunately if you’re me) my paper overflows! I’m seriously addicted to scrapbook paper. I love the colors and textures and just about everything! I’m in the middle of a craft room makeover and I found these amazing plastic file boxes (5″) and bought 15 of them. Like I said, I have a lot of paper! I was a scrapbooker before I was a DIY home blogger. I love your craft room and your pictures are always gorgeous, Diane!
Marsha says
You have given me an incentive to start making some boxes to store all kinds of paper. Thanks for your blog and your ideas.
Sheryll & Critters. says
I wish I was half as organized as your craft paper drawer is now…. or even was before….. lol. I am a wreck of a mess right now.
Your office looks so fabulous…. I am working on all your ideas in my head for now, but keep trying to get to a few.
Ellen says
Haha! I know you mean you are “NOW much happier” rather than “NOT much happier,” right?
Another great idea!
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
I think this worked out well for you, Diane! I remember when I realized I had just too much scrapbook papers to keep in one place. It is much easier for me to organize them by colorway. I bought those clear organizer drawer units for my craft/sewing room just for the scrapbook papers and then labeled them with the color. It makes it much easier for me to find the colors that I am looking for.
Rossana says
Magnifica idea