Cricut Cartridges, Books and Overlays Organized!

As promised, here is my new organization for my cricut cartridges, boxes and overlays! They are divided into two IKEA boxes - A-L and M-Z. The boxes were too deep for the folders, so I bought 1" foam at Joann's, and cut a piece to fit the bottom of the box. It raised the bottom just enough so they files are not lost in the box. I like to keep my cartridges separate from the books and overlays, and I keep them in the plastic boxes I bought in the craft section at Walmart. Since I use Cricut Design Studio quite a bit, I usually don't need the book and over lay. The original Cricut boxes looked nice all lined up on my shelf, but for some reason they visually bothered me. Maybe it was because whenever anyone saw them lined up on the shelf, they usually commented on how many cartridges I own. Now that being said, I am grateful for all my cartridges, but it was usually just an awkward moment! I laugh because considering some of the people on the Cricut Message Board have WAY many more carts then I do, I find it funny!

I made a folder for each cartridge using a .cut file from Cindy McVey on her blog: http://crazy4crafting.blogspot.com/. I think this file was originally created to use in the Snapware method of storing carts. I'm not crazy about the clear boxes and couldn't stand the colors of the lids of the ones I did find in the store, so I didn't want to use Snapware. I will say, make sure if you are going to cut the files to use to store the books and overlays, you make SURE they fit in your box. This IKEA box is the only one that I could find that was wide enough, and since Cindy's file is so great, I didn't want to mess with it! Anyways, it took me quite awhile to cut and assemble files for all the books and overlays. I used double sided tape, white cardstock, and then being a little obsessive, I had to make labels for each. I decided to cut all the files, left and right only, and I figure when I add cartridges, I will make folders with the tab in the center. I cut all the files left and just flipped them over as I was assembling them to make them on the right. I am just so happy this project is done.

In case anyone is wondering, I am packing the original boxes away along with the original packing from the Cuttlebug folders. I know some people get rid of them, but since I have a box and the place in the closet, I may as well hang onto them!

Last but not least, I made a paperclip for my calendar today! Not a huge project, but it made me happy!

New Mailbox and Paper Clip

Made another mailbox and a cute paperclip to match! Used Martha Stewart heart punch, cuttlebug stamp folder and die, spellbinders small scalloped square, Martha Stewart heart lace border punch, sparkle heart brad from Target, pink mailbox from Target ribbon from Michaels and K and Co Lovely paper. The giant paperclip is from Staples, made with same paper and ribbons. Scallop circles are cut with spellbinders. This one is for my mom and dad!

Cuttlebug Folders are Organized!

I did it! I used a file created by Okie on the Cricut message board to organize all my Cuttlebug folders! Each folder has a file with the image embossed on the front of it - I also embossed another piece of paper to include in my binder. I did edit Okie's cut file to accomodate the smaller and border folders. It isn't the best cut file, but it worked for what I needed.

Tonight I am going to assemble all the folders for the Cricut overlays and books while I watch PROJECT RUNWAY!

Organization, Purging and Removing Cricut Pages

As I continue on my quest to organize the studio, I am also purging! I decided to send some of my stuff over to Scrap Tales to include in their garage sale at the end of the month. For everything you sell, you get the profits put on a Scrap Tale gift card! So, of course, my intentions are to get rid of stuff that I don't use, and.......buy more Copic markers!!

This afternoon was quite liberating! I actually REMOVED the foreign language pages from all my Cricut books. As silly as it is, I was worried about removing the pages, and altering the books from their original format. Wow! Was I wrong on this one. I can't believe how much smaller the books are and how much easier the pages turn in them. I plan on cutting out folders for each book and overlay and storing them all in one box. As cool as I think all the cartridge boxes look lined up on my IKEA Lack shelf, it is not the best system. I still plan on keeping all the cartridges in the small box I have them in separate from the overlays and books, but it will free up some visual space for me.

I have decided to keep all my Copics in one box and use a wood box that has been sitting on my kitchen counter to organize by color some markers and color pencils. I am also trying to come up with a better system for organizing my Cuttlebug folders.

I'll post some photos of all my progress later.

Decorated Metal Valentine Mailbox from Target

I was so excited the other day when I saw these metal mailboxes at Target! Many very talented papercrafters have been decorating them since last year, and I thought I would give it a try. Very easy project! The paper is last year's valentine paper by K&Company. The stamp cut is from cuttlebug along with the embossed love image. The heart is cut from the new Cricut Love Struck, and the small heart in the middle is a Martha Stewart sticker. The paper around the edges is the new Martha Stewart heart doily punch. Someone has created a cut file, but I just cut the paper 4x12 inches to cover the box. The ends are covered with paper cut by tracing the ends.

Penny Black Cards with Copic Markers

Here is a series of cards I made using my Copic markers with Penny Black stamps. I love how I can use the markers to make the images have such depth! I really love the new Martha Stewart scoring board - to be able to make envelopes to match the cards is so much fun!