organized for the first time

I’ve had a number of inquiries about my project book and copic marker reference. When I first started making cards a couple of years ago for Operation Write Home, I quickly realised that my project list, copic color reference, technique reference, and collection of card sketches was becoming unwieldy. So I went about getting organized.

It serves as a good guide and a for anyone who makes cards, crafts, draws, quilts, or likes to dream up new projects – it was a lot of fun to make and I’ll enjoy helping other papercrafters get themselves organized as well.

(if you’re interested in having one of your own and not having to do a boat-load of work to get it organized, click here to order one from me and I’ll get you get started – all money made outside of material/shipping costs will be donated to The Harriman-Miller Green Beret Organization depending on what binder, pockets, sections you choose)

Below is the first reference book (I produced it last year) – its not perfect, but it works. I’ll probably revisit, revise, and re-organise again at some point, but for now it serves my needs nicely and keeps me organized… another project crossed off!

this is the copic color reference by color family. if you’re familiar with the copic colour range, there are 358 colors with 16 families. for my reference, I only produced 15 (I have no need for the flourescent color family right now). each reference page is on the smooth cardstock I would use for colouring my stamp subjects	since I’m a newbie and struggle with colouring faces, hair, and natural colour combinations, I printed a reference to help guide my palette choices. I may add a few other reference objects (like trees or other complex) as I develop some skills, but I’ll stick to faces while I try to just master the basics.
I produced a few colour references for skin tones and blending – one thing of note is that these reference pages are	This is a library of card “sketches” to help me easily pick a layout and get the creative mojo going!
I installed a pocket in the front to save coupons, booklets, tickets and registration forms. The first page of my reference book has an info page (on white vellum so I can see the pretty print behind it) in case it gets lost	I thought about creating a new “sample” section for washi tape, sentiments, and fabric swatches, but there isn’t enough to warrant adding another right now
the binder is a cute 5.5×8.5” I found on clearance at target. I may cover it in fabric that’s coordinated with my craft room when I revise the book – given the number of projects and reference needs I have, it’ll be a pretty active book	I also created color-coordinated tabs for each section of my reference book (home projects, craft projects, colour reference, other reference, and sketches).

By the way, the Harriman-Miller Green Beret Organization is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to supporting and meeting the needs of past and present Army Special Forces teammates and their families. Super nice folks and I’m delighted to support them.