Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Organizing your craft ideas

Like pretty much everyone else in this world, I'm obsessed with Pinterest. That's where I store all of my online crafting to-dos, among other things. I love how easy it is to organize and view ideas, and how easy it is to find ideas later.

Problem, though. I have craft ideas and patterns that aren't online. How do I organize them? Like most other people, I had a huge stack of papers and patterns a few feet high - and I couldn't find a single thing in that stack. I sat down for an hour with some basic supplies and created a system that lets me find the projects I want to make, view them for inspiration, and keep everything neat and tidy!


I started with a simple binder - but make sure you get a big one. Mine is 4 inches, and it's already pretty full! 


Next, you'll want some dividers. I recycled ones that had been given to me in a training binder. I just used my label maker to create new labels! You can see from the picture how I divided my categories, but of course, you can do it any way that makes sense to you.


I bought a giant pack of page protectors from Sam's Club for about $12. Filling this entire binder has only used about half of the package, so I'm in good shape to have many, many more ideas. The page protectors make it easy to flip pages and will help you keep the patterns together.

The right side of each page is the image of the finished product. All of the other relevant parts and information are tucked behind it.


I also tucked full patterns in here, which makes it so much easier to find them later!


A lot of the projects in my binder came from quilting magazines. You just can't forget to rip out the pattern pages too!


This is also a great place to store patterns that come in kits. This is one from Connecting Threads. I made this wall hanging already, but that doesn't mean I couldn't make it again with different fabrics! All of the pattern pieces are tucked in this pocket in case I want to make one for someone else.


Last but not least are applique shapes. When I have to find a shape for an applique, I stick it in here in case I ever need it again. No sense in re-inventing the wheel.

So there you have it - a way to organize the craft ideas and patterns you have that you can't keep on Pinterest! Do you like the cover of my book? You can have it too! Just click here to download it.

Click HERE to see the blog parties where I'm linking!

15 comments:

  1. I have something similar, but I also have a contents page for each divider (umh, I have about three 4-inch binders now, oops). I print patterns and directions I find online because I've gone back to something I've bookmarked or pinned, and it's no longer there. SO disappointing! So I feel the 'need' to keep paper.

    -confessions of a paper clutter bug- :)

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  2. I need to redo mine.
    I had one....it's gotten messy...
    LOVE yours though!

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  3. Nice job! :)
    Happy Day!
    Michelle
    www.daydreambelievers.net

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  4. What a great way to organize your craft ideas! I use huge binders and paper protectors to keep all my paperwork, receipts etc. filed away instead of a filing cabinet!

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  5. Brilliant. Before you know it, you'll need a second binder :)

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  6. Great idea!! I love any way to organize any and everything!!

    Ashley
    www.simplydesigning.blogspot.com

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  7. I've been meaning to so something like this for ages! I'm totally jealous. I hope you'll stop by and add this and any other posts you're proud of to my Wednesday What We Wore, Read, and Made Link party

    marissa
    http://raegunwear.blogspot.com

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  8. I've had this on my to do list for about 15 years! Yours looks great, I should bump it up to the top of my to do list next week...maybe I'll actually start getting projects done!

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  9. You are in the Talent Show today over on COM- hugs, jen

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  10. I adore this idea! I'm so following your blog to see what other awesome things you share!

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  11. Like you I also have a pinterest board for craft inspiration but I have older non-digital things that I needed to organize. I also used a binder method but I like how you categorized them with in the binder. Thanks for sharing your helpful idea on BeColorful this week.
    p

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  12. That looks like a perfect idea! Thank you for sharing. I will be pinning it!

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  13. Great idea!! Thank you for sharing on Sharing Saturday!

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  14. Your blog has been appreciated. I save it and will forward to my frinds on FB. Now am in search for Area Rugs, if you have any idea on this can you share how to buy area rugs online. Is there Free Shipping Area Rugs available.

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