Electrifying - Day 10 of 31 Days of Organzing

Electric lights in miniature is so much fun!

When it comes to supplies for electricity in miniature I don't have much.  I use up what I buy so have little to store. 
First, I have a couple of small drawers that I store my supplies.  I would like to switch this to a divided box.  
I also have a plastic shoe box full of transformers I bought for real cheap at a thrift store. I don't use these much anymore since I switched from 12 volt wiring to LED's so I think I should donate them.
Another drawer I have is my pliers.  Pliers are useful for more than just electrical, so I keep them with my tools.

Come back tomorrow for another organizing idea during my 31 days of organizing.

Happy Miniature Organizing!

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Ooo Shiny Things - Day 9 of 31 Days of Organizing

Shiny Things such as Metal and wire

There are many materials to use in miniatures and metal is something good to have in the stash.  I don't use metal often, but I now have two designated places to store them. This excludes metal findings and electrical items that I will discuss another day.  The metal I am referring to today is flat metal and wire.  
My wire is stored in a long box so the wire doesn't get tangled up.  Most all the other metal is stored in one drawer.  This is due to a recent organizing spree.  I realized that my metal was stored all over my studio and when I needed to try different ones for a project, I had to find them all.  Once I found the one type of metal that worked best, I decided to combine them all into one drawer. I also made sure that all my non-electrical wire was in the same long box.  
I do have one other type of metal - wire mesh.  This type of wire mesh is used for sculpture support but I use it mostly for window grid.  I have this mesh stored with my other materials that can be used for window grid. I could just as easily store this with the flat metal instead. This is an example of making a storage location work for you.  I am choosing to store based on in the most likely use for it. 
When it comes to metals there are a couple of considerations.  Some metals can oxidize, so these need to be protected from the air.  Plastic zip bags would be good.  There are also plastic boxes that have a special chemical in them to help avoid oxidizing.  Metal can be sharp, so protect yourself when handling. 

Come back tomorrow for another organizing idea during my 31 days of organizing.

Happy Miniature Organizing!

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Seeing is Believing- Day 8 of 31 Days of Organizing

Seeing is Believing

Today I want to talk about glass and plastic.  

When it comes to miniatures, I don't use much glass.  Why add weight to a project when plastic will do.  What I do have is mostly for covering my finished projects.  I tend to have a few extra glass domes.  I like to pick these up at thrift stores if I can.  
Until they are officially paired with a project, I need to store them. I may use for them temporarily to cover something that isn't finished.  Or I can just have them on a shelf.  Or I can wrap them carefully and store them in a drawer or box.  So my advise for glass is to protect from breaking.  Secondly, since it is not used as often, I would consider this as something that I could store in a large box and stick in the closet.  

Plastic on the other hand is a different story.  I use and save plastic a lot more. Plastic items fall into different categories for me: flat, shaped, containers and other items.  The main thing about plastic to keep in mind when storing is if it will be used to see through, it needs to be protected from scratches.  I do this with plastic cling wrap or by just laying flat with other flat plastic.  Larger items I would use to cover with are stored away in boxes and the flat items in a drawer with other flat plastic.
For items that don't need protection, I just combine them in drawers based on their use. So I have a drawer for items that I might make something with (think Borrower's story or other repurposing).  Also I used to send and receive many swaps, so I save items that I can use to store smaller items in or to ship them in. These are things like the film canisters, pill bottles, and other small boxes. This drawer is also where I keep the dish and bottle lids. 

Lastly, when it comes to cleaning glass and plastic, I use a glass cleaner for glass and a plastic cleaner for plastic.  I used to just dust the plastic and use a multi-surface cleaner, but now I use something called Brillianize.  I use it faithfully on plastic surfaces.  It doesn't remove all scratches, but it does really clean the surface and improve the appearance.  

Come back tomorrow for another organizing idea during my 31 days of organizing.

Happy Miniature Organizing!
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31 Days of Organizing - Day 7 - Wood

Storing wood all depends on what size and shape of wood is needing stored.  OK, this is true of all things needing stored, but with wood we have an additional consideration and that is warping.  
Wood for miniature projects has a tendancy to be fragile.  Some pieces of wood more so than others.  Also if wood is longer - like sheets or molding these can bend over time and that will cause warping.  

Long Wood and Molding
One storage solution for wood particularly long pieces like molding is to use tubes.  I did this using cardboard tubes like from the inside of wrapping paper.  Add paper to one end and adhere to the sides.  Then allow them to stand upright in a wastepaper basket or box. When ready to use them, I picked up the tube emptying it out onto my table and picked the piece or pieces I needed. I know that some use this idea only they cut the tubes shorter so the wood sticks out a bit.  Also they choose to lay on their side (to help with the warping).
Later on I purchased a batch of wood to make kits with.  The wood just so happen to come in a really nice size box for laying longer pieces of wood inside.  That is what I use today for any longer pieces that will fit.  So far I haven't outgrown this box.  

For other wider pieces I also have a long narrow plastic bag.  I got the bag full of various types and thickness of wood at an estate sale of a miniaturist.  This has worked quite well to avoid warping as some of the wood in the bag is really thick and the combination of them together is keeping them from bending.  But I don't necessarily recommend this.  If warping is a problem, then laying wood flat in on a shelf is a good idea.  

Wood bits
I used to have a drawer in my drawer cabinet full of various pieces leftover from my projects.  This drawer over time morphed into a second drawer.  One day I realized I had another solution available that would save me time sorting through the drawer.  I am all about saving time.  
My solution was to use a divided plastic box.  This one was a leftover from my work and it didn't have a lid.  Actually have two of them.  I sorted all my smaller pieces by shape and similar in size and used the dividers that you add in to have sections  as needed.  

In the second box, I added my longer scale lumber but still fit into these boxes.  These were in special packs that were sold in a hobby shop.  This was a case of using what I have on hand to fit the need that I currently have.
Now when I need a wood bit not only am I saving time not looking through a jumble in a drawer or two, I am also saving money because I don't cut more from a longer piece that I actually had a short leftover.  The shorter leftover previously would have been over looked until later and I realized I had cut a longer piece un-necessarily.
I will say though I have gotten lazy and during a clean up I added a bunch of wood bits to a box and just set that in with the other trays.  This could use some sorting one day when I think about doing it.  

Come back tomorrow for another organizing idea during my 31 days of organizing.

Happy Miniature Organizing!

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31 Days of Organizing - Day 6 Kits and Projects

I am a dreamer and I am a doer.
I am also a collector.  A collector of kits.

Sometimes the dream comes from seeing a kit offering or a challenge or it is inspired by things I see other miniaturists doing. Once the idea materializes into more than a dream, I need a place to store them.    They could have materialized because I purchase the kit or items that can be used to complete the project.   

Projects
When I store my projects I like to use shoe boxes.  I find shoe boxes to be a cheap resource to hold them. Only problem I have with the recycled shoe boxes is shape.  They come in so many sizes.  So I have started converting to the nicer  printed cardboard photo boxes that are uniform in size and shape. I am doing this simply to get more space on my shelves. Granted some projects that don't need that large a box.  So I will be on the lookout for same size but shorter ones which I think I have seen at my local hobby shop. 

The only disadvantage so far is one project I had bought the house and all the kits for inside so everything together barely fits.  Once I start on that house, I am probably going to have two boxes.  One would be for the house and the other for all the interior kits.  This is the first house I did this with. FYI I did that over time - tried to do it monthly but it was too easy to not do it one or more months.

Kits
My kits that aren't designated to a specific project are currently housed in a drawer in a plastic drawer cart.  Inside the drawer are some plastic baskets to somewhat separate them into categories.  

I am not too good about keeping them organized that way so I am considering moving them to a photo box as well.  Ideally I see this as better because I could get them all into a single box.  I like the idea of using the divider cards (that used to come with the photo boxes).  I will make my own most likely.  Then I would add categories like kitchen, dining, living room, etc.  
Another option I have thought about is to use a plastic divided box.  But I don't have one the right depth.  I am thinking of those fishing tackle boxes.  It will depend on the cost and whether I find one in a store locally or not.  
The photo box has the advantage to fitting on the shelves that already house my project boxes.  It is also cheaper.  Has the advantage of being more adjustable - larger one section area that gives the freedom to fit really thick kits together so I don't waste space with fixed dividers.  

Come back tomorrow for another organizing idea during my 31 days of organizing.

Happy Miniature Organizing!

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31 Days of Organizing - Day 5 Clear it out

Be willing to Clear it Out

Have too many supplies because you bought too many for a particular project? Changing hobbies? Need to downsize?  

All of these reasons are valid for deciding to get rid of some of our stuff.  Believe me I get that it is difficult to let go, but it is good to let go.  It doesn't matter whether I toss it, give it or I sell it.  I believe in letting go.  I am not saying give it all away or throw away everything. I am saying to be willing to let it go.  This may take time for particular item or items.  Nothing wrong with that. I have done that. Time can help us decide that we no longer need to keep something.  

Toss It

My motto is to toss it if I can't give it away or sell it and I have decided to get rid of it. Examples of things I am willing to toss are things that I might recycle but because I have a plentiful supply I don't need to keep every one of those I can get my hands on.  Those butter/marg lids are an example.  

There is also that time to toss when the item is spoiled (I had this problem with dried flowers).  If it is not salvageable, toss it.  Don't keep it thinking maybe it could be salvaged later as it might be worse later.  

Give It

I believe in giving away the things we no longer want and someone might.  So if I no longer want it and it wouldn't be considered trash, then I like to give it away.  I would prefer to give it directly to someone I know will be interested in it, but I am willing to give to my local thrift store.

Sell It

Definitely if you have something of value and the time to market it, then I am all for selling it.  I have done this too.  Selling items doesn't have to be complicated.  Some groups allow us to list items for sale.  I think this is the best option as most likely going to a fellow miniaturist that will use it.  Another option is listing on my own website (like my blog) - no fees is the advantage here.  Well at least no additional ones if paying for the website.  Other options are ebay and etsy.  Both of which have fees.

Whatever way I go about to list the item for sale, it is important to market the item or items so that the most likely audience will be interested.  When selling miniatures or supplies to make them, the best place to market is where the miniaturists are.  Keep in mind that some groups limit selling so be sure to follow whatever guidelines are there.

How to decide what to clear out
One way to re-evaluate the clothes in our closet is turn all the hangers backwards.  Only if it gets worn does the hanger turn around.  New items get automatic regular hanging.  At the end of the year, any item that didn't get turned around is supposed to go in the give away (or sell) bin.  I have done this for a couple of years now and it does help.  I admit some items get a second chance, but at least it got an evaluation.
For minis - I am sure that we could do a similar system.  One way would be to put anything that you would consider giving away, but aren't willing to part with it yet in a box.   Another way would be to mark boxes with a tag (maybe a post-it would work). Any time you think of or work on that kit, go mark that tag.  If at the end of a year, you don't use it or even think about it, then I propose to give it away. Maybe you don't have to get rid of it the first year, but definitely give you an idea of how often you use something and may help you make the choice to let go. 

Finally, another reason to clear it out is to allow room for other things.  I don't mean more stuff but it could be that more space to spread out is what was needed.  Clearing out things will give more space assuming that one isn't moving to a smaller one.  But even then having to store less stuff is freeing of the mind, less to remember where it is.

Come back tomorrow for another organizing idea during my 31 days of organizing.

Happy Miniature Organizing!

Preble

31 Days of Organizing - Day 4 Re

Day 4 of my 31 Days of Organizing Ideas is all about "Re"

Recycle, Re-purpose, Reuse and Re-evaluate  

Use items more than once whenever possible.  

I am not advocating that we save everything because we can make something from it, instead just consider what could be done with it before tossing it out. In the working world, it was a big thing to talk about thinking outside the box.  No matter what you call it, think beyond the intended use and consider it for something else.

Some of the things I recycle are egg cartons, bottle lids and butter/margarine dish lids.  I use the butter dish lids for paint palettes.  I like that they are flexible making it easy to peel off the dried paint.  They are a good size and easy to replace should I decide to toss them. The bottle lids make a great pot for putting glue in and can also be used to ship in. The egg cartons - foam ones for making faux bricks or stones and the paper mache ones can be torn up for simulating bark or cut to make faux stones as well.
When it comes to storage, I have recycled shoe boxes to store projects in and to organize other supplies.  I have also covered cut down laundry detergent boxes with contact paper to make magazine boxes and paint bottle boxes.  Cardboard, or chip board as I think is more correctly called, can be cut up to make miniatures with (like faux stones) but also cut and taped together to make trays.  I use trays in a larger box to layer my beads and findings.  I add handles of tape to each end so I can lift them out.  The trays each hold small plastic boxes, but another solution is to use the interiors that held candy in - the paper liners or even plastic liners.  This may not be the best idea for beads as they could fly everywhere if spilled, but for small swaps or other small items that one might want to seperate, it would work.
As I reorganize (yes, I do organize and then later decide to reorganize) I prefer to re-purpose an existing container for another purpose. Take my ribbon and trim for example, when I decided my plastic shoe box type box was too small, I looked at what I had on hand and re-purposed a large cookie tin.  The cookie tin was quite tall and I was using it hold a project. The project didn't need storing in the tin and the tin kept me from going out and buying a larger box.  Once a solution is decided on, doesn't mean it can't be considered again later for other things. 
I am presently in the middle of collecting enough used small priority mail boxes to hold my paint.  This will allow me to sort my paint into smaller groups.  Since I store my paint on a shelf that is just the right height for paint bottles, these will act like drawers just like the cut down laundry boxes I currently use.   
A simple re-evaluate example is the divided boxes manufactured for fishing tackle. Finally the industry has figured out these boxes are great for crafters and hobbyists as well. They are not just on the fishing aisle anymore but in the hobby section, too.  I am suggesting that we think about all things this way.  Is there another purpose that I can use this whatever?  Whether it is an item to make miniatures with or an item to store them.  
Another example of re-purposing is to take a hanging travel organizer for cosmetics and use it for storing and traveling with tools. Don't wait for the industries to re-market to us as hobbyists.  
Yet another idea along this line is T2T - Trash2Treasure - this is when someone provides a list of household items that we can make something from.  This has been held as challenge on one of the lists I am on.  This type of challenge is very helpful to see items in a different way.  Even if I don't participate, it is fun to read what others have used and how they used them.  The T2T challenge is more about using items to make miniatures in a different way, but I think it helps to get the brain used to thinking about other things in a different way as well.  

Come back tomorrow for another organizing idea during my 31 days of organizing.

Happy Miniature Organizing!

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