Greetings @Abbygail 
You’ve got a lot of great spellwork and crafting ideas for your incense ash! Just as a suggestion for in-between projects and as a way to collect it, have you considered using an incense burner bowl?
They use them at temples in Japan- the bowls range from really simple to extremely elegant. As the incense burns, the ash drops down and collects. Then you pat it down and can use the ash itself to hold up incense sticks.
Picture from the Monastery Store
I was told when I lived at a Zen temple that incense ash is sacred and actually quite valuable. It can be used for many things or just collected for good spiritual energy!
I’m sure you will find some great uses for your ash. Blessed be! 