Today is Why Not Organize Something Wednesday! I know all you crafters out there have tons and tons of ribbon. I’ve gotten some e-mails wondering about the easiest and most convenient way to store it. Obviously ribbon needs to be out in the open. Something with so many colors, textures and patterns should never be hidden away. So, what do you do with all that gorgeous ribbon? Here are some ideas:
Use a curtain rod. I had this rod that doesn’t fit any of the windows in my house I’m in now. It was perfect for my larger spools of ribbon. Do you have an extra rod just lying around? Try to use items you already have so you don’t create added expense (then you can spend that extra money on ribbon).
By the way, some of these pictures are from my craft room that isn’t finished. I apologize. Some walls are just sheet rocked and some just framed. I knew it was going to take a while, because of funding, to get to it, so I moved down there anyway. I’m very impatient! It’s actually not too bad, except for winter when I have to wear a coat and two pairs of socks to do crafts.
Use a shoe box or photo box. I took my handy dandy Big Bite and punched holes every couple inches along the side of the box. I made three rows of holes. Then just take off the lid, thread the ribbon through the holes, put the lid back on and pull on the ribbon to get the amount you need. This works great for thinner ribbon and all those small spools you have. This will work for ribbon that’s not on spools too.
The ribbon organizer next to the photo boxes is one I bought from Hobby Lobby. There’s actually 4 of them. They stack on top of one another perfectly. They’re a little pricey for me though ($10), so I use my 40% off coupon when I buy them. If you go onto HobbyLobby.com and get on their e-mail list they will send them to you every week and you can print off as many as you might need.
Put them in a bowl. I put my scraps in a bowl so I can see what I have. They get used fairly quickly on cards, for hairbows or kids craft projects.
Some other ideas I have used in clients homes:
Use a floss organizer box and cards. Take small pieces of ribbon or ribbon that comes on small spools and wrap them around the floss cards. Slip them into the box and coordinate by color to make it easier to find what you want.
Use clothespins. Take some strong wire and secure the ends between two cabinets or attach to the wall. Clip the clothespins to the wire and hang the ribbon from them. It looks like a curtain of ribbon and a piece of art hanging on your wall.
Another way to use clothespins. Clip the clothespin on the ribbon, wrap the ribbon around the clothespin and secure the end. Put it in a large glass jar or bowl with others of the same color.
Use glass jars. Divide your ribbons scraps or shorter pieces by color. Place them in glass jars and line them up on a shelf. They really look pretty and it’s easy to find the color you need.
Use a dowel and a cheap basket. Get a plastic basket that has holes all around it (at Wal-Mart they’re .97, $1.27 or $1.97, depending on the size). Cut the dowel to the appropriate size for the basket (you’ll want at least 1 1/2″ over hang). Put the dowel through one hole, thread the ribbon spools on then put the dowel through the opposite hole. This works great for medium size ribbon spools. You can paint the dowels to match the basket if you want.
Do you just buy ribbon because it’s pretty? So do I. I always find a use for it, but while it’s just lying around I want to enjoy it too. So display it, but make it easy to find, by color, size, type or pattern. Hopefully this helps you with storing all your ribbon and have a wonderful, organized day.
wow! I thought I was a ribbonaholic, but I think you have me beat. Great organizing tips!
I big puffy {heart} ribbon!
I have always been afraid to hang my ribbon in fear that my children would come unroll it all!
However, I WAS recently given a curtain rod that I wasn’t going to use on a window, so . . . now I am thinking about hanging up the ribbon after all! I’ll have to figure out where it will go. Thanks for the great idea! I almost took the rod to Deseret Industries!
This looks so pretty! I can see how it would also be so useful!
These are such great ideas. I’m bookmarking your site.
I am definitely going to have to use some of these ideas, but I have more than a normal amount of ribbon. In fact if I were to take one of the large flat totes for each width of ribbon it still wouldn’t all fit. Right now it is in a mixture of those totes and the oversized plastic shoe boxes.
I make hair bows and when I go to a sell I like to take most of my ribbon with me to make bows and match outfits there. By the end of the show my ribbon is a disaster and I am constantly having to pile and unpile all these heavy totes. Not to mention the dozens of trips in just loading and unloading the ribbon. I need to come up with an idea for storing the ribbon at how that can easily be transported and that all the ribbon can be easily accessed. I have been racking my head and coming up blank. Do you have any ideas ?? Thank you.
Wowzers I love the curtain rod idea! I think I’m gonna have to go scour the basement and see if I have one laying around! Thanks for the idea!