Store Ephemera Where You Will Use Them by Betsy Skagen

There's a good chance you have a lot of ephemera. I do too. However, I have it stored away in so many different places and in so many boxes, that I often can't find it when I am in the middle of a project.

To combat this problem, I made a desktop ephemera storage box. While it certainly can't hold all my ephemera, I can keep it filled with different odds and ends that I can use in upcoming projects. This is especially helpful for those of you who like to make junk journals and art planners. What's more, it makes for some fun eye candy.

Tutorial How to Make the Ephemera Storage Box

Begin by loosely putting together the Memory Keeping Organizer just so you can see what goes where. Because there are so many dividers, this could be confusing to assemble without any guidance. Thankfully, you can download instructions when you order this box.

Next, one piece at a time, place a strong adhesive (I like Beacon Fabri-Tac for projects like these) on both sides of the tabs and begin assembling the interior of the box. 

Continue this process until you have the interior completely constructed.

Add each of the four box sides, again using a strong adhesive on each side of the tabs. Once it is fully assembled and the glue has dried, cover the box with a spray primer. After the primer dries, paint the box with dark brown spray paint.

Trace each side of the exterior of the box onto decorative cardstock, cut out and use matte medium adhere to the box sides. Because two of the sides are longer than 12", you will need to splice paper together. After all the paper is adhered, cover the box with two coats of matte medium. This will strengthen and protect the box so it lasts for years to come. 

Use ink or paint to brown the edges of the tabbed dividers. Trace the dividers onto decorative cardstock, cut out and adhere to both sides of all the dividers with matte medium. 

Ink the edges of the the dividers with brown ink.

Cut out words from a vintage book, ink the edges and adhere to the tabs to create fun nonsensical labels. 

Use rubber stamps and ink to add further interest to your dividers.

Coat each of the dividers with matte medium to protect them from wear and tear. 

Perhaps you are wondering if a storage container made from chipboard is strong enough to handle everyday use. I can assure you that you don't need to worry as long as you put enough protective sealer on it. I have made several of Gypsy Soul's boxes. One I made four years ago gets used on a daily basis since I store my go-to art supplies in it. sits on my art table. It looks as good as the day I made it. 

All that is left to do is fill up your new storage container with your favorite goodies and enjoy! -Betsy

Great Stuff

Memory Keeping Organizer
Memory Keeping Large Dividers
Memory Keeping Small Dividers
Beacon Fabri-Tac
Primer
Brown spray paint
Decorative cardstock
Paper Artsy Stamps
Seth Apter Stamps
Vintage Photo and Peacock Feathers distressed inks
Matte medium

Everybody Needs a "Stuff Holder"

Hey all! I've tackled a new storage piece in my quest for a perfectly organized scraproom. Hubby asked what I was planning to put in it, and my response was, "stuff!" There are alphabet sheets in the paper pack so I decided to cut some out and officially christen this piece my stuff holder:

Here's a photo of the "naked" Memory Keeping Organizer. I like to put all 3D things together before I take them apart again so I see where everything fits.

I painted all the pieces light pink, and then I covered the outer pieces with patterned paper from this pad; as you can see I got a great deal on it!!

I just laid the pieces on the paper and traced around them, as the side pieces are irregularly shaped (and I don't  much like measuring anyway!) I sanded the edges lightly to smooth away and paper bits left over.

As you can see, I added bits and strips from some of the other papers, and I did this on the inside squares as well; there were chevrons, checks and floral patterns as well as the ones with tiny type, so I mixed and matched colours and patterns for a cheery look.

The honeycomb pattern was perfect for the bottom; I chose to cut out each square separately rather than having to cut the slots out of the paper where the vertical pieces fit.into the base.

I glued pearl along the top edge of all the pieces with a hot glue gun; using adhesive pearls with the flat bottoms would probably be easier, but I happen to have several strands of these in a variety of colours (pearl spaghetti, anyone?)

The sets of file dividers are wonderful; the larger compartments in the organizer just happen to fit 4" x 6" photos! These are perfect for the photos I'm planning to scrap soon, and it's a lot easier to look through 3 sections labeled by topic than a huge storage box!! The smaller file dividers I plan to use for diecuts, again divided by topic.

I had lots of fun putting this together, and even more fun putting my "stuff" in all of the compartments! I no longer have a ton of "miscellaneous  embellishments" piled in a drawer where they were a nightmare to look through-they're so much easier to see now and I will be much more likely to actually use these embellishments because I will see them and remember I have them. Treat yourself to one of these awesome organizers and you'll be glad you did!

GYPSY SOUL ITEMS USED
Memory Keeping Organizer

OTHER ITEMS USED

DCWV Vintage Collector Stack

pink acrylic paint

pearl strand
hot glue gun

Embellishment Organizer by Mary

Hi folks! I have an embellishment organizer for you today. The Memory Keeping Organizer makes the perfect storage unit for this! This organizer has 13 compartments and will help you keep almost anything organized and at your fingertips!

When you put together any of the dimensional or storage pieces, always do a dry fit. Once you have seen how it will fit, use your favorite wet glue to hold it together.  I have always used Scotch Quick Dry on all my storage pieces and have never had a problem with the glue not holding. Once the glue is dry, I then cut the paper to cover the sides (both in and out). I do it that way because I am a messy gluer and it works best that way for me! Before attaching the paper, I do ink the edges.

The organizer is 13-inches wide. Since my paper is only 12-inches wide, I made decorative corners out of card stock and a border punch! I used some of my lace out of my hoard vault and attached it around the top edge of the entire organizer.

I used the "inspire" from the Word Stackers 2 set. The top part was heat embossed and attached to an inked card board back piece. Done! I then filled my organizer with things that I would use to make embellishments!

Here is a shot of one of my compartments. The embellishments you can see were gifted to me. They were made using the Punchelements 1-inch Scalloped.

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Items
Memory Keeping Organizer
Word Stackers 2

ABC Primer Memory Keeping Organizer by Pam Bray

Hi it is Pam today on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Blog! I am so excited to share with you the Memory Keeping Organizer. It's fabulous and I can't wait to make a few more!

I began by first gluing all the pieces of the Memory Keeping Organizer together. Cut pattern paper to fit into each of the Memory Keeping Organizer slots. Decorating with strips and scallop borders from the pattern paper.

Add a sentiment from one of the journal pieces from the paper collection along with a scallop border to the front of the Memory Keeping Organizer.

Paint a Damask Singles with black paint. Dry. Adhere to front of prepared Memory Keeping Organizer. Place a sticker onto pattern paper; fussy cut around sticker. Place on prepared Damask Singles. 

Add legs to the prepared Memory Keeping Organizer. 

Fill with some of Gypsy Soul Laser Cut supplies: Small Tag Set, Memory Keepers Organizer Small Dividers,  Memory Keepers Organizer Large Dividers, and other fun items.

I am so excited to discover that the Memory Keeping Organizer fits perfectly in my IKEA Cabinet!!! How fabulous is that for a perfect storage solution!!! I am thinking that the Memory Keeping Organizer would make fabulous desk organizers also to give this Christmas season as gifts. Thanks again for stopping in to check out my project and please make sure to see what my wonderful friend and teamie Shanna created today. Hugs! - Pam

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Supplies:

Memory Keeping Organizer

Damask Singles

Memory Keepers Organizer Large Dividers

Memory Keepers Organizer Small Dividers

Small Tag Set

Other Supplies:  

Graphic 45 ABC Primer Collection

DecoArt Media Paint: Black Carbon

Metal Legs

Scallop Border Punch

Black Card Stock

Scotch Quick Dry Glue

A Magic Memory Keeping Organizer by Dianna

Hi Everyone, Dianna here with Gina's Designs Memory Keeping Organizer turned Magic Card Holder.  I started out making this for myself and then after I finished my son said "Mom that is cool!  Love the way it looks and it will fit my Magic Cards!"  "Thanks Mom".  The same son then took it upstairs and filled it with his cards.  I had to steal it back for photos and got the look only teenagers will give you.  I gave it right back.  

I suggest doing a dry run assembly prior to gluing.  This way you know which piece goes where prior to the commitment of glue.  I used Beacon 3-n-1 to assemble the organizer because I had thought to use this as an example selling at crops with Gina but of course plans change.  If you are not planning to travel with your storage piece then Scotch Quick Dry works just fine.  After assembly, I spray painted the organizer bronze.    

I found way awesome tissue paper at Marshall's and have been saving it to paper my storage pieces.  I first traced each side of the box on the tissue paper then cut out the sections.  I used Beacon's Fast Drying Decoupage first on each section of the box and then on the back of the paper.  The great thing about tissue paper is that if you tear it, it becomes "distressed" and no one can tell that you did not tear it on purpose, which of course that was the look that I was going for.  

Thank you for looking!

Items Used

Gina's Designs

Memory Keeping Organizer

Other Items

Beacon's 3-n-1

Beacon's Fast Drying Decoupage

Tissue paper from Marshalls

Guest Designer Tamiko McCurry

Hey there good people! I am Tamiko and I am totally honored to be the guest designer for July! Woot Woot! My personal style is kinda urban and brightly colored in ANY and EVERYTHING I do as far my art goes.  I am a mixed media artist and I love to play in my art journal and do other types of paper crafting.  When I first received this, I asked myself am I making this for me or for what other might enjoy and well.. I won, but I hope you enjoy this.  While it might be a memory keeper organizer, for me, for a little while, it will be my pocket letter pal go to!!  I just love the many compartments that will hold all my stuff!! 

I  put my units together and went over all the slots and grooves with some craft glue. I let it dry overnight although it was fine after 20 minutes. Coated the units with gesso and once they were dry, my fingers were used to apply the paint. I love getting into my work and how best can you do it, when you use you hands as a brush. As I waited, gesso was brushed on all the rest of the chipboard pieces.  While gesso is not necessary, it did help prime the chipboard for my bright color palette. I also painted all the divider inserts.

Went back to the units and I added layers of stencils (three kinds) and paint with the sponges.  I painted the flowers pieces and stacked them creating my perfect blooms.  Adhered the flowers to the caddy and the organizer and doodles with my black paint marker.  Decided to keep my dividers white and will decorate them periodically with washi tape, maybe!

Let me share a few more pictures with you.

The slots in the caddy are not only perfect for brushes,

my bottles of glue fit perfect!  I can even place a dixie cup or

condiments cup and use that as a catch all under the upside down glue bottles!  How cool is that?

The slots in the organizer are perfect for my small embellishments!

I can prep my slots to contain twine bundles, washi on a card, sticker bundles, stamped images, my tea, coffee or chocolate! Artist trading card (ATC) bases fit perfectly in here! All the goodies I need to prepare a load of pocket letters or quickie ATCs will be right at my fingertips! I have so many ideas and I am so ready to fill both of these fabulous units up!

Ha. YOU and I both can store our stash of Gina's Design Chippies!!

I hope you enjoyed stopping over at the blog today as much I enjoyed creating this project to share with you all.  Again I am so super excited to be here for the month of July 2015 and I can't wait to show you all the possibilities for creating fabulous one of a kind projects featuring Gina's Designs  Laser Cuts.  Have a fabulous week and don't forget to stop by and see what design team is up to!

Gina's Designs Products:

Memory Keeper Organizer

Brush Caddy

Flower Stackers

4x6 Memory Keeper Dividers

4x3 Memory Keeper Dividers

Other:

Helmar Craft Glue

Deco Art Media Gesso (white)

Dylusions Paints (variety of colors)

Deco Art Acryclics and Paint Marker (variety of colors)

Artistcellar Pocket Stencils

Cosmetic Sponges

Brush

Washi Tape

Memory Keeping Organizer with Dividers

I had so much fun putting together this great organization station for my Project Life goodies! I used lots of items from Gina's Designs so I will list them now:

Memory Keeping Organizer

Memory Keeping Organizer Large Dividers

Memory Keeping Organizer Small Dividers

Word Elements

Word Elements 2

Arrows Shape Set

Talk Bubbles

Camera Clips

Word Frames- Hello

Word Frames- Live

Word Frames- Moment

This storage piece is a great size: 13x11.5 and 4 inches high. The final picture is listed first so that you can see the finished product:

As you can see, the back slot perfectly holds Pocket Letter Pages,

The middle slots hold 4x6 dividers and papers, and

The smaller slots hold 3x4 dividers, papers and embellishments

Here are the contents of the kit:

 Align everything without glue first to make sure the placement is right.

HINT: If it doesn't easily slide in place, flip it around or try the other identical piece.

Gina's Designs are made to fit together perfectly:-)

 Once you've figured out where the pieces are supposed to go,

glue the inner structure together first.

 Next, glue the side and back pieces, pressing firmly in place.

You're final result will look like this:

Now all you have to do is spray paint it and add some dividers:

Add fun embellishments:

 

And you're done!!!

Enjoy making this fun organizer

and personalize it with your favorite Gina's Designs Embellishments:-)



Carla