I do my knitting, crocheting, beading, etc. while watching TV. I usually had to get up many times to find tools or supplies. I brought in a weather beaten plastic table from the yard after I spray painted it burgundy. Then a friend came to lunch and brought me some fabric she didn't want. I knew immediately what to do with it.
I made this organizer in a couple of hours using her fabric, my spray painted table and odds and ends of bias tape I had accumulated. Just measure the top and add an inch. Then measure the sides, cut your fabric (I tore mine), add pockets to the sides, sew the sides to the top and store your crafting tools. I love mine.
Source: My very own idea
By Gailya Illsley from Lillington, NC
When you put the bows away for the next craft, is there a way to keep them from flattening out?
Stack them into the leg of a pair of nylons. You may even hang the pair in the back of a closet!
You'd probably need to store them individually to prevent flatness. Time-consuming, but I'd attach them in rows to a short Velcro strip, maybe using a Velcro dot on the back if they don't stick well. Line them down the strip, getting as many as possible onto each strip. You might find it easier with tweezers.
I have used a large under the bed plastic storage container for storing all my bows and spools of ribbon. There is no need for any special way to arrange the bows. Just toss in and they remain nice and fluffy until you use them. Another plus is that it's a great space saver. I also use another one for all the gift bags and wrapping paper.
I am looking for inexpensive or very cheap ways to store my yarns and paper craft items. I really want to get things organized by colour and theme, but I am stumped as to how to get it done without blowing my budget. Any ideas?
By carol
I use the super large Ziplock bags. They come in 3 sizes and can be found at most hardward stores or Walmarts. They are inexpensive, clear so you can see what's what, and sealable.
Those cloth shopping bags are good for storing yarn and they don't cost much to buy. Like the other poster said, I use mine to keep different projects organized. For smaller items you can find plastic tool boxes or fishing tackle boxes that are pretty inexpensive, too.
I'm working on organizing my studio now, myself, so I completely understand the need to keep costs down. "Studio" is code for the room overstuffed with all of the "junk" that I have collected for all of the projects for the creative days that come, but I fear I will never have the time.
I use manila folders for similar scrapbook papers and paste a swatch on the tab for easy recognition. My small items like beads and buttons or ribbon and string scraps I store in small glass fishbowl type jars that I can easily stack as a lid for each one below.
The small plastic containers mentioned by another poster come in all kinds of types and colors if you want use color coding are now available for a dollar at the everything for just a buck type stores. Those stores have been a life saver for me when it comes to small storage and other items when it's not going to be subjected to everyday wear and tear. I've even used the space bags for larger pieces of material and yarn that I don't plan to use for a while.
Hanging shoe bags with the small, flatter type pockets work well for scissors and tools. Any instructions, examples, designs, or ideas that I have collected or scribbled myself, I put in a binder with plastic protectors until something becomes higher priority, at which time I scan it. When it is saved to my computer, I index it under any information that I can think of so that I can find it later when I kinda know what I'm looking for, but not completely.
I hope my seemingly endless dribble helps. I have more ideas than I have energy or time, so organization is very important. Almost any crafting magazine, no matter what type of craft it is about, will offer ideas on their website if you signup for free on-line newsletters and forums without a subscription.
The plastic zipper bags that bedding comes in are wonderful in the craft room!
Busy moms, this is a dream come true. I am a teacher and also a mother of a 5 year old who loves crafting. As I am a crafter as well, I am always looking for fun, fast, easy ways for us to do a craft or my students to do a craft without spending so much time setting up and cleaning up and having more time for fun.
Many of us do not have the luxury of having a spacious crafting area with lots of storage. This is a page about organizing craft supplies in a small space.
It's good to store your craft supplies in an organized manner to prevent time and money spent finding or replacing them. There are all sorts of recycled items that can be used for craft supply storage.
Hand printing your own labels can save you money on printer ink and time setting it up. They can stand out and be easy to read.
Molded pulp paper packaging is a great item to use for organizing craft supplies. This is a page about using cardboard packaging to organize craft supplies.
Store all sorts of craft supplies in the clear vinyl pockets of a shoe organizer that is designed to be hung over a door. This is a page about using an over the door organizer for crafts.
