It’s a new year and time to get your craft space, large or small, in ship shape! My Stampin’ Pretty Stamping Studio is an organized and colorful “happy” space. I can find what I need at a glance and clean up is a snap. While organizational products and methods can evolve, I wanted to dedicate multiple posts over the upcoming weeks to helping you find a good flow and organize your own craft space. I’ll detail what has worked in My Stamping Studio for over a decade as well as some recent tweaks to satisfy my continued love affair with “creative order.”
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how i organize my stamping studio
Catch my entire Stampin’ Pretty blog series showcasing how I organize craft supplies in my studio – including my favorite Stamp-n-Storage products! Binge the whole series, or pick out a post below and learn how to make your craft space better than ever!
My dog, Freddie, kicks things off for today’s paper storage discussion by introducing you to My Stamping Studio “command center!” Freddie (80% pug, 20% poodle) is a rescue and my die hard paper crafting buddy. I adore him to bits! We have two rescue cats, Boris and Sasha, along with offering temporary “digs” (until she heads back to Madrid for PhD research in April) for my daughter, Caroline, and Lucy (another rescue, doggie superstar and Caroline’s full-time companion). The Fish home is a busy place but we LOVE our critter family members!
We moved back to Madison, WI, almost 2 years ago from Tucson, AZ (which we also loved), to be closer to family, old friends and where we grew up, went to college (Go, Badgers!) and lived for 50 years. It’s been a nostalgic and positive journey. We recently purchased a 2 story colonial built in 1936 and while it needed some updating, we are very happy!
On to My Stamping Studio and paper storage . . . the white bookshelves in my “command center” were removed from our basement (which is now “conquered” by my husband, Scott’s, pool table) and repurposed here (a small, 2nd floor bedroom with oodles of natural light). I was so excited that my Stamp-n-Storage units fit. Most of these units have been used and enjoyed in my studios for over a decade. That’s quality!
STAMP-n-STORAGE PAPER HOLDERS. Paper holders are available in 8.5 x 11, 6 x 6 and 12 x 12 sizes – I use all three. I store my colors by Stampin’ Up! color collection (Brights, Neutrals, In Colors, etc.). Card stock is organized vertically in the Stamp-n-Storage 8.5 x 11 Paper Holders. I chose the 12 slot version (vs. 15 slot) to have a little more room for each color of card stock.
DECISIONS! You’ll notice that Stamp-n-Storage offers many of their storage units in standard and IKEA versions. The IKEA versions are designed to fit in the IKEA Kallax shelving systems. There’s a small difference in size. Measure your space carefully and work with whatever size works best for your space.
STAMP-n-STORAGE PAPER SLEEVES. These plastic paper sleeves have pockets for storing scraps and tabs for labels. I have one in every slot for every color and each is labeled using the P-Touch Cube Plus Labeler. TIP: I pull out the sleeve and leave it sticking out when I’m working with card stock or paper. This speeds up the process of finding what I pulled and putting scraps away quickly at clean up time.
STAMP-n-STORAGE 6 X 6 PAPER HOLDERS! Designer Series Paper (gasp, yes, I cut it all to 6 x 6) is stored horizontally in the 6 x 6 paper holder (15 slot). I put two holders side-by-side with 6 x 6 paper sleeves and tabs to store scraps in each.
Of course, each gets a label with the name of the designer series paper collection. Now that I have the P-Touch Cube Plus Labeler, I started adding the colors to the label.
STAMP-n-STORAGE 12 X 12 PAPER STORAGE: 12 x 12 specialty paper (for example, gold foil, or if you prefer to keep designer series paper at 12 x 12) is stored horizontally. Stamp-n-Storage has plastic sleeves for storing 12 x 12 paper and protecting scraps have tabs that are labeled with the P-Touch Cube Plus Labeler.
BONUS IDEAS FOR PAPER HOLDERS. I had some extra paper holders which I decided to use in alternative ways. These 8.5 x 11 paper holders keep my stamp sets neat as a pin (no toppling over). It’s a little more work to shuffle them around when I get a new stamp set but worth it (in my opinion). I insert two SnS spacers to keep the bindings aligned at the same level and the stamp cases pushed forward.
In addition, I store my catalogs in this 12 x 12 storage.
Everyone has a different craft space set up (large or small) and Stamp-n-Storage has many options and sizes that will work for you. Measure and plan carefully and I’m confident you’ll be happy!
PLEASE NOTE: I receive a small affiliate fee when you use my Stamp-n-Storage shopping links. However, I can’t say enough about how these quality products have helped me stay organized for over a decade and highly recommend them.
8.5 x 11 paper holders
12 x 12 paper holders
6 x 6 paper holders
8.5 x 11 max for Ikea add-on
paper holder add-on for 8.5×11
8.5 x 11 paper sleeves
12 x 12 paper sleeves
6 x 6 paper sleeves
8.5 x 11 paper holders
stamp case shelf
mega stamp case shelf
slimline stamp case shelf
24 super combo ink holder
36 super combo ink holder
48 super combo ink holder
magnet cards
storage pockets
creative crates
crate dividers
small lock-down punch holder
standard l/down punch holder
large lock-down punch holder
punch holder spacers
10-single
drawer cabinet
5-single, 1-double, 1-triple drawer cabinet
2-double, 2-triple
drawer cabinet
1-single, 3-triple
drawer cabinet
accessory trays
half trays
label holders
small desk caddy
large desk caddy
24 x 36 self-healing cutting mat
p-touch cube plus labeler
small multi-level card holder
standard m/level card holder
large multi-level card holder
card & photo dividers
promos, specials, & important updates
don’t forget your tulip rewards!
What are Tulip Loyalty Rewards? Tulip Loyalty Rewards are my way of personally saying thank you to my frequent online shoppers. You earn a tulip for every $50 increment you spend on Stampin’ Up! products through me!
Great blog! I also have a natural light-flooded room. Does your paper not fade quickly when displayed?
I do two things to reduce fading. First I have pleated shades that come down when the sun is out, usually afternoon. Second, I position the paper sleeves in front of each color of card stock (closer to the window) as protection, especially where there’s a half circle cut out of the paper divider on the paper holder. That is where I used to get the most fading and pretty much have eliminated by simply putting the sleeve first. Hope that helps, Mary!
Thank you for sharing. Knowing a pro took decades to achieve organizational success is encouraging .
Where do you store the old rubber stamps.
I live in British Columbia Canada so resources are fewer and cost greater
Hi Donna, I do not hang onto retired merchandise, but the wood mounted stamps fit perfectly in the single drawer cabinets. Hope that helps! Mary
I love the Stamp N Storage 12×12 Paper envelopes for DSP. I keep them alphabetically and can find the one(s) I want quickly. Last year I bought the large punch holder and simply love having the punches out and organized so I can retrieve the one I want quickly and then it has a “home” to go back to when I’m finished. I highly recommend Stamp-N-Storage products. Enjoy your day, Mary.