The start of a new year always brings with it resolutions, and the excitement of a fresh start. As crafters, we're probably all vowing to find more time for ourselves to craft, become more organized, and use the many supplies we've been hoarding, I mean saving. These are definitely some of the things I have renewed hope of in the new year.
I know, from personal experience, that being organized in my studio has a direct correlation to the amount of time I spend crafting and how much of my supplies I use. If I can organize my supplies in a way that they are accessible, and easy to find I use more of my supplies, and I spend more time creating because I'm not discouraged by the amount of time I know I'm going to spend hunting and sifting through supplies. So, if I can take care of the organization, the rest usually falls into place.
Here are some of my tips on staying organized in the new year:
#1. Put it away! Once you're done with a tool or supply put it back. Spending 10 minutes a day putting things away could save hours of cleaning down the road. This is probably my biggest problem when I get really disorganized.
#2. Purge! Every so often, throw things out. My hubby had to teach me this rule. If you look at scrap of paper you've been saving for 10 years, ask yourself, "Would I buy this today?" If the answer is no, throw it out or give it to a friend who doesn't know how old it is :)) It's recycling.
#3. Clear plastic bins are your friends! Store papers and embellishments in clear plastic containers so you can see what the heck is in there. If you know what's in there, you're much more likely to use it. I store paints, punches, flowers, and paper collections this way.
#4. Accessibility is key! Keep things within easy reach that you use all the time. I store my Glimmer Mist, Stickles, adhesives, and art supplies on shelves of an open wall organizer close to my desk so that I can easily grab the things I find myself using repeatedly.
#5. Birds of a feather stick together! Plastic drawers are a wonderful and inexpensive way to organize supplies. Dedicate each drawer to like things. I store my Distress Inks with my blending tools and foam. I store my alcohol inks with my felt. For like things that I have too many of to store in just one drawer, I still keep them in close proximity. So I have a drawer (or 2) of block stamps, above that I have a drawer of arylic stamps, and above that I keep dye, chalk, pigment, and permanent inks. This way I'm not walking back and forth across the room gathering supplies. This takes value time we could use for crafting.
#6. Color, color, color! I organize almost everything by color, including ribbon, Stickles, Glimmer Mist, extra cardstock, brads, buttons, paints, inks, you name it. When I'm working on a specific project, it's so much easier to find what I need if it's organized this way.
#7. Don't be a fool, organize the spool! Okay, that was horrible, but it rhymes. If you're a ribbon junkie like me, stand spools of ribbon up in a shallow container. You'll be amazed at how many spools you can get into a container, and when you're ready to use them you can see exactly what you have. I store my containers on a shelf.
#8. Shop smart! Buy your paper collections with embellishments, ribbon, and coordinating cardstock all at once, and store them together in clear, plastic containers or bags. When you're ready to create a specific project everything that you need is in one place.
#9. Find it a home when you get home! Whenever you buy new supplies, as soon as you get home put them away. If you go on a shopping spree, pick up an extra storage container or two. You'll be glad you did when you get back home.
#10. Trash it! Throw out packaging and trash. Sounds simple, I know. Often times when I clean my desk, I find out that half of the mess is trash: tiny scraps of paper, Scor-tape backing, ribbon bits, and product packaging. Keep a trash can within arms reach, so that trash doesn't pile up on your workspace.
Hopefully, these tips will help you become more organized, and in turn you find yourself creating more. Happy New Year!
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