Scrapbook paper storage solutions...

Man, I have spent two days "googling" for a stacking system to store my paper. Thanks to Michael's "3 for 1" sales I have quite a selection and running out of room. There are no shortage of ideas and products except for two things: 1) The price is outrageous or, 2) The shipping charges to Canada are more than the product.

I came across a blog and, with Emilie's permission, I am posting the blog and putting a link under "My Blog List" to her website. Thanks Emilie, both for the permission and the incredible idea. Trust me, I will be shopping in the next day or two for the wire cubes. However, this is Canada and not everything makes it across the border!

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Make Your Own Paper Storage Rack

Here's a tutorial I posted over at Craft Critique and thought I would share with you fabulous blog readers as well. Let me know what you think!

If you're a scrapbooker you know about 'Scrap Spaces'. You've seen the scrap rooms of the Scrap Celebs. In magazines, online, on blogs...these amazing rooms with custom built-in shelves for each little brad and eyelet. Skylights. Endless work space. Cute little inspirations.

I love seeing these rooms, but they are far from my reality. With two kids and a husband in Masters school, I spent my nights scrapping in a dimly lit, damp and cold, unfinished basement (read: Dungeon) and my scrap storage consisted of whatever I could find on the cheap and make work! Then I stumbled onto this fantastic paper storage solution that improved my organization by leaps and bounds! This is a great solution for anyone....not just the starving college student!

By slightly modifying white wire storage grids you can create a personalized paper storage system which will hold any amount of 12x12 papers in an efficient and very organized way. And it's wicked cheap. I'll go through the steps of making your own here.

What you'll need...
1 box Wire Storage Grids (available at Target and Walmart) cost: $15-20
1 package Zip/Cable Ties (available at any home improvement store) cost: $1-2
1 wire cutter or seriously heavy duty scissors



{Make sure your grids measure at least 12" square so your paper will fit. Mine are 13" square...perfect.}

1. Start by throwing out the weird little white plastic clips that come with the cubes. You won't be needing these.


2. Build a basic cube (leaving one side open as shown above) by attaching the grids together using your zip ties. Make sure the little square nubbies are facing towards the outside of your cube so they don't catch on the paper. (photo below)


3. Next take the remaining white shelves and slide them into your cube and attaching them at 1 inch intervals where the grid already exists. If you need a larger slot for some paper sets just make it a 2 or 3 inch interval instead.


Make sure when you slide a shelf in that the wire grids are on the underside so that you get a slight lip on your paper tray. (photo below)


4. Use your wire clippers to remove excess plastic end from zip ties.


Fill with paper sorting by color, manufacturer or whatever makes you happy! Voila! Isn't it genius?!! I made 3 separate cubes out of 2 boxes of these grids and had some grid pieces leftover. I have even given these cubes as gifts to fellow scrapbookers with rave reviews!

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Customizable to include large and small shelf heights

Cons:

• May be hard to see certain papers since there is no graduation.

At just around $30 for two boxes of these I think they are a steal! And a great solution for organizing a craft area on a budget. I would love to know your thoughts!

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