Organizing All That Stationery

30th September 2007

Organizing All That Stationery

posted in Organization |

I’ve always been addicted to stationery. When I was six years old, my best friend Kelly Simon moved to Massachusetts, leaving me behind in South Carolina. We were pen pals for YEARS, writing constantly. When I was 8 and my oldest sister went to college, we exchanged letters frequently. Then, when I was 11, I started writing with some pen pals I “met” through a library program. New stationery was always something to show off and inspired a rush of outgoing letters.

With email, instant messaging, and blogging (not to mention cell phones) to keep in touch with friends now, I don’t write nearly as much as I used to. But I’m still addicted to stationery.

A few years ago, I crocheted a little box with the word “write” on top of it, for storing my cards and envelopes. It was supposed to remind me and inspire me to send mail. It worked sometimes, but couldn’t keep up with the rate at which I was buying the cutest cards ever! I soon outgrew the box, and started a library of cards beside the box on my shelf.

Last week though, I decided it had gone far enough. (This picture doesn’t include all of my stationery… I found some more after I snapped this shot.)
organize stationery cards envelopes

Since my husband and I have combined our files, I stole the file organizer from my desk makeover for my stationery. I organized the cards into categories… formal, informal, blank inside, thank-yous, etc, and put them into the accordion file.

organize stationery cards envelopes accordion file

It’s deliciously cute, and now my cards all fit in one container on my shelf again.

organize stationery cards envelopes accordion file

I wonder what to do with my crocheted “write” box now though.

Besides that, I need to start writing more letters again. That’s always fun!

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 30th, 2007 at 7:13 am and is filed under Organization. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 On September 30th, 2007, Meagan said:

How about using the “write box” as an “in/out-box” for letters that need to be replied to, or blank notecards that need to be written and sent?

posted on September 30th, 2007 at 8:55 am

2 On September 30th, 2007, Jessica said:

I’ll take a letter!

posted on September 30th, 2007 at 9:03 am

3 On September 30th, 2007, Joyful Abode said:

Meagan, that might work better if the box had more structure… as it is, it’s floppy (except for the reinforced bottom) unless it’s full. Also, I wish I had letters that need to be replied to! hehe.

Nice, Jessica!

posted on September 30th, 2007 at 12:18 pm

4 On September 30th, 2007, lindsay said:

ok here goes again. I made sure to add the two numbers this time.

1. you could use the box to keep little clippings from envelopes and letters that you receive until you get a lot and then you could decoupage them to a journal or another art scrapbook. I save cute address labels, stamps and stickers off things I’d otherwise throw away. I don’t have an address book so eventually I’ll have to put them in a book. but I like paper too, this way I can keep little bits of it without having a stack of old papers sitting around.

2. you could use it as an “inspiration recipe” box. by that I mean you could keep little notes about things you’d like to try to cook, or recipes you’ve made up. that way you’ve got them all in one place.

3. you could caaaarefully cut off the write part of the box and re-gift it to someone for something. or keep little trinkets or jewelry in.

posted on September 30th, 2007 at 2:02 pm

5 On October 1st, 2007, yayanana said:

I like the little Tin Buckets…I think I need tro go get something like that for MY office.

posted on October 1st, 2007 at 6:49 am

6 On October 2nd, 2007, Joyful Abode said:

You should, yayanana. I got them at Wal-Mart and used them in my classroom for a while.
I have 2 big ones - one for cool-colored markers, and one for warm-colored markers, and 3 small ones - one for pencils, one for black and blue pens, and one for colored pens and pencils.

posted on October 2nd, 2007 at 4:51 am