Organizing Your Stash...Day 1

Recently I found these fun creamy glassware pieces at my favorite thrift shop. It sparked an organizing frenzy in my craft department. Big time. This week I'm going to share my recent organization sessions with you. :)

If you're a paper crafter you know how the goodies pile up, right? I was noticing that since I started Project Life and the Studio Calico kit club, my collection of smaller packaged items was growing. Big time. So how do you store it all? That is the question. When I receive new crafty items the packaging is enticing. And so pretty. I never want to tear into it. But I have found the secret to using up my stash and not hoarding it. I take it all out of the packaging.

I know for some this is terrifying. You want to keep everything in it's place. You want it to look pretty. But I find that if I leave items in their packaging I don't use them. So here's what I I do when I get a new stash of goodies: I admire them and fondle the packaging for a while before the items ever actually make it down to the craft department. Once in the craft department area they sit for a while so I can admire the pretty packaging again. Then once I'm over that I tear into the packaging. *gasp*

I am a visual crafter. I love to have things neat and tidy though. I love to have places for all my things. But recently my preferred method of organization is what I call "organized clutter". Everywhere. It's bad. I know you know what I mean. There are little organized piles of like stuff sitting around everywhere. That's how I roll. So my thought is if I can corral those little piles into something that looks nice but still sits out where I can see it, it's all good.

So that's where my pretty little vintage finds come into play. I took my little pile of goodies and tore everything out of the packaging. I started with brads, buttons, little yo-yo's, wood letters and little paper flags. Most of these items came from my Studio Calico kits. Some are items that I order online. I separated them into the little sections of my milk glass so the like items are still grouped together. Now everything is out in sight but it's all organized. I can look over to where I keep these little trays and the ideas are sparked. Visual organization is what it's about for me.

But I know what you're thinking. If it's not all showing in the cute packaging, "how do you know what you have?" I keep fun plates or trays like this plate from Anthropology handy. When I want to look at all my brads, for example, I scoop them out and spread them out on the plate. Each little collection is organized by like items. Do not dump everything into one big bowl, that may cause organizational mayhem. Not good.

And I know you're also asking, "how do you know what company makes what?" I don't know how I do it but most of the time I can remember what company makes a certain item. I tend to purchase from just a handful of favorite lines so their signature look shines through. I couldn't remember how old Jordan was the other day but when it comes to my crafty stuff, it's all up there. Ha!
Soooo.....I'd love your comments on how you organize. Are you a visual organizer? What do you like to store your goodies in? What are your favorite vintage finds? Got a photo, I'd love for you to link it up. I'll be sharing a few more posts of my visual organizing in the next week or so please visit again soon.

Disclaimer: I am by no means a well organized person. I am a hoarder, a collector, my mother's daughter. I get it honest. When you see one area of my house organized, just be careful when you open a closet or drawer. It might explode like a jack-in-the-box! But it's all good with me. I'll keep on wishing for that day when my house is all neat and tidy at the same time.

A good idea: Sometimes you just need to get over it and start purging. Those items you loved 5 years ago might not ever be your style again. Get rid of it. I'm going to keep this in mind and keep on sorting and cleaning out. Feeeeeeeels good, friends.