Do you ever break up a die set?

I have my dies logged in Evernote.  Recently I decided to take all the random banner dies (rectangle, wavy, fishtail, etc) that come in a die or stamp set and store them separately on a magnetic sheet in a stamp pocket. I added a blurb to every note saying “the banner die was removed from the set”. 

This was the best decision because now I have all shapes and sizes of banner dies together and it makes it so easy to find the right size die for my sentiment I stamp.

I tend to keep a collection of scrap die cuts and/or negatives for label punches, banner dies, and that sort of thing all in one baggy/plastic envelope sort of thing. Then I can hold them up over sentiments to pick the right one.

I group most of my word dies together, and the banner dies together. Otherwise, I keep the sets together.

Not a lot, but I have a bunch of individual word dies that I keep together and I've added a couple of similar words that came with other sets to them. I have pulled out a few most used shapes to keep separately, like my most used stitched rectangle size, and some little panels that are very useful that I would never remember to look for in their sets. I've also combined a couple of sets into one envelope so they're all together to mix and match. I usually keep the inserts with them if they have layering guides so I could separate the sets later if I wanted to, and sometimes I leave myself notes in the envelope telling Future-Me where to find things.

I prefer to keep things where I would look if I was browsing for them. I'd rather have trouble re-combining a set together because I was giving it away than never use a great die because I never thought to look for it in its official set.

This is how I feel about organizing pretty much everything. 

For those that want to be able to put the set back together again you could take a photo of the original set and store it in the pocket where you keep most of the pieces. Can just print in black & white on printer paper so it doesn’t add bulk to the package. 

Yes I do, for common greetings and shapes.

I have a cabinet with megnetic slide out shelves. I have dies organized on the shelves by theme ("birthdays") and by shape ("doors & windows", "sun moon & clouds", "hearts & stars") etc.

I also have a binder I started for the dies I use card making. I have interactive card dies there, slimline card dies, and florals.

But alot of dies I remember by the set they came with. So those I keep together (like all my Jaded Blossom gnome die sets)