Minecraft won't let me pick things up! Why and how can I fix this?

I had this chess full of several different common and uncommon stuff that took me forever to gather. I broke/mined the chess and everything popped out and it won't let me pick anything up! Even when I walk on it or jump

Just fix it

Is your inventory full?

Don't mix the game of Chess & Minecraft. They don't go together.

Chances are then that your current inventory is full.
Thats the only possible reason you couldn;t pick things up.