Why is HTV a PAIN to store?

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HTV can be a total headache to figure out how to store.  Why does it come in SO many different sizes and widths! Drives me a bit crazy.  Anyways, you aren’t hear to read my rants on why standardizing sizes would make our lives as crafters easier.  So, after much trial and error here is my BEST suggestions on storing sheets & rolls of HTV.

Let’s start with the easy one.  Rolls I simply roll up, add a piece of my favorite drafting tape, add a label on the carrier side with brand, color and my RM (Raw Material No. I use for inventory and pricing).  Then I add them to a drawer. I use the ALEX DRAWERS.

Now for sheets and scraps.  Sheets of HTV often come in things like 12” wide, 15” wide, etc.  For those I get in 15” wide, since my cutting machine is only 12” I cut into sheets of 15”x12” for easy use.  All of my non-roll HTV is stored in ART PORTFOLIOS. I currently have 5 but hope over time to cut that down.  I started using one brand of vinyl and have found I prefer a different one and now have both until I’ve used them up. 

Sorting your HTV books:  I find that sorting by color and then manufacturer to be MUCH easier.  Originally, I had a book for each brand and found myself flipping through to see what I had from each company that would work.  So, here is an example of how I do it: page 1: color: white, brand: siser; page 2: color: white, brand Chemica; page 3 color: white, brand: Stahl’s.  Then I would follow with Black, and all the other colors of the rainbow.  I also leave a gap between every 1-2 colors.  If you happen to acquire another brand or color, then you can easily add it without having to redo your entire book.

I also add LABELS I used for all my vinyl to the pages of the art portfolio.  They show brand, type, color and my RM (Raw Material No.).

What’s your tips and tricks for organizing vinyl AND labeling it?