Shoe Box Ribbon Storage

In my efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle I couldn't throw away a couple of shoe boxes I had without attempting to make something out of them and I think I came up with a rather crafty solution! You are quite aware of my obsession, I mean hobby, of making bows- so needless to say there is a lot of ribbon floating around my craft area. Now, I would love to say that it is all organized and beautiful arranged in some nook or cranny of my storage area, but lets keep it real- it's not. So I was so excited when I came up with this idea to use one of the shoe boxes to make one of those fancy, pricey storage holders for them when I was trying to fall asleep a couple of nights ago (this is when most of my ideas happen).

Here is what you need:

• Shoe box (mine came with a pair of flats so it was one of the skinnier ones, if you have a wider one you could probably follow the directions with the holes for both sides and hold twice as much)
• 2 pieces of 12x12 scrapbook paper (my shoes were size enormous and I only need two for the skinny box)
• Mod Podge
• Paint Brush
• Crop-a-dile or eyelet setter/hole punch
• Eyelets
• Paper cutter or scissors

First I measured where I should cut my paper by using the shoe box as a guide, then cut all the pieces you need, I used my paper cutter.


Next Mod Podge all the pieces onto the box, I put it on the surface and on the back of the paper. I did not do the bottom of the box but I did the rest of the sides and the lid.


I found after putting the paper on, it was easiest to turn the box on that side to press down the paper from the inside.




Once all the sides are covered then I used my Crop-a-dile (or your hole punch but if you don't have one of these I suggest you grab a coupon and go out and get one!) and made holes all along one of the long sides of the box.


Then place all your eyelets in whatever order you want (I was using what I had on hand and had a bunch of different colors so I played with it a little).


Next, set them in place with your Crop-a-dile or eyelet setter.




Then place all your ribbons inside and thread through the hole and viola! I found I could fit two spools next to each other and thread them through the same hole and it still worked, and now my smaller ribbons are nicely organized- which is great seeing as how they make the most mess!

Now I am going to figure out a solution for the wider ones with the other box- stay tuned!



I am linking up to these linky parties!