Tool Time Tuesday...Binder Organization

Happy Tuesday everyone!! Today is a combo of Tool Time and Organizing and the "tools" to keep your life simple is in the office supply section.

We're using three ring binders and clear plastic sheet protectors to get our lives in order.

You can use this system in all aspects of your life...family, home, crafting etc. Being organized will keep you sane and it will free up time in your life. If things are easy to find, you won't be searching and searching for items and that means you'll have more time in your day to do something else.

These are the binders I keep in my sewing room.

They're just a flexible plastic with a semi clear cover to see what's inside. I do have labels on the side for a quick glance when they are on the shelf. Any binder will work.

These are the clear plastic protector sheets that I love and use for everything!!

They are plastic pockets with the opening on the top. You slide papers, booklets, documents etc inside to keep them clean and organized. The sheets have holes on the side to file on the rings in the binder.

This is my general Inspiration Book. It's mostly magazine tear outs organized into categories...Crafts, Holidays, Kitchens, Home and Recipes.

This is my Template Book. The pockets are great to hold those loose small cut out templates you have floating around.

More patterns and templates...

This is the Quilt Pattern Book. Great to hold the smaller patterns and leaflets.

The books hold a lot. If you have many patterns, you might want to buy a wider binder. These are about 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide.

This is the Instructions Book. This will hold the instructions to a printer, computer, sewing machine or any gadget. Great for warranties too.

So helpful when you need the booklet to fix something or replace a part or just to refresh your memory on how something works.

The pockets, again, are great to hold this type of booklet. It would be difficult to file a book in the 3 ring binder itself, because you would have to punch the holes in it and that might destroy the printing inside the book.

Great for all the info that comes with a computer purchase.

Including all the installation discs. These are important to keep in case you need to reload or reinstall the info for printers, scanners etc.

I hope this post and these books inspire you to organize little areas in your life.

Take one project or category at a time, so it isn't overwhelming. In the end, you'll be happy you organized little areas of your life.

Here are other ideas to use binders with the plastic protector sheets...

• organize each family member...birth certificates, shot records etc. Great to keep each book in a fire proof safe.
• Recipes
• Insurance policies
• Household paperwork...
• Banking
• Car paperwork
• school papers
• Medical records
• souvenirs from vacations
• organize things until you're ready to scrapbook

Happy Organizing,

~Karen~