Make Over and De-Stash

 Before:  

I am continually refining the systems I use to scrapbook. And not so long ago changed the way I set up my desk. Then I did a class at Big Picture Classes that taught me some more about how I scrap. And then I was looking at some of the content and videos on Jennifer Wilson's Simple Scrapper website and realised I could do more, and I needed to have less.

It all started with some adjustments to one of these Ikea media boxes designed for CD's.

 

 

 Because all the stuff in these little drawers had outgrown their spot and were hard to access. Now they are all in the box I made which I can easily access and lift onto my table if I really want to have a good look through. 

And then somehow I got it into my head to have a bit of a purge....

 

 Yeah, just a bit.

170+ items later and 145 pieces of patterned paper.... zoikes!!

This is what I now have. I moved my most and least used colour boxes from my shelves to my desk so now it's easy to get to the things I most use and I'm more likely to use the things I want to use but never do.

As a result my shelves are emptier and also better laid out for access to things like my dies. I'm hoping when we move house that I'll have my Big Shot and sewing machine permanently out and accessible.

I even cleared out the bulk of the stuff that was under my desk- which included two A3 art folders of misc papers I had chucked in there when we moved from New Zealand. Putting it where it needed to be.

 I also took the shelves I had my Washi tape on and laid them flat to use for Project Life storage that is easier to get to and use.

 

 The Washi tape is now in my drawers because I ended up freeing up some in the purge. You can see my re-purposed Media box on the left above. And on the right you can see the drawers now hold my mists.

I cleared a lot of stuff from my cupboard which meant I had a whole shelf free at the bottom to store my fabric stash and knitting gear- which was previously in a basket on the top.

Freeing up space in the drawers meant I was able to move some things that I want to use more often  closer to me like my chalk inks (above) and sort something out for easier use like my sewing cottons (below).

The biggest part of my purge was probably wood mounted rubber stamps- I did have a photo box and a drawer full of them as well as the shelves below- now I just have the shelves below and a few more larger ones on another shelf where they are also easy to access. 

My acrylic stamps were also not safe from the purge. And I made sure to move all the remaining stamps (except alphabets) to this box to ensure I can see them all when I am looking for stamps to use.

I bagged up all my foam stamps and have yet to make a decision as to if they should join the purge or if I can change my process to use them- they are so versatile and cheaper than using Alphabets- plus it'd help use up all my paints.... decisions decisions.

Also in this process I got all my personal photos into a holding album so they are easier to see and therefore scrap. And worked on clearing the backlog of old photos  that were in the pocket page post a couple of days ago.

 

I went through a couple of drawers and boxes of ephemera that I had and purged and sorted for easier access and use. 

Somethings once loved and used often I had to sadly admit were well past their prime and only good for the bin.

I'll hopefully sell most of the stuff from my purge and make a bit of cash. I did already package some up to send to some friends and also passed some on to Will's teacher- so spreading the joy.

My key mantra as I did all of this was "I don't use this!" Every time I wavered on something pretty or expensive or special- I just said it again- "I don't use this." Or sometimes "I no longer want to use this or work this way!" Mini albums especially I had a whole heap waiting to become something- I don't want to spend my time on Mini albums- they take up too much space and generally don't tell enough stories as I would if I spent the time and effort on single pages. So the vast majority of my Mini albums went in the purge box.

I've never felt so good about my stash and my room and the state of my photos- now to just sit back and scrap. (Oh and get my stuff ready to sell). Until we move house in January when I get to pack it up and rearrange all over again- even better!

♥