PalettePail: Craft Paint Edition – Modular Paint Tray System for 5-Gallon Buckets

If you're into crafting, painting wood signs, or decorating just about anything with Apple Barrel, FolkArt, or other 2oz acrylic bottles, you probably know how fast those paints multiply. Before you know it, you’ve got a cluttered shelf full of little plastic bottles tumbling into each other.

The PalettePail: Craft Paint Edition helps you take back control—one bucket at a time.

This clever modular system transforms a standard 5-gallon bucket into a fully portable, stackable paint station designed specifically for 2oz craft paint bottles. Whether you’re a weekend crafter, classroom organizer, or full-time maker, PalettePail gives your paints a secure, vertical home that’s easy to carry, store, and expand.

It all starts with a 12-piece rail system that snaps together and fits snugly inside your bucket. Once installed, it supports up to three modular trays, each holding 27 craft paint bottles in a tight, upright layout. That gives you a total capacity of 81 bottles per bucket—neatly organized and ready for action.

Each tray includes:
- A center handle for easy lifting in and out of the bucket
- A central cup space to hold brushes, sponges, or tools when the tray is on your table
- A clean, efficient design that makes the most of your vertical space

This edition also includes two utility trays to handle everything else in your kit—one deep tray for bulkier tools and one shallow tray for small, frequently used items like pencils, glue sticks, or detail brushes.

And to top it off (literally), we’ve added a brush/tool caddy that fits perfectly around the open upper edge of the bucket. It prints in three pieces, snaps together without glue, and gives you quick access to your most-used tools without digging through a drawer.

Whether you keep your paints in a craft room or tote them from job to job, PalettePail: Craft Paint Edition helps you stay organized and inspired every time you pop that lid.

This STL file set includes:

• 1x Rail System (12 parts – snap fit, no glue required)
• 1x Craft Paint Tray (3 parts – glue required)
• 1x Utility Tray – Deep Version (3 parts – glue required)
• 1x Utility Tray – Shallow Version (3 parts – glue required)

• **[PalettePail: Vallejo Edition](https://cults3d.com/:3007548)** – for 17ml dropper bottles like Vallejo and Army Painter
• **[PalettePail: Complete Bundle](https://cults3d.com/:3007578)** – includes all tray types plus bonus accessories
• **[Model Paint Holders](https://cults3d.com/en/design-collections/GL-Designs/model-paint-racks)** – wall and tabletop solutions for all paint styles
• **[HD Hobby Helpers](https://cults3d.com/en/design-collections/GL-Designs/hd-hobby-helpers)** – tool trays, wall racks, and more
• **[View the full PalettePail Collection](https://cults3d.com/en/design-collections/GL-Designs/palettepail)** – all editions in one place

**Prefer the ready-made version? [Buy PalettePail here](https://www.gl3designs.com/store/p/palettepail)**