Ribbon Organizer

If you’re a collector of beautiful spools of ribbon for your crafting projects, this is a great way to keep your craft room tidy and organized.

Free up your craft table drawers with with a special place to store your ribbon spools. Your ribbon collection will be neatly organized and on display for you to see at a glance.

There are many ways to be creative, and one of the simplest is to upcycle something old into something new.

In this tutorial, we will show you how to take an old picture frame and turn it into a ribbon organizer.

This is a great project if you have an old frame that’s been collecting dust in the basement or attic.

head on look at blue ribbon organizer with sponge brushes — Photo: Upcycle My Stuff

This creative idea is a step up from the old shoe box to store your ribbon stash.

Not only is it pretty, but because it sits on your desk you’ll have your favorite and most loved ribbon ready to use any time inspiration hits.

DIY Ribbon Organizer

side view of ribbon organizer with colorful ribbon on sponge brushes — Photo: Upcycle My Stuff

This is the perfect intro project for beginners, as it requires no special skills or tools (not even a glue gun!). Let’s get started!

How to Make a Recycled Ribbon Holder – Materials Needed

To make your own ribbon storage organizer, you will need:

Old 8×10 photo frame
Craft paint – I used Apple Barrel’s Caribbean for this project
1 inch foam brush
4 Small 3M Command Hooks
Pair of scissors
Two 12” lengths of ¼ inch wooden dowel

Step 1: Prepping the Frame

frame, command hooks, paint and sponge for ribbon organizer — Photo: Upcycle My Stuff

First, remove the backing and glass from the picture frame to get it ready for painting.

Step 2: Paint the Picture Frame

blue paint on cardboard with sponge brush — Photo: Upcycle My Stuff

Using your foam brush, paint the entire frame.

To make sure your frame is covered well, it may take 2-3 coats of paint.

Allow it to dry completely so the paint sets.

Step 3: Prep the Hooks

scissors cutting command strip with blue frame in back — Photo: Upcycle My Stuff

Remove the backing from the sticky part of the four Command Hooks and secure it to the back of the hooks.

Use your scissors to cut the excess of the stick pad off at the bottom.

Step 4: Attach the Hooks

hooks on blue frame for ribbon organizer — Photo: Upcycle My Stuff

Secure two of the Command Hooks on each side towards the top of the frame, about 2 inches from the top corners. Then secure the other two about 3 inches above the bottom corners.

Note: If your spools of ribbon are smaller or larger, you might want to measure by putting the ribbon on the dowels, and spacing them properly. Mark the spots on the frame with a pencil, then add the hooks in the proper spots for your ribbons.

Step 5: Add Ribbon

close up of blue ribbon organizer with colorful ribbons — Photo: Upcycle My Stuff

Add the rolls of ribbon, threading them onto the wooden dowels. Then snap the wooden dowels into the hooks.

Ribbon Rack Variations

There are several ways you can make this upcycle project unique to your space and needs.

As always, don’t be afraid to get creative and really make this your own.

Here a few ideas you might try to customize your DIY ribbon organizer.

Make it hang on the wall- This ribbon rack sets on a surface and leans, but if you wanted a wall mount version, you can easily add a hanger on the back with either a pretty, coordinating piece of ribbon or a length of jute twine attached at the corners.
Hang it sideways- If you want to use the frame in a wider space, no problem! Just turn it on its side so the dowels are horizontal instead of vertical. This is a great way to show off pretty, patterned ribbon too.

Use different sizes and colors of frames- This is a great way to use up those random, single frames you have around the house. You can even use different colors of paint to make each frame unique.
Use other things as dowels- If you don’t have any wooden dowels on hand, no problem! Get creative and repurpose something else. You could try using a pencil on a small frame or leftover curtain rod on a large frame.
Set the ribbon holder on a shelf- If you don’t want to give up valuable desk or workspace, lean the ribbon holder on shelves above your desk for easy access.
Trying to eliminate clutter? Hang or store the ribbon rolls in the closet until you’re ready to use them.

More Ribbon Storage Ideas

close up of blue frame ribbon organizer with colorful ribbon

Using a picture frame isn’t the only fun and easy way to organize ribbon. Why not try one of these ideas?

Curtain rods are a great way to store ribbon. Just thread the ribbon onto the metal rods and hang it in your closet or on a wall. When you need to add or remove a spool, just remove the end from the brackets, add a new roll and replace it.

Mason jars also make great storage containers for ribbon. Simply coil the ribbon and drop it into the jar. Screw on the lid and you’re all set! This idea is especially great for ribbon scraps and it makes a pretty display.

For a more decorative option, try using an old plate rack or window pane to store your ribbon. Just drape the ribbon over the rack or pane and you’re good to go!

head on look at ribbon organizer with sponge brushes — Photo: Upcycle My Stuff

Choose you favorite way to store your ribbon with any one of these four easy ways we’ve talked about today so you can keep your crafting space clutter-free.

There you have it! Your very own ribbon storage rack. Now you can organize all of your ribbons, making them easily accessible for your next project.

Do you have any old frames collecting dust around your house? Give this easy upcycle project a try and let us know how it turns out in the comments below!

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