Bead Room

Tips and techniques: After the shopping

Organizing your loot
by Cathy Jakicic
Published: February 11, 2011
You're back from the bead show with some great new stuff. Now how do you make sure it doesn't get lost in the bead stash you already have?

Here are some tips on how we're organizing the treasures I brought back from the Tucson bead shows. Check out the July issue for an 8-page section of the newest and coolest beading must-haves.
sleeve
Business card sleeves are great for keeping small, flattish findings safe and accessible. Tuck the business card of the vendor nearby as a handy reference. Store filled pages in a wide-spined binder to save space. You'll also be saving the time you used to spend hunting for them when you're ready to start a project.
glass
Stuff a little tissue of cotton in the stem of a plastic champagne glass from the party-supply store and use the glass as a festive cushion-less pin cushion. It's a great way to sort different sizes and types of head pins. You'll always now how many you have so you won't be caught short. Or — just as bad — you won't buy what you already have.
case
Keep all the "ingredients" for a future project in one place even if you don't plan to work on it for awhile. It'll remind you of what inspired you about the combination in the first place, keep everything safe, and insure you don't accidentally use one of the components for something else. Would a plain shoe box work just as well? Sure. But this case — found in scrapbooking section of a craft store — is so cute.
User Comments
Only registered members of BeadStyleMag.com are allowed to comment on this article. Registration is FREE and only takes a couple minutes.

Register Today!
 
CATHERINE H GALEY from COLORADO said:
I have found sheet protectors handy to put in a page or pages of inspiration and then as I gather the supplies necessary I add them to the sheet protectors. I then hang them from hooks in a prominent place until I am ready to work on them.
BRENDA THOMAS from NEW YORK said:
Some times I put supplies I get into photo boxes from different
places it some times makes it easier for me to find.
Like beadshows or on line or beadshops.
CAROL VINCENT from WASHINGTON said:
I'm a full time RV'er so space in our Motor Home is limited. I love ziploc bags, no dead space. I use the clear shoe boxes without the lids, they nestle together and I can put more in my closet space. I love visiting all the bead stores as we get to a new city.
JUDY REED from ARIZONA said:
I found large, plastic scrap booking envelopes sold at Michael's to be very useful. You can print the pattern for the project then add all the components needed and have everything neatly organized when you are ready to start your project.
SARA GIESBRECHT said:
i have 4 compartment cases that are completely full so this should help
12
Register online for access to more valuable resource information. Don't miss your connection to the reader forums, free projects, how to videos, and more.
E-mail address:
Password:
Remember me
Look for this icon. This denotes premium subscriber content. Learn More »