Is your ribbon organized? Well, mine wasn’t, I would put it in bags everywhere and when I needed a certain kind I would be digging through my craft closet to find what I needed. So…I was excited when I came up with this little idea all by my bitsy self. It didn’t cost a thing , I recycled an old basket that most people would have gotten rid of years ago because of it’s ugliness. I also recycled a big can that had Gatorade powder in it because I feel guilty throwing away a perfectly good can.
Have fun making this organizer!
Spooled Ribbon Organizer
If you don’t have a basket like this don’t worry a large shoe box will do (boot shoe box is great). Just make the amount of holes you need for your dowel rods. Don’t forget to make it cute and decorate the outside of the box.
As you can see not much to this project just get a few wood dowel rods and slide it through one of the holes then slide your ribbon on, put in the last hole and your done. What I love about it is the functionality of having the ribbon able to spin to get the amount you need.
Loose Ribbon Organizer
Now for #2 of my crafty idea on ribbon storage. What to do with all that loose ribbon that isn’t on a spool. Easily store it neatly in this recycled Gatorade or peanut can. Use whatever it is that you buy in bulk. Like lemonade, Slimfast, hot chocolate any of those cans will do. To decorate this can all I did was use scrapbook paper, double-sided tape and some ribbon.
To make the slits in the plastic lid(top) get your exacto knife or craft knife and make slits that are the same size as the ribbons you want to pull through. Caution the knife works very well so be careful not to cut too long of slits.
Shared this tip on We Are That Family’s WFMW tip party.
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{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
Oooh, Suzanne. Perfect I have loads of itty-bitty bits of ribbon that I can’t just bring myself to throw away because I know I will use them for something (?!). It is also a good excuse to go out and buy some tinned cashews!
Your a genius, I love this idea! I even have one of these baskets lying around! Thanks Suzanne!
thats a great idea! i did mine a few months back in a rubbermaid but it still gets messed up alot, will have to try this one out!!
Ugh!…Loose ribbon is the bane of my existence!
I use ribbon for so many of my craft projects/girls hair bows, etc. I too have tried the same organizing technique as Courtney but to no avail. Every time I want ribbon I have to go digging for it and inevitably it all gets jumbled up. I’ve seen the spools on dowels before but never in a basket.
This is so simple. Love it!
It was the bane of my exsistence too, glad it’s in the past now. I wanted my husband to come up with some kind of a spool thing for my ribbon but my list of things for him to do is large. So was glad I was able to come up with my own solution!
i totally love this idea too! i’ve been using a pant/skirt hanger for my smaller spools (the one side unhooks and swings out so you can put them on or take them off), but this would be so much better for all of my ribbon! and is better for dispensing as it isn’t hanging in the closet! (LOL)
thanks!
These are absolutely adorable and much needed at my house. Thanks for the great tip!
your welcome so glad you liked it
I totally need something like this. Thanks for the great ideas!
These are brilliant and simple. Thank you for the great ideas!!
K
Thanks for the positive comments hope it helps the ribbon situation!
Very clever! I like how you repurposed these things to be functional. I do have to organize my ribbon, but I have something to put it all in. It just got a little out of hand with Christmas and all the spools I bought.
Awesome Suzanne…thanks for the great ideas! You are helping me with one of my new year resolutions….get more organized!
I love this idea and I happen to have one of those very same baskets!!! I can’t wait to go get dowels.
thanks for this GREAT idea!!!
Love this idea – it’s a perfect solution for all my ribbon and laces (use tp and pt tubes to wind around) but instead of a laundry basket I can dedicate one tray from the IKEA Antonius rolling cart – Thank you for the inspiration!
Great idea to do this on your rolling cart! The basket is actually a small shelf basket but I can see why you might think it’s laundry basket.
I love your idea for the spooled ribbon organizer. I can wait to try it.
Oh yes. This is so helpful to me! I found one that used an old drawer from a desk or dresser, but I don’t have one and don’t want to buy one just to use a drawer. This is MUCH better and something I am going to do. Thanks for sharing!!!
the basket idea is so simple and practical for all the odd and end rolls of ribbon i have…thank you!
So cool! I’ll have to try the basket one. I happen to have some wooden dowels and a basket on hand! LOVE free projects. Thanks for the inspiration.
This is BRILLIANCE!!! I already have a basket like that so I’ll have to try it. Fantastic! Thanks! Kelly
I love it! I have my spooled ribbons organized, but not my loose ribbons. Right now they’re stuffed into a desk drawer. Thanks for the tip!
Blessings,
Michele :)
thank-you!!
I love the idea! Like all really good ones it’s simple and effective!
This is a good idea. I have lots of ribbon in lots of places…I noticed the one last night at RS. Thanks!
This is really smart, I have all kind of ribbon in a basket, thats really a mess. now I can get it really neat, Thanks Kay
I took your idea and headed straight to the store. Now I have a fantastic, organized, stash of ribbon and it can sit on it’s side as they will never fall out. I love it! Thanks for the idea.
Very good Ideal I have been looking for something like this. I have a lot of different kinds of ribbons for different kind of crafts that I make. You have me thinking about other containers I can use such as a small or large oatmeal boxes you can cut or make holes down the side of it than stack your spools of ribbons inside and start each one in each hole. To make the box look better if you want you can cover it with whatever you want. I will be make one today here in Texas staying in from the cold!!!!
you are truly a genius. I’m a cardmaker and have tons of unorganized ribbon and have been tempted to buy expensive storage but this is so much more affordable and less space consuming. thank you, thank you, thank you!
This is simply brilliant! I can do this!
Thanks for your post! I finally got my ribbon organized!
http://jbeedelightful.blogspot.com/2011/08/ribbon-organization.html
Great idea. I liked better than mine. I have an empty shoe box, a rod and opened slits, for each ribbon, but some times they get all tangled,lol!!! Thanks for sharing.
to spool loose ribbona, you can use a papertowel core, i’ve seen where people use glass jars but, frosting in a can or water bottles. you can cut a small hole in the bottom to be able to put it on a dowel rod.
That’s exactly how I store my spooled ribbon! I used bamboo skewers cut to size. Found the container at Joann’s for $1 about 5 years ago. Totally changed my ribbon usage now that I can easily cut a length.
Just need the dowel rods and I’m in business. Any ideas for something to put on the ends of the dowel rods so they won’t slip out? It would have to be something that could be removed, so I can’t use my idea of hot-glueing buttons on the end.
Thanks for your idea. I love the can idea for non-spooled ribbon too. I knew I should have saved that oatmeal box! Oh well, something will get emptied soon. I suppose a regular cereal box or cracker box would work–just cover the box with paper or fabric and make slits on the front. A Mason jar would also work and the pretty ribbon would show through.
I love these ideas! I have been meaning to organize my ribbons! Thanks for sharing.
Great idea. I love ribbons & have thrown mine in a tote which lives in the basement… Somewhere! My only question is do the dowel rods fall out? I was thinking one could use a big button glued on one end to keep them in & a disc of cardstock with a tight fitted hole in to thread the rod through on the other end and then trim the rods. This would let them still spin but the card side could be removed to put on new ribbon..Also, if you have space you could use a large laundry hamper to double up on your rows or ribbon.. all you need to do then is slide the top one out & select the underneath ribbon. I love this site. You do great work.. tons of ideas.. I dont have a work room but when I do! You are now in my ‘favourites’ Suzanne.
Diane
Hi, so love your ideas—I am a ribbon junkie and have such a stash of ribbon, this is just the perfect solution. Thanks for sharing.
This is a amazing idea Thank you
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