I won't ask if anyone else has this problem, because I'm so sure you do. It's starting to get less funny and more problematic, though, if you know what I mean.

By the last perusal of my master list (yeah, I'm a list person), I have more than 200 cookie cutters, and that's not counting some doubles. The sets are in the boxes they came in, but there are more and more loose ones as I've discovered the Internet and some local specialty shops. Because, you know, you always see that (insert oddball item here) and just know it would be perfect for (this event, that event, so-and-so's birthday.) Or just that it would be sooooo fun to decorate.

They have a drawer in the plastic organizer thing I use for cake decorating supplies, but they're now overflowing onto other available and not-so-available surfaces. My DH is not amused. And my 4-year-old recently grabbed one off the bakers rack -- where it shouldn't have been, my bad -- and squeezed it out of shape, athough I believe I've managed to bend it back.

Anyone out there have any tips for organizing cookie cutters and cookie gadgets in particular? Or just want to commiserate about cookie clutter?

I put mine into separate bins labelled by theme for easy stacking. Within those bins, the metal cutters are in large ziploc bags. The plastic are free to roam the bin. The nicer copper cutters are in short, comparitively flat-ish boxes in their own individual ziploc bags, labelled on the outside by theme and a list of which ones are in there (can you say "Type A"? ) Hey, it helps a lot when I need to find one specific one! We move a lot and deal with different climates, possible corrosion to metal from the ocean, etc., thus the ziploc bags and the need to keep on top of it. With limited space, far too many and too much moving, I have to keep them organized and easy to find.

I use the plastic shoe boxes and label them by category with my P-touch labeler.(I love that thing-I label everything!) I have two racks in my kitchen and two racks in my office/dining room. Cutters I rarely use are in big boxes and stored in my linen closet.

I do exactly what yankeegal does. I can't tell from her pic but my labels list all the different cutters in the box, not just "Christmas" for example because I can't always remember all the cutters I have under the christmas label.

Also, if I have a cutter used for different purposes, like a round christmas ornament cutter that can also be used as a fishing bobber I list "round ornament" under the christmas list and "bobber" under my "misc" list but I put it in the most obvious bin...in this case the christmas bin.

Then I also keep a typed up master list of all cutters by occasion on my clipboard along with my order forms and calendar so when someone calls to order I can refer to that sheet very quickly when they ask the hardest question of all..."What do YOU suggest?". Good luck!!

You guys are great. Thanks.

I think this is going to start a great "cleaning out the hall closet" endeavor this weekend. DH rolls his eyes because I kind of took it over for baking stuff, but he'll be happy if it means the cookie cutters are out from underfoot.

Happy new year!

I have mine like Yankeegirl, but I need more shelving units to keep them on! They are taking over my craft room!

I also label them with my P-Touch!

I do the same, the clear plastic shoeboxes from the Dollar Store labeled by category and then stacked on a shelf. Only problem is that I bought a couple of new copper Christmas ones and they are fairly large. Now I guess I'll have to do "Christmas Cutters 1" and Christmas Cutters 2" They do get out of hand!

Here's a shot of my solution (well, part of it). The cutters I use the most (or hope to) are in the drawer unit on the right, sorted by theme, and the Christmas cutters and others I don't use as often are put away in a tightly sealed container in the garage. I save all those little charcoal packets that come packed in vitamins, shoes, and almost everything now, and store them with the cutters to keep the moisture down.

Like some other posters, I have lists of types and sizes of my inventory. If I could only remember to look at them, I'd be set!

Oh that's sooo funny, here I'm looking at your pix of these plastic bins thinking "am I the only one??" Glad to know great minds think alike!

dlinnane, can I please come and live at your house?

I would be a lot more productive if my supplies looked like that!

Well done, you are an inspiration for the new year!

OMG, organized people are my hero's....I envy all of you! Great job

Wow, I'm so jealous of all you organized folks. I think this will be my new year's resolution! Thanks for all the tips and pictures.

[quote="JillK"]I won't ask if anyone else has this problem, because I'm so sure you do. It's starting to get less funny and more problematic, though, if you know what I mean.

Ok...this is going to hurt a little...I took a good look at all my cc and made cuts..deep cuts.

I whittled my collection to my absolute favorites and ones I go to each time. Not only did I free up space but I made a few extra dollars selling them online. Once I got over my shock, I was able to focus on the extra space! My DH tells me that space is short lived

[quote="Dizzymaiden"]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JillK

I won't ask if anyone else has this problem, because I'm so sure you do. It's starting to get less funny and more problematic, though, if you know what I mean.

Ok...this is going to hurt a little...I took a good look at all my cc and made cuts..deep cuts.

I whittled my collection to my absolute favorites and ones I go to each time. Not only did I free up space but I made a few extra dollars selling them online. Once I got over my shock, I was able to focus on the extra space! My DH tells me that space is short lived

You want to know the funniest thing about my well-organized collection? My best customer NEVER orders shapes I have orders for! I always have to laminate a photo and cut around it! So I keep all these cutters for someday...

And thanks for the nice comments. Wish I could take credit - it's my hubby that keeps me straight!

It is something that gets out of control pretty fast. I went away with my sister one weekend and came home to this. My husband turned the hall closet into "Cookie Central". All the cutters are in plastic shoeboxes labeled by catagory. The other shelves are for my books, boxes, bags, colors, etc. I guess after 24 years of marriage my insane need for organization has rubbed off on him. I was SO surprised at my own special place and SO happy I didn't have to do it.

What an awesome husband to re-do your space while you were gone! I have an awesome one as well! He re-did my pantry for me just before Christmas. It's organized now and I have trouble finding things --- and then have to think, "where should it be?" and there it will be!

My cookie cutter are in an Elpha storage base unit in their metal mesh drawers. I like the unit but don't think it best for this use. There are too many in each drawer. I think when the garage kitchen is ready, I will switch to the shoebox size idea. Good inspiration in this topic! Thanks!

I live out of my box of wilton 101 cutters and any other plastic ones get added to the box. My metal ones I have a separate little plastic container for them high on the shelf away from the little fingers that roam my house! But bless you all that have that HUGE collection and AWESOME space for separate containers!

I have a cat and buy litter in white plastic buckets. When they are empty, I clean them throughly and pack my needs in them. I label the tops of them . One bucket holds all my coloring supplies, paints, brushes, color wheel, sprinkles etc. You can also label the front side too, for the buckets are not see thru. One holds all my bags, boxes, ribbons etc. I do not have any storage space in the house, so these buckets get stored in the garage on top of one another.
Carleen

Where do you buy your cookie cutters? I don't really have a place in town so I'm gonna have to start picking some up online. Any suggestions of where to go? Maybe a favorite of yours? Maybe one that is reliable and good shipping prices?

Thanks all.

Here are some of my favorites:

Copper:
http://stores.ecrandal.com/StoreFront.bok
http://www.coppergifts.com/
http://kitchengifts.com/

Metal:
http://www.foosecookiecutters.com/store/
http://www.thelittlefoxfactory.com/
http://lacuisineus.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=39
http://www.victortradingco.com/Cookie_Cutters.htm

All/ Misc:
http://www.countrykitchensa.com/Index.aspx
http://fancyflours.com/
http://www.grammascutters.com/xmas_new.asp
http://www.cookiecutters.com/