managing my digi scrap stash

It's funny how I do stuff and I don't really think about it. Like managing my digi scrap stash. Yes - you still have to sort and manage your stash even if its digital!

Because its for digi scrapping, where I have full control over the colour (you can change the colour of anything - though white is sometimes tricky to get off a coloured item), there is no point for me to sort my digi stash in to colours.

I also thought about placing all the bits from the same kits together; but this just didn't work for me. But at the same time, if I was going to follow the usage of most of the images, I need to keep track of what belonged to what kit, so I could credit it when I publish the page online. (And I like to do this)

I decided to manage my stash with folders (just in Windows Explorer). I bought an external hard drive - which has all my photos and digi stash on it, particularly as my computer is a little older.

First I setup a 'digital' directory and two main folders; one for the stash, and one for pages I'm working on or created.

Stash Area - Bought That Pack - ITEM A
Then I created an area to record which kits I've purchased, what they are called, etc. Most kits come with their own little advertiser of what's in the kit - so I used these pics to make it nice and pictorial.

ITEM A - an example of how I organise the kits I've bought/dowloaded. the pictures on the right are supplied by the kit designer. On the left I use where I bought it from, rather than the brand. For me, this is easier - because some brands are available across many websites.

If I also change the file name of the kit picture to the name of the kit, then I don't necessarily have to open it up to get the details I need to credit the item I have used.

Stash Area - Categorising The Bits - ITEM B

I also like to categorise the bits out of each kit, so I can find them quickly and easily, and don't have to trawl. Trawling takes precious time!! I use traditional headings like "patterned paper", "ribbon", "buttons" etc but I also use extra ones like 'Household items' for furniture and the like.I find my brain looks for items in the traditional way. Now and then, I delete a category, or rename it, or move items out and create a new category - it's always evolving.

I can remember most items in my head, but the patterned paper gets harder and harder the more kits I have purchased or downloaded (in some cases like Far Far Hill I have freebie kits - but they still need to be credited when I put work up online). 

ITEM B

 Stash Area - Categorising the bits - inside the folders ITEM C
I take time after downloading a kit, to rename each item with the name of the kit but leave the item reference number in. It can take a little time - like ten minutes or so, (depending on how many items there are) but I find this worthwhile. (I type the first on in, and then copy and paste it into the others - being careful to click in and move to the left of the reference number for that item)

Some the pack graphics that I use don't include all items in the picture, whilst others items are obscured. The quicker I know which kit it came from for my Ingredients the better.

ITEM C - inside the category folders

Deleting items from Kits
Yes, sometimes I do this. If I know most definately I'll never ever use one item in a whole kit, I will remove it. There's no point it taking up room. Sometimes I have a bit of a clean out six months after I bought the pack, and if I always shy away from using an item, then I will delete it.

Downloading kits
I found this really tricky when I first started. Now I know to create a Downloading directory off my Desktop or My Documents and make sure I only unzip kits one at a time, to avoid confusion. And then move the items into folders on my external drive. My first five downloads I lost the items somewhere (I think I deleted them by accident) and I had to send a very apologetic email to the supplier and ask if I could have access to download again. Of course, they let me, but I felt stupid!

Ingredients
I use this term to describe what I have used to create a digi page or card. I find it all encompassing, and it does feel sometimes like I'm cooking a cake or bending a page into the shape of my will, when I create a digital page.

Searching Through Patterned Papers
When I'm looking through the papers folder, this is the only one where I really can't see the pattern or detailing on the page too clearly. I've found with experience that instead of using the File, Insert inside the application I am using to create the page, I am far better off to go to Windows Explorer and turn on the Filmstrip View and find the patterned papers I need from that (record the name or similar) and then use File, Insert inside the application.

But using the File, Insert for all other categories seems to suffice to see what the item is and whether it will suit for the page or not.


Adding Ingredients to the Displayed Page - finding the ingredients
I usually create the Ingredients in Microsoft Word (I have an Ingredients page on the desktop) in one huge paragraph and then copy and paste them into the site online where my page is. When I do this, I split the view - so I can see both the Word page and Windows Explorer at the same time. I've found this saves HEAPS of time.
When I add in the ingredients, I usually put the Brand first, then the name of the kit, and then the reference name of the element from that kit. If I've used more than one from that kit, I put brackets around the whole lot, so I don't have to repeat the kit name over and over. for example:
"Laura Burger Going In Circles – bitz no 2"
or
"[Laura Burger Going in Circles - bitz no 2, no 3, no 5]"
Even if the download was for free, I still credit the kit name or where I got it from.