Creative Craft Supply Storage with Printers’ Trays

February 27, 2017 by Marjie Kemper

Several years ago one of my sisters gave me a wonderful birthday present – five different printer’s trays. Score! I was thrilled and couldn’t wait to start filling the trays with all sorts of craft materials. The trays are segmented in different ways, with a great variety in the number and size of individual craft supply storage slots.

Creative Craft Supply Storage with Printers’ Trays

The trays are perfect for the storage I had in mind, but they quickly became heavy. It was a nuisance to lift and move all of the stacked trays to get to the ones I wanted. Plus I was always afraid they might get knocked over and I’d have to do all that sorting again.

The solution was to build a box to frame them, and to put each individual tray onto rollers so they slide out like drawers. I am not very handy with carpentry, so I hired a handyman and he did an awesome job. He also built two drawers that were the same width and depth, and just a bit higher/deeper, to use for other purposes.

What Gets Stored in Each Drawer

Four of the trays are different, and I have two that are the same. I love the variety of drawer designs as they can accommodate so many different sizes of items. Most of the items I store here are metal bits and bobs, and scrapbooking embellishments.

This entire tray is filled with Tim Holtz’s Idea-ology. I love having it all in one place.

The tray with the largest openings is perfect for storing manila and other tags.

More bits and bobs.

I reserved the space at the top of the cabinet for two rolling drawers. One is used to store pieces in progress. These are small pieces I’ve made while working on other things, that I hope to use in another project down the road.

The top drawer currently holds all my deli trays and lids. These are the perfect size for laying out small projects that are in various stages of drying. I usually have quite a few laying on the counter at various times.

I am so glad I added those two plain drawers to my printer tray storage, as they can easily be changed up for whatever my needs may be as time passes. I’ve been crafting a long time and as my interests have changed over the years, I’ve come to appreciate craft supply storage that can change with the times.

Find more fantastic storage solutions and craft ideas in the FaveCrafts Quick and Crafty newsletter.

What are some creative ways you store your craft supplies?

Craft Your Stash Blog Tour + Giveaway!

September 30, 2014 by FaveCrafts

We are beyond excited to be a part of the Craft Your Stash blog tour! What is “Craft Your Stash” you ask? Well, let me tell you! It’s an amazing new book by our good friend Lisa Fulmer! We have loved working with Lisa over the years and seeing her publish her first crafting book is simply amazing.

Raise your hand if you’ve got a closet full of craft supplies! Yes, we are right there with you all – and so is this book. Learn how to transform all of your craft closet treasures into gifts, home decor, and more right alongside Lisa Fulmer. Try new techniques and experiment with crafting styles you’ve never tried before. We loved turning each page in the this book and discovering new and exciting crafts on each page. Plus, she teaches us all how to organize our stash right from the start and we couldn’t think of a better way to clear our minds and get ready to craft. (You should see our craft storage here at the office…it’s….special). I’m seeing some great crafty days at the office in the near future with all of these new ideas!

Want a copy?

1. Signed copies for sale on http://craftyourstash.com

2. You can purchase your copy on Amazon

3. Local craft and book stores will also have copies for sale

4. You can enter to win a copy from Lisa on Facebook! (Plus other goodies!)

And…you can win our copy right here!

In order to win a copy of Craft Your Stash, all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post telling us:

What is currently in your craft stash?

Thank you all for participating in the Craft Your Stash giveaway and blog hop! Congratulations goes to Kathy Lake who answered: “In my stash: canvas,yarn,paints, deco mesh, mason jars, fabric, ribbon,wood cutouts, stencils, and the list goes on and on and, well, you get it!” Enjoy crafting your stash!

OFFICIAL RULES FOR CONTEST

There is a maximum of one entry per person. The entry will be based upon a comment left on this blog post. Duplicate comments will be deleted and are not tallied.
Winner will be selected at random from the comments on this blog post below.
Winner will be announced here on the blog tomorrow as well as contacted by the email address provided.
You have until October 7th, 2014 at 11:59p EST to leave your comment on this post. Comments posted after that will not be counted.
Contest open to anyone 18+ in US and/or Canada.

An InLinkz Link-up

9 Crafts to Motivate Your Spring Cleaning

March 12, 2014 by FaveCrafts

Spring is just around the corner which means one thing – it’s time to start cleaning. The gray skies and cold weather make activities that don’t involve a blanket and hot cocoa seem absolutely terrible. That means you might not be interested in taking a day to clean out your closet, clear off your tabletops and root out those dust bunnies. However, after a long and cold winter, it’s easy to accumulate tons of junk. Luckily, there are plenty of crafty ways to get motivated. These chemical-free, easy-to-make projects are perfect for anyone who is ready to clear out some clutter.

Sure, it takes effort to get started cleaning, but once you’re done, it’s so worth it. Think of this as a way to clear your mind before the start of a new season. Or, you can think of spring cleaning as a way to save money – seriously! Knit your own Textured Dishcloth and use it over and over again – it’s a more eco-friendly option that paper towels (and you won’t go through a roll as quickly). You can also save on Swiffer covers when you crochet your own Mop Cover. Feeling overwhelmed? Enlist the kids to help with your spring cleaning efforts! Create a Customizable Chore Chart and dole out the responsibilities – it’s a great way to get the whole family involved in the process.

Give yourself a fresh start this season and take some time to really clean your space. Who knows – you might find some buried treasure!

Felted Wool Dryer Balls from Petals to Picot
Sweet Hanging Organizer from Once Upon Her Dream
Crochet Rope Toy Storage Basket from Oh Everything Handmade
Earring Holder from Alternate Creations
Homemade Cleaning Spray from Gimme Some Style
Magnetic Spice Rack from Kitchen Table Scraps
Laundry Softener from Liz Marie
Room Air Freshener from The Burlap Bag
Magnetic Office Organization from House of Earnest

Sewing Spring Cleaning and Organization Tools

April 8, 2013 by AllFreeSewing

For some of you, spring cleaning may be the most exciting time of the year. For others, myself included, it’s a terrifying confrontation with a year’s worth of junk. For the benefit of crafters and cleaners alike, here are some projects from AllFreeSewing that should serve as home cleaning remedies. Whether you need to organize your house or evict pounds of dust from it, these craft organization ideas should make your journey to spring cleanliness easier. Look around you and admit that some extra ideas for home organization couldn’t hurt. You know that once you effectively master the mess in your home, you can enjoy a guilt-free spring. Ready for some ideas? Here they are:

Do-it-Yourself-Cleaning

Try out homemade cleaning remedies from AllFreeSewing like this these Washable Flip Mop Pads. There are tons of ways to make your own cleaning supplies. If you’re wondering how to remove dust from your home, these DIY Microfiber Cleaning Slippers from Housing a Forest are also a creative way to do it.

I also love this DIY Washable Duster. One: because it looks cool. Two: because you can actually reuse this DIY duster instead of throwing it away after every use. It lets you spring clean and be green!

Crafting Organization Systems

Closet cleaning is one of the worst kinds. It’s common knowledge that the closet is the real trash can of a room. Like a black hole it swallows an enormous amount stuff, unbeknownst to you. The problem is you can live without most of the items in your closet, but you choose to keep them. This spring is a time to enforce some organization systems into your closet. This Hanging Jewelry Organizer, for example, will keep your jewelry neatly in one place. Learn how to sew pockets to fit every kind of accessory you have. This Mail Organizer is also a clever closet cleaning DIY organizer.

I found this awesome Pretty Painted Pegboard from Sew Fearless. If you’re an avid crafter, this project may be worth the work. The weather is heating up so you can make this in your garage and really enjoy spring cleaning!

Organizational Tips for the Neglected Car

Unfortunately, you may have noticed that your accumulated junk doesn’t only stay in your house. If you’re ever embarrassed to have someone in your car, you know what I mean. A friend slides into the front seat to meet a pile of papers, an ice scraper (even though the snow melted a month ago), a pair of shoes, a sandwich, a roll of toilet paper- these items might be different in your car.

Try enforcing similar organization systems in your car that you use in your home. For example, this Car Caddy is a sewing project for intermediate-level seamstresses who need a place to put the items in their car. Making car caddies like this one will also teach you how to sew pockets. It’s learning a sewing technique and getting organized at the same time.

In my search for cleaning solutions to the car I also came across this excellent DIY sewing project. The Hanging Trash Bag will serve its purpose dutifully in your vehicle. You always need a place to put greasy take-out containers, napkins or baby diapers on the road. What’s great about this trash bag is it doesn’t even look like a garbage can; it’s actually pretty.

Do you have any spring cleaning tips?

FaveCrafts Giveaway: Crafter’s Caddy

March 8, 2013 by FaveCrafts

Perfect for toting all kinds of crafting supplies, the Crafter’s Caddy is a must have for those who like to craft on the go. With plenty of open top access and a handy lower drawer, this storage unit can hold tons of your favorite crafting supplies.

The pullout drawer on the bottom of the tote has 5 smaller sections to hold stamps, embellishments, beads, and more. This is a great caddy to have if you love scrapbook parties, card swaps, craft circles, or just love to craft everywhere you go!

And, as luck would have it, we’re giving away a Crafter’s Caddy to one lucky winner! If you want to win this organizational tote, just head on over to the giveaway page and register to win. You have until March 22nd to enter, and you can enter to win once a day, so the more you return, the greater your chances of winning this awesome giveaway! You can also gain additional entries by blogging about this giveaway or talking about it on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. Good luck!

DIY Storage Systems for Crafts

January 6, 2012 by FaveCrafts

My craft stash is a mess. I have a ton of supplies in random boxes throughout my apartment and I need to get a handle on gathering it all together in one place. I’m on a hunt to find decorative storage and organization tips from all you crafters out there on how to get my crafty treasures in order. This, my friends, is mission number one.

Mission number two is to spend as little money as possible on organizational systems. Why spend money when I can reuse what I already have to get myself organized? So today I bring you repurposed, upcycled, and crafty DIY storage ideas for all your craft supplies…so let’s get organizing!

Paper
Scrapbook paper storage solutions are easier to come by than you think! See if you have an old accordion file somewhere in the basement. If you do, you’ve got yourself one of the best scrapbook paper organizers out there!

Here’s a great way to keep your single scrapbook paper sheets organized. All you need is a collapsible sweater shelf and a few of these storage bins for paper, available at Cut Rate Crafts. Label the bins by color, paper theme, or whatever system works for you. I can’t wait to try this idea at home!

Beads/Embellishments/Small Things

Chances are you have the best storage devices for beads, embellishments, and other small items in your kitchen right now. When it comes to keeping small things organized, there’s no need to buy tons of little jars and bottles…simply browse around your kitchen for unused muffin tins, egg cartons, and ice cube trays.

Yup, these storage containers make scrapbook storage and organization a breeze…not to mention they stack up and store away easily to allow for a cleaner and clutter free workspace.

When it comes to the bigger small stuff, like scissors, tape, and glue, nothing works better than a multi-pocket shoe organizer. Who would have thought? These over-the-door shoe organizers are great for craft supplies.

For those who enjoy the fine art of illustration and painting canvas boards, these shoe organizers are top-notch marker and paint bottle organizers. If you’d rather have your markers and colored pencils close at hand, this Water Bottle Supply Organizer is a great resource. Made from recycled plastic bottles, this storage system is cost effective and easy to make.

I also love this idea for organizing my colored pencils. I’m always on the hunt for ideas for making handmade greeting cards, so keeping my cardstock and colored pencils close at hand is a definite need. With this storage system, I can clean out my recycling bin and satisfy my slight OCD problem to have all my colored pencils together with like colors. This just makes me happy. There’s no other way to put it.

Ribbons

Can we discuss how brilliant this is? What a great way to keep all your ribbons organized and ready for crafting and wrapping! DIY ribbon organization is where I plan to start when it comes time to organizing my crafts. While this ribbon tote is a great idea, I also love this ribbon organizer! It’s so easy to make…all you need is a shoe box and some dowels. I definitely think I can manage that!

Yarn and Needles

WHY did it take me so long to find this? What a great idea for storing yarns and knitting needles! This project requires a collapsible crate, a basket, or some receptacle you have that you are willing to recover with fabric.

If sewing isn’t really your thing, try this Yarn Storage Box, made with Mod Podge and unfinished wooden boxes. Not only does it provide ample storage for yarn and craft needles, but you can decorate it to match your home décor so you can store your supplies out in the open!

Now, anyone who knows me knows I LOVE my coffee! Can’t start a day without it! But did you know that all those coffee canisters can be put to good use once the beans are gone? By attaching like-sized canisters together, you can create yarn storage solutions that are effective and decorative! Even if you’re not yo-yo for yarn, you can easily upcycle aluminum cans to help you organize your other craft supplies.

Fabric

I absolutely am in love with these fabric storage cabinets! I love how colorful and organized that looks! All you would need here is some stiff cardboard to wrap your fabric scraps around. Then simply display them in an empty bookcase or cabinet.

So there you have it! A good handful of DIY projects to help you get organized for a new year of crafting! Not in the mood to DIY? Check out these awesome craft room organization ideas and products from Cut Rate Crafts. Many of the systems are available for purchase through the site…so you can get to organizing your creative mind ASAP.

Now, just because you’re storing and organizing doesn’t mean you have to disregard decorating! Your craft room can be useful and beautiful—just check out this tips on how to Decorate and Organize Your Craft Room. Ah, if only I had a craft room…

We want to hear your hints, tricks, and tips when it comes to craft storage and organization! Feel free to comment below and tell us what has worked for you! Happy crafting!