Organizing - Organizing - Organizing

            

A while ago I was doing the 30-day Challenge with Cass from Clutterbug and I hiccupped to the 10th degree on my crafting space.
 
I was unhappy but, not like "Oh I hate my space" more like "I have more than I use and more than I can manage" in my brain stuff.

So here is the gist of what I have done and some files if you are interested in doing the same. 
I was really intrigued with the storage bits from The Stamp Market - Kelly Baxter- Fitzgerald shared them on her video of her scraproom.
I debated buying them through The Stamp Market but there were 2 problems - 1. you get 12 for $12.99 and I need almost 300 so that is about $325 not counting shipping and 2. you have to wait longer than amazon shipping. I know it's okay for some but once I decide to do something I lose my momentum if I have to wait longer than a few days.

The process started with:

    Organize my dies - Don't re buy the same die! Wish this wasn't something that actually happens but sadly is. And then I am also in debate of what to keep vs using the Cricut but I love the edge of a die cut so it's a toss-up....

      Enter all the things I have into a program - currently its Color My Life after years of using Evernote and Onenote (not at the same time) I have switched to one I might have the ability to just scan an item later in the process.... (SU/CTMH are not in their system but its quick to enter manually especially if I use the snip feature when transferring from one program to another)

    Purge - Another layer of the onion is needed probably seasonally - go through papers, stickers and anything I am just not using and pass it on or sell it to others that will use it.

I started with my stamps and dies and entered them into Color my Life and purged as I went. Found I want to keep certain sets until I use the paper up and then they are gonezo - But that also could mean that when I go back through the paper and stickers if I am not planning to use a paper, I might just bundle it all and sell it on eBay or pass along to someone that needs it. (I never know which way it will go until it goes)

When CTMH closed I bought a ton of their stamp envelopes, and I have been transferring sets that I plan to keep into those and ones that are more paper orientated keeping in a smaller bin to signify to my brain its temporary and once I am done, we can move on. Very freeing to the brain! Basically, why put the effort into something that isn't going to be long term. 

I have also set a space that once it is full I am purging 1 to 1 in - Hopefully that isn't a problem I have to deal with though with my current system coming into fruition.

Pictures:

These containers hold a lot of dies and seem more contained and tidier than my previous storage choices. I feel like this is the answer but only time will tell. (I do feel that way after each change out too) I just hope the way it is now is going to work long term and that I have made progress in my goal for the perfect storage for me.

Folders, Files and Magnets

Completed set just out of the file

Labels are using the Brother Label maker -
I like company name on the top
and product info on the bottom 
example:
SU
Tiny Alphabet

Cost of the supplies:
Folders - $28.99 (150 folders) - .19 per folder - I cut off the flap
Magnets - $29.77 (30 sheets I can get 60 full pieces and then I have 60 small bits I can use for smaller dies or combine to hold larger dies) .49 per card not including the leftover bits
Chipboard - $36.99 (50 sheets and I can get 100 die files and 100 embellishment files)
These supplies are enough to complete - .37 per file or with the smaller embellishment one too its .18 each.
Basically, I was able to get next day shipping on most of the products I wanted and average cost per folder with bits is $.86 (I did not count in the extra magnets bits from the cut offs)
Paying $.86 vs $1.08, and I got it all quicker. Oh, and another note on the Stamp Market site it says that they are heavy and cost more to ship so I have prime, and it all shipped for free. In the long run once I am done with the last bits (mainly my TEMU dies) I will have saved at least $.22 each and been able to save time and shipping as well.
This all works for me but you do you:)

Bins The ones I prefer are $22.99 each - I like how tall they are, but they are no longer available. Trying to find 2 more out there somewhere now:(

Link to files on the Cricut -

I have the files divided in just the die file, just the embellishment file and then I combined the files to cut both at the same time. I found after my first cuts I had a space I was recycling I could use so I just cut both right now and save the embellishment ones for later. I might have to pass some along if I have to many too, but I would rather have them then waste that extra space:)
Die File 2 tabs only in this set left and right
Embellishment and Die file 
Embellishment files - 4 tabs in this set 
Dividers for the categories or companies 2 tabs in this set left and right

for the company/Theme dividers I used the SU backer they include in the Designer Series Paper 

#dividers #organizing #diestorage #spacesaving #purging