saving stuff

we are a household of crafty tinkerers. therefore we have loads
of stuff that "might be useful someday".
anyone else have that problem? how do you store the 'stuff' so
you can find what you need when you need it?

Jeff...

Not trying to be funny here. (Ok, I am. Two guys and a girl walk into a
bar.... Oh never mind).

Have a garage sale. When you need something you sold, go to another garage
sale or Target. I know people who take this stuff and sell it at a flea
market. They end up way ahead.

You'll get whatever you need at the garage sale or Target with the money you
got for all the stuff. And you'll be ahead with the space you save and the
money for things to buy to organize it, you'll ahead in the long run.

Jeff

lee

Chookie...

LOL -- I'll note another reason to enjoy being craft-challenged!

The Ikea Trofast bin system might be useful for realia.

Penny Gaines...

I think it depends on whether its stuff you buy - like beads -
or stuff you acquire like - cardboard tubes.

Actually it doesn't so much. Basically decide how much storage
space you have, and then don't exceed it. If its cardboard tubes,
chuck out the excess, if its beads, don't buy any more. I know
this is a lot easier to say then do :-).

When you are organising it, it might be best to divide it into
"tools" and "supplies". I would tend to keep like with like for
the supplies - ie yarn in one place, fabric in another, ribbon
in another, paper in another etc. You can mix them up when you
want to use them, and put them away afterwards.

For cardboard tubes, you want something fairly tall and narrow
(assuming they are long tubes), if they are short a box would
do.

user...

Make magazine is our household favorite. :-) We just noticed Craft magazine -
we'll have to get a sample copy.

For storage of large things, we just bought lots of cheap wire shelving and
put them up in any convenient closet. For small/medium sized parts, nothing
beats the small plastic chests intended for nail/screw/fastener storage that
you can get from any home store.

- Rich