I collect clutter. I don't know how it happens but I am just not one of those people where everything has a place and is IN that place. I strive to be and maybe one day, after lots of work (LOTS!), I may get there. Hence, my continual quest for organization in my studio. This month I tackled marker storage. Since finding alcohol markers, I've been collecting them. As a result, finding the one I wanted was never easy. At one point, I saw someone used the Quickutz Magpie Storage System for their markers. What a brillant idea. I then went on a quest to buy some. What stopped me for the longest time was shipping. Those things are heavy and most places charge you an arm and a leg to ship them. To my delight, www.overstock.com has them! Wooohooo - $2.95 shipping for whatever my order........before I knew it, I had two magpies on their way to me. They just arrived this week and like a kid in a candy store, I had to take them out and use them right away.
Every time I look at these, I just smile. It's amazing how things in an orderly place make me happy. Not surprising since I like rules too, but I digress.....
The magpie on the left holds all my Prismacolor Markers separated by basic color scheme.
The magpie on the right holds all my Copic Original Markers separated by basic color scheme. If I do add to my colors by buying any Sketches, they will just get mixed in with the Originals. On the lower right corner, I have an area for my Dee Greunig markers. When I color right onto the stamp, these are my go to markers - love them. Mind you, I have never tried the SU markers so I can't compare.
Now my markers are nice and neat, how do I tell what each one will look like on paper? I've got an answer for that too, never fear.
Along with order and rules, I love lists. Yes, I would never be a good rebel. Here is my copic chart. This was printed over at www.copicmarker.com It shows all the available markers of all styles. I printed my lists on Papertrey white cardstock as that is the cardstock I use when coloring with these markers. This way I know how each color will show up on my paper. Once I get a marker, I color in a line and I can see at a glance what I may want.
I could not find any lists for Prismacolor markers, so I made my own. This too is printed on PTI paper and all the colors marked off.
Now, at a glance, I can decide what colors I want to use and can easily pull them off their shelves.
Next, I want to tackle my ink pads. Please show me pictures and offer suggestions. A warning though, I have a lot of them too!
REALLY Great, but did you remove the backing of the magpie's or did you leave it the way they came?
luv, karin
Posted by: karin | August 21, 2009 at 06:11 PM
I love how organized you are!! What a fabulous collection you have going on here!
Posted by: Joanne Travis | March 10, 2009 at 04:28 PM
wow! i bet it's nice to have everything in it's place!
Posted by: Maria | March 09, 2009 at 06:18 PM
Laura, you are an angel! I have been trying to find the perfect storage system for my markers and this is exactly what I was looking for and didn't know it!
Posted by: Kay | March 08, 2009 at 03:57 PM
Great organization skills. Don't all those markers look lovely? Finally taking the plunge and trying some of the Copics.
Posted by: Karen Sullivan | March 08, 2009 at 12:24 AM
OMG....I'm jealous!!!! What a great storage solution. I may have to get myself some of those.
Posted by: Shannon Bracken | March 07, 2009 at 09:09 PM
WOW -- Thanks for the great idea!! Perfect with the free shipping going on right now at Overstock! Now I need to decide - black or white???
Posted by: Susie Walker | March 07, 2009 at 07:01 AM
This is awesome! I would smile every time I saw it too!
Posted by: Ashley | March 07, 2009 at 12:11 AM
That is amazing. I am not orderly. People would never use that word in the same sentence with me unless they were laughing hysterically, rolling on the floor. I think that marker system is fabulous! (My copics live in a large plastic bag, all jumbled together!
Posted by: peggysue | March 06, 2009 at 09:02 PM
I bow to thee.. Queen of orgnization. I love the idea of the colour chart for your markers. This is also handy for when you have the "need" to buy more. You will know at a glance as to what you have and what you need.
Posted by: Elizabeth | March 06, 2009 at 07:31 PM
I'm soooooo jealous!!!! I wish overstock would give us Hawaiian the same shipping cost. :( Love your storage. Looking at all those yummy Copics just makes me smile. :)
Posted by: yuki | March 06, 2009 at 03:15 PM
Love your system, it looks great. I have a Copic color chart but not one for my Prismas. One day i will take the time to make one, is yours a single page?I love lists too!!
Posted by: Gina | March 06, 2009 at 01:31 PM
Ohhh, what a great idea! I may have to check out overstock.com and get one. I've been getting the Copic Ciao markers and really need a good organization system for them. Thanks for posting and giving me an idea!
Posted by: Kim | March 06, 2009 at 12:18 PM
How organized you are :). I like to stay organized, after every card, every thing must be cleaned up and ready for the next :). I love these holders for the markers, I just ordered 3 copics today to see if I would like them. You should up load the sheet for the primsa markers :).
Posted by: Rebekka | March 06, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Awesome! Great organization and so pretty too! DP is done, markers done, ribbon done...what's next?!
Have a good weekend!
Posted by: Lisa M. | March 06, 2009 at 11:14 AM