Before this year, I only owned three punches. I wasn’t really sold on the idea that they were necessary. With a very open mind, though, I purchased one new punch in March. That lead to three punches. Now I have a shelf full of them. They are essential! (I went through the same process with the Big Shot and Framelits, but I’ll save that story for another day).
I’ve seen all the pictures of how very crafty people use IKEA rails to store their Stampin’ Up! punches. Despite Stampin’ Up!’s suggestion that punches should be stored in the “locked” position (to prevent loosening of the inside coils), I have to admit that I would LOVE to have them on display for all to see. There’s something very appealing about being able to see it all. At the same time, there’s something very appealing about putting it all away. 🙂 What a predicament! I am quite happy with my method of storing my punches, and I want to share it with you.
I store my punches in a cheap photo box on the shelf behind my desk. Stampin’ Up!’s punches are labeled both on the top of the punch and the handle of the punch. When they are stored vertically (handle side up), I can easily see all of the punch labels. When I am reaching for a particular punch, I don’t have to look far. And if I want to see all my punches while I am stamping, I can just grab this 78.8 pound photo box, and lug it to my table. AND look at how perfectly and how snuggly they all fit in the box. It’s almost like the box was made just for these punches…or perhaps the punches were actually made for this box.
How do you store your punches? In a drawer? On a rail? At a store? With a snail?
Accessories: Lots and lots of punches
Thanks for stopping by my blog today!
Brian
Hey! Love the blue box! ..and a peek at a few stamp sets there you’ve not used! 🙂
I keep my punches in a plastic box with a locking lid. Three are containing my punches by size, I separate them by width and keep that box on a storage shelf. -They are not within my reach but I need the exercise! The more Framelits we come out with the less I see using my punches. 🙁 And they are NOT happy about it!
THREE boxes of punches, Patti?! Wow! My box looks sad (and blue) after hearing that news.
This is exactly what I need… great way to store ..
I cant have all mine on display.. have to share the space.
But thia is perfect !
Thanks!
Good idea, Brian but I love to see my stuff displayed. I have my punches on the wall, some on rails some on a pretty wood shelf I found one day at a garage sale. It has 3 levels and the SU closed punches fit there like it was made for them, I still have lots of space there so maybe I should get some more, eh? My SU clear stamp sets are arranged on a book case, the clear ones on the top and the wood ones on the bottom. I need to see the stuff I have, specially stamps otherwise, you kind of forget you have them and don’t use them at all.
Maria.
If you have space in your craft area, you should DEFINITELY fill it with more punches. MORE…MORE…(everybody now)…MORE…
LOL!! I hear you!! MORE is always BETTER.
MORE and MORE….
Note here: And I’ve done this…if you forget about them, you have a tendency to re-order the same ones….ACKKK!
I’ve done that too, ughhhhh!! then it’s the pain in the you know what to return them. And about the MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE…..Don’t ask my poor hubby, he just doesn’t understand.
When my new Stampin’ Up catalog comes, I go through it and mark everything in the new book that I already have. Then as the year goes by, I just mark whatever I order. So far, that is working for me!
That is a great idea!
Enjoyed my visit this morning! I need a box and a bookshelf. Mine are stored inconveniently under my bed in a sweater box, and in a plastic bin – ugh!
Tanja, Pull those bad boys out and let them see the sunlight. 🙂 I’m sad that mine are on a shelf behind me (turning around can be such work!). I can’t imagine if I had to pull them from under the bed.
Oy, and that’s bad for the back!
Thanks for the peek into your storage. I am so excited to be moving into a new house that has a CRAFT ROOM!!!! I now need storage ideas for everything. RIght now it is all in a closet in plastic boxes. I have to get everything out to use even just 1 punch or piece of paper. I will take any and all suggestions for setting up my new room. I will purchase photo boxes for all my punches. How about ideas for my framelits soon!!! How to store my paper??? Help me please!!!
Vicki – Here’s a link to my entry on how I store my paper. It works really well for me. https://stampwithbrian.com/2012/04/26/organizing-its-an-entirely-separate-hobby/. This was one of the first entries I posted on my blog. 🙂 I haven’t mastered the art of organzing framelits yet – tried a couple different methods that I’m not happy with. Will get back to you on that one!
Thanks for sharing that one. Keep me in mind for any and all storage ideas. I am so excited for my very own craft room and not a very tiny closet that I have to empty out and take to the kitchen table anytime I want to work on it. I have a desk that I am taking back to DE from MI and a plastic storage cart, but all ideas are great!!!!! Why is the box not in Baja Blue??????
How about CD cases? Would they fit into those?
The CD cases do work for most of them (some of the newer framelits are too large to fit inside). I put magnets in the back of the case to hold them in place. Maybe I don’t have strong enough magnets, but this method isn’t making me happy. Back to the old drawing board!
I store my 8 1/2 by 11 cardstock in file cabinet. My work table is 2 file cabinets at each end and wood top on top. Very easy to get to cardstock in and out. Divided and marked with dividers and separated in what year. Hope that helps.
well…………….I have a lot more punches….both the new and older style. I think I have every punch that SU has come out with since I joined in March 2009. The old style punches are on my peg board hanging on dowel rods. my new ones are stored much like yours. I have 2 really sturdy plastic tubs and they sit on my IKEA shelves right behind my work space. I love having them so handy because I use my punches a lot!
I wish we had an IKEA store near us! 🙁
Thank you for the fabulous idea! I’ve been looking for a way to store my punches other than hanging them. Oh and I love the blue box!
It’s really a simple idea, but it works for me, so I figured I would share it. Sometimes the simplest things are the best. 🙂
You’ve got that right, Brian! And I just love your blue box {blue has always been my fave color…right next to green…teehee!
Right now, my punches are stored in a clear plastic, shoe divider which hangs on the back of the door in my craft room.
I like that! Clever idea!
I just love reading your blog Brian. I store my punches on a shelf using a 3 tiered spice holder. I like your box idea, and might just need to think about that a little more. Thanks for your entertaining and useful suggestions too 🙂
A spice holder? Sounds really cool! I would love to see pictures of how that works.
Hey Brian, My wonderful husband made me a shelf for all my stamps (I mostly have wood). The shelf is almost full. Darn the luck, now I have no room for the new stamps that come out unless I purge the old stuff (sniff 🙁 ) and make room for the new. The shelf was supposed to hold my ink pads….but he misunderstood what I wanted, so now I have something better! My punches are in a drawer (plastic 3 drawer that was purchased at maybe Target?) I like your idea better….I cant see mine, and I have to pull every punch out to view and decide what will work or enhance my project. Most of my punches are the old style….so I need ideas and pictures….Thanks for Sharing!! Any idea helps and when your wonderful followers chip in and add their wonderful 2 cents…..Thanks everyone!
Here’s a link to Mary Fish’s craft space. She stores her old and new punches on the IKEA rails. http://www.stampinpretty.com/2011/06/racks-and-raks.html My craft space has concrete walls, so that wouldn’t work for my, anyway. You should definitely figure out a way to look at them while you are stamping. 🙂
I also like my supplies stored neatly out of sight so I have mine on the IKEA Bygel rails (love them), so they are easily accessible but they are on the back and side wall of the closet so I can close the door at the end of a crafting session. The best of both worlds!
My punches are upon my desk. Stacked up tall, great big mess.
I gave the Bygel system a test, but my studs are few and the drywall stressed.
Perhaps I will give the box a try. Put it on a shelf, not too high.
Someplace that my eye can spy. “Thank you for the tip,” says I!
(Weak, I admit it. Seuss, I am not.)
Ahh! Love your Dr. Seuss ditty here! Good job!
I keep my punches in a stack of 5 plastic drawers on wheels that slips under one of my work tables. Each drawer is labeled “Circle, Ovals”, “Borders”, etc. It works well, except the punches can get a little heavy for the drawers, making them a bit difficult to pull out and push in.
love seeing how you organize your supplies.
hugs, m
Punches are instant gratification and no prep ..I love them ..I have been collecting them since dirt was invented … I keep mine in plastic (heavy duty gallon slide lock bags ) in rubber maid type bins . I like being able to pull out the bag labeled ..flowers , beach, stars, etc and they are all together. I have circle punces out in my craft room at the present because Brian introduced those silly trees a few days ago. …I`m a little suspicious…with the punch emphasis here of late here ..could it be that you are getting ready to introduce your own line of punches and call it The Punch Line ..huh Brian …just wondering?????
Oh you’re on to something here Sonny! Brian! You must incorporate a blog header along side your promotions etc. with this thought in mind. Work it!
Hey, I can help with that storage for framelits and edgelits. I recently purchased an Artbin magnetic die storage case. It’s a great case with secure latches and a carrying handle. Very portable and easy to move/carry around. Inside are magnetic “sheets” for placing your dies. The case comes with magnetic sheets, and you can purchase more refills. So far I have about 15 sheets in mine. It is so easy to leaf through those magnetic sheets to find what you are looking for. I took it one step further and cut out the name label of the framelet/edgelit from the original SU packaging, taped it to the magnetic sheet, and place the framelet/edgelit over it so I remember the name when I’m looking for something in particular. I took it one step further and indicated on that name label when I have a coordinating piercing sheet or coordinating stamp set. Voila. It makes it all so organized and easy to use! Many of the large craft stores carry them. http://www.joann.com/artbin-magnetic-die-box/zprd_11736030a/
Another idea that works is a small accordion file. I keep the framelits in their original packaging and label each folder individually. I also use the accordion folder for my embossing folders. Everything is in one place but out of the way.
Brian, I think you started a real cool idea. This follow up conversation about ideas on how to store/display our card making stuff it’s progressing nicely. I think it will be fabulous to ask some questions about solving problems or craft ideas for the Holidays or whatever other subject because, by the looks of your post today, I’m sure it will be very, very cool. Maybe once a month?
Maria.
Brian, I wentb to splitcoaststampers.com then to resources. I bought a wood holder that fits all our punches. Go there check it out. Mine was 50.00 They have several holders for our ink pads, markers and refills also. Enjoy!!!
How about Storage Saturday Posts.. all September . oh too late. 🙂 At Regionals in Providence we saw Framelits on a sheet of Magnet inserted into a plastic Scrap book page kept in pages in the Scrap book binder. Nice to just set that binder into a bookshelf. I kept mine in the original package, removed the original paper insert with a magnet insert and now they sit in a darn pile in my drawer. Not happy with that! But I typically like original packaging. Sorry about this thread Brian we’ve gotten off the Punch Path!
I did a little poking around on Amazon..they have magnet sheets for framelets ..sheets got good reviews ..the ArtBin (good price) but poor reviews..so you can get 3 magnet sheets for ten…put them in a folder or maybe three ring binder …Jennifer uses an accordian folder successfully ..maybe that might work for the framelets ..wouldn`t suggest that for trhe punches ..might not work too great . night night all
I am a bit late in responding but certainly relate with the weight of what ever box those of us who don’t have a real stampin room (well, I don’t – yet!)….and no wall to hang them on. I store mine in two larger shoe boxes (Love Big Lots!)…under a chair that has my DSP and 12×12 papers…and not fun when my friends want me to bring punches when we get together – I have the largest collection….oh and I have one small tin that holds the small punches…easier to carry around – but you still know you are toting punches!!! Congratulations of finally joining the punch club…you will soon need more picture boxes…!
Brian
I found you when doing a google search for punch storage. Right now mine are piled on a shelf and the box would work great! Duh! Why didn’t I think of that? Anyway, thanks for sharing.
~ Megin of VMG206
Surely that can’t be all the punches you have, Brian? I have a lot, and I want more!
I store mine in a plastic storage tub, but since they don’t quite fit on their end like that, I added labels to the other three sides with both metric and imperial measurements, so it wouldn’t matter which way they ended up in the box.
I used a heap of my punches the other night, and realised I should have stuck the labels on upside down, as it seems I tend to put my punches on my work table upside down when I’m using them.
No. This was early on (I’ve only been a demo for a year). I’ve updated the punches into a larger box. 🙂
How do you store your punches now Brian?
Thanks for your question. Here’s a link to my updated “how I store my punches” post: https://stampwithbrian.com/2015/04/15/punch-and-ink-storage-in-the-fungeon/
Brian, i use the punch storage rack from stamp n’ storage. I love there storage ideas and have quiet a few!