How to Sort Colored Card Stock for Scrapbooking and Paper Crafts

Card stock is a sturdy paper suitable for many paper crafting projects.

If you are a serious scrapbooking enthusiast, you may find that before long your collection of card stock is getting out of control and difficult to manage. This can not only make it difficult to sort through and find the papers you want when you want them, but you put your precious papers at risk of being bent or damaged if you have to keep rifling through them to find what you need. Set aside some time to work out a system of organization to make your scrapbook and craft sessions easier.

Things You'll Need

• Paper storage units

Instructions

1. Decide on a storage unit for your card stock. If you have a small collection, or if you like to travel with your supplies to crops and classes, accordion-folders made large enough for scrapbooking paper is a good choice. For a more permanent solution, consider a filing cabinet, or use shallow stacking drawers, shelves and boxes that allow you to lay card stock flat.

2. Sort cardstock into two main piles: solids and patterns. This will make it easier to find what you want when you need it.

3. Divide your solid colored card stock further into color categories: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, white, gray, black and brown. If you have a large collection, you can put your stacks of colors in order from lightest to darkest shades.

4. Divide prints either by pattern or shapes. For example, you might divide them into piles for stripes, plaids, floral prints, shapes such as hearts and polka dots, holiday, birthday, nature prints or miscellaneous.

5. Arrange all your piles in your storage system compartments. Place your storage system where it is easy to reach. Label each shelf, drawer or folder so it is easier to find at your fingertips and so that when you run out you'll know exactly where to put a fresh supply.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a piece of scrap paper or cardboard on top of each pile in open storage systems to protect your card stock from dust. When using folders that stand up, place heavy duty cardboard pieces the same size as your card stock into the folder to help it stand so your card stock won't bend. Keep large envelopes around to collect and organize card stock scraps you can use for other projects.

References

• "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Scrapbooking"; Wendy Smedley; 2000