Mess Management Monday: Craft Room Organization- Solid Color Ribbons

Many of you may ask "Why just SOLID color ribbons?"  You may be disappointed that I am not even going to tell you how I organize my 3/8" ribbons today.  It's because it is all done differently, and I find it easier to concentrate on one method at a time.  I have 2 bookshelves dedicated to my solids, and I hold 5 yd spools, 20 yd spools, and 100 yd spools on these shelves.  So, typically when I get an order in, or when I have been making lots of bows, my ribbons end up in boxes at the bottom on my shelves, or piled haphazardly on the shelves.

Now I am left with the task of trying to put everything back the way it should be.  Since I already have the system in place, tidying up is pretty easy.

I have come quite a ways from my original storage system.  When I first started making bows (in 2005) I started out with a small selection of colors in 7/8" and 3/8".  I stored these in the top of a large tackle box.  Similar to this one:  

 

I kept the ribbon rolls in the top and stored my supplies in the bottom.  I had room for clips, scissors, my glue gun, glue sticks, and my lighter.  As my ribbon supply grew, the storage method changed.  I developed this shelf/rod idea (with the help of my hubby) almost 3 years ago, and have recently expanded into a third shelf for my dots!    

I will describe my system now, and then show you the "after" pics.  I have 2 of the cheapy bookshelves I bought from a local superstore.  On the upper portions I have put tension rods instead of shelves.  If you use this method you MUST put additional support across the back to keep the vertical pieces from being pushed out!  Then the 5 yard spools just sit on the tension rods, and the 100 yd rolls sit on the shelves.  Each tension rod holds about 18 spools in various sizes, and I have 8 tension rods per shelf- so in total approximately 140 spools (give or take). 

You will see I have used the rainbow color system.  Also, each color is placed largest to smallest.  If I have any empty spots (which right now I have a lot of) I can easily see which color and size I need to order.  I didn't take a great pic of it, but just below the printed ribbons on the bottom shelf, I have little baskets with my backstock of color in it.  These are NOT sorted by color but rather by size.  They are easier to find that way!  And you get a LITTLE sneak peak of my printed ribbon storage, but I will save that for another day!  

Be sure to follow my blog if you like this idea, you will love how I store my fabric.  I will be posting that next Monday!

 How do you store your ribbons?