Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
I posted an ad on Craigslist looking for free empty baby food jars for a baby shower favor I was making. I collected over 100 in about a week. I used the ones with no labels or easily removable labels for the favors. The rest became storage for anything and everything. Not just craft stuff - it's so much easier to roll coins if they are already separated. I also decorate the taller ones and store Q-tips and cotton balls on my bathroom counter.
I also hit my local Payless Shoes store to ask for empty boxes. They normally go straight into the dumpster, so I arranged for the employees to collect them for a day and picked them up 24 hours later. I got about 15 in one day. I covered them with pretty wrapping paper and sort my finished cards by theme in them.
I stopped at a CVS and asked if they had any empty display cases they were giving away. They had 2. One wasn's usable to me, but the other was the novelty pen display case. (Kinda looks like 6 clear tubes mounted on a clear sheet of plastic.) It would have been perfect for my Copics, if I didn't already have a case for them. I ended up decorating it as a teacher gift and selling it at a craft fair.
Whenever I get a priority package, I save the large flat-rate box. I cut off one end, angle 2 of the sides and make these paper sorters. They aren't very pretty, but my paper storage is in the Ikea Expedit unit, so you can't see the sides anyway. Two fit perfectly in a square, with just enough room on the side for one DCWV paper pack. I know you can get the boxes for free from the post office, but I like to recycle. I'll also cut up other boxes to turn them into paper dividers. I normally cover these with contact paper to make them sturdier (and prettier. You can see them peeking out through the paper.)
I LOVE LOVE the ribbon idea. I actually think I have 1 or 2 of those I purchased & then found they wouldn't work in my cabinets the way I wanted them to. Thanks for sharing.
Donna: GLAD TO HELP! Always nice to find a way to repurpose something you already have! Enjoy....
Kat
__________________ "Be Still and Know That I Am God" Ps. 46:10
Clean, unsued PIZZA boxes make the best storage ever for all of you 12x12 papers. My local pizza shop gives them to me free. They not only hold a lot but they stack really well on a shelf. Tracy
I use my used lavendar bath salts jars for flowers from the Dollar Tree. The flowers smell nice and all the bottles match. I use the tin pails from Target for pencils and markers, Canning jars ( the blue ones and the tiny ones from Walmart ) for buttons , I have a spinning spice rack with glass jars I got at auction for embellishments. I have houses I bought one time for CD towers. They hold all my Sizzix dies and look fantastic. I got a Tobacco cutter thingy at the thrift shop which holds lots of single wooden stamps and looks decorative on the wall. I got a big turntable at auction and store my acrylic paint jars on it on top of a plant stand.
I just went to our local five and dime store and got a long plastic pencil case it's perfect since I am just starting to collect sizzix and it is long enough it holds the border one i have and now they won't be sitting on the shelf getting dust in them. cost me a whopping $2.49!
I saw this on someone's blog but can't remember where...They had one of those multi-rung pant hangers, the ones where you can slide 5 or 6 pairs of pants on so they hang in minimal space. Some of them have arms that swing out and can be secured some are just stationary arms. If the arms are skinny enough (eg they don't have padding on them but are just wire) you can use them to store spools of ribbon or stamping wheels on them. You can just hang the hanger on a hook within reach of your work area. Can't wait to check HomeGoods or TJMaxx for some hangers!
I saw this on someone's blog but can't remember where...They had one of those multi-rung pant hangers, the ones where you can slide 5 or 6 pairs of pants on so they hang in minimal space. Some of them have arms that swing out and can be secured some are just stationary arms. If the arms are skinny enough (eg they don't have padding on them but are just wire) you can use them to store spools of ribbon or stamping wheels on them. You can just hang the hanger on a hook within reach of your work area. Can't wait to check HomeGoods or TJMaxx for some hangers!
I'm currently using this method for my ribbon and I love it. I added clips on the bottom row to attach ribbons that aren't on spools. I still have a plastic tote with my embroidery flosses and a few odd spools that didn't have the centers cut out, but MOST of ribbon first on one hanger. (I've been working raelly hard to purge myself down to "essentials" lately. Living in an apartment means maximizing space whenever possible.) I keep meaning to post a picture... let me try to get one now.
__________________ ~jenn
the Last Minute - Hey! Where are my Twizzlers?! Mingler...
The Best Thing my Mother ever taught me? "If it's not yours, don't touch it!"
__________________ ~jenn
the Last Minute - Hey! Where are my Twizzlers?! Mingler...
The Best Thing my Mother ever taught me? "If it's not yours, don't touch it!"
A couple of years ago Staples sold boxes that were long enough with snap closings and I have three of them. Unfortunatly they don't sell them anymore and I'm going to have to find those pencil boxes if I get any more.
A couple of years ago Staples sold boxes that were long enough with snap closings and I have three of them. Unfortunatly they don't sell them anymore and I'm going to have to find those pencil boxes if I get any more.
Here in California - just before the beginning of the school year - the Dollar Tree had long thick plastic pencil trays that snapped closed. Sounds very similar to what you've just described. I got several, in all different colors, just because...never know when you'll find a use for these! I think I've got them all in use now, but will check back with them next time I'm in to see if they still have them.
Kat
__________________ "Be Still and Know That I Am God" Ps. 46:10
Oh, I love this idea, Jenn! I've just about maxed out my wall space, but STILL need more ribbon storage...yes, I know I've got a ribbon issue, but it's a relatively inexpensive habit and there are soooooo many cute ribbons out there just calling my name! ;) You won't believe this (particularly if you've already seen my ribbon supply on my gallery), but Saturday night I had to quit on a card I was very happy with because I didn't have the right purple ribbon! I needed an eggplant shade, but only had violets and lavenders :( And I still have room in my studio closet so this method would work for me! Thanks so much for a great idea...
Kat
__________________ "Be Still and Know That I Am God" Ps. 46:10
Trouble with Dollar Tree is they will have something one time and then that's the end of it. They had chains with clips I bought for my classroom and now use in my craft room to clip things on. I guess you could use plastic chains with clothespins also. These were designed for Beanie Babies I think.
I thought it was such a good idea that I went thrifting this weekend to find an old lampshade and made my own. The only think I did differently was to use tiny binder clips instead of paperclips. I took one side of the binder clip off, put it over the lampshade, and put it back on the binder clip. That way, I can clip up items that don't have a package or use a little baggie to bag up things like chipboard alphabet pieces. It's like having my own little circular rack that I can "shop" from.
BTW -- I purchased a lamp with the right kind of shade at a local thrift shop for $5. I took the shade off and donated the lamp right back. Before I was even out of the store, that lamp was back for sale with the same $5 sign on it. Maybe the organization will make $10 from it instead of just $5!
Ikea is so far, I;d have to take an airline to get there. Not cost effective lol
Good thing you have the internet ;)
__________________ ~jenn
the Last Minute - Hey! Where are my Twizzlers?! Mingler...
The Best Thing my Mother ever taught me? "If it's not yours, don't touch it!"
awww...bummer. I'm lucky (or cursed) to have one within 7 miles. I love that store...but only during the week and in the morning...weekends are not pretty!
My closest store is almost a 2 hour drive, but I love the internet
__________________ ~jenn
the Last Minute - Hey! Where are my Twizzlers?! Mingler...
The Best Thing my Mother ever taught me? "If it's not yours, don't touch it!"
I sometimes buy nice boxed greeting cards and when I use them up, the box is too pretty to throw away. I've just recently taken a few to my craft area. Not sure what I'll put in them yet.
For ribbons at Home Depot, I bought this rack for can goods. It holds about 60.
Very easy to use.
What a fabulous idea...thank you. I have something similar and at present is holds little glass jars...but the jars can easily go on a shelf and the ribbons can come out of the bags in the cupboard ...sometimes it just needs a different eye to help see what is right there...and the solution becomes clear.
having just spend weeks (literally) revamping my craft room this thread has been a boon for the storage issues I just couldnt get right...yippee!
I love the "clip it up" but it is so expensive so I went to ikea and got the wire curtain rod and hung it up between 2 walls and made my own clip it up the clips were a bit costly so i got the plastic coated paperclips and opened them up so i could hang the pkgs on them and if i cant put a hole in a pack then i use the proper clips and this even holds WAY more then the clip it up
here it is above the tv sorry for the bad pic I had the settings 2 low on my camera
I saw where someone bought the name tag clips at Walmart and used them to hold their items. I got some and a slack hanger (that holds 3-4 pairs of slacks) and arranged them so I have 4 "levels" to hand stuff from.
I saw where someone bought the name tag clips at Walmart and used them to hold their items. I got some and a slack hanger (that holds 3-4 pairs of slacks) and arranged them so I have 4 "levels" to hand stuff from.
I use canning jars for markers, pencils, etc. etc. also.
I use cigar boxes for lots of storage! My husband sometimes purchases whole boxes but usually I just go to the cigar shop and they give them to me for free. They don't need them since they sell cigars individually in the humidor. I've also picked up some neat tins from cigar brands as well for free this way. I love to stack these.
Priority boxes for paper.
Priority boxes for storing extra page protectors.
Wrapping paper to cover my work surface if I'm using Glimmer Mist or something I don't want to spill. *Ok, not really storage, but close enough.
Old coffee and tea tins from relatives/garage sales to hold other misc. stuff.
A travel toothbrush holder holds my Exacto knife and paper piercer. I put a cosmetic sponge in the bottom so the ends don't dull when I put them in there.
Pill bottle for needles.
Can't wait to see what everybody else has cooked up!
I use clear egg cartons for brads and other small items.
Glass jars from candles such as Yankee candles for snips of ribbons, paper clips, toothpicks etc.
Bathroom tooth paste/toothbrush holder for xacto knife, small ruler, paper piercer, pencil, bone folder and other items.
irene
__________________ Irene I have learned one thing from our ancient Greek ancestors- PAN METRON ARISTON- "Nothing In Excess"
My local school library was getting rid of the old card catalog cabinet. The cabinet is mounted on legs and is a very pretty piece of furniture. There are many small drawers that are perfect for holding stamps, markers, small jars, etc. On the front of the cabinet is a small rectangle for labeling the contents. I can store a lot of material in a small space.
My local school library was getting rid of the old card catalog cabinet. The cabinet is mounted on legs and is a very pretty piece of furniture. There are many small drawers that are perfect for holding stamps, markers, small jars, etc. On the front of the cabinet is a small rectangle for labeling the contents. I can store a lot of material in a small space.
You're very lucky to have such a nice furniture piece for storage.
I don't have any pictures yet...but I've saved the plastic peanut butter jars--plan to cover them with pretty paper to hold some of my scrappin'/stampin' items! I reuse glass jars too. I'm very limited on space so I need to be very creative!!
hello out their!!! If you take those unused wood blocks and put a pre cut circle of velcro on it (the prickly part) you now have that tool that that Tim holtz sells to apply the Alcohol Inks. You can even cut you own felt circles.
Shelley
My local school library was getting rid of the old card catalog cabinet. The cabinet is mounted on legs and is a very pretty piece of furniture. There are many small drawers that are perfect for holding stamps, markers, small jars, etc. On the front of the cabinet is a small rectangle for labeling the contents. I can store a lot of material in a small space.
you are very fortunate! I have been looking for one of those (free or cheap) for about 15 years. I even have friends in the library circles and can't get one.
Very clever idea that you have there!
__________________ Jennie "There is more to life than increasing it's speed".. .Mahatma Gandhi
well i went to my brother-in-laws store and confiscated some UPS boxes for my 12x12, got my new nestabilities today so I got me some work to do!!!!
I have to find out the prices, but I was at a stamping/scraping deal this weekend and one lady brought a bunch of her stuff over from her store to sell and she had all the brads and do dads in fishing tackle boxes from Big 5, they were awesome, about 15 compartments inside what looks like a pencil box. Oh i need me a few of those, just can't seem to find the item on line OH i need another trip out of town now!!!! wish Big 5 were closer than three hours away!
well i went to my brother-in-laws store and confiscated some UPS boxes for my 12x12, got my new nestabilities today so I got me some work to do!!!!
I have to find out the prices, but I was at a stamping/scraping deal this weekend and one lady brought a bunch of her stuff over from her store to sell and she had all the brads and do dads in fishing tackle boxes from Big 5, they were awesome, about 15 compartments inside what looks like a pencil box. Oh i need me a few of those, just can't seem to find the item on line OH i need another trip out of town now!!!! wish Big 5 were closer than three hours away!
What a great idea, Vickie, about the 12x12 boxes! Do you use hanging folders?
As far as the 'do-dad box', I've found wonderful boxes such as you've described at WalMart, in their craft section. I also got one some time ago at the Dollar Tree (which I'd bought more!). If you have a WalMart, JoAnn's, or Michael's closer than a Big 5, you might try them first.
