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Organize Craft And Hobby Supplies

Quickly Organize Craft and Hobby Supplies so you can spend your time enjoying creativity rather than looking for supplies.

Do you have craft supplies and projects that you bought or started years ago but just no longer seem to get to them? Well if you want to make more time for your latest craft interest, it's time to organize your supplies!

Declutter and Sort

Declutter and Organize Craft and Hobby Supplies that you haven't used in ages or which you know you will not likely use.

Decluttering will make sorting and organizing your Craft and Hobby Supplies so much easier.

Contain

With your remaining Craft and Hobby supplies, think "contain." Clear, divided storage containers and ziplock bags are ideal. They allow you to sort and see what you need at a quick glance.

Just as with paper organizing, see Paperwork, only organize craft and hobby supplies if you will be using them often enough for it to make sense. If you only quilt or sew once every few years, just having all your supplies in one bin may be enough.

Out And About?

Many creative folks don't organize craft and hobby supplies because digging through them can stimulate new ideas. Although I understand this line of thinking, I still recommend at least a little organizing. Why? Because it can actually free up more time for crafting once things are easily retrievable.

Like Maria Gracia says in her book Finally Organized, Finally Free "as more and more things are left out in the open, they work their way under other things and vanish."

Maria suggests that if you have an "Out and About" personality, you can still use open trays, baskets, and other visual containers giving you the best of both worlds...a little organization AND complete view of your creative tools.

When you have easily retrievable supplies, it allows you the freedom to Create rather than Search!

Designate An Area To Craft

Debbie Williams of Let's Get It Together! , says you can create a crafts center anywhere. She suggests using a freestanding clothes closet for storage, a card table that can be stored under a bed or sofa and a folding screen to disguise your craftspace!

Other Craft and Hobby Supply Organizing Ideas:

Visibility is important when you store and organize craft and hobby supplies. Go with anything clear unless this really bothers your sensibilities.

When you store things in see-through containers, you save time by being able to locate what you need at-a-glance.

Over-The-Door Clear Plastic Shoe Organizers

Scrapbooking: Sort stickers, punches, stamps, photo tapes, cutting tools, die cuts, etc. into separate "shoe" pockets.

Stamping: Distribute stamps and pads by color, category and so forth.

Knitting: Use each pocket for yarn, needles and patterns.

An Over-The-Door (Shoe) Organizer has endless organizing possibilities and they are wonderfully mobile.

Totes

Many popular crafts now have customized totes and organizers specific to the craft. Great gift idea! Or if you are on a budget, check these out at your local craft store and make one yourself.

Shoe Boxes

Although I prefer see-through boxes, shoe boxes are often readily available for craft and hobby supply organizing. You can cover them with fabric scraps and be sure to label too!

Drawer Organizers

Anything that divides can be used for organizing. Drawer organizers are good for markers, scissors and paint tubes, glue, you name it!

Under-The-Bed Storage Containers

If space is at a premium, Under-The-Bed Boxes provide ample storage and are easy to pull out at a moment's notice.

Tackle Boxes

These are handy for smaller craft and hobby supplies. Try using for beads, DMC floss, buttons, etc.

Zip Locking Bags

I mentioned these before but they are worth re-visiting.

Zip-Locking bags come as small as "snack bag" size to as large as garment-packing size. They can be ordered in quantity on-line and you can get them pre-labled and even patterned!

Zip-Locking Bags And Stick-It Notes...What did we ever do without them? :)

Fabric Organizer Idea

Obviously, fabric is a main Quilting and Sewing "staple."

How about storing your material on miniature bolts replicating those you shop from at your favorite fabric store?

It's easy!

Purchase a large clear plastic container. Find some heavy cardboard or use a cardboard box and cut several pieces an inch or two smaller than the width of your plastic container and as tall as will stand up sideways (allowing room for wrapped fabric).

Take out your material and start wrapping around the mini bolts. Place in container so you can see your beautiful assortment just as you would in the store.

Sidebar for Quilters:

Here is a beautiful Web site you might enjoy visiting: Real Women Quilt It's organized, helpful and a nice resource for all you talented quilters!

In Summary

Designate an area to craft.
Declutter your supplies.
Organize highly-used supplies.
Create, craft, enjoy!
Put away as much as you can when you are done for the day.
When you return you can go right to it!

Have you ever dreamed about turning your Hobby into your Job?

Did you know that 72% of Americans have or are considering starting a home based business? Are you part of the 72%? Be sure to visit Turn Your Hobby Into Your Job to find out how thousands of folks like you and me are turning their hobbies into great little home based businesses.

Please be sure to visit Home Organize It! often. We will continue to add creative ideas to help you organize Craft and Hobby Supplies.

Make Time For What You Enjoy...Get Organized!

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