I'm still working on my scraphouse. I may never be done, but it sure is looking lots better. I have several big bags of stuff to get rid of and I have cleaned out tons of plastic boxes and bins that I don't need since I have pared down a bit and put things back where they go and into categories.
I've even gone through a lot of my swaps and the items I know I won't ever use I've taken those out too! I'm trying to put things in categories since that is how I think when I scrap. In my spring drawer I have Easter papers, embellishments, egg buttons, swaps, anything related to Easter. When I sit down with Easter pics I can just pull out the drawer and see what I have to work with without having to search several places. I have drawers for birthday, Christmas, summer, cowboy, winter, heritage, etc. I have drawers for paper lines for some lines- I'm a big basic grey fan and I have swaps with those so I put the papers in the bottom of the drawer, the swap items on top and when I'm ready to scrap it's all together.
I've made up lots of page kits and I took tons of my patterned papers and matched them to cardstock and put them in baggies so when I get pictures and pick out a patterned paper I like it is already color matched and ready to go. this took quite a while but when you are in the mode of matching colors it is easier than to try to do it each time.
I need to take my swaps and put them in kits so I'll actually use them. For some reason I'm having a hard time making myself use my swap items which is silly. I spent time making my items, postage to get them there and back, then I organize them and forget them. I have a big bin of kid themed swaps and my boys are nearly 4 so I'm not sure what my problem is! I held off on some of the Toddler themed stuff I had and it's really cute but now it seems too young for the pictures I'm scrapping of 3 1/2 year olds!
oh well, just wanted to say I'm chipping away at the house.... no pictures yet, but I think you will be surprised how different it is when I'm finally done- if that ever happens! :) Marla
