Scrap N Grow

Posts Tagged ‘Storage’

Good afternoon blog readers.  How is your weekend going?  Life has been crazy busy with the growing season now in full swing. So far, I have harvested berries and lettuce. The weather has been amazingly cooperative which has allowed me to keep up with garden maintenance.  Everything is fertilized, watered, and weeded!

Earlier in a previous post, I told you that I have been working behind the scenes reorganizing my studio.  What that really meant is that I sorted through EVERYTHING and thinned out product that I no longer use or realistically intend to use. I placed several of the items on Craigslist here locally.  In the process, I updated my master inventory list and finally put away product that has been sitting for awhile in its original packaging. Everything is now in its proper place and it feels great!!!!

One area in particular that needed upkeep was my embossing folders.  Since January, I had purchased various embossing folders from Tim Holtz and Sizzix, but had not taken the time to index them and add them into my inventory until this past week.  l really felt that I needed to do this so the task does not become overwhelming as the process is a bit tedious.  Plus, knowing that I just ordered a few more this past Thursday in conjunction with Provocraft’s Hello Thursday announcement, I felt it was necessary as more folders are on the way.  So I thought that today I would walk you through my process of indexing  my embossing folders as well as show you how I store them.

First off, I maintain a word document for all my studio’s inventory and back it up each time for insurance purposes.  I hesitate to admit that I own over 200 embossing folders.  My favorite embossing folder product lines include Provocraft, Sizzix, Spellbinders, Tim Holtz, and Darice to name a few.  I typically only purchase them when they are on sale.  I love the effect that an embossing folder can provide. So with over 200 embossing folders, it is imperative that I have a system that allows me to see what I have and that is readily accessible.  The system I am currently using has worked the best thus far for me; over 2 years and still counting.

After I record the name and manufacturer of each embossing folder into my master inventory list, I then use my label maker and print 3 labels for each folder.  One label is for the embossing folder itself which I place on the backside so I know which side is up (this varies among manufacturer’s). Label two is for my swatch ring and label three is for my storage box.

Embossing Folder Index Process

I maintain a swatch ring that has grown over the years and recently upgraded to a monster size ring that I think I will even have a hard time to outgrow. For each swatch, I use white cardstock cut to 3X5 size.  I then emboss the swatch so that I have an embossed sample image.  Afterwards, I  use a hole punch in the upper left hand corner and place a label in the lower right hand corner. I then place swatch in alphabetical order onto my swatch ring. Funny how my swatch ring has grown to monster size……

Embossing Folder Swatch Ring

After each embossing folder is indexed and a swatch made, I cut another piece of white cardstock to 5X7.  I then add a plastic tab to the top left or right hand side and add my third label I printed earlier.  I try to alternate between having the tab on the left or right to help making the index cards easier to flip through. I keep my embossing boxes close at hand.  I estimate that about 75 folders fit into 1 photo storage box.

Embossing Folder Storage Box

In Summary:

Buy favorite embossing folder

Remove from package and record into master inventory document, save and back up

Cut 2 pieces of cardstock for each embossing folder, 1 3X5 and 1 5X7

Print 3 labels for each embossing folder

Emboss swatch card, place label in lower right hand corner, and punch a hole in the upper left hand corner, and place in alphabetized swatch ring

Determine if tab needs to be placed on the left or right hand side, place label, attach to cardstock divider

Place folder in alphabetical order into storage box

Repeat for each folder.

Thanks for stopping by.  Next up, I will show you how I store my Cricut cartridges and my Sizzix dies.  Have a great day! Please feel free to leave me a comment or if you have any questions.

Michelle