Stamp Organization Using Xyron Laminate Magnet Refills

I have to say that one of my late night obsessions is watching stamp videos from Jennifer McQuire and Kristina Werner. They have some amazing technique videos, and I love watching their projects come together. One of my goals for next year is to get myself a bit more organized so that I'm not trying to look for the products that I want for my projects. This includes stamp organization. I grabbed most of my inspiration from Jennifer McQuire's stamp organization post HERE. She has an amazing system that works for my growing collections of clear stamps and manual dies.

I followed Jennifer McQuire's whole system (minus the fridge container... I used a basket instead) for her stamp storage. However, the floating metal dies were driving me nuts. So I pulled out my Xyron 9" Creative Station and tossed in the Laminate Magnet Refill.

To start, I cut down some cardstock to fit in the envelopes and fit the dies that I wanted to store. It really doesn't matter what color or style, you won't see this anyway.

Run those through your Xyron Creative Station, then cut the edges down to the size of the paper.

Place your metal dies on the magnet side of the sheet, and place inside your envelopes as if they were the clear stamps. For my stamps with matching dies, I placed the dies on the back of the envelope.

This even works with the leftover strips and smaller die sets.

I will admit, that once I did this, I realized that I could have saved a few steps by just running and entire sheet of 8.5x11" cardstock through my Xyron using the Laminate Magnet Refill. I then, would have cut that into sized pieces as I went. Hope this helps keep your matching dies more organized!

Products Used:
Xyron 9" Creative Station, Xyron Laminate Magnet Refill, Target Room Essentials Branch Weave Small Bin, Avery Elle Stamp and Die Storage Pockets, Brother P-Touch Label Maker, white cardstock Pin It

Life Pages Update-How I Plan and Organize my Weekly Scrapbooking

Over summer, I started doing weekly scrapbooking. I still have a few weeks to catch up from summer (maybe over Spring Break... Or a long weekend??) However, I started getting the Gossamer Blue Life Pages kit (I gave up my subscription to their AMAZING scrapbook kits to try this out for awhile. I love it! I found that I really need to organize my thoughts before I sit down and start working.

I started with this amazing planner from Marcy Penner. I print two per page, and paste them into a sketchbook that I keep in my basket. Since I'm using the GB kits now, I nixed a lot of the "stuff" that I had in the basket, and focus more on what's available in the kit, with of course, a few things thrown in like mini bags, sequins, enamel dots, etc.

The white GB box fits in one of the pockets, along with a paper cutter, my sketchbook, Staedtler markers (which I've had for over two years now and they are still kicking!!).

A few extra cards (just in case, but I really haven't used them) and my FANTASTIC! Xyron/Teresa Collins stapler. 

Xyron Adhesive Dots, photos (which by planning out my layouts, I only print what I will use).

And of course, at least one extra mini alpha. I love mixing those up and plastering them all over. Pin It

My Project Life Basket: How I Organize My Weekly Scrapbooking Part 1

I figured out the cause of my lack of mojo. An unclean room (since tidied!) and the lingering thought that I haven't really started my summer of Project Life... I like the idea of capturing what goes on during the week, however during the school year it's just not feasible. Not because I cannot keep up, more because life is a lot more monotonous, scheduled, the same each week.

And since I have a studio to work in, I really cannot drag all of my stuff downstairs, or other places. So I created a PL basket. Just enough stuff to create at least a month's of pages without having to have anything additional. I also kind of enjoy not being attached to my Silhouette (blasphemy, I know!!) for everything. I could just go buy the kits, but that's no fun!! I have the page holders, but really just want to use my stash for the filler cards.

Here's my basket!! It seriously has everything I need! I already made a month's worth of pages. In 24 hours. Seriously! Even my cute Xyron 1½" Create-A-Sticker Machine!!

And the other side.

I have quite a few pre-cut 4x6 and 3x4 cards that I made a couple of Silhouette magazine holders for (4x6, 3x4). Include a 6x6 pad of cardstock, and at least one of patterned paper, or the leftovers of one of my Gossamer Blue kits... And the month is set.  

A handful of various letter sets, used up (almost) and brand new. All small and rather thin. This way, I can put them on pics, pages, etc.

Random assortment of enamel dots, flair, Elle's Studio pieces, etc. Anything small and fun.

A date stamp and some sequins. In those little bags that come with sweaters.

Scissors, a ruler, corner chomper, Signo pen, at least one color of journaling pen (but who's counting... I have six on the other side).

Small cutter and 8.5"x11" cutting board.

Mini stapler and a sketch pad.

And here's the beginning of my pages. I'll have to show more this week. I'm super excited to start getting somewhat caught up!!

Tomorrow, I am going to share my tricks for organizing my weeks and my photos. I have a few Apps that I LOVE that make this whole process SO much easier. Especially when I don't have a great photo printer in my house.

And just because... My newly organized buttons and brads! I took out all of the tiny ones... Love the color, NEVER used them.

Don't they look all pretty now?!?!?! Although, I realized I really need more yellow buttons. That one is looking a little lonely.

***Project Life is a system of memory keeping created by Becky Higgins.  You can learn more here***


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My Scrapbook Room

I know that I've posted on this topic... But I was checking in with some of my favorite blogs, and was looking at KWernerDesign, and Kristina Werner was blogging about 90% of Crafter's have messy craft spaces. Usually... Mine never looks this good, but I was taking photos for ScrapbookSteals.com and cleaned it up a bit.

I think that if I had a room however, it would be in a perpetual state of messiness. :)

Here is my overall space. Labeled for easy peeking!

My favorite embellishments! In a neat basket for easy reach.
A girl can never have too much paper!!
And I reused a lidded container for scraps. They make the best cards.

Here are my inspiration photos, projects, tools, and other important stuff :)
The things I usually try to hide. Stamps, glue, stickers and MORE stickers, Thickers (I would rather not have to explain why there are SO many of them!), and other stuff.
And because I don't have a devoted craft room... I usually take a lid and go "shopping" in my space so that I can work on my kitchen table. Notice the mat... I ALWAYS use a mat to line up stuff.

The only reason I can't show the messy... I have to clean up always. Grr... Someday! Pin It

Scrapbook Storage and Rooms...

I, and quite a few of our fabulous ScrapbookSteals.com ladies have been sharing our wonderful storage ideas and scrapbook rooms! I was mentioned in one of the blog posts!

Although I don't have a room, my area on the bookshelf is looking pretty good!!!

How To'sday Scrapbook Rooms #1 (this is the blog with my area!)
How To'sday Scrapbook Rooms #2
How To'sday scrapbook Rooms #3 (out on 2-22-2011)

Enjoy the scrappiness!! Pin It