Some of you may have noticed that I did not have a Cut it Up project this time around. I have “retired” from Cut it Up and one of my long-time design team members, Larelyn, has graciously taken it over so it can go on. I thought that warranted recognition on my part, so what better way to mark the occasion than to pare down and organize my crafty supplies!
First I went through all my stamps and physical dies and sent the ones I knew I wouldn’t use anymore to a crafty friend whom I knew would put them to good use. That was the paring part. Next up was organization, specifically for my collection of dies. I looked at how other crafters organized theirs and got a few ideas.
One great idea was to use magnetic vent covers to keep the dies in place. I went with these from Lowes. I cut them down to 5″ x 7″. That got me three from each sheet, and was the perfect size to fit into the Ikea shoe/photo boxes I was already using.
I had just been keeping the dies in the cheap plastic packaging that they come in, but they had become all ripped and torn and the dies kept falling out. Some other crafters recommended Avery Elle Stamp & Die Storage Pockets, so I got them and they’re great!
Next up was sorting and categorizing the dies. You can see my categories in this picture.
I broke up some of the die sets because the dies within really belonged in separate categories. Also, some of my “pages” have dies from different companies on them to save room. Here’s an example:
This is probably the most organized part of my craft room at the moment.
The bottom shelf contains my newly-organized dies and my embossing folders.
Next shelf up has my circular knitting needles and my 6 x 6 paper pads.
Above that is my birthday card file system and any extra die cuts that I can use in a pinch, and the top shelf is for decorations.
About that birthday card file – I made a tab for each month and a card for each person to whom I send birthday cards. The top left-hand corner of each file card has the birthdate and the center of the card has the person’s name and mailing address. Everything is kept in date order. As I make cards throughout the year, I place the birthday card behind the person’s file card and as I send out birthday cards, those file cards move to the back of the box. You can see that I’ve already sent out all the cards for people whose birthdays are in January. (Jackie’s gets hand delivered.)
And I have to show you what’s on top the very top of this bookcase. It’s my Easter basket from when I was a little girl!
So sweet!! And fun to see my mother’s handwriting on the little chick 💕.
On to my day! It includes letter writing, cross stitch, and knitting. What are you doing today?
Evelyn
My Little Craft Blog 
Well, Happy Retirement! 🙂 I know you’ve been with Cut it up soooo long! I’m sure the team will miss you tons over there! You did a wonderful job for the Cut it up challenge blog, you totally deserve this break! Your organizing looks wonderful! I committed to Avery Elle pouches years ago until I found some other pouches on Amazon… More bang for your buck and they do the same thing! 🙂 But I place adhesive magnets (Amazon) on heavy chipboard and place my dies on those then in pouches… For me, that was easier and I knew the cardstock was strong enough to keep those dies longer than those magnetic vents (at least for me they were) But we all do what works for us… 😉
Your craft room looks well organized and you’ll probably craft even more now that you’ve done it. I tend to once I get things organized… But I always seem to be organizing… hummmm hahahaha Have a beautiful week!
I am sorry to hear of your retirement from Cut it Up. But I am sure you will now have time to do some amazing things now. Thank you so much for your organisation and storage ideas. I have been using the Avery pouches for a while and they are great. But I am so busy crafting sometimes that I do not have the time to organise lol.