Hello, it’s Nathalie and I am here today to offer you a rare glimpse into my scrap room. “Room” is a big word, as due to a lack of space, I am set up in a modest little corner of our master bedroom, but it works for me most of the time. You can see it in its entirety on this photo (to give you an idea, the lampshade on the bottom left is on my nightstand!). I’ll be happy to share some of my favorite things with you and a bit about my organization as well.
For those of you with very small spaces or none at all, I can not emphasize enough how setting up a permanent, albeit small, table in a corner is a game-changer. You won’t have to pack up your things every time you scrap and you can stop by even just for a few minutes to push some papers around.
Pretty much everything is on the shelves on the right and when it is overflowing, it is time to purge. Hence my second tip for small spaces: purge often and relentlessly.
Being on a few design teams, my supplies are organized by manufacturer. The very top shelf is dedicated to my Doodlebug Design goodies and this favorite desk organizer from Ikea (“Fjälla”) carries most of my Elle’s Studio supplies.
Another one of my favorite things for my small space is my ephemera files. I only print my photos as I go, but I keep the ephemera until I get to scrap the trip, vacation or event I have collected them from into this portable file holder (from Target). Some of it actually never makes it into an album but being the sentimental person that I am, I hang on to it anyways.
I am actually big on upcycling as much as I can, which is my last tip for you: join your local “Buy Nothing” group if you have one—that’s where someone gifted me this washi container! Re-use boxes and spaghetti jars or vases in creative ways. Find baskets around the house that might fit right into your small space.
If you are wondering, my finished albums and well-used typewriter are set up in our living room.
Feel free to let me know if you have any questions regarding my organization or my space and I will be happy to answer them here in the comments. Thanks for stopping by today!
~ Nathalie
Wow! Thanks for sharing. Guess I need to start purging too. Love the organizer from Ikea!
Thank you Janice! I always feel better after a purge. I recommend the organizer from Ikea, it is awesome and very affordable at $7.99!
WOW! Time for a spring clean of my own, I think… #goals
I always feel so much better after a purge! #thankyou
Love your solution for mementos & ephemera!
Thank you Shelly!
Loved seeing your neat and tidy space, Nathalie!
Thank you Susan! I was a bit apprehensive because it is not a “real craft room” but I figured I was probably not the only one in a corner :D
Finally! A super cute space that is in a bedroom! That’s my set up too and I was feeling kind of frustrated with it but after seeing your cute and functional set up, I am inspired to reorganize and breathe new life into my own little space!!
Best comment! I often feel bad/envious when I see gorgeous scrapbooking rooms but when I am creating in my corner it really doesn’t matter anymore :) Clear up your space and get crafty!
Such a neat & organized creative corner of the world!
Thank you Kelly! It’s not often that clean ;)
I seem to go through spurts and organize and then reorganize again. It’s working better but still not right yet. Too hard to get at my things. I liked some of your tips, though, and realize that you don’t always have to buy things to get organized. I do find allot at the Dollar Tree store that I can use for storage. Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas!
You’re very welcome! I am a bit proponent of “use what you’ve got” even for organization :)
Thank you for this rare peek into your craft world! If you were not on a few design teams; would you still organize your ephemera by manufacture? If not; how would you organize it? Thanks!
Thank you Christine! I assume you are talking about my file holder? The ephemera in it is actually things I have picked up (tickets, brochures, maps, programs, etc) with the intention of adding it into my scrapbooks. It is not for manufacturers’ ephemera, but that would be a great idea! If that was the case I would probably organize them by color :)
Beautiful little corner of heaven. Thanks for sharing.
Awww that is so sweet. Thank you!
Hi Nathalie, what an inspiring post! I have probably 3 times as much space as you do, and WAAAAY too much stuff! so I’m curious — when you purge, what do you do with stuff? for example, I have paper that I’ve never used and probably never will; rubber and cling stamps I don’t really like and haven’t used in years or ever; and so on Do you sell some stuff? give it away? donate to Salvation Army or Goodwill?
thanks!
Hi Linda, I give to friends first and sell the rest. There are groups on Facebook where you can buy and sell supplies.
Hi Nathalie. How do you store your papers? Do you store then based on manufacturer if they are part of a kit? How about inks and sprays and stamps? Do you have an electronic cutting machine and/or die cutter. Do you have spellbinder or other thin dies? Since I am trying to be better at organizing but don’t seem to get a system in place.
Hi Nina, Pretty much all the papers I have at this point are in vertical storage boxes (purchased or made from upcycled flat rate boxes). There’s about three or four on my shelves. I am a kit lover and I have always kept kits together (also in those vertical boxes). Stamps are in those white shoe boxes on the shelves as well. Ink pads also on the shelves in a small basket or on the wall in front of me. I do not own an electronic die cutting machine but I do have a manual one sitting in a coat closet :) The few dies that I own are in a box under my table. I won’t lie things do get out of hand and often overflow but that’s when I know it is time to purge!
Your post was exactly what I needed. Our first ever guest room was supposed to become my craft room and due to unforeseen issues it didn’t work out. I’ve been so frustrated trying to figure this out . My current way too much stash fills one half of our kitchen and has to be moved. How many sq ft is your room. I saw the bookcase on the right , what storage do you use in that? Also, I see a smaller self to the right of your nightstand. What do you put there ? I would love to hear all details and decisions went into this room. Thank you so much !
So interesting! Thanks for sharing.
How do you manage to maintain this order on the table?
My table is almost always littered with scraps of past projects and all sorts of nonsense …
How do you keep paper cuts from projects?
Great way to maximize your limited space! Very organized and clean. :)