- To properly organize jewelry making supplies, you must have plenty of containers that will hold various shapes and sizes of tools. Bead stores sell some containers, but you'll usually find a much bigger variety at a sporting goods or hardware store. Look for containers designed for holding fishing tackle, such as lures and flies, and hardware like nails, nuts and bolts. Don't forget containers for larger items. Plastic bins with pull-out drawers work well for holding tools, spools of wire and thread.
- Begin organizing your jewelry making supplies by sorting them by function. Put all the tools together, such as clasps and jump rings together, chains together, settings together and beads and stones together.
- Sorting by materials is especially important if you work with different metals, such as silver, gold, pewter and plated metal. Sort metals by type, and other materials by type as well. For example, separate synthetic stones from natural, glass beads from crystal, silk thread from nylon. If you work with wires and thread, sort them by size as well.
- Finally, sort your remaining jewelry making supplies by color. This is the final step in making it quick and easy to find the exact item you are looking for when you need it. Depending on the amount of supplies you have, consider dedicating a storage container to one particular color. For example, store all blue beads, stones and thread in one container, and all purple beads, stones and threads in another.
