Scrapbooking can be an expensive hobby. Many scrapbookers try to cut expenses in lots of different ways as they work on preserving their family memories. One way to cut expenses is by saving scraps of paper. I will admit to being a scrap paper horder! I used to save every little piece…if I could use a punch on it then it was big enough to save! After years of scrapbooking I started having quite the collection of SCRAPS! I had a file folder that I tried to organize the scraps. The method of organization I was using was just not working and digging through all the scraps was just a pain so I would always end up using a new 12x12 sheet of paper. I realized I was wasting lots of money and only creating more and more scraps and that scrap folder was just bursting at the seems…all that paper going to waste because it was so hard to deal with.

I tried many different methods of organizing and I am happy to report that I finally have a system that is working great for me! I hope that it will help you as well! I am using up my scrap paper and have made a challenge for myself to use up the scraps! I find myself heading straight to my file box to look for a scrap instead of reaching for a new sheet of paper. Sometimes I even adapt a layout to utilize scraps instead of cutting into a new paper and creating even more scraps! Some call it frugal…I call it minimizing my scrap paper collection!

I also started being a little picky on the scraps that I save. If the paper isn’t big enough for a journal box then I toss it. Too many little papers just create too much bulk and make finding the right paper next to impossible. I do have a little box on my scrapbook desk where I put small paper strips…they aren’t big enough for a journal box but they work for captions or just a name etc. These paper strips are all just thrown into this little box and I do use them quite often! Especially the white and kraft paper pieces!

How to Organize your scraps so you can use them in 3 easy steps!

1. Find a storage tote to hold your scraps. Take a look at your scraps and decide how big your container needs to be. I scrapbook a lot and have lots of scraps so I chose a tote box.

 Fellowes® Mobile File Cube, 11 1/2"H x 12 3/4"W x 16"D, Letter/Legal, Black from Office depot.
$18.96

 Safco® Rolling Cart, Letter/Legal, Black
$20.89


If you tend to not have enough scraps to fill a filing tote…you may find this smaller option more appealing:
 Legacy Crafters Memento Crop-n-File
Durable 13 Pocket expanding file
Size - 12"x12"x4


2. If you have chosen the filing tote method you will need to purchase hanging file folders. My folders are just the regular hanging files. My larger scraps stick up above the files but I actually like that because then I can see quickly what color that file is!

3. I label my folders:
 Red Pattern
 Red Solid
 Orange Pattern
 Orange Solid
 Green Pattern
 Green Solid
 Blue Pattern
 Blue Solid
 Pink Pattern
 Pink Solid
 Purple Pattern
 Purple Solid
 White and Creams
 Brown pattern
 Brown Solid
 Black Pattern
 Black Solid
 Specialty
 Heritage

This is the filing method that works best for me. I put all of the different shades of red pattern into the red pattern folder. All the different shades of red solid, into the red solid folder. My specialty papers are mixed with all different colors but I rarely have scraps of specialty papers so they all fit neatly into one file.

Analyze the colors or styles of paper that you tend to use the most and then label your files.

4. Now it is time to dump out all those scraps and start filing them! You might want to consider setting size criteria that the paper must meet to be worthy of saving.

5. Start looking into your new scrap file each time you are scrapping and need a smaller size of paper so that you do not always find yourself cutting into a brand new sheet!

You will really be surprised how much you will use your scrap papers once they are organized! You will also be surprised how much money you can save by utilizing all your scraps! Now you can take that money you saved on paper and buy some more awesome embellishments!