How To Keep Your Jewelry Organized When Traveling

Being organized is absolutely essential for me to maintain sanity. I find staying organized (or at least trying to) I am less stressed, more focused and I am better prepared for whatever situations await me. Organization is my way of life (even when it drives others crazy). Staying organized is hard enough at home, but a bigger challenge is staying organized for travel. I enjoy travelling (though I do not do it enough) and I have really gotten into wearing jewelry. When packing, I want to keep my stuff neat, organized and easily accessible, especially my jewelry, no one wants to sit around untangling necklaces instead of being out having fun! So we have our burning question: how do you keep your jewelry organized when traveling? The best way to keep your jewelry organized is to purchase a travel jewelry box or bag or make your own case for your accessories while traveling. There are a pretty decent amount of options available depending on what your needs are. It all depends on what items you are bringing and the amount you are packing. Types of Organizers Available for Purchase If you are the type of person that prefers to buy something that is already made to get organized, there are few readily available options for you. Jewelry Box Organizers These are a great option because it keeps your jewelry in place and protects it from being damaged (especially if you are flying). They also tend to be a little more durable. These wonderful organizers come in different sizes, styles, and colors. If you’re going on a shorter trip or just do not need to bring your whole jewelry box with you, this beautiful jewelry box is perfect for you. It’s small but holds a necklace, some rings, earrings, and a few bracelets and possibly a watch (depending on your bracelet selection). It will fit in your suitcase or even a backpack and it will keep your accessories organized and free from tangles. Now, I know some people need to have lots of styling options, so you need to be able to pack more pieces. This jewelry organizer is larger, so it will store more pieces. It is an amazing option for keeping all your jewelry clean and organized and knot free (this is so important!). And it even has a handle which also makes it easier to carry. See, we can be stylish and resourceful! Jewelry box organizers are very sturdy. I love that it’s a box (boxes seem to be more durable, right?). These are available at different prices. So, if you’re on a budget, you can get an inexpensive option for around ten dollars and usually smaller. The larger and more elegant styled jewelry boxes tend to be higher priced, but there is something for every budget. Jewelry Roll Organizer Jewelry roll organizers can make staying organized for travel a very simple task. These types of organizers usually have multiple clear pockets in various sizes where you store your jewelry. Seal the pockets and then roll the organizer up. It’s very simple to use and fits very nicely in your bag or suitcase when rolled up. A neat feature is that when you unroll it, you can just hang it and all your jewelry is on display (thank you clear pockets). When you hang it, all your packed jewelry is on display for you. Everything is visible, which makes it quick and easy to find what you need. If you want to change your mind on the accessorizing, having everything in sight makes it easier to switch up your look. These bags are also great for toiletries. Save a couple pockets for your travel size shampoo and conditioner, your toothpaste, and maybe even some of your makeup essentials. You will have all your getting ready needs in one easy place. These are also great because they come in a variety of price ranges. I’m all for inexpensive options. I love that there are ten dollar options up to twenty dollar options (the highest priced one I found is twenty five dollars). Jewelry roll organizers are super duper affordable! Jewelry Pouch Holder Jewelry pouches are better for small amounts of jewelry. Depending on the one you buy, it might be better for watches and rings. (I think it’s harder to keep necklaces knot free with this style of organizer). These are small bags (a pouch) and have a drawstring to seal the bag. If you are not traveling with a ton of pieces of jewelry, these do make it easier to keep your jewelry together. This jewelry pouch is a beautiful option and has some really great reviews for traveling! Using it for keeping your jewelry organized is its intended purpose, however it’d be a cute clutch for your next date night! You can even use it as a catch all container on your counter or by your door. I am all about multipurpose things in my home! Jewelry Clutches These are a fancy, stylish way to pack and organize your jewelry when traveling. Jewelry clutches are like a cross between a jewelry roll organizer and a jewelry pouch. They have pockets that make organizing jewelry easy. Jewelry clutches are small (like the jewelry pouch) and fold up similar to a jewelry roll organizer. The one featured above folds up nicely, but once you open it, you will be so amazed at the amount of jewelry you can store. It has a large zip pocket, two smaller zip pockets, two rings holders (this will hold more than two rings, don’t worry), an earring grid, and four tangle free necklace clips! That is a lot of storage! These fit better in a personal bag or purse. If you are wanting to be creative, you could use this for more than jewelry. You can use the zipper pouches for pens or pencils (or any small supplies you might need). Or if you are wanting to cut down on the amount of things in your purse, you can even use a smaller pouch for your driver’s license and money (and still pack some accessories) Jewelry clutches are a great way to stay organized and stylish at the same time during your travels, whether they be local daily travels or farther journeys. DIY Style As great as it is to be able to buy some sort of travel system for your jewelry, some may not have the option. At least it isn’t something that can be purchased immediately. Or maybe you don’t have time to wait for it to be shipped. Sometimes we need quick solutions. We have them! There are some creative jewelry storage hacks (there are a lot) as well as making your own jewelry organizers. Mint Cases Yes. You read that correctly. You can use a mint case or tin. I’m personally a gum chewer (at least at my day job), but if you or someone you know gets down on some Altoids, save the container. Once it is empty, give it a good clean and dry it. Ta-DA! You have a miniature travel case for your jewelry! If you are worried about your earrings, bracelets, or rings jingling around in there, no worries. Grab some cotton balls, stretch them and place them at the bottom of your container. You will have to judge the amount of cotton balls you need based on the size of the tin and how thick you want them. This type of holder is perfect to keep in your purse or small carry-on bag. If you want to keep your favorite pieces close by, there is no need to put this in checked luggage because it is small, light, and easy to carry around. You might even be able to fit it in a pocket (but lets put it in a purse or bag. We wouldn’t it to fall out of your back pocket). And if you are extra crafty, you can always decorate the tin so that is your style (let’s hide that Altoids logo!). Pill Containers Do you have an unused empty days of the week or month medication container just laying around? It is begging to be used! These containers are great for jewelry organization. Open your container, and place a set of earrings or ring into each slot. This is great for travel and everyday use. It keeps all your rings and earrings in their own spot so that they don’t get mixed and tangled with each other. You can even add a cotton ball to each slot for some added protection. These are also easy to pack for travel. Great for suitcases! And you can adjust which box to bring (weekly size or monthly size) based on the amount of accessories you are wanting to bring. The longer the trip the more pieces you are going to need! These can easily be decorated as well. You can glue cloth or scrapbook paper on the top or grab some sharpies and doodle away! O-Rings I know, I know. O-rings are kind of a weird suggestion. But they can be useful! They make these cool metal ones . You just open the ring and loop it through whatever rings, bracelets, necklaces you want to bring. You can try this with some earrings, but obviously studs will have to be packed differently. They come in different diameters, so you can get the size you need based on what you’re packing. And for fun, you could use one for ponytail holders as well (keep those from getting lost). Regardless of their purpose, these o-rings fit great in any bag. If you do decide on this method but you are worried about necklaces getting tangled, there is a fun hack to save you! Grab a disposable straw, unclasp your necklace and slide one side through then clasp it back up. It looks silly but it does the trick. Ain’t nobody got time to untangle chains! Bead Organizer Craft supply stores (and amazon of course) have a variety of bead containers that are perfect for jewelry, especially earrings. These are great because they are clear. That makes it easy to see what we are grabbing which makes for quicker accessorizing. (Being ready on time can only be a bonus, right?) These containers are usually pretty small so they fit into tightly packed bags very easily. It also makes it easy to keep stuff separated to avoid them getting stuck together. Buttons I absolutely love that I stumbled upon this hack. Most buttons have a couple holes in them. You know what else comes in a pair? Earrings! Use your extra buttons to keep a pair of earrings together. This is such a great way to keep the backs of your earrings with the earring they actually go with! I love this idea so much! I think it’s great for your home jewelry box as well. It would be so easy to just grab the button you need to pack up if you already have your earrings on a button. Grab your button or buttons, put it in your travel container and bam you are ready to go! If you don’t have a collection of buttons (I do not, so you’re not alone), craft supply stores and Amazon sell them by the pack. You can have fun with it too. Match the color of the earring to the color of the button. Matching colors might even make it easier to find what you need when you’re getting ready. I cannot wait to give this one a try! Washcloth and Rubber bands Sometimes time gets away from us and we never bought our travel jewelry organizer. It’s okay it happens. Best part is we have a simple solution for that last minute packing problem. Most people have a washcloth or two in their home. The rubber bands, I don’t think are mandatory but are recommended. If you don’t have any it’s okay, just wing it. Take a look at this DIY hack of turning your washcloth and a few rubber bands into a small simple travel option for your jewelry. It’s a great solution for when you are in a pinch. Traveling with Jewelry Do’s and Do Not's Now that we are super prepared to pack up our jewelry in an organized way (and hopefully safe way), lets go over what to do when traveling with jewelry. Pack a Statement Piece - You are going to want to bring a bold piece that will help dress up your outfit. It will make you feel like you made a whole new outfit when you add your touch of flare. Pack Inexpensive Pieces: It is recommended to travel with pieces that you wouldn’t be devastated if it was lost or stolen. If you are packing a big variety of jewelry, pack things that would not upset you if it got misplaced because let's be real, something always goes missing when we travel.Pack Your Jewelry In Your Carry On: If you are bringing jewelry with you and flying, try to put your organizer in your carry on luggage or personal bag. Unfortunately, checking luggage isn’t always the safest thing for our personal belongings. Keeping your jewelry in your carry on bag or personal bag, lowers the chance of your stuff being lost.Pack for the Occasion: When you are packing your jewelry, consider where you are going and what you are going to be doing. If you are going on some sort of wilderness trip, you might want to avoid bringing your diamonds. Maybe also consider an alternative for your wedding ring on this type of trip. But if you are going to a formal event, you may one to bring a nice piece or two for it (keep it packed in your personal bag as long as possible to avoid losing it).Keep It Neutral: Sometimes when you travel you might have many events or meetings to attend to. You could try to pack all your jewelry to bring with you or you can keep it simple. Pack pieces that are versatile and will match multiple outs. Happy Travels We all want to enjoy our traveling experience. I encourage you to be mindful and keep the tips in mind when you are packing up your jewelry. Accessorizing is such a fun part of getting ready for an event and completing a look. However, it will be no fun for anyone if your most precious pieces get lost when you go out of town. Pick your jewelry case option, whatever works best for your needs and budget. Plan what you need to bring and keep it safe. Let’s bring everything we take with us back home. Have safe, happy, fun travels! Be sure to check out some other nifty functional craft ideas through our other posts here on Craft-ILY as well as checking out some videos on DIY and How To’s over on YouTube. Look for “Crafting Unedited” to see!