Friday, April 22, 2011

Organizational {Friday} Dies, Dies, & More Dies!

If you haven't noticed, it seems most companies are making die cuts now. Organizing them can take a while and cost a lot. I have had a pile of Paper Trey Ink (PTI) dies in a drawer for some time because I didn't know how I was going to organize them. I didn't want to buy MORE Quickutz folders. I use those for my Spellbinders dies. You can see that post here. Anyway, that can get expensive especially since I was going to have to buy many more folders for the new dies from other companies.  For the time being, I kept the PTI dies in their ziploc bags in a drawer with the die name on the bag. Worked for a while until Our Daily Bread Designs and now Memory Box Co. have also come out with their own dies! Now I was asking myself how do I control the die cut madness. :) I LOVE dies but what should I do with them all?

Well, I ended up using the 3-ring binder method that I am sure you have seen zillions of people use. I think I am really, really going to like this for dies other than Spellbinders. If I like this and I find it holds more than the Quickutz folders, I may convert my Spellbinders to this also. Not sure yet. :)  Anyway, let's look at what I did which I am sure it is close to most other 3-ring binder methods out there. :)

Supplies
Here is what I used:

**Keep Filing ring binders (letter size, 8 1/2" x 11")
**Roll of 1/2" magnets
**Sturdy black cardstock
**Page protectors (heavy weight)
**Labeler

I really like the black cardstock because you don't see the magnets. I think a lot of other people use white cardstock, and I personally like the magnet to be "hidden." :)

Putting it Together
First, I separated my dies by manufacturer then category. The categories I am currently using are:

**Animals
**Banners
**Borders
**Circles
**Labels and Pockets
**Garden

Next I put two magnet strips on each piece of black cardstock and placed the dies for each category on a separate sheet. Then I put a label with the die name next to the die on the black cardstock.  Once the sheet was done, I put it down in the page protector. Notice how the magnets are hard to see on the black cardstock. Love that!




I also used the new Memory Box Double Ticket die to create my category tags at the top of each page.  I used the smallest ticket on the die and scored it at 3/4". Works perfectly!
I also typed up a die inventory in Excel since I know the names of a lot of the dies. It will be easier to look at the inventory and look up the page number where the die is so that I can quickly find what I am looking for. This inventory can be sorted by die name, manufacturer, category, or page. I printed it on white cardstock and placed in the front of my binder.

In creating this new binder, I have noticed that 5 pages in the binder take up a LOT LESS room than 5 Quickutz binders. I think I may be making a major switch this summer! Oh my!

Well, enjoy your Friday, and I pray this is helpful!  And for those of you interested, you can see all of the newest Memory Box dies just released by looking here. To see all of the Our Daily Bread Designs dies, look here. Blessings to each of you!
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9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Staggering amount of dies, as you say. For anyone else like me who hasn't invested in these, do the different systems work with each other's dies? All I've bought so far is a little Slice, which is electronic. Does anyone know of a tutorial for a complete neophyte with this stuff?
A meaningful Good Friday to you all.
--Jennifer in Ohio

Wallace said...

I just got the Quikutz folders and love them. I got rid of 5-7 CD holders per folder. My only concern about the 3 ring binder storage is the weight but saw you limited it to 5 sheets per binder. You must be using a narrow binder or you'd have a lot of shelf space used up. I'll never be as organized as you are but do appreciate you sharing your methods. I learn something each time.

Stephanie said...

Patter: I love this system for your dies. I didn't realize Memory Box had them now. I love the button dies. Now I have a couple questions:

Will they work with a Cuttlebug and/or other major machines like the nesties?

Where can I purchase the MB dies?

I'm glad you added the link to your Spellbinders storage post. I have been saving my packaging inserts but couldn't remember what I was supposed to do with them. LOL After re-reading that post, I now remember. I had to laugh!

Patter Cross said...

Glad y'all like this! And yes, Stephanie, the MB dies work in Cuttlebug, Big Shot, etc. Ellen Hutson has the dies in stock now. They were just released to stores so you should start seeing them. You can find them at Ellen's here:

http://www.ellenhutson.com/servlet/Categories

If the link doesn't work, type "Memory Box dies" in her store search box. Blessings,

Kelli Hull said...

OK, This is NOT A GOOD POST!!! LOL

I had NO IDEA of MB Dies, I am a DIE ADDICT... I DO appreciate all your organizational prowess and would LOVE to "borrow" you for a few weeks to get my craft room all organized not to mention my SOCK drawer ;) LOL

I LOVE this idea as I have already outgrown my magnetic shelving strips, TONS still saved up in the baggies they came in and NOW MB DIES!!! GRrrr.... :)

April said...

What a great post Patter!! I've grown my die collection ALOT over the past year and this looks like a great method to store them all. Thanks for the inspiration!
- April

Connie Mercer said...

I don't have that many but what a great organizing system for these. TFS!!!!

Just Jaime said...

Wow, way to get organized! Great job!

Stephanie said...

Thanks for the link, Patter. Boy, could that site ever be dangerous!!! ;)

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