Happy Saturday! Are you ready for the weekend? I have BIG plans . . . I’ll be working in the studio on my projects for the next E-Team Hop! We’re celebrating the 4th Anniversary of eclectic Paperie and you’re all invited to join us next Tuesday, January 18. I’m really excited about the upcoming hop and I think you will be too!
During the Spellbinders™ hop, I had a number of emails asking me how I store my dies. Some of you noticed the magnetic sheet in the video and me asked about it. I responded back with my storage system but I also said I would post something here on my blog with photos.
Here’s my die storage drawer. It’s right behind me when I sit at my work desk. Last summer I bought two cheap dressers from Target and put them down the wall and now all I have to do is turn and fish stuff out of the drawers. I also keep my die cutting machines on the top so everything is right in reach.
Inside the drawer I have these Really Useful Boxes that I keep my dies in. The dies are stored on magnetic sheets that have been taped to cardboard. They are also sorted as to type of die . . . square, circle, rectangle. It makes it easier for me when I’m trying to find something!
I’ve been purchasing these Frost King Magnetic Vent Covers from either Home Depot or Lowes. (Who ever has them in stock when I need them.) These are perfect because I can cut the covers and end up with 3 from each one. The covers measure 15” x 8”, and I cut my storage sheets at 5” x 7”. I keep that extra inch of magnet in a box just in case some day I may need it.
I glue/tape the magnet to a piece of cardboard that I have cut to 5.5” x 7”. I leave 1/2” of cardboard at the top so I can write the number and name of the die.
With the addition of the Grand dies, I found that I needed another way to store those as well as the longer borders. I found these 8.5” x 11” magnetic sheets at Oriental Trader. They are adhesive back already and I stuck them on a cling mount sheet for added stability.
I put them all on rings, and then made myself a hanging system that’s on the wall above my die cutting machine. They are still handy and I can flip through them to find what I need.
The only problem . . . . the narrow cap between the dresser and the wall. Yes, there’s one there and now hides a few of my dies . . . and I have to move the dresser out to get to them . . . and the dresser is damn heavy!
I hope this helps some of you with your storage needs and answers any questions you may have!
By the way, these Really Useful Boxes are also excellent to store Copic Ink Refills in. They stand up so you have the refill number on the top showing and you can can get quick a few refills in there.
Thanks for stopping by and remember . . . life is short, embrace the adventure!
ALWAYS looking for better ways to store dies! This looks like an answer for me. Thanks for sharing!
super merci pour l info
md
I like it….. I was always afraid to store them without a cover but with the cardboard backing the one behind is protected… DAH! I’m going to rethink my present method in the CD and DVD cases… and the Grand dies, will I was just at a compleat loss.
Thanks for sharing!
What a fantastic storage system! Definitely going into my faves so I can try to work something like this! Thanks so much for sharing!
You are a genius behond genius. I have struggled with all my dies from the first one I bought and have never been happy with the storing of my dies and hunting for the one I want to use. I have magnetic strips in the cases I use but they don’t stay in place like I wanted and I have soooooooooo many cases to look through. I sure wish I had thought of this years ago.lol. Thanks more than you’ll ever know for sharing this with all of us.
Oh, Sherry, I really like this idea. I’ve been using CD jewel cases, but this would take less space. With regards to the escaping dies, you should be able to use one of those telescoping magnet pens for retrieval. Hugs.
Great idea. I have been using the magnetic paper and putting them in sleeves in a loose leaf binder. Also have a few in a stand up alphabetic file system, but like your way too. Thanks for sharing. Edna
Great storage ideas! You have so many dies that you really need an efficient system. For my few I have been using dvd cases with magnetic sheets stuck inside. (I don’t have any of the grande dies) I punch out one die in bright paper and it goes in the pocket so I can see which set is in the case!
I see the lady before me has suggested a magnet pen. If they aren’t strong enough, go to a mechanic’s tools supply store and buy one of theirs. DH is a mechanic and those puppies are strong enough to pick up a dropped bolt or wrench from inside a motor so they should work for a grande die! 😀
Thanks for sharing! Your tips are as good as your projects to read about!!! :o)
what a great idea!! Thanks for sharing this!
Sherry, what a great idea!!! I like the magnetic sheets. At a scrapbookers store I was recently in they had a dowel sticking out of the wall and the dies were on metal rings on the dowel. They were sorted by shape. However, if you have lots, as do you, your system is even better!!
Thanks for sharing Sherry – I’m going to get me some of these – looks like an excellent way to store the Spellbinders.
Can I borrow a few of those nifty-looking Spellbinder dies? Ha! Thanks for the tip on how you store yours. Right now mine are either stored in a dvd or cd case; used a label maker to identify them. The cd revolving tower worked great, but since we left it in Virginia, am now looking for something else that keeps them close to the work station. Does anyone know of a store that sells those cd towers in Amarillo, TX?
EXCELLENT Sherry! Excellent idea on the larger dies, I’m going to use your method! I’m still waiting for my Grand Calibur and first dies to arrive, but that’s OK, everything in here is still a mess from my “reorganizing”! 🙂
great ideas, tfs!
HELPFUL INFO: Regarding moving your “damn heavy dresser” to get to the storage space behind it, I also use this kind of space. On the bottoms of all my cabinets, shelves and tables in my craft room, I have put “sliders” on the bottoms of all corners so I can move all my heavy furniture whenever I need it moved and I don’t have to wait for some help to get home. My craft room has wood floors, so I use the sliders made for wood floors. They make sliders for all types of flooring (carpet, tile, wood…blah blah blah). I have never had any damage done to my floors and I can move pretty much anything with just one hand. Sliders are the best invention out there. My husband picks them up at Home Depot or Lowes. Not sure of the exact name on the packages but if you describe them in the store they should get it. As I’m sitting here at my computer in my bonus room, I notice I have sliders on all of my furniture because a couple of times during the year, I can pull out the bookcases by myself and vacuum the dust bunnies that accumulate behind them. Hope this is useful info.
Thanks for sharing this tip. I started out keeping my nesties in CD cases. The long rectangles and borders went into DVD cases. I was at a loss with how to store the 12″ borders and the Grands, which I only have one of right now. Always looking for storage solutions.
This is great, Sherry! I use the magnetic sheets, too, but my storage system leaves a lot to be desired. I love your idea with the index tabs. Got to work on that. Thanks!
Great storage system. I have two of those containers too. But I store adhesives in one and extra blades for all my cutters and extra pens and pencils in the other.
I love the your ideal, I will have to try that once I get the GD, right now I have 100 dies ( more I hope when these to DIE for ones come to the store, I put mine on magnetic sheets and then on a hard cardbord and fit them in a CD book I can get 200 in one book that zips up and has a handle so that I can keep them on a shelf right by me or take it on the road with no problem I have a label on them so I always know the top so I have never had a problem with any of them spelling out. .
Thanks for sharing all your great ideals with us.
Sherry,
Loved the storage ideas! Had to run right out to Lowe’s and buy me some of those vent covers! AND, guess what??? I was just notified that I was a Day 4 Spellbinder’s winner. How appropriate that this was “your day” and YOU are one of my most favorite design “mentors”!
Lorita McGhee
Brilliant concept for storage Sherry 🙂 And I just had to share some exciting NEWS for us Canadians — we had a chain of stores called Zellers, which have recentlyy sold to Target — so guess what is in my future? Yep!! Target is crossing the Border soon =) YIIIPEEEEeeeee!!
Wonderful ideas. I will now go looking for the magnetic vents and hopefully will find them. Thanks for sharing.
Linda D.
Thanks for sharing your storage method — especially for the longer/larger dies. I have been trying to buy the magnetic vent covers in Canada but for some reason have not had any luck (maybe time for a trip south!). So far I have been storing my dies in CD cases or the original shipping plastic case but think your method would make them that more accessible.
Sherry – you are a timeless resource! I just reread a post on SCS and find this referenced again – so had to read it – again. thank you!
oh I am so glad I dug through and found this post again. I so desperately need to get my dies organized. while I am stuck in bed recovering from chemo this seemed like the perfect thing to do. your system is wonderful! I’m sending hubby out to get my supplies now…. 🙂
this is a great storage idea, thankyou. I am in Australia and I don’t believe we have those vent covers….are you able to tell me what thickness they are – in order for me to purchase something similar here. cheers for your help.