5 FREE or Cheap Craft Storage Ideas

[@tailorjoan]

I used to buy tea that came in tins. I have spray painted a bunch of the tins and use them for storage on my desk top. One is full of marbles for weight and my blending brushes live in there. Another has 4 tp tubes inside for a divided pen holder. One tube is half stuffed with tp to hold up shorter items so I don't have to fish down inside to get them out. I can take pictures if you ever want to see!

[@ginnysundeen9400]

Thank you for your tea bag tin with the toilet paper rolls inside to hold the pens and markers. I’m going to make some of these for my grandchildren. ❤

[@kkrolf2782]

Your “blend’g brushes among marbles” is v e r y clever! I might have to give that a try!

[@lenorascott5654]

One of my favorite boxes to use is a tissue box which holds my hand made cards and envelopes for donations to local Care Centers, hospitals, organizations etc. Depending on the amount of embellishments on the card determines how many the box holds. Usually I hand deliver a box of 100 to 150 cards for the residents and the recipients can reuse or recycle when the cards are gone. I cut from the slot at a diagonal to each corner, fold done the flap, which reinforces the top of the box, then staple with the prongs on the inside. These boxes sit on a book shelf till they are ready for delivery. Perfect size for card bases which can be stored by color and easily identified. I have allergies so I am never without a tissue box! Thank you for sharing your talent.

[@ginnysundeen9400]

Hello Lenora, I absolutely love 💕 your tissue box idea. I have literally saved six of these boxes waiting for someone to post a great idea for me to be able to put them to use! I too go through a lot of tissues. Would you be willing to share some more of your ideas? These awesome ideas from Jess Crafts are great and I plan on putting them to use. I don’t mean to take away from her post.

[@lenorascott5654]

@@ginnysundeen9400 Ginny, Thank you for your nice comments about my use of tissue boxes. I have always saved "good" boxes just in case I need to store something. Sometimes I do cover them, but boxes like the tissues come in are decorated already. They make good tags as well as lots of other things that we tend to buy chipboard for. Lots of boxes used for food packaging are suited for drawer dividers. Another food container that I like is McDonalds biscuit and gravy containers. I use one for scraps and storage when I am cutting out clipart. I store the cutouts and use one for a trash can. They are a good fit for my lap and can be stacked with or without the lids. I, too, am a fan of Jess Crafts. Lots of learning and relearning. Take care and continue to reuse, Lenora.

[@ginamcdonald7854]

Do you use the square or rectangular tissue boxes? Does one size work better than the other?

[@barbhampton54]

I salvage a lot of small containers from my husband's workshop. He bought a large amount of screws during a construction project on the back porch. When it was empty, I was able to remove the flip top lid and it was perfect for the magnetic sheet pockets for my dies. I also able to create something similar to the stackables from small plastic boxes he had by removing the lid. I always say his shop is my favorite place to shop

[@brendamaun5455]

That floss storage and pulling a single strand is GENIUS!

[@debbieweber1110]

I did not like that ribbon spools took up so much space. I cut flat ribbon "bobbins" on my Cricut and removed all my ribbon from the spools and wound them on the bobbins, They fit perfectly in an Art Bin that I already owned. Takes up about 1/4 of the space as the spools. I also used the Cricut to cut cereal boxes, to make smaller boxes that fit in a desk drawer. I made "cubbies" from cereal boxes for my distress inks and have them stacked and glued together. Added some foam board for the vertical sides and the back to help keep it strong

[@kkrolf2782]

Like your cereal box makeover for your ink pads! My regular ink pads as well as my Memento teardrops are both housed in larger boxes that I have fitted with layers and rows of boxes that my meds have come in. I’m now on the hunt for mini square boxes to outfit a “photo box” storage box to house ink blending brushes. Might have to resort to marbles or maybe shredded foam to keep them from leaning into each other 🤔

[@created2bless322]

I agree that the floss idea is fabulous! I also like the storage bag idea, we use that at work to keep our curriculum supplies in order for our individual activities, now transfer the idea to my craft room!!! Thank you, Jess, you're brilliant!

[@Grijsduif]

Thank you for the many ideas. Sometimes thriftstores are great places to find storage, I found sturdy plastic bags of an odd size, that perfectly fitted my scraps. And metal coockie and bonbon boxes are a great help...and you get to eat the sweets first😂

[@kkrolf2782]

Oooo … ya, that reminds me to tell others!! I’ve been finding PACKS of Photo Printing Paper (gloss AND matte) at more than one Goodwill in Tucson. I say this because some y.t. crafters have been using it for ALCOHOL INK TECHNIQUES! I canNOT get into one more aspect of this craft so I left the papers on the shelves exactly where I found them!! 😇

[@bethbenson1931]

I had lots of hanging folders that I bought at thrift stores, so I cut them to make dividers for my die storage envelopes. One folder makes 4 dividers and they come with their own labeling system. I love them and they are nice and sturdy to withstand going thru the dies to find the one I want. I store my dies on magnetic sheets, put them in clear plastic envelopes, and then put them in mini crates (97 cents at WalMart) by category. 😊 Thanks for your video. I appreciate storage that doesn't break the bank!

[@JessCrafts]

Great ideas! Thanks for sharing!

[@debbiedeas]

I’ve used shallow plastic food storage containers for embossing powder. I also really like IKEA’s food storage bags. The largest one can store 8.5x11 paper with plenty of room to seal it. Lastly, I picked up a lazy Susan from the Target dollar spot and have used that to hold elements for a project while I’m working on it over multiple days. I don’t have to put everything away, but it’s also contained. 😊

[@JessCrafts]

Great ideas! Thanks for sharing!

[@Cards4Cancer]

I have found amazing items for organizing at Dollar tree. Condiment containers are great for sorting die pieces. Especially when you cut as many as I do. I have found the 13x13" zip bags at dollar tree and I put specialty card stock pads in there. Then all my scraps go back in the bag till I'm down to very tiny pieces. My 6x6 papers I have so many, they have their own shelf. However card stock makes great boxes for different paper sizes. I have actually started printing your templates and organizing them in a binder.

[@ginnysundeen9400]

Hello Cards4Cancer, I really want to get into making (cards) but by the time I buy items to make just a few cards, it gets to expensive. 😢. Do you have any ideas for making a beautiful card to give away that won’t break my pocketbook? I’d really appreciate any information. Thank you. 😊

[@sharonwhite1619]

I didn’t know you cross stitch too! Can you share some of your projects! I use the base from the velvets cheese box! It’s so sturdy and you can cover it with paper to make it cute!

[@ellen-marie6692]

I have been using regular paper envelopes for the majority of my stickers of which I have A LOT (started buying age 16, turning 61 this year 🤫🤭) - I organized into categories & hand wrote them on the outside flaps. I had to buy good storage for the filled envelopes themselves so I keep them in 2 Ikea containers for easy access on a shelf. Stickers that don’t fit there, I store in other ways. Trash turned storage that I made: a unit for my craft scissors with 1/4 of a paper magazine holder, some cardboard tubes I’d been keeping for years (from fax paper or foil or tape) which I attached with hot glue inside in a sort of hive / staggered arrangement. It turned out great. Also turned some cardboard, piece of a very soft clothing zip bag along with a string tie part of an envelope into a protective cover for my Misti. It can be so fun to repurpose these things into storage especially when for my craft room. Thanks for your video - love that floss strand technique, very clever!!

[@kkrolf2782]

Thx for sharing!! I’d been storing my crafty scissors in a box with the few punches I own, but after being gifted a few more, the scissors had to go! I was at a loss until reading of your solution, so I’ll be giving that a go. Again, my thx! 😘

[@ellen-marie6692]

@@kkrolf2782 You’re welcome! Thank you for your reply & share, too.

[@JessCrafts]

Thanks for sharing your clever ideas! So creative!

[@cazkiwinz4300]

Toilet paper tubes are totally cute when painted in gouache… glued around a glass jar and then onto a lazy Susan…. I store all my coloured pencils in them in the colours of the rainbow-matching tp tube and it looks great!

[@kkrolf2782]

C L E V E R, C L E V E R !! Since sharpening our pencils shortens them, I think I might try cutting the tubes at a bit of an angle, just to give me “a silly lil millimeter” advantage when they do get a bit short. Thx for the tip!

[@cazkiwinz4300]

@@kkrolf2782 oh yeah, that could be cool too… would still look cute

[@JessCrafts]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing!

[@nana-wz9il]

I have used your baggie idea for quite some time. I remember you told us about the 2 gallon bags. They work perfect for 12x12 paper pads and accessories. Thanks for your great ideas.

[@JoanOrloffDK]

Great storage ideas Jess 🥰 I also use what I have, boxes etc ❤️ thanks for sharing and happy crafting Hugs xx

[@sherrylhenning5630]

Your floss holders: Most of us have a set of oval or circle dies........

[@peggyfitzmaurice4100]

Your floss storage is brilliant 👍 I use vintage jars, cigar boxes, and tins for a lot of storage. I never toss a nice box from packaging- it goes in the “You never know pile”!

[@sarahhunziker4162]

I use clamshell containers from take out food or backers items. Clean, and then store ribbon, twine, embellishments, etc. I use separate clamshells to keep like thing together.

[@laurasherrick2210]

Great ideas. I'm trying to organize right now. Honestly I've been willing to buy things but it gets frustrating, bringing something home, find it doesn't work, return it, find something else, on and on and on. Making it myself seems like it would solve that issue. Thanks for sharing.

[@andrealavigne7824]

You could also either measure what you need to organize to see what size container you need, then take your ruler/measuring tape with you to the store to measure containers. Or just take the items you're storing themselves & audition containers by putting those items inside. If the container also has to fit a particular space, again - measure the space & then measure the container at the store. I don't know if that would go over well at places like Walmart, but I've done that at The Container Store, & have never been hassled like I were trying to shoplift. Just a suggestion, if there's something you can't make yourself. :)

[@kkrolf2782]

@@andrealavigne7824 Andrea, you must have a mind like a steel trap, Girl! Not too many people can do what you propose, s u c c e s s f u l l y!! I’m sure many have tried; I for one. But, somehow the logistics fail to coalesce! Apparently, not only is paper crafting new on the scene (of History), but product design / packaging seems to be a new field, too, for the Crafters turned Entrepreneurs. Therefore, WE are left to deal with non-uniform sizes and shapes, and tools from all avenues of the world’s cultures. It just escapes most of us as to how to bring all our treasures into cohesive organization! Congrats, to you, Andrea, that you’ve accomplished it!

[@withlovebyamy]

Thank you for the shout out! 😍 I’m excited to see people put out ideas into practice!

[@PaperSquirrelsCardDesigns]

Very helpful thank you! I rest my upside-down glue (Bearly Arts small bottle) in my mint tape :)

[@JessCrafts]

Great idea!

[@darlak.3651]

The floss storage is genius!!!

[@Jeanne6585]

Where did you get the color markers for your blending brushe necks.

[@JessCrafts]

They were gifted to me from Make it by Marko on Etsy

[@dinabaughman8731]

I get my acrylic bins with and without lids cheap at Dollar Tree and TJ MAXX/ Home Goods.

[@donnajuchtzer576]

I get the same size ziplock baggies from the dollar store for my dies and stamps. Way cheaper 😊

[@JuniorsArtandDIY]

Very good ideas 🎉

[@michelea9142]

I reuse the box the 250 A2 size envelopes came in.

[@maggiem.1679]

Great tips!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻

[@JessCrafts]

Thanks for watching!

[@lindabeede5180]

Great ideas and I actively use some of them!!

[@anaraposo522]

Great tips, thanks Jess.

[@steph10892]

The 2 gallon ziploc bags are good for 12x12 paper too.

[@kkrolf2782]

I found myself at a loss as to how to transport 12” x 12” paper without damaging them UNTIL I started using cereal boxes from C o s t c o ! They are so much bigger than regular grocery store’s product line, that, flattened and taped at one end, they work perfectly! I keep at least one in the car always … just in case 🤭.

[@marylutyger675]

I like the freezer plastic bags - they are a heavier weight

[@JessCrafts]

Agreed, that is usually what I use