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I have a small craft room and it can be difficult to keep all of my supplies organized. Here are 3 solutions I use in my craft room that you may want to try.
I love to see other craft rooms and how they are organized.
Someday I hope to have a gorgeous custom craft room, but in the meantime, I'm making do with what I have.
Last weekend I wanted to work on a project and realized that I could hardly walk in the door.
So I decided it was time to clean up and organize a little. So this is my Craft Room, mess and all.
For my workspace, I use a couple of lifetime tables in an L shape.
Cleaning up took longer than expected, but I was actually surprised at how much fun I had organizing and putting everything away.
I even purged and got rid of quite a bit of crafting supplies I never used!
When I was finished I took a moment to take a deep breath and look around. I couldn't help but smile as I noticed some of my favorite things about this room.
Closet Shelves:
My husband built me this closet and it is AMAZING!
This is where I keep a majority of my stuff. I like to use storage bins to help keep my craft stash organized.
Wall Ribbon Storage:
You might say I have an obsession with ribbons because I have a ton! All in different colors, patterns, and widths.
I designed and created this DIY Ribbon Storage and it is super functional. Plus, I love having all of my ribbons on display!
Rubber Stamp Organization:
One of my favorite crafting types is paper crafting, and stamping goes right along with that.
How can I have SO MANY stamp sets? At least I use them all of the time!
The worst part is having to go through all of the stamps to find one specific set.
That is why I created my own catalog of all of the stamps that I own.
To create my catalog, I filled a 3-ring binder with sheets of cardstock that I stamped with all of my sets. Next to each stamp set is a colored star sticker. That star sticker reflects the size of the stamp set that the image comes from.
The sets are then alphabetized according to their size. This makes it easy for me to look through my catalog to find the perfect image and then use the star guide to quickly locate the set it comes from.
So much easier than going through every single set!
Ink Pad Storage:
My next storage solution is something I am really excited about! Since I have a lot of rubber stamps, I also NEED to have a lot of colors of ink pads!
For the longest time, I kept all of my pads in a wooden case meant for cassette tapes. It quickly filled up and the rest of my ink pads were just piling up in other parts of my craft room.
I had been looking for something to keep my ink pads in that didn't cost an arm and a leg and Media Stix became the PERFECT solution!!
They are intended to hold CDs or DVDs but the slots are the perfect size to hold ink pads. 1 package will hold 60 ink pads! SCORE!!!
Hubby helped me with the installation. I purchased two packages because I have about 80 ink pads.
Aren't these awesome?! I even arranged them dark to light in the colors of the rainbow. It totally makes me smile when I see them on my wall. They are just so pretty!
The Media Sticks do cause the ink pads to have a slight slant upwards but I have never had a problem with ink pooling to the end or leakage so it isn't a concern for me.
If it is a concern for you, you could add a thin piece of wood to the top screw of the media stix to level out the ink pads.
Craft Room Comforts:
When I am crafting I like to watch a movie, do you do the same?
On the wall, by the door, is a small TV. Can you guess this movie? You get bonus points if you do!!
The rest of the walls of my craft room are pretty bare and I really need to add some more decorations on the wall.
I absolutely love how my craft room looks and feels when it is cleaned and organized.
Do you have an awesome organizational tip that you use in your craft room? Share and leave a comment below!
Crafting Essentials
- The Cricut Cutting Machine is easily my favorite crafting tool. We use it in so many of our tutorials!
- These MakerX Crafting Tools are perfect for keeping in the craft room and are always ready when needed!
- This Fiskars Paper Trimmer is easy to use and cuts nicely without frayed edges.
- These Scotch Precision Scissors cut like a dream, and you get multiple pairs in a pack!
Jeanette
What an awesome use of an unexpected item. I love my craft room too, but it is a challenge keeping everything in order.
Sherry C
Thanks for the ideas! (and the movie is the wonderful "The Princess Bride"! (yes, with some kissing, LOL)
Lisa Fennewald
Katie - your room looks great and the Media stixs is a great idea! I have never heard of them before. Awesome!
Marlene
The princess bride
Stamp in Sam's Garage
Katie: I think we ALL spend more time straightening our craft room than actually creating! LOL - it's just the nature of the beast. And I love how organized yours is. Mine isn't nearly as neat and tidy and efficient!
One bolt short of a toolbox
Looks great!
Jan @ door251.com
andrea
Princess Bride!
BethK
Oh yeah! I get the extra point ... "The Princess Bride"! Good for you for cleaning up your craft space but ... do you think you could come over and clean mine up? 🙂 Thanks for sharing these great organizing ideas!
Kristy LifenReflection
wow, a great storage ideas! I have a ton of stamps too! I may just have to make a catalog like that!
Heather
Wow!! You do have a TON of stamps and a ton of ink pads. I have ink pad envy. : ) What a great way to store them. The movie is totally "Princess Bride". Such a classic.
Stephanie Cleary
"Mawwwaige is what bwings us twogever twooday." 🙂
Katie Adams
That is totally my favorite quote from the movie!
K Coake
Wow! You have a lot of stamps and ink. I love your catalog, so you can find the stamp you want. Genius! I love your ink storage solution. It looks pretty and I'm sure makes it easy to find them.
Terry
I love checking out how you've organized your space. Isn't it so fun to have a space just for you and your craft projects? I'm in awe of all of your stamps and ink pads! Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Michelle's Tasty Creations
Katie,
hahaha Great fake out! You did such a great job on your craft room. I love the closet organizer. And those Stamp pad wall holders are amazing. I need to get some of those. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Michelle
Debra Kapellakis
I am so in love with your collection(s).
Donna Wilkes
My craft "room" has spread all over the place - the dining room and the living room. You give me hope that I can corral everything back into a "proper" place. I love that stamp pad storage idea!
Distressed Donna Down home
4 You With Love
Your ink storage is brilliant! I think all of us creative folks have moments of creativity which ends up in a wake of destruction behind us. Then we look around, say "UGH" then go on an organization frenzy...then repeat! 😀
Erin
Love the ink pad storage and the catalog system for your stamps. I don't have anywhere near as many as you...jealous! 🙂
Oh, I believe that movie is the Princess Bride. Love that movie. 🙂
Kathryn Ferguson Griffin
Love the storage. Thank you for sharing this at my Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House. Hope to see you again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
Sam
What kind of boxed do you store you stamps in? I would like to try your method. I hate searching through the whole box I have them in now. And what kind of ink is pictured?
Katie Adams
The boxes are called clam shell boxes, but I am not sure where to tell you to buy them. They are the boxes that the stamps came in when I bought them.
robinann17
I think Stampin'Up sells clamshell boxes. If not, google "clamshell box for stamps" and they'll come up.
Brittany Snoke
Katie, I love this! Can you tell me what the dimensions on each little shelf are? I'm wondering if they'll hold my TH distress inks as well as the bigger sizes (Target is saying they're not in stores now, so I can't go look!). The distress ink lids fall off fairly easily- oh, the adventures of a lost inkpad lid behind a desk that's heavier than I am!
Katie Adams
The gap where the pads go is 5/8 inch wide. So I would say as long as those pad's depth is less then that you should be just fine.
Thanks for the great question!
Rosemarie Phelps
I really loved all you ideas thanks so much for sharing!
Anna C
Thanks for the tip on stamp pads. I notice you said when you want a stamp you only have to look through those boxes with that color. From the photo it looks like you have a lot of each color. If you go back and put say Red -1 , Red - 2, etc ... Yellow 1, Yellow 2... Then you won't have to search anymore. You look for color and number. If you do the same catalog with your inks , cricut carts, embossing files , stickles .. etc.. you won't have to search long for what you want either.
Katie Adams
Thanks for the great tip Anna!
Katie Bolinger
I'd never heard of Media Stix but I have a similar storage system from Ikea. They no longer carry the dvd holders so I can't really tell people the name thanks for letting me know where I can direct people.
I just showed a bunch of kids the Princess Bride this weekend. The boys heard the title and groaned but my son convinced them it was worth watching. 6 converts!
Socorro
Thank you! What a great post. BTW, the movie is Princess Bride.
Katie Adams
Extra point for you Socorro!
Kat A
I just joined your blog and hope you can come on over and join mine as well..I LOVE the Ink pad storage idea!...Mine are currently sitting on a small shelf and have been looking for something that can store them without taking more space up on my craft table!..What a great idea!..I'm adding Target to my list of places this weekend..
I just giggled a little over all the stamp sets..I had just about as many lol, but decided to give them away..(only because I wanted a bunch of others and needed the room!)...lol
Thanks for the ideas!!
Kat
Cheryl @ That's What Che Said
Thanks so much for linking up to Monday Funday! I featured YOU today! Please stop over and grab a button! xo Cheryl
Chelle (PhotoArt/MaybeCreative)
I am going to look for those media stix. I have what you used to have but it is too large for the space. Do you think it would hold the CTMH ink pads or regular inkpads (say archival) as well?
Lori Ü
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Clare Sprowl
Thanks for sharing and I love the Media Stix
robinann17
I just read this post and love your craft room. I, too, struggle with organization. Right now, crafting stuff is in all my rooms except the bathroom! I'm retiring this spring from teaching and hope to get a better handle on my organization. Thanks for all the inspiration!
Tina
PLEASE, PLEASE TELL WHERE I CAN BUY THE MEDIA STIX TO HOLD MY INK PADS EITHER A STORE OR ON LINE--I LIVE IN CANADA AND DESPARATELY NEED THEM TO PUT SOME ORDER INTO MY EXTRA BEDROOM WHICH I MDE INTO A STAMPING WORKSHOP????????
Katie
I got mine at Target, they should have them online as well.
Tina
Thank you. I tried at our local Target but they didn't have them, so will try on line and see if they ship to Canada. I thank you very much and appreciate your help. Love your blog!
Tina
Bivi
It is funny! I found a case for cassettes tapes like yours at a thrift stores and I am using it for my punches. I did not know what it was originally designed to hold until I saw it on your pictures. Now I know. Thanks!
Bethann
I loved this post. I know how ugly feel. Your husband, I think, would be right about me as far as organizing more than creating. At least that's what it feels like to me. I have a lot of stuff as well and I tell myself I don't need another thing and I won't buy another thing unless it's adhesive...and when that 50% off coupon comes for Michael's most times I rationalize and then I crack. I look forward to reading more of your posts. I Love the fact that you kept it real and weren't afraid like most, to show your REAL craft room. Thanks and happy organizing... I mean crafting!
Joyce
Great input AnnA, I so agree. Super Idea. I've just moved from 3500 SQ FT TO 1800 SQ FT. CAN'T WAIT TO TRY YOUR IDEAS.THANKS FOR SHARING. ANXIOUS TO SEE MORE
Kim
I bought the Media Stick. I was wondering how you put your pads in the slots. I have stampin up ink pads.
Katie
They jsut slide right into the openings. They are at a bit of a slant, but it isn't too bad.
Jennifer Hovermale
I love the Media Ariz idea!!! I found this link on Pinterest. Thank you for such wonderful ideas!!!!
Alexis U
Hey,
Great post, thanks for the ideas.
Was wondering what ink pads you have i love the color selection and wanted to add a few to my collection?
Alexis U
Never mind about my question I just recognized them, for some reason it took me a minute.
thanks again
June portugal
i am in the process of organizing my craft room and love some of your ideas here. I will be making a binder for my stamps. Love the wall hanger for the ink pads gonna steal that idea also
Liane
Been lookin' for a good storage idea for my ink pads and you have given me a GREAT storage idea!! Economical too, double awesome!! Thanks!
Allison
Saw your post on Pinterest and loved the Media Stix idea for the stamp pads. However couldn't find them at Target or IKEA, but Amazon carries them. Saves me half what I would spend on Portaink (but I can't take them with me in it.) I just want them off my table so I can think. Cluttered table muddles my brain!
Nicole
what an awesome idea. I'll bet I can't find anything like the Media Stix in New Zealand but will keep my eye out anyway lol. I have heaps of stamp pads & stamp sets so it is always great to see storage options. I have my own room & it looks twice as bad as yours does as unfortunately it is acting as a storage room too & really stunts the creativity. Thanks for sharing
Jean
Thanks for your courage in sharing the "before" craft room photos! I laughed out loud because I felt like I was stepping into my own craft room! What can we say, creativity is messy!
Katie
Jean, Creativity is messy! I think my room is messy more often then it is clean! 🙂
Sue Ainilian
Just wondering if the su stamp pads are snug or a bit loose in the media stix? I am trying to find a way to keep mine, too. I have the SU spinner but don't like it, was thinking of the stamp and storage solution that holds the refill, marker and pad, but they take up so much counterspace and I would need two. What do you do with the retired inks and in colors that go out??? I have a drawer full, but the collection grows...
Katie
The media Stix holds the SU Stamp Pads, great. They fit in the little slots really well. But if you walk by them too close you can easily knock out a few, so I would say it doesn't hold them tight but they fit good. Another thing with the media stix is it holds the pads at a slight angle, which means one side the pad is usually juicier than the other. When I notice it is starting to show when I stamp using the ink I use a bone folder to redistribute the ink of the pad and its fine.
I hope that helps Sue!
Ginny
Hi love this Idea, but if you have your hubby put a small piece of wood under the screw at the top of each Media Stix, the strip will be more level and you won't have the ink pooling problem.... Hope that helps!
Katie
Ginny, that is brilliant! You are a smartie my friend!
irene
Hi Just found on Pinterest. Your Media Stix looks like a great idea, as Nicole said in Oct last year don't know if they sell them in New Zealand. You were saying when you brush past them there sometimes slide off, so maybe it might help to glue a small piece of foam or something under stamping ink, it made be too fiddlerly, it doesn't seem practical on the shelving from what I can see. Just a thought.
Katie
Thanks for the great tip Irene!
ritacavell
like the idea media mix. Managed to find one left on Amazon.com. I grabbed it. Thanks.
Katie
I'm so glad you were able to get one! Thanks for stopping by!
Amy Ellingson
Would the media stix hold the SU stamp sets in the DVD cases?
Katie
Great question Amy! Yes, they would since they were actually designed to hold DVDS.
Amanda
Princess Bride; one of my favorites too! Thank you so much for the ink pad storage tip!!! Love it!!!!
FRAN sTULTZ
Do the StampinUp ink pads fit snuggly in the media stix? I ask because I would like to mount the media stix on the back of a door.
Katie
The Stampin' Up! ink pads fit great but not snuggly. If bumped they will fall out. Thanks, Fran!
Leslie Davis
Katie, thanks for doing this. I ordered on Amazon the meida stix....exactly like yours, but I have broken two spots so far trying to get the SU pads in. My Memento Pads and Gina K ink pads fit fine, but HOW did you get the SU in without breaking the black "teeth"?
Katie
Hi Leslie, I wonder if the Media Stix have changed since I purchased them. My ink pads slide in and out with no issue. Maybe contact the company and let them know you have a defective set.
Emma
Hey! I live in the uk but done a Wee amazon search and they have Media stix there! Should have them in your locations too. Great blog! I store my rolls of adhesive tapes the way you store your ribbons!
Emma
Oh, and the princess bride is an awesome movie!
Fay Green
every night just before I go to sleep I say to my better half, "night Wesley, Ill probably kill you in the morning" and he says "as you wish".
His name isn't even Wesley.
Btw, do the media sticks work on stamping up new pads?
Katie
You know your movies Fay! 🙂 I haven't tried the media stix with the new ink pads.
Yolanda
Princess Bride! Thank you so for sharing - it is encouraging to see the before and afrer...you are doing a fantastic job with the blog n I am so glad to have found your site! All the best of good things your way -
Katie
You are right, Yolanda! One of my favorite movies!!
Thank you!!
Sue Dickson
I mounted vinyl rain gutters in my craft room, 6 3' sections, to store all my ribbon. They don't unroll so no long tails to tangle!
Katie
That is so smart Sue!!!
Donna Scholz
Katie, do the new SU ink pads fit in your media stix holder, or since they are smaller, do that rattle around or fall out easily?
Katie
Donna, I don't have any of the new ink pads so I am not entirely sure how they fit.
Chere' Beavers
I was so thankful to discover this post and the Media Stix idea for stamp pads! Other storage "units" and plastic boxes just weren't what I needed, and most were far to expensive for me, anyway. Thank you for sharing all of these ideas!
Katie Adams
You are welcome!