Album, Cardstock & Paper Organization

Today, I'm going to share with you my organization for my albums, cardstock, and papers. This system is all being changed up now that I have made a 100% commitment to pocket scrapbooking, but I will share with you the changes when they are finished.

I love paper. I make no bones about it. If you don't absolutely love pretty paper, I am not sure we can be friends. I mean, how can you not love paper? I mean seriously!

I have tens of thousands of sheets of paper. No joke. I used to buy multiple sheets of my favorites, the ones I couldn't live without, the ones I knew I would use over and over and over and over etc. I have paper for almost every theme imaginable. I even had cowboy paper....I'm not a cowboy. Don't know any....don't ride horses either. One of our dogs used to wear bandanas so I think I started adding to the theme because of Oscar. I'll use the paper with some of my farm visits. No shortage of them around here! That's one of the reasons I absolutely looooooooooove living in the Finger Lakes.

All of my 12x12 papers are in 13x15 zipper bags. Each bags contains one collection. And by collection I mean Apple Cider from BoBunny, Silhouette from Close to My Heart, Alpine Frost from SEI, Cupcake from Basic Grey....does that give you an idea what I mean? I sort by theme not brand because...well...you'll see in a minute. A picture is worth a thousand words or 12 thousand in this case. :)

Each cubby on my Expedit contains a theme or several themes. The Expedit isn't labeled with the categories.  I kept that list on my MacBook. I made numbered labels for my Expedits....yup that is plural. I have 2 of the 25 cube Expedits. You'll see the second one soon! I should do a blog post about the labels I made, too.

So that's my messy paper collection. Ugh. Remember, I don't like messy. I'm probably the most anal scrapbooker alive. I have to clean as I scrapbook. I can't stand having the table covered with stuff. I just get so stressed. It's so weird. Anyway, this paper arrangement is in for a major overhaul!

My second Expedit holds my mountain of cardstock and my completely and empty albums. A few themes of my paper collection are stored here.....they don't fit in the other one. The top rows have empty and full albums. The bottom contains fabric bins from Ikea that hold my cardstock. The cardstock is all sorted by color. I have plastic inserts in each bin that divide the colors. I sort the cardstock by ROY G BIV and Browns and Blacks. Browns include the creams and ivories. Backs include the greys and whites. The cardstock sheets are all standing up in these bins. This Expedit, too, is going to be remodeled in the near future.

I know Ikea does not make the Expedit anymore. Big, huge sad face. I love them! I know I'm not the only crafter who loves them. Ikea replaced the Expedit with the Kallax. I believe the Kallax only comes in 20 cubes though. I could be totally wrong! I haven't seen them in person yet. I will next month when I go to Charlotte! I'm off to Raleigh for a huge crop. My understanding is that inside of the cubes are the same dimensions so they will still hold scrapbook albums!

Stop back tomorrow for a post on the numbered labels I created for my Expedits. I'm going to dig out the photos right now! :)

Title Pages

Even though I pocket scrapbook now, everything hasn't changed. For a few years, I've been making Title Pages to separate my layouts in albums. This was something I decided to keep doing in my pocket scrapbooking albums. I think it will be great for our vacations and trips. My plan is to put all of my 2015 photos in chronological order instead of individual albums. I used to have an album or two for a day at the zoo, several for a weekend at a NASCAR race, an album or two or three for the nephews, several albums for our furkids, countless for vacations - each day could be up to 3 albums.

Sounds awesome, right? Sure. If you have a place to stick all of those albums! And who wants to lug 3 or 4 or 5 heavy, oversized, overstuffed albums off of a shelf drag them to the couch to show people? Excuse me while I get me shopping cart! Yeah, not exactly fun. And seriously, who wants to look at your 20 layouts of the same 3 monkeys eating lettuce? LOL No comment! I may or may not have 20+ pages of a group of monkeys monkeying around.

How do I make my Title Pages? Well, for one thing, they all are 12x12. I saved 12x12 page protectors just for this purpose. The base is a piece of paper.....they may or may not be matted onto cardstock. It all depends on how they fit into the page protector. Some of the Title Pages are a tad thick and some papers aren't true 12x12 - some are something like 11 3/4 x 11 3/4. The gaps make me nuts!

I use paper that goes with the theme of the event, place, animal, person, what have you.I use a lot of die cuts! I make some on my Cricut, my Silhouette, and I buy a number of them. I also use stickers, stamps, and mixed media.

Here are a few that I finished awhile ago. I have sort of scrapbooked the photos from these adventures. The layouts have been waiting for up to 5 years for embellishing. Pretty sure that's not going to happen. I'm going to reprint the photos and pocket scrapbook them. They won't take up 5+ albums this way either.

About 5 years ago we went on a huge Southern vacation. It was 2 1/2 weeks long and we visited 6 Southern states. These Title Pages are for that trip. I have others to make.

First up is my Charleston, SC one. Surprisingly, Charleston does have beaches! There's even a lighthouse that I still need to see. We spent a few days looking for the sites they used to make the movie The Notebook. This is my favorite movie ever made and my favorite book. Walking across the street to the theater on King Street where they laid in the street was absolutely amazing! I'm not sure if this Title Page is completely done or not. I won't know until it goes into my album. There will be another on the back that covers the days events and sites.

Next is the one for Wilmington, NC. I had no idea that Wilmington had lots of palm trees. I also didn't realize that it was on the Cape Fear River. I thought it was on the coast....as in the Atlantic Ocean...Apparently, I didn't study the map too well. It's a pretty cool little town. I can see why tons of movies and tv shows are made there. This Title Page has a seashell metal charm on it. Not sure if this one is complete either yet.

We made sure to hit the Outer Banks on this trip. Finally got to see the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse! You can see the base from where it used to be. Several years ago, they had to move it 1 mile inland. It's amazing how close to the edge of the ocean it was.

This Title Page has little teeny, tiny shells glued on with Glossy Accents. You may remember me talking about the greatest paper crafting store ever built formerly known as Colorful Creations. The store was on Cape Cod....oh darn another excuse to hit the Cape! Jayne sold these teeny, tiny little shells there and I may have a stockpile of them. Jayne still hosts Crop on the Cape in mid-March and I will be there!

We also spent time in Georgia. Had to go to the Georgia Aquarium. At the time, it was the largest aquarium in the world by volume. Walking through the tunnel with fish and sharks swimming around you is an amazing experience.

Notice the post it note? Yeah, I bring a stack of them along with a Sharpie to every crop. I always have something to finish up at home. This Title Page is not complete and the post it says so. There's a thick 12x12 clear transparency sheet that sits on top of this paper. The note says to mix ink with Glossy Accents and make bubbles. I want to try this on a transparency scrap before I do it on the real page in case it doesn't work well or looks like a hot mess.

Another stop was Savannah, GA. I absolutely love historic houses and Savannah has plenty of them. It's also the birthplace of the Girl Scouts and Forrest Gump was filmed here. There's a great park that's definitely worth checking out. Lots of fun, little shops, too. We did a river cruise and ate at Paula Deen's Lady & Sons restaurant. I absolutely love her BBQ sauce! First time I ever had a Johnnycake and it was quite tasty.

There's another post it! I need to cut out a magnolia for this Title Page. I know I want it big. I may see if I have any magnolia stickers also. This paper is from a tropically beach kit from Creative Imaginations. Remember them? They had the BEST beach/ocean papers every year.

Well, those are the ones I have waiting for a home. I'll be making more soon and I'll share them with you!

Cyber Monday Sale

The Cyber Monday Sale begins at midnight EST and ends Tuesday at midnight EST. Have questions? Send me a message! 
Don't forget you must join our Facebook group to see what items are available. Join us on Inky Hot Mess.

Close To My Heart Stamps sizes A, B, C, and D are $3 off! 
Close To My Heart Stamps E size and kits are $5 off!
House Mouse stamps over $5 are $2 off!
SEI ink pads are $1!
Close To My Heart cardstock alphabet stickers are $0.50 each!
All 6x6 paper pads are $3 each!
Close To My Heart Background & Texture papers are $2 off!
Close To My Heart Level 1 Kist are $2 off!
Close To My Heart Base Pages are $2 off!
All albums are $2 off!
We R Memory Keeper stickers are $1
Washi Tape is $0.50 off!
Studio G stamps are $0.75!
Ranger Adirondack Ink Pads are $1!
Karen Foster Design stickers are $0.50!
Cuttlebug die sets (set of 4 dies) are $3!

Black Friday Sale!

Happy Gobble Gobble Weekend! 

HUUUUUUUUGE Black Friday Sale is happening NOW here at Inky Hot Mess. 

This sale runs from NOW until Saturday at 12 midnight EST. 

ALL items are 25% OFF!!!

EXCLUDING the paper boxes! They are 10% off and shipping is included!

You MUST join the Inky Hot Mess Facebook group. Just ask to join and once approved, check out the photo albums. Everything available has a photo, description, and price listed. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/211504655531278/

Why do you have to be approved to join the group? It's nothing personal. Really it isn't. I'm trying to keep spammers out. People live to spam others and it's just plain annoying! 

Lots of creations will be back next week. Along with some announcements. Something huuuuge will be announced in January. I'm super excited about many things that are in the works! 

Happy Shopping! 

Last Day of Autumn Sale!

Today is that last day of the Inky Hot Mess Autumn Sale! There are so many items still available and on sale! Here's a sampling of what is still available:

ALBUMS! 

Memories Direct Album $6

8" x 8" Blue & green album includes 10 page protectors from Memories Direct $8  SALE $6

Christmas Present Mini Scrapbook $3

Red Christmas Present Mini Scrapbook includes mini album, 20 papers, 16 chipboard diecuts, 20 stickers, 15 cardstock diecuts, reusable tote and mailing padded envelope $4 SALE $3

The album measures 5 3/4" x 5"

DIES!

Quickutz Cornucopia Die $3

Quickutz Cornucopia Die 4x4 set of 2 dies $4 SALE $3

Tim Holtz Caged Bird Die $12

Tim Holtz Caged Bird Die $14 SALE $12

INKS!

Close To My Heart Ink Pads $4

Brand NEW Close To My Heart Ink Pads. Still SEALED! Left to Right: Garnet (Retired Color), Moonstruck (Retired Color), Ponderosa Pine, Cranberry $5 each SALE $4

KITS!

Close To My Heart triple Play Album Kit $20

Close To My Heart Triple Play Album Kit includes My Acrylix Love This C Size Stamp Set, Ink Cubes (Desert Sand, Hollyhock, Sunset, and Indian Corn Blue), Instruction Booklet, 3 Mini Albums, 3 Sheets of Die Cuts, Colonial White Grosgrain Ribbon. $25 SALE $20

PAPERS!

Authentique Thankful Paper Pad $5

Thankful - 6"x6" - Authentique - $6 SALE $5

This is just a sampling of all the goodies you will find on sale at Inky Hot Mess! The sale ends today! This is your last chance for Autumn, Halloween, and Thanksgiving goodies to be heavily discounted. 

Happy Shopping!

Autumn Sale - 1 Day Left!

There's only 1 - YES 1 - day left in the Inky Hot Mess Autumn Sale! There's a lot on sale. There are a few items that are 50% off! Everything autumn related is on sale including Halloween and Thanksgiving. All albums, kits, and Close To My Heart ink pads are also on sale. 

Here's a peek at some of the stamps that are still available:

Give Thanks - Close To My Heart

W2013 Give Thanks My Acrylix stamp set from Close To My Heart $5 Brand New Retired. 

These sets were never sold in the Idea Book. A 1"x1" Close To My Heart Acrylic Block is included.

Sale Price: $4 until October 15th!

Thriller - Close To My Heart

D1442 Thriller My Acrylix stamp set from Close To My Heart $17 Brand New Retired

Sale Price: $15 until October 15th!

Cornucopia - Inkadinkado

Cornucopia from Inkadinkado $2 Brand New

Sale Price: $1.50 until October 15th!

Crows - Inkadinkado

Crows from Inkadinkado $2 Brand New

Sale Price: $1.50 until October 15th!

Autumn Leaves - Inkadinkado

Autumn Leaves from Inkadinkado $2 Brand New

Sale Price: $1.50 until October 15th!

Jack-o-Lantern - Inkadinkado

Jack o' Lantern from Inkadinkado $2 Brand New

Sale Price: $1.50 until October 15th!

Want to see what stamps on sale? Then visit the Inky Hot Mess Facebook Stamps album. Click here.

Want to see all of the goodies on sale at Inky Hot Mess? Click here.

Remember, all of these items go back to regular prices tomorrow! 

Where's What?

Pull up a chair....

Yes, folks I have added hundreds - literally - of items to the Inky Hot Mess Facebook group. You name it, it's there! I'm in the home stretch now. I can really see the light at the end of the tunnel and I should have everything photographed and uploaded by the end of next week.....assuming nothing crazy happens in life. 

For your shopping pleasure, I have uploaded everything into folders on Facebook. Each album is a different category. This is making it sooooo much easier for all of us to find things! Much easier to keep this updated as well.

The Rules.....

PayPal for payments ONLY unless you are local and then cash ONLY

Shipping is from New York (and not the city!) 

International shipping is available - I do have to warn you that it is costly!

Please pay your PayPal invoice within 24 hours. If you don't and I receive no communication from you, the items are no longer yours. First come first serve!

USPS for shipping - Priority Mail or First Class - whichever is cheaper 

FedEx Ground is available (Required for very heavy orders and high dollar orders)

The Rules are subject to change!

How to Place an Order:
It's simple! Send me a Private Message (PM) through the Inky Hot Mess Facebook group. Please include the exact name of the item from the photo, your zip code so I can calculate shipping for you, and your PayPal address.

You may also send me an email. The Inky Hot Mess email address can be found in the upper left corner of this blog. Please include all of the info listed above!

And now the photo albums:

Albums
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.736929409655464&type=1

Die Cutting & Embossing
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.736948776320194&type=1

Ink Pads & Markers (Including Copics)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.736953419653063&type=1

Kits (Includes Stamp & Paper Kits)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.737295566285515&type=1

Papers (Includes Stacks, Packs, and Individual Sheets)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.737295922952146&type=1

Stamps (Includes Rubber & Clear)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.737296112952127&type=1

Stamp Accessories
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.737296529618752&type=1

Washi Tape
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.737296729618732&type=1

Alphabets
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.737316642950074&type=1

Embellishment Bundles
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.737319246283147&type=1

Stickers
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.737322966282775&type=1

Miscellaneous (Includes Card Kits, Storage & Organization, Stencils, Calendars, Books, Layouts, and More)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.737292789619126&type=1

Happy shopping!

Crazy Sale!

HUGE SALE! 

Hurry! First come, first serve. Sale prices end on October 15th!

All autumn and Halloween items are on sale!

 Most dies are included.

All albums are under $8! They range 4"x4" to 12"x12".

Close To My Heart ink pads are only $4 each! 

Stamps, stamping accessories, and stamping kits are also on sale. 

Layouts and kits are included.

Card kits and books on sale.

Paper including 6"x6" stacks and Close To My Heart  paper packs are also on sale.

For Sale Items

Instead of creating 150 million blog posts that can be challenging to go through and find things I have decided to put all of the items I have for sale on the Inky Hot Mess Facebook page. I believe this will be far easier to keep track of and find items.

I have started uploading items. I have been creating albums for various categories. I am hoping this will make it easier for all of us! It's much easier to delete a photo from Facebook once an item sells than try to go back and find the blog post and mark it as sold.

Here's what has been uploaded so far:

Ink Pads & Markers

Albums

Die Cutting & Embossing

I will be adding much more today. I will post on here when there's more. Also there will be a sale on all autumn and Halloween items later this week!

Close To My Heart Items For Sale

Today I am posting several retired items from Close To My Heart for sale. The items will be available exclusively on Inky Hot Mess for a week. After a week, whatever hasn't sold will be moved to my Etsy store. If you'd like an item, please contact me! Prices may be slightly higher on Etsy due to the fees they charge. Shipping is not included in the price. US sales only. PayPal only for payment as well. You can pay with a credit card through PayPal and you don't need a PayPal account for payment. All items will be shipped via USPS.

ALL items are brand NEW unless otherwise stated. ALL items come from a smoke free studio!

Shimmer Designer Brads $3 SOLD

~Shimmer Designer Brads - $3 - Retired - Copper, Silver, Bronze - Set of 27 SOLD

Creative Clips $3

~Creative Clips - $3 - Retired - Set of 12

Triple Play Album Kit $25

3 Mini Albums

Die Cuts

Love This My Acrylix Stamp Set

Hollyhock Mini Album Instructions

Indian Corn Blue & Desert Sand Mini Album Kits

~ Triple Play Album Kit - $25 - Retired - Kit Makes 3 Albums - Everything needed to make 3 mini albums is included (except adhesive and a stamp block) -  Includes: "Love This" C-Size My Acrylix Stamps, Ink Cubes - Desert Sand, Indian Corn Blue, Sunset & Hollyhock, Instruction Booklet, 3 Mini Albums, 3 Sheets of Die Cuts, Colonial White Grosgrain Ribbon - 3 Kits Available

I'm also including a free gift with every purchase made until August 31, 2013! Want something? Have questions? Email me.

Albums & Mini Books For Sale Part 2

I have a few more albums and mini books for sale. The items will be available exclusively on Inky Hot Mess for a week. After a week, whatever hasn't sold will be moved to my Etsy store. If you'd like an item, please contact me! Prices may be slightly higher on Etsy due to the fees they charge. Shipping is not included in the price. US sales only. You can pay with a credit card through PayPal and you don't need a PayPal account for payment. All items will be shipped via USPS. 

ALL items are brand NEW unless otherwise stated. ALL items come from a smoke free studio!

12" x 12" Purple, Pink & Green Album $12

~ 12" x 12" Purple, pink & green album includes 10 page protectors from Memories Direct $12

Dream Word Book $3

~ Dream word book $3

3" x 3" Close To My Heart Mini Album $3

~ 3" x 3" White Mini Album from Close To My Heart includes page protectors (still sealed) $3

Red Christmas Present Mini Scrapbook $4

Red Christmas Present Mini Scrapbook $4

~ Red Christmas present mini scrapbook from Colorbok $4 includes mini present album, 20 papers, 16 chipboard die cuts, 20 stickers, 15 cardstock die cuts, reusable tote, and padded mailing envelope

I'm also including a free gift with every purchase made until August 31, 2013! Want something? Have questions? Email me.

Albums & Mini Books For Sale

Today I am posting several albums and mini books for sale. The items will be available exclusively on Inky Hot Mess for a week. After a week, whatever hasn't sold will be moved to my Etsy store. If you'd like an item, please contact me! Prices may be slightly higher on Etsy due to the fees they charge. Shipping is not included in the price. US sales only. Shipping is extremely expensive outside the US. PayPal only for payment as well. You can pay with a credit card through PayPal and you don't need a PayPal account for payment. All items will be shipped via USPS unless they are large items and FedEx Ground would be cheaper. Also, large orders may be shipped via FedEx Ground to save you $$$$$$.

ALL items are brand NEW unless otherwise stated. ALL items come from a smoke free studio!

Flirt Blackboard Album $3 SOLD

~ Flirt Blackboard - Cosmo Cricket - $3 - 6 pages - set of of 2 albums SOLD

Beach Word Book $4 SOLD

~ Beach Word Book - SEI - $4 (3 available) SOLD

8" x 8" Olive Album $8

~ 8" x 8" Olive album includes 10 page protectors from SEI $8

8" x8" Blue & Green Album $8

~ 8" x 8" Blue & green album includes 10 page protectors from Memories Direct $8

8" x 8" Baby Blue Preservation Album $4

~ 8" x 8" Baby blue preservation album includes 10 page protectors from SEI $4

4" x 6" Chocolate Brown Preservation Album $3

~ 4" x 6" Chocolate brown preservation album includes 10 page protectors from SEI $3

4" x 6" Red Preservation Album $3

~ 4" x 6" Red preservation album includes 10 page protectors from SEI $3 (2 available)

6 1/2" x 8 3/4" Black Velvet Book $5

~ 6 1/2" x 8 3/4" Black velvet delightful gift book (album) includes 10 thick artboard pages from Chatterbox $5

4" x 4" Black Mini Album $4

~ 4" x 4" Black with silver trim mini album includes 6 page protectors $4

6" x6" Black Orchid Album $6

~ 6" x 6" Black orchid album includes 10 page protectors from SEI $6

12" x 12" Blue & Green Album $12

~ 12" x 12" Blue & green album includes 10 page protectors from Memories Direct $12


I'm also including a free gift with every purchase made until August 31, 2013! Want something? Have questions? Email me.