Monday, February 28, 2011

Vintage Ribbon and Fabric Storage, and a Fabric Giveaway!

One of my favorite columns to write at work is “Stash It.” Or, as we like to call it around the office, Must Stash It...get it? Mustache It? LOL Good times!


Anyway, this column appears in every Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks special issue, and it’s all about scrapbook organization. The current issue, Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks: Texture, was extra fun to write, because it’s about organizing your textured treats (ribbon, fabric, floss, etc.). These are some of my favorite scrapbooking supplies, both to use and to organize. 


One of the ideas featured in my column was using vintage textile spools to organize your trims. I’ve picked these classic pieces up here and there at consignment and antique shops. They’re surprisingly easy to find. You can even search online at Esty.com and/or eBay.com and find several results. 
Take your trim stash from this...


To this!

Image used with prior consent from Creating Keepsakes magazine.

Simply wrap the trim around the spool and use a small straight pin to hold it in place. Once the spool is full, put it on display to enjoy. 
When it comes to how you approach your spool storage, you have options.
  1. Wrap a bunch of various trims on one spool 
  2. Wrap your spools by trim type, keeping like types together 
  3. Wrap and divide the spools by trim color 

You can also take your fabric scraps from this...
To this, using the same method!

Image used with prior consent from Creating Keepsakes magazine.
For more on organizing your textured stash, including a cool fabric-covered suitcase, I hope you’ll tune into Studio 5 this morning at 11:00 on channel 5 (if you’re in Utah). For those of you out of state, I’ll post a link to the segment soon.
Also, I have a complete step-by-step tutorial for creating the train case on the Creating Keepsakes blog today. Check it out and, while you’re there, enter to win some stunning new Anna Griffin fabric! “Yum” is the best word I can find to describe the awesome assortment we’re giving away. 


I’ll leave you with a question. How do you organize and contain your fabric? I’m getting more and more into this beautiful crafting supply, and I’m always looking for storage solutions. Any ideas you have to share would be much appreciated. :)
Cheers!

12 comments:

Meshell said...

I have been storing my ribbons in clear jars. I can see them (and that makes me happy) but they also add color to my room. I LOVE the spool idea though. I'm gonna have to try that! Need any clear jars? lol

@JoyceCasaldi said...

I store my fat quarters and felt on the top tier of a jumbo clip it up.

Wendy said...

I sorted all my ribbon scraps into color groups, put them in zipper bags and filed them with other items of like colors (i.e. flowers, lace, etc.) in a plastic file box.
That picture of Tom Selec is very yummy, too!

Katey said...

i have several ways to store my ribbon...it is kinda all over.
-ribbon "shelf" for spools by making memories on wall
-ribbon container for scraps of smaller pieces
-longer ribbon wrapped and put in large box in drawers
-then several spools in stacks on my desk

Sarah said...

I would love to tell you that I have the perfect solution....but I don't :) I do have a big drawer that it all gets stuffed I mean put in.

Savannah O'Gwynn said...

OH MY GOOOODNESS--that is super funny! Stash it...Must Stash It! LOOOOVE!

And I love that pic of the stash:) SUPER FUNNY and got lots of giggles from me today!

As for stashing my fabrics--I color coordinate in a 5 tier thing...it's got wire baskets that are really large, and I just stash them in there:) Maybe I should take a pic with the drawers having mustaches--just for fun:)

mandi said...

I use old glass spice jars to store my loose trims. I sort them out be color.

Courtney Walsh said...

Ok, first of all...LOVE the Tom Selleck photo. Heck, I love Tom Selleck AND his 'stache! Seriously! lol (Do you watch Blue Bloods?)

Secondly, I LOVE the spools. Beautiful. Love when supplies become decor!! My ribbon is all in glass jars, which are neatly tucked away in cardboard boxes in the garage (sad!) but I almost never use fabric because I can't sew!! (And it frightens me.)

:)

suzyplant said...

That man is gorgeous. That man has kissed me on the cheek. I love that man. Now where is your NEW post?!?!?!?!?!

Anonymous said...

As I was looking through my new Creating Keepsake March/April 2011 issue,I noticed one of your layouts on page 93 there is a cute embellishment for 1970. I just have to have it.Is it a sticker or pattern paper or an embellishment. I need to know who makes it so I can find it. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Heather Doolittle said...

I emptied a plastic jar of trailmix from Target, glued a piece of paper around it, and I put all of my loose ribbon in there. I put the rolls on a pegboard that my dad didn't need in his shop.

Kara Ward said...

It is my favorite texture!!! Ribbon and Trims oh, my--so wonderful!

Missing you!