Thursday, August 25, 2011

Organizing Your Ideas

Most creative types have some way of storing ideas and inspiration, be it digital or a good old fashioned sketch book (you know, the kind with actual paper in them). I have a small, hardcover, black sketchbook filled with inspiration. I love my little black book of ideas. I really do, but the thing is - so many of the ideas have gone unused because, well, it just doesn't work for my overly organized self! Those of you who know me...stop laughing. Seriously. Stop.

Since I organize much of my crafting supplies by theme I thought it might work much better to organize my ideas by theme also. Yeah, I know - of course it would! Well, I decided to take it even further and keep a little sketchbook in each of my themed product drawers with the themed products themselves, which means I'll need something like 15 to 20 sketchbooks. Now purchasing 15 to 20 sketchbooks? ...not a budget friendly idea. So here is what I came up with.

Blank note cards + clip rings = inexpensive mini sketchbooks!



I even printed a cover with a digital label for the front of each book. I made my own label in PSE but there are lots of cute digital labels online or you could use a sticker instead.

Do you want to know my favorite thing about this method of organizing ideas?

You ready for it?

Okay, here it is...

I keep these little blank index cards in my purse, tote bag, on my bedside table, next to my favorite magazine reading spot, etc. I always have some close by so I can quickly sketch out an idea and then later add it to the correct themed book. Stellar!

Okay, I've given you enough reasons to laugh at my over organization today. I would love to hear how you organize your own ideas and inspiration - let me know in the comments.

Happy idea collecting!


5 comments:

JENNY K. said...

Fantastic idea and I wouldn't expect anything less from you! Always super organized!

Anonymous said...

YOu are too funny! I remember you working in one of your sketchbooks when we got together to crop, so I know how much you love them. Great idea to use the blank index cards! Easy to carry around too.
~Julia

Anonymous said...

I have a package of leftover 3 1/4" square note cards from a planner I had years ago (before Franklin/Covey was even thought of) that I had never used. They were meant to be used for "to do" items and slipped into a vinyl sleeve with pockets. Well they had fallen behind my desk until I finally fished them out in a cleaning spurt. Now I use them to jot down my inspiration when I'm scrolling through emails and reading blogs. I can write or sketch on them and then compile them in an envelope for future reference. You know what they say about great minds! :-)

Danielle Flanders said...

fantastic idea! i always wondered how you manage to come up with such great ideas. must put one of these together too! :) I have several notebooks floating around, but can never seem to keep the ideas in one spot!
danielle

Kim said...

awesome idea :)

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