How would you store a lot---a WHOLE lot---of beads?

Question

I just inherited 80 or 90 pounds of beads from my great aunt, who must have collected them all her life. Right now they're in a trunk, which I can't move, in my living room. I've found everything from the tiniest seed beads to large focal beads and pendants, filigrees and findings. But I only got through about the top 3 inches and completely overwhelmed my storage system. How can I possibly sort and store all these things so that I can find them again when I'm ready to use them--preferably without taking out a mortgage on my house?? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Forgot to mention most of them are still in the original packages.

Answer 1

Woohoo! Jackpot! LOL!

I would go to the Dollar Store to buy a lot of various sized Plastic bags, white sticker labels, and the clear plasic shoe boxes. That way you can group all of the different kind of beads into categories. The smaller boxes make them easier to move around.

I use the labels and stick them on the inside of the plastic bags. This way I can see what I have and know the label won't get lost among the other bags. Colored markers help a lot.

I personally"TRY" to keep my stuff by color within my categories. I have seed beads, gold tone findings, silver tone findings, real silver findings, real gold findings, tools, stringing supplies, glass, plastic, wood, Large Pendants, etc. all in separate grouped bags.

If I find enough stuff that I know I want to put together for a project/piece of jewelry, I make another bag for that so I remember what I wanted to do with those beads. Make sure to put those project bags in a different box so you know where those are too!

Weed out what you will never use and sell it in lot(s) on eBay. Then you can hopefully use that money to buy more storage!

Answer 2

I'd sort them 10-15 different types every weekend, and sell them on eBay. Unless you want to keep them.

If you want to keep them, I'd get some breadbox sized clear plastic storage boxes and use one for each color. I use clear plastic tackle boxes for mine but 80-90 pounds is going to make for several dozen of these, and I wouldn't want that many small boxes sitting around.

Answer 3

There are many sizes of plastic storage containers.  Try the clear/almost clear ones so you can see color and style of bead without opening it.  Make sure they will stack on top of each other.

If you have a space for some shelving in a garage, laundry room, craft room, etc. make sure the bins will fit on the shelves.

Also you may be able to donate some to a charity or organization that have crafts for children or mentally challenged adults.

Answer 4

I'm a beaded and have a 15x 17 rooms i use to store all my crafts. For my beads i use tackle boxes. i use prolach stowaway with adjustable compartments made by plano from walmart they cost about 6 bucks and are good in size and they are see through so when you need them you can find what you need fast. gotta say I'm jealous of your new inheritance.

don't waste your money on bead containers they are too small!

Answer 5

Put them on a string. Put nails on the wall. Hang them for decoration.

Answer 6

Save up and get something like this:

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/produc...

With these drawers...

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/produc...

Then inside the drawers yyou can use plastic boxes (Hobbycraft has a good selection), recycled glass jam jars, or even these little things:

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/produc...

I use these basket drawers for thread storage, and sort by colour and type.  My beading collection is tiny (I occasionally bead clothing for customers), so I don't need this much storage for that.

Answer 7

Woo Hoo, How lucky are you!!! I would get some kind of shelve unit first. Then I would get some cardboard box bottoms ( like bottled water comes in.) Then I would start sorting putting similer beads together. You could use cardboard strips to keep rows seperate. In the beginning I would leave things in their own packages until you know what you have. You can move the boxes around until all the same beads are together. Later after you are all organized you could change from cardboard to other trays or shelves.  

Answer 8

well firstly since you have such a large amount I would leave some in the chest kinda like a *bead bank* they have containers at the store just for beads that have sevral small compartments for different styles and varieties. use those and when you get low on beads go back to your *bead bank* and refill them. that way you don't have to worry about all those beads at once, just a lil at a time.