Let's Organize 12x12 Paper! || Craft Room Organization 

Pro tip - When using your LabelMaker keep typing out the labels until you run out of space. There is always that extra label tape in the beginning and extra at the end that prints out and is wasted. If you keep typing all you have to do is cut them apart and you don’t waste as much. Great storage solutions and I also use the pot lid holder in the top shelf of my craft cart to keep my current planners organized. I love to see the changes and storage solutions you come up with in your ever evolving craft room!

When separating the 12 x 12 pad into single sheets - you can use the front (or back) cover if the pad as a guide - it usually has the name of the pad and sometimes thumbnail pictures of each page . Just put it in your plastic sleeve and you have a great reference sheet !

Great ideas! I use the ugly/unwanted papers to make custom sized envelopes, storage pockets and dividers because they will be covered or out of sight.

Absolutely loved this, have bookmarked it and will refer to it again and again I'm sure. One thing I thought I'd mention; on the odd occasion where I have a 12x12 (or A4) paper I don't think I'll use, and I don't go to swap meets or have easy access to casting off such a low amount of papers, my alternative is one of those 12x12 sleeves you mention and I put the "yuck I'll never use this" papers in there. I reach for this when I want to create dimension or thickness for another page or die cut but don't want to sacrifice another paper I rather like, or waste white or black 'core' stock. "See" you again soon!

Thanks for these great ideas! You can donate the supplies you don't like to teachers and churches.

Thank you for sharing. I have been storing my paper pads purchased from Michaels and Hobby Lobby horizontally. I want to store them vertically but knew it wouldn’t work without ruining the paper. I like your idea better. I’m in the process of decluttering and organizing my house. I don’t know if you have ever watched a RU-vid channel “Clutterbug”. I took her quiz and found out my organization style. It’s a fun quiz and really helpful when your organizing. After taking the quiz and learning more about the different organization styles it has helped me organize my home. I’m guessing you might be like the 🐝 she describes as a person who likes to see their items. It was fun to see what style everyone in our home has. It helps me to know how to organize for all of our family.😊

I am so happy I found you!!

As a new papercrafter, your videos have been so helpful! I'm on my 5th redo of my craft room and can attest that storing paper vertically has worked the best. If I could rewind and not buy those paper pads, I would! Thank you for reminding me it's OK to tear them apart and keep just what I love.

Love, love, love your recommendation to keep the vertical paper at eye level!!! This makes so much sense!! And now getting arthritis in my knee so then wouldn’t have to kneel to see paper!!!

I’ve been struggling on how to organize my paper. This was so helpful thank you.

I'm just getting ready to set up my new office/craft space. Love your ideas.

What a great idea if the boundary especially for paper!!

I have a pot lid holder and I am definitely using that idea👍🏽

Great tips. AMAZING craft space. 😍

Great idea on setting boundaries 👏

This was the video I was waiting for to store my scrapbooking hoard. Cant wait to get started....Amazon here I come.

This is great! I didn’t even know they made sleeves that size. Game changer for me! Thanks!

I love the idea of storing vertically! Going to reorganize my paper storage now.

Awesome craft room ty for the great idea for storing 12 x 12 paper

I use LP sleeves for my 12 x 12 papers and pads, they are great, very strong and come in smaller sizes too, also a lot cheaper. They hold a lot

Thanks so much for this video , I am sure that all of us can use advice on how to organize our supplies. This is such a supply loaded hobby, and we can’t use it if we can’t find it!!

Hi! I wish I would have found you months ago! Thank you for providing such great organization tips in detail, step by step. I have always struggled with paper storage. This really helps!

Thank you for sharing such great ideas.

I have those folders too. Love them.

Your space is so nice. I'm still learning. I don't have alot of paper yet. But loving your idea. Got this video saved.

Great video! I also store my 12x12 paper like this. I use LP album sleeves because they are slightly bigger than 12x12. I did this a couple of years ago and it has been a complete game changer. I went through all of my paper, sorted it by theme, color, manufacturers, or collections depending on what I had. I also went through all my paper pads like you suggested and sorted those as well. Now, anytime I get a paper pad I do that otherwise it will not likely get used. I use the same LP sleeves for my scraps as well. I put a full white or black 12x12 piece of cardstock in the sleeve for stability and as a divider in the pocket. I used to put my scraps in a bin and didn't use them very much because I would have to dig through to find what I might need. Now, I use scraps all the time when I scrapbook. Another game changer. I saw someone else mention that they akso use LP album sleeves and that they come in different sizes. That makes me want to do the same thing with my 6x6 paper pads. Right now they are stored in a drawer vertically but I still find them hard to use. I can break the 6x6 pads apart and sort them just like I did with my 12x12 paper.

Thank you very much for the “pot lid organizer” tip. So need those. Just ordered three.

You are the Queen of organization! You have helped me so much organize my room where I craft. I love those clear 12 x 12" file sleeves too, and I also buy the hot pink ones too with handles on top, they hold 3 paper pads,12 x12 , but they have to fit on a top shelf, or taller shelf. Thanks for all your tips and ideas..it really helps us!

I completely agree! I store my 12x12 paper Pads vertically, but I do store them as full books and experience some bending. Thanks for the tips! I will definitely be popping them in folders from now on! I love the pot holders I use vintage letter racks and handbag holders in my craft room for organising various supplies.

Pot lid racks!!!!!! YESSSS Perfect! I bought record covers to put my 12 x 12 papers in but needed something to put those in, yay! thank you!!!! Just subbed and looking forward to more help!

I think I will give it a try! I also use the paper holders you use!

Love seeing where you put the new basket and 2 containers that replaced the previous marked piece. It also looks like you took the sticker books off the cart pegboard. ( I knew they would go back in case! 😆) Thanks for sharing, and the sound was fine on this one.

I donate the papers I don’t use to community groups…senior centers, schools and after-school groups, homeless center for creation days, etc.

Just found you! Wow! I need you in my life. My paper is getting organized this weekend. I absolutely love this set up.

Awesome info and tips - thank you! 👏🏻♥️👏🏻

I really like your system. If I had the space for this, I would do it. For now, I have 4 Iris cases. Papers are sorted seasonally. I keep the current season's case out. Each year I go through the cases and purge what I'm not using. That goes into a giant ziploc bag, along with other craft supplies and gets donated. Thanks for being so inspiring!

Makes great sense! I’ve just started doing this myself, but you’ve inspired me to empty out the pads I still have (which I’m storing flat) and SET BOUNDARIES!

I am so happy I found the clear storage for the 12 by 12 sleeves hobby lobby has them now yeah

TFS your ideas ❤

I'm going to try this. Thank you

I store my sets in the same ways as you. I also store all others in the 12x12 magazine style holders by color (rainbow with one extra for black-to-white and another extra for Metallica). I then put all sets and extras in the magazine boxes by theme (birthday, Thanksgiving, baby, beachetc) or calendar (Autumn, winter). I, too, love the folders that hold the 12x12 paper and i have always stored vertically for all of your reasons and also to avoid compression bending. Thanks for video.

great tips, elisa!

Okay, this makes sense to me. Thanks...got to run, I have 12x12 paper to organize!

Thank you love your ideas. I’m just starting so I need storage ideas.

You've already given me the solution of vertical storage for 12×12 now I'm going to hop over to Amazon and get me some pot lid racks. Amazing idea. Thanks Elisa. Have a super fantastic day 💗 Sherry

This is also how I store my paper. I’ve been a scrapbooker for 27 years and my paper stash was pretty impressive lol it would put Hobby Lobby to shame…🫣 but there came a time when I had to finally sit down and say enough is enough and PURGE!! It was crazy the amount of paper I had that I never used, or even liked…hello paper pads 🤦🏼‍♀️ now I have mine in the same pockets but instead of the pot lid holders (great idea BTW) mine are in 12x12 bags, all are labeled. I do by season and quarter so one bag has spring, one has winter, and so on. Then I have pockets sorted by color or gender/travel/texture, etc. it’s definitely easier to find what you need this way!! ❤

I actually use the dish rack from Dollar Tree. It's probably not as sturdy as some, but it works for me.

I put mine in 2 binders which weigh a ton and can’t be stored easily. Cost a fortune, too. I really like your solution. Also, you are right about last in first used. I have found out of sight, out of mind to be a constant problem. Thank you! ❤ Shirley

I store my 12x12 as well as my cardstock vertically. I got the tip from Jennifer Mcguire years ago. My Stampin' Up! 12x12 are in paper keeper envelopes from Hobby Lobby. Paper pads are in the pad/ kit keepers from Hobby Lobby. Takes up so much less space and you can find what you want/ need so much easier! Love your studio! Creative Blessings!

I have always stored mine vertically and dreally loved how it worked and you have shown me what I can do to make it way better. I have too much. I don't use much 12x12 now that I make cards but maybe I would if I didn't have to reach up to grab the packed together pads and pull them down to even see what they are. I would love to use some of it and maybe donate the rest but think your folder idea would be a very good way for me to see what I will and won't use. Mainlu I just have colored cardstock now. Thanks for the really good suggestion as I usually bought all the 'stuff' to go with the pad and used it all when making scrapbooks.

Your craft room set up is awesome. Could you do a video of your whole craftroom organisation please.

I agree you need to think through how you use your space. I also started with Cricut labels and fast found it wasn’t practical. I moved into my craft room at the end of December and I’ve readjusted things a few times. I finally labeled drawers this past weekend as I think they are settled now. All my paper sleeves are labeled too. Thanks for sharing your ideas.

I also store my papers vertical. I have one of the Micheals cubes with the storage slots and I flipped it on its side and love it! I have like 4 or 5 paper pads that overflow the storage cube but they have a spot on top so they are ok. I do try to keep boundaries within my supplies but I'm also a crafty collector so it's not easy for me. Yesterday I just went through all my yarn to destash some of it.

I have been using the 2 gallon ziplock storage bags with a 12x12 piece of chipboard in each bag. I cut the zipper area off so that it fits just the paper and lable the chipboard. I store them virticle as well.

I do the same easy way that you're showing. I keep the different brands in sections for an easy find. Then I keep others sorted as heavy, medium, and lightweight papers on boxes that are stacked.

One of the best investments I made was getting pocket sleeves in various sizes for 12x12, 6x6, etc. So I don't have anything falling out and helps to keep them straighter. Except for my paper pads, I need to find something for those. The sleeves I use aren't thick enough haha. I need to check out the ones you have. I currently use the ones I found on Amazon.

I was just struggling with a stack of paper pads. Thank you!!

Your video came just in time!! I just ordered totally Tiffany Fab files that hold 8.5 X11 paper that come with the file pockets I do mixed media art, so I tend to make my own papers & use for college, as well as I buy some pre-printed rice papers. I got the fab files so I can bring a bunch to my work table ( I think that option should work for me) if it doesn't work I will get a file sorter. I do need a few 12x12's sleeves for my rub on sheets from 12 & market & background papers I have. right now I have my papers in those slim Iris cases stacked horizontal & just like you said you have to move stuff around to get to the one with the paper I might need & I didn't end up liking that system at all, I just end up not using the paper because it's just a hassle......I am also setting up the top section in my craft cart to file my ephemera stash using the cart dividers you showed from Micheal's using 4x6 & 9x7 file pockets that way I will just pull my cart over to me & be able to look thru my scraps & diecuts. I tend to like the file flip thru system for myself, I have my many stamps & stencils stored that way as well.

Vertical paper storage is “life changing” craft wise!

I had just pulled out my 12x12 papers trying to decide what to do with them. I’m a paper hoarder and I admit it. But I like the rack idea because I was always forgetting to use mine.

Thank you will do show more helpful ideas there great

Thanks for showing this o have done this so much easier thanks again😊

First off, a tip on label makers. I don't know if yours has this function, but on mine, under the Label menu, there is an option to set the margins. If I have more than 1 or 2 labels to print, I set mine to "chain." That way, I can print them with the text for each label closer together, so there is less wasted label tape. When I have printed the last label, I just tell the machine to feed, & it spits out enough tape to cut off my labels. I hope that makes sense. I have a Brother P-Touch, but I forget the model number offhand. As far as 12x12 paper, I have a couple of different storage options that I use. I keep solid cardstock in old Cropper Hopper cases on a shelf unit. They're the kind that hold up to 200 sheets vertically. I have my cardstock separated/divided by color, since that tends to be how I look for paper/cardstock. For patterned paper, I store some vertically in pockets, but mostly use the plastic scrapbook paper storage boxes you can get at Michael's. I forget what brand they are now, but they used to be Recollections. Most of those I store horizontally in a cubby unit I built, with about 3 labeled boxes in each cubby. Again, separated by predominant color, or by collection if it was a paper pad. I do have to flip through, but I don't have to go through multiple boxes' worth of paper to find anything. So it works for me. Thank you for sharing your setup. Take care, & have an awesome day! :)

Thanks!

I do store my 12X12 paper verticality, but I do have them press together so they will not bend. Thanks for the tip on putting on sleeves.

I’m lucky to have a 12”x12” paper stand there I have my papers. 👍🏼 The most annoying tho are the 12”x12” card stock paper in different color that don’t fit to my scrapbook paper,(and they get sun bleached). Now I mostly by white paper a can coloring myself. (And some basic color like black, green, red, gray.) Your idea to store craft paper are really smart, to save the crafts in the same place as the other craft paper…brilliant. I tend to forget the small pieces.

Great video. Vertical is definitely the way to go. I put mine in a bureau, in the Paper Takers form Totally Tiffany. I have different categories. I used to do manufacturer, but it wasn't working for me.

I give papers I don’t want to use to my 7 yo granddaughter to craft with and she loves it and surprises me with her creativity! If it wasn’t for that I would find an art class for kids to donate stuff to!

I store my 12 x 12's (vertically) in a portable file box. Handmade dividers keep the papers upright and easy enough to thumb through. The best part is, it's portable! When I move, I can just pop them in my car and go.

It seems it would be fun to do paper gifting or trading with other paper crafters who may like the pattern paper you may not enjoy, but they would and maybe get a style you may enjoy or 😮may be running low on (trade floral for masculine). Card makers who also make junk journals love some really odd patterns. Hee hee

Thanks for sharing your organizing ideas. They were very helpful. The lid holder was a great tip since I've been looking for something like that for several of my craft items. Love your craft room!! Where did you get the drawer unit?

Did you secure the pot lids dividers on your self, this is a great idea. Setting boundaries is so hard.

I just started doing the vertical in our new place. I have a spare room. We turned my cubes vertical 😉 Now I need help withthr the small paper pads. I see on the shelf you have them vertical also. My embellishments are a mess and way too many. Hoping you have video in that. Thank you!! Ps definitely have way too many 12 x12 paper pads 😳

GREAT idea! Gotta try this!! Do you have a method for keeping track of the papers you have?

love the pot lid holders for vertical paper storage. Do you attach the lid holder to the shelf ? it seems like they would slide around when retrieving paper sleeves. thank !

Just redid the floor in my craft room so your ideas are great as I try to reorganize everything,

Great tips! How many sheets of paper would you guess fit into those sleeves?

Great video. I'm super new to papercrafting, so you can imagine all the paper I have. Eyes get very big when I'm looking and I want it all. How do you store solid color cardstock? Do you break it into same colors, brights or what? Thanks so much for any advise.

Love it. The yellow magazine style holders on the right, on your shelf, is probably something that would serve me better...where did you get those? And, are they 12 x 12 paper friendly?

Where did you get your angled pen holder that I saw behind you I. The very beginning of the video? Thanks for the great video. Helped a lot❤️🇨🇦

Hi! Loved your video. Where did you find the clear acrylic bins to the right of your vertical 12 x 12 papers?

Love this! What is the height of your shelf? Thanks for the great craft storage ideas!

I totally agree with you & I do store my paper vertically. Paper pads are a HUGE NO NO for me! I don’t think the value is actually there considering the fact that most of the pad is wasted, it’’s cheap paper, & it takes up tons of storage space. My bestie & I have gone through all of our pads & pulled from each other’s pads & then taken the rest of the pad to a retreat & put them on the back table for other’s to help themselves. Otherwise, they’d go in the dumpster! I also store all of my collections together & I think putting limits on ourselves is a great idea! I’m currently doing a major destash so your video was very timely for me! I wish I had a nickel for every item I’ve gotten rid of & knowing how much money wasted wasted! If only people would realize that stuff just sitting there unused is still money wasted & now you’re paying to store it🤷🏻‍♀️

I appreciate this video. Organization is important to me. If I can't find it, I can't use it. So... 🌷🇨🇦🌷

Thank you for these great tips! Do you have a stash of solid papers? If so, how do you store them? I plan to reorganize my paper, but I want to keep my solids separate.

I never thought about dismantling my 12x12 paper pads. Interesting. I think I should probably find better ways to store all my craft supplies in the space I have available. I have 9 cubby shelves on a back wall.

On Amazon I get the sleeves for 18.99 for 12. Better deal and they have a small tab on the top

I like your ideas. Never thought about a lid rack. Duh What kind of label maker are you using?

I’m interested in how you organize “leftover” paper after you’re done with the kits - by color? Theme? Design type (floral, geometric) or ??? Seems to be my nemesis.

This was very helpful. Now...if I could just find a video on storing ephemera. I'm a new crafter and my stash is getting bigger and bigger and storing it has become an issue because I want to easily find what I'm looking for. Just wondering if there is a way to organize all the little bits to make life easier.

I have the wooden box with the slots. (Yes, stored vertically.) Do you know if the plastic sleeves will fit inside that? I don’t know the manufacturer. I bought it years ago at a yardsale. It’s quite heavy & has no identification on it. Thanks!

If I find a beautiful 12×12 pad, with a few sheets I don't want, I pass them to another paper crafter I know. They are too beautiful to just discard. Tina, Al's wife

The problem with vertical stacking is if there is any space between the papers it will slump and Curl so it would only work if it is tightly bound or contained, whereas horizontal works if you have it sectioned by trays which means you would need a lot of stackable trays it just depends on which problem you are willing to deal with. Either way you are spending money on containers or trays.

SAVE those papers you don't like and use the white back side to mount pictures running through printed, practice painting etc lots of uses.

Just curious, is that all the pattered paper you have? I store my paper vertically in hanging file folders in rolling file carts (office max). It would cost a fortune to store in plastic sleeves. I do have a few of those sleeves for collections with coordinating embellishments so that I can store the paper and embellishments together. I avoid the issue of bending paper pads by storing several in vertical plastic bins (Container Store) so that the pads have no room to bend.

I also store my 12x12 in the same manner. I also like to see what I have and that the paper is not stacked. I will ck out the storage envelopes

How do you keep your paper straight after awhile mine bend.. I am talking cardstock?

Where did you get the rack to organize the paper and can you tell me again what the make is or where you got the holders for the paper

love this and would love to talk to you im bursting at the seems and need help organizing and purging!!

QUESTION: Why does the 12” x 12” paper bend in its original ‘book’, with thick cardboard at the back and thinner cardboard at the front, and yet those plastic pockets stop it from bending? I really don’t understand that. Are your pockets of heavy plastic? Maybe it’s because the pockets are sealed at the sides. It is weird though, isn’t it? BTW, I loved your video. TFS. 😊