You guys were so encouraging when I showed you the painful ‘during’ process of sorting, cleaning and organizing my craft supplies…it really helped push me through the ‘what-the-french-have-I-started-here’ panic, and I’m thrilled to finally have Phase 1 of the Craft Closet complete!
It may not look like much, but compared to what I started with, it’s night-and-day! I had supplies under beds, in Kitchen cabinets and drawers, in multiple closets and in the garage. I had stuff I have no memory of buying. In fact, if I ever set foot in the craft store again, I need to be committed! There’s a mini Hobby Lobby right in my Guest Room!
So after corralling all the supplies in one spot, and tossing out the busted, dried-up, and empty packages, I grouped all the like items. That was a hot mess…but it helped to see what size containers I needed for each.
Next was figuring out how to fit it all, in an organized way, into only half of the Guest Room closet. I wanted to retain the other half for random storage, and actual closet use for when we have guests. And since I’m still riding high on my new mantra of ‘Just Start Somewhere‘, I decided not to over-think it, and forgo demoing any parts of the closet, and just work around what’s already there. It’s a standard builder-grade shallow wall closet, with sliding doors and weird wasted space on either end.
That black-hole space tucked in the side of the closet became major storage with Ikea’s Algot wall system. It’s not as sturdy as this one, but it was a lot cheaper, and allowed me to customize drawers to fit the space between the clothes bar and bottom shelf.
I used boxes, baskets and pails we had on hand to keep items from becoming one giant pile in each drawer. The top drawer holds glues, glazes, specialty paint, scissors, markers and paint brushes.
The second drawer is for embellishments, like beads, stones, sea glass, pom poms, decoupage paper and trims. Ziploc bags are great for grouping these type of things, and take up less space than their original packaging.
Third drawer holds string, twine, rope, yarn and embroidery thread.
The last drawer is stuffed with acryllic craft paint, arranged upside down so I can see the colors at a glance.
The rest of my supplies fit on the shelves around the drawer system. The woven basket holds jars of small loose items like brads, jingle bells, cup hooks, and my favorite…googly eyes. Labels will come once I see if this system and groupings work well.
My sewing machine doesn’t see a lot of action (I have this one
, btw, and it’s super user-friendly), so it’s tucked on the bottom shelf, with my fabric collection folded in a basket underneath.
They are stacked so I can see everything at a glance without having to pull out the entire stash to find something. I had big plans for all of them at one point.
Smaller fabric swatches and samples are in the bin under the drawers. The containers on the floor hold some party supplies, and all the random stuff I gather for project ideas.
Remember all the boxes that used to store the DVD cases before we streamlined them into a single basket? They now house crafts on the top shelf…stickers, sewing notions, stamps and ink pads, glitter, punches, and fabric mediums. The very top shelf holds random house accessories like cork boards, lamps, drapes and more project supplies. I have a bad habit of bringing things home that would make a good project…then never actually doing the project. It was humbling to find so much stuff…literally a month’s worth of post ideas!
Scrapbook paper and felt are kept in flat boxes so they don’t crumple. My DIY Monogram Jar of washi tape sits up there, too.
I can’t believe everything fit so tidy in one side of this closet! And it’s not a complete eye-sore for guests staying in the room.
I love how the drawers turned an awkward space into such great usable storage, but still tuck out of sight.
The first phase of sorting, purging and organizing is complete…next step is seeing what works and what needs to be tweaked. I also think that back wall is another great spot to create more storage, and of course I’ll have to add some fun decorative touches. But for now, it is such a relief to have an efficient system for housing the supplies I use almost daily.
Let’s not dwell on the fact that it took me four years, deal? Who wants to come over and craft something with me now that I know where everything is?!
Congrats on a project well done. I'm sure it's feels just wonderful and it looks great too!
It looks fabulous!! I love the mesh drawers!! What a great find!
amazing!
Those drawers are so awesome! I sometimes wish I lived closer to an Ikea but I'm also kind of glad I don't – I'd probably spend way too much money. 😉
You are such a rock star for even taking the plunge and just getting started. I need to do the same thing. I have huge storage bins filled with craft supplies. We moved to a new house about a year ago and I have a room that was going to be my craft room/guest room. It just has the bins stacked in there because I'm afraid to even tackle the project. I love that wall mounted system from IKEA! Perfect for the space and seems to be very sturdy!
I'm doing this right when we move into our new house! No waiting and "putting it on my list" because we have lived in our current house almost two years and zero craft closets have been made.
Someone is an acrylic craft paint hoarder! I have never seem that much in one stash before. Got any pink? Hahaha. But seriously, things ate looking nice and tidy. Way to jump in and move forward!
No joke! When I was going through them I kept saying, 'What is the deal with all this pink?!?!?!"
Is it sad that I think I have more craft supplies than you do? At least yours is nice and tidy now. I seriously can't wait till my craft space is built. I tried to find my scrapbook letters last night for a project that was suppose to be posted today on the blog…no luck. And I will definitely come craft with you any day of the week! I have a furniture remodel this weekend. Want to help?
Bring it on!
Looks awesome! I NEED to do something like this with my guest room closet. Like you maybe I need to pull everything out first. Thanks for all the lovely ideas on your blog.
Thanks so much, Cortney!!
Love that drawer system! I may need to try something like that, my plastic bins and drawers just aren't working anymore.
I have like 3 craft supplies (and one of those is scissors) and yet my craft space is a total wreck. Please come over to my house and help me. Like now.
It looks great! Crazy how much you can store in a space when it's organized. Wondering if you plan on using the wall space above your sewing machine. If you aren't hanging clothes in that section, it'd be a shame to miss out on that precious space. 😉
Oh yes, I've got my eye on that space! Stay tuned for Phase 2! 😉
oh man, this is so inspiring, Cassie!! I'm attempting to organize my craft stuff right now and too and it's such a HUGE job. I find the hardest part is figuring out what goes with what. Love the tucked away drawers and what a great idea to store the paint upside down so you can see the colours.
geez, that's a lot of craft supplies! i know where i'm headed when michael's is out of what i need…
Right?!?!?!
Looking good Cassie! I did this last year when we created our craft room. Going through everything was a pain and the time, but now I am glad I did.
It's looking great! Where did you get the wire basket your fabric is stored in?
Thank you! That basket is another from the Ikea Algot system. They are great and only a few dollars!
Well organized craft supplies, I don't think I could love anything more.
Ha, ha, ha, Cassie! "Mini-Hobby Lobby". LOL-Connie
Me, me, pick me!!!! I want to come craft with you! 😉 Sadly I have enough of my own crafty stuff to open a small store and it is all over the house (sewing in a couple of rooms, papercrafts in a couple of rooms, etc). Hi, my name is Kim and I'm a craft product hoarder! I run out of room in one area and move stuff to another room. I clean and purge, then buy more. Yes, its a sickness! I can say, I don't have quite as much paint as you, but I have a gazillion times more paper. You did a great job. Wanna come to Round Rock and help me?
So well organized. I want you to come organize my life! Haha
I need a craft closet and all of that organization in my life. WAHHH
Way to go! I know that starting something like that is usually the hardest part. And then, I have trouble stopping before it's all done…I hate getting pulled away from it, because it is hard to start back up again. Looks great and makes me want to get my things in order…my daughter has "rearranged" everything and I have no idea what I have anymore!
Does your closet look nice or what. Really like the IKEA drawer system and the fact that you're so real about messes and how to tackle them. 🙂 I'm spurred on to my crafts to do the same thing. 🙂
I love your organization! I love the wire drawers. I see a visit to Ikea coming up soon! I too have a closet and random supplies throughout the house, that need to be wrangled. Thanks for the inspiration to do something with all my supplies! I am pinning! Kari
Where did you get those drawers to go on the sides?? I love those!
Thank you…it's an Ikea system!
How wide is your closet where you put the Algot Drawers? I have something similar and not sure if I have enough space.