Lots of Scrapbook Paper? Use These Scrapbook Paper Organizers.

It's a lot more fun to do scrapbooking when your supplies are organized. Paper with patterns, colored paper and cardstock are vital to scrapbooking. Here are some scrapbook paper storage and scrapbook paper organization ideas to keep your scrapbook paper handy and in good shape.

♦You need to consider several things when choosing a scrapbook paper storage system. For instance, will your scrapbook paper storage system keep the dust off of the paper? If it's an open storage system the answer is no. You'd be amazed at how much dust collects on paper stored in open systems, such as in manila file folders in open crates or open file storage boxes. If you have allergies related to dust mites, you don't even need to see the dust on the paper to know it's there. It is. Lots of it!

♦Mobile file cart - You also want to consider if the storage system will bend or warp your paper. If you're not storing paper flat on a hard surface--such as you're storing it vertically in hanging folders in a mobile file cart --then yes, you do risk warping the paper. But if you're constantly replacing the paper, it may not sit there long enough to warp or get knocked around and bent or torn.

♦Stackable paper trays is a mostly open storage system unless you have the trays in a storage closet with doors when not in use. Paper trays can be very inexpensive to purchase. Check office supply stores for "plastic stackable paper trays". They're usually sold in sets of three or four. You can stack as many of these paper trays as you want vertically too. And your paper type and color is easy to view. Check the size. Often these trays fit letter-size paper and letter-size cardstock. You'll see them being used in tons of office settings. If you're paper is bigger than that, you'll need to know so you don't buy a paper tray that's too small.

♦Paper towers or cube storage can be mobile or stationary. An excellent scrapbook paper storage system is the Scrapbook Paper Tower or Paper Storage Rolling Cube pictured to the left. It's a scrapbook paper storage cube system on four casters with more than a dozen dividers; each shelf holds up to 12" X 12" sheets of paper stored flat. It's vertical storage so it takes very little space in your home. It's like having 23 racks of paper stacked vertically on top of each other in a little over a foot of space. Unfortunately, I don't know who carries it anymore. When I saw this one way back when I wrote this, it was carried by Organize.com and Taylor Gifts. It's called different names by different retailers so just look around for it.

♦You'll find some scrapbook paper storage cube systems on eBay. Obviously, the merchandise changes frequently on eBay, but you can search for Scrapbooking Paper Storage items there.

♦Tabletop scrapbook chests and containers like the one to the left offer flat storage in a compact space. This Scrapbook Chest pictured here from Organize.com has three individual scrapbook cases that can be removed from the mini scrapbook tower just as you see in the picture to the left. Note the recessed compartments on top for storing scissors and more. Since the cases are translucent, you can see without opening the drawers what color paper they each contain.

♦Literature sorters have deep compartments (sort of like small cube compartments) to store entire sheets of paper flat. You can fit about a ream of paper in each compartment. You usually have to assemble these yourself when you purchase them. Often stores have Literature Organizers on display so you can see what the finished product looks like. Sometimes they're made of corrugated material/cardboard. They're quite durable. You can label the front of each compartment with the color or type of paper. Typical literature sorters hold letter size paper. Go to any major office supply store to view one. Literature sorters will use more space in your home than a vertical paper storage tower. If you lay about three to five reams of paper side-by-side on your floor, that's how wide horizontally and deep a typical literature sorter is; some are smaller, some bigger.