I distinctly remember the first time I decided to make kandi. Maybe you found yourself in a similar situation. Sitting in front of nicely organized bead box you found on Amazon. Maybe you were like me and thought, "Oh, I'll probably only make singles."
Laugh. Out. Freaking. Loud.
Soon, you're making doubles. Then cuffs. Then 3D cuffs. But the 3D cuffs look like they're missing something so you buy a bucket of perler beads and pretty soon, you have more beads than you can keep track of, even more shipping tomorrow, and when you look around you realize that this is probably symbolic of yourself: A giant, unorganized, albeit fun and colorful mess.
Don't worry, fam. You'll still be a mess (probably), but I'm about to give you the tools you need to take back some control of your kandi making space.
Bead organizers from Walmart
Bead organizers are by far the easiest and most straightforward things to get to store your beads and kandi supplies. You can find them pretty much anywhere and best of all, they're usually inexpensive! They also come in lots of different sizes. You're bound to find the perfect one for you.
Clean Food Containers
Not all of us can justify spending money specifically on bead organizers, but we can justify spending money on ice cream (just go with it). Reusing food containers saves money and kills two birds with one stone: You get to eat, and your beads aren't all over the place. Just make sure to wash your containers first!Fishing Tackle Box
Of all the things on this list, this one has to be my favorite. They are pretty much everything you could ever ask for in terms of bead organization, variety in sizes and compartments, and best of all, they are incredibly inexpensive! My own tackle box has multiple trays with dividers. It's absolutely amazing for separating beads by color because I don't know about you, but just seeing them all nicely organized makes me so much happier on a weird spiritual level. On top of that, there's usually extra space at the bottom of the box. I usually keep extra beads, my string, a pair of scissors, and other charms or small things to put on kandi in the bottom. When you're not making kandi, tackle boxes conveniently lock and have a handle for easy transportation! This is the one I have.Craft Cabinet
This one is along the same lines as the tackle box, although, not as portable. If you have a designated space that you sit at when you make kandi, a craft cabinet would be great to have since you could keep it in that spot. Craft cabinets usually have lots of drawers and compartments, sometimes varying in sizes. Although I don't have one already, this is one that I definitely have my eye on!
Command hooks (for displaying special ones)
This one isn't for storing loose beads, but it might come in handy for hanging up finished creations. Show off those necklaces, cuffs, masks, and more. On a similar note, thumbtacks work just as well for this use in most cases. If you don't mind putting little holes in your walls, they're definitely a cheaper alternative — which means more money to spend on kandi supplies.
Clear over the door shoe holder (for display, storing ones you receive, or storing supplies)
Okay. I'll admit this probably isn't the easiest or most efficient way to store beads and other supplies, but I thought I'd throw it out there because it's definitely something I've considered. A clear, over-the-door shoe holder can be a fun way to separate beads by color or display pieces of kandi you've gotten in the past. If you're going to use it to store beads, make sure you put them in ziploc bags too — just in case it falls off the door or something. You could also label each pocket by year, event, or both and keep pieces of kandi you get from other people in there. This one could also be great for storing finished cuffs and other things that are tough to hang with hooks.
Mini Ziploc Bags
Usually, regular sized ziploc bags do the trick, but more often than you think, they are way more than you need. You can find smaller sized plastic bags in the jewelry or craft section. They are perfect for storing extra beads that you don't have too many of, and they make storing the extras easier since they're so small. I like to put several smaller bags of beads into the regular sized ones.
Large Tote Bags
You know, like the kind you see in the checkout line at grocery stores. If you pick the right kind, they are not only large but sturdy and reliable. Large tote bags can function as the big bin (see below), but I like to use mine for transporting supplies if I am making kandi away from my usual spot (where everything is). I brought mine filled with some kandi supplies to Nocturnal where I made kandi during my downtime at the campground.
Big Bins
No matter how sorted out and nicely organized your beads are in bead organizers, tackle boxes, etc, you're going to need one centralized thing to keep them in. And that, my friends, is where the big generic bin comes in. Cardboard boxes, rubbermaid tubs, large reusable tote bags, and more all fall under big generic bin. If you don't already have a designated kandi shelf and/or space (trust me, some of us do) then it helps a lot to have at least one bin to keep all your kandi supplies in. That way, you can put the whole thing in a closet or under your bed until your next kandi sesh.
