Get Organized: Die Cut Storage Binder

I think we all turn to organizing with the new year. I know I love the feeling of everything having it’s own “place.” My die cut shapes have been a mess for a long time now. I searched on Pinterest, and nothing really hit me as a solution that would work for me.

A year ago, I organized my embossing folders. I removed them from a big embossing folder storage binder, and put them into an easier-to-thumb-through case. (Which I still LOVE, by the way.) You can read about that by clicking here: How to organize embossing folders.

So I had these binders left over. Well, guess what? They are absolutely perfect for my die cuts! I am so glad I held on to them like the good little crafting hoarder that I am!

I am going to walk you through how you too can get your dies out of that box and into a system that works!

Supplies needed to make your own die cut storage: 

• Embossing Folder Storage Case for 5 x 7 inch Folders
• Core’dinations 6×6 Kraft Cardstock
• 2 inch Snap Rings
• Round Hole Punch

First of all, let’s revisit the mess I have been working with.

All of my dies were in a plastic bin. Every time I used them required me to dig through the box to find the die I wanted to use. Occasionally when I dug through the box I ran across a die that I FORGOT I EVEN HAD.

Most die cut companies now package their dies with a magnet sheet included. That is the brownish piece you can see in the photo. If you have dies that did not come with a magnetic sheet, you can purchase rolls of thin magnet sheeting. This will just need to be cut down to 5 x 6 inch, or 4 x 6 inch. Larger dies come with the larger size magnet, and smaller (border dies, etc) come with the smaller size.

If you are making your own magnet sheets, I would suggest the larger 5 x 6 size. It fits better in the binder.

Combine your dies into sets.

I combined several like borders on one magnet sheet.

There are 40 slots in the binder, so keep that in mind.

The magnet sheets slide right into the 5 x 7 inch embossing folder pockets. The magnets hold the dies in place.

The top row of binder pockets opens at the bottom. At first I was concerned that the magnet sheets would slide out if I turned the binder upright. They didn’t. The larger magnet sheets definitely fit better, the smaller ones have potential of falling out. I just made sure all my top rows were the larger size magnet sheets. And I am planning on storing my binders laying flat.

(This picture has the magnet sheets pulled out on purpose. Normally they slide in flush, and stay put.)

I organized my dies according to theme.

I filled two binders, and I am working on a third.

I wasn’t really excited about thumbing through multiple binders to find the die I was looking for (although it still beats digging through my box!) so I thought of a way to make that easier too.

This took a little bit of time, so find a show on Netflix and trust me that it is worth the finished product. I made “sample sheets” of all of my dies.

Cut some cardstock into 6 x 6 inch squares. Or, go the easy route and just buy it already done here:

Core’dinations 6 x 6 Kraft 80 lb Cardstock

Run your die sets through your die cut machine.

Adhere your cut dies to another 6 x 6 sheet of cardstock. Make sure to leave some room in the upper left hand corner of the 6 x 6 sheet.

I chose to arrange some of the die cut shapes on the sheet when I cut them so I could have the negative space instead.

Here is why, and I think it is genius, if I do say so myself.

Now I have a perfect template to see if my sentiment stamps fit the die!

When you are finished making your die sample sheets, punch a hole in the top left-hand corner of the 6 x 6 sheets.

Load the sample sheets onto a snap ring, and attach the ring to the binder. (The embossing folder binder comes with a loop on the top of the binder- almost like it was made for this!)

Now all of my dies have a “place.” I can easily see what die cut shapes I have, and what binder they are stored in with the sample sheets.

I hope this solves your die organization needs too!

Shaunte

Shaunte is a 30-something, chocolate-loving, SAHM from Utah. She has been scrapbooking since 1997, the dreaded era of photos cropped with deco scissors. Since then, her work has evolved into a clean, linear, photo-focused style. Her favorite subjects to scrap are her husband and five kids (never a lack for subject material there).