Lots of people ask me how to store paintstiks. Just about anything works. You can literally toss them in a zip bag and put them in a drawer. But lots of people want something a bit more “organized.” So here’s a simple, inexpensive idea from the Back-to-School section.
I had stopped into my local Walmart to pick up a few things and found these colorful pencil boxes made by Sterlite. They looked like they might work, so I picked one up. It turns out they are just the right size to hold paintstiks, (and you can’t beat the price.) You can put half the paintstiks in the lid while you’re working and then close up the box when you’re finished. Pretty neat!
This small pencil box holds 19 or 20 paintstiks comfortably. I’ll bet you can put another layer (for a total of 30) in the larger version. They come in several colors, and you can see through the plastic, so it’s easy to see what’s inside. I think I’ll have to pick up a few more the next time I’m in town.
I so appreciate the hints for using paintstiks. They are so fun and while I am very much a beginner, I am always searching for new applications. As for storage, I recently made manicotti — and noticed the wonderful plastic pasta holders in the manicotti box. They are just perfect for storing and separating the paintiks and fit into a plastic storage box very well, Now I just need to serve manicotti again to add to my storage collection!
Now there’s a truly novel idea! I’m not sure if I’ve ever cooked manicotti — at least not in the last 20 years. I guess I’ll have to put it on the menu just to see the packaging. 🙂 Thank for sharing!
I love the little plastic boxes, I use them for a lot of my craft items.
Great for my watercolor pencils too. They are handy and I can take them with me on trips too.
Debbie
I picked up a few more pencil boxes yesterday. I made sure to get enough so I have a couple for the office. I’m forever needing to make a little sample for blog posts or an ad, and I don’t have a proper “art space” here at our offices. This should help just a little.
Could you tell me what brand of paintstiks you use? When I went to Michael’s there were a couple of brands, but as a beginner I wanted to be sure to pick a good brand to use.
Hi Barbara, I only use Shiva Artist’s Paintstiks. First – the Shiva paintsitks have a unique chemical makeup that makes them friendly to fabric and second – that’s the only brand we sell. 🙂 There are other products on the market that look similar, but I can’t vouch for whether they are safe for fabric or wash-fast after they dry.
I don’t think you will find the Shiva Paintstiks in the big box craft stores. Check with quilt shops and art supply stores. You can also visit our website to look for a retailer or online source. If that doesn’t help, call us here at the office and we’ll help you find a source. Our number is on the Contact Page.
I just bought some paintstiks from Dick Blick Art Supply. Comparatively good pricing. Now I’m anxious to try them.