Organizing for the Frugal Crafter

Crafting has become a multi-million dollar business in the past several years. The surge of scrapbooking and related stores has given way to crafters to save every little piece of paper, every bead, sticker and appliqué, etc. But that creates a problem. Now that you have all that stuff where do you put it and how do you keep it organized? Perhaps a shoe box thrown on the shelf of a closet somewhere? Or perhaps there’s an extra drawer in the kitchen? Or, or………? Wherever you may keep your supplies now, know there is a better way - a more organized way.

Some craft gifts because it is what we love and we feel that the gift is that much more appreciated because it is handmade. Some of us craft out of necessity because it’s less expensive than buying certain items. So we make them. Regardless of the reason, we still need a place to put everything.

Crafting has become so big that interior designers are now even being asked to design entire rooms to serve that purpose. Plus, there are tons of products on the market that you can buy for all your beads, papers, scissors, books, etc. There are shelving units for crafting, work spaces, bins, containers of all sizes. You name it, you can probably find it. One of my favorites is the Container Store. It is a crafters paradise. But not everyone has the money to spend on an interior designer or on all the products in the stores. So what do you do then? Where do you turn?

Don’t fear, I have some answers for you. Here are some inexpensive things you can use for your supplies. Some of the items you may already have, while others are staples that are fairly inexpensive to purchase and things that you will probably use at one time or another.

Some ideas are:

1. Plastic Ice trays – these are great to use when painting (you can wash the paint right out), when working with beads, jewelry pieces, buttons, etc.

2. Medicine bottles – these are wonderful storage containers for beads, buttons,

3. Milk cartons and bottles - Simply cut the top of the bottle or carton off to the desired height and you now have a holder for scissors, pens, glue sticks, etc.

4. Egg Cartons – Believe it or not these are great for beads, buttons, etc. because it has a lid. And because we are crafters you can always decoupage them to make them more decorative or do anything else to them that you like.

The added bonus to all of this is that reusing these items is recycling and this helps to keep them out of the landfills. Just another way to do our part to help the environment.

From: Robyn Reynolds
Organize2Harmonize
A Professional Organizing Company
www.organize2harmonize.com