Getting Organized: Avery Elle Stamp Pockets

Hello, Memory Bound friends!
I don't know about you, but the start of a new year always makes me want to get organized. (February still counts as the start of a new year, right?) So I've been tackling a number of areas in my household, including my craft area, trying to rid out the items I no longer need and devise storage solutions that will work for me now and into the future.

One of my favorite recent projects was re-organizing my acrylic and cling stamps. Like many other crafters, I decided to move my stamps into the Avery Elle Stamp Pockets. We first blogged about this product last year. It has taken me awhile to get to this project, but it was well worth the wait!

Here's a look at the BEFORE and AFTER of my stamp situation!

Previously I had some of my acrylic stamps stored in CD cases. Over time, this didn't work out so well. Many of today's stamp sets are much too large for CD cases. I also found that some stamps stick like CEMENT to the plastic! :( Suffice it to say this system was definitely not working for me, so I also had stamps stored in various other places. Long story short...my stamps were scattered all about, making it hard to remember (and even harder to find!) what I had. As a result, I wasn't using my stamps as often as I wanted.

 I first learned about stamp pockets on Jennifer McGuire's blog and the beauty of her system brought a tear to my eye! :) See her video HERE.

Here's what Jennifer's system looks like. Wow, how clean and beautiful!

 So I jumped into this project head first! I removed my stamps from the CD cases. Some stuck so much that THEY ACTUALLY BROKE THE PLASTIC trying to remove them. Not good! I also had stamps stored in other bins and boxes and set aside a few sets I no longer need to sell in the next Memory Bound Garage Sale (planned for April...watch for details).

I needed to replace the plastic on a few sets, so I purchased 12x12 sheets of transparency at Memory Bound and cut them down to fit the stamp pockets. It's easy to slide the sheet in and out of the pocket.

 I made labels for the pockets using Word. (You could do this with a label maker, too, of course.) I cut them out and adhered them to the top of each pocket. Labeling stuff makes me very happy! :)

 

Here's what the stamp pockets look like when filled. Be still my heart! :)

Following Jennifer McGuire's recommendation, I slipped a piece of white cardstock into each pocket for extra stability. It also helps the whole system look a bit neater.  

Jennifer uses Fridge Binz to store her stamps, but I wanted something a bit more decorative to match my craft space. Luckily I found a basket at Target that was just the perfect size for the pockets and just the right depth for the cube where I plan to store them. It was big enough to accommodate my larger stamp sets at the back. I made a label for the front using my Big Shot.

This new system makes me super happy! If you are looking for a new way to organize your stamps, I would highly recommend the Avery Elle Stamp Pockets. Stop in or give us a call at (515) 965-1102!

 Happy organizing!

 Janet

Get Inspired and Organized!

Hello, Memory Bound friends!

Are you ready for some organizational inspiration? Take a peek inside Tammy Tutterow's studio in this wonderfully detailed video. Tammy is a designer and instructor for a number of manufacturers, including Tim Holtz, Ranger, and Sizzix. You can visit her blog HERE.

 If you love vintage storage options, you'll love Tammy's studio! Tammy has tons of ideas which are both functional AND inspirational and would work in any type of crafting space. So grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and get inspired by Tammy's creative space!

Janet

Stamp & Die Storage Idea

Hello, Memory Bound friends!

Every January, I get hit with a BUG...the Organizing Bug, that is! Everything is fair game...closets, drawers, shelves, and especially crafting supplies! So naturally I'm excited about the new Avery Elle Stamp Storage Pockets we are now carrying at Memory Bound. This new product could be the perfect cure for the Organizing Bug! (Many customers agree, because our first batch already sold out! But more are on the way!)

Our staff member Jennifer was recently looking for a way to organize her stamps sets and came across the Avery Elle Stamp Storage Pockets on the blog of Jennifer McGuire, a design team member for Hero Arts, one of our favorite companies. Jennifer has now organized all of her stamps this way and loves the new system! These clear plastic sleeves are sturdy and can stand in an open-top container. And they're very affordable at just $8.99 for 25 sleeves!

Here's some information from Avery Elle about this great new product:  

The Avery Elle Stamp Storage Pockets are clear, transparent plastic and contain twenty five (25) pockets per pack! Each pocket will fit one standard approx 4" x 6" clear stamp set or two approx 4" x 3" clear stamp sets. Store the pockets in a CD/DVD storage basket, refrigerator bin, or clip them up if you wish! Not only are these pockets fantastic for clear stamp storage, but can work great with cling stamps as well. Each pocket measures approx 5.63" x 7.38" and includes a flap that tucks in to keep your stamps secure in the pocket. 

  

Our staff member Maggie has now organized her stamps in the envelopes, too. She loves them!

Give us a call at (515) 965-1102 if you'd like us to hold a set or two for you when they are back in stock! 

Thanks for the great idea, Jennifer! 

Happy organizing, everyone!

Janet

Dawn's Scrap Room - Part 6

 Hello, Memory Bound friends!
Dawn has been hard at work on her new scrap room this summer, and we've all enjoyed watching her progress! (Click HERE to see our last post in the series.) Many of us have been wondering how Dawn utilized the wonderful double closet in the room, and now we have pictures! :)

 Lucky for Dawn, her closet was already outfitted with wire shelving. She decided to move many of her plastic drawers and containers onto the closet shelving. As you can see in the photos below, now that she is all organized, Dawn has plenty of additional space left for more supplies!

 One of the challenges with wire shelving is that smaller items sometimes tip over. As you can see on the shelf with the albums, Dawn solved this problem by placing a sheet of chipboard on the shelf. (You can also buy huge,1/8" thick acrylic sheets at the hardware store and have them cut to fit your shelves.)

 One of the most important things you can do when organizing your space is to LABEL, LABEL, LABEL everything! This makes it 97% more likely (OK, I'm just making up that statistic but I'm sure it's true!) for your stuff to be put back where it belongs! :)

As you can see, Dawn labeled everything! This makes crafting both fun AND efficient!

 

 

 

Thanks, Dawn, for giving us a peek inside your awesome closet space! We hope Dawn's scrap room project has inspired you to get organized this summer. If you need advice or products to organize your supplies, stop by Memory Bound and let us help you get started!
Janet

Dawn's Scrap Room - Part 5

 Hello, Memory Bound friends! 
This is the final post about Dawn's beautiful new scrap room! We've been following along as she transformed an unused bedroom into a wonderful creative space in a matter of just a few days. It's amazing what you can do once you set a goal and focus on it!

 If you missed our previous posts, click HERE.

 Last week, Dawn added some finishing touches to her room. This is an important step in the process because creative spaces need to be both ORGANIZED and INSPIRING!

  First, Dawn made this curtain to cover an existing shade which was too expensive to replace. It pulls together her color scheme!

  

  Next, Dawn started planning a photo collage for the wall above her shelves. Have you ever tried to hang pictures in a collage format? It is challenging, to say the least! Lucky for us, Dawn's daughter came to the rescue. Dawn says: "My darling daughter Amanda mentioned an idea she saw on Pinterest. Make the same size images from newspaper of the pictures you want to hang. Then put them on the wall so you know where to put the nails. Oh, my goodness! Why haven't I done this before? It made hanging our 6 pictures so much easier!"

  

The finished collage looks great! I love the black and white photos with the mix of frames.

 

Finally, Dawn wanted to create some art for her room. Here's how she did it: 

"This glass is an old window Amanda found in Iowa City for me. We painted a verse on it with car window paint. She painted the printed words and I did the cursive. Now I have a beautiful saying that we painted together. The entire piece cost me $6.

Window - $2

Window paint - $3.50

Brackets for hanging - $.50

Time spent with Amanda - PRICELESS!!!"

As a side note, Memory Bound now carries car window paint! Dawn and Amanda could have made the window project with vinyl letters cut with a Cricut, too.

  

 

 We have loved watching Dawn transform her space. Now she never wants to leave it! We are excited to see all the beautiful projects she will create in her organized and inspiring room.

Thanks for sharing your amazing project with us, Dawn!
Janet

Dawn's Scrap Room - Part 4

  Hello, Memory Bound friends! 
We've been following the progress of Dawn's scrap room and I'm happy to report that, other than a few finishing touches, she has finished it up! Dawn loves her new space and has had a great time creating projects in it. "There's a place for everything, and I know where to find things!" she reports.

 If you missed our previous posts, check them out here:  
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

As you can see in the photos below, Dawn's room looks fantastic! In her words: "I still have a bit more organization to do but for the most part, the big stuff is done. I have a place for everything and still some room. I plan to put baskets in all the big shelves. I am also planning to hang pictures between the two big shelves."

   

Dawn's Cropper Hopper carts are filled with patterned paper and cardstock and fit perfectly under the table. (Unfortunately these carts are no longer available.) 

Dawn adds: "Do you notice where my Big Shot, Cricut, and trimmer are? I love that they are easily accessible!" 

Dawn found these baskets at Target which fit perfectly on her shelves.They will hold a lot of supplies!

 Do you remember the old school table and shelf that Dawn's daughter and son-in-law spray painted? (Click HERE for pictures.) Here's the completed piece in Dawn's new space! I love how they work together.
 

And here it is, complete with a splat mat and all ready to go!
 

Here are some close-up photos of the shelves after Dawn put her supplies on them. She is still looking for more of the tin loaf pans which fit perfectly. Dawn adds: "I have all of the "slats" to fill the shelves but chose to take a few out so I could fit some taller items on the shelves."

Dawn has already created several projects in her new scrap room! Dawn loves her new space...as does Sunny!

Thanks for the wonderful inspiration, Dawn! We wish you many crafty days in your beautifully organized space!
Janet