My mom saved a ton of stuff when I was in elementary. Then her filing cabinet got full and she weeded it down with my help (I was maybe middle school age). So now I have maybe an inch-high stack of school papers/art projects, and I think that's more than plenty. (I also have my old yearbooks, pictures etc, but I don't think they fall into a "stuff to be weeded" pile.) As for your questions: "First, should I merge all of these mini-piles into one room?" I wouldn't. I can't ever manage to sit down and go through a mountain of papers. I'd rather grab one mini-pile, sort through it, and then put it away. "Do I go through these piles/papers first and divide them into two (one pertaining to each child?) " I would think that it should be divided by child so that they can easily be passed on to them years from now. "Or, as I handle each paper, do I decide "School" vs "Non-School" and then break it down to each child? " No. Why would you? Are you going to store it seperately? Ideally, you'd have only the most important keepsakes and there wouldn't be many so it'd be easy to go through later and find all "nonschool" stuff if need be. "Or, do I decide "Keep" or "Toss" as I go through these piles? And if I do it this way, does the "Keep" pile get sorted?" Just Keep or Toss for now. If it really bugs you later, you can always sort it later. "I'm thinking that then I will separate each kid's stuff into the elementary school years, the middle school years, and then the high school years. ...Should I create folders for each grade and then put school and non-school items in those folders? " Wow, it sounds like you're keeping a lot more than one sample per year!! Even if there's say 3 papers with with "thoughtful comments" on it, that's a maximum of 24 pieces of paper for all of elementary school! I just think you're making an overly complex system. Go through the piles, pick out the best stuff. Write the child's name and grade on each piece of paper if it's not on there already. Stick it in a box, label the box, and call it done! The benefits of a simple system are: 1) Better chance of actually doing it 2) if you really really feel the urge to subdivide the keepsakes by year, it can be easily done. But honestly I think that if you need to do that then you've kept too much.

I don't want to hijack Elizabeth's thread, but I am going through the same, only have a much worse problem. My projects get really big, and I realize that in the past the boxes or baskets I have used haven't been deep enough. I was a The Old Time Pottery last weekend, - they've got a number of stores in Atlanta and I don't know if they are elsewhere. They were selling "lingerie chests" with drawers that are about the size needed for 8.5 x 11 papers, or folded legal size paper. So I bought the only 2 they had (one was their floor sample, already assembled!) and have started sticking projects in that. I have already realized I'll probably need paperweights to keep the larger piles from getting out of control and sticking so the drawers can't open. The chest is about 45" high, and the drawers look square - I would say about 14" x 14". I am planning on using these drawers and maybe if I need them some boxes. I've tried baskets before, and realize that one reason they don't work for me is that they are so heavily textured that the papers get caught by the woven strips, or it's uncomfortable for me to stick my hands in. So far, I've scoooped up the project piles on my morning room table, which serves as a desk. As long as the drawers remain easy to open (i.e., good, lasting construction of cheap furniture, as well as controlling the piles by dividing into sub-projects, if needed), this might work for me.

I too, am considering making my hobby, a part time job. Not necessarily for the money, but for the company of other crafters who enjoy the same hobby as I do. To the best of my knowledge there is not an active club or group within 15 miles of me now, and I hate having to drive a lot futher to learn new ideas and layouts. I can't make myself just go with CM though. I find that there are just too many new items coming out almost daily, that CM just does not carry, and many people are requesting for their books. I think that CM got so used to being the "only" supplier early on, that they no longer tried to find and market new items, and so they are now paying the price for their slow marketing skills. While I do use some of their products, and enjoy them, I find MANY items cheaper, and of a MUCH larger selection, in the variety of stores that are now catching on to this craft, along with of course all the online stores now available. I would say that if you have enough of a following in your area of friends, who are not already connected with a CM consultant, then by all means go for it, but do your homework first. For example: How much will it cost you to rent/use a building for a class, if your home in not big enough for you to hold it there? How many friends do you know who would be willing to leave their regular CM consultant now, and become your customer? Who will watch your children while you are at your classes? What is your up front cost going to be and how long do you project it will take you before you recover these inital expenses? Does the building in question have heat, cooling, tables, and at least a fridge or soda machine for your classes? The more answers you find for these and other questions you ask yourself now, the more successful you will be later, and the more you will be able to judge if this should be your job or remain just your hobby. Good luck and I wish you the best. Penny

Oh my goodness! First of all let me explain that this hobby is ADDICTIVE!!!!! Second let me say that it's TONS OF FUN! I would suggest going to some classes if they are available in your area first, but if not go easy on the supplies at first as it will not take long before you have a house full! I would suggest getitng several photos together with a common them, ie Birthday, Boating, Vacation, etc. with at least 3 good photos per theme, then buy the stickers and paper for just those photos at first to see if indeed you like doing this. You will need at least the following supplies: Acid free paper, glue, scissors, one multi shaped template for cutting photos mats, and stickers to match the theme of the photos you are going to be doing first. You can buy single sheets of paper at Micheal's, and at most scrapbook stores. DO NOT LIMIT YOURSELF TO ONE COMPANY! There are a few suppliers who will try and tell you that their product is SAFER, BETTER ,etc, this is just not true, acid free is acid free, PERIOD! So don't get trapped into the more expensive products, this craft is expensive enough already. You will need page protectors for the size of paper you buy, which is either the larger 12 x 12 or the smaller 8.5 x 11. Either is fine it is just a personal preference which you do. Make sure you get a GOOD idea book and READ it BEFORE you cut your first photo, make sure you have double prints or at least the negatives of photos you start out with because you will get better at this craft over time and you don't want to start with Grandmas pictures! Check out many links on how to's BEFORE you start, and feel free to ask any question here you need to. Love and good luck Penny Here is a link that might be useful: scraplink