If you’re anything like me, your pencils, markers and coloring supplies keep growing… but you’re running out of places to store them all!
Here are 20 great ideas from around the web to help get your pencils and markers organized. From DIY craft storage to Amazon organizers, I’m sure you’ll find something suitable for your coloring supplies in this list!
For more ideas, please check out my Craft Organization Ideas board on Pinterest.
1. DIY Copic Storage Shelf
What a great way to easily store your Copic Markers using a light louver and wooden create. Learn how to make it here.
2. Copic Marker Briefcase
If you’re looking for something portable, you can check out Copic’s portable carry case or learn how to make your own DIY version here. (DIY version pictured)
3. Craftsman Tool tote
A Craftsman Tool tote is another great portable storage option for markers, pencils, general craft supplies… or even your coloring books! You can get one from your local shop or Amazon. (Picture source – Pinterest)
4. DIY Rotation Craft Caddy
For something fun at home, try this DIY rotating craft caddy. Learn how to make it here.
5. Crafter’s Companion Marker Storage Pack
These stackable racks can be stacked vertically or connected horizontally for unlimited storage flexibility. You can order them from Amazon here.
6. ArtBin Marker Storage Container
This storage container is a handy option when you need to hide your supplies in the cupboard or under the bed! Get it on Amazon here.
7. 3 Drawer Art Wooden Storage Box
You can get many varieties of wooden storage like this one for your art supplies. This one is by Create Mark and you can find it on Amazon here.
8. DIY Media Organizer
If you’re feeling really crafty, you can make your own drawers like these! You can find detailed instructions on how to make it here.
9. DIY Peg Board
Peg boards are a great option for all kinds of craft supplies, and you can really customize them to your needs. Learn how to make this one here.
10. DIY Marker Tray
For those who want an easier DIY option, here’s a great suggestion using toilet rolls and a box or crate. Learn how to make it here.
11. Portable Pencil and Pen Case
This handy pencil case stores up to 150 pencils or pens. You can find it on Amazon here.
12. Rollable Canvas Pencil Bag/Wrap
A rollable canvas pencil bag or wrap is perfect for travel. You can get these 2 wraps on Amazon here.
13. Refurbished CD Rack Copic Storage
This is a clever way to refurbish an old CD rack for your Copic Markers. I love the color labels on each row. Check it out here.
14. DIY Marker Tote Bin
Upcycle an old food bucket to make this portable marker tote bin. Download the free color chart and learn how to make it here.
15. Artist’s Loft Fundamentals Tote Bag
The Artist’s Loft Fundamentals Tote Bag is another great portable option for your coloring books and supplies. Get it on Amazon here.
16. Everything Mary Deluxe Papercraft Organizer
This Deluxe Papercraft Organizer by Everything Mary is another bag that adds a splash of color! Order yours on Amazon here.
17. DIY Homework Caddy
This DIY Homework Caddy is easy to make using recycled boxes. You can make your own variations with different size boxes to suit your own supplies.
18. Copic Marker Wire Stand
If you’re a Copic Marker fan, you can get their wire stand for your markers on Amazon here.
19. Copic marker Wallet Case
Another great product by Copic is this handy wallet case for coloring on-the-go. Get it on Amazon here.
20. Crafts, Crayons and Sewing Organizer
There are plenty of simple organizers like this online and in stores. You can get this one on Amazon here.
Have you found any other clever ways to store your supplies? Please tell me in the comments!
For more ideas, please check out my Craft Organization Ideas board on Pinterest.
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This helped me sooo much. Thank you
Wow, what an incredible collection of clever and practical ideas for organizing coloring supplies! As an avid coloring enthusiast, I’m always looking for ways to keep my supplies neat and easily accessible, and this article has provided me with tons of inspiration. From repurposing everyday items to creating custom storage solutions, there’s something here for everyone. I can’t wait to try out some of these organizing hacks and see the positive impact they’ll have on my coloring experience. Thank you for sharing these fantastic tips and tricks, they are a game-changer! Keep up the great work!
Best regards,
Becky Gomez
You are brilliant!!!!!
My father made me a caddy out of a lazy Susan/turntable and pvc pipe (similar to #4) and it really is the best thing ever! It’s so easy to move from room to room or even take to someone’s house for coloring group, as it sits in the floorboard of the car and won’t turn over. I just expected it to have pvc pipe glued to the lazy susan, but he glued the pvc pipe down and caulked in between them and then painted them. Lol. He was a perfectionist.
I have the makings for a second caddy, but my dad passed away before he could put it together for me. I guess I’ll have to put it together on my own, but I know it won’t look as nice as the one he made.
Ps: those rotating caddies are easy to do. Buy a cheap lazy susan/turntable and buy 1 1/2 inch or 2” tall pvc sections in any diameter you want. Alternately, you can purchase a long length of pvc pipe and cut it into segments, which is even cheaper-and places like Lowe’s and Home Depot will cut the pvc pipe into segments for you at no charge. You just have to ask.
What a great idea! I’m so sorry for your loss. What a great keepsake to remember him every time you color x
Iv got the zip pencil cases works wonderfully in my opinion I don’t travel but I do have limited Space
Thanks,for sharing ive seen wooden slot boxes that i like n i am loving the storage containers,i got two for christmas to hold my coliring books n printed pages.0
Hi Sarah,
I currently have my coloring books stored in a rolling briefcase and my colored pencils, markers and crayons in a Rubbermaid container. I need to reorganize my office/craft room. You have given me some great ideas for getting the task done. 🙂 I am a disabled female veteran and am currently using a TV tray in my living room to color some projects as well as doing some beadwork. I will be posting my newest bead project on my Facebook page as soon as I get it completed. Thank you for the inspiration. 🙂
Thank you Jamie, and good luck with getting your craft room organized!
Crystal Light containers are my magical organizational cure!! To keep them in a confined space saving place and somewhat portable around my scrapbook loft, I lay the Crystal Light containers in a magazine file (plastic holder thingy) so that the markers are horizontal and the ink spreads out nicely. Works like a charm. Easy to move multiple containers to my work space. Put the covers on and the markers are easily transportable to an event or crop.
Sarah –
I was watching some of your coloring videos today and then came across this post! So clever. Thank you for sharing. Thank you also for sharing your art for all of us to color! Love it!
Evening everyone! For organization of my pencils I purchased a carousel at Michael’s 50% off. For my gel pens, I bought an inexpensive lazy Susan, painted 9 cans to match room decor.
Sounds perfect!
Hi Sarah,
I have 2 sets of #12 and used a white gel pen to write the brand name of the pencils that are in them, on the strap. All my markers, gel pans and other pencils that aren’t in their original containers, are in plastic pencil boxes for easy portability.
I bought a 4 shelf storage “bureau” from Home Depot for about $40 to store them all in.
I usually color in my recliner so I have a laptop desk with legs next to my chair that I put my supplies on and a beanbag lapdesk I that I use to color on.
For my Crayola and Crazy Art pencils, I wrapped toilet paper rolls with red, white, and blue duct tape. I saved caps from supplement meds bottles for the bottoms. I bought milkshake drinking straws at the Dollar store and cut them to fit inside the tubes. This gives each pencil their own space without crowding the tube. I placed all the tubes in a small file storage box that I had Laying around.
Wow! You have such an organized system! I’m having a little organizational envy moment right now… thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Sarah! I have no income so my funds are nil. I have old cd racks in my garage and I think I will be cleaning them up and using them to control my cluttered area!! I have a very small tight space for my coloring supplies and books. This may help me. Thank you so much!!!
Thanks for the comment Karen! It’s amazing what you can do with old things lying around. I’ve recently found a condiments caddy for my own coloring supplies, and it works great! Definitely no need to spend a lot of money on storage supplies.
Good to know that Amazon will be in Oz next year, hopefully I can go shopping ;o). Ikea has heaps of different storage options, one in particular that I have on my wish list is a set of drawers called Alex, wide shallow drawers that can be divided however you want, and they can be stacked.
Some great ideas there, a pity so many of them are from Amazon. Being in Australia, shipping costs from Amazon are prohibitive if on a small budget. My most favourite storage for my colouring supplies is a Raskog trolley from Ikea. It has three bucket-like shelves that hold a huge collection of stuffs. On the top shelf I have my pencils, stored in a plastic basket with toilet roll dividers and stored upright in colour groups, as well as sketching pencils, sharpeners, erasers and tortillons. The other two shelves have small plastic box-type trays with a variety of markers stored horizontally, as well as books of various sizes. The bulk of my books are in a bookcase in my craft room. The beauty of the trolley is that I can move it to wherever I want to work, and everything I need is right there ;o)
Most of the Amazon options are available elsewhere too, I’ve just listed Amazon because it’s the most convenient option for most people to find them. Hopefully things will change for us Aussies when Amazon arrived here next year!
Thanks for your great IKEA suggestion too! I bet IKEA has a lot of great storage options not on this list 🙂
Hi, I realise the comment was made a little while ago, but thought I would share just in case you or someone else would like to know… I have seen many of the items listed above listed on eBay! Sometimes they are Less expensive than amazon and several sellers offer free post and are located here in Australia As postage is less or free, it does work out cheaper ( I also prefer the fact that the item is already in Australia-unless you did actually buy from an international seller of course!)
And thank you for the IKEA tip!! I must check that out!
Love #9 & #17
#11 & #12..have 3 and never use them
No Copics here
Thank you again for thesd udeas.
Maybe I will get motivated one day…Not
Thank you my friend
Connie
Wow, is this a great list! I even have some of these products… First, you need to figure out if this is for your Craft Space or “traveling”. Also consider if your are agile and can stand a lot or have limitations and need to sit as this will determine how your organize for “close at hand” or constantly getting up and down for something? Next is something I should mention is HOW you wish to store your pencils and markers. Pencil manufacturers of the better brands usually tell you to store them in their original tins to avoid breakage to the tips and pencils if they get dropped. Next is the question about Markers and Gel Pens. Everything I’ve read says to store them horizontally NOT vertically to keep the ink more free flowing. With this in mind, I use the ZIPPER CASES FOR EVERYTHING.
I have my “travel” sets and my “home” sets and they are color coded. I have two pencil sets and some gel pen sets that are the 150 piece or more so finding #11 the Purple zipper case was so wonderful and the purple is yum. I tend to go for the bright colors and these zipper cases keep everything contained and protected should they drop.
The Sears Craftsman tote is oh so wonderful as well for keeping a current project all together. Let me tell you this pink is so nice and very sturdy. I have three I use for other stuff as well. Now so many of these ideas are wonderful but it depends on what works for you. My #2 go item (after my zipper cases) are “Lock & Lock” containers. They are sturdy and protect from liquids spilling out or getting in. I can also store my Alcohol markers in these just in case they leak, like ALL my Spectrum Noir sets. My books are stashed flat in bins and categorized by topic which also keeps them free from “liquid”. My “liquid” obsession comes from two flooding incidents dealing with toilets….needless to say that water ruins so much. My home and travel stashes are stored in rolling wheeled Caddy totes so they can be moved around easier…all I need to do is add whatever book I want to work with.
Hope this helps.
Wow! Thank you for all the great suggestions!
These are all awesome ideas, Sarah. Thank you so much for sharing!