I've been trying to get on top of things these past few day... my studio was a wreck after the last Papertrey Ink release... it's especially that way during a release of my own set... play, explode, create, mess.... you get the picture. I'm a practical organizer... what I mean by that is that I try not to make things perfect, because lets face it I'm personally not capable of maintaining that. Practical, for me, means realistic expectations. Expectations for myself that I can meet and maintain. So I was putting stuff away into "my" system, putting away several full sheets of cardstock when I realized that there was one thing that would probably help me cut down on my mess! I needed a Papertrey Ink cardstock "Swatch Book"!
Let me share first just a few ways that work for me to keep my working studio in motion...
I have a counter high desk... on the top I have these snazzy drawers from Ikea... 3 in the piece that run across the length of the desk. The middle one has adhesives and sponges... This end one holds my Acrylic Blocks. I find it extremely easy to just grab one and stamp. I have the plastic mini drawers organized to hold my Papertrey Perfect Match inks. I've broken them down into different categories as well as stamped a little label to see the color. I like that I can change this when colors are added if needed... or buy more drawers! LOL! I have my most used smaller tools in the basket and my glitter and pan ready to go. I never clean that pan because It's exclusive to that glitter. (that might bug some people but I love saving time!)
My Papertrey Ink Vintage Buttons are kept in these Sock Dividers that I spied at Daiso (it's like a Dollar store.) While I ADORE cute little jars of buttons, I don't have the space to display them... so being the frugal gal that I am I just keep them in their packaging and divided. One thing to keep in mind when trying to figure out just what works for you is that you need to be flexible as you supplies grow or shrink. These sock dividers used to hold ribbon for a company that I no longer work with. Now a great home for my buttons!
A similar story with my PTI ribbon...
I use to store my single woodmount stamps in this Snapware... and these babies aren't cheap so I wasn't going to toss them. I can fit several spools of ribbon in each container...about 4 full color lines/styles. I stack them like steps going up, leaning up against the back of the cubby. This enables me to have it right at my fingertips and be able to inventory it! I keep little extra snips in a Recycled costco nut container (above the ribbon with my "in the works" images). Having the ribbon in my cubby also protects it a lot from the light... since that can bleach out the color over time... which happens to cardstock even more... so I keep mine in a dark cabinet.
OK... now to the swatch book!
I first created a label sheet with all the cardstock colors that Papertrey Ink carries.Here is a copy for you if you deiced to make your own book! PLEASE NOTE... this document is for personal use only!) Download Papertrey Cardstock Labels (I ended up taking off the white from this sheet because I wanted to provide Soft Stone for you!) These are formatted for these white mailing label ... the same as a nugget label! As Papertrey adds new colors you can print additional labels on a single, monthly basis.
Next I stamped the coordinating Perfect Match ink onto each label with an image from Spots & Dots. You will notice that I formatted the specialty cardstock to center align since they have to ink to coordinate with. :) I trimmed a piece of each cardstock color to 2 3/4 x 4 inches and applied their labels. I also stamped VersaMark onto each sheet for that reference too... since I like using that particular ink so much.Oh... and I made this project using scraps... cardstock, ribbon, Patterned paper... All of that! :) That felt good too!
The next step was to create a protective cover... to help it last a LONG TIME!
I trimmed some lightweight coasters to 4x3 1/8 inches and then decorated it with some Black & White Basics patterned paper.
Here is the finished book! It's a little simple but reflects my taste. I love how fun and funky Fresh Alphabet looks on it too! Look at all that Papertrey Ink Cardstock!!!
Some of you might wonder why I didn't bind in more permanently... here's my reasoning: I KNOW there are more colors to come, I want the flexibility of swinging the colors out to compare and plan designs... and finally there is a benefit to being able to simply opening the book and playing mix and match with the cards! I'm able to use color theory to play with my colors... first hand not just mentally.
Like these two colors... they are complementary colors. (Directly across from each other on the color wheel.)
While these colors (Albeit, the camera didn't catch the colors correctly) are Analogous. (these three colors would be side by side on the color wheel.)
So? Can you see yourself creating one of these little helpers?!?!? I'm so excited to have one now! I just know this is going to make life easier... and less cluttered! Let me know whatcha think!
Thanks for poppy-ing by!
