This week marks Week 3 of the One Room Challenge, hosted by Calling It Home, and I’m sharing my progress on my craft supply organization.

Week 1 / Week 2

There is something about a well-organized space that makes me feel calm and almost peaceful. But I have to admit that it’s reeeeally difficult for me to put the effort into organizing a drawer, a closet, a room, etc. I think it’s because it has to get worse before it gets better, you know? Like you have to create a chaotic mess in order to start making sense of it. So instead of diving in and tackling the problem, I avoid it until I can’t stand it any longer. Smart, huh?

I’ve made lots of attempts at organizing all of my crafting materials and art supplies, but I’ve always wound up with a jumbled mess because I haven’t invested the time in creating a good organizing system. Or, worse yet, I don’t stick to the systems I put in place.

Up until now, my materials and supplies have been spread throughout our house. Some items were in my office, some in closets, and some were even on a workbench in our basement. It got to the point where I’d be running between three floors trying to locate my wire cutters and hot glue sticks. And this was my tipping point, when I couldn’t stand it any longer.

Once I got my new craft room painted and the ceiling pendant installed, it was time to make a mess and gather all of my craft supplies into one spot so I could sort and organize them.

I made a list of what my main craft supply organization needs are: which items do I use most frequently vs. only occasionally? Based on this, I started consolidating my supplies and decided what I wanted to keep closet-at-hand, and what could go into storage bins.

The items I use most frequently, like markers, pens and paint brushes, I sorted into mason jars. The hubs gave me this neat wood caddy for Christmas a few years ago; it’s the perfect size for corralling the jars, and doesn’t take up too much space on my craft table.

My mom gifted me a sewing box a while back, so now I have plenty of room to store thread, needles, scissors and my cute owl pincushion.

I don’t have a set budget for my craft room makeover, but I am sticking to the “use whatcha got” philosophy as much as I can. Which means that my shelves will be boasting a hodge podge of storage bins: some are black, some are clear, some are polka-dotted. Most of them are black or black and white (at least I’m consistent!). But as long as my craft supplies fit and I can stick to my new organizing system, I’ll be a happy girl!

Here’s what I’ve accomplished so far for my craft room makeover:

• paint the walls 
• install a real light fixture
• choose a craft table/work surface
• install shelving unit or bookcases
• space for sewing machine
• storage solutions for various craft supplies & materials
• create a photo studio in one corner
• wall art and colorful accents

Sharing with: Thoughts of Home Thursday