options for die "sleeves"

[Cathy H]

I need to explain -- for those of you who store your dies on magnetic sheets, and NOT in cd containers, what do you do to be sure the dies don't fall off and get lost ???? Extra strong magnetic panels - Avery Elle something-or-other - page protectors? I am thinking of page protectors cut in half - I seem to remember someone said they were doing that - I want something AFFORDABLE and I DON'T want a binder. I want to be able to see what I have --

any ideas?

[diecuts4u]

I had bunches of the heavy clear sleeves for the old Sizzix embossing folders. I put each nestie set in one of those mounted on magnet sheet. I can see thru them and the plastic is heavy enough to hold up.

[Rachelrose]

I use Avery heavyweight page protectors cut in half. I can slide my magnetic panels into them and use the top strip where the holes are as a place to put a label. I stand my panels in a bin. A plastic shoebox is the perfect size. It's easy to flip through and find what I want. I don't like to use binders, either.

[Cathy H]

So the page protectors are open on the long side -- and you put one "set" in each? Sounds like the perfect system for me. I can get the magnetic sheets at Lowes (actually I might have enough already) - all I need are the page protectors. Sounds good!!!! I have plenty of plastic shoe boxes.

[Cathy H]

The page protectors are cut at 5 1/2" --when I said "the long side" I wasn't particularly clear.

[khogan]

I use the Memorex clear dvd keepers. I like them because they have a flap that closes.

Memorex CD DVD Keepers Clear Pack Of 50 by Office Depot

-Kathy H

[Rachelrose]

You'll need to mount the magnetic sheets on something to make them stiff enough to stand up in a bin, or put a piece of thin chipboard in the PP and secure it at the back with a small strip of Scor Tape. I use Crafter's Companion mini panels (not a cheap solution but they are very magnetic and I like them) and so I use a piece of thin chipboard behind them in the PP's. For me, it's a great system. I like having the chipboard backing in there, separate from my panels, because it makes it easier to slide the magnetic panels in and out.

I actually cut my PP's to be 6" wide - opening will be on long side. I just like the extra room. I can post pics if you want.

[fionna51]

Cathy...I cut my full-size page protectors down to 6 inches tall. That allows for putting an 8.5 x 5.5 piece of cardstock into it. If you attach magnet sheets (I use magnetic vent covers) to the cardstock, or better, to laminated cardstock, then you have a nice, flippable pouch to put into a box.

The pouch would be horizontal...and the longer side/top of the pouch would be open.

An alternative, if you prefer the other direction, would be to get the 8.5 x 5.5 page protectors at Staples and use them vertically...with the shorter side open on the top.

My picture shows how stamps work in this system. But dies would be similar.

Personally, I have put my dies on the magnet sheets on laminated cardstock with the die package picture included on the back side of the laminated sheet. I find no need for the pouch. The whole thing is stiff...really stiff...and the dies don't fall off. That may not be the case if my box were jammed full, but I won't let it get that way because I have to flip and see the dies.

[southgirl]

You might check the Dollar General stores for magnetic vent covers...cheaper tham Lowes and they are stiff.

[Cathy H]

A big thank you to everyone. I will check out Dollar General - found I have PLENTY of page protectors..... I'm on my way!!

[stampin stacy]

I must be the only person on the planet that stores their Spellbinder dies in the original packaging. I use a knife or scissors to cut open three sides and leave one as a hinge,. the only thing I change to I flip them around so the dies fit into the recessed area of plastic to keep them from getting lost. They are all stored standing up in a shoe box so I can flip thru them to find what I need.

[southgirl]

Cathy H let us know how it works...take pictures?

Stampin Stacy...It sounds like a great way to store. But I have some Cottage dies and Elizabeth Craft dies and they come in different packages.

[jenjoy71]

Quote:

Originally Posted by southgirl

You might check the Dollar General stores for magnetic vent covers...cheaper tham Lowes and they are stiff.

Do you actually mean Dollar General or Dollar Tree? I have bought ones before at Dollar tree and love them.. but havent seen them in a long time. Curious to know if Dollar General sells them too?

[Cathy H]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stampin stacy

I must be the only person on the planet that stores their Spellbinder dies in the original packaging. I use a knife or scissors to cut open three sides and leave one as a hinge,. the only thing I change to I flip them around so the dies fit into the recessed area of plastic to keep them from getting lost. They are all stored standing up in a shoe box so I can flip thru them to find what I need.

What a great idea. Wish I had started that from the beginning. No longer have the packaging

Going to the Dollar General today!

[jkstampin]

Staples sells half sheet page protectors. That is what i use for both my dies and my stamps that are stored on the mini binder pages.

Staples� 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" Sheet Protectors, Clear, 25/Pack | Staples�

[southgirl]

Ooops...Dollar Tree....I am sorry....Dollar General may have it tho?

[gregzgurl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkstampin

Staples sells half sheet page protectors. That is what i use for both my dies and my stamps that are stored on the mini binder pages.

Staples� 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" Sheet Protectors, Clear, 25/Pack | Staples�

That's what I use for border dies, and I've cut them down to 6" high for dies that don't fit in CD sleeves. The reeeaally long dies are in a florist's bucket along with the extended cutting pads...

I use these page protectors for all of my stamps, too - photopolymer and nekkid rubber w/2-way glue on the back, stored on laminated cardstock a la fionna51

I recently discovered some cute basket/box-type things at Target's Dollar Spot that they fit in PERFECTLY, so that's where they all live (happily ever after...)

[Suzanne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by khogan

I use the Memorex clear dvd keepers. I like them because they have a flap that closes.

Memorex CD DVD Keepers Clear Pack Of 50 by Office Depot

-Kathy H

This is what I'm doing with mine. Got the idea from Jennifer McGuire.

[stampin stacy]

I have not ventured beyond Sizzix and Spellbinder and don't have that many of them so my system works for me so far.

Yesterday I was taking a new Sizzix plate out of the packaging and thought to myself, "oh! this is a nice BIG size, wonder what I can store in it...?"


I think I have been spending way to much time organizing lately, lol.

[dini]

I saw this when I was flipping through Amazon the other day - think this system would work for dies?

Movie Bin and Sleeves for 72 Movies

[jenjoy71]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregzgurl

That's what I use for border dies, and I've cut them down to 6" high for dies that don't fit in CD sleeves. The reeeaally long dies are in a florist's bucket along with the extended cutting pads...

I use these page protectors for all of my stamps, too - photopolymer and nekkid rubber w/2-way glue on the back, stored on laminated cardstock a la fionna51

I recently discovered some cute basket/box-type things at Target's Dollar Spot that they fit in PERFECTLY, so that's where they all live (happily ever after...)

Would love to see a picture..

[Rachelrose]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dini

I saw this when I was flipping through Amazon the other day - think this system would work for dies?

Movie Bin and Sleeves for 72 Movies

I ordered something very similar to that and what I got were 25 really nice flap top plastic folders that measured 5 3/4 X 7 1/2, plus 25 plastic things that fit inside the folders and would hold 2 disks. The flap top envelopes were nice, but the inserts were not useful for anything (other than holding disks). I wish I could have ordered just the flap top folders. They are nice.

I don't know if this system is the same. It looks like it.

[gregzgurl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenjoy71

Would love to see a picture..

I've attached a few pics:

• Florist's bucket with long dies and extended cutting pads
• CD holder with dies (similar to the one Mamadini linked up)
• Basket/box/bin/whatever from Target with stamps in page protectors
• Mini dies (2" x 2" Cuttlebug) in half of the case my iPod came in
• One of the trimmed-down page protectors with magnet and dies

I included the iPod case 'cuz it makes me laugh all day... You can see in the (not so great) pictures that I also have my brass stencils in the CD holder. They fit well so why not, right? I have my embossing folders in the same Target containers as my stamps, and the piercing templates from SU! fit alongside them very well, so that's where they live. Did I cover it?

[Cathy H]

Thanks so much for the pictures. My "system" is closest to picture 3 - the difference being that I am using 8 1/2 X 11 page protectors cut in half. Since my box is 6 inches wide, I cut the protectors to 5 1/2. Need to get more magnetic sheets though - My Dollar General didn't have them.

[marymoilanen]

I too use the magnetic vent covers; I cut them to fit a 5x8 zip lock bag; thicker than normal. Zip lock makes sure that the dies won't fall out. I use the back of the cover to let me know the manufacture of the die (I usually cut the original pkg to fit). The magnetic sheet slides easily in and out for use. These are then stored in the old SU white shoe boxes (can't remember what they were actually called). You could easily adapt these to any size box or zip lock bag.

This works for me and it's cheap.


Zip lock bags

[Cathy H]

Thanks, Mary. I didn't know about the 5X8 zip lock bags - very affordable --
I have been cutting 8 1/2 X 11 sturdy page protectors in half and that has worked very well - especially for the nesting sets

[Cathy H]

I cut an 8 1/2" X 11" protector into 2 halves - both of which are 5 1/2 X 8 1/2 -- the one that is sealed on the side is the one I use. (So it is open on the right side) I have taped some of the open ones on the side to see if they are functional - they seem to be however they are not very attractive I guess a picture really is worth a hundred words!

[gregzgurl]

I don't sacrifice part of a page protector because I buy the 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" size to begin with - no need to cut them. Staples has their own brand - way less $$ than the Avery brand...

[gregzgurl]

Gotcha...

[bjlee717]

I made my own clear pockets using sheet protectors and a Foodsaver. Check out my blog post here: Inking with Brenda Lee: Reorganizing my die collection

[Cathy H]

Brenda, that is so clever - love that idea. Just wish I had a Foodsaver!! (Used to have one - never used it - got rid of it - ouch!!!)