Craft room organization

Happy New Year!


I typically do not make resolutions (mainly because I have no will power to keep them). HA HA But this year after a re-do of my craft room I vow to keep it looking nice & organized (and also hope to tackle the last room in the house to be re-done)!


Here are some things I've used to organize my craft room... from THIS POST

These containers are Gerber wagon wheels with scrap book paper Mod Podged on them. I have done a bunch... these hold trinkets but I also have one for crayons, one for markers & one for chalk. I even have some by the phone in the kitchen for pens, scissors & other stray items.

Puffs Containers work great for pipe cleaners & paint brushes.

Can't go wrong with a few extra Command hooks to keep things neat & tidy.
Dollar Store plastic baskets in my rooms color scheme keep thread, Velcro, glue & wanna-be-projects out of sight, but with in easy reach. The Chocolate polka dot container is from baby formula. (I just couldn't bare to keep throwing those things away... I had to do something with them.)

Seriously, I use everything... these turq. containers are from Swiffer Wet cloths. They are fairly sturdy, work with my colors & don't have any holes for little things to slip out (or tiny fingers to poke thru).

I labeled everything with simple black card stock & chalk.Cork board for Miscellaneous keepsakes - works for pinning up pattern directions ( not that I use patterns much anymore... but once in a blue moon).
Blue Ball canning jars hold buttons... and these rope baskets are left overs from my craft/sewing room an my Bloomington House. I keep my yarn stashed in a hanging unit from IKEA.

And last but not least, If you have one of these...
You'll need some of these to keep your area tidy.

Thank you, Karla

PS - unlike the reality show room make-overs, I should check back with you in 6 months & see how I'm doing.

Easy Art Wall

Here is how I did an easy art wall in our new craft space. This way I don't have to have all of Peepers lovely keepsake art hanging on the front of the refrigerator.
I used Command Hooks (seriously, I don't know what I did before this invention came along... they are literally the best thing since sliced bread & we use them in almost every room & closet in the house!!!) That can be a lazy day blog post...Hmmm... Maybe I should be a paid spokes person for these.

I had plans for this to wrap around on to 2 short walls so I figured out I needed 6 hooks ( 3 for each row). Since I planned to have the table nestled into that corner. So I measured how high up from the floor they should be (allowing room for the art to hang down).

I them measured the length of the walls & cut my ribbon a little longer (about 6") to allow for slack & the loops. At first I was going to use clothes line rope, but I liked the though of the thought of the extra pop of color (Plus it was left over from our wedding). I sewed the loops, but you could tie a knot if you want (allow extra ribbon/rope for knots).

Once hanging, I just started placing clothes pins & art along the ribbon.

From this photo you can see I folded my ribbon in half width wise so that it stayed on the hook. Once I had enough art & clothes pins hanging from the ribbon the weight kept in in place better.

I love this art wall... this could be fun way to display Holiday or Birthday cards too.

Thanks, Karla

Sewing/Craft Room Makeover - Finally

Hi everyone,

You may remember my blog post from 6 months ago about the disaster my sewing/craft room was in. Well, last week I took off a week from work (sent Peepers to day care) & finally did something about it! Most of the stuff for the room had already been purchased, it was just a matter of getting it done. Here is the BEFORE POST

First off, I need to thank my Hubby for helping me sort thru all kinds of CRAP (I mean treasures) before the magic could happen. We had a keep pile, a toss pile & a Craig's List pile.

Two years ago I had Artie ( My handy guy) install new task lighting... it is wonderful & a must for a room in the basement. I started out by painting the ceiling. It was very dingy and judging by how much @#$%! popcorn ceiling texture came off, I suspect it was the first time it was ever painted (see nice white square).

I painted the upper half of the exterior wall Light Lichen (left over paint from the porch). I also used this for the toddler table & chair set that goes in the craft room. Four years ago I bought the paint that I wanted to use for this room. So I had to take this back to the store & get it shook. I can't tell you the color because it was a "mistake paint" for $5.00.

DURING

AFTER

The wonderful wall of shelving.

the Closets ( I painted the trim too). What lies behind these doors still needs to be sorted thru & purged.

Anders Art Wall
Chalk board door, cork board wall & hooks.

Filing cabinets

Peepers & I are already enjoying the sewing/craft room. I'll post more photos about everything that is going on in the room soon. I just LOVE how it turned out. The color is pretty intense (yes, you feel like you are underwater) But, I like to think of it as being in a different world.

Thank you, Karla

Treasure Bag

Hi All, I made this a while ago, but am just getting around to showing you.

If you have a little one who likes to drag a few toys with him out of the house everyday (not mentioning any names), This may be the ticket for you so they do not get lost in your car or in the store.

Start with 2 pieces of woven fabric 7" x 10"
Sew the 7" side together to form the bottom of the bag, finish the raw edges on the sides.

Fold wrong sides together along the bottom seam & pin 1" up. Do this on both sides.

The flip so that rights sides are together, this will form a 1" pleat on the bottom of the bag. If you are making a larger bag, you probably want a 2" pleat at the bottom.

The use pins to mark 3/4" from top edge & 1/2" further. Start at the bottom of the bag, at the pleats, sew up your side seams. When you reach the first pin, back tack a few stitches. Do not sew between the pins & start stitching up the last 3/4" back tacking each end.

Again, you will do this on both sides of the bag.

That little 1/2" you are not sewing shut will be just enough room to serve as a casing for your drawcord.

Nice Pleat!

Double turn the top edge of the bag and stitch around, making sure the opening for the drawcord is between the top fold & your casing stitch.

The use a Bodkin or safety pin to thread thru your drawcord.

Tie a knot at the ends of your drawcord. I used a 1/2" piece of jersey for the drawcord, the raw edges roll on to itself & create a nice drawcord.

Make a bunch! They are fast, I made them in an assembly line fashion.

Let your little one stuff them full for the next time you leave the house.

Thanks, Karla

I confess...

My craft room is a disaster! It is amazing I get anything done!

So, I'm entering a contest for a $5,000 "spring cleaning" make over thru The Lean Remodeler.

For the contest entry, I need to post photos of the current room & write a short description about the room including who uses it, what takes place in that room and how the Wilsonart Design Team can help you out.

Here are a few photos... Hold you breath, because this room does not even look like it belongs on our house!

As you first walk in, this is what you see to your right. To your left... Straight ahead...
This is a photo of the closet, one weekend (way before Peepers), my husband & I built shelves in the closet to better store my stuff... I have a lot of craft projects going on.My goal for this room is for it to be a craft/playroom for the whole family. There is currently barely enough space to walk thru it to the laundry room. This room reminds me of the show "Hoarders". There are many dangers for my little man in this room that scare the day lights out of me.

I've already updated the lighting, painted a chalk board door, purchased the ceiling & wall paint and shelving/brackets to put above the bump out wall. But I'm stalled... No time to sort thru all the stuff in the room to even attempt the fun decorating part.

I have made many attempts to purge/clean/organize it many times, but it seems to be the "catch all room in the house". In my vision for this room, not only would I like to have it child safe & well organized/laid out. I would like to have a small table & chair set in the middle of the room for Peepers & I to finger paint & play with Play Doh & learn to draw. Since MN winters are long & dreadful, this room will be our escape where we can play with wild abandonment & I can hopefully foster his creative mind & spirit.

And at night when he is asleep, I can work on a few craft projects for our home, him & for myself.

Also, I would like help in finding a "home" for the necessary items that have no business in being in a family craft/playroom.

Thank you for your consideration.

Even if I don't win, admitting I have a problem was the first step in overcoming this dreadful room.

Poor Man's Flach Cards/ trying to get organized

I’m trying to go thru my sewing/craft room & reorganize before I paint & put up shelving. I found all these old paint chips that I used to use for inspiration & design board color pallets (from past careers).

Peepers was walking around with a few saying “yellow” over & over. Then the idea came to me… I could use them for flash cards!

So I pulled out the basic colors & added a few fun ones. The ideas just kept going from there… Although paint chips are heavier paper, they are not toddler proof. So I decided to laminate them. AKA: clear packing tape.

I then thought, what if they were magnetic! So I dug out my magnetic tape (bought 2 years ago at Target on clearance).
So after about a half an hour… we have FREE flash cards. All made from stuff we had on hand.
I’ve used this laminating/magnetic tape for other organizing projects. Labeling the file cabinets in my sewing/craft room… I just used coordinating scrap book paper. Taped the front & back of the label, added about 1" of magentic tape to the back

I then set up files for all the art projects he brings home from daycare. I’m trying to be very selective on what I keep.
Someday, I hope to have a small display for his art. I’m inspired by this from Knock Off Wood.