| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Kathie |
Posted - Aug 11 2007 : 6:45:08 PM
I am Such a collector of Just about everything..
Collector.. Pack Rat.. Horder..
All boils down to the same thing really..
I have WAY too much stuff..
But!! MAINLY CRAFT SUPPLIES!
Now I'm always running out of places to stick things..
PLUS.. I seems to still want to decorate what I'm Storing!
Crazy!
But A few years ago I seemed to have this infatuation with containers..
Well.. My Mom said even when i was tiny, I was ALWAYS sorting & putting things inside boxes.. & containers.. & bags..
( Probably a future bag lady in the works!)
But i LOVE old trunks & Things with clasps..
Remember our Mom's & Grandmothers Curler or Over night Make-up case's? They were like really small Suitcases? Really boxy..?
Ok.. THESE are Perfect for storage!! i snap these little suckers up at yard sales sometimes for 50 cents or even a quarter! i'll pay alot more if i really want it.. but don't tell anyone!
They are JUST SOOOooo perfect for storing Stationary or letters.. New or used.. & post cards.. (I love to send post cards!)
Also Great for holding my Stickers.. yes.. how Scarry is that.. I DO have that many Stickers!
I also have several old Skate Cases .. THESE are perfect for Spools of ribbons.. or to hold bunches of opened Yarn that you use for other things then Knitting or Crocheting.. Or That Too!
I just LOVE these Trunks & Cases.. The Still Stack really great.. & They Really protect my things WAY great!
Look so much better then the tubs I have! & are usually Cheaper too!
Anyway.. thought i'd share.. so next time you see a really cool looking old Curler box.. or funky old skate trunk.. Think of Storage!!
In a World Where you Can Be Anything, Be Yourself.. |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Kathie |
Posted - Aug 20 2007 : 3:16:44 PM
OH RHONDA !! What a Fantasic Idea!!!
Well there goes My Husbands Shoe Storage!
He doesn't really have all that many Shoes anyway.. & i've been threatening to take it for mine anyway.. but Crafts.. Well now.. THIS is way more serious.. isn't it?
THANKS for this Tip!!!
I'll get home from work tonight about 10pm.. & start slinging his shoes under the bed to take his Storage thing to my sewing room! He's Really going to begin to question what's left of my sanity now Girls..!
In a World Where you Can Be Anything, Be Yourself.. |
| abbasgurl |
Posted - Aug 18 2007 : 9:23:42 PM
Not sure if anyone mentioned this... but I use the over the door shoe holders (with lots of pockets) for things I use all the time. It helps when you need to grab things quick, or do a fast clean up. 
I'm a one girl revolution. |
| Bee Haven Maven |
Posted - Aug 12 2007 : 7:57:11 PM
I feel so much better after reading this thread. I was afraid that I was one of the only people I knew that had way too much craft supplies! Now I know that I am in great company. I cannot part with any of my stuff and over the years have done just about everything.
Kathie.....I love stickers, too. Especially ones that are unusual... the type you would use for collaging....vintagy looking things.
Funny, ever since I was a little girl, I have had this addiction to paper and stuff like that. That lead to rubber stamping and stickers came right along with that! One of my first (and only, really) crimes were committed in 2nd grade when I used to steal paper from the teacher. When we had to write a story or something, we would have to go to her desk and pick up a piece of paper. I would always pick up about 20 and then hoard them in my desk...well, one night I could not get to sleep. My conscience had gotten the best of me and I realized that I had been a cleptomaniac....I talked to my Mother and confessed my sin. She suggested that I go to school the next day and return all of my stash. That was so hard. I felt like Scarlett O'Hara...."I will never be (paper) poor again" and I have been stashing stuff away ever since....only difference is from that moment on I had to buy it! Oh my gosh, Kathie.....I'm getting like you...rambling on.....(love ya!)
Keep Smiling.....Bev
Check out my shoppe at www.honeybeez.etsy.com
www.beehavenacres.blogspot.com , www.beehavenmaven.blogspot.com |
| suzyhomemaker |
Posted - Aug 12 2007 : 11:43:56 AM
My goodness, thank you all. Some day in the somewhat near furture I hope to have my own studio space and can use these ideas to store my stuff (sewing and paper crafting supplies)
Country girl in NE PA |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Aug 12 2007 : 10:54:21 AM
Hmmm... At the moment I have a spare bedroom (sewing room) devoted to crafts and my office.
I have a built-in dresser in my sewing room, which I'm using to store fabrics (the unhangable fabrics) and in the divided sock drawers I store trim and binding tape, zippers, small sewing items, extra pairs of scissors, etc. all sorted by type.
I use pants holders (clothes hangers w/multiple arms) and plastic clothes hangers to hang more fabric in the sewing room closet, which keeps it safe from dust and pet hair and avoids wrinkling it. In fact, the hanging helps remove any wrinkles in the fabric. This works esp. well for quilting cottons, linens, corduroy and flannels.
I prefer zip lock bags (gallon size) for any small projects I've started but not finished. If it's crochet, I keep the pattern instructions and any hooks that I'm using with the project. (I will use an inexpensive plastic hook usually and keep the good expensive ones in my crochet hook holders just in case the bag gets buried and I forget about it.)
I also use gallon baggies for storing embroidery thread, loose ribbons and elastics (for the stuff that's overflow from my dresser or stuff that I use all the time). This is kept right by the sewing machine, and helps me keep it neat and not cluttered but within reach while sewing. Also, it protects it from kittens or puppies who like to steal my ribbons.
Coffee cans work well for knitting needles, buttons, etc. I also use them for storing the pair of scissors I've currently using.
For spools of ribbons, I purchased a wooden dowel and put all of my ribbons on the dowel. I had a bag of assorted wooden pieces that work well as "stoppers" on the ends of the dowel. I glued one end tightly and leave the other end off so I can add or remove spools. The glued end is flat so I can stand it up, but I've also used it hanging on the wall or sticking out of a bookcase. It makes it easy to see all the color ribbons I have and just grab what I need quickly. Ribbons that don't come on spools go in gallon sized plastic baggies with other trim.
I found some plastic totes that are just the right size for patterns and have six of those, I think. The patterns are sorted by type and each box is marked. (Since they are clear, I just use a sheet with the type of pattern printed on it sitting inside the box instead of actually marking on the box itself.)
Plastic pencil boxes (on sale for 50 cents each right now) make great boxes for smaller amounts of embroidery thread, small rubber stamps, drawing supplies, paint brushes, postage stamps and stationery, etc...
My thread (for machine sewing) is in clear thread boxes (with lids) and on a shelf in the bookcase next to the sewing table. I tried hanging thread racks but the thread got dusty that way.
My bookcase holds my extra sewing machine, the threads, oils for the machines, and all my craft books. It also holds coffee cans with buttons, etc. and I have small box tops to hold all my felt and fabric squares, which are also stored on the shelf next to the sewing table.
I store yarn in all kinds of containers - hat boxes (fancy delicate yarns), old antique hampers, cloth lined baskets, and in wire baskets in the giant yarn racks we bought at the JoAnn's that went out of business. (These are great and will be used to store all kinds of stuff on the farm -one for canned goods in the pantry, one for crafty stuff and one for yarns.)
At the farm, I'll be using a couple of old pattern cabinets from JoAnns, but any old filing cabinet would be great for storing craft stuff - esp. scrapbooking papers, doll house materials, wallpaper books etc.
Hubby got one of those revolving paint racks for xmas and it stores ALL of his paint bottles safely. No more spills (due to kittens stealing his bottles) and he can easily find his favorite colors. He swears by it, but found that since he didn't have enough paint to completely fill it already at home, he bought lots more paint that he needed.
Gosh - I could go on for forever on this subject since both hubby and I are super scavengers, crafty-obsessed, pack rats and great at storage solutions... (Hmmm, perhaps this is a good idea for a book to write?)
If you want more ideas, just ask and I'll share more of the stuff we are using.
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| janetinva123 |
Posted - Aug 12 2007 : 10:40:42 AM
Since I do machine embroidery i have to buy stabelizer. It comes in clear plastic tubes so i put all my ribbons in the tubes sorted by color.
Jc
http://beloved-creations.blogspot.com
http://beloved-creations.com |
| katmom |
Posted - Aug 11 2007 : 9:38:16 PM
Zip lock baggies.....all sizes from the small "snack size" to the large gallon size.
They are easy to see inside & toteable.
For my x-stitch floss, I sort by color, put in the zip bags & then in the rt. corner I punch a small hole & attach a bunch of bags (in the same color hues)with a hinged key ring.
I also create x-stitch 'to-go' kits/bags with adia fabric, floss, needle & pattren.
I also luv the clear shoe box type containers, great for small craft stuff & stackable.
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
www.katmom4.blogspot.com |
| janetinva123 |
Posted - Aug 11 2007 : 7:40:34 PM
i found wooden new cheese boxes for $2.00 and bought a bunch, i also use jars and when i can find them old train cases from yard sales and thrift stores.
Jc
http://beloved-creations.blogspot.com
http://beloved-creations.com |
| mima |
Posted - Aug 11 2007 : 7:31:58 PM
Great ideas you guys!!!! |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Aug 11 2007 : 7:17:17 PM
I have found inexpensive decorated boxes at Michaels and a couple other places. I found a small set of cardboard suitcases. They are decorative and they keep things neat and don't look so messy. I can definitely get messy! But of course with places to store things it looks messy less often. I had thought of having something like a diaper stacker made and storing my material in it. Anyone have any good decorating idea for that?
"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof and all that dwell therein."
www.torismimi.blogspot.com |
| willowtreecreek |
Posted - Aug 11 2007 : 6:56:35 PM
I use canning jars. I have one for buttons, bobbins, thread, etc. I even keep one with all the little bits of thread snips and it looks really cool!
Felt and Fabric Crafts
www.willowartist.etsy.com
www.willowtreecreek.com
BLOG
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com |
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