{Tutorial Tuesday} $5 dollar ribbon organizer

posted on: Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Today has been one of those rat race days where I am now just eating lunch and writing a post...it's what I call multi-tasking along with unthawing dinner, doing loads of laundry, and allowing Punk to entertain himself in my baking sheet cupboard.

Today's tutorial is so simple I think Hunk could even do it. HA!

First thing you need to know...I have this habit of buying ribbon. I mean I have a lot of ribbon. I usually end up taking it off the spool and shoving it all in clear containers. That ususally turns into a disaster. When I try to retrieve a specific strand of ribbon I end up pulling all the of out, and then I spend more time untangling my mess then actually doing my project.

I have even tried the hanger trick where you undo a metal hanger and then slide the ribbon rolls onto the straight part--the ribbon would always be hanging down or it would unwind on its own.

ahhhhhh.

So I finally decided to tackle my ribbon once and for all. And this is what I came up with...


For this project you will need:
*slotted tupperware bin (I found mine in the organization/storage section of Walmart).
*1/4 inch dowl rod (can be purchased at any hardware or craft store).

 I then inserted each ribbon spool onto the rod. Once I had enough spools on the rod I then stuck each end of rod into the holes on each side of the bin.
 Like so...Isn't that cool?
Then I pulled each ribbon end through a hole on the front. Now the spools can't roll and I don't have to worry about a tangled mess.

Cost:
Bin: $3
dowls: $.12 (clearance)
My mental state: sane and gleeful ;)

ALSO, don't forget to check out my amazing giveaway packages this week that are worth over $250 dollars. Whoaza!!!!

Here are the parties I link up to!


160 comments:

  1. I adore that!!! i'm gonna copy it!

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  2. A really neat idea, I'll have to remembe that!

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  3. I have a total of 3 spools of ribbon, so this isn't too practical for me, but SUPER creative. I love it!

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  4. Um, you are a GENIUS! I may very well hijack this idea!

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  5. This is so super smart! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. A very good idea!! I am afraid I might have to us steal , I mean borrow the idea~

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  7. Wow! That IS super easy!!! Nice job!! :)

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  8. Simple and clever. This is a great idea.

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  9. WOW...love this awesome idea...I so need to try this one! Thanks for coming to my party...please be sure to link my blog name:)

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  10. Great Minds Think alike! I did that exact same thing with my beading wire, over 2 years ago!!!! only mine was one dowel.......I have been wanting to get into making things with ribbon, now this encourages me to try it!

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  11. great idea, i will have to "borrow" it from you

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  12. This is ingenious! Thanks for sharing! I'm absolutely doing this :)

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  13. This is a great and inexpensive way to get organized!

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  14. That is really clever!
    http://one-girl-vs-world.blogspot.com

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  15. Great idea! I think I even have one of those bins! Gonna get to work!
    Jo-Anna

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  16. Brilliant!! And my baby can't dump them all out of the container with this idea. Love it! Thanks!!

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  17. That is a super idea! And such a great alternative to ones at the craft store for big bucks.

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  18. What a cool idea. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  19. Great idea! I'll try it too! Thanks for sharing :)

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  20. Why hadn't I ever thought of that!?! I love it. Must copy it and share it. Thanks a bunch!

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  21. Oh my goodness, I have such a ribbon disaster and was looking for a solution. This is great! The funny thing is that I have the same containers in my closet, but I never thought to use them that way! Thanks sooooo much for the great idea!

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  22. This is such a great idea. I have been collecting ribbon and now I have a great way to store it!

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  23. that's awesome! i have been looking for a way to store ribbons better, i like this a lot.

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  24. I love you for this! :) I have had this very bin and I wasn't sure what to do with it. My ribbon collections is OUT of control, so this is perfect! Thanks!

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  25. Great idea! And I have everything I need already on hand! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  26. This is the best ribbon organization idea I have seen. I am totally going to do this. Thank you for the idea.
    visiting from creatingmemorieswithallieroo.blogspot.com.

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  27. THAT'S BLOODY BRILLIANT! Congrats on being smarter then the rest of us,haha.

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  28. OMGosh that is genius!!! So cool! Visiting from FF&JB. Come visit me sometime at SSB!

    http://superstinkyboys.blogspot.com

    xoxo
    Ginger

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  29. i have several of these same baskets at home! what a great idea & how badly do i need it!!!

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  30. What a great idea! I have so much ribbon I don't know where to put it, it ended up in a plastic container, but this is the perfect idea, I have over 50 spools of ribbon, and this is gonna make it so much easier to find the one I want...Thanks so much!!!! oh! I'm a new follower =)

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  31. That is too cute!! omg.. you have to link up to my link party and share this with my readers! I love it. I keep it open until Sat.
    Just found you on Fingerprints on the fridge.
    Thanks!!

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  32. What a great idea! I think I've even seen similar bins at the $ store. I'd love for you to come link up at my party today: http://fastdaze.blogspot.com/2011/01/linky-fridaze-2.html

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  33. Very, very clever...I have been trying to come up with to untangle my ribbon mess...thanks!

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  34. This is one of those "so obvious" ideas that no one ever thinks of - until someone as think-outside-the-boxy as you comes along! Love it!

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  35. ingenious....I love this a lot! Makes me want to go out and buy more ribbon so I can store it in this way!

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  36. So very clever! Love it! Super easy to store, too.

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  37. nice idea!! i was just untangling all of my ribbon and ricrac and trims today brainstorming about an organizational technique. great idea!

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  38. So simple, yet so perfect.
    As a fellow ribbon lover I thank you so much for sharing this!

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  39. I will be a copy cat...hope you don't mind :D

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  40. What a great & inexpensive idea!

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  41. Awesome idea! and much better than my current dowel-rod-across-the-top-shelf-of-the-bookcase method. I'm going to try it with a black plastic basket I got at the dollar store.

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  42. brilliant! they should market the bin for that! (oh, then it would be $12 instead o $3!)

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  43. This is one of the most wonderful solutions I have seen. Inexpensive, easy and it works! A million thanks for sharing it and where to buy the "ingredients"!

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  44. I love it! I am also going to be stealing your idea. I have been trying to come up with a better way to store all my ribbon and so far have been unsuccessful. This should be perfect.

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  45. I've looked at lots of ways to organize ribbon and this seems like the easiest (no power tools? crazy!) and cost effective - I'm super-excited to try it! Thanks for posting and AMAZING idea!

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  46. Such a clever you!!!!!!!! I envy at your intellegens!! and run to make one for myself...

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  47. OH WOW I have been needing a good storage bin. Now I will need to lay out all my ribbon and do a count to how many will fit etc etc.. Oh an I am sending this to my Get Organized challenge with the scraprack group. so cool...

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  48. Oh my gosh! I love it. Very clever!

    Thanks for linking up to Craftify It Thursday!
    Jennifer

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  49. I would LOVE to share this on my blog-- www.piggybankparties.blogspot.com Just let us know if we can...thanks!

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  50. Love this idea! I am going to give this a shot with all my ribbon!

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  51. Awesome idea! I could probably fill 20 of those bins with the ribbon I have - but that's WAY better than the mess they are now! Thanks so much ...

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  52. carol@The Design PagesJanuary 24, 2011 at 9:42 AM

    How brilliant is that? I am totally going to steal this idea.

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  53. This is really great! Thanks for sharing!

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  54. cool idea. Thanks.

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  55. Good idea. I am organizing my ribbons now!

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  56. Hi! If you have not stopped by yet, I hope you enter my linky contest for a vie at Best of January and ultimately Best of 2011! Every month prizes are awarded!

    http://www.thesaturdaymorningsblog.com/2011/01/strut-your-stuff-link-up-party.html

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  57. Gee... this is a superb idea ! Tks for sharing

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  58. Love it! I've tried several methods for organizing my ribon, but haven't found anything I love yet. This is the perfect solution and I love how cheap it is too!

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  59. You are not even going to believe this....my ribbon is sitting in a bin JUST like that with dowels sitting behind it in my craft room. Um....never in a million years would that idea have hit me. Literally sitting inches apart and the idea never occured to me. Guess what I'm doing now? :)

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  60. BRILLIANT! I already have that basket... just need the dowels! I never would have thought of this on my own and my ribbon box is a rat's nest. Thanks for sharing!

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  61. Love this! So simple, yet so inspired.

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  62. This is the best idea ever! It is so simple someone should have thought of it years ago! Truly Brilliant!

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  63. I love, love, LOVE this idea - and your pics are so pretty!

    I also don't have that much ribbon but I'm sure I could use a smaller basket :)

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    Replies
    1. hahaha - I did exactly this with a smaller basket :)

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  64. I'm visiting from I'm an Organizing Junkie. This is brilliant! Thanks for sharing.

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  65. Funny thing is I am actually storing the ribbon in this exact container! Of course, not organized in any way. I think I may hit home depot today to grab a few dowels, too funny!

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  66. You're a genius! Thank you, thank you!
    Donna
    www.d-eatrunplay.blogspot.com

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  67. Brilliant! Simple and organized ~ a state I desire to continually be in...with children, the challenge remains consistant, though. :-) Thanks for the great and "easy to impliment" idea!

    Blessings ~

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  68. I ab.so.lute.ly love LUV <3 this! It's PERFECT!!

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  69. Great idea! I need to get a couple of these!

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  70. Oh u are amazing!
    following and trailblazing my thanks! :D

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  71. Oh. My. Gosh. You just made my night. Or year. Or something... Here I've been trying to make it all complicated - "I need the right sized box... a drill, some grommets..." And I can just go buy a plastic basket! Ah!!!!! I may do this tonight, that's how excited I am.
    I'm soooo glad I saw you on One Month to Win it and popped on over... (and don't tell anyone this, but you were the only one on there that I felt I really NEEDED to go check out right this second...)

    Thanks for the awesome idea!
    bugaboo, mini, mr & me

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  72. What an amazing, simple invention!!! Thank you for sharing!

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  73. What a great idea!! I'm going to have to use this one.

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  74. I have a ribbon problem also. This is so easy and can't be dumped out. Great idea! :)

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  75. I also love to buy ribbon and seem to have tons of it. I think this idea is brilliant!! I'm so doing this!! Thank you!!!

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  76. this is insanely genius! i'm doing this as soon as i get all my art supplies out of storage (had to move quick and couldn't take any "non-essential" stuff--aka all of my art/crafting supplies--with me)!

    thanks for the tutorial! <3

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  77. I am in love with this! Totally stealing this idea!!

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  78. i just love this idea and had to share it on pinterest. http://pinterest.com/alteredart/

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  79. for years i have been frustrated with ribbon organization! thank you for this practical idea that really works!!

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  80. Very clever! I've seen versions of ribbon holders but this one is the most practical to make for yourself! I'm going to share this with my sister who is a huge crafter! Thanks for sharing!

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  81. Popped over from Naps...
    Great idea ans so simple. I'm with LP-why didn't I think of this. I too have tooooooooooo much ribbon.

    Melinda

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  82. Dropped from BNOTP, Susan, who just featured you in her latest post. This is so fantastic and what a terrific imagination, young lady, wow!!! Simple ideas are the best as it appeals to everyone for it's easiness and cleverness...I'm off to make one right now, for my tons of Xmas and presents ribbons! Have a great weekend. FABBY

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  83. You're clever using a container that already had holes for the dowels and the ribbons. very smart

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  84. That's a fab idea! All my ribbon is just in a box, but I don't buy it on spools...so although I love this idea, I don't know how to make it work for me! :( x

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  85. Thank you so much for sharing your fabulous idea! Saw this yesterday, bought the supplies and with my daughter's help got most of my 5/8" and 7/8" grosgrain ribbon organized! You can see pictures here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150258192709875.350704.224803934874

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  86. Brilliant!!!! Love it!

    Chrissy

    formamas.blogspot.com

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  87. I shared this with my readers today and just became a new follower! What a fantastic and resourceful idea!

    Jamie
    day-and-age-design.com

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  88. I love the idea, but can't find the bin. I was all over Walmart. Can anyone tell me where to find one? Thanks :)

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  89. Super Cute! May I feature you on Sew Spoiled!! Next month is October Organization Month! Let me know at leah(dot)sewspoiled(at)gmail(dot)com.
    www.sewspoiled.blogspot.com

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  90. Super duper idea for home or floristry shop.C

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  91. This is absolutely BRILLIAAAAANT!!! I buy ribbon by the metre (yard) for my card making - any ideas on how to store this? (I usually buy 2 metres at a time). I do try to wrap them around cardboard but now all these pieces of ribboned cardboard are lying in a drawer and is still getting messed up.

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  92. Wow, I`ll do it! I have tons of ribbons. Thanks

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  93. What a fantastic idea! I saw your post linked to on Pinterest.

    I just organized my ribbon tonight. Thanks! Linked to you here: http://smallbitsfs.blogspot.com/2011/11/pinterest-project-300-of-365.html

    Thanks again! I added you to my Google reader.

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  94. Hi! GREAT idea! What size bin did you use? The small or medium one?

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  95. Thanks for sharing....totally love ur ideas and gonna copy it soon... :)

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  96. Oh the infamous ribbon storage issue. I have had it for about a year now and have tried many different things but am totally floored with your simple and inexpensive idea that I'm doing. Thank you SO much!

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  97. Love it! I have seen a lot of uses for dowels and tension rods lately. Great photographs as well!

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  98. Sadly, I went looking for them so I could put them into use and another lady beat me to it and bought the whole lot at Walmart. I asked her, "are you taking them all?", and she said, "yeah, sorry". I couldn't believe how someone could take all of them at once.

    Oh woe is me. I went to the remaining Walmart's in town and no one else had any. If anyone sees them somewhere like this, please post on here. I even looked on walmart.com and couldn't find them there so I am worried they won't be restocking them. Thanks for posting! I so love this idea...

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  99. If you have a TON of ribbon like I do put up a peg board. You can see all your ribbons at the same time.

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  100. Ok so I never comment on anything but I have to say this is genius!!! I can't wait to go out and get some of these bins for my ribbons!! Thanks for sharing your wonderful idea!!!

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  101. This is the first ribbon storage idea I've seen that is portable. enJOYing this!

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  102. Perfect idea for all the ribbon I have collected. I found your idea on Pinterest and re-pinned. Thanks for sharing.

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  103. wish I'd found this last year! But the good thing is, it's not too late to clean up that mess of ribbons. Thank you thank you thank you thank you ... and ... T H A N K Y O U ! !

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  104. Hello, I love reading through your blog, I wanted to leave a little comment to support you and wish you a good continuation. Wish you best of luck for all your best efforts. slotted angle racks Delhi, plastic baskets manufacturers Delhi.

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  105. How do I get the ribbon from unraveling in the box?

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  106. I'm going to do this today and buy more ribbon while I'm at it!

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  107. Cute idea! I have the exact same basket I was using for something else. I just might have to get some more. :) I got mine at the Dollarama for $1.

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  108. great PORTABLE organizing idea. This is exactly what I need.

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  109. I think this is a very good idea. I have tons of ribbon myself. After I saw this I purchased some dowels and I am going to organize my ribbons this week. Thank you for sharing.

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  110. I did this and its great.....Thanks for the idea

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  111. I love it great idea

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  112. I saw this over at Rae Gun and had to come pin! This is FABULOUS!!

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  113. Great idea to organize spools of ribbon. I also wanted to compliment you on your "I'm a Mormon" button. It's so amazing how often I see these while I'm wandering through blogs checking out pins. It's very cool.

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  114. Hi my name is Grisel and I'am a baker. You have no idea how happy I'am to finally found something that would help me organize my ribbons, what a great idea. Your are a genius thank you so much.I'm a very organize person but I never have the time to organize my ribbons and every time I go over to the box where I normally keep them I keep saying to my self I need to find a way to organize theses ribbons with out spending a lot of money. Thanks your great.. Happy me.

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  115. BRILLIANT! I dont have that many ribbons but seeing your photos makes me want to buy more so I can do this project.
    Very Clever. Its totally a project REAL SIMPLE magazine would love to post.

    ReplyDelete
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  118. Brilliant, Such a great and simple storage idea.

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  120. Wow. I was going to use a shoebox but why bother? Your idea is much easier! The holes are already there! And, yours is much more sturdy. Pretty, too.

    I have a few Organizational Ideas over in our “31 Days to a More Organized Life!” series which you might enjoy :)
    http://www.cookingatcafed.com/2012/02/follow-up-getting-grip.html
    ~ Dana at Cooking at Cafe D

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  121. This did NOT work for me. I got everything set up and fed through the holes. And the problem was that when i pulled on a ribbon, the spool would rub on the spool next to it, and that spool on the one next to it and so on and so forth and eventually i would have all of the ribbon in the bottom of the basket thing. I added butterfly clips in between each spool so that the spools would not rub like that.

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  122. I have a whole drawer full of ribbons that I have wanted to organize. I found your idea on Pinterest and was so glad!
    I liked your idea so much that I linked to it on a post I wrote about my favorite 15 DIY Craft Supply organization ideas. I would love for you to check it out!
    http://homecraftsbyali.blogspot.com/2015/04/15-diy-craft-supply-organization-ideas.html

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  123. I love this idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for sharing!!!!!!!!!!!! ☆☆

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  124. Add a rubber band to the end of the dowls on the outside to keep them from sliding out of place.

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  125. Dear Halsey,
    have many Thanks for your DIY.

    Greetings from Germany,
    Michael

    ReplyDelete
  126. Wow that is such and amazing idea! I inherited a ton of ribbon that sits in a container and I forget that I have it or even what I have. I am going to get the material you have used and do the same thing. Thank you so much for sharing this.

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  127. Lovely! One refinement: Turn the back group around and thread them thru the bottom row of holes. All the ribbons now feed to the same side of the bin. The bin can now sit on a shelf with all ribbons visible. No turning the bin, looking for a ribbon. That's a lot easier on my body. :D

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  128. BRILLIANT! I dont have that many satin Ribbon but seeing your photos makes me want to buy more so I can do this project.
    Very Clever. Its totally a project REAL SIMPLE magazine would love to post.

    ReplyDelete
  129. Love this idea. I may need about 5 or more of those. Like you I buy a LOT of ribbon. Currently have them in a large tote, but when I go to look for a particular color I have to take most of them out just to find the one I want. This will make it a lot easier to find my color. Thanks for this wonderful idea. Wish I had found it earlier.

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  134. I tried this but I could not get my ribbon to not unspool.

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