It helps if containers are clear so you can see contents at a glance and not have to read every label.

It also helps if containers are uniform in size. Makes stacking easier and also makes it easier to re-organize your boxes as your needs change.

Try to keep thinks as close as possible to the area where you actually use them. Makes it easier to clean up afterwards, or to grab something quickly without interrupting the flow.

Organize them, now there's a thought...lol That's one area that can use some work. I have two drawers of larger embellishments. The smaller ones are kept in tins with clear tops to see at a glance. I separated the larger items by type (grungeboard, rub-on words & letters, wire, etc) and tucked them into large zipper-topped bags, but that's bulky. Appreciate any suggestions you have for those.

I do that too - sort fabrics by color.  Fabric scraps are in big ziploc bags.

However, as for embellishments, I have clear bins of color.  And those colors include everything.  So my red box has red ribbon, red buttons, red beads, red yarn...  My white box has white ribbon, white wool, white beads, white yarn,... etc etc.  I found it too difficult to have each embellishment separated on it's own, and then separated again by color.  This way when I need blue, I can see all embellishments that are blue at once.  I find can make a better choice that way regarding texture I think.

Good topic!

~Monika Kinner-Whalen

Love it..... thanks for the tips!!

i am useing 2 liter pop bottles cut in half for my small supplies, i slip the top half on and they stack pretty neat this way, also the cat , and dust can't get to them. this is a egco way to go, thanks for sharing as i had to learn to organize, i even use water bottles.  ps the new containers for baby food are great,

Baby food jars and small jam or jelly jars with the lids are great for beads.  You can see them, but if you drop them your beads don't turn into vacuum food.  I keep game pieces, corks, bits of yarn and fabric, keys, watercolor paints, knitting needles, etc., in clear glass containers I find at the thrift stores or yard sales - cookie jars, mason jars, wide-mouthed vases.  

Ribbons on spools - take a round wooden base (I used a plaque about 4" across), screw a dowel (mine is about 1-1/2' tall) into the middle, paint the whole thing a pretty color (aqua!), slide the spools on, and then screw an antique glass drawer handle (or whatever you like!) into the top of the dowel.  

I've also been using peg board to store my tools for about 5 or 6 years now.  I framed it with a really pretty clearance frame I painted ivory.  It makes it really easy to find tools that way.  

Now.  If I could just organize my fabric collection...

@ pjmockit:  For stickers, photos, weird little bits of paper and gum wrappers, sheet music, bingo cards, etc., I go to craft stores and buy plastic scrapbook paper boxes.  They're about a foot square and about three inches tall.  They work great for me and everything lays flat.  The ones I buy aren't completely clear but I label them so I know what's going on inside!

Years and years ago, I inherited several large button and embellishment collections. It was wonderful, but a bit overwhelming at first. I started with the buttons first and found a solution that is still functional (and holding together) 20 years later.

I bought good quality ziploc sandwich bags and stitched 5 o 7 together, by covering the ends of the bags (non-opening end, obviously), with bias tape. The bias tape 'bound' the bags together.

Each bundle represented a color and size of button. I had SO many, that I divided small red and large red into separate bundles. Each little bag held matching buttons if there were a large enough quantity of one size or similar size if there were not more than 8 of one size.

The bundles are stored in large Rubbermaid containers that are about 9-10" square. I write the variety of contents on a 3x5 card in bold dark letters. The card is lightly taped to the inside of the container, so that it is readable from the outside. The containers stack nicely on the bookshelves I used for storage.

I did not know how long the sandwich bags would hold up, but they have survived much abuse over the past 20 years. Now, I may just sort my other odds and ends the same way.

You can also recycle ziploc type bags that come from other sources, such as our pharmacy that uses bags that are about 4x8. They would be great for longer items.

I don't understand what tiny3 is saying about the top halves of her bottles. Is there a way to post a pic? this could be interesting.

I stupidly took all of my ribbon off the reels and put them in zip lock bags, but I'm hating it, they are in a tub and I can't find a thing!

Susa