Swatching System-A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place #1

     Hi friends!  I feel like I'd be lying to you if I omitted my intense love of organization in crafting.  After a long day of creating, there is nothing better than being able to return everything to its neatly defined space.  Okay, so maybe not after every creative day, but no matter.  The fact is that I feel much better creating when there is at least some method to the madness.  So in the spirit of orderliness, here is the first entry in to the organizational series, 'A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place'.

My Copic, ink, and embossing swatches

     One organizing method that has proved to be exceptionally useful, as well as aesthetically pleasing, is my current swatching system.  After many experiences with stamping a finishing sentiment with the 'perfect' color of ink, only to find out the hue was not at all what I expected or remembered, I realized that I needed a form of reference.  After trying many different swatching methods, I decided upon my current system.

My swatches hanging behind my workspace

     I keep my ink, embossing, and Copic reference colors hanging all together.

My Copic color chart

     The Copic color chart was easy enough to find, and I made haste printing it off of a google search (and yes, I do take immense pleasure in coloring each new square as I grow my Copic stash).  The Copics were easy enough, though the other swatches proved to be a bit more challenging.
   

A close up of my ink swatches

Coin collecting sheets, available super cheap at hobby stores

      I decided upon using coin collecting sheets with white cardstock inserts.  I chose a stamp that showcased the most of each color and then set to work cataloging my supplies.

For both inks and powders I add information about finishes and types (pigment, dye, pearl, opaque)

     This is an ideal system works fabulously for me. Now, I can pull each sample and compare them to my project (and generally toy relentlessly over the options).  I love the color it gives to my workspace, as beautiful organization is my favorite type of fun!
     Thanks for stopping by, I can't wait to share more organizational goodies with you.