Organizing Nancyland . . .

For as long as I can remember I've crafted with one thing or another.  And gratefully, I've always had a craft room.

When Bill and I were newlyweds (40 years ago June 3!) we lived in a 2 bedroom flat.  The 2nd bedroom was my craft room. After a while, we built a home in High Ridge and Bill finished the basement so that I could have a craft room in the basement.

We've been back in St. Louis for almost 20 years and I have craft space in the basement. As some of you know, my son named my basement space *Nancyland*.  He has threatened to call hoarders. What he doesn't realize is that it may not be pretty but it is completely organized.

A place for everything and everything in its place.  Grandma would be proud.

We (those of us who craft) have talked about organization quite a bit.  And I have shown snippets of Nancyland now and then.  Recently, I've had students ask how I organize.

Obviously (as you'll see), I don't care about it being pretty but I do have to work in an organized, functional space. 

DIsclaimer: Please keep in mind that I teach and therefore have lots of things in multiples for classes. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

 

Small embellishments are kept in drawers and all labeled.

These are from Target in the hardware department. I liked the red color.

Alphabets sorted according to letters

(This idea courtesy of Becky D years ago and it still works for me.)

Stamps:

I keep Tim Holtz stamp sets in these We R Memory Keeper binders.

(I get mine @ For Keeps Sake Scrapbook.)

Wendy Vecchi stamp sets are kept in her acrylic binders.

Tim stamps are organized according to subject:

Backgrounds & Swirls

People

ATC's & Mini's

Travel

Houses, Games, Photo

Crowns & Bees

Words & Phrases

I have a few more books that are strictly for holidays.

Those I keep in a closet until the holiday is near.

Most of my stamps are in tubs according to the subjects:

Office

Travel & Time

Birthday & Thanks

Miscellaneous

Animals & Sports

Trees & Flowers

Alphabets

As you can see from the photo, I print on the sides of my background stamps

so I can see at a glance what they are.

Embellishments (chipboard, stickers, etc) are kept in drawer-like stacking containers.

They are slightly larger than 12" x 12".

I love having containers that I can pull out and work with by subject matter.

Here's how I divide up the drawers:

Wings & Crowns

Die Cut Wood

K&Co

Nostalgique (Yes, I hoard my Rebecca Sower things)

7 Gypsies & Crafty Secrets

Tabs

Borders

Envelopes

Tags

Miscellaneous Rub-Ons

Frames

Tiles

Writing & Money & Clocks

Flowers & Leaves

Tapes & Bookplates

Antique Tags & Labels

File Folders & Library Pockets

Antique Office

Transparencies

Words

U.S.

Travel

Party

Card Sayings

Stars & Hearts

 

Hope this helps you organize a bit.  I'll share more on another day.

I'm always open to ideas.

Please share how you organize with comments below.

Comments

[Carolyn K]

I for one need some help organizing and you just provided that. Thanks, Nancy.

[Danee]

You have a terrific organizing system that really allows access to the smallest pieces of ephemera and alphabets….two things that are a big hassle once the package is opened or if it is vintage. I love that you not only shared your system via photos but you shared you how you separate the items based on the category. I sent an email with questions….

[katja]

Wow, you really got a lot of stuff! Respect!

My room isn´t so big and I don´t have a lot of stuff but a few days ago I got a new desk and I went to re-organized my space.
If you´re intressed, you can see my room here:
http://creativchaos.blogspot.de/2012/05/es-ist-geschafft.html

The little stuffs like buttons, flowers, embellishments etc. I´ve organized just like you in a seperatly little room.

Have a nice day,
Katja