Paper Packer Scrapbook Paper Organizer

Organizing & Hauling Scrapbook Paper gets easier

I couldn't possibly list the wide array of organizers and totes marketed to scrapbookers -- and we've all found at least one wonderful scrapbooking storage & organization product that was marketed for some other use.

The problem is that every storage solution ultimately hides the great stuff we want to use in our scrapbooks. First, we must try to organize the photos and momentos that we want to preserve in the scrapbook. Then, as we begin to plan page layouts and designs, we buy dozens, then hundreds, and sometimes even thousands of items to enhance and embellish the scrapbook.

First, of course, comes "large paper," in the size you've chosen for your scrapbook album. Then there is "accent" or "embellishment" paper and cardstock, smaller than your album pages; this includes "remnants" from one page that you may hope to use on other pages, perhaps to create a "flow" through your album by repeating design elements. And of course, there are borders, stickers, and other miscellany that you hope to include.

Personally, I start to lose track of things as soon as they are out of my sight. Thus, a file-folder or envelope system doesn't work for me. What I'd really like is to have an entire wall with pockets for my papers; imagine a 6-by-12-foot grid that lets you see 72 different 12x12 papers at the same time, or better yet, with overlapping rows that let me see the top inch of each sheet of paper.

1. 3. 4. 5.

Well, I'm sorry to say that I don't have that kind of wall space in my home, and even if I did, how would I take that collection of paper to a scrapbooking workshop?

A good compromise might be the $45 "Paper Packer" organizer, which fans open to let you view a portion of "up to 500" sheets of 11- or 12-inch (height) scrapbook paper.

The Paper Packer's designers certainly considered the requirements of scrapbookers like me. It can be opened up and hung on a wall from five "D-rings" (see picture #5) or laid flat on a wide table -- but it can also be folded for carrying. It also has pockets for pictures, tools, and embellishments.

The two center pockets are nearly 17" wide, while the pockets on the two fold-out panels are less than 16" wide. When opened completely, the width of the Paper Packer is nearly 72 inches, or six feet.

Each of the four main panels of the Paper Packer contain five large pockets which can each display about ten to twelve different 12x12 papers and cardstocks, or more 10x12 or 8½x11 pages; see picture #3 (right).

Alas, there are some problems with the Paper Packer. First, and probably most important, are the "rounded corners" at the bottom of many of the pockets, as you can see in picture #4 (right). The result is that the full width of each pocket is not available, unless you are willing to damage the corners. The top two pockets in each panel have square corners; the bottom three have rounded corners, as do the windowed pockets at the bottom of each panel.

Those rounded corners take away space that could be used to display more paper styles, limiting the overall useful capacity of the Paper Packer. I think a densely-packed Paper Packer might usefully display about 300 to 360 papers, not the 500 that its maker promises. But that's still a lot, certainly more than any other organizer I've seen, and probably as much as most of us will actually need.

Another issue is that the pocket bottoms are not quite parallel, and they aren't quite evenly spaced. This would be an issue if you use a single paper size, since it means that a different height would be visible for some rows, and some rows would be crooked. If you use different paper sizes (12" and 11" heights) you would put the shorter paper in the lower rows so that more of each row can be seen.

Yet another problem: the Paper Packer's tall pockets are fine for large papers, and the window pockets are OK for leftover paper scraps, postcards, photographs, and stickers -- but if you have large remnants of paper, such as an 8x8 size, the Paper Packer provides nowhere to put it and still see it. (You can put it in one of the two "outside" pockets that disappear when the Paper Packer is fully opened, or you could stuff it down into a larger pocket, but then you can't see it.)

At just 3 pounds, 4 ounces (when empty), the Paper Packer is quite lightweight, compared to other paper organizers I've seen. It is somewhat flimsy and floppy; I'd never check it as luggage on a flight, and I'd be nervous handing it over to a taxi driver or hotel clerk. However, I think it would be great for occasional trips to workshops or classes.

The Bottom Line: I like it. I will recommend the Paper Packer for serious scrapbookers who want a convenient way to organize, display, and transport their scrapbook paper.

I notice that QVC is selling the Paper Packer for $50, but you can buy it for $45 from Scrapbook.com

These entries (reviews, critiques, commentaries) are written by Mark J. Welch, and reflect his personal opinions. They are not the opinions of this site's advertisers and sponsors, who are not responsible for this content.