I'm hoping someone will share their method of storing the soft fondant pieces, lace, drapes, ribbons that wrap the cake, etc., so they can apply them on the finished cake.

I tried rolling my fondant ribbon - that I had embossed and putting it in a plastic Tupperware-type thingy - but it was still a little dry and cracked some when I went to put it on my cake.

I need to make the pieces ahead of time - because I'm a darned slow worker - so I'm looking for other methods of storing these.

How far ahead does one make these? Or am I the only fondant-challenged person here?

i'm not sure if there is a way, but maybe someone can help. whenever i want to soften my fondant i put it in the microwave for a few seconds and it does the trick!

Have you tried drying them in the shape that you need? You can drape the piece over your cake pan to dry them and that way they are shaped perfectly for the cake.
I usually wait to make my elements unless they are stand alone ones. I get the cake basefrosted and/or covered in fondant get it all painted or whatever I am doing first then I start working on all my elements like pearls or draping or other stuff.
What I mean by stand alone is things like figurines n such as that. That need to be dry first before applying.
As for the storage thing. Maybe you can put in a damp crumpled up paper towel or something into the tupperware thingee. Put a piece of saran wrap over the pieces first so they don't come in direct contact with the damp towel.

if you need to keep it soft, do 2 things... roll it out with oil or shortening instead of icing sugar (I ALWAYS do this!) and cover your pieces with plastic wrap immediately! Put all your wrapped pieces into a ziplock bag or tupperware container, and they should stay soft for a while.