Ephemera Storage Wars: Conquer the Clutter!

#craftroomorganization #cardmaking #ephemera
Discover effective strategies and expert tips to conquer the chaos of ephemera storage. I will provide you with practical solutions for a more organized space. Say goodbye to the struggle and embrace a tidier future!
Do you have a suggestion for ephemera storage? Let me know in the comments.
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[@villagecardandcrafts]

Do you have a tip on storage or organization of your ephemera?

[@kkrolf2782]

Ephemera is one “crafting product” I r e f u s e to “invest” in - money, OR SPACE! My only nod to the idea is a somewhat tattered, yellowed, paperback dictionary GIVEN AWAY at the library of teeny-tiny MN town, 2 pks of Tuesday’s tiny keys, a half-dozen spools / remnants of ribbon from long, long ago, and a maybe a dozen “icons” trimmed out of a 12” x 12” piece of paper. Because I’m a bit anal retentive, each category is housed in a 5” x 7” photo box (like the one you showed.). Looking back on the photos I’ve taken of the cards I’ve made, I seem to have stuck with projects using mostly paper layering and die cuts, some simple ink work, and usually computer-generated sentiments on the inside the cards. But I did enjoy seeing the containers you found at Ikea!! Thank you!

[@villagecardandcrafts]

Thank you! I admire your restraint! 😊

[@JaGorman-gw4og]

I have a stash of empty biscuit tins, baby milk tins and empty sweet tubs for bits and pieces

[@villagecardandcrafts]

Reduce reuse recycle! I like it.

[@Tradewindsvintagehi]

This helps! Thanks for sharing!❤

[@villagecardandcrafts]

You are so welcome! 😊

[@Dltp259]

Great ideas! I now accept I will never use some of my ephemera and plan to give it away. It’s taken me awhile to figure out what kind of crafter I am since I like doing way too many hobbies!

[@villagecardandcrafts]

It’s good to know when something just doesn’t work for you. I’ve done a ton of crafting over the years, as well. 😊

[@lenorascott5654]

Thank you so much for sharing this information. Although I already use most of these organizers, It helps to watch multiple times. Each carload I donate to an afterschool daycare helps. I am making progress by not buying new paper pads, but I keep printing clipart in different sizes so I have tons 0f fussy cut ephemera which I combine into clusters. One of my favorite free organizer is a tissue box. I cut the top at an angle on all four corners fold down and staple in order to have an open box. These are used for finished cards, envelopes, premade card bases, paper cut to 4 x 5 1/4 top layers, neutral inside layers, categories of ephemera, etc. Thanks! Now onto more of your videos.

[@villagecardandcrafts]

Thank you! Great tip about using tissue boxes! 😊

[@Malmo117]

You’re fortunate to live near ikea! Thanks for sharing organization ideas. 🙏🌸🤓

[@villagecardandcrafts]

Thank you for watching! I love IKEA and could spend hours there! 😊

[@sama.scraps]

Oh boy! That's me

[@villagecardandcrafts]

lol. I hope it helps! ❤️

[@sama.scraps]

@@villagecardandcrafts I might be beyond help! Jk yes it did!

[@villagecardandcrafts]

Terrific 😊

[@brendamaun5455]

I love my mushroom containers. I mainly use them when I'm sorting pieces when building a jigsaw puzzle.

[@villagecardandcrafts]

That’s a great idea! I mainly do digital puzzles these days, but I love it! Those containers are so versatile! 😊

[@brendamaun5455]

@@villagecardandcrafts my sister was just trying to convince me last night to do digital puzzles but I like the Hands-On kind.

[@SerenitySharesStuff]

Hi W. I use those white plastic drawers from Walmart to control my crafts. I have a10 drawer roller cart. The key is to label and tidy up often. Great video. Miss you. Barbara from Mulberry

[@villagecardandcrafts]

Great tip! Thanks Barbara! I appreciate you watching and commenting! Miss you,too! ❤️

[@prettyrichgirl2007]

Nice ideas...

[@villagecardandcrafts]

Glad you like them!😊

[@shychckcrafter]

Love this video. I am trying to re-do my craftroom, and it is a small room. I had to add a table, but i am stuck on putting stuff away and in the right container, and if i dont see it, i forget it. I am terrible at craft organizations. I dont know why. Lol. I am stuck, but i love this video, but i just can't get the right stuff to fit the right stuff. You know what i mean..lol, but at least your advice does help. Thank you. Have a great night

[@villagecardandcrafts]

You can do it! ❤️

[@dariasikorski7217]

My blingy ephemera I store in plastic boxes by type so pearls and dots in one, jewels in another, sequins in a third and so on. My paper ephemera is stored in different ways. If it’s something that came with card kits then they stay with the kits, if it’s stickers they are stored in a couple drawers. Those are the ones I need to figure out how to store better. Unfortunately we do not have an IKEA store anywhere near us. Thanks for sharing some great storage options.

[@villagecardandcrafts]

You’re welcome! I hope you get it sorted out. 😊

[@stephanieheiler2327]

I only have a little crafting corner in our living room, so I have to be very organized 'cause I don't have a lot of space. I've two Kallax units and a selfmade shelf that works as a divider between my crafty area and the rest of the living room and I made it so I can use it as a counter to put things to dry or if I need to work standing up. I've no closed cabinets or shelves everything is open so I can see what's inside. I've everything in clear fridge containers in various sizes sorted by ... ah ... purpose? So one container stores all my liquid glues another all the tapes like double sided and clear tape. Every container stores a certein type of stuff. For all my ink pads i've made a storage unit out of greyboard tha sits on top of one of my shelves. I store my ephemera in clear envelopes sorted by theme . These envelopes I have in a box (like in a index card box but bigger) in one of my shelves so I can easely get them out look through take out the envelopes I need and put the box back on its place. Because I've a very limited space I've everything organized around me. Everything is in clear containers and in one arms reach. Works great for me. And of course I am not an impulse buyer. I only buy what I need and use. If I see something I put it on my wishlist and if weeks later I still need it then I put it in my card. And I always make bigger purchases to save shipping costs so I only purchase stuff every few month 'cause I'm on a not so great budget too. Maybe that's helpfull for someone.

[@villagecardandcrafts]

Yes! That’s extremely helpful! I like things to be at arms reach, as well! Thank you for your excellent description! ❤️

[@elizabethbuikema5640]

Thank you so much for the tips! Hoping to control the chaos 😁

[@villagecardandcrafts]

You’re welcome! You’ve got this! ❤️

[@pamspicer97]

I have more than my share of ephemera and thanks for your great ideas. Love your Randy, by the way! I have several in my closet and I love wearing them.

[@villagecardandcrafts]

Thanks! I only have two Randy’s (both Disney of course). I tend to break them out when it’s cooler. I live in Florida so it’s rarely 😂. Tonight we get down to freezing though!

[@agardener3621]

I swear Google is spying on me. Only last week I got so overwhelmed with the mess, I packed everything into a large suitcase and went to my local library. I took over an entire table and grouped everything into 5 main categories. I then went through each category and broke them down ie; Animals into birds, fish, butterflies, mammals etc. Each group was placed into a plastic sleeve then into a ring binder. Without the distractions of home, and having the space to spread everthing out, I completed this task in just under 4 hours. My stamps and dies are also stored in ring binders. I keep stamp sets together with stencils, embossing folders and dies. In separate ring binders I have stamped all the images in groups ie a sheet of all the bird stamps each image is them labelled with the ring binder number and page. The same follows with dies etc. Now when I am working on a project, instead of having to look through 20 ring binders for a stamp, I go to the stamp catalogue where I can see all my bird images and select the one suitable. I keep the catalogue near my desk. When I pull out a stamp set for a project, I add all the stamps to the catalogue.

[@villagecardandcrafts]

I have 3 binders with all my images cataloged as well. Works wonders! Going to the library was a fantastic idea! Thanks for sharing! 😊

[@donnamcnair6730]

You must have a very accommodating library.

[@agardener3621]

@@donnamcnair6730 🙂 Funny you say tha, I was dismayed at first as there were one or two people at each table when i arrived. I managed to soread further as two of the chaps at my table left. The last chap was using a laptop and I think more interested in his music and my images than doing any work.😆

[@fernzazzetta4651]

Oh my goodness, I need some of those storage items you showed us… my craft room is chaos! 🫣 I know where most things are 🤔 but I could do with “ Blind Purging”… 😳 Thank you for those awesome ideas! 👌🏻🩷🐨🌺

[@villagecardandcrafts]

I’m glad it was helpful! You’ve got this! 🩷

[@ICanCreateThat]

I have the hardest time with ribbon, baubbles, jewelry bits, gems, crystals, and random stuff that I would use as random items in different wild projects. I have absolute panic attacks thinking about getting rid of that one perfect ephemera item that I know I'm gunna need when the inspiration bulb goes off. My excuse is that they're organized. However, you're right. They're starting to get packed full within their organization system and that means it's time to let some of the stuff go. One suggestion that I like to add is having one organization bin that I put the current project I'm working on in so I can clear a table if I need to at a moments notice. That way I'm not having to put everything away and then go dig my supplies out of where they're normally stored when its time to work on the project again. And then being in one bin I can more easily put the items back away when the project is complete since I can just carry the bin with me instead of going back and forth. I have a small apartment and my organization systems are in different locations based on what looks nice. Living with all my supplies is harder than living with my kids. 😂

[@villagecardandcrafts]

I don’t like getting rid of anything…ever (hence my storage unit). I use a lid to keep my current project inside of while it’s in pieces also. It does make it so much easier to clean up and find again. Thank you for sharing! 😊

[@ICanCreateThat]

@@villagecardandcrafts yeah. I don't even want to talk about my storage unit. 😆🙋🏼‍♀️ It's a bit scary but I'm coming to terms with downsizing to get rid of the extra expense of just storage. It is nice to have a place to put my holiday decorations though.

[@villagecardandcrafts]

@WendyLady I hate to admit this but…. I had 3 storage units and a parking spot at a storage unit for my Rv when we lived down south. I’m down to one unit and one spot! I’d like to save the $$ and get rid of the unit but I have to sell a golf cart first.

[@ICanCreateThat]

@@villagecardandcrafts the struggle is real. I'm trying to realize that my survival is not dependent on what's in my storage. But my mother having to move soon and having too much stuff is reminding me why I need to stop and make realistic choices.

[@franmc6797]

I tried small acrylic drawers but I don’t remember to look at them. I’ve decided not to buy ephemera, I struggle to use it or I only use part of them. Now I’m using stamped images and things I cut with my dies. I have them sorted in the small stamp storage envelopes which I labelled and can just pull the container over and flick through them. It’s working really well, I’m sure it will change at some point.

[@villagecardandcrafts]

Out of sight - out of mind. Yes, I get it. I don’t have much at all and have stamped images as well. I keep mine in baseball card pockets in a binder. Thank you! 😊

[@evesmith8985]

As a scrapbooker, I like to keep it in 4x6 Iris containers and then in the 12x12 Iris containers by theme. I also have some 4x6 Iris containers in the plastic bin that holds a bunch of them in it. I use those for die cuts that I don't have 12x12 Iris container themes for.

[@villagecardandcrafts]

Thanks for sharing Eve! ❤️

[@jac4YouTube]

I use to store ephemera in a cardboard box but was always forgetting what was in there, now i store them in a clear plastic covered container so i can see at a glance and are more likely to use. Oh and i sort by theme in ziplock sandwich bags.

[@villagecardandcrafts]

Excellent choice! Out of sight out of mind is definitely real. Thank you for sharing. 😊

[@bethrogers5656]

I get a couple kit subscriptions, and will also purchase one offs that I like. The “pizza box closure style” boxes they come in are sturdy and perfect for sorting things like ephemera as well as paper scraps. I also use them as project boxes, especially for doing multiples of the same card, or detailed 3D makes with lots of small pieces. Unfortunately, I’ve collected bits from travels (like ticket stubs, restaurant business cards, mini maps, decorative paper used to wrap things I buy) meaning to make travel journals, have stuff from years ago when I did more multimedia collage pieces, and also save extra pieces that I die cut but don’t use for a project. And some of the kits contain die cuts that I don’t use. So, there’s quite a lot of ephemera that I need to sort through, and for me sifting through shoeboxes full of unsorted ephemera to find the “right piece” is too messy and time consuming. So, I like the idea of sub categories sorted into smaller bags. Thank you for the ideas!

[@villagecardandcrafts]

Great uses for your subscription boxes! I get that having to sort through large quantities of product for one 8mage is tough. I’d get frustrated and have to sort. Thank you for sharing! 😊

[@Amaliel_Mirael]

Paper around me 😂 trying to keep it

[@villagecardandcrafts]

It’s a struggle lol

[@frannypannyatpawsnpaints]

I'm a junk journaler/memory keeper and just found your channel. I appreciate the suggestions you made here. I just started a sorting series on my channel and need all the help I can get lol Edited to ask... I'm new to making videos, do you mind sharing what program you use for editing? Thank you again for sharing

[@villagecardandcrafts]

Sure! I use iMovie. Good luck on your channel! Thank you for watching and commenting! 😊

[@user-st1zq6oz7c]

Show how you are storing the ephemera

[@villagecardandcrafts]

Yes, thank you. I did.

[@normaedlemon92]

I need help with mounds of paper pads When my husband past away, I started buying paper pads after, paper pads.. I still love using them but, my gosh I can’t find anything. I look like a hoarder. I was just trying to get through the days. How do I organize ?

[@villagecardandcrafts]

Hello! How do you currently store them? Approximately how many do you think you have?

[@normaedlemon92]

@@villagecardandcrafts I imagine I have over a hundred, they are not in any order. I put some in totes, but they are too heavy to lift, some are in iris containers. Just what ever I have.

[@villagecardandcrafts]

Ok next question: what size(s) do you mainly have? Do you have any type of shelving you can dedicate to your collection? I have some ideas but I’m looking for something that will work for you specifically.

[@normaedlemon92]

@@villagecardandcrafts I have 4 pull out racks from Michaels. Their tall maybe 8 shelves . I have brick walls so no hook up shelving.

[@villagecardandcrafts]

@normaedlemon92 I’d like to see your racks. Can you email me a picture of them? [e-mail] or post a picture of them on my Facebook group?