Wednesday's Workbook: "Inspiring" Magazine Storage (con-tain-it)

Well I'm back...had a short blogging break due to my niece's wedding and all the out-of-town guests that were here for it and all the family events we managed to coordinate while everyone was together...it literally takes an "act of congress" to get everyone together anymore...but it was so worth it! So I'm posting a day late...but I wanted to get this "Workbook" post done in October because it relates to my recent art journal that I completed while taking Rhonna Farrer's "The {21} Challenge.

So many friends and bloggers ask me "how do you keep all of your ideas handy?" So while I was working on the challenge I took the time to take photos of my "inspiration" files and promised myself that I would blog about it as soon as the challenge was over...didn't want any additional interruptions! Even though I love the virtual computer world and all the access we now have to so many fantastic, creative people...I still love the "tactile" part of buying a magazine and "feeling" and "finding" inspiration between the pages...even though I'm struggling lately with being "green" and not wasting paper with all the printing of magazines, etc. I've always justified some of this"green guilt"(hey...that sounds like a new blogging category...hahaha) with the fact that I rarely throw anything away...something my DH can attest to because he has had to move my mountains of paper enough times during our marriage...and now my grown sons, nephews and friends...refuse to move me because of my paper issues...lol

Previously, I have posted about my clip art storage for when I am making collage/mixed media pages, and now I want to cover my magazine storage. My system is broken down into two main processes with the first being:

1.) Relatively permanent magazine storage: this includes all my favorite art magazines like, Somerset Studios, Quilting Arts, etc. that are so full of inspiration that I cannot find it in myself to "tear them down". At one point I still had every "Stampington" issue that was published, but when we had to downsize last year...I forced myself to go through them and I realized that styles had changed drastically and things that were inspiring to me 15 years ago, no longer tugged at my heartstrings...so then I was able to process these as well. So for all the "keepers" I have invested in many Highsmith Corruboard magazine files...found these years ago when I was scrapbooking and sold them in my retail store. Here is a photo of these in my living room now:

In the above photo you can see the "brown" files with the words, "Share Your Knowledge", as well as a set of black ones on the bookcase next to it. The brown files are my "permanent" magazine storage because they are facing with the backs out and, because I didn't want to see the plain/ugly backs, I used these lovely vinyl lettering quotes from Wall Words on the backs. Wall Words is/was a home-based, party plan business that I originally signed on as a Representative for (over five years ago) when they just started their party plan...but after Creative Memories...I knew it wasn't for me.

As you can see from the above photo, I have several of these files...over 30 last count...so it was very important to me that they be "functional" as well as "stylish". Now once you turn the magazine holders around you can see that I have used my label machine to add the name of the magazine subscription that I am storing in each holder...see the next photo:

So when I buy/receive a new magazine I immediately view it and add "post-it" tabs to any article or product advertisement that "speaks" to me at the time.

Then...when I'm working on a project and "hit the proverbial wall"...I simply sit on my floor and pull out my magazine files and check my "tabs" first.

Now for all those magazines that I do "break down" and save only the "inspiring bits" then I use my second process that we can refer to as:

2.) Temporary Article and Visual Storage: which is very affordable and utilizes another of my all-time favorite storage items: magnetic photo albums...yeah baby...these have come a long way since the acid-free/safe archival explosion with the scrapbooking industry.

Now I have used these for YEARS...really...I started using them when they were deemed "unsafe" and "unfit"...lol...for storing recipes that I had pulled out of magazines and placed in piles in drawers and many file folders...where they would wait for me to find them again...which was usually NEVER and then I'd end up throwing them away...hahaha Here is a closer peek at my labels on these albums:

You see...I love many things...so I use these albums for all of my interests...and the best part is that you do not need any ADHESIVES...yeah! You just trim down your magazine article, recipe or latest fashion find and peel up the protective film and presto...it's in there! Notice the blue album with the label "Post Apartments"...this was one I used when we had to sell our home and downsize...so I collected several magazine layouts on small spaces or on the newest colors/trends and made the move exciting.

The above photo shows articles I've kept on "Women in Business"...I always find it inspiring to read about other successful women...especially in the art world. For magazine articles that are multi-paged with printing on the front and back sides of the magazine pages...I simply staple the pages together and punch holes with my "standard" three hole paper punch and put them in the album. The pages are a little larger than the magnetic album pages...but that doesn't bother me...makes it like an interesting "art journal". And here you can see that I use my trusty ole "post-its" to highlight what I'm finding most interesting at the moment.

Sometimes you will pull something out of a magazine and then when you see it again...you cannot for the life of yourself...remember what you found so darnn interesting in the first place...my suggestion is to "throw it away" at that point. Or to prevent that from happening too often...you can take the time to jot down notes on your "post-it" notes:

OR...you can write a detailed note and place it inside the magnetic album page like I've done here:

Sorry for the bad photos...was having a hard time with the reflections in my husbands office where I store these particular magnetic albums. Now I have a BONUS process that I also want to share with you. It is more of a portable "inspiration" file for you to take with you to the book store, library or classes, etc.

For this process I use a "blank book"...now the book in the above photo I have had for over five years and it still has plenty of room for more "inspiration". Now let me explain how I use this...whenever I go to a bookstore I bring along my book...because there are many magazines that I look at in the store and just cannot justify buying them...especially when there may be only one or maybe two things in the whole magazine that "inspire" me. So I will make notes about these inspiring ideas in my book and at times I have "sketched" these ideas as well...see the following photo:

The sketch is of a pattern for covering some ugly metal file cabinets for my office and I actually completed the covers...I like keeping the measurements in case I ever want to make more...I rarely use patterns when I sew household decor. You can also see that this is where I will glue down "small" inspiring snippets that I've found in magazines...you know how alot of the woman's magazines have the greatest tips for hostesses, etc.

In the following photo you can see where I made notes about an article that I read one day in a bookstore about how a woman made collaged Tags or ATC's about all the novels she has read. She then keeps them in an altered box on her table at home for a beautiful reference file. I loved this idea because I read so many books and it is hard to keep the story-lines straight...and I just love historical novels about the Tudors and Marie Antoinette and would love to combine my art and reading in such a lovely way.

On the right side of the above photo you can see my notes for a "future" album idea for chronicling my favorite number "13"...it is still a work in progress so as I collect inspiring ideas and dates...I simply jot them down in my blank book.

And finally, in the following photo, you can see where I combined a previous album idea for "The Perfect Date" with my DH with a class that I took with Donna Downey. I simply took all the wonderful things we like to do on our dates and incorporated them onto this two page "Celebrate" spread that Donna was teaching...only I labeled mine Cherish and you can see the photos of this completed project when you click on the "Cherish" link.

There is so much more "goodness" in this little book...but I'd have to write a book to show it all to you! I hope that this long post has answered all of your questions and that you found some "inspiration" for yourselves and for storing your magazines in "style". If you have any more questions or want to see anything else...just leave a comment and I will post or email you with more of my tips!

Fondly, Roberta

Comments

I’ll take some of your suggestions and try to apply them.

Posted by: платья свадебные | April 10, 2013 at 04:51 PM

Wow, Roberta, you are amazing! I just love how organized your magazines are! Your portable inspiration file is terrific; I'm going to borrow that idea!
Thanks so much for stopping by All Thingz Related!

Posted by: Rebekah {All Thingz Related} | May 26, 2011 at 10:35 AM