General Storage

I not only have the Crop-In-Style XXL Storage Tote, I also have a tool box. YES! A tool box, actually it's the Plano Contractor's Box. I bought it at Menard's (hardware store) in their tool box section for only $40! You can get this exact same storage container in a scrap store for $120+ in color. I opted for the cheaper price and blander colors.



DIMENSIONS:
from Top to Bottom: 32" high
from Front to Back: 10 1/2"
from Left to Right: 18" wide
each of the top 3 drawers: 1 3/4" deep
the bottom compartment: 15 1/2" deep
Top compartment: 3" deep

The big black piece in the front gets put in place when traveling so nothing accidentally opens and spills out. On the right side, it has a place where you can wrap your extension cord for easy transport. On the left side is where you store that same black piece when you're not traveling and are actually using it. It has two wheels on the back for easy moving.

When I flip the lid open I use the lid to hold stuff too. I get almost all my supplies off my work space with this handy little guy and I get more scrapping done too!

Stickles

Use self-adhesive Velcro. This is, by far, the best idea I've come across. It's practical and inexpensive.

Simply use the male side, cut it into strips and stick it straight to your wall. I know this might not work for everyone, but you could adhere it to any surface really. I just wanted mine above my desk in an easy to reach spot.

It really makes life easier when these little guys are stored upside down :)

Just cut little strips from the female side of the velcro and stick it on the bottles.

And there you have it :) Super easy, I'm talking minutes, and cheap!

Also, instead of putting the velcro on your wall, you could also try adhering the velcro strip to your tote box. If you have a cloth storage tote, I'm not sure it would work. But, I have this one and it would work great! Just pick a side!

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Brads and Eyelets

THIS IS MY CHOSEN METHOD:
I have chosen to use those bead containers I'm sure you've seen everywhere. However, through much trial and error, I have found the best container to use in this respect are the ones that are more like the daily/weekly pill boxes (generally found in most pharmacies). Reason being is because in the original, cheap-o version, each section is not individually closed; therefore, you will have eyelets and brads mixing into the other sections, getting them all mixed up.

In these containers, each section has it's own lid and it is "child-proof." Meaning, there's a "trick" to openning each lid. You can't just pop it open. So, there is little to no chance that if you drop this container on the floor that it will pop open and scatter all these tiny little bits everywhere!

You can get this container (or a version of it) in any craft store. Check the cross-stitch section or sewing sections first (the price will, most likely, be less). You can also check your local pharmacy up by the pharmacy counter.

Buttons

1. in jars and color coordinated
2. in baggies and color coordinated
3. in a big bowl all mixed together

I HAVE CHOSEN TO USE THIS METHOD:
You can use bead storage containers of all kinds. You just have to find what best suits your purposes. The following picture is what seems to work best for me. Plus, it also keeps me from buying too many buttons!

Ribbon

1. Stack your spools on an upright paper towel holder
2. Mount an open-ended towel rack or, for a smaller number of spools, a toilet paper holder
3. Place a tension rod in a closet or between bookshelves
4. Hang a clothesline in a corner
5. Slide a dowel through the holes of a plastic crate or basket

6. Use a tie hanger: Just slide the ribbon through about half way, keeping the same color scheme on each hanger. Then, when you are ready to use one, just pull it out.

7. Old fashioned clothes pins: Place one end of the ribbon in the open center and wrap ribbon around entire pin. Then, you can store each ribbon "spool" in a jar, grouping by color.

8. Store losely in jars by color.

9. One very unique way to store ribbon, but not very handy if you travel to crops and such.

10. Peg-board wire rack baskets (can be found in your local hardware store in the storage department, I think. Obviously, this method can be used only if you have pegboard up on the wall.

11. You can slide a metal, plastic or wood dowel (or tension rod) in a box.

12. Get a large round keyring (found usually in most hardware stores)and some large safety pins. Clip the pin to one end of the ribbon and attach the safety pin to the keyring. Now, you just let it hang. With this keyring, you can hang it from just about anywhere.

13. Bathroom door hanger

14. An old crate or basket with holes. If you use the crate and have a pegboard set up, you can also hang the crate on some pegboard hooks.

MY CHOSEN METHOD:
Since most of my ribbon/threads/fibers don't come on a spool of any kind, I found the best way for my ribbon storage needs is in a thread storage container. This can be found in any department of a fabric shop (like JoAnn's), but the least expensive department is the cross-stitching section.

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Cricut Cartridges

My favorite way to store Cricut Cartridges is to use 3-holed zipper pencil pouches. My favorite ones are the ones I can get at the Dollar Tree or Wal-Mart for $1 each and has a clear window. I insert the overlay, booklet and cartridge in each pouch.

I bundle them up with a side opening key ring (found in most hardware stores). The key rings come in several different sizes.

With this key ring in tact, you can now hang your collection(s) of cartridges from just about anywhere.

ALTERNATIVES to this method:
Instead of bundling them up all together and hanging them from this key ring; some have chosen to use these same pencil pouches, but store them in a 3 ring binder.

Clear Stamps

Since I have started 'collecting' clear stamps lately, I have been trying to find the best way possible to store these for easy transport. This is what I have found so far:

1. 3-ring binder with baseball card holders and slide the stamps inside in it's original packaging
2. empty CD cases
3. pencil boxes
4. 3-hole pencil pouches with the window (dollar tree or walmart has them for about $1 each)

THIS IS WHAT I HAVE CHOSEN TO DO:
I figured this out and I love it! small 3-ring binder w/small sheet protectors. I had to do a little sewing and cutitng, but in the end it came out great!

#1: I inserted grey cardstock in each pocket
#2: I sewed along the edge for stability

#3: I lined up the stamps so I could firgure out where I wanted my pockets

#4: I sewed a straight stitch all the way to the end, making sure to backstitch at the beginning and at the end for stability

#5: With a straight ruler, I cut about 1/4" below the stitch line to form the pocket. Be sure to stay about 1/4" away from the edges.

Also, be sure not to cut to deep or too hard or you will cut right through the cardstock and end up with this

Now, you're done and you have your own customized clear stamp storage binder. You can arrange these in any way (i.e. by type, size, season, etc...)

Bling

There aren't too many different ways you can store these, really, but this is what I have come up with so far.

1. ziploc baggies (the tiny ones for jewelry or the snack size ones)
2. 3-ring binder with baseball card holders (if you have lots of bling)

Flowers

I know most of us use Prima Flowers and tend to store them in their original packaging. Try some of these ideas to change it up.

1. Leave them in their original packaging

2. If you don't care if they're all jumbled together, a Mason jar works wonders

3. Baby food jars

4. You can also try empty spice jars on a lazy susan type thing. I've been told this whole set (jars/spinner) can be found at CVS in the seasonal gifts aisle when they put their Christmas stuff out.

MY CHOSEN METHOD:
Use ziploc baggies for optimum space saving. Place the flowers flat in the baggie and zip 90% of the way. Leave this little opening and squeeze the air out and zip it shut. (This is the method I use and I have aobut 10 different Prima Flower packages in a 6x4x2 space....and I still have room for more!!) This not only is a space saver, but it also makes it easy to tote them around for crops and such.