Best Way To Organize All These Stencils?

[@debs55695]

I use binders for my stencils and organize them by theme. I tried putting them in clear bins but couldn't really see them that well so the binders with black cardstock behind each one makes it easier to see what each stencil looks like. Love this system!!

[@arteybibliabybecky3633]

I have a binder and this is how I organize: flowers/leafs, letters/ words, shape ( circles , squares, etc) , seasonal , random ( mixed media and things that don’t fit in other categories

[@dianespizzirri8140]

I use multiple 8x8binders. Floral/ landscapes, layered floral holidays,designs/layered designs, misc

[@25Prague]

I separate by theme in a binder. I prefer several 1" binders rather than a larger one. Most importantly, I have a table of contents for each binder and one I keep outside the binder which easily helps me locate the stencil that I want to use.

[@skyqueenstudios]

I use binders with sheet protectors. Each stencil gets an imprint on a sheet of paper and I slide the paper and matching stencils into each side of the sheet protectors; I prefer to take an imprint of each stencil so I can keep it in the same spot all the time & then I know if any are missing. I separate them by size and have binders that are for each size. A scrapbook album for 12”x12” stencils and a4 stencils; letter size binder for anything 81/2”x11” or 6x9” etc and I have even found actual a5 binders for the 6x6” or smaller stencils. For the a5 binder I just cut regular sheet protectors to size - it’s a bit of work but it’s totally worth it for me to be able to know just by the size of binder what’s inside. Within each binder I further separated them into themes: geometric shapes, florals, backgrounds, alphas and focals. I have been thinking of where to store my stencils because until now I have been keeping them all on the same shelf, but I have to think it might be better to keep the smallest sizes near where I do my art journaling but then keep my larger ones in a location close to where I do my gel printing.

[@heatherhigbee5144]

Great tips! I make most of my stencils and a lot of them are 12”x 12”. I’m storing them in a filing cabinet now. They have to be bent to fit, and they get caught on each other. It’s a mess. I don’t mind a lot of work on the front end when it creates a smoother workflow. Thank you for sharing!

[@dawnweeber6400]

I use the old Photo Album with the film over the sticky back. with Tim Holtz I staple the small image to the edge and for all others I just thumb through it. It really has worked out great. they don't fall out or get bent or torn. Big Stencils I keep in IOD Plastic folders with snap tops. You can get a lot of different size older photo albums if you want to sort them by size. There are a lot of good ideas here, you just need to find one that works for you. I have tried several and this works best for me.

[@kathyroberts9703]

Mine are in clear envelopes and are in a bin sorted by theme. I also add a piece of cardstock in the envelope behind the stencil so i can see the pattern better. A little over the top, but I also use the same color cardstock for each theme…green for nature stencils, blue for geo, etc. makes it easier to file back in the bin.

[@krissyspaperpassion4176]

I have my stencils in an 8.5x11 binder. They are in page protectors with a sheet of cardstock with an impression of the stencil on it. I separate by company and type (geometrical, distressed, floral, alphas, numbers, etc.

[@Tamarad82]

I have a basket that fits hanging office file folders perfectly in width but not depth so I cut the folders at the bottom and taped them back up with packing tape. I store my stencils in them by theme and label them using the tabs that clip on the hanging file folders. It’s super light and easy to bring to my craft table to look through. I have a collection of stencils going back 30+ years in there. The really oversized ones (mostly home decor size) I have in a drawer.

[@shellp888]

I had mine in a couple of binders but have way too many. I sorted by company either dividers and have them in a photo box from Joann’s. Working great so far.

[@carlaboone4505]

I use the Taylored Expressions binders for most stencils. I have the smaller ones for most of my dies, and I have one large one for my bigger dies. They are wonderful. I organize those by theme. All my Gina K Designs stencils are kept with her stamps as many of them are with a kit or coordinating stamp set.

[@ArleneAdkinsZell]

I store mine in page protectors divided by type (botanical, geometric, etc) with a separate section for dual/quad style. I also have a sheet in each page protector with a sample of the stencil, I don't anywhere near as many stencils as most crafters so this system is super easy for me.

[@KimberlyJones-xn1fi]

I use a binder. All circles together, floral, geometric, holidays by holiday and so forth. I guess it would be by theme. I tried by designer but I still ended up flipping thru the binder. I also ink the design on a card panel and slipped into the front of the sleeve. It gives me a visual reference.

[@debbiespaulding2673]

I put mine in Oder by what they are, florals, weather (clouds rain etc,) geometric. My Tim holtz are on a binder ring by number, then I can look at the index to choose one of those.

[@flowerlila21248]

This a very smart way to do it. Me too separate them by theme, as well as my stamps and dies.

[@janerochfort2134]

Me too

[@XeiroManto]

I have them by themes and sizes .. backgrounds.... steampunk...clocks..gears...figures...flowers...leaves...letters. . words...etc...in folders....😊

[@junkjournalingbarbie5007]

I have 3 stencil systems, smaller ones in binders(I only have 2, 1” binders full) my Tim holtz ones are on a ring that I have hanging on my cart because I gravitate to them mostly, and my really large ones are on removable rings, a few different ones for easy accesss, I have them hanging on my room door on a coat hook, they look pretty nice hanging there. Works great for me.

[@annekeschep8148]

In the summit for organizing craft stuff, I saw a video where someone had her stencils in a extendible accordion file organizer. Looked like the perfect solution for me, so I ordered one on Amazon, 24 colorful pockets. I also got a box with those manilla folders. The idea is to put your stencils in the manilla folders and then in the accordion file organizer. How you want to organize is up to you. You can use a pocket for a brand and then use several manilla folders by theme. The folders have those tags, on the left, on the middle and on the right, so everything should be nice and visible. I just have it, but I have not started to put the stencils in. You can put several in a folder, like the Tim Holtz stencils, next to each other. This lady had a lot stencils, and yet it barely took up space on het shelf. If I can find her name I will add it to this comment👍

[@annekeschep8148]

I think it was Desiree (Kuemberle?), Desiree tangles with paper is one and she also has another channel…

[@clararodriguez5639]

I’m still in the process of organizing my materials, but my plan is to organize my stencils in some kind of bin by category… birthday, nature, geometric, etc. separated by some type of tab. I’m afraid that if I keep them in a binder, I’ll be less likely to pull it out and access them to use. That’s the plan right now.

[@renehamilton8865]

I use binders by theme-using same themes as I have my stamps. I have some larger 12x12 stencils so that is a separate binder. The binders are where I can see them. I did this after 2023 get organized summit (Mary Polanco). I tried a bin they stood up in where I could flip through them before, and a binder not by theme -those didn’t work. I hate looking through everything so this works well for me. I also set up AirTable from the 2023 workshop so I can search that. I’m just a little impatient LOL. I even have old brass stencils. This helped me purge items and not buy more circles and so on.

[@lauramasiar6649]

I store mine in a 12x12 scrapbook album-easy to slip in and out of the pages. I usually organize by company.

[@dreamwoodsbutterfly]

I use plastic expandable envelopes. I have one envelope for each brand and one miscellaneous for the random stencils. I store them in a hard bin in my Kallax unit and put a label of the brand on the top so I can easily flip through the envelopes for the brand I want. I do have a digital inventory system that I use to know everything I have in my craft room and that is categorized by product types, so I can look up "Stencils" and type in circles or flowers or any tag and it will bring up all my stencils with that object. I find it very easy to locate everything. I do need to purge though, too much of everything! If I do purge, I'd have to purge my inventory as well.

[@kcinca5410]

I use binders/scrapbooks depending on the size of the stencils and sort those by theme. I have American Crafts 6x6 binders for the 6x6 and smaller ones which is no longer made so I got a Taylored Expressions as AC ones were overflowing. I think they were original meant for photos. The only brand I separate out is Tim Holtz (OF COURSE). I put his minis in sleeves and have his larger ones on a binder ring that I hook in the back of the binder so they're all together I don't have many of the larger ones. I use a cheap binder (for 8.5 x 11 papers) for my larger stencils and use pocket protectors to store them in. Again, they're sorted into themes (shapes, geometrics, etc. floral, landscapes, celestial, etc.) For my largest (I have some 12x12's, 12x9's, and some slimlines that are unwieldly in the regular sized binder), I use a cheap large 12x12 scrapbook that can be enlarged and already had about a dozen sleeves with paper in them. I know you mentioned you didn't want digital info but I do inventory them all so I can select them without going through every single binder.

[@teresazuehls783]

Hello,Tiffany. Not sure if I'll be much help since I have mine in a binder. I don't have a lot so the binder works for me now. I do have just three of the mini TH stencils and I just put them on a binder ring and put them on the hook on my cupboard which is directly behind the table where I work. I really don't have the stencils in the binder organized other than the Christmas stencils are in the back and I do have two star stencils that I keep in the same pocket together. It's so easy just to flip through the pages right now and while flipping through I might find another stencil that I forgot about. It works for now but if I acquire more stencils I will probably categorize them. Like I said I probably wasn't much help. Have a great day.

[@laraszoo]

I have such limited space right now so binders took up too much space for me, but I loved them that way. I keep going back to putting them on a book binder o - ring thing. I have all my Tim Holtz stencils on one, and the rest of my stencils on another. Then I put a command hooks on the side of my alex drawer unit that is under my desk. So they are right at my finger tips and I use them a lot more without taking up any shelf space. I do have to flip thru them, but they are pretty to look at, so that’s ok LOL!

[@susanmorris1007]

Did you have to punch a hole in the stencils for the “o” rings?

[@laraszoo]

@@susanmorris1007 on the ones that had a spot to punch a small hole. If they didn’t I just hung them from the corner spot on the stencil where there is an opening. I have had them like that for a few years, and so far they are still good.

[@crafterintherough]

I do use the binder system for my stencils. 1) I sort them by company; and 2) several binders instead of 1 big one because they get too heavy. I love stencils and have too many ... I need to go re-watch your purge video for sure. 😊

[@nancyglaspie6735]

Mine are in plastic scrapbook page covers. I don't have them in categories but, I don't have that many!

[@bethbenson1931]

Mine are in separate binders according to size. Large stencils are put in artist portfolios. Each binder is then sorted by category.

[@maryannp8400]

i separate by theme. i put a thin piece of paper in the sleeve so I can put a stencil on both sides of the page protector (or multiple if they are small) and still see them.

[@KellysCreativeDreams]

Hi Tiffany. Binders don't work for me. I have small hands and as I get older, arthritis setting in makes handling them difficult. I also found that 'out of sight - out of mind' concept with the binder. Mine now hang on command hooks on the front of my mixed media cabinet. I have them sorted by company, for the most part. I can see them and I can remove the small amount from the hook, choose the one I want and put it back. Hope that helps! Creative Blessings!

[@Tiffany.Solorio]

I am crowdsourcing again! I need all your tips to help me organize my stencil stash in a binder!!! Tell me all your tips!!

[@odilelacherayscrapp9197]

Coucou Tiffany, moi je les range dans un porte revue ainsi je vois clairement chaque pochoir, j'ai 3 porte revue classé par style de pochoirs 😉. Bon rangement 😘

[@revCMF]

I hang mine the was Elizabeth St. Hilaire does.

[@melodiewhitcraft495]

I have no stencils but want plenty lol so I too have been curious as to store them.

[@CraftedByChristyShop]

I don't know who makes what, so I categorize by how I look for things. Example, numbers, shapes, bees, beach, abstract, misc. I keep it very simple. I put them in a sleeve in the binder.

[@DeniseLush]

I have tried storing Stencils in binders, stamps in binders. It just did not work for me. I found it annoying for some reason. I keep my stencils in a drawer that I added filing rails to so I could have a file drawer. That's how I store them and I organize them by company. I love it cause I can just pull out the drawer and flip through. I can see why people would like the binder too, kinda the same idea, but it just did not work for me.

[@Jenifer.flute20]

I keep mine in a 3 ring binder with page protectors and a piece of cardstock so that I can put a stencil on either side of the cardstock and get twice the storage space.

[@sandratheprocraftinator945]

How funny, I was just going through mine, and yea I was just thinking of placing them in a binder, but I would use tabs and organize them by like, and I leave them in ther original packaging

[@papercraftingwithmisstommi]

I put mine on binder rings and hang them up so they don’t get torn and I can see them to use them.

[@shirleydesrochers3319]

I have a bin for sets like stamps and dies and stencils. I have a bin for stamps in themes and I have a bin for dies in themes. I'm still trying to figure out how to sore just stencils.

[@flowerlila21248]

I have so much supplies to donate but where should I?

[@junkjournalingbarbie5007]

How about a school or a local to you crafting group that you can ask on? Like here in my city I started a Facebook group to buy and sell crafting items and supplies, so maybe there’s one there you can ask if they would like any of it?

[@barbaracompton6034]

When making a card, I don't like to look several places for supplies, so I organize all my stencils, stamps, embossing folders, and dies in a bin(s), by category. I keep stamps together, stencils together, etc, within each category, but not in any order. It's easy for me to find & return the item. That way I'm only looking in 1 bin.

[@liane7257]

I store them in an open box by themes, like nature, background,...

[@bethjeans3780]

I tried binders but I’m more of a flipper than a page turner and found going back and forth between categories annoying. So mine are in their packaging or pockets bin with categories, like geometric, flowers, leaves, animals, and so on. I don’t care about the order within a category. So I just flip ‘n’ find. If I wanted to actually read names I’d add a label. The pockets are 45 rpm record sleeves! At this point I don’t have too many huge stencils, but to remember them, I put a copy of part of them in a sleeve - literally copied on my printer/copier. Oh, and there’s colored cheap cardstock in the sleeves so the stencils can be easily seen.

[@dianacathan1038]

Binders, no particular order, but I don't have very many... Yet!

[@wildhippychild3056]

I need to see them in order to use them, which is why I stopped using binder. Now they are in a clear fridge bin by theme - alpha-numeric, animals, birthday/celebrations, Christmas, nature/plants, etc. But because I am a type-A person, within those they are by company.

[@sandratheprocraftinator945]

Ooh I need stencils and vellum All I can say is that we r a mess What happened to just crayons and papers 🤪

[@beckygreen1087]

Thank you, but please unsubscribe me.