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What is your favorite way to store Embossing Powders and Glitters?
I am looking for containers or trays with lids to use for spooning glitter over a card and then just putting the lid on, instead of trying to get the powder back into a small jar. Thanks!
For embossing powders, I use Tupperware/Rubbermaid sandwich sized containers for my most used colors because I like to dip my cardstock into the powder. You can find the (much cheaper) Ziplock containers in a similar size also.
The only embossing powder I keep in a container other than the one it came in is detail clear. I have it in a sandwich-sized Gladware container with a plastic spoon in it. The others stay in their original jars until I use them, and I use coffee filters as disposable "bowls" to collect the stuff while I'm adding it to the project. The ridges make it easy to direct the powder or glitter back into the jar, and almost none of it sticks to the filter. They're so cheap and I have so many of them, that I don't feel guilty when I toss them...
I have very limited space in my craft area and was trying to figure out a way to store my glitters and embossing powder like you mentioned. I finally found the solution for me and that was to cut little matchboxes using my Silhouette Cameo! They are small enough to fit in my desk drawers but large enough to just spoon glitter or embossing powder right onto my project and dump the excess back into the matchbox. I love it and use them so much more now. Here is the free cut file I found for the matchboxes I cut. I also made sure to have my seams on the outside of the box and adhered them with a hot glue gun so they wouldn't fall apart over time. They are holding up so well! I just labeled the top with the color. Free Bag and Box Cut Files |
I have very limited space in my craft area and was trying to figure out a way to store my glitters and embossing powder like you mentioned. I finally found the solution for me and that was to cut little matchboxes using my Silhouette Cameo! They are small enough to fit in my desk drawers but large enough to just spoon glitter or embossing powder right onto my project and dump the excess back into the matchbox. I love it and use them so much more now. Here is the free cut file I found for the matchboxes I cut. I also made sure to have my seams on the outside of the box and adhered them with a hot glue gun so they wouldn't fall apart over time. They are holding up so well! I just labeled the top with the color. Free Bag and Box Cut Files |
Great link! Almost makes me wish I had a Silhouette... If anyone else who is low-tech like me would like to try boxes for their powders, I did a tutorial for a slider box a couple of years ago. You can find it HERE.
With the slider boxes, don't you run into problems with the embossing powder going bad? I was under the impression that it needed to be stored in an airtight container.
With the slider boxes, don't you run into problems with the embossing powder going bad? I was under the impression that it needed to be stored in an airtight container.
I don't know the answer to that one - I keep mine in their original jars. I just posted about the slider boxes because it seemed similar to the ones that Leah posted a link to... Maybe someone else knows...?
For 'bulk' volume buys (i.e. white, clear, gold, and black embossing powder or rock candy, diamond, and warm and cool glitterritz glitter) I use Tupperware/Rubbermaid sandwich sized containers and I have a plastic spoon in each container that I use to 'apply' the EP or glitter onto my project or item.
I leave all of the rest in their original containers and use a large container (or two LOL) that holds all the individual embossing powder bottles and another large container (or two LOL) that holds all the individual glitter bottles.
__________________ "May your mind whirl joyful cartwheels of creativity." - Jonathan Lockwood Huie.
Last edited by QueenOfInkland; 02-13-2014 at 02:04 PM..
The only embossing powder I keep in a container other than the one it came in is detail clear. I have it in a sandwich-sized Gladware container with a plastic spoon in it. The others stay in their original jars until I use them, and I use coffee filters as disposable "bowls" to collect the stuff while I'm adding it to the project. The ridges make it easy to direct the powder or glitter back into the jar, and almost none of it sticks to the filter. They're so cheap and I have so many of them, that I don't feel guilty when I toss them...
With the slider boxes, don't you run into problems with the embossing powder going bad? I was under the impression that it needed to be stored in an airtight container.
Hmmm...honestly have never heard of that and I can't imagine that the threaded tops all the jars I had my embossing powders in to start with were airtight. But honestly I don't know. I have some ancient, and I mean ancient embossing powder, (like 15-20 years old) that was given to me and it still embosses perfectly. So, I guess time will tell but I'm not concerned about that. Just a thought, I live in AZ which is a super dry climate, so maybe that helps.
Great link! Almost makes me wish I had a Silhouette... If anyone else who is low-tech like me would like to try boxes for their powders, I did a tutorial for a slider box a couple of years ago. You can find it HERE.
I wouldn't sell yourself short on being too low tech for the Silhouette! I don't consider myself high tech at all but really the software is pretty simple to figure out and use and the machine cuts like a dream. If you go to the Silhouette store you can download the software for free just to play around with it. That's what I did before I made the switch from the Cricut. Anyway...I am sure you could use it!
Embossing powder can go bad. I had no idea this was possible until it happened to me. I cannot determine what made about 4 jars go bad and all of the rest are fine. I keep all of my EP in tightly closed containers, stored together. These powders that failed were among my older powders, but still I have many just as old or older and no problems.
__________________ "May your mind whirl joyful cartwheels of creativity." - Jonathan Lockwood Huie.
I use the smallest size clamshell-style stamp cases for my glitters... I used scissors and cut down the seam where the lid attaches to the base, so I can leave the container fully open. Works great for years now!
My embossing powders I store in the jars because there are so many of them and I have very little space. When/if I get more space, though, I have seen a lot of people using those cute spinning k-cup racks for theirs. Thought that was genius!
__________________ Lyssa Griffin Zwolanek, Gold EliteSong of My Heart Stampers14-time incentive trip earner
Mine are in the original jars, and one clear in a sandwich size container. They are in a drawer. I write on the top of the lid, the color and if its sparkle or pearl etc. as I am looking down on the tops of the jars. I put the little dryer dessicants that come in pills in the drawer to keep the powder dry. I am in the Pacific Northwest (WA) and it can get damp. Have had no problems to date. I just use a folded in half sheet of scrap, text wt. paper for a "catcher" the power sllithers down the fold into the jar just fine. Any spills, use a Swiffer refill cloth, great for glitter and embossing pwd.
My dogs eat beneful dog food in the plastic bowls with resealable tops. I store all of mine in those. I also label the color of the powder on the top of the lid. I then stack them on top of each other in a wicker basket and store on a shelf.
That way I can just grab the whole basket and get the powder I want to use.
I keep mine in their original containers but I bought a K-cup holder that is a drawer. They fit perfectly and I can pile something on top of it and the drawer still opens.
I wouldn't sell yourself short on being too low tech for the Silhouette! I don't consider myself high tech at all but really the software is pretty simple to figure out and use and the machine cuts like a dream. If you go to the Silhouette store you can download the software for free just to play around with it. That's what I did before I made the switch from the Cricut. Anyway...I am sure you could use it!
Thanks for the input, but I didn't mean that I thought it was over my head - I meant that I prefer doing manual over electronic, lol! I don't want to invest in any of those cutters (yet, anyway ), so I just carry on with alternate methods...
I use the Gladware containers for my commonly used EP's and glitters. I don't think I'd use EP much if I had to get it back in the jar everytime! I did have to put some little-used glitter back into the jars, though, because I needed the containers (and the room!) for my EP's, and it was a pain putting it back in the jars.
I donate a lot of cards to Operation Write Home, so I've really gotten away from glitter a lot, even in my regular stamping.
__________________ ~ Susan - Celebrating 19 years as an SU demo! Grammy to Anna 15, Elizabeth 14, Nora 12, Abigail 12, Kendall 10 , Isaac 10, Evan 7, and Hudson 3 with me in my avatar Proud to be SCS Fan Club Member since the beginning!
Fold a piece of copy paper in half (so when folded it is 5-1/2" x 8-1/2") and pour your glitter/embossing powder over the top and then use the fold as a funnel to put the powder back in the container - even cheaper than coffee filters!