Is your work space a scattered mess? You need to organize and declutter! Do you need storage ideas and solutions so you can stash your beading supplies and tools? We are exploring ideas for every budget and space allotment. We will give you some storage tips and tricks so you can maximize the space in your work area and minimize the headaches. We will also look at how members of our community manage their work spaces and show you their storage solutions. If you need to do a little spring cleaning, this is a great read. Become a professional organizer. You are going to manage your mess in no time!

We recently looked at how members of our VIB community, on Facebook, manage their jewelry displays. We showed you lots of ideas on how to display your jewelry so it does not overwhelm a room and even adds beauty to that room. Having a functional and aesthetically pleasing jewelry display is a great way to access your favorite jewelry without a huge hassle. Today, we are looking at beading storage solutions. We will give you tips and ideas on how to contain your beads and tools so they are not in disarray. 

Shop Tools and Supplies

Do you need to restock your beading supplies? We have all the tools you need to make amazing jewelry. Do you need a new pair of cutters? We have economy cutters, flush cutters and Memory Wire Cutters. We have all of your wire working tools. We have specialized tools, like Kumihimo disks and macrame boards. We even have things that you cannot live without, but never even knew you needed! Shop our beading supplies and tools.

Creative Beading Storage Ideas

Take your time sorting all of your beading supplies. They may be in a sorry state before you clean everything up and sort into craft storage containers. Go slow and sort everything for easy reference later, you will not be dealing with a headache every time a creative spark grabs you. Label any containers that are not see through. Make it easy to keep track of everything so you are not pulling your storage containers apart, looking for a single tool or gemstone that got overlooked.

You can sort by color and size. You can sort by themes. If you have ever purchased a mystery jewelry design kit from us, they are themed and you probably want to retain the theme. Keep your kits separate, unless you buy the kits solely to restock your jewelry supplies.

Let's look at some inventive and clean beading organization ideas from members of our VIB group!

Storage Solutions by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Anja Fabel

Storage Solutions by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Carey Marshall Leimbach

Storage On A Shoestring Budget

Visit dollar stores for bead storage containers. Dollar stores are a great place to save money. They have a good variety of food and craft storage bins that are see through and stackable.

One shoestring budget option is toilet paper and paper towel tubes. Seal the ends with saran wrap and label each so you know what is inside. We all have these on hand. It is definitely not the most durable way to keep your beads safe, but it will allow for storing and safekeeping. If you would like to personalize or beautify these boring tubes, consider adding a layer of gift wrap over it. Economy does not have to be ugly!

Altoids Mints tins are handy dandy for smaller beads and findings. Altoids tins close extremely securely. Great for keeping your tiniest stuff safe and ready to move. Perfect for ear wires or showing your friends your high quality Soft Flex Company crimp tubes.

If you don't have Altoids tins on hand, empty Tic-Tac boxes are great for the itsy-bitsy stuff. Great for keeping your crimps and crimp covers organized. They are see through, too. Perfect for easy reaching and use!

Any STEM folk in your family? If you have a friend or family member with a science or medical background, they may have some used plastic tubes and borosilicate glassware. These are great for smaller seed beads. Especially if they are lidded. Teachers might have them on hand, too.

Mason jars never go out of style. Load your beads into Mason jars for easy viewing and sorting. They are wonderfully decorative. Keep them in a visible spot!

If you take a lot of medication, you can get creative and turn a bad situation in a plus. Keep your old medicine bottles - especially the clear ones - they are perfect for containing beads. They are also great for travel. Medicine bottles have lids that curious children and cats cannot open. Your beads are safe and secure. Make sure you are diligent with your old pill containers though. You do not want children getting into them, even if they are loaded with beads and not medicine.

Vitamin bottles are great if you take vitamins. Some brands come in glass bottles. The downside here is that the glass is often tinted. These would be an option if you are sorting beads by size and not color.

Old Tote bags are great for beads in baggies. Keep everything organized and ready to move, if needed, by storing your shiny stuff in tote bags. They can hold a good amount of bagged beads, so nothing gets mixed. And they can be stored in nooks and crannies, like closets and shelf spaces.

Are you a traveler? If so, you likely have a bunch of luggage you never use. Why not turn that old suitcase into something useful? A suitcase with wheels is your best bet if you plan to load it with heavy beads.

If you love, love, love shoes, you probably have a good deal of shoe boxes. Why not donate some of the shoes you never use, but keep the boxes. People have been using these boxes as storage since Sir Malcom Thornhil invented them in 1817.

Do you have any heirloom toolboxes? Just because grampa used them for ball peen hammers and crescent wrenches, doesn't mean that you can't turn them into beading storage boxes. A durable toolbox is perfect for keeping all of your craft tools safe.

Storage Solutions by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Chrissy Heitman

Craft Storage Ideas That Are Currently In Your Kitchen

Egg cartons are great. This kind of storage makes it easy to view all of your inventory at a quick glance. They are also easy to fill and use while you work. If you have a design in mind, use a carton to organize and store everything before stringing your first bead.

Muffin tins or cupcake pans are good long term solutions if you like egg cartons but want something more durable. These are wonderful for storing beads in as long as you are not planning on moving around too much. Great for a studio where the beads are going to remain in place. Find a storage idea that can be closed and contained if you are planning on moving around or storing away.

If you want a basic and easily sorted storage option, plastic baggies (Ziploc baggies or generic) are your new best friend. Plastic baggies are economical. They are see-through, which makes it easy to sort by shape or color. They can be referenced and pulled when needed, without hassle. You do not have to label the baggies to know what is inside. They are durable. You can seal them. They can be hidden in small spaces - under the bed or high up in the closet. They are the perfect way to contain small beads on a budget!

The boxes that Ziploc baggies come in are good for storage on a shoestring budget. These boxes are fairly durable and can often be closed - just not securely. These boxes are not the best choice for storage - but are great in a pinch or if you are trying to keep a tight budget.

Clean up your kitchen! That cupboard, the one with all of the containers, that you just never use any more. Those containers are wonderful for storing beads. Especially if they are clear. You can use a marker to label any that are not clear. Make sorting your beads a snap. And you will have some extra cupboard room after you re-purpose all of your containers.

Do you like to cook? Next time, save that empty jar of spaghetti sauce. Now you have the perfect bead organizer. Give it a good rinse. See through glass is ideal for your collection. Sort by color and make everything easy. If you love spaghetti - you may also have old Parmesan cheese containers on hand. These are fabulous for small beads. Plus, you can dispense the smaller beads through the sprinkle holes on top or the large opening. No need to open and reopen, season your beading area with a spicy selection of beads!

Tea tins and boxes are handy. Once you have had your last cup of orange pekoe, turn your tin into a bead box. If you drink tea from Celestial Seasonings, Twinings, or Lipton - you can use the box. The boxes on these brands close. The only downside is your beads may start to smell like Darjeeling. Stay away from extremely aromatic teas, like Lapsang Souchong, or your beads might smell like a campfire.

Do you like a little heat in the kitchen? Salsa jars come in all shapes and sizes. Don't toss your next jar after finishing the delicious picante sauce, use it for your favorite Turquoise beads!

I can't believe it's not butter! Re-use your margarine tub for beads!

Coffee cans are also great for storage. Put all of your tools in a big can of Folgers! Make sure you give the can a good rinse though. You do not want your Czech beads smelling like Jamaica Blue Mountain beans!

Soup cans and veggies cans are a good storage option if you are on a tight budget. Just make sure you are very careful around the lid. If you have a can opener that leaves jagged or irregular edges, this might not be the best bet. Consider storing your tools here. Place the tools head down or a single arm of your pliers in so everything fits.

Storage Solutions by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Dee Horten

Buy Your Bead Storage Solutions

Home Depot has lots of storage items and containers that secure tight and a good deal of them are transparent. Find your next bead storage container in the nuts and bolts of a hardware store!

Fishing tackle boxes are a fabulous tool for storing beads. You can find them at any number of big box sporting good or department stores. The prices run from ten dollars to more than a hundred. The price will vary by quality and size. You do not have to spend a lot of money on one that is just going to be used for beads. The more durable types are better used for transporting and the abuse a sporting device needs to withstand. Tackle boxes are great bead boxes for sorting and keeping everything visible. Some open and display the items inside so you do not even need to remove trays to access your goodies.

Cheap plastic tubes can be found on sites like Amazon, Ebay, and Walmart. These are wonderful for smaller beads, especially the lidded ones that can be sealed and stored.

If you need smaller glass containers, consider visiting a health food store or a big box store that carries essential oils. You can often find a spot where they carry a bunch of small glass containers. They are great for tiny beads. They are perfect for smaller findings, like crimp tubes and crimp covers.

If you need to store bigger beading supplies, consider using a makeup case. Makeup cases won't be an ideal box for beads as the compartments are often large and not sealed as tight as, say, a tackle box. But makeup cases are great for tools and spools! They are also great travel companions. But take care - not every beading tool is going to pass muster on your next flight. If you have any doubts, leave your tools at home.

Storage Solutions by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Enas Altamimi

Storage Solutions by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Jan Puzas Baltrush

Buy Your Craft Storage Solutions

Keep your beads in clear storage containers. This will eliminate the need to label all of your storage organizers. Being able to visually sort all of your inventory makes it very easy to access everything and to focus on stringing beads and not dealing with clutter. You can often find inexpensive storage containers in the kitchen section of a large department or grocery store.

Low on space, but need to organize more beads than your local bead store? Closets are a great place to store away your surplus. You can find canvas shelves at department stores that hang in the closet - perfect for storing a bead box or baggies. You can also find multi-purpose clothes hangers that you can clip baggies or shopping bags to.

Do you have a set of tools in your She Shed or a friend that is handy with carpentry? PVC pipes are inexpensive and can be found at hardware stores. Get a long tube and cut it into sizes that you prefer. You can seal the ends with PVC Caps.

Peg boards are fantastic for sorting tools. You can hang beads, too, if you have stored your beads in baggies or something that can clip onto a peg. You just need the wall space or a place to store the pegboard if you cannot hang it.

Corkboards are great for necklace storage. Don't crumple up your jewelry and toss it in a drawer. Let it hang naturally. This an easy way to make selecting your jewelry quick since all of your necklaces and bracelets are all visible.

Shoe Organizers that are hung on the back of closet doors are a great choice for keeping your area clean. Place all of your organized beads and findings in the shoe slots.

Want to keep everything in a drawer? You can find drawer dividers online that make storage easy.

Spice racks are decorative and fun. Buy a rack that matches the decor in your room and keep all of your smaller beads and findings in the jars. If you get a rack that spins, you have a great way to organize while you work.

Storage Solutions by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Jeni Vadnais

Storage Solutions by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Kelly Magel Pendergrass

Storage Solutions by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Kim Neal Karns

Storage Solutions by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Laurena Whitwer

Storage Solutions by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Luisa Schanuel

Storage Solutions by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Mercedes Miller Bartley

Storing Your Beads While You Are Designing Jewelry

Plastic baggies are great for storing beads while you design your jewelry. They are portable and can be secured. They are ideal when you are stringing jewelry but may not have time to complete your project. They are especially handy if you have curious pets that like to play with your beads. This will keep your sparkly goodies away from kitty cat paws!

Do you have a bunch of seed beads or smaller beads? Ice cube trays are a fun option for loose storage. Ice cube trays are great for organizing before beginning a jewelry project. Load your beads by color on the cube molds. Your beads can be reached easily as you string your jewelry. This option is not great for long term storage since the tray cannot be secured. But it is fantastic for containing and storing your beads and findings while you are designing beaded jewelry.

Stay organized while you string your beads by using your wire spool. Sara does this often on her videos. Take your spool, get the length of wire you need, then flip the spool over. Instant bead storage. The bottom of the spool acts like a little bowl. It is perfect for sorting while you work. Obviously this is not a storage solution for long term safekeeping. But it is great for sorting while designing your beaded jewelry.

Use an egg carton to organize and place your beads before you start your next necklace. The egg slots make for an easy to access and manage storage while stringing your jewelry.

Cupcake pans, like egg cartons, are great for storing your beads while you work. These trays allow for larger beads, too. Keep the elements of your next jewelry design within easy reach and view.

Silverware drawer organizers are fun for craft storage while you work. They make great bead organizers and can allow for tools to be added. Think on them as mini beading palettes!

Storage Solutions by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Robin Wilke

Storage Solutions by Soft Flex VIB Studio Member: Suzanne Brown

Join our Facebook group – VIB. Stay in the know. Stay up to date. From our bead shows to our video shows and sales, you can stay in touch with us. The community is full of artistic and helpful beaders and crafty people. Inspire and be inspired. Share your pictures and get the beading bug from others!

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Blog contributor Thomas Soles loves Jazz Age writers and crunchy french fries. His favorite gemstones are Lapis and Pietersite. His favorite hobby is day dreaming. And his favorite mustache is Freddie Mercury's. As you can see, he has a healthy (or possibly unhealthy) sense of humor. You can write to him at Thomas@SoftFlexCompany.com