Personally I make paper boxes using a sheet of used printer paper and these instructions http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-box.html to keep track of smaller pieces &/or scraps.

After you have made your first one to get the hang of it, you can experiment with the height of the walls - instead of the 2nd round of folds going to the centre you could just fold in 3/4" all around. This will give you a shallow tray, which is sometimes closer to your requirements. When I was doing Feb/month 2 of Stars for a New Day I made custom sized boxes to keep all the itty-bitty squares in the right places while I was sewing them.

Thanks Margo and Jeanine,

Your tips are very helpful. I was just so frustrated that I started with a neat and clean sewing room--I hosted twice during the holidays, so I had to clean it up--but just after making one pp block it was a total mess again. I wanted to know how to keep and sort the small pieces of fabric that can still be used, and toss out those that are to small along with all of the thread snips.

What I've learned from you is that I should keep five shallow boxes/trays, one for each of the fabrics in my blocks to toss in the small reusable pieces. Also, I'll keep a small piece of batting and a lint roller handy to wisk away the too small bits of fabric and threads as I go. I have always kept a large trash bin under my cutting table and a small trash bag next to my sewing table. I suppose that I need to get in the habit of using them consistently as I go along. I'll try your tips and will let you know how they work out for me.

Nancy, I am not sure what you mean by keeping things clean while paper piecing - it can be a bit messy. However, I have found that using shallow boxes to sort out pieces of fabric and pieced pieces has helped me when I am working making several the same for an exchange or a project of sorts. I line up things to the left of my machine. I set up a small self-healing mat to my left and trim as I go so as not to have cutting mistakes.
Hope this helps and would you like to elaborate of what you mean by a mess?

I'm with you, Nancy! When I sit down to dinner there is usually very little mess left in the kitchen!

When I'm paper piecing, I keep a small trash container on top of my cutting surface and automatically put fabric and paper scraps in it as I cut and trim.
The size I find most useful is a re-purposed 16 oz. COOL-WHIP container. It doesn't take up much room, and the top is big enough that these scraps fit easily in it.

I also have a trash can right under the table for larger scraps, but for small things my table top tub keeps things neat.

I just finished my sample paper pieced exchange block for an upcoming Baker's Dozen meeting. So, that means I have to make at least twelve more blocks. Besides the fact that this 9" block has 50 pieces, some which are extremely small, it uses five different fabrics, and I'm not a very experienced paper piecer, my biggest challenge is keeping my workspace (particularly my cutting table) clean while paper piecing.

When I cook, I like to start with a clear preparation space and a dishpan full of hot sudsy water so that I can clean as I go. By the time I start serving the food there's no dirty dishes or preparation mess to look at. So, I don't understand why I haven't figured out a way to stay neat while paper piecing. Each time I return to my cutting table to trim, after sewing on a piece, there are small odd shaped bits of assorted fabrics and snips of threads everywhere. I've even accidentally cut through some of my good fabric pieces and paper piece templates while trimming my seam allowances.

I feel rather silly asking, but do you have any good tips for keeping your cutting table clean during paper piecing?