Managing your stash...

FormbyGirl

FormbyGirl

Sugar Cookie : GingerScraps Praise
How does everyone manage their stash of product and what is your workflow for purchase and download? How do you make sure you don't buy duplicates?

I organize my product by store / designer / kit

  1. I buy (checking a spreadsheet as I go to make sure I don't get duplicates)
  2. I download everything
  3. I cut and paste the invoice into a spreadsheet (which is also organized by designer)
  4. I unzip the zips
  5. I combine the unzipped folders into a single folder for the kit & related items
  6. Underneath that, I move all the papers and elements into the main folder, but leave separate folders for alphas, word art, clusters, etc. That way I can look at everything at once and not have to keep looking in each folder.
  7. I rename the kit preview page to 'folder' so I can see it as the folder cover when I am looking in the designers folder.

It is a lot of work - but it makes me happy to have it organized and it is much easier to find and scrap with things that way.
 
My goodness, Lynnie, I never imagined being so organized! You rock it, girl!

My stash isn't very big, but I have it organized by store then kit. I unzip the files then put everything in one kit folder, making sure the designer's name and name of kit are the folder name. That's pretty much it. As I get more, I imagine I'll have to get even more organized and check my stash before I place an order, but for now, this works for me.
 
I use ACDsee to manage my goodies. I typically download and unzip right away so I can be sure that everything downloaded. Sometimes I get some empty zip files that didn't download correctly the first time. I also move the elements and papers into a main folder with designer/kit name. Once I tag everything in ACDSee then I move the kit into folders by designer. I tag the stores inside ACDsee so I have that information, especially if a kit is available at different stores. My kits are primarily sorted by Designer folders. If I happen to notice a kit is being retired, I go back and add an R to the end of the folder name. I love ACDsee because I can search for something by designer/store and element type criteria. Tagging is kind of time consuming work but I kind of get lost in the task, especially when my scrapping mojo is on the weak side.
 
I've found that 'pinning' my scrap stash on Pinterest helps for quick & easy reference. Also, some stores do have a notice that will pop up when you are logged in to your account and click on a kit in the store. Not sure if GS has that or not, though.

I also organize my folders by Designer except for the stores that I don't have much but freebies from; those I have a store folder for now.
 
Wow Lynnie! You're so organized you even saved the invoice!

I just save the unzipped files in one folder called "Kits" like this: (designer name initials: kit name), that way they're alphabetical. For freebies like templates and bloghop kits, I also do the same but I put them in the "untitled folder" inside the "kits" folder. I never named the folder so that it stays at the bottom of all the kits and is easy for me to locate.
 
It is so funny how everyone has a completely different system of managing things. I wonder what that says about our personalities :)
 
Wowzie. That is one fabulous organizational system. I organize mine into categories like seasons, holidays, etc. I do unzip right away and move everything to the main folder renaming the preview "folder" so I can see it right away. My GS kits are in a store folder and then organized in the same manner. Works for me but then I don't buy a whole lot so I don't have too much stash to deal with. :)
 
Heidi1472 said:
Wowzie. That is one fabulous organizational system. I organize mine into categories like seasons, holidays, etc. I do unzip right away and move everything to the main folder renaming the preview "folder" so I can see it right away. My GS kits are in a store folder and then organized in the same manner. Works for me but then I don't buy a whole lot so I don't have too much stash to deal with. :)
Click to expand...

I have way too much stash. I am ashamed to admit how much I buy vs how much I actually use. I get a lot of pleasure out of browsing through my stash though. I rename my preview to folder, too, so I can see it right away. IN fact, I spent the weekend cleaning up my stash and catching up with my organization so I can find things a little easier. My goal is to spend more time scrapping and less time managing my stash :)
 
I too have way TOO MUCH! From way too many years...

I'm not as detailed as Lynnie.

For Me:
D Drive >
Digi Stuff >
Folders for some designer and mostly sites.
IF in a site: [example]
GingerScraps > Designer's Name > Kit name [ and all it's stuff is into that kit name folder, plus the alpha folder]

I tag using Adobe Bridge [because I am over ACDSee.] Mostly it is kit themed, but I have a templates category by photo spot.

I keep one preview with the kit name and one designer TOU. If a question I ask.

m
ps- and gradually deleting stuff.
 
FormbyGirl said:
How does everyone manage their stash of product and what is your workflow for purchase and download? How do you make sure you don't buy duplicates?

I organize my product by store / designer / kit

  1. I buy (checking a spreadsheet as I go to make sure I don't get duplicates)
  2. I download everything
  3. I cut and paste the invoice into a spreadsheet (which is also organized by designer)
  4. I unzip the zips
  5. I combine the unzipped folders into a single folder for the kit & related items
  6. Underneath that, I move all the papers and elements into the main folder, but leave separate folders for alphas, word art, clusters, etc. That way I can look at everything at once and not have to keep looking in each folder.
  7. I rename the kit preview page to 'folder' so I can see it as the folder cover when I am looking in the designers folder.

It is a lot of work - but it makes me happy to have it organized and it is much easier to find and scrap with things that way.
Click to expand...

i can never get #7 to work for me. Isvit Apple or windows?
 
Well after reading all this I am not sure I organize anything :) I have a folder named KITS > each folder labeled with the kit name. Also inside that I have season and theme folders. I also have folders for my CT kits labeled by designer.

Maybe I need to improve my methods this year, rotflmbo.
 
I make signs for a living so I have to keep everything organised for that & it carries over into my digiscraps too

I organize my product by designer then store mainly as I find designers move around


  1. I buy (checking my designer folder so I don't get duplicates)
  2. I download everything to a folder on my desktop
  3. I unzip the kit/template I want to work with to a new folder with designer & kit name & combine the kit files into one folder to make it easier to find the whole kit
  4. Then once I am done I move the whole kit from my desktop to the designer/store folder so I can use it again at a later date

It is a lot of work but I hate not being able to find things easily & use the things I buy at least once before I file them in the pit of digital scrap stores & designers on my drive :)
 
Since my husband retired, I'm trying, without tremendous success, to be more fiscally responsible and only buy products from GS.

1. After purchases invoices go into my financial software
2. I download into a file called: GS uncatalogued into files named Designer_YYMM_Kit Name
3. Unzip files
4. Combine alphas, papers, elements, etc. into their own individual folders within kit folder
5. Use a renaming utility to rename everything to Designer_yymm_Kit Name
6. I keep a preview image within the folder for Kit, Elements, Papers, Border Clusters, etc. Those images have theme, and main colors added to the image name
7. Move to main folder: Scrapbooking Supplies-Get Organized Now which is organized by Kits_Designer & Templates_Designer
8. The preview images also get a few tags added in Bridge, templates get number of slots, etc.

It sounds like a lot of work, but I have it down to a system, works great on insomnia nights, and I get really overwhelmed if I don't have things organized. I get overwhelmed even when I DO have them organized. :)
 
I have folders inside of folders inside of folders! And they're all in my Downloads folder.
Like this --Finder > Downloads >Scrapbooking Kits > Store > Designer > kit name -- all in alphabetical order. Same for the templates - Finder > Downloads > Templates > Store > Designer > template name. I replace the ugly blue folders with the previews for each kit or template or alpha. That way I can see the colors.

More folders for my Creative Teams kits and templates to keep them separate, but still within the store where they are sold.

I don't tag or rename anything. On a MAC, I can do a search for almost anything (color, button, string, etc.) and if the designer has named the item appropriately, it will appear in the search.


27657291_10213701005892000_909695223101549024_n.jpg
 
Such great ideas above, I may need to re-think my own process!

1. I download & unzip everything into an "Add These" folder first as a temporary holding place until I have time for the rest of the steps.
2. I move each kit into a folder by category: holidays, themes, templates, etc
3. I keep all of the parts of the kit together and rename the main folder with kit name plus designer, and rename the preview to "folder"
4. I maintain a spreadsheet with Designer, Kit, Store, Category (matches the folder it is stored in), Purchase Date, and Used - I just added this last line because I want to make sure that I use the kits I am buying - so far I buy more than I scrap - gotta work on this!
5. I am creating an 8x8 preview book with a picture of each of my kits. This way I can easily see what stash I have and can look through it to choose what to scrap next!
 
So interesting to see how everyone organizes their stashes.

Once purchased, I download to my downloads folder.
When I have time (sometimes immediately) I unzip into designated folders.

Template folder - individual folders based on # of photos, Project Life, and 1 holding folder where things get dropped until organized. Inside the # of photos folders, I have all the previews and then folders for each template (png files). I view the previews until I find a template that works with the photos I'm using and then open the corresponding folder to get the layers.

Word Art folder - 1 folder per pack (Folder name: Designer - Pack Name) and a "holding" folder again.

Kits - These are divided up between those loaded into my software and those not loaded. Each kit has it's own folder (Folder name: Designer - Kit Name). I do have an additional folder labeled "retired" for all the kits that I don't use as often, can't be used for challenges, etc. Once I load a kit into my software, I move the files to my loaded kits folder. When I'm looking for a kit I often go to the two (loaded and not loaded) folders to look for a kit that works with my photos.

FYI, writing this all out made my process seem SUPER complicated but it doesn't seem that way to me :) But, in a nut shell, I sort kits by designer. Having it by designer makes it easy to keep like styles together as well as quickly knowing if a kit can be used for a challenge (although I normally move those that can't to a "retired" area. Templates are organized by number of photo spots.

As for knowing if I've made a purchase before, I'm knew to that. The last forum/store I was at listed at the top of an items' page if you had purchased it previously. If I'm not sure if I've purchased it before I just look through my stash. Kits aren't too tricky because designers are alphabetical so I just run through the loaded and not loaded folders to double check. Templates are a bit harder because I split them up (out of their packs) but I just have to check for the individual templates in my folders.
 
I love hearing all the different methods of organizing. I have a "to sort" folder where all my new stuff goes. From there it goes into a designer folder. I do have a spreadsheet that creates "Pretty links" that I just copy and paste into 'notes' inside my layout when I am scrapping.

I like getting ideas from everyone, though. I have a column for 'bought' but I think I will add one for 'used' also. I like that idea. I think I might have the same problem of too many kits, not enough scrapping :-)

The question is, do I really WANT to know how many kits I have not used yet.
 
I have a secondary question that goes with this.... do you do anything different with your Buffet pieces so you know which kits/packs coordinate with each other?
 
ScrappyPenguin said:
Well after reading all this I am not sure I organize anything :)
Click to expand...
I'm with you Kellie:)

I download to a "kit downloads" folder
I have a folder named "scrapbook product"
Inside that folder I have several sub folders: kits, templates, kit previews, template previews
I make a new folder with designer name and kit name in the appropriate folder for each new product I buy and unzip the product into its folder
I copy the preview .jpg file to the appropriate (kit or template) preview folder. I open this folder in Adobe Bridge to view all the previews and to choose the product I want to use. I rarely mix and match kits so this works for me.
Also, I only buy from GS so I don't need to worry about folders for different stores.
 
I mostly buy at GingerScraps, but I’ve occasionally bought something from another store when the kit theme was absolutely perfect for a personal layout, and there wasn’t a kit available with that theme from a GS designer.

I have separate folders for the CTs I’m on, so I’ll have a Clever Monkey Graphics CT folder, a Tinci Designs CT folder, etc. Then I have a general “GingerScraps” folder, in which I have separate folders for designers I have a lot from (i.e. a Ponytails folder, and an Ooh La La Scraps folder, etc.), separate folders for themed kits that I commonly use (i.e. a “Cat Kits” folder and a “Fitness” folder), and then folders for any kits that don’t belong in any of the above-mentioned folders. I also have separate folders for each month’s challenges, so there will be an “April 2018 Challenges” folder, with the mini-kits, templates, word arts, brushes, etc. That belong to that month’s challenges here at GS.

I use Picasa to view all of this, even though it’s no longer supported by Google. It still works! I’ll be sad the day it stops working, as I’ll have to find something else, and everything else I’ve tried (including the manager that comes with PSE) just don’t do it for me. I’m on a Mac.
 
You guys are super organized...it's so motivating!

My system is okay, it works, lol..

I have 2 main folders.. Gingerscraps and everything else, lol..
I used to buy from other places, but now I just scrap with GS goodies.

My folder looks like
Gingerscraps
- Templates - Specifically template designers
- Events - Birthday - Sports - Summer, etc...
- Buffet - 2018 - Jan - etc...
- Collab - Monthly Mix - FWP - etc...
- then all the designers have their own folder

In the kit folder, I always rename the kit preview and add 00- to the name so it will be in the beginning.
 
I recently had my EHD die... I lost so many, many, MANY kits and goodies :(
They were able to recover the files, but it cost way too much.

Luckily I have pictures backed up until 2015. But I needed to recover 2016-2018, just those few years was already 200+ GB!

That said, I didn't recover that many kits so I'm pretty much starting from scratch. I have kits saved from 2013, but that's really it, lol...
 
Talk to the store about restoring links on your purchases. They can do that for kits still available. Contact the designers for kits that aren't. I know they have done that before...

But the pictures - how heartbreaking. If you have some on facebook, or send them to family, you can at least get some there.

emscraps said:
I recently had my EHD die... I lost so many, many, MANY kits and goodies :(
They were able to recover the files, but it cost way too much.

Luckily I have pictures backed up until 2015. But I needed to recover 2016-2018, just those few years was already 200+ GB!

That said, I didn't recover that many kits so I'm pretty much starting from scratch. I have kits saved from 2013, but that's really it, lol...
Click to expand...
 
I created a thread in your honour! I think it will produce some interesting tales!
https://forums.gingerscraps.net/showthread.php?42384-Hard-Drive-Horror-Stories&p=494559#post494559


emscraps said:
I recently had my EHD die... I lost so many, many, MANY kits and goodies :(
They were able to recover the files, but it cost way too much.

Luckily I have pictures backed up until 2015. But I needed to recover 2016-2018, just those few years was already 200+ GB!

That said, I didn't recover that many kits so I'm pretty much starting from scratch. I have kits saved from 2013, but that's really it, lol...
Click to expand...
 
1. Buy Product
2. Store it in a folder heirarchy like this:

GingerScraps --> Designer Name --> Kit Name --> Alphas, Elements, Papers, and TOU's inside the Kit name folder.

I do that for each site I buy from.
 
FormbyGirl said:
How does everyone manage their stash of product and what is your workflow for purchase and download? How do you make sure you don't buy duplicates?

I organize my product by store / designer / kit

  1. I buy (checking a spreadsheet as I go to make sure I don't get duplicates)
  2. I download everything
  3. I cut and paste the invoice into a spreadsheet (which is also organized by designer)
  4. I unzip the zips
  5. I combine the unzipped folders into a single folder for the kit & related items
  6. Underneath that, I move all the papers and elements into the main folder, but leave separate folders for alphas, word art, clusters, etc. That way I can look at everything at once and not have to keep looking in each folder.
  7. I rename the kit preview page to 'folder' so I can see it as the folder cover when I am looking in the designers folder.

It is a lot of work - but it makes me happy to have it organized and it is much easier to find and scrap with things that way.
Click to expand...

Woah, now that is organized! I keep 2 copies of everything I have. I have one folder that has everything saved by kit name, then I have another folder that has all kit contents sorted by type (papers, element types, alphabets, word art, labels etc. Though being a newbie i don't have a whole lot of stuff...maybe around 16 or so kits.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top