Due to my recent shopping and frequent trips to craft stores, the box that I used to keep my lovely ribbons can’t keep up the rate on the storage. I no longer can find any ribbons without having to pour everything out and de-tangle some of them. I am trying my best to keep my craft room as tidy as the one I posted here after every project. But, it is impossible to achieve that goal if things are too messy, to begin with. I don’t want to waste time digging and searching for the right ribbons anymore. It is time to make a ribbons storage organizer.
As you can see from the above before photo, I can’t even put on the lid to cover the box before stacking it up on the shelf. It is no joke when I need to get a specific ribbon out from the box.
I found out I can free up a lot of space by removing the packaging of some of the ribbons. Some packagings especially the spools with big core are simply too bulky to keep. So, I decided to take those out.
Then, I need to find a way to keep my ribbon organize and tidy otherwise they will get tangled up after a few digs. This is where the cardboard comes in place to wind them up and keep them in place. A tiny head sewing pins are handy to keep the ends on the winding. Read more after the jump to the second page.
Ribbons Storage Organizer
Tools & Materials:
1. Box to keep ribbons
2. Corrugated cardboard or thick cardboard
3. Ruler
4. Pen
5. Cutter
6. Cutting mat
7. Sewing pin with tiny head.
The messy and overloaded box full of tangling ribbons.
These are all the ribbons from the box.
As you notice, many of them are ribbons purchased by yardage or leftover ribbons from previous projects.
Some are still on the foam/cardboard spool. I am going to remove the bulky packaging for those shorter length ribbons, say less than 5 yards in order to free up some storage space.
Get ready a cardboard (corrugated or any thick cardboard will do).
Ruler, cutter and cutting mat.
1. Measure the width of the box. Mine is 6″.
2. Measure the height of the box. Mine is about 5 1/2″
3. Take away 1/2″ from the width and 1″ from the height to become 5 1/2″ width x 4 1/2″ height for instance.
4. Cut out the rectangle cardboard.
Roll the ribbons on the cardboard. Notice the unwanted foam/cardboard cores at the back. These are the space saved up to keep more ribbons.
Sort out the ribbons in types, colors, or widths. Wind the ribbons onto the cardboard.
I keep long ribbons on their original cores and insert them vertically into the box.
Then, place the rectangle ribbon organizer into the box vertically too so you can see the ribbons easily and choose what you want without having to take them out.
There is a ready-made wooden board available in some craft stores, you may use it to organize the ribbons instead of cutting your own. The con side is they only come in a few sizes that you may find them not in the correct dimension for your box.
For very short ribbons, you may cut smaller cardboard to wind.
Secure the ends with a sewing pin. I don’t like to use adhesive tape, as the residue can be sticky and nasty after a while.
Now you can see the ribbons clearly and able to find the one you need easily from the box.
great idea. I’ll try it.
For those of you that have kinky ribbon get an old cheap hair straightener…run the ribbon through quick..no more kinks…I had my ribbon on spools but have not been crafting so put it all in a box..now i am going to go through it and use spools, and clothespins and keep them sorted in shoe boxes..that way i can use it quickly but keep it dust free..
I’ve done all of my rolls of ribbon this way!
It’s a great way to save space!!
I am happy to know that it works for you. Hope others will follow this method soon, we need to clear off the clutter in our craft storage 😉
I find that if ribbon is stored by being wrapped around flat cardboard, its gets bends in it and the bends have to be ironed out. I prefer to roll them the same way ,just around a toilet tissue roll, or paper towel tube.
Wow! I’m a fan of organizing everything around me and this one will definitely become my favourite!
Hi. Thanks for the inspiration. I sorted through my ribbon box and now have most of them on cards. The rest on rolls. It’s so neat now. I’ve realized that I have heaps of space for more ribbon using your technique.
Now you can go for ribbon shopping to fill up the empty space in the box… 😉
I have to do this too, mine are all piled in a drawer – too messy.
I think you never sleep. (creative). How many hours do you spend for your family? (hehe i’m curious)… I have many things to study from you. And you can just call me Tsengee.
I need to do the same urgently 🙂
So do I. A very nice idea. I’ve got all ribbons in a box, winding like snakes.
I like the 5 yard rule of thumb. I can never decide if it’s more efficient/cleaner to keep the ribbon on the spool or re-wind, etc. thank you!