Here’s a simple way to keep track of all those great projects and ideas you come across online, no special software necessary!

• Create a folder on your computer: Craft Ideas
• Inside that folder, create a folder for each category: Christmas, Easter, Gifts, Quilting, Sewing, Crochet (whatever works for you)
• Place a text file in each folder named: Index

Whenever you come across something online that catches your eye:

• Right click on the picture of the finished project and save it to the appropriate folder in Craft Ideas.
• Copy the url or link to that project and paste it in the Index text file, each url is on a separate line and the first word should be the name of the photo you saved (to find it easily).
• Example: Crochet-Shopping-Bag.jpg - http://tipnut.com/vintage-crochet-shopping-bag-pattern/

Whenever you need some inspiration or ideas for a new craft project to work on, just browse through the folders (View, Filmstrip or Thumbnails). When you find the project you like, open the text file in that folder, scan down to find the picture name (or use the Edit=>Find feature) and visit the url for the instructions.

Alternative: Instead of saving the pictures with a descriptive name, you could number them (using a number you haven’t already assigned). Easy to keep the text file urls in order, just c&p them in numerical order (example: 1. http://tipnut.com).

Another Alternative: Print the web page of instructions to a pdf file and save it on your computer in the same folder as the picture (do a search for “print pdf software” if you don’t have Adobe Pro). Make sure to name the pdf the same as the picture (with .pdf extension) to find it easily.

Browser bookmarks or online bookmarking services are great, but this method provides a visual catalog to browse through. Very handy!

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Posted in Crafty Ideas, Organizing | ( 1 )