Craft Rooms!

So, I love looking at what other people do in their craft rooms. I find it inspirational to look at what other people have done. I have sometimes just copied what other do, but mostly it gives me an idea on how to use something I already have.

I have a few tips that have helped me get organized. In no particular order:

1. Organize everything by type:

Here’s what I mean-you have punches for scrapbooking-put them all in one spot! Now I don’t have that many, however, I have enough to put them all in one box. Don’t put small punches over in one spot on your desk and the rest in a cupboard. You will forget about the ones in the cupboard. If you have to reach in to get it each time you use it, you will see what you have and not over buy. Over buying just causes you to have to purge things more often-and then that means you waste money. Trust me, I seem to keep doing it.

2. Buy only for a specific project.

This way, you will only have a handful of supplies. I am coming from experience of having a small space. Knock yourself out if you have a whole room dedicated to just one craft. Me, I scrapbook, craft with kids and have a sewing based business. That’s a lot of crafting supplies in one 7″x12″ room plus a small closet.

3. Throw it away!

Don’t keep too many scraps of paper unless you have one space to put them. Once it over flows, recycle!

4. Look in the kitchen aisle of Ikea or your favorite store for storage ideas

I didn’t do this when it came to ribbon. I bought one of these:

 

and one of these:

While the first one only set me back about $12.00, here’s the problem I found. The ribbon spools kind of run into eachother. When you go to open the rack to take out an empty spool, you have to be careful the one on top doesn’t open up. Trust me a big mess.

The second one. Oh, pricey even with a 40% off coupon from Michael’s. I think it was $40.00 (Oh no, my husband is reading this!) It’s a great idea with the dowels able to come off. However the holes in most ribbon spools aren’t that big. Especially the smaller width ribbon. So, again, I was modifying it, but I find this better. Hard thing is that it attaches to the wall. Not very movable.

So here’s what I like and wish I had done. And might still do after I remove the above rack off my wall.

 

This is from Ikea. These are Bygel baskets. They retail for about $3.00 each. Worst part for me, I already had some of these from my kindergarten classroom! Oh boy! The hooks were about $1.99 for 6 and I bought the rod to hang the first basket off of for about $2.00. In total, I spent $10.00 (I had a refund card for $12.00 and still had money left over. I’m sorry, I just don’t remember numbers very well!) This is fabulous! Best part is, you don’t have to lift anything out while holding onto something else to make sure they don’t fall off, nor do you have to slide spools on and off a dowel or metal rod. They sit in the basket really nice and you can even feed the ends between the metal bars. That being said-does anyone want to buy my wooden ribbon organizer? It’s coming off the wall tonight!

5. Cork Boards are not just for the garage.

Here is what mine looks like.

(Sorry about the picture. I used photo booth to take a photo since I can’t seem to find where I filed the nicer ones I took)

My husband was so excited that I wanted to use something from the hardware store in my lil’ studio. He spent at least 20 minutes explaining to me how to put it up and what little hooks to get for it. I seriously have never been given such verbal freedom to “buy whatever ones you want”.

I have extra ribbon on the left (that will soon be in my new ribbon holder), the markers are stored laying down (they last longer) in a Bygel basket from Ikea. I sew and scrapbook here, so you will see a mix of materials.

I hang buckets with supplies on the sides and leave the middle open to hang ideas from the clothes pins strung up on a string. A screwdriver holder has scissors hanging on it. This is so functional, however I find I need to tidy it frequently or it gets very messy!

6. Clear boxes are necessary.

I am working on this. Right now I have those photo boxes from Michaels holding many of my supplies (grouped of course by like item) They fit perfectly. I am on the hunt for a clear container that fits in my cupboards (which are kitchen wall cabinets from Ikea) If you can see it, you use it, and you won’t buy more.

7. Have comfortable furniture.

I have a nice office chair that I borrowed and later acquired from my husband’s side of the office (which has now been taken over by me!) I have an Ikea table top & legs from the kitchen department (Yes, I have a lot of Ikea Furniture. I can name on one hand the furniture in my house that isn’t Ikea). It’s height is a bit too high for sewing, so when I do a lot, my shoulders get sore, so I am thinking about cutting off the legs more. I really like the idea of having a counter height table like the one below. This way I would be above the sewing not level, which is really how you are supposed to be. For scrapbooking, it might be handy too. With a nice tall bar style chair, it’d be nice too…I think.

8. Keep as much as possible off your desk.

When working on a project, there is nothing worse than spending time looking for an embellishment “you just had” because there is so much clutter on your desk. Try and have a caddy on your table that you return a tool to as soon as you use it, or the cork board idea. Time is of the essence when you have little kids and so much to scrapbook!

9. Decorate your space!

Inspiration for your projects is always at hand if you are in a space you love-whether it be your kitchen or craft room, make it pretty! I love the Shabby Chic, country style of the craft spaces below, but you may be more of the minimalist. I love bright colors and almost never use black, navy or brown. Get a can of paint and paint a wall or desk. Use what colors and style is you what you! Trust me, you will long to spend time scrapbooking or crafting in a room you can relax in and say this is me!

10. Overall, trial and error has been my best friend. However, I probably should have done some more research online for ideas and saved some money :).

Here is a great website with a lot of rooms to look through. I think it is always helpful to get new ideas. They might jog your ideas into something even better!

These are some rooms that inspire me to create a better more colorful space for me to work and “play” in.

Ikea Craft Table and craft room

 

Little Miss Momma has about the cutest craft room I’ve seen yet. I actually priced out the island she uses as a table in her studio, but I think I need the storage space of the room above! Doesn’t this room just draw you in with all it’s colors and clean whites?

 

 

Post a photo of your space on our facebook page! I’d love to see what other ideas y’all have!

Happy crafting!

Krystle

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