Getting Organized in the New Year

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!

Linked:

Comments

[Ptitesmains]

I like to do the sorting, storage, I rediscover things each time!

[Melanie]

I wish I was not so ADD. I get to creating and all organization is shot. Today I will try harder.

[Condo Blues]

Excellent tips! I am a big fan of labeling every storage bin so I make sure I put like with like. Oh and of course to be able to put things back where I found them.

[Renee M]

OOOOhhhhh! Your ribbon looks good! I'm so going to organize my ribbon!

[kim]

Melissa this is an awesome share- and one of my favorites (besides the purge your stash reminder) is the photo of your distress inks with the rubber band around them- I am getting off the computer to do this right now- no more dried out ink pads with the top missing in 2011!!!

[Amy Baldwin]

Great advice! I just need to stick to it! Your craft space looks very neat and inspiring. TFS!

[DogsMom]

If I had your organizational skills I would be tempted to hang onto more. You make it all look so wonderful!

I am going to return and look around. Are there other pictures of your craft room?

[Kristen]

Great advice, I'm still mastering mine. I have a very small desk that barely fits in the room but I'm trying!

[Deborah]

Great info Melissa! I need to get one of those white organizers you have for the stickles and glimmer mist. Also, when I buy a "series or line" like Websters Waiting for Santa, I put my paper, ribbon, etc. all in one clear plastic bag and store it together until I'm finished with my project. That way, I'm not hunting for the paper ... then the ribbon ... then the embellishments. Once through, the remaining supplies go into the general stash. I really like your idea to sort by color. I do it with paper and ribbon but haven't got around to other items. Your space looks great :-)

[Tere]

I have a very small area, it is just one wall in my bedroom. I will be changing it from the wall on the west side to the east hahahahaha. I'm going to need a lot of organization skiils to make it look pretty and accesible.
thanks for the ideas... I do love plastic containers and have some of my stash separated by colors.

[PATRICIA]

MELISSA QUE DELICIA, QUERO TUDO...TUDO TÃO ARRUMADO, MEU ESPAÇO É PEQUENO MAS PELA VONTADE EU TERIA TUDO...AMO SEU BLOG PARABÉNS

[Vanessa Wachlin]

Thank you for sharing!! Some of the things I do, others I need to work on! Thanks for the reminders:)
~Vanessa W

[Devremülk]

Nice post. I love it. Waiting your new posts. Thank you...

[Malia]

Dear Melissa, I wish you could wave your magic dust all over my craft room! You stuff looks GREAT! Thanks so much for sharing at A Crafty Soiree ( -:

[June @ I will craft.....]

Good tips. I always can use new tips to help me get better organized.

[Chris Wooten]

Hello did the linking party too. I love your blog.

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[Linda Roberts]

Thanks for the inspiration to get things organized for the New Year; don't we all need this? I wanted to know if you have a post showing your entire crafting area? Any help, tips and photos would be appreciated. ~Linda

[SouthernScraps]

Love your tips. Especially ribbon, I've never thought about putting it in a container- duh. I have it on dowel rods but they are full. This is perfect for my excess!

[Supra Skytop]

This latter-day business offers American-style sweets, like a multi-layer carrot cake, and Jamaican cooked food including escovitch and (Friday through Sunday) fish tea, plus the familiar patties and island pastries.