I can't possibly be the only one with tools and supplies in plastic bags all other the place!

Even though I am knew to this, I have acquired quite a bit of stuff and I'm trying to think of a good way to store everything so it is readily accessible but tidy and out of sight. Does that make any sense? I am living with my parents right now so everything is in suitcases but we'll be moving out in the next couple months and I'd like to be ready for our new place!

What do you guys do for storing your tools, etc?

June

I use a tool box! All the little compartments are wonderful! And for cookie cutters, I have different tupperware containers. One for the alpha & numbers, one for Holiday, etc.

I live with my parents too and they have been super support. They got me this simple metal shelf (kind-of like an office one). Well, to keep it out of sight my mom put this curtain in front - which is perfect because I just pull the curtain back when I need something. That's for most of my stuff.

My toolkit goes above the cabinet (I get on a chair every time I need it). I have a few stands and a fountain that won't fit in my metal shelf so those also go above the other cabinets.

I am having the same problem right now. Live in a small space and my cake decorating stuff is taking over. I was thinking about getting one of those under the bed storage containers to keep my equipment in. Not exactly the most convienient, but definatley don't have room in my tiny kitchen. Just an idea. Hope it helps.

My DH bought me a cart made of a set of strong plastic drawers on wheels from Walmart. They have clear fronts and are a very good size (though they come in all sorts of colors and sizes). I can actually wheel the entire cart into the kitchen and have all my decorating supplies and books handy.

I have several rubbermaid plastic drawers and such. Its perfect!

One for cookie cutters and fondant cutters. One for books and mags. One for icing bags, gel colors. One for knifes, smoothers, spatchales and such.

Everything is right within reach but still put away.

I have extra large tubs for my pans, sorted by type (one for rounds; one for squares, hex, hearts, ovals, petal). Then I have metal storage shelves that stuff goes onto in their boxes (fountains, etc.).

My tubes, tips, etc, goes in a carrying case I bought at the hardware store, which I think was originally for a drill and drill bits.

There is a great thread on here about someone (I think she was from Alaska perhaps?) who got a large freestanding red tool chest, and she photo'd it for us all to see. What a great idea!

My cookie cutters go into clear storage boxes, sorted by type (hearts in one, weddings in another, trees in a third, etc.....).

And my books ... there are at least 2 bookcases filled with my cookbooks and other literary finds, but I am overflowing those areas, too.

Hubby keeps asking me how much $$ I have invested in "cake stuff"?? I just smile and say, "priceless....."

HTH,

Odessa

I got a cabinet from home depot and it is white with doors and adjustable shelves for around $75. Nice and holds a lot of stuff. Unfortunately I now have 3 of these.

Fortunately, when we bought our house we live in now, it had a big utility room with lots of shelves. I keep it in there in those plastic tubs with lids you get at Wal Mart. I also have one of those toolboxes that Wilton makes but the only reason I use that one is because it was free. I've seen those people who use those clear plastic fishing lure things that have lots of seperate compartments. Those are good because they're stackable.

Regarding storage: when I committed to creating sugar art I removed everything out of my kitchen, office, living room, dining room, and car then I created an artist studio out of my dark room........here it is:

http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-211651-studio.html

Also, I would like to recommend that wonderful tool box for equipment for anyone who is really limited on space or is an occasional decorator.

....and yes JuneHawk, I still have things in plastic bags in the drawers.

I use the clear plastic drawers from Walmart. The one I use for tools, bags, icing colors, etc. is three drawers tall and the inside of the drawers allow an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of paper to lay flat on the bottom. The icing color bottles stand up perfectly in these and the drawer still closes. I also have plastic drawers that are four in a shelf, two high by two wide, and I use these for cookie cutters, sorting them by holiday, flowers, insects (butterflies, bees, etc.). I have a label maker and I label the outside of each drawer so I can easily find everything. I am a crafter and sewer also, so these drawers are wonderful. I have numerous sets and one day I will have my dh to build me a wooden shell so they will all slide in like one big tall chest of drawers.

I have a couple of tool boxes that store all of my colors, tips,bags etc in. I also have the big plastic storage containers that I keep things like pans, cookie cutters and misc. tools in. But of course I keep buying new things and having to find unique ways to store them. And of course the hubby just shakes his head at the growing number of baking "necessities" that seem to be taking over our kitchen. I have reorganized by kitchen half a dozen times in the past few months just to accomodate my habit.

gotta save this thread to come back to.

I have a cupboard in the garage that we bought from Lowes . . . I keep my pans, etc all on the top few shelves.

I have two rubbermaid rolling carts that have 3 drawers each. When I am not using them they fit perfectly into the bottom of the cabinet. When I am decorating, I roll them into the kitchen. I keep all my tips, fondant tools, etc in those carts.

I have over 300 cookie cutters as well. I bought 6 rubber containers and sorted the cutters into them. I numbered the boxes and keep an 'inventory" on the inside door of the cupboard. It makes finding things so much easier!

Educational moment: Maybe it's time we should put Doug's "How Not to Save" thread link here. HTH all the newbie's and those who have not seen the link learn to save a thread.

http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-367983-save.html

Great ideas!

Hubby bought me one of those Food-Safe shelving units from Lowe's. Silver and holds everything. I got some bake-ware organizers that the pans fit in, search pan organizer on amazon. Use the rubbermaid stuff for all the cutters too.
But the best one is that I got a wine rack that attaches to the shelf and hangs down, holds all my rolling pins, and silpat mats (rolled up) and doesn't take up extra space.

Another nice thing about these is that I can use clothespins and hang the mats from it to dry before rolling them up to put away.

Ijust recently tried to get a little more organized and bought clear tubs with lids. Smaller one for my food colors, larger one for cookie cutters, one for pillars. I also got a tackle box to store the misc tools I just acquired for trying to work with fondant.

I also have a small kitchen. When I started decorating I decided to build storage into the seating in our kitchen. We do not have a formal dining room, just an eat in kitchen so this allowed for extra seating but takes up the same amount of space as a table for 4. I built to rectangular boxes with lids on hinges and they fit together to make an L shape. Almost like a cafe booth. I can fit so much stuff inside these boxes. I've since accumulated more and more things and my large pans will not fit inside, I wish I had made them just a little taller, but the hold a lot.

All great ideas! Thanks!

we are living with my parents till our new house is built.... so after losing my mind looking for stuff, I bought a tool kit from the hardware store, bought small plastic see thru containers for cutters, edible decorations and a small trolley on wheels that contains all of the plastic containers, colours and anything else I might need. Tool box sits on top.

I was thinking of storing my cake pans, etc. in my garage on a shelf. Does anyone know if cold weather will do damage to the pans at all? I live in Illinois so its already getting pretty cold already. I just dont want to store them in my kitchen since i have limited space.