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I am in the in the process of movingmy stamping space and thus want to get things "right" from the start. I'm in a new space with freshly painted walls, a new floor, etc. In my old space I used the rain gutter method for my punch storage, but I would prefer not to be drilling and attaching big things to my pretty new walls.
What other punch storage and organizational ideas work that do NOT involve hanging something on my pristine walls?
I am in the process of moving from the basement into the office (shared with DH ... smaller but much better light and more comfy).
My hope is that my old-style (lever handle) punches will fit on the wire shelves of a unit already in the room. DH believes the weight will be supported as long as it is spread "evenly'
When I get to this part of the relocation I'll post if it worked and get DH to take photos (easier to see than to explain).
In previous spaces I kept my most used punches on a wire "rack" designed to hold wheels. I don't think it is made any longer but it inspired my current idea.
Perhaps wire shelving for organizing kitchen cabinets could work?
In a previous incarnation of my studio, I had narrow (3", I believe) shelves that I used for my punches. The old-style Stampin'Up! punches were set on the shelves so that the larger area (where you feed the paper into the punch) was sitting on edge, facing out so that I could see which punch it was, and the lever was leaning against the wall. New style(the ones that fold shut and lock) were lined up on their sides like skinny books, Martha Stewart punches sit perfectly well all by themselves, since they're square. Hand punches and non-Martha border punches are trickier. I had the hand punches in a bucket and the border punches sitting sort of diagonal on the shelf so they overlapped. Sorry I don't have any decent pictures to show you, but I've attached a lousy one below...
Anyway - maybe you could find a free-standing shelf unit that would function that way. I've also screwed pegboard to the back of two bookshelves, spanning the space between, and then attached curtain rods to the pegboard. (One of the other pics below) I've also mounted curtain rods inside of a bookcase instead of to the wall. (pic below) You could use tension rods if you didn't want to drill into the bookcase. I didn't mind because it was one that I'd made out of drawers I pulled out of a discarded dresser. I had my punches on an old VHS/DVD rack (pic) before I converted it to my current solution.
My current configuration does screw to the wall, but only in a few places for stability. (last pic below) Maybe one of these ideas will be helpful in spooling your thoughts to a solution that will work for you
Don't mean to hog the thread, but Tina's post reminded me of another idea I'd considered: over-the-door wire racks like these: Over-Door 5-Foot Rack : Target
Great ideas, thanks for sharing.
I currently keep my punches in a built-in office drawer. They all fit but don't exactly line up nicely and they move around when I open the drawer. But for me this is working so far -- I know that because my punches are always put away!
I think some kind of drawer dividers would help keep them more stable in the drawer.
__________________ Renee
Last edited by RenT; 04-17-2013 at 07:40 PM..
Reason: added
Some of my punch storage is jury-rigged small shelves built from scraps of wood just set on top of one another!! I much prefer the appearance of the desk organizer that I turned onto its side and put punches in. There's a photo of it in this blog post: Nutty for Stampin': Storage - It Ain't Pretty (or it doesn't have to be)
I don't have any wall space and an over the door system ruined my door hinges.
I use the lid of a big storage bin and lay the punches on it then slide it under my ikea file cabinet, for the rest I use the big storage bin and keep them in it and slide that under my work table.
for small punches and hand held, I have a drawer.
It sure how many you have but how about Alex OR Helmajr from Ikea?
I have two Alex units - one on wheels and one that sits on the floor.
I have most of my punches in the bottom drawer of the one that sits on the floor. I had to take a few out because it was getting too heavy. Definitely holds a lot compared to some drawers, but there are still limits, and the punches add up in weight for their small size.
__________________ Traci
Who needs tattoos? I already have ink in strange places...
I don't have any wall space and an over the door system ruined my door hinges.I use the lid of a big storage bin and lay the punches on it then slide it under my ikea file cabinet, for the rest I use the big storage bin and keep them in it and slide that under my work table.
for small punches and hand held, I have a drawer.
I'm so glad you mentioned this. I was just looking into getting one.:(
I have Store in Style cubes with drawers and they work great. The concept being to store the punches in drawers. For punches where I can't see the image, I just punch a bit of vinyl and adhere it to the handle.
IKEA has a RIBBA picture ledge in two sizes (21 3/4" & 45 1/4") ( $9.99 & $14.99) they come in white, black & birch. they are sleek and are perfect for punches, only stick out from wall 3 1/2".
My craft room is in raspberry & white and has beige walls with one raspberry accent wall. I have the white RIBBA shelves on the raspberry wall, so pretty (getting more to display my work). All my furniture is white. My desks and storage are from IKEA also. I have two white EXPEDIT 5 cube shelving with IKEA raspberry KASSETT bins in assorted sizes in some of the openings. I found at Walmart clear hinged Sterilite plastic bins that are perfect for the EXPEDIT, 12 small (CD cases $0.94) fit in one opening & 6 of the larger (toolbox $2.50) fit in another opening. Great way to keep supplies organized (one has adhesive, workshop projects ready to go).
I have two work stations (desks) in the VIKA AMON (now called LINNMON) with the VIKA ALEX on one side of the desks instead of legs. Next to my main desk I have two ALEX cabinets (my printer is on top of them) and above my main desk is the EKBY ALEX drawer shelf (BEWARE!! the IKEA brackets cannot support this unit). My TV/monitor is above main desk mounted to the wall.
We are actually going to IKEA today to get the longer (47 1/4") LINNMON table top just like my other desk, so that I will have room to store the ALEX drawer unit on casters under it (will be able to fit 12 x 12 paper in it) . I also am getting more BYGEL rails, they make great storage for punches also (hubby painted them white for me). I have three FINTORP buckets above desk #2, soooo cute! and the IKEA raspberry BAROMETER desk lamp on it. This desk has my Big Shot and Color Caddy on it.
IKEA is 1 1/2 hours one way and hate their customer service but they have what I want. Hopefully after this trip I will be set. I have assorted knick knacks as a final touch. I LOVE my space. Will take some pics and post soon.
I use a wire "cart" (didn't put the wheels on it so it isn't *really* a cart :rolleyes: ) I got it at WalMart in their home storage area.
fionna51/Diane - you saved the day (again) for me LOL. I have this exact 'cart' (wheels installed) sitting right in the next room - yippee - and now I will repurpose it for my punch storage. My punches are of so many different sizes and styles that I've been hard-pressed to find one solution that works for my punch menagerie, but this cart will handle them no matter what shape or size. Thanks so much for the suggestion
__________________ "May your mind whirl joyful cartwheels of creativity." - Jonathan Lockwood Huie.
burrisr57, fantastic info. My stamps are moving to a different room in the house and I'm gathering ideas for how I want it set up... looks like IKEA is the place to be.
fionna51/Diane - you saved the day (again) for me LOL. I have this exact 'cart' (wheels installed) sitting right in the next room - yippee - and now I will repurpose it for my punch storage. My punches are of so many different sizes and styles that I've been hard-pressed to find one solution that works for my punch menagerie, but this cart will handle them no matter what shape or size. Thanks so much for the suggestion
Great! I'm glad it will work for you! I have a lot on my cart and it handles the weight just fine.
You probably noticed that I put a few layers of felt in the bottom of each basket. It helped minimize tipping and sliding. Instead of buying squares I bought about a yard of it at Joann's. Cheaper that way.
I store mine in the paper photo boxes. I store lots of different things in these - LOL! I have separated them by different categories - border punches, corner, flower, snowflakes, butterflies, etc. This keeps things neat for me and also keeps the dust off. ;)
The IKEA ALEX is very heavy & strong. It will hold punches no problem if you want them stored in drawers. I have my punches out on rails so I remember what I have.
I have my punches in a 4 drawer box from the local craft store. Works out nicely for me! But then when I get punches that match stamp sets, those come out of the drawer and go directly along side the stamp sets. I have mistakenly sold punches that I didn't mean to because they went with a matching stamp set. Luckily, because of sweet, sweet ladies on this board, I have gotten a couple of them back (inexpensive too...whew) I'm a dumb-dumb.
The Rubbermaid shelf or drawer liner will help keep things from sliding around in drawers and is less expensive than purchasing drawer dividers which are hard to customize to the punch sizes.
For my die storage I use a 5x9 ish three ring binder with the page sleeves. In each page I have a magnet that holds my dies in place. It's compact and works well for me. For the dies that don't fit in the pages (12 inch border dies) I have a picture frame I added a magnet covered in fabric that hangs over my die cutting area.
My punches are stores in the white stackable drawers. Honestly I don't use or buy punches much as dies are more versatile and easier to store.
The Rubbermaid shelf or drawer liner will help keep things from sliding around in drawers and is less expensive than purchasing drawer dividers which are hard to customize to the punch sizes.
Excellent idea! So I've got IKEA Alex with drawer liners added to my notes, sounds like a plan for my new punch home.
I use the Rubbermaid ShelfSavers clear acrylic 3 step shelf for my flat punches. I bought mine years ago online from Staples. Biggest punches go on the bottom, medium in the middle and smaller on the top. You can't put them all the way in on the bottom unless you only stack them three high.
Alrighty! The new room remodel is done, new lighting, paint, and shelves. The IKEA stuff is in big piles on the floor to be assembled this week, including an Alex just for my punches :cool:
I can't wait till it's all assembled and I have my stuff moved in; I'm so done with being spread over the dining and front rooms and not knowing where anything is. I'm continuing to purge in prep for a new space where I love and use everything in it... wish me luck on that one!
I found a used 2-drawer map unit like used in an architect's office and used the Rubbermaid spongy shelf liner in the drawer to keep the punches from sliding around. I have the EKSuccess/Stampin Up style punches sitting on their sides with labels on them so I know what they are. This holds tons of punches!
Oh, and I painted the unit purple to match my craft room!
I like this idea ... if you get a chance can you provide the interior drawer dimensions so I can figure out how many of my various styles/sizes of punches might fit in each drawer. Please and thank you!
I like this idea ... if you get a chance can you provide the interior drawer dimensions so I can figure out how many of my various styles/sizes of punches might fit in each drawer. Please and thank you!
Happy Crafting!
Tina aka TeeGeeDee
Hi Tina!
I love these drawers. The drawers measure about 9.25"w x 15.25"l x 3.5h.
Punch Storage/Organziation that does NOT Hang?
Punch Storage or Display Card Samples
Just got back from IKEA
