Ribbon Organizer

I don't if its the artist in me or what but my studio (so lucky to have my own space, and I STILL take over the house) is a HOT MESS! I feel like I've tried to organize it several times already, but I continue to fail and pile stuff up to the point that I can't even walk in there right now :( 

So I thought maybe with the help of good ol' Pinterest I could get it together, for GOOD.  Well, I'm short on time so I have to take this in baby bites so I started with my ribbon.  My studio has 7 wonderful windows in it, but therefore I lack a lot of wall space where I could store all the things I'm hoarding.  So stuff ends up in a bag that the cat attacked. . .

The old frame memo board project

There has to be something better, right?  Well I was looking around trying to figure out what to do with the sack of ribbon (am I the only one who can't pass up those stinkin' dollar ribbon racks?!)... when I noticed a different Pinterest project that everyone went crazy over, the old open frame-hang your stuff on clothespins-project.  I have a stack of old frames hanging out in the garage so I figured out a system that would let me hang my ribbon and be able to move things around when I want to.  I like options.  And the best part, I don't have to have a wall, I can prop it up in one of my many windows!

So here's what you need friends:

• an old wooden frame (mine is for a 12x16 picture)
• wooden dowels that are close to the width of your frame (mine is 12")
• screw eyes, 2 per dowel (I used 4 dowels, so I needed 8)
• screw hooks, 2 per dowel 
• hammer
• needle nose pliers
• a ruler 

You could have a good ol' time and paint your frame ahead of time, but I just wanted to actually complete a project and the color didn't bother me so I left mine alone.

First I inserted the screw eyes into the ends of the dowel.  I used a hammer to tap it in and get it started, then I twisted it a few times with my fingers, then switched to twisting it with the pliers.  I stopped twisting mine when all of the screw threads were in the dowel.  You may have to adjust them a little in or out later to fit easier on your hooks.  

Next I used the hammer to insert the screw hooks into the front of the frame.  You could measure and mark off where you want your dowels.  I just lined up the frame on my cutting mat and eyeballed it.  Remember that ribbon comes in lots of different sizes so I don't have all of my dowels evenly spaced for that reason.  

I held the screw hook with my fingers again to keep it still until it was going into the wood easily.  

Now you can slide your dowels/screw eyes onto the hooks and adjust the eyes as necessary. 

See, that wasn't hard! :) Now add your ribbon, and if you have OCD tendencies you can sort your ribbon by color like me.  

Yay! A little more organization in my life.  It certainly looks better than the bag.  Which by the way the my orange kitty is now enjoying 

Have a great weekend! I'm in party planning mode for Baby Goo's FIRST birthday! So I'm sure I'll be getting started on that long list of projects soon.  Along with some pillowcase dresses for football season.