Creative Spaces: Storage Tips from the Editors!

Megan Hoeppner, Creative Editor

In the spirit of getting organized, our editorial team has come together to share some of their favorite storage solutions. Some of these are ideas we’ve seen online that we can’t wait to try. Others are tricks we’re already putting to use in our own creative spaces. Let’s see what our editors have to say about sorting, storing, and all-around organizing.

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Natalie McConnell thinks outside the traditional storage box and looks to unexpected and eye-catching containers.

Natalie McConnell, Editor

This may be the oldest trick in the storage solutions book, but you don’t have to necessarily re-invent the wheel to have classy and functional storage. The cup-tree solution below is great for a couple reasons. First, I love pens, and having all my options color coded is brilliant whether you are writing a birthday card or putting the finishing touch on your layout. But even more than being practical, this solution gives you so much personality license! Find mugs that match your color scheme, or change up themes with seasons and holidays. Almost everywhere I travel I try to find a mug (to harbor my hot chocolate addiction), and that helps keep my options open for this fun, and super easy storage solution, inspired from Scrapbooks Etc.

Cup Storage Idea from Scrapbooks Etc.

Vintage storage solutions? Count me in—I am all about upcycling vintage products for practical uses! You can pick up a vintage suitcase for relatively cheap, and you will find it is the perfect size for all your must-have products. Keeping your craft supplies all in one place means that you are set for a grab n’ go crafty weekend with the girls. The great thing about vintage cases is they come in all sizes and colors, and can double for unique décor in your craft space! Check out Creating Keepsake’s own version of this fun idea in the Creative Spaces vol. 2, on sale now!

Suitcase Storage from ReStyle ReUse ReDesign Blog

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Kerri Miller, Managing Editor, Creating Keepsakes and Paper Crafts magazines

Kerri Miller looks for ways to make the most of family heirlooms and unique containers.

I’m all about repurposing storage solutions for my crafting supplies. Here are a couple of my more recent favorites I’ve found.

Using old cigar boxes to store small items. These boxes have such a unique style. I have an old cigar box that my Grandmother gave me in which she started a sewing kit for me way back when. I still have it, and yes it still stores my mending kit. (I’m still not sure where she got the cigar box as no one in the family smoked cigars.)

Cigar Box from justsomethingmade.com

Recycled magnetic spice tins. I recently saw this on Pinterest and I got seriously excited about the possibilities. I’m now on the lookout for some unique spice tins to turn into some fun storage solutions.

Magnetic Spice Tins from aprettycoollife.com

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With Joannie McBride’s playful nature and childlike zest for life, it’s easy to see why she’s hitched her storage ideas to this adorable wagon pickup.

Joannie McBride, Online Editor

I just can’t deny my love for anything vintage! When I came across this adorable vintage truck filled with spools of measuring tapes and ribbon, my heart was immediately happy.

Vintage Truck with Spools of Meauring Tapes and Ribbon from Pinterest

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When it comes to keeping the hundreds of photos we take on any given day orderly, Deena Boese has a great and FREE idea to share!

Deena Boese, Contributing Editor

Good news! You don’t have to own expensive and complicated software to organize your digital photos! Did you know you can tag and search through photos in good old Windows Explorer?

Simply highlight a group of photos, click on Tags and type in any category you want. You can tag by name, holiday, subject matter, event, dates, or all of the above.

Organizing Digital Photos

You now have searchable photos that will save you loads of time! When I want a photo of my newborn son, Ryder, I start by clicking on My Pictures. Then in the Search box, type Tags: Ryder and every photo I have taken of him pops up.

Organizing Digital Photos

Or say I want to do a layout about my daughter’s Halloween costumes over the years. I would simply type in Tags: Savanna; Halloween and the exact photos I need would instantly appear on screen. Since you can highlight entire groups of photos at one time, tagging actually goes incredibly fast. If going back and tagging previous years feels overwhelming, I encourage you to start tagging your current photos today! You’ll be glad you did.

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Jennifer Schaerer adds a little rustic style to her unfinished basements and transforms it into a high functioning workspace.

Jennifer Schaerer, Editor in Chief, Creating Keepsakes and Paper Crafts magazines

Just ask anyone who knows me, if it’s rustic and brown, I’m smitten! In fact, here are a couple of storage solutions we featured on PC Connections that I absolutely love. This pallet is full of storage possibilities, and the upcycled soup cans displayed on the lazy Susan (lower left corner) provide the perfect solution for housing all the smaller items I use regularly.

Pallet and Soup Can Lazy Susan from Paper Crafts Connections

Autumn Baldwin, Contributing Writer

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Autumn Baldwin recognizes the prime real estate available to her on the wall.

I like to keep my supplies up high, out of reach of little hands, so I have open shelving above my computer desk. I use rows of plain white plastic bins from the dollar store to hold stamps, inks, chipboard, alphas, stickers, etc. It’s not fancy, but it looks uniform and tidy, and when each bin only costs a dollar it’s affordable to fill large shelves with them.

I also have an IKEA Spontan magnet board.

It’s like a sleek, updated version of a bulletin board using magnet instead of pushpins. I hang up a monthly planning calendar on it, as well as notes, images, and inspiration.

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Stacy Croninger has opened up a can… errr, make that a jar of organization with her canned ribbon goods.

Stacy Croninger, Online Managing Editor

I am a huge ribbon girl (maybe I should say collector) and so managing my rolls of ribbon as well as my scraps is a big deal. I also like to have things visible since I’m an out of sight out of mind type. Here’s how I’ve tackled my ribbon addiction.

I purchased a variety of jars, mostly quart Mason jars, and divided my ribbon scraps into jars based on color. Some colors have two jars because all the scraps wouldn’t fit into one jar. These jars are on the shelf directly above my work space, so they are easy to get to when I need a small piece of ribbon. I can also grab a jar and take it with me if I’m working on a project somewhere other than my craft room.

Ribbon Jars

My peg board is my main storage for things I use on a regular basis like scissors, punches, ribbon, etc. For ribbon rolls, I have two dowels hung between hooks on my peg board. I slid the ribbon rolls onto the dowels (notice that the dowels are a little saggy – may be a sign that I have too much ribbon). The other thing I like about this option is how easy it is to cut the ribbon off. I’ve used straight pins to attach the loose ends to the roll so when I need a piece I don’t have to take it off the dowel – I remove the pin, unroll the length I need, cut it, and then pin the end to the roll again.

Ribbon Spools on Peg Board

Lyn Worthen, Sr. Editor

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Seeking solutions for sorting her smaller supplies, Lyn Worthen looks to baskets and containers.

A lot of my crafting involves working with fabric, and it seems like I’m always looking for a better way to store the small pieces so I can find them. I love the idea of keeping the folded fat quarters and other leftover bits in a handy basket!

Basket of Fabric by Crafter without a Cat

Storage is great, but if it can be decorative as well as functional, all the better! I work with some very bitty products in my crafting – seed beads, clock parts, jump rings, etc. – and wanted to find a way to keep them organized as well as add a bit of decorating fun to my workspace. The solution? These tiny, corked vials by Tim Holtz.

Corked Vials by Tim Holtz

They hold my bitty products, look great doing it, and (as you can see from the top view, below), I can cluster a whole set on a coaster with room to spare!

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Also, as I mention in Creative Spaces Vol. 2, I adore storage furniture with many small compartments. So many of my crafting supplies are smaller, and these slotted items are just right for keeping those bitty bits contained. I use tiny jars for my beads, brads, and buttons, a slotted antique mailbox from the Telluride, CO post office for my miscellaneous items (tags, treat bags, bottles of paint, etc.), and I keep some of my washi tape and fabric in an antique card catalog that spent most of its life in a Kansas library (cool!) Yes, the small slots, drawers, and containers do the trick where most of my supplies are concerned.

My older brother was thrilled to carry my mailboxes down the streets of Ouray, CO, after I found them in an antique store in town. Antique stores are an excellent source of storage delights.

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Time to Win!

What about you? What is one of your favorite storage tips? Leave it here for a chance to win. Today we’re giving away another Creative Spaces combo pack, containing Creative Spaces (the original) and Creative Spaces Vol. 2.

Congratulations to our winner of the Creative Spaces Combo Pack!

Tammy Cappolina says: Thanks for all of the great ideas. Can’t wait to dig into this issue! Thanks for the chance to win it!

Watch for an email in your inbox with instructions on how to redeem your prize.

Enter to win this combo pack of Creative Spaces & Creative Spaces Vol. 2!

Also, we’re happy to offer on lucky blog friend a set of Viewtainers. These see-through containers, featured in Creative Spaces Vol. 2, are great for keeping your items contained and visible.

See-Through Containers by Viewtainers

Congratulations to our winner of the See-Through Containers by Viewtainers!

Jennifer K says: I can’t wait to look through this issue!! I am always looking for new ways to store my supplies. I have found that the best solution for me is to have my most used tools very near and accessible. Also, things need to be visible, or I forget what I have. Can’t wait to see what great ideas will be in this issue!!
Watch for an email in your inbox with instructions on how to redeem your prize.

You have until Friday, Jan. 18 to comment for a chance to win. Best of luck to you!

Megan Hoeppner, creative editor