Organization The Paper Storage System 5 min read

How Should You Store Your Paper?

The best way to store your craft paper is to organize it by size, color, or style so each sheet is easy to see, find, and use. Dedicated Paper Holders for 12x12, 8.5x11, and 6x6 paper can keep your cardstock, patterned paper, and specialty paper organized, while Paper Sleeves and Pockets give your scraps and smaller collections a place to stay with the paper they coordinate with. Paper Holders are available in Standard and IKEA® sizes, so you can choose the option that works with your craft space.

Your paper is more than another craft supply. It's the foundation of your cards, scrapbook pages, and creative projects. Instead of hiding your favorite cardstock at the bottom of a drawer or digging through stacks of patterned paper, give your collection a system that helps you spend less time searching and more time creating.

Where Should You Store Your 12x12 Paper?

Store your 12x12 cardstock, patterned paper, and specialty paper in a divided Paper Holder that keeps your collection visible and easy to browse. Organize the slots by color, pattern, theme, brand, or whatever makes sense for the way you create.

A 12x12 Paper Holder has 15 storage slots, with each slot holding about 50 sheets of paper.

Kim uses her 12x12 Paper Holders to organize her cardstock in rainbow order, turning her collection into part of the visual appeal of her craft room.

“My very first [Stamp-n-Storage] purchase was the 12x12 Paper Holders. The cubed organizers (ex. Kallax unit from IKEA®) seemed like it was the best for my space, so all my items from Stamp-n-Storage are for the IKEA® size option. I love how my colors are in rainbow order. I have job tickets that I store scraps and label the color name. I love having all my colored cardstocks out in the open to help me get inspiration.”

— Kim

Read More About Kim's Studio Showcase

When your paper is visible, your collection can become part of your creative inspiration instead of another stack to search through.

Where Should You Store Your 8.5x11 Paper?

Store your 8.5x11 cardstock and paper in divided sections that keep each color or paper type accessible. Depending on your space, you can organize your paper vertically or horizontally.

An 8.5x11 Paper Holder has 15 storage slots, with each slot holding about 50 sheets—roughly two cardstock packs from Gina K. Designs, Taylored Expressions, or Stampin' Up!®.

Want to maximize the space inside your IKEA® Kallax? The 8.5x11 Max for IKEA® Kallax adds four additional slots for a total of 19 paper slots.

As a military spouse who frequently moves, Anastasia wanted her craft-room storage to make efficient use of her IKEA® furniture while also being sturdy enough to move with her. She chose the 8.5x11 Max for her cardstock and Designer Series Paper.

“The 8.5x11 Max is my favorite Stamp-n-Storage product and I love that I can store paper either vertically or horizontally. IKEA® is worldwide and in the event my furniture was damaged during a move, I can easily replace it. I chose Stamp-n-Storage products for an opposite reason. The construction is very sturdy and I knew it could hold up to a move better than other storage options.”

— Anastasia

Read More About Anastasia's Studio Showcase

Whether you prefer vertical or horizontal storage, choose the orientation that makes your paper easiest to access in your space.

Where Should You Store Your 6x6 Paper?

Keep your 6x6 patterned paper, cardstock, and origami paper from getting lost beneath larger sheets by giving it its own divided storage space.

A 6x6 Paper Holder has 15 storage slots. Because paper thickness varies, the number of sheets each slot holds depends on the paper's weight and type.

Need more room? The 6x6 Double for IKEA® has 30 storage slots, doubling the storage capacity of the 15-slot 6x6 Paper Holder.

Kristy uses several Paper Holder sizes together, allowing different parts of her collection to have their own space.

“With Stamp-n-Storage Paper Holders for IKEA, of course! I have a few different styles, and I like the flexibility of accommodating different sizes (12x12, 8.5x11, 8.5x11 Max for IKEA, and 6x6 & 6x6 Double).”

— Kristy

Read More About Kristy's Studio Showcase

Giving each paper size its own space can keep your entire collection organized without letting those smaller 6x6 sheets disappear.

What Should You Do With Used Pieces and Scraps of Paper?

Your paper changes once you start creating. You cut flowers out of one sheet, trim a card front from another, and suddenly that beautiful patterned paper has a corner missing—but those pieces are still useful. Instead of creating a separate scrap pile, keep usable pieces with the full sheets they coordinate with using Paper Sleeves or Paper Storage Pockets, so you can easily find that exact color again.

Paper Sleeves come in packs of 15 in 6x6, 8.5x11, and 12x12 sizes. The top and one side are open so your paper can slide in and out easily, and each Sleeve holds about 5–10 pieces of cardstock or coordinating scraps.

Wendy uses Paper Sleeves to keep her leftover pieces with their matching colors.

“I also use the Paper Sleeves (which I just added and love). Each sleeve holds the scraps and leftover pieces that correspond to the color in that slot.”

— Wendy

Read More About Wendy's Studio Showcase

Keeping scraps with their coordinating paper makes it easier to use what you already have before cutting into another full sheet.

Need more capacity? Paper Storage Pockets come in packs of 15 and hold about 15 sheets of cardstock each, with room for more when you're storing thinner paper. They're available in 12x12 and 8.5x11 portrait or landscape sizes.

How Can You Turn Your Paper Storage Into a Whole System?

Start with the paper you use most and give each size a designated home. Then organize your collection by color, pattern, brand, theme, or whatever helps you find what you need.

Need more divided storage? The Three-Tier Paper Holder has 32 slots, each approximately 1 inch tall, and comes in both 12x12 and 8.5x11 sizes.

Your paper storage doesn't have to look like anyone else's. Build a system that makes it easy for you to see your paper, find it, use it, and put it away.