Today we are talking swatching! Learn how to create your own comprehensive swatch system, make your own storage, so you can see ALL of your mediums, compare colours, and chose what to use quickly and simply. With this system, you'll spend less time searching through your stash and more time crafting!
In this video, I guide you through the entire process, from selecting the perfect storage box to sizing your cards and creating a rolodex-style runner to keep them secure. Discover how to swatch a variety of mediums, including inks, watercolours, marker pens, pencil crayons, coloured cardstock, blending chalks, craft sprays, embossing powders, and more.
I'll show you how to set up templates for your swatch cards and future-proof them so you can easily adapt them as you add more supplies to your collection. With this universal swatching system, the sky's the limit!
To make the slider strip to put in the bottom of your box, score your card at:
1/4" - 5/8" - 1 & 1/8" - 1 & 1/2" - 1 & 3/4"
Cut your card on the last score line you made at 1 & 3/4 inches.
This should give you 5 widths on your card of:
1/4" - 3/8" - 1/2" - 3/8" - 1/4"
Cut your strip to the length of your box, fold and burnish your score lines and glue the 1/4" flaps together (I recommend using a strong liquid glue.) You should have a trapezium shaped strip.
To make the slot on your cards, find the centre of your card and mark this at 1/4" up from the base, draw line across at this 1/4" height from the base. Using your trapezium shaped strip on the top 1/2" panel, mark the centre at 1/4" and put this mark on your card on your centre mark and line - draw around this to make the shape on your card. Cut the shape out and you can now use this card as a template for all your others.
Now you can glue the strip to the centre of the base of your box.
Video showing my word-die storage system is here:
The time you need for the alternate way to mark your template card more accurately is here:
🔖 Don't forget to tag me on social media if you share any ink swatches inspired by this video! You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest as @handmadeinwindsorLAB.
Thanks for reading,
Lesley x
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