Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sunday School: Organize Your Punches!

Good morning CraftyStealers!

As some of you may remember, I posted about starting my own little Mission Organization in my craftroom/office and started with my scraps.  That day, another CraftyStealer, Susan, commented that she put her punches in a hanging shoe organizer.  I thought it was a fabulous idea, but I didn't think the hubs would be a big fan of those punches banging on the door when he opened it. So I continued to look around online and in magazines, and over and over again I saw people organizing their punches on the wall.  I thought it was kind of genius. I've always had mine here:
In a drawer, all jumbled up (well, that is unless I took one into another room and threw it in a different drawer). I kind of like the idea of having my tools and goodies out in the open.  After all, "out of sight, out of mind", right? If I have them right in front of me, I might use them, or at the very least not forget that I have one and then go out and get a duplicate, just to find the original a few weeks later (okay, it was months later - I'm sure everyone NEEDS two snowflake punches).

When I was looking through scraprooms and organizational sites, I saw punches on the wall on shelves, on picture ledges, and my personal favorite -- on towel racks.  Yep, you heard me right.  Towel racks. 

So last weekend, I talked my mom into going to IKEA with me and the kids, and I picked up these beauties. (These are from the BYGEL system in the kitchen area).
Now, if you don't have an IKEA near you, don't fret.  The important thing, is a towel rack that sticks out of the wall far enough for your punches to sit on, but not so far that they would fall through.  This towel rack comes out 1 5/8" from the wall.  I'm sure your local home or hardware store has something that fits the bill.  I went to IKEA because it's about 10 minutes from my mom's house - and she was willing to hang out with my kids while I concentrated on the mecca that is IKEA.

It literally took me 5 minutes to hang them - just don't forget to make sure they are level.  They fit perfectly behind my door.  (A bonus is that my husband can't complain about my "stuff" being all over the the office AND since my desk is right next to the door, I can still see them perfectly)
What about you? Where are all of you keeping all of your punches (and anyone want to admit how many they have? You can tell us, you are among friends ;))
Don't forget to suggest us to your friends as we continue our journey to 20,000 Facebook fans!

Have a great Sunday and happy crafting!
Posted by Andreana at 9:30 AM
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14 comments:

  1. LaurieMarch 27, 2011 at 9:58 AM

    This is a fantastice idea! I could not tell you how many punches I have LOL, but I do keep them in the see through shoe holders that fit on the back of the door. I must admit they have taken over the closet doors as well! :) I also have a jewelry holder for the smaller punches too. Thanks for keeping us on our toes with these organizing tips!!

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  2. magpiesoupMarch 27, 2011 at 10:00 AM

    I love this idea but live in a rental.I don`t want to be doing repairs when I leave! So I am wondering now if this would work on an old worn door ,free standing against the wall?hmmm!I may be on to something.I am inspired.My punches are all in drawers to.

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  3. EstherMarch 27, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    I've organized my punches this way for several years. It works so well!
    Keeps them neat and in sight. I wouldn't do it any other way!

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  4. dianaMarch 27, 2011 at 10:37 AM

    I organised my punches like that a month or so ago! Works great!! IKEA also has a little basket that hangs from that rod, it is great for smaller punches, or even scissors. Gotta love IKEA!! almost as much as scrapping!

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  5. Viji SiddharthMarch 27, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    I store my punches on the bygel rack from ikea too!

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  6. tomiannieMarch 27, 2011 at 11:16 AM

    Awesome. I have seen this before but I never knew exactly which rack from IKEA it was. Thank you! I think I'm on my way to IKEA this week to grab those -- they'll fit perfectly right over my desk. :)

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  7. AmyMarch 27, 2011 at 11:46 AM

    I use the shoe bag method. I hung it on the closet in my "studio" room and I've been really happy with it! The big ones juuuuust fit. I love it!

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  8. GaleMarch 27, 2011 at 10:05 PM

    I have my punches up like this only I used cafe rods. I don't nail/screw them to the wall. I use those 3M strips for hanging pictures. Works great and I have alot of punches on them!

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  9. Laura JoMarch 28, 2011 at 6:49 AM

    Fabulous idea! Just in time as I'm in the middle of spring cleaning and re-org! Looks like a trip to the hardware store is in order! Thanks a bunch!

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  10. AngelMarch 28, 2011 at 11:57 AM

    I have a punch organizer on the back of the closet door, but also 6 drawers FULL....I may try this!

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  11. AnonymousMarch 28, 2011 at 1:32 PM

    I have been wanting to do this for a long time! Cannot find any towel bars that are less than 2" away from the wall! Will it work with the large and small Bygel bars, or only the small one? I wish I had an IKEA near by - closest one is 4.5 hours away in Dallas.

    Janice
    Tulsa, OK

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  12. AndreanaMarch 28, 2011 at 4:28 PM

    @Magpie - Gale's solution might work for you! I had no idea that 3M hangers were that strong! Thanks for sharing, Gale.

    @diana - Funny, I bought that little BYGEL basket too - I was going to hang it on the rod with spice jars (to hold buttons). IKEA is so much trouble for me!

    @anonymous - I *think* the only difference between the BYGELs, is the length? I only bought the smaller one because the longer one wouldn't fit on the wall behind my door. You really don't HAVE to get the IKEA ones, try Target or Walmart or Lowe's (or something similar) for a small/cheap towel rack.

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  13. UnknownApril 17, 2011 at 11:54 AM

    I put my punches on expandable rods attached to plywood and it sits on the back of my desk. I used the expandable rods so when I purchase more punches just pull the rods out and presto! more room to hang them. Also I've used a small hanging basket to hold the small punches that you can't hang.

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  14. UnknownApril 17, 2011 at 11:57 AM

    My rods are just cafe curtain rods not towel rods. and the wire baskets I got at Walmart.

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