A Room to Feed the Scrapbooker Within

If you love to scrapbook, designing a room to feed the scrapbooker within can be a wonderful way to keep your creative juices flowing.

Our scrapbook room slideshow has more great organizational ideas.

Designing the perfect space for your scrapbooking needs will be easier if you remember a few simple tips.

When designing your scrapbooking workspace think out of the box. Avoid copying a space you saw online or in a magazine. Instead, create a space where everything fits your personal needs. For example, do you prefer to scrap sitting or standing? If you like to sit, a desk with a comfy chair is a must. However, if you prefer to stand, your space would be more effective with a higher countertop and a simple stool.

If you have small children or pets at home, safety must be considered as well. Anything sharp, poisonous, or easily swallowed needs to be stored in a safe place. Unfortunately, this means many of the elaborate scrapbook supply storage options available may not suffice for your situation.

There's no doubt that scrapbook supplies are pretty to look at, so why not opt for storage options that allow you to make the most of your collection? Some simple ways to display your accessories include:

• Placing buttons in pretty clear jars
• Stacking spools of ribbon on an old paper towel holder
• Storing colorful cardstock in vertical paper holders
• Stashing frequently used tools, such as scissors and a black journaling pen, in an attractive container on your desk

Being able to see all of your supplies at a glance is a simple way to boost your creative energy.

If you have items that you'd prefer to keep hidden, try to choose storage containers that make a decorative statement instead of simply stashing everything in boring plastic boxes. For example, keeping photos and memorabilia in a collection of vintage suitcases lends a funky vibe to your scrapbook workspace. Wicker baskets are another popular and affordable scrapbooking storage solution. You can find nice baskets for just a few dollars at local thrift stores and at discount craft suppliers.

Graphic designers, photographers, and other creative professionals often have "inspiration boards" in their offices to help them come up with ideas for projects. This same concept can easily be applied when designing a room to feed the scrapbooker within. Purchase a large bulletin board to display photos, memorabilia, journaling notes, magazine clippings, quotes, color combinations, and small embellishments you plan to use in future layouts.

If you want to make more of a decorative statement with your inspiration board, try covering a plain bulletin board with fabric that matches the color scheme in your workspace. Simply glue or pin the fabric to the board and start adding inspirational items.

Instead of buying artwork for your scrapbook room, consider displaying some of your favorite layouts. Start by purchasing 12x12 frames, which are available at most major craft stores or scrapbooking supply retailers. Then, create a row of framed layouts to make a dramatic statement in your room.

Another great way to create a room to feed the scrapbooker within is to use your favorite supplies to personalize ordinary items. Decoupage sturdy cardboard boxes with coordinating patterned papers to create unique storage containers for all the photos you have yet to scrapbook. You can also make a pretty trash can by decorating a plain rubbish bin with your favorite scrapbook rub-on designs or sayings.

If you're not lucky enough to have an entire room to dedicate to scrapbooking, keep in mind that many of these tips can work in a smaller space as well. For example, you can transform a corner of their laundry room into a private workspace. Another option is to use an extra closet for craft supply storage. With a bit of planning and a little organization, even the smallest spaces can become functional areas to create beautiful scrapbooking projects.

• Simple 8x8 Layouts for Scrapbooks
• Scrapbook Page Layout Designs
• Free Scrapbook Layout Ideas

• Download Free Cursive Handwriting Fonts
• Discount Cricut Machines
• Free Scrapbook Templates
• Free Scrapbook Clip Art
• Wedding Scrapbook Ideas

• Just Add Photos Scrapbook
• How to Make a Photo Scrapbook
• Scrapbooker's Retreats
• Using Tabs on Scrapbook Layouts
• Great Scrapbook Craft Rooms