Do you have a craft room or space? Are you like me and have piles of pretty paper Everywhere?! I am kind of a paper hoarder. I buy basic colors and pretty patterns when they are on sale, and save every scrap just in case. My paper storage system was in dire need of a makeover, and a little organization. Inspiration struck when as I was organizing my kids toys in wood crates. I turned a simple wood crate into pretty paper storage.
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I use a lot of 8.5 x 11 cardstock in solid colors for all kinds of crafts. I love having a rainbow of colors and patterns on hand for when inspiration strikes. I previously had my paper on a bookshelf stacked in piles and it just wasn’t working. I could see everything, but the moment I took a piece out I would have to re-organize the pile. Something needed to change.
Here’s how I created this pretty crate paper storage.
I used a wood crate like this one and drew triangles on the side slates. I just used a ruler to get semi straight lines and eyeballed the rest. Then I painted the triangles in a random pattern using white, pink, blue and green paint.
Then I painted the front and back in solid colors.
Here’s the key to organizing this crate for paper storage!
Once the paint was dry I gathered hanging file folders and all my cardstock. These folders fit perfectly into this crate, and all my paper is visible from the top and sides.
This was a nice opportunity to lay out all my paper, toss any crumbled or cut up pieces, and sort it all by color.
Once it was sorted I filed the paper in my crate, and stuck a few up opened packages in the back.
Thanks for visiting!
Jill Flory says
February 8, 2016 at 8:02 amThis is so cute! And what a great idea for organizing all that lovely paper!
Marie sharkey says
January 19, 2018 at 7:50 pmWhere can i find wooden box crates used for free???
Tammy says
February 8, 2016 at 8:16 amSo cute…love how you painted the create adorable.
Cathy says
February 8, 2016 at 9:55 amLove how you painted the crate. A perfect place to store your craft paper. I am always looking for great ways to store paper and I love this one.
Sarah says
February 8, 2016 at 12:55 pmThanks Cathy!
Michele says
February 8, 2016 at 1:21 pmI love this idea. The box is painted so fun and pretty! I think my solution of plastic boxes isn’t working either, this might be just the key. Thank you!!
Sarah says
February 9, 2016 at 4:23 pmThat was my thought, a pretty box makes me feel so much better about my cluttered craft room.
Twila says
July 28, 2016 at 1:31 pmI have my paper in two crates but not the way you have it. I really like your idea, it looks nice and neat. I’ll be changing my paper soon. TFS
Sarah says
July 29, 2016 at 11:45 amI’m so glad you like it, I have to say it’s really easy to access and find the color I need this way. Thanks for reading.
Vicky says
January 30, 2017 at 6:34 pmCould this work for 12\12 paper size? I’m a fellow border looking for a way to dafly store my treasure’s
Sarah says
January 30, 2017 at 8:16 pmMy crate does not fit a 12 inch sheet of paper. I wonder if you could find one that would, and use 12×12 hanging files.
Thanks for reading, I hope you find a solution.
Erlene Amat says
February 14, 2017 at 6:35 pmSo clever! I have an extra crate and I plan on doing this.
leanne with divaofdiy.com says
February 27, 2017 at 6:19 pmI love the pattern you painted on your crate! I like storing my crafts in pretty things like this! Great job!
Lynn Spencer says
February 27, 2017 at 6:32 pmSarah, your organizational skills are brilliant! Like you I have way too much paper and this is a great way to manage it all. Thanks for inspiring me!
hugs, Lynn
Sam @ Raggedy Bits says
February 28, 2017 at 2:11 amWhat a cute way to store all of the yucky paper work! Love the colours you chose 🙂
rachel holland says
August 21, 2017 at 6:06 pmLove this idea. Do the file folders slide easily or do they get a little caught up on the crate?
Sarah says
August 22, 2017 at 8:10 amMine do slide but I have a lot of paper in it so I tend to just pull out what I need, not much room to slide them back and forth.
Rose says
October 9, 2017 at 1:08 amWhat is the size of your wooden crate?
Sarah says
October 12, 2017 at 9:16 pmIt’s about 12 inches wide by about 18 inches long.
Tharames says
April 14, 2018 at 7:10 amWhere did you get the crate? I have been looking for a way to store my paper and I love this idea!
Sarah says
April 16, 2018 at 3:34 pmI purchased this at either Walmart or Michael’s. I have seen them still in both stores. Glad you like the idea, hope it works for your paper storage.
Mimbsi says
April 29, 2019 at 11:11 amThis is such a great idea!
I’ve been looking for a good storage solution for all the scrapbooking paper I have, and this is it!
Thank you!
Sarah says
May 1, 2019 at 10:52 amYay, I’m so glad!