Wednesday, February 4, 2009

ClosetMaid Organizing Labels

This is my little space in my closet I have made for my scrapbooking supplies. I love these ClosetMaid storage/shelf units. The collapsible fabric cube bins are perfect to store scrapbook and craft supplies. I have been using these for about 5 years now. I like to have the bins labeled so I can find things quickly and easily. I also have a little crafter (9 year old daughter) that likes to use my supplies sometimes so it also makes it easier for her to find things AND to put them back where they belong.

I just came up with a great way to label the fabric cubes so they will "stay". Before, I used my print out labels from my label maker, as below:

Before


Because of the fuzzy type of fabric the ClosetMaid cubes are made of, print out labels do not stay on. Slowly they begin to curl up and then fall off.


After

I decided to print out labels and adhere them to the cubes with velcro dots. I will share how to do that below.



First you will need a few packages of velcro, hook & loop, or Scotch Reclosable Fasteners. There are so many names for them, but you know what I mean. I bought the Scotch Reclosable Fasteners at Wal Mart in the fabric/crafts department.


Next, just make your labels anyway you like on paper. I typed the labels using Word and printed them on white cardstock. I cut them out with my paper cutter the same size 2" x 4" each. I then cut out black cardstock rectangles about 1/8" larger than the white and glued the white cards to the black. I then laminated them. You don't have to laminate them if you don't have a laminator, but it makes them sturdier and last longer. Especially if you are going to be pulling the bins in and out all the time like I do.


*Did you know you can buy a great laminator ("Duck" brand) at Wal Mart for less than $30.00? You would be surprised how much you would use it if you had one. They are great for school projects, labeling, scrapbooking.*




Next, you will only need the "hook" only sheets from the package.



Save the "loop" only sheets of dots. They work great on the bottom of your kitchen chairs if you have tile or wooden floors. They also work great as furniture protectors under lamps and vases. You can also use them on the backs of framed art to protect the walls.




Just put four loop dots on the back of each label and stick them on the cubes. The great thing is you can move them around, change them out, they are not permanent.



Ahhhhhh. Now everything is organized AND labeled nicely. I can go on about my day.

Be Inspired! -Karol :0)

16 comments:

^..^Corgidogmama said...

Wow!!
What a great storage unit and bins.
It's great looking and serves you well. Ohhh. You have a cricut.
Sucn a handy thing to have for a scrapper..and beyond that too.
You've got it all together Karol.
Sigh...can I be you when I grow up?

Melanie said...

I have a roman shade above my tub and I went to Joanne's & bought some nice fringe and that is the same thing that I used to put it on the shade with. It worked really well & I didn't have to glue or do anything to the shade that would mess it up. I love anything that has to do with organization. It makes me happy.

Stacey said...

You really are talented at organizing things. Your dubgies are so attractive and useful. I would put them in the closet then never get the stuff in them.

Peggy said...

I'm jealous! I've been eyeballing units like this at ikea.com, for my space . . . I love the cloth bins too! The storage units make it look so tidy, we have one for the boys toys. It's easy when you have to take your cartridges (or toys in our case) too, 'cause you could just grab the bins! We do that often, when we travel.

Great job Karol!

p.s. I like Corgi Dog Mama's comment, about being you when she grows up. That made me giggle.

Tara said...

Thanks so much for the great organizing tips. That is a project I am in the middle of. My arts/crafts/scrapping/creating/etc.room is a wreck. It seems like all the organization pieces are so expensive. Trying to organize on a budget... :-0 Where did you get the collapsable Closetmaid units?

sadie said...

I swear that when I saw the photo, I thought you were going to say 'photo from Martha Stewart.com'. YOu are one organised lady. I am starting to really hanker after a little craft/sewing space.I've got my eye on little humbugs nursery! Do you think I can boot her out yet? I was planning on turning it into a shoe room, but now I want to paint it pink, have floral wallpaper, white furniture, sewing machine permanently set up, and call it my Creative Room!

Love your latest project too. And I think I've done well when I make curtains! YOu are an inspiration.

So sad about ME Home Companion. I used to do a magazine swap with a friend in the US last year, but we called it a day with the December issues. Now I'm glad we did, as I'd have been heartbroken at the prospect of not being able to get the mag. At least this way I knew I wasn't going to get it any more. I will be gutted if MS Living goes, as I can get it here and hubby buys it for me every month. I still have the very old copy that you sent to me, do you remember? I hope the rumour is just that.

Ok. got to go. Have a lovely end to the week xxxxx

SoBella Creations said...

Wow your closet looks great!

My daughter has those bins in the top of her closet.

^..^Corgidogmama said...

Karol, I just visited your Colored Pencil Art site....and I feel as if I've just had a tour of Seaside.
It's really an interesting and informative site, and you've put a lot of thought into it. You're so accomplished!! I'm glad you're my bloggie buddy.

trish said...

How clever!! I love how orderly and colorful everything is!
Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne

tam said...

Hi Karol! I love labels!!! My kids like to hide my label maker from me-they say I get carried away with it-silly kids! Great tips -thanks. I always enjoy your post! Hope you are having a fun weekend girlie~Smiles~Tam!

Brenda said...

It all looks great! I am working on storage space for fabric in my sewing room. Where do you get the "closet/maid storage/shelf units"? Thanks for you great ideas!
brenda :)

Anonymous said...

Karol,
Thank you so much! I use these bins and storage units for my kids' toys. I tried to label them too, as you originally did, but of course, the labels fell off. I didn't want to use fabric paint, because I know their toy interests will change as they grow older. I am SO glad you found a way to label the bins, make them stick, and make them easy to change, and extra glad that you were willing to share your idea.

PS: I found my bins and shelving at Target, for those who were asking where to get them.

PPS: To make the labels I used wide ribbon and wrote on the ribbon with fabric paint instead of using paper. Extra cute!
-Karen, Woodland, CA

Panamamama said...

Beautiful! I was trying to figure out how to label my kids' closet- I used the same bins and now I know! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

This is SUCH a great idea - thank you. We just bought a closetmaid unit (9 cubes) and if anyone is looking they are on sale at Target (as of 12/27/09). The 9 cube wooden part was $39.99 and the cubes are $5.50 a piece... so glad I now have a way to label them!!!

Darlene S. said...

This is genius! Thanks so much for your idea of velcro, I just knew that a label maker or printed labels wouldn't stick, and you showed me just that. I will take out my velcro and go nuts labeling now! I might even add some small pictures to each label along side of the word for my 3 year old to organize her space and learn some words too. :)

Thanks for the idea!

Kristen said...

It's like we are cosmic twins and you got the brilliant idea genes!

I was frustrated that my label maker tags were not sticking to my closet maid bins. I googled "closet maid storage bin label" and found your blog.

I now have it saved to read, as soon as I get back from buying supplies to fix my bins.

Thank you very much.

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