Ribbon Storage Idea

I have always had an issue with ribbon storage - but I am hoping this new idea I saw on Pinterest is going to solve all my problems. I have tried the wrapping ribbon around cardboard, with elastic to hold it and putting it in a bin. My bin got too full and so I moved on another idea of old fashioned clothes pins - thinking they are thinner than the card board - but the ribbon kept unraveling. When I saw this clever idea on Pinterest with a regular clothes pin - I thought it was brilliant.  The original post was from the Everything I Dreamed blog.

1. Start with a clothespin ( I bought a bag of 50 from the dollar store).

2. Open the clothespin and close it on the end of the ribbon. 

3. Wrap loose enough around the pin that you can open and close the pin, checking once in a while if you can open it as you wind the ribbon around. Clasp the end of the ribbon in the pin.

Then I made these mini hangers to pin the ribbon on so I can hang them in my craft closet. I can fit four clothespins comfortably on a hanger, although some I have six, depending on how much is on each pin.

Click here to go to the How to Make a Mini Hanger Tutorial.

When I need ribbon, I will bring the colors I need out of the closet and hang it on my workspace. When I get it all in place I will post how I set it up in my closet.

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How to Make a Mini Hanger

I needed something to do at an enduro race my hubby was in and this is what I made - mini hangers! I am wanting to utilize the hanging space I have in my craft closet - but didn't want to use the full size hangers. I plan on putting ribbon on the hangers. The following tutorial comes to you via my sweeties truck.

1. The wire length is 18 inches. I honestly don't know what gauge the wire I used is. It was on a roll from the $ store and didn't say what strength it was. It is not as thick as a hanger wire - but it is not too thin that it won't stand up to some handling. After the wire is cut - make a hook shape and make a bend to the right at 3 5/8. This bend is the bottom of the hanger hook. 

2. From the bend at the bottom of the hanger hook, measure 3 1/2 inches and make a bend to the left.

3. Measure 6 inches and make a bend to the right.

4. Measure another 3 1/2 inches of wire and make another bend to the left, wrapping around the bottom of the hanger hook.

5. Twist the remaining wire around the hanger hook wire, using pliers to tighten it.

6. Shape the wire to make the hanger look even on both sides and manipulate the wire using your hands until it gets the look you desire. I had some pretty funny looking hangers at first, but the wire is pretty forgiving and even the weirdest looking hanger looked good after a bit of shaping. 

These hangers were a lot of fun. I have made twenty so far. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Click here to see the ribbon storage idea I used with these hangers.

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Homemade CD/DVD Pouch

I am on a quest this summer to do some organizing around my house and this is one of my first projects. My daughter has a pile of discs that don't have cases. An easy fix are these paper pouches that I am going to put in a basket. Might as well make them pretty! Here is what I did....

I printed off some antique french opera sheet music from Graphics Fairy. I had to do two of these images to make it long enough. I also added an ornate frame label to have an area to write what is in the pouch. I used kraft paper from a roll and cut it to 8 1/2 x 11 inches to fit my printer. I taped this paper to cardstock with double sided tape so it would go through my printer without it being eaten. I cut the graphic to 5 1/2 inches wide x 10 inches length. I folded it in half and sewed the sides fairly close to the edges. I also cut a partial circle off the top with a circle punch so it would be easy to grab the disc from the pouch.

Here is the back. 

I made a few pouches that had lace in the middle too, using up some scrap lace. My daughter loves the pouches. Now to think up something for her DS games.....

 Thanks for stopping by!

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Graphics Fairy