What do you do with your magazines? I use different ways of storing them depending on whether I just want a magazine article that I tear out and want to keep for future reference or whether I want to store the entire magazine. So here’s how I organize my magazine clippings and my magazines.
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I keep these white magazine files in my living room bookcase. They look neat and tidy! That’s where I keep my Countryside/Mother Earth News/Natural Home issues that I want to keep for reference. You can certainly cute them up with scrapbook paper but I like them plain white in this room.
I organize the articles I tear out into file folders. That way when I need to look for something I don’t have to sift through a stack of magazine clippings! Some people like to keep them in a binder but I find it easier to grab a specific folder like “Fall Decorating Ideas” and just see all the tear sheets with those ideas. This way you can find the specific topic that you need. Other people like to paste them into composition books but to me that’s way too time consuming.
I keep all my tear outs that I need to file in the front of the bin and every now and then take a few minutes to file them. If there is just one small item on a page that I want to keep I circle that item. This way I know why I kept that page. Sometimes I make notes on the page.
I bought that bin a few year ago at TJ Maxx and you certainly don’t need one to organize your magazine clippings this way. You could use a large accordion file, you could use a cloth bag, you could use a box (you can wrap the outside with scrapbook paper, wallpaper or giftwrap paper, stickers, use your creativity), you could even use a file cabinet if you have lots and lots of magazines clippings. Nor do you need toile file folders! But pretty file folders are very inexpensive these days and I find that it makes keeping things organize just a bit more enjoyable.
This basket holds the magazines that I’m currently reading. I like that it has handles because it makes it easier to move around the house with me.
Recipes that I pull out I put in a big binder in sheet protectors. That way when I’m using it I can just wipe it off if it gets dirty. Also, if I print out a recipe from another blogger, I always include that blog’s name so that if I should make it and show it I can give proper credit. I find it very annoying when people say “I saw it on somebodies blog” – it takes a minute to make a note of where you got a recipe or idea.
I just use a really big binder that I decorated with some scrapbook paper. Although it’s getting too big and I’m thinking of using smaller more specific binders. Like a binder just for desserts or baked stuff, one for breakfast ideas etc.
I have an old bookcase that I keep in my closet where I store every Mary Englebreit magazine ever published as well as a few of my favorite old Victoria’s and a bunch of gardening magazine. I don’t know if I’ll ever get rid of my Home Companion mags! I got rid of all of my Martha Stewart magazines a few years ago and I’m very sorry I did! But I only have but so much room – so sometimes you have to make some hard choices when it comes to storing things! I’d say I was more Mary than Martha anyway!
Also, every now and then I go through my clippings. It’s amazing how I always find some that I can’t for the life of me remember why I wanted to keep! This is a good rainy day or sick day activity. I also donate my magazines to my library (my library sells mags for 10 cents!) I used to be a magazine junkie but now I’m much more selective as they’ve become so expensive. Actually, lots of times I just go to Barnes and Nobles, order a coffee and sit and read magazines for and hour or so. A cup of coffee is much cheaper than a magazine these days!
Hi Manuella! Oh, I love your ways of storing magazines! I have a hard time tossing them out and eventually have to cull through them. I do cut out my favorite photos from some and keep them in a book, but I'm far from being so organized as you! Organized and pretty! That's is fantastic.
be a sweetie,
shelia 😉
Hi Manuela
I got rid of my Martha Stewart magazines before our move and I regret it too! So much, that I am buying them all back slowly at garage sales, and antique markets. I also have many old Victoria's and just now started buying the new Bliss Victoria. LOVE them!
Your post is full of excellent and beautiful ideas for organization and storage…thank you! x
Cool idea! I have folders all over the house. I need to put them n one place. Maybe this is what I will do while I am recooping from surgery on Thursday!
Love your idea! I use the binder method, but I do like the idea of labeling folders for making it easier to find the pictures {which is mostly what I tear out} or articles.
How very pretty and usable! I love how you use pretty things to make the filing more attractive to accomplish. This is a great idea and one that I can certainly use!
Some great ideas there, Manuela! Since it costs $72 a year for a magazine subscription to be mailed overseas, I started using Zinio. It's definitely not the same as sitting down with a magazine and flipping through it, but at least I still get to see my mag digitally. I am very thankful! 🙂
And yes…it is phenomenal what a cup of coffee costs these days…
Such a lovely display of… organizational skills, I love he toile bin.
Sheila
Oh, what great inspiration for getting me motivated to gather all the bits of notes, pictures printed off the internet, and magazine pictures that I have laying all around and over my desk. Your system looks like a very organized, edited one.
Hugs,
Sue
You are so organized!! I love it. I have a magazine fetish and have a goal of getting things in order. It's a giant job.
Great tips – really like the toile containers. I have let most of my magazine sub. expire. After I finish with one I usually pass it on to my daughter, but noticed several on a shelf the other day that I have no idea why I kept them.
Great tips for tear sheet storage and very similar to the way I keep mine. I don't like them glued to a page or in a sleeve either. I'd rather be able to grab it and go without having to bring the whole book along. Although, when I'm compiling ideas for a particular project–like a whole house redecoration or remodel–I'll make up a notebook, with glued-down tear sheets and notes and sketches, that goes to stores with me.
I also got rid of twelve years' worth of MSL's and do not miss them. I have a few of her books and buy an occassional new issue and that's good enough for me anymore. But I too have every issue of ME and no intention of parting with them!
Great post! I'm the binder and plastic sleeve type for both recipes and clippings; but I've been thinking about file folders for the clippings. I have every Mary E. magazine, too. Can't get rid of them, as I'm always rereading them. Have a great week. Sally
Your so organized!
I have good intentions but never seem to get it together…so I just have lots of loose articles and pictures.
Someday I'll sit down and organize them.
Peggy
Mary Engelbreit…how I miss her!
Happy new computer!
Great ideas here and I love your toile boxes! Thanks for giving us some inspiration and some great tips too! Cindy
You have some excellent organization ideas for magazines! Thank you so much for explaining and showing it here!
Thanks for all the great tips – I just went through my huge stack of magazines – it was not easy to get rid of them all, but I love the extra space I gained on my bookshelf!
Blessings!
~Nadine
You are truly amazing lady…I should do that but I go through them, take out what I want then toss them in the garbage! If I did what you do that would be a lot smarter!
Come say hi 😀
I have got to gid rid of some of the old magazines. I have such a difficult time letting go of them. I have stacks of them in every closet and even some in the food pantry. Do you think I need to hire a professional organizer?? I keep thinking I'm going to have time to go through them to see what I really want to keep. (I'm just afraid I may end up getting rid of 2 or 3 mags!). You've inspired me though. First chance I get, I'm going to do something about all of those piles. Love all of your b/w toile (I have those same lidded boxes, and they do have magazines in them!) laurie
Thank you for the tips on organzing clippings and recipes. I keep some binders but I agree that the file folder would probably be alot easier.
*Sigh* if only we had an IKEA where I lived….maybe someday!
Oh Manuela I love all that beautiful toile!!
Great storage ideas too.
Have a wonderful week!
I love your black toile accessories, they are so classic. I'm wondering how the ribbons work around the boxes? Do they need to be retied each time or are they attached in another fashion?
About giving proper credit – I had printed some recipes off and did so in google reader and don't have names on all of them. Now I feel bad if I use them and don't know who to credit them to. Lesson learned!
Lyn
Lots of great ideas Manuela, I'm glad your reran the post. I'm pretty organized with my magazines, but not the clippings. Thanks for the info.
Blessings,
Marcia
Hi Manuella, Thank you for such an informative post. Once again I am inspired to 'pretty up' my filing and storing systems. I simply love how you pay such attention to the small details in your home.
Great Post! Funny thing is that I was JUST thinking about this exact subject last night as I fell asleep. It's time for me to go through my magazines. I will need to schedule a day for just that. For once they were quite organized, but not so much anymore.
I remember this post from the first time around and was SO impressed. I love, love, love the harlequin post below. Your home is just lovely.
M.L.
I just don't have the room to store magazines, so I cut out the articles I want to save (knitting magazines) and put them in folders. Always make sure to staple the pages together, or you'll end up missing the last page of instructions. I also make scrapbooks up of decorating ideas for each of the seasons. Your home is so beautiful. That black basket next to the gold wing chair is gorgeous!
Jane
You have a great blog, Manuela! Thank you for referencing Mother Earth News! We appreciate the mention, and we'd love it if you could provide a link to our website: http://www.MotherEarthNews.com. Thank you again for the shout-out, and we;re so glad you enjoy the magazine enough to hang on to it!
I have nearly every issue of ME too. Just scored one I didn't have, thsi weekend.
I keep my ME, Romantic Homes, Tea Time, Southern Lady, Romantic Country's & holiday mags intact, all others are clipped out. I sort them according to the seasons & keep the different seasons in old suitcases. It's a simple system but it works for me.
ThanX for the timely reminder. I've been sorting through old mags and trying to get mine in order. I considered the binder method, but doubt I would keep up with it over time. Your tear sheet method is perfect! Love the toile folders ~ so pretty.
Yeah for that new computer. I'm eXcited for you!
Good morning Manuela!! We are so on the same page regarding organizing our ideas (pun intended ;). I'm in the never-ending process of making order from the chaos of my office (which is a walk-in closet we converted)! I always am so inspired by the way you think and do things. Thank you so much for the inspiration and ideas…as always my kind friend.
Warmly,
Tracey
P.S. We are hosting a "Frugal Luxuries" and "Frugal Luxuries by the Seasons" book(s) give-away on both of those blogs!! You and your readers are welcome to enter…it ends next Sunday. xox
Love your style! I definitely keep all my favorite magazines from years ago, but not in the stylish fashion as you do! I love the toile folders and bin…that's cute! I need to go e-mail my friend in Evans to look at this post, she'll love it as well!
What a lovely blog site! Your ideas are gorgeous and I love how functional everything is (I'm a professional organizer – functionality is huge in my world). I keep my clippings in pocket-folders by subject and then store the folders in a magazine folder – which now I want to cover so it's pretty. I'm dying to know about your showerstall pantry.
What a cute blog you have! Oh I just loved this post! Very inspiring! I like your toile box and files.. beautiful!
I still have all of my Home Companions, too! And every Victoria issue, from all the way back to the 1980s. I'm glad to hear that someone else still treasures them as I do!
Thank you for the organizing inspiration. I'm going to sort through some of mine now!
Manuela, wonderful ideas.
Wanted you to know I purchased the rooster dishes after seeing your post. I got the cream plates to back up the rooster salad plates….oh, I am in love. Thanks for letting us know.
Barb ♥
I LOVE how you have all of your magazines and clippings stored. I too have a hard time getting rid of magazines!
Yea on the new computer coming! I miss Home Companion, the Mary Engelbreit magazine. For magazine pages, I like to decorate plain folders in decoupage fashion, and slide them in there. And put them in a red dish drainer that I got for about $3 from Walmart. Wonderful place to stick your files for sifting through.
Brenda
Greatt ideas Manuela! I see you like some of my favorite magazines too! Life Beautiful, Countryside, I love them all. I'm a Binder and page protector girl myself, I like sitting down and flipping through my favorite pages and ideas and I can change them out if I don't want a page anymore.
I so need to organize my magazines. Right now there is pile of them on the floor next to my couch. Not a pretty sight. You have given me some great ideas on how to organize them. Now I just need to do it!!!
Oh my hubby wishes I was you xoxoo Clarice-who has thousands of mags saved !!
Oh Manuela you are so very organized and clever!
I have most of the same storage pieces and very few of your great ideas accomplished.
I am about to go through a purge again the million and one pages I have saved. And then start on the tons of magazines.
Thanks for showing us your great ideas.
Donna
Many inspirationals ideas, love the boxes.
I love your file system. Where did you get your toile file box and folders?? I love them.
Great idea! I am totally feeling overridden with magazines right now. I need to get organized!
XOXO
Jen
Great ideas Manuela! It's fun to read your blog…thanks for sharing your home with us!
A little pang of guilt struck me when I read the part about not giving proper credit to another blogger for recipes…I copied a recipe long before my blogging days began and just posted about it. I tried to locate the place where it came from, but to no avail!
I am definitely on the same page as you, but never did I think I would be in this situation…as I never planned to blog! 🙂 Lesson learned and I try to make sure credit goes where it is due…definitely…from this day forward as the saying goes!
Have a wonderful week!
Camille
With less and less decorating magazines being published now I cherish the old ones I have. I love to view homes on the net but the actual picture in your hand is still good to have. Thanks for all the hints. I have thinned out my magazines giving them to a lady who loves them but cannot afford any and a lady who runs a little shop and uses them for inspritation on how to redo used items for resale. Regular magazines are loved at rest homes too. I put a post-it note on the content page of the ones I keep listing any real special pages..of course I turn down some pages too! Making our nest pretty is such fun!!! Jody
I love M.E. too but it is Mother Earth News I keep Every issue of!! I have tons of M.E. but found some issues do not suit me and can give them away..but the paper dolls are saved till I find a little girl to give them too!:) When I was little I loved my paper dolls!! Jody
I LOVE THIS POST and how I fell in love with your blog!
I had this bookmarked at my work PC for months until I got a chance to somewhat organize my magazines!
Thank you! 🙂