8 Organizing Tips for Your Perfect Crafting Space
(Source: http://eliseblaha.typepad.com/golden/2012/04/changing-it-up.html)
It’s more fun to create some DIY masterpiece than to spend a weekend organizing your crafting tools and supplies, of course. But a little less fun now will pay off big time down the road. Think of how much time is wasted searching your home for supplies you know you already have. How many times have you made an extra shopping trip to purchase something because you couldn’t find the one you already own? If you know where each supply is, you will have more time for the fun stuff! Set aside an afternoon to streamline your space, and you’ll be off and crafting in no time!
1. Corral. First things first: search for and locate all your various craft implements and supplies that are hiding throughout your house. Gather them up and set them out in front of you in one area.
2. Discard. Throw away items that are past their prime, such as dried up markers, empty glue bottles, that paintbrush with three bristles left. What are you really going to use that 5 inches of leftover ribbon for? If you find yourself answering with “well, someday I might need it…” just toss it!
3. Group. Sort and group your items by type. This is an easy step to get you on a roll and feeling accomplished. All knitting needles together? Check. Decorative tape? Check. Jewelry findings? Check. Further break down large collections into smaller groups if necessary (for example: yarn by color or weight).
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If you are more comfortable with grouping your supplies by hobby, you can do that instead. Remember, there is more than one correct answer to organizing your crafting supplies. This is YOUR craft space and what works for YOU.
4. Contain. There’s no need to be intimidated by this step. Is there a rule that says your craft space has to be a page from The Container Store catalog, complete with specialized matching bins and boxes? No way! You can use what you already have in your home to have the craft space of your dreams.
(Source: http://www.beautynewbie.com/2012/09/mason-jar-makeup-brush-holders.html)
Fill a vase or Mason jar with glass marbles, rice, or even coffee beans for your paintbrushes, pens and pencils. A simple and handsome solution. Bonus: Pulling out one brush or pen won’t knock over the rest of the bunch!
(Source: http://itsdoable.squarespace.com/blog/2012/3/4/its-doablecheap-makeup-brush-holder.html)
A clear plastic over-the-door shoe organizer is the perfect solution for tubes of paint or glue. No more going through a jumbled pile to find the exact glue or paint color you need.
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Or even worse, going out and buying something you have but couldn’t find! Glance, grab and go!
(Credit: http://adiamondinthestuff.com/2012/09/keeping-it-all-organized.html)
(Credit: http://duoventures.blogspot.com/2012/08/creativity-closet-makeover.html)
Keep your ribbon spools from getting tangled together with a ribbon organizer made from a plastic bin and a couple of wooden dowels. Again, the key is visibility and easy access. You can use what you need without disrupting the other spools.
(Credit: http://spunkyjunky.blogspot.com/2011/01/tutorial-tuesday-5-dollar-ribbon.html )
Fabric can be a beast to organize and manage. Stuffing all your fabric in a box means going through each piece to find the fabric you want. By using a hanging file system, your fabric will be easy to see and easy to access.
(Source: http://www.dressthisnest.com/2014/01/organized-life-file-folder-fabric-solution/ )
5. Label. Label each container with their contents. Put your handy label maker to work, or print out any of the virtually endless variety of label templates available online.
Source:
http://craftstorageideas.com/free-printable-craft-supply-labels/
(Source: http://www.cleanmama.net/category/declutter/page/2)
This will help you find things quickly and efficiently, especially when locating the items you rarely use. Which brings us to:
6. Location. Which supplies do you use the most? Keep them in a convenient spot for easy access. Less-used items can be stored away, perhaps on a higher or lower shelf while the most used items are within your reach and on display.
7. Centralize your inspiration and ideas. Set aside an area that will keep your creativity in motion. Hang clipboards on the wall to post inspiration you find in magazines and catalogs.
(Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/denbow/2859660947/sizes/z/in/pool-618955@N25/)
Instead of scribbling your project ideas on the back of receipts or scrap paper (and promptly losing them), adhere chalkboard contact paper to a wall, door, or cupboard. The next time a flash of brilliance hits while cooking dinner, you have a place to write it down!
(Source: http://www.tealandlime.com/2011/07/easy-chalkboard-door/)
Not only will all your inspiration and ideas be in one central location, it will be its own design focal point to boot!
8. Maintain. Last but not least: make sure to return your supplies to their appropriate container or bin after you use them! Once you’ve successfully tackled a project, your instinct will be to leave your workspace right away and show off your new creation to family and friends. But devoting an extra 10-15 minutes to put everything back in its “home” will maintain the organization system you’ve started,and streamline the creative process for your next craft adventure!
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