The BEST Way to Organize Vinyl Scraps Plus FREE Cut Files!

Learn all about the BEST way to organize vinyl scraps! This simple and inexpensive tool will be a game-changer for your crafting life! Plus, FREE cut files are available so you can make your own!

Here are several interesting facts about me: I’m obsessed with my Silhouette Cameo, few things in life make me happier than some good organization, I have a *slight* hoarding streak, and I looooove saving money.

So, what do you get when you combine all of these things?? This very scraptacular organizer!

Now, I realize it’s a little presumptuous to declare this method as being the absolute BEST, however……it is for me!

Yep, just like with my original vinyl organizer for my large sheets of vinyl and other Silhouette supplies, this little booklet has been a crafting game-changer for me. I hope you find it helpful too….which is why I’m also sharing my FREE cut files so you can make your own!

[Many thanks to the awesome folks at The Hungry JPEG for sponsoring today’s post!]

 

The BEST Way to Organize Vinyl Scraps Plus FREE Cut Files!

Supplies

• 9″ x 12″ Artist Portfolio
• Vinyl (I used white and pink), transfer tape, & painter’s tape
• Silhouette Cameo & cutting mat
• Scraper & scissors
• Photo paper & printer
• Double-sided tape
• Polka dot gift wrap

 

Earlier this year, I shared my method for storing and organizing all the supplies that I use with my beloved Silhouette Cameo….and it’s still one of my most popular posts!

All it is is simply an 18″ x 24″ artist portfolio, and it has been a true lifesaver, craftily speaking (craftsaver??).

You can find out all the deets about it here (and grab the free cut files for the “Addicted to Vinyl” decal and colorful organization labels, too! I’m also sharing two more free cut files below, including a new decal and an updated set of labels).

 

When I put together that vinyl organizer, my collection of scraps was very minimal since I’d only had my Silhouette Cameo for about six months, plus my scraps consisted of only vinyl. I had yet to discover the wonderful worlds of HTV, stencil film, or contact paper. Boy, was I missing out!

I was therefore able to easily fit everything into a simple 8.5″ x 11″ plastic folder….

 

….and it worked nicely in the Scraps page of my large organizer.

 

Well, fast-forward ten months and this is what my Scraps page had turned into: o_O

 

Yikes, indeed.

Everything was just shoved in there together….vinyl with HTV with glitter HTV with miscuts with contact paper with stencil film with random specialty sheets with a hodge podge of seemingly everything else.

That made it super hard to find things when getting ready for a project, and resulted in wasted money since I’d either miss a scrap I could use, or pieces would get bent, creased, and/or stuck to themselves or others.  Grrrrr to wasting time AND money!

So, when my husband asked why I had purchased a new smaller portfolio when I already had a large one, all I had to do was whip this page out and he quickly understood. His exact words were “WOW….that is a *horrendous* mess. Yep, good call on the small one.”

And here’s my new miniature portfolio that is solely for scraps!

It’s 9″ x 12″ and is the perfect size for scraps of all kinds, even the tiny little bits that I just can’t bring myself to throw away. Since it’s so compact, I can easily slide it onto a shelf.

They also make lots of different size portfolios too, such as:

• 8″ x 10″
• 8.5″ x 11″
• 11″ x 14″
• 11″ x 17″
• 13″ x 19″
• 16″ x 20″
• 18″ x 24″

(I’m a visual person, so I placed a pencil next to it to give a little perspective on its size.)

 

The Mockup

Just like with my previous vinyl storage organizer, I of course needed to add a cute little decal to the front.

Helloooo, this is for vinyl after all, and what better way to use up some scraps, amiright? Plus, I love cute office supplies.

I first created my mockup in Silhouette Studio with the punny little saying “and she lived scrappily ever after.” I’d also be adding some cute polka dot paper to decorate the spine, but more on this in a bit.

 

The “Scrappily Ever After” Vinyl Decal

I then cut out the saying in two different colors of vinyl (white and pink) with my Silhouette Cameo.

And how cute is that “scrappily” font?? I mean, seriously. Those swirls are so fun!

After adding some transfer tape to the top, I carefully applied all three pieces to the front of the cover….and luckily they were straight and level. That always makes me let out a sigh of relief.

(If you’d like a complete tutorial on how to cut out and apply vinyl decals, check out my Project Gallery….I’ve got lots of ’em!)

 

The Fonts

Since invariably with every project I share, people always inquire about the fonts (hooray for font addicts!), so here are the two that I used in this project:

The gorgeous script font that I used for “scrappily” is called Secret Garden. I just LOVE the swirly, twirly goodness and the cute but still classy hand drawn vibe of it….because goodness knows my handwriting is hideous, even as a font!

 

Just look at all the fun extras!

 

See what I mean about swirly, twirly goodness??  So many options to play with!

 

The second font that I used for the rest of the decal (“and she lived” and “ever after.”) is called Robinson, and it’s actually a bonus font that comes with the Flowers In The Dirt package.

 

The Organizing Labels

Ok, now back to the organizer!

What good is organization if it’s not labeled, right? Cute labels would be just the trick to make finding all my various scraps a breeze once slid into the pages.

Luckily I already had a set of labels made from my original vinyl organizer, but I modified them a bit by adding some new ones (like Stencil Film and Glitter HTV) and removing some (like Scraps….duh!).

The complete set that I have now includes:

• Oracal 651 (permanent/outdoor, or nice stencils)
• Oracal 631 (removable/indoor)
• Silhouette-brand (removable/indoor….not as high quality as Oracal though)
• HTV (for use on clothes, tote bags, or other accessories)
• Glitter HTV (my most favorite medium to use with my Silhouette!)
• Printable Vinyl (a cool option for intricate designs, like Alice in Wonderland images!)
• Printable HTV (great for Halloween costumes, kids’ holiday shirts, or other accessories)
• Specialty (lots of samples that I got when Oracal used to send out freebies)
• Miscuts (due to forgetting to measure before cutting and/or having malfunctions….hey, it happens.  Plus, I’m a hoarder and can’t bear to throw anything away!)
• Stencil Film (my favorite way to paint on wood!)
• Contact Paper (cheap alternative to using vinyl stencils)
• Chipboard (also cereal boxes!)
• Scrapbook Paper (I use paper sometimes)

 

To avoid recreating the wheel, I’ll spare you all the details on how I made and cut out these labels, again with my Silhouette (it’s my crafting BFF). You can find all that enthralling information (including how to modify and edit them to fit your own needs) in my original vinyl storage organizer post.

And if you’re after a complete run-down of how to use Silhouette‘s awesome print & cut function (it’s quite incredible), check this out.

 

I left these labels the same size as my original set since I’m offering them as freebies and readers may want to use them for a different size organizer. However, they would have stuck out too far if I applied them to these 9″ x 12″ pages in the same manner….boo.

Soooo, for this mini organizer, I just used my scissors and snipped off the bottom portion of each label, added some double-sided tape to the inside of both sides, then sandwiched it around its corresponding page. Worked like a charm!

 

The Polka Dot Spine Insert

To amp up the cuteness factor even more (because, why not?), I cut out a new insert for the portfolio’s spine in some adorable white and silver polka dotted gift wrap that I snagged ages ago from one of Michaels’ dollar bins.

Luckily, the insert that came in the portfolio listed its exact dimensions (3.7″ x 12.7″….thanks Itoya!), so it was a breeze to cut out a perfect replacement with my Silhouette.

 

Now that I had my punny decal on the front, the colorful labels applied to the pages, and the polka dot spine slid into place, all that was left was to separate my scraps and introduce them to their new homes!

 

The Completed Vinyl Scraps Organizer!

And here’s everything put together!

The fun saying on the cover coupled with the playful polka dots just puts a smile on my face. Cute organization and office supplies set this nerdy girl’s heart aflutter.

 

Being able to quickly flip through the pages and easily find what I’m looking for is icing on my crafting cake.

You just can’t beat cute organization that saves you time, frustration, and money!

 

Here are views of all the pages I currently have. Pretty neat, huh?

The front of the portfolio has a handy dandy pocket, so I went ahead and placed the several extra labels in there until I need to add them to the pages.

 

These labels are so cost-effective (thank you photo paper), plus I can easily adjust them if needed as my scrap supplies change.

Also, I still use the Scraps page in my original large organizer for things that are too big for this Scraps-only one, which for now includes large pieces of contact paper and stencil film. This mini one, though, is super handy for all the tiny bits!

 

Get Your FREE Cut Files!

If you feel like making yourself one of these handy dandy organizers for all your vinyl (and other) scraps, feel free to download the files I used to jazz up your portfolio!

I’m sharing both the “Scrappily Ever After” decal and the organizing label files for FREE! Just click on the links below to download….enjoy!

• Download the “Scrappily Ever After” cut file!
• Download the scrap organizing labels print & cut file!

{THE FINE PRINT: These files are Silhouette Studio Version 3 .studio cut files. Also, both files are for PERSONAL USE ONLY. That means you are free to use them on things for yourself or as gifts, but not for any commercial purposes. Thanks!}

 

If You Enjoyed This….

If you liked what you saw here today, make sure you check out my Project Gallery too….I’ve got lots of other freebies, Silhouette projects, fontacular fun, and all kinds of other goodness!

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have fun getting organized!