Organizing Cake Supplies?

Decorating By CakesbyMonica Updated 4 Jan 2010 , 11:04am by egensinnig

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CakesbyMonica Posted 26 Apr 2007 , 6:13pm
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How do you keep your supplies organized and out of the way? So far I only have the Wilton caddy and the tip box. My supplies have outgrown that, by far, and now sit in a cardboard box so full I have to empty it to find anything. Do you have a cart or another box? If you do have something could you describe it and/or put a pic/link to a similar one? I really have to put this stuff away! icon_biggrin.gif Thanks so much!

25 replies
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lynda-bob Posted 26 Apr 2007 , 6:25pm
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I have my stuff in those rubbermaid type drawers (clear front). I only had little one; I need to upgrade to the regular size now.

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mbelgard Posted 26 Apr 2007 , 6:43pm
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My shaped pans are on the wall, I have the holiday ones put away and I hang them when it's the right season.

I have some wood colored cabinets that are about 6' tall and 30" wide. I got some plastic baskets that fit perfectly on the shelves that hold pans, cookie cutters, powdered sugar, cake mix and other stuff. I have some boxes that fit 3 across and 2 high on the top shelf that hold candy melts, tools, icing bags, sprinkles and food coloring.
I have baskets for the top of the cabinets that have my mini wondermold and other pans like that, I've also found that my 3d train and lion work well up there for display.
One of my kitchen cabinets has my pans that come in boxes like my wondermold and sports ball.
I have a tool box with small clear drawers that sits on my counter and holds my tips, flower nails, couplers and stuff so they're easy to get when needed.

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TheCakerator Posted 26 Apr 2007 , 7:06pm
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I went out and bought a crafstman tool cart .. the bottom part has five good size drawers in it and then for on top of that I bought a seven drawer chest that has three small drawers and a flip-top lid with four smaller drawers under the three slide out ones .. I LOVE IT!! I used to hate cleaning up after decorating cakes because I had nowhere to put anything and now its so simple! Everything in its place and a place for everything!

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Dustbunny Posted 26 Apr 2007 , 9:25pm
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For now all of mine is in 5 giant rubbermaid boxes and its awful. I want a closet full of shelves so I can get small clear plastic boxes and label them.
I have also heard the craftsman tool carts are nice icon_smile.gif

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ASupergirl Posted 27 Apr 2007 , 3:40am
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Well it has seriously been a looonnngg week for me in organizing. I have wayyyyy to much overflow of stuff...I really want to open my own shop and looking at my collection...I'm pretty much set except for counters and sinks...ha ha...Sooooo I have two shelving units right now and I have a third unit that is a cabinet coming...I sat and put everything into clear storage boxes and gigantic 5 gallon buckets for my powdered sugar, flour, sugar...etc. Then all of the sprinkles and jimmies got put into clear containers in either .5, 1, or 2 pound clear containers and labeled. I have an enormous mess right now even though most of it is organized into clear boxes/containers and labeled..I have 100 cupcakes going to my gracious humble host of my store display (she is letting me have space in her bridal store for free) so I'm giving her cupcakes to have for this weekend for samples and tasty bites for customers...then on Saturday I have a wedding to do...I'm not doing the actual wedding cake...but rather the grooms cake.....It's a huge cupcake tower done in the grooms favorite football team....So even though my efforts of getting it all organized are there and it looks so much better...I really just need the store to store it all ...no pun intended...I need my dining room and my kitchen and....let's see....the living room...my bedroom (computer and office in there) and my spare room (large items) back.....My night stand is currently covered in all of my books and my drawing of my one day shop dream sketch....oh yeah and the stairs have my UPS and FedEx on them from the past two days because I needed somewhere to do my orders...Thank goodness my dear husband doesn't complain.....My advice...do the best you can with clear labeled containers and shelving units...and get your best friend to be your husband because he'll love you and your obsessive hobby/dream that takes over the house. icon_smile.gif

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peacockplace Posted 27 Apr 2007 , 12:42pm
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I have found that tackle boxes work wonderfully for all of the dusts and icing colors. They each have their own little space and don't slide around.

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fooby Posted 27 Apr 2007 , 12:58pm
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I just finished Course 3 and I'm surprised at how much cake supplies I have scattered around my apartment! So this weekend, I plan to organize in preparation for my KA Pro 600!!! My sister bought it for me as a graduation gift from my Wilton class and her belief in my talent. Anyways, I have to clear my countertops and have decided to get the Stanley Metal Workshop. http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc%2fsearchResults.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@2025641741.1177678383@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdgaddkkjjfkegcgelceffdfgidglm.0&MID=9876

I think this will be great for storing the little cake knick-knacks. I would be able to clear my shelf and be able to put my cake pans in there. Right now my cake pans are in the dishwasher, which I never use icon_razz.gif Why I don't use it? Because I grew up never having one icon_lol.gif

Before I tell the story of my life, can anyone send a link to the craftsman thingy so I can compare it with the Stanley Metal Workshop? Thanks!

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wehmom Posted 27 Apr 2007 , 1:02pm
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I am a Wilton instructor so I have a ton of stuff. I have just started using scrapbook rolling carts for my stuff. I have 1 to 2 drawers for each class. I have two of them. I love them. Pan are in rubbermaid totes. I also have a cabinet that has some overflow stuff in it. I purchased the carts at Jo Anns. The drawers are supposed to hold 12x12 paper.

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Janette Posted 27 Apr 2007 , 1:07pm
post #10 of 26

I go to the dollar store and buy the plastic shoe boxes. They seems to be just the right size and stack well.

Even tho they are see through I still put stickers listing whats in them.

They also work to store RI flowers that are made ahead.

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Dustbunny Posted 27 Apr 2007 , 1:09pm
post #11 of 26

Asupergirl- that sounds great! All the hard work pays off for sure. I have one of those great understanding husbands too, aren't they wonderful?

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tyty Posted 27 Apr 2007 , 1:21pm
post #12 of 26

I have a plastic tackle box for things that I need to carry. Large rubbermaid bins for large items. I just purchased the plastic drawers, the shallow ones, from the foodstore. They had the 6 drawer for $8.99. The drawers are see through. I bought these for all my small items like molds,cutters etc.

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TexasSugar Posted 27 Apr 2007 , 10:48pm
post #13 of 26
Quote:
Originally Posted by ASupergirl

Sooooo I have two shelving units right now and I have a third unit that is a cabinet coming...I sat and put everything into clear storage boxes and gigantic 5 gallon buckets for my powdered sugar, flour, sugar...etc. Then all of the sprinkles and jimmies got put into clear containers in either .5, 1, or 2 pound clear containers and labeled.




You sound like me! Execept I have 3 shelving units (72" tall, 48" wide and 18" deep). Two of them are sitting in my living room waiting for me to make room for them in the cake room and I have tons of plastic containers on them, my kitchen counter and kitchen table.

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mom2seven Posted 27 Apr 2007 , 11:19pm
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This is what I'm using for most of my stuff. I got the big one at Sam's for $100., it came with 18 bins. Sorry is not very clear, had to use my phone to take the pic.
Image

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ladefly Posted 28 Apr 2007 , 10:21pm
post #15 of 26

love the pics, keep them coming.....
the ideas are coming and forming in my head as we speak.
oooooo all the things i could do.
keep it coming folks.
thanks so much.

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mommabuda Posted 29 Apr 2007 , 1:16am
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We have a spare bedroom which I have removed the bed from (our poor guests sleep on the couch now) but I use the dressers in that room for my cake pans and supplies. The ingredients have their own place in the kitchen and the things I don't use very often are in the basement in our extra cupboards.

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CakesbyMonica Posted 6 May 2007 , 4:39pm
post #17 of 26

mom2seven- I wish I had that setup!
I ended up jacking some of my daughter's high cubbies in her playroom (its a giant cubby bookshelf from IKEA) and buying the drawers that go in them. It's not going to work for long. I've already filled 3 drawers and the top of the bookcase. I'm going to look into the rubbermaid drawers and the craftsman tool cart....ooh my husband is going to be jealous.

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MissCathcart Posted 1 Jan 2010 , 2:45am
post #18 of 26

Watch this video on YouTube of Pepi from Hungary. She has almost no real cake tools, yet comes up with great looking cakes. Her turntable is an upside down bowl. Her icing spatula is a long kitchen knife or the back of a spoon. Her mixing bowls are old, and chipped, or cheap plastic. Pepi is a genius at improvising. She makes her piping bags out of god knows what. Shelf paper? She does all this on a crappy little kitchen counter. Watch all her videos, and be amazed. I bring this up to emphasize how spoiled we are with all our gadgets. Me too. I whine about where to put them. She makes me ashamed of myself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG2WiRtgOMI&NR=1

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janelwaters Posted 1 Jan 2010 , 4:20am
post #19 of 26

there is another thread going on just like this one....

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-663667-.html

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kaat Posted 1 Jan 2010 , 1:39pm
post #20 of 26

I use tackle boxes too... Then I found this...
http://www.walmart.ca/popups/Canada-LargeItemShots.jsp?assetId=53694&imageId=73250
It's not huge but it keeps all my tips, colours, dusts, brushes and bags. I found it great to deliver cakes - I throw icing and tools in the top for "just in case". It's been the best organizer I've found so far.

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TexasSugar Posted 1 Jan 2010 , 8:39pm
post #21 of 26

I'm lucky enough that I have a whole room to put my cake supplies in. The room is off the kitchen and currently has 3 big shelving units with tons of plastic containers. Of course your post reminds me that I need to finish organizing it and get things back in place in there.

I always find these post interesting and there are great suggestion. But I have also learned that how you organize is a personal thing. If you don't have alot of space a system like mine wouldn't work for you.

I would start with sorting out what you have. Put your cake pans together and other like items together. If you group like items it will help you decide what size containers you need for them. Or what kind of 'furniture' you need to organize in.

For me I use different sizes of plastic containers. I keep my tips and the stuff I need for the Wilton classes in my tool box. Everything else is grouped in different containers. If I want Christmas cookie cutters I want to be able to go in there and find them. If I want my icing colors I can grab the two containers they are in. So on and so forth.

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denetteb Posted 3 Jan 2010 , 7:23pm
post #22 of 26

I have several 20 gal storage tubs that I keep in the basement. To divide up the smaller things I use a Menards tool box, plastic shoe box, kids makeup storage thing from a thrift store, the Wilton tip cases, etc. the smaller containers get stacked inside the tubs along with the larger and odd shaped things. When I am baking I bring up the tub, when done it all goes back away. I don't know how people can live in homes without basements!! icon_smile.gif

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gramofgwen Posted 3 Jan 2010 , 7:54pm
post #23 of 26

I have a closet in my unused bedroom that holds most of my supplies on a shelving unit. But the spillover takes up two whole kitchen cabinets! And that doesn't count my cake pans - the shaped sets are on a shelf unit in the garage, and the character pans hang on the walls of my laundry room. Candy molds hang on a pegboard in the garage wall. My new toys that I got at the holidays aren't even away yet. Guess I'm not very organized after all. icon_sad.gif

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tonedna Posted 3 Jan 2010 , 8:10pm
post #24 of 26

I love Ikea...best place to find things to organize your stuff!
Edna icon_biggrin.gif

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sadsmile Posted 3 Jan 2010 , 10:09pm
post #25 of 26

I like the clear stacking things with shallow drawers. I hate open bins because they collect dust and whatever else will land in there. I stack up the sets of drawers on closet shelves. I have like things in each one. One for colors and dusts, one for cutters and impression mats. So if I need a bunch of stuff I carry one cube of shelves out at a time. Easy peasy. Get a P-touch and label those bins, shelves or drawers!!! So you don't forget what you have in there. If you don't have a P-touch then use paper cut into strips and tape it on with clear glass tape.

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egensinnig Posted 4 Jan 2010 , 11:04am
post #26 of 26

We recently got a proper dressing room and I hijacked one of the wardrobes in there for my supplies. It comes from IKEA and I have drawers for belts that I use for small supplies. It can easily be brought out on the table. I also have a tool caddy and several plastic boxes. I've organized my things so I have my most frequently used supplies in the caddy. Brushes and modelling tool standing in a big jar. So I usually bring out the caddy and the jar only

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