Quick Tip Tuesday: Make Reordering Easy with Simple Organization Tip

Have you ever run out of beads when working on a project? It can be so frustrating! What is even more frustrating is when you can't remember exactly what bead you ordered in the first place - you know it is a lovely round blue bead but you don't know what its technical name is or the exact size. It can take a long search to figure out what you need and you still run the chance of accidently ordering the wrong size or bead. Here's a simple no-fuss way of keeping you beads organized:

When you transfer your beads to your organization bins, peel off the little sticker that comes on the baggy and place it on top of the cubby which contains the beads. This sticker has the item number on it and makes reordering a snap! You can also just cut address labels down to size and write the item number on them. 

If you prefer to organize in tubes, just peel off the sticker and place on the outside of the tube. You can also keep your beads in the bags they come in, this way you will always have the item number handy. 

- Julie 

Quick Tip Tuesday: Clear Storage Tubes For Findings

Many times when you purchase seed beads, they come packaged in handy little clear storage tubes.  Beadaholique, for instance, sells our Miyuki and Toho beads this way.  I've come to love these clear storage tubes so much, that I even break up my hanks of Czech seed beads and carefully pour them into tubes for easy access and seed-bead-uniformity.

Yes, these tubes are well known as keepers of the seed beads, but did you know that they make excellent storage containers for findings as well?  I have found them indispensable when it comes to organizing my head pins, eye pins, jump rings, crimp beads... you name it!

jump rings and crimp tubes and head pins, oh my!

They provide great easy access storage, plus you always know what you are getting because of the fact that the tubes are clear.  I like to make it even easier on myself and neatly hand-write out little labels with the appropriate description or item number.  The best part about it is that the tubes fit neatly into these bead pavilion organizer shelves, so they can stand upright on their own and have a very uncluttered appearance. I keep them right on my desk so the findings can be right at my fingertips, right when I need them.

clearly labeled and ready to use

Do you have any organizational tips you'd like to share?  We would love to hear them!


-Andrea