Tuesday, 14 May 2013

Embossing Folder Inventory

Storage and organization are always the largest issues with scrapbooking and papercrafting tools and supplies.  I find with embossing folders, I have a tendency to forget which designs I have without pulling them all out each time I work on a project.  One day while staring at huge selections of paint chips that they have at home improvement stores I decided that I could use my left over swatches to create a swatch book for my embossing folders.



I use the Behr paint chips from Home Depot because they seem to have a little more surface area and a convenient hole to link them together.  Once I emboss them I lightly sand the painted surface so that the design shows through easily. 

I keep this swatch book in my craft tool box so that I always have them in arms reach when I am working on a project and can easily see which design will best suit my project.





Since my collection is relatively small compared to most of you out there, I am able to keep my embossing folders in a small basket.  

Paint Note:   I like the Behr paint colours and have fallen in love with the CIL Smart Paint, it has silicone in it and goes on creamy smooth and is incredibly tough. (former Benjamin Moore painter)  Home Depot can colour match the Behr colours for the CIL Smart Paint.


22 comments:

  1. Charli3 June 2013 at 22:17

    Great idea! I have a drawer full of folders and do go through them all looking for one that I 'think' I may have. Thankx for the idea.

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  2. Kathryn4 June 2013 at 02:41

    This has made my designing much easier - happy to share it. Stay tuned for many more organizing ideas. I just need to find the time to get them posted.

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  3. Carla9 October 2014 at 02:17

    WOW! Bellissima idea!

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  4. Unknown6 June 2015 at 10:01

    Great idea....I have quite a few embossing folders & they are in a photo box under categories, but this would be great to have because a few times I have purchased a duplicate but my girlfriend gets it :D

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  5. Linda23 June 2015 at 15:10

    Brilliant! Thanks for sharing.

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  6. Late Blooming 25 October 2015 at 11:59

    Really good idea even if you don't have many, Can always add to it. Thanks.

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  7. Unknown17 March 2016 at 10:14

    When you pick a paint chip you like, how do you find the folder out of your basket? Just thumb through them?

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    1. Kathryn3 April 2016 at 15:54

      My folders have about doubled in size since I first wrote this blog. I try to stick them by manufacturer because that is how I am familiar with the designs. For the most part, I just thumb through them. I found that when I had them filed, I just wasn't spending the time to refile them when I was finished using them.

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    2. Mary Fielder22 June 2018 at 17:02

      I take a sharpie and label my embossing folders on the top left corner with a description that works for me so they are easier to find, like "leaves" "stripes", etc. Really helps with quick location and I separate them into categories like geometric, floral, etc.

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  8. Unknown17 June 2016 at 02:42

    hi
    Great collection and Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us all.
    I am artist and do a lot of drawing and intricate patterns and computer art and abstract art and flowers and plants etc

    but please can you tell me where I can buy these embossing sheets from in the UK..?
    I am in London and would like to buy the whole range of the emboosed patterns and I cannot find a suitable site in UK...
    If you can help me - be Fantastic
    Thanks Very Much
    best wishes
    Andy

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    Replies
    1. VeeCee26 May 2023 at 12:45

      Know this is a very old entry, but thought I would reply just in case....you could go online to craftstash.co.uk they have large assortments from different designers. Good luck

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  9. Kathryn17 June 2016 at 13:47

    Andy

    You can just google embossing folders and should be able to find some locally. You will need a machine to run them through. http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/papercraft/die-cutting/embossing-folders

    Diecut/embossing machines

    http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/guides/how-to-choose-right-die-cutting-machine

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  10. C. Linsner11 July 2016 at 07:33

    Kathryn, I took different colors of my left over papers and ran through the embossing machine so that I would know what the pattern really looked like. I have my folders in a notebook filed in plastic sleeves. I taped the paper to the front of the sleeve. Found it's an easier way to see the pattern than just the clear plastic folder. Charlotte

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  11. Unknown6 August 2016 at 18:16

    THAT is absolutely brilliant! Thanks for posting it to share with the rest of us.

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    Replies
    1. Kathryn21 September 2016 at 20:48

      Thanks so much for your comment Debby, I love to organize my crazy amount of stuff. I have been a cataloguer for many many years.

      Delete
  12. Unknown26 September 2016 at 13:55

    This is awesome! you get the best of both worlds.
    Thank you for sharing!

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  13. Anonymous15 March 2017 at 13:41

    Paint chips are free for people using them to select colors, not for crafting. If everyone does this it drives the cost up for all of us. Yes, technically they are free but this could be done just as easily with paper you purchase.

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    1. Kathryn22 March 2017 at 10:19

      Lacey, thank you for your concern. I work on many design projects and purchase paint probably monthly. I have to use several of each colour to create design boards for clients. Rather than throw them away, I repurpose them. You can also ask your local paint store for the discards of discontinued paint colours. The thing that I like about using paint chips in this way vs card stock is that they are easily sanded to see the design more prominently.

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  14. Donna8 April 2018 at 10:06

    Genius!

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  15. Mary Fielder22 June 2018 at 16:59

    I have done something similar with pieces of white card stock 5 x 4, but I think I am going to switch to this because it is nicer to see them embossed on color. What a great idea, thanks for sharing!

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  16. Sue NeSmith9 September 2018 at 17:33

    I learn so much from this site, keep up the good work.

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  17. Unknown22 October 2018 at 08:33

    I made a sample of all my embossing folders and put them in a 3 ring binder sorted by manufacturer. I have Lots and Lots of embossing folders! It works well but it takes up space in the bookshelf. I'm going to use your idea and reorganize my "index" of folders. Great idea to use paint chips to emboss. They are tough and can handle being on a ring. THANK you for SHARING!

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