Behind the Scenes – Storing Printables

It took me years to develop a method of storing our theme printables.   Many of these themes are used again, and a lot of work goes into prepping many of the printables.  The worst thing is knowing you have already prepped and laminated something and then not be able to find it.  I no longer have that problem, and haven’t had it for over a year since we have been using this method!

Here’s what you need if you’d like to copy my method…

• Canvas Storage Box ~ {ClosetMaid Cubicles}
• Poly Envelopes
• Label maker, got this exact one at Costco a couple of years ago and it is still going strong!

The poly envelopes fit perfectly inside of the canvas box, and stand up nicely so you can see your labels in a top corner.

I make one envelope for each theme we do, and put all age level {tot-early elementary} work together in one envelope.  The envelopes have snaps on them, so nothing falls out.  Here’s a shot of our Pirates folder, showing the contents also…

 

The canvas box sits up on a shelf above my desk so I can get to it easily.  Sometimes we find stray pieces of printables, and it makes it easy to just toss a theme piece in the box and store it.

I also have a smaller plastic box {got this one at Target}, you could use a magazine holder or similar box.  I keep current and upcoming themes in this one. This helps me as I am planning and printing, I can just put things straight into this box.  Right now you see 2 empty envelopes, one for Rainbows {L’s theme this week}, one for Star Wars {K’s current theme}.

I also use these envelopes for our current curriculums, such as Animal ABC.  I prep units in advance and put them in the envelope so I can just pull it out when it is time to do that unit. I don’t label these envelopes, they are rotated out once a unit is done.

 

This is another section on a shelf above my desk, we have graduated from You Can Read, so the yellow box has since been replaced by the Upcoming and Current Themes box.

There you have it, my tried and true theme printable storage method!  We have stored things this way for over a year and it is the best method I have used!  I wish I would have started this way!

See theme printable packs we have here!