Crafty Organization Thursdays: What Was I Working On Again?

Has this ever happened to you? Do you ever find yourself excited to work on something creative, to only have it thwarted by a nagging feeling of, "what was I working on again?" Or another popular one, "Wasn't there something I was suppose to be making for. . . ?)"

We are all extraordinarily busy people. Life is hectic. We all have things that have to get accomplished everyday.  I am guessing that right now as you are reading this, you are even thinking about all of the things you should be doing right now. Do not stop reading. This blog post today will help you. When you finally find that you have a few spare moments to work on a creative project, wouldn't you rather spend that time creating than trying to remember why you came into your craft space in the first place. Today I aim to help you with just that:  More time creating, less time remembering. Sounds simple enough, right?

For those of you that are reading this and thinking I just do what comes naturally, or I don't like to limit myself this way. I totally hear where you are coming from. I have used organizational systems and not used them, and I get at least twice as much done when I use them. That being said I do not feel "stuck" by using them. If a creative urge takes hold that isn't on the list, I just go with it. It really is that flexible.

There are a few systems that I have implemented over the years that have worked for me. This is what I am currently using.

1. Post it Memory Jogger

• This is what it really looks like, my handwriting is legible, but not super fancy. I believe in keeping it real people.
• I use one color Post-It notes for categories (pink) and one for projects to do (green)

• I keep everything posted on the side of a white bookcase directly across from my large craft table (see below). 

Why this works 

• My immediate projects are easy to see and in my direct line of site from where I stand/ sit to craft.
• It is not an overpowering system, I would not like it if it took up a large wall for instance.
• Easy and affordable, just cross off and remove when finished, adding new projects is simple
• There is even room to store sketches below (these sketches will be used for some of the projects above. I get sketches from various scrappy blogs, such as; Studio Calico, Lily Bee, Two Peas, Paper Bakery, and Noel Mignon to name a few.

• 2. To Do Journal

 *I got the idea for this journal from Michelle Wooderson's blog

• I use this largely to keep track of scrapbook pages or projects I would like to finish at a future time (generally 1-6 months from the current time.)
• When/if I run out of immediate projects to work on in my Post-It Memory Jogger, I flip through this and add some more post-its

Why this works

• Very easy to fill out and maintain, if I need to add something I just add it, when it is finished I cross it off. When the whole page is finished I tear it out. Simple.
• I have a place for projects I will work on at a later date. I can jot those ideas down as I think of them
• I can easily find things to work on 
• I store this easily accessible in the bookcase directly across from my table

3. Story Recipe Box

• This one might be my favorite, because to me it's all about the story. 
• Scrapbooking is such a fun creative outlet and almost all of my pages are created based on a particular story I want to tell
• This is where I get my story ideas from

• This is just a run-of-the-mill recipe box that I use for story ideas
• All of my story ideas go onto index cards on the front side and on the back side I keep color, paper collection, and other design ideas (if I have any at that point)

 Here are little bits of one story I will tell (for example.) This story is not flushed out yet, I am still mulling it over and trying to get to the real meat of it. I will get there though, just not quite yet.

Here are some design ideas/ places to find more information for this story

Why this works

• Very simple to maintain, write on index cards, add, and remove them as needed.
• I always have ideas for stories.
• I also will put coordinating photos in here as well, if I already have the perfect picture, edited, and sorted (as you can see, I need to get more pictures ready.)

In Summary

I use a 3-part approach to keep scrappy/ crafty projects to do organized

1. Post-it Memory Jogger for current projects

2. To Do Journal for future projects-they are then moved to #1

3. Story Recipe Box for story ideas

I hope at least one of these systems will help you, or perhaps inspire you to create something that might work even better for your crafting style. Hopefully some of these ideas will give you more time to create and less time trying to remember what you wanted to make in the first place. What kind of systems are you currently using that help keep you organized? What isn't working? Let's talk organization ladies. What good reads, sites, and what not are you finding? I love information on this topic, so if you see anything good, please do let me know. 

Thanks for joining me today, I appreciate you being here. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask. I love helping, and the odds are someone else has the same question.

Until then, Happy Scrappin'

xoxox

Toni