Craft Room Organization: Punch Organization for all your Punches!
Yes, I’ll admit it. I kinda have a “thing” for punches. There is just something so satisfying about being able to punch a piece of paper and transform it into something else-an embellishment, border, layer or title for your craft or scrapbook project. And while there are lots of other products that can cut and create amazing things, there are times when I just want to stay present with what I am working on and not introduce a computer or program. So while punches may seem “old school,” being able to stay “analog” and still create makes them a fun choice for me.
So if you are still with me, and agree punches have a place in your craft room, then let’s talk organization! These little gems come in all shapes, sizes and brands, so it can be tricky to try to find a way to store and organize them. And not knowing what you have can mean they may just be collecting dust in your craft space. I know that was the case for me, so I decided to find a way to get my punches front and center, and ready to grab when I needed them. For a tour of my craft room and punch storage, you can check out this video:
So to get going on this process, I would first suggest creating a “punch inventory binder.” I made mine using color coded cardstock, baseball card sleeves and tabs to designate each type or brand of punch. If you would like to see more, you can watch my video here. I love having this inventory binder handy, so I can flip through and see not only what punch I have, but also how they punch including the size and pattern repeat. I also found this fantastic tool that makes punching a breeze, and now has a place next to all my punches.
The next part of organizing really depends on the size of punch collection you have, and I have 3 storage and organization ideas that I have used, and still use for my punches.
1) IKEA DRAWERS
There is just something great about having drawers to organize supplies, and the same is true for punches. You probably remember form past posts that one of my favorites for my craft room are the drawer units from Ikea. The Helmer drawers from Ikea are little metal rolling cabinets, and you can see more about these units in this video. They are a perfect solution for smaller collections, and I have three of them that I use for storing most of my “category” punches, by seasons, kind, shape and themes. The great part about these drawers is that they can hold a variety of shapes and sizes of punches, and I love opening a drawer and seeing all the options I have for my project.
Along with the Helmer drawers, I also use the wide Alex drawer cabinet from Ikea. This is the perfect place for many of my supplies and I also used the top drawer for a long time to house my border maker cartridges from Creative Memories. Two tips I have for you if you would like to try this option are 1) glue your drawers as you are building your cabinet to help reinforce the drawers and 2) use the acrylic frames you can find here as a “tray” in the drawer to help evenly distribute the weight of the punches. If you have a stash, you know how heavy they can get!
2) RECOLLECTIONS DRAWERS FROM MICHAELS
Unfortunately these are no longer made (Michaels has gone to the “simply tidy” cubes) but if you have some in your craft room, they are a great consideration for a smaller supply of punches. The 2-drawer units can hold larger punches (even the ones from CM) and the 3-drawer units can also hold a stash of smaller punches like the Stampin’ up whale-tail and Martha Stewart brands.
3) STAMP-N-STORAGE UNITS
I had been considering these units for quite a while, but was not sure I had the space or wanted to make the investment. After some planning, rearranging, and drooling at craft rooms using these units, I took the plunge! They have some great features, are very well made, come in a variety of sizes and are specifically designed for different types of punches. They are now my favorite!
I came to the realization that punches are a part of what brings me joy in crafting, and I wanted to display my favorites in my work area. You know, kinda like some folks display their Rae Dunn pottery, Starbucks mugs or sports memorabilia. I purchased Stamp-N-Storage units for my Creative Memories Punches, Border Maker Cartridges, and favorite “lock-down” punches. And I could not be happier! With a quick glance I can see just what I have and then grab what I need. And yes, as Marie Kondo would say, my punches have that “zing” factor, and are now happily organized in my craft space.