How to Organize Stickers: the Compact Storage System I love!
Scrapbook stickers can be tricky to organize, but these DIY sticker storage binders are the perfect solution! I use this storage method for all types of stickers and rub-ons. I love how much more I’ve been able to use my scrapbook stickers, now that I can see what I have!
I love stickers so much. I’m a bit of a collector. (Well…is there any craft supply I don’t collect? Let’s be honest…) When I was young, I remember my mom letting me get a small sheet of stickers any time we happened to go to our local craft stores.
(Those craft stores are no longer in business, and I actually haven’t seen those types of stickers in a very long time either–they were the ones that came on a roll, with tiny perforated sheets and you’d tear off just the section you wanted to purchase. Do you know the kind I’m talking about? Anyway, I miss those.)
But I also love how many more sticker options we have now! And from just about anywhere. I think the last stickers I bought came from Target, but I snatch up letter stickers whenever they’re on sale at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby.
Stickers are such an easy alternative to stamping an image or handwriting a sentiment on a card or scrapbook layout. Or, if you’ve joined the recent wave of journaling and planner-keeping, you also probably have a healthy stash of planner stickers.
However you use your stickers, you’ve probably struggled with organizing them at one time or another in your crafty life. So that’s why I’m sharing my latest sticker organization method that allows me to keep track of all the colors, themes, and categories of stickers I own–so that I can use them more frequently in my craft projects!
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The Best Sticker Storage Method
If you love home organization, you probably know that there’s something to be said for organizing vertically. Vertical storage can be useful in a variety of situations, saves space, and helps you easily see your belongings. In just my craft room alone, I use vertical storage for fabric, scrapbook paper, and…stickers.
I had been storing my stickers in boxes similar to these. Which worked for a time, until my collection kept growing and I started neglecting the stickers at the bottom of the box.
I finally had enough of not being able to see what stickers I had, so I purchased some inexpensive 2-inch binders and put together these super organized sticker storage binders!
(I already had sheet protectors on hand, but you’ll want to purchase some of those as well. Make sure you know whether you’re getting clear or non-glare, if that matters to you.)
Looking for more craft room organization ideas? Check out these related posts:
How to Organize Scrapbook Paper
13 Random Items You Should Keep in Your Craft Room
How to Organize Stickers
When organizing stickers, you’ll want to consider what types of categories you’d like them divided into. This will help you easily narrow down your collection when looking for a specific color or theme.
Sticker Categories for Organization
2-D or 3-D Stickers
My stickers are first categorized by “flat” or “dimensional.” (I guess I could’ve also labeled them 2-D or 3-D. Oh well, use whatever terms make sense to you!)
It’s kind of funny, but the real reason for this division is that postage on thick/heavy cards is more than postage for flat cards. So, if I’m making a card to be mailed, I’ll opt for the flat/regular stickers.
Letter or non-letter stickers
Next, I separate all my letter stickers from non-letter stickers. I have an entire binder just for flat letter stickers, and I divide them by color. I put just a few sheets of stickers in each sheet protector, back to back so that every sheet is at least partially visible when I flip through the binder.
Themed and seasonal stickers
In my “flat stickers and rub-ons” binder, I store stickers by theme or category. Here are some ideas for how you might like to separate your stickers (these are the exact categories I use):
- labels, frames, and borders: these are generic stickers that could be used for multiple seasons/themes
- Mother’s Day, Father’s Day
- boy/girl
- Valentine’s
- Spring/floral
- Summer/vacations
- Disney
- animals/outdoors
- school
- Fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving
- Christmas
- quotes and phrases
I also have a sheet protector to hold my Korean stickers, which I collected when I lived in South Korea. So…you might not have that category. But, on second thought, you should, because Korean stickers are the cutest!!
3-D Stickers
I store my dimensional stickers in one binder, including 3-D letter stickers. The 3-D letter stickers are kept in sheet protectors at the front, sorted by color. Then I divide the rest of the stickers into similar categories/themes as listed above.
How to store adhesive gems, pearls, and rhinestones
I classify adhesive gems, pearls, and rhinestones more as “embellishments” than “stickers,” but I thought it would be worth mentioning how I store these here.
Because of how thick these embellishments are, storing them in sheet protectors didn’t make the most sense for me at this time. I had some leftover plastic storage envelopes from my scrapbook paper organization, so I am currently using one of these.
I also use one of these envelopes to store chipboard stickers, and another to store vellum quote packs. These are all kept in my “embellishment” fabric storage cube, next to the cube with my sticker binders, so all my “stickers” are kept in roughly the same location.
I love my new sticker storage!
I love that I know exactly where to find all my stickers now! These binders are so helpful. And cheap, and so easy to put together!
Feel free to decorate your binders however you want. I dressed mine up with a little colored cardstock…but I’m still kind of tempted to switch them out at some point for these colored binders. Maybe. 😉
How do you like to organize your stickers? Leave me a note in the comments below!
Don’t forget to pin and save for later!
Check out the other posts in my Craft Room Organization series!
How to Store Wood-Mounted Rubber Stamps
How to Store Clear Stamps Vertically
How to Organize Scrapbook Paper
Try Pipsticks…they have lots of really cute n fun stickers, and they also do a monthly subscription.
That looks like so much fun! You guys are introducing me to all kinds of cute stuff…and dangerous for my wallet, haha.
They still exist! Check out Mrs Grossman’s stickers… they even have a monthly sticker club that I love!
You have no idea how happy you’ve made me with this information! I feel like a kid again browsing all those stickers, so much fun!
I was just coming here to say this…lol. Also, there is Pipsticks, I joined their monthly subscription and they have lots of neat stickers.
Hi – I just came across your ideas and they are wonderful!! I am so excited to find some ways to store stickers. Your idea about vertical storage is so true. I have my work cut out for me. Thank you so much for the great information. God bless.
Hi Pam! I’m so glad you’re finding it helpful! Good luck, you can do it. Good organization means more efficient crafting, so it’s worth the effort! 🙂
I’m SO GLAD I stumbled across your blog. I am a sticker collector/addict 😬 that I love to use to embellish any correspondence that I send out (except for bills! 😉). My current sticker storage has not been working. It looks like you only have 3 small binders though. I already have my stickers categorized but they spread out through 5 scrap paper storage containers. I always have to go shuffling through so many and many times I don’t find the one I know I have! I hope this will work for me.
Hi Tammy! I’m so happy, I hope this helps you! I think I started with only one or two of the 12×12 plastic storage bins full of stickers, so you may end up with quite a few more binders than me. But hopefully the categories help you find things a little easier!
Hi! totally love this idea! That’s my project for tonight, finally organize my stickers so I actually know what I have! And if you’re looking for a sticker spot to bring you back to your childhood check out Sticker Planet at the Farmer’s Market L.A. at the Grove. They also have a website here! Thought you might get a kick out of it! https://stickerplanet.com/collections/by-the-sheetL
Hi Katelyn! Thank you for sharing that website–so fun! I could probably spend a lot of money there…
Enjoy your sticker organizing!
I saw this idea on YouTube, but the submitter wasn’t thrilled with the idea. I thought it sounded wonderful, but I also had a ton of little stickers that were hard to access in the sheet protectors and would often fall out if I tipped the binder the wrong way. So I also purchased photo and trading card pages. I put the stickers in little zip lock bags that fit into the smaller sections. It’s easy to pull a bag out and they don’t end up on the floor nearly as much. My grandkids love flipping through my binders to find stickers for their chore charts or to make a pretty picture to take home to mom. I use my stickers a lot more now too because I can easily see what I have.
I love that idea of photo and trading card pages! It’s true, regular sheet protectors might not be the best for all those small stickers. And I love that you’re able to use your stickers more now! Thanks for sharing, Tammy. 🙂
This post is WONDERFUL!
So simple, but when your sticker collection is mountain high, it’s impossible to come up with a solution.
What do you do with planner sticker books? Separate the pages by category in its own binder?
I have a stack of books with no clue how to store them so I never get to see which stickers I have.
Hi Cherith! Thanks for your sweet comment! I’m so glad you found this helpful.
As for planner sticker books, I think it just depends on how you work. If you’re finding you aren’t using them because you can’t see them, then separating them into categories in their own binder would be a great idea–plus, doing that will refresh your memory of what you actually have. If you prefer to keep them in the books as is, maybe just storing them in a new spot (give them a container of their own, front and center on your workspace) would help to use them more. I know a lot of people use the mobile carts (Michaels or IKEA both have them) to store planner materials, that way they’re easily accessible and within sight.
What size binders do you use?
I’m at a lost at getting my craft area organized
Hi! I used 2-inch binders, but any binders would work! (FYI, they’re called 2-inch binders, but the outer dimension is closer to 2.75″) These are just regular office binders that hold printer-size paper. I found my set at Costco but linked to a similar set in the post. If you have a lot of sticker sheets larger than that (say 12×12 sheets that come in scrapbooking kits), I recommend getting a larger 12×12 binder. I hope that helps!
If you need more help organizing your craft space, send me an e-mail at [email protected] and I’d be happy to brainstorm some ideas with you!