Fiber and ribbon question

[BernardandMissBianca]

how do you store your small bits, say 5 inches or less.

I am currently transferring my fiber/ribbon to wooden spools and thread racks, I have 153 spools so far, with about 100 more to go, (ran out of spools). So what do I do with the little bits? they are long enough to use on tags or something.

[logan&tylersmama]

i SHOVE all my ribbon scraps into a clear zippered bag and shove it in the drawer. Thats my way of organizing!!!
Its not the neatest or prettiest way - but it works for me for now.
Jennifer

[BernardandMissBianca]

LOL, that is where I'm at right now. Most of them are on embroidery bobbins or crammed into ziplocs by color. I'm 1/2 way organized. It's the little pieces I'm not sure about, too long to toss but not long enough to do much with.

[Lisa]

I wrap my ribbon around a 4 x 4 piece of cardboard, I secure the ends with either a straight pin or a small piece of tape.

I suppose with small pieces less than 5" you could cut a 2" x 10" cardboard and wrap the ribbon and fiber around it.

[BernardandMissBianca]

I wrap my ribbon around a 4 x 4 piece of cardboard, I secure the ends with either a straight pin or a small piece of tape.

I suppose with small pieces less than 5" you could cut a 2" x 10" cardboard and wrap the ribbon and fiber around it.

you are just so logical, what am I going to do with you? ;) :rotfl2:

[hopemax]

During Christmas, Costco sells a giant container full of pistachios. It's a clear plastic. I plan on putting my ribbon bits in it, but I need to empty the pistachios first. I got this Christmas 06, not 07 :rotfl: . So for now, my bits are in an empty container that used to hold chocolate covered raisins, also from Costco.

People on 2Peas talk a lot about some glass jars that you can get at Ikea, and then sort by color.

[Wishes2you]

I have Glass jars from Target that are in the kitchen section. They have a few different sizes. I have flower petals in one and I also have ribbon in another.


Lisa,

Do you have any problem with creases in your ribbon by wrapping them on the 4 x 4 pieces of cardboard? If not I like that Idea. I bought a kit with embellishments and it had ribbon wrapped like that. I am going to have to take them all off and iron them. Them were wrapped pretty tight though.

[Spinning]

Buffy...that seems to be my scraps pile and most of the time it ends up in the trash....LOL! I know ....but anymore anything little.....away it goes...

[pongoperdigirl]

I cram all mine in a box, does that count :rotfl2:

[MazdaUK]

Mine are shoved in the net pocket on the main flap of my Disney roller bag. ALL my ribbons were in there but I've recently sorted them onto spools and they're neatly in my old cross stitch thread box (its only a small project box though and its getting full :scared1: )

[DisneyIsTerrific]

I have mine in a plastic bead box and sorted by color in the little compartments. I just roll them up and put a bit of scotch tape on the end to keep them rolled and then toss them in. It makes it easy when I need a small piece of ribbon. I can just open the lid and find the compartment that has the blue ribbons (if that's what I'm looking for!!).

[piratesmate]

Mine are in a plastic "jar" I got at Wal-Mart. I think they're Rubbermaid. I have 2 sizes - half-gallon & gallon. The gallon jar would be too large for bits & pieces. I have all my hanks of yarn/fiber in those. But the smaller ones work for me. I currently have 2 and have them sorted by color. Yes, I still have to root around for the bits, but I pretty much know what's in there & of course you can see a lot right through the jar without handling them.

[BernardandMissBianca]

Thanks for the ideas everyone!!! I had a jar from BJ's with chocolate covered cranberries that I had planned on using but no matter what I could not get the carob smell out, not good for the fibers ya know.
Maybe I'll get the small MM plastic jars, I think those come in a set of 5.

I need to hit the fabric store today and go get more spools, the 30 I bought yesterday latest about 3 seconds. I am almost finished organizing everything and I even scrapped 10 pages day before yesterday. I think I'm getting back in the game! :cheer2:

[aroyer]

Maybe I'll get the small MM plastic jars, I think those come in a set of 5.



I got these a few weeks ago and they are in a set of 6. I put my smaller embellies in them- but I like the idea of putting the small bits of ribbon in there too.

[PrincessNancy96]

My smaller pieces are in a clear container that I will get to some day and utilize (as I cough!)... really I will..

As for creases in my ribbon... I just run my ribbon across my the light bulb in the lamp I have at my scrap area and it "irons" it right out!

[piratesmate]

Thanks for the ideas everyone!!! I had a jar from BJ's with chocolate covered cranberries that I had planned on using but no matter what I could not get the carob smell out, not good for the fibers ya know. <snip>

Did you try putting bunched up newspaper in the jar & covering it? That's supposed to work in Tupperware. I never tried it, but I know someone who does it & swears it works. :confused3 I always just ran mine through the dishwasher & the chlorine in the soap seemed to work well enough for me, but she doesn't have one. :scared1: Can you imagine?!?

I think the smaller jars you mentioned would be great. The half-gallon one I use sounds bigger than it is, but I realized after I posted that my "small" bits are larger than the ones you're talking about...and I can pretty much guarantee that you have a larger assortment than I do! :rotfl:

[Lisa]

you are just so logical, what am I going to do with you? ;) :rotfl2:

If I wasn't at least a little organized, imagine my state of affairs.:scared1: :lmao:

Haven't had a problem with wrinkled or folds usually. I remember once I needed to fire up the old iron to get a fold out but that was for a 12" strip.

[aroyer]

If you have wrinkles or folds my mom bought me the ribbon iron by Pebbles, Inc. for Christmas. It is little and works like a flat iron for your hair.

[ddavis860]

Because of the Ban, I went to the basement and got some wide mouth quart ball jars...they went through the dishwasher and so did the lids, and now I have all my ribbons in them. The ones still on the spools are in pretty hat boxes that I got at Mikes on clearance last year

[calanniebu]

If you have wrinkles or folds my mom bought me the ribbon iron by Pebbles, Inc. for Christmas. It is little and works like a flat iron for your hair.

I just bought that ... but I haven't received it yet. Does she like it?

[aroyer]

I just bought that ... but I haven't received it yet. Does she like it?


I haven't used it yet! I am taking it with me to the Cricut swarm this weekend- it is nice because you can lock it closed and it's little.

[BernardandMissBianca]

Did you try putting bunched up newspaper in the jar & covering it? That's supposed to work in Tupperware. I never tried it, but I know someone who does it & swears it works. :confused3 I always just ran mine through the dishwasher & the chlorine in the soap seemed to work well enough for me, but she doesn't have one. :scared1: Can you imagine?!?

I think the smaller jars you mentioned would be great. The half-gallon one I use sounds bigger than it is, but I realized after I posted that my "small" bits are larger than the ones you're talking about...and I can pretty much guarantee that you have a larger assortment than I do! :rotfl:


I tried newspaper, the dishwasher, vinegar, everything. Still smells. So DS11 used it for his science experiment. I need to see if I have any mason jars, DH is a jar person. We can't get rid of a jar after we use it, he might need it some day. :rolleyes:

and yeah, I probably have a larger assortment of ribbon. ;) I am such a shop-o-holic. :rotfl2:

[MazdaUK]

I've just remembered I have a cute box like an old-fashioned chocolate box - I must find it and use it for......something!:rotfl2:

[moikturtle]

Ikea sells small glass spice jar type things for I think it was a pack of 4 for $2.99. I bought two packs of those and designated a color of fiber for each one. They can't hold HUGE amounts, but they're useful for the small scraps.

ETA: I found the link on Ikea's site of what they look like. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40064702 The only unfortunate thing is that you can't order them online, but have to buy them in the store. So if you don't have an Ikea nearby that could be difficult.

I'm happy with them though. They're pretty nice quality, look really cute all lined up, and are very affordable for what they are. Usually jars cost AT LEAST a dollar each and they're not even as nice as these.

[Mickster]

I use mismatched glass jars. I have them arranged on top of my organizer for bits - eyelets, brads, etc. They look really pretty arranged by color. ;) (I am such a dork...)

[BernardandMissBianca]

Ikea sells small glass spice jar type things for I think it was a pack of 4 for $2.99. I bought two packs of those and designated a color of fiber for each one. They can't hold HUGE amounts, but they're useful for the small scraps.

ETA: I found the link on Ikea's site of what they look like. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40064702 The only unfortunate thing is that you can't order them online, but have to buy them in the store. So if you don't have an Ikea nearby that could be difficult.

I'm happy with them though. They're pretty nice quality, look really cute all lined up, and are very affordable for what they are. Usually jars cost AT LEAST a dollar each and they're not even as nice as these.

I love those jars!!! Prima had them with big flowers and a rack. Now to convince DH to drive me to Ikea, we have 1 for all of New England and it is such a nightmare to drive to. But for those bad boys, it just might be worth it.
Thanks!!

[BernardandMissBianca]

ohhh, these are cute too, they look like milk cans:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/26130400

[Mickster]

Well, BAMB, I have an IKEA not too far away. I could go get them for you on Monday and send them to you. Let me know... (of course, I'd be getting some for myself at the same time...:rolleyes1 )

[BernardandMissBianca]

I'll let you know! Thanks!