I cannot keep it organized either, but I will give you a few ideas that I use.
The entire area is too overwhelming for me, I don't know where to start so I don't start.
Therefore, I pick one area to organize. For me, it is usually my work table.

Also, do NOT leave the area! Once I leave, I get sidetracked and usually don't return for hours later. So go the bathroom before you start, bring a drink or your cup of coffee. So I begin by putting away all the craft supplies. I tend to take the entire storage bin to the table and nothing gets put away until that craft project is finished (or until I need to clean the table so I can use it! Ü )

Then I remove everything from the craft table.

I set it on the floor. Clean off the table.
hen I start putting away the items that I know where they belong.
Keep the trash container handy to throw out the little pieces that you "may" be able to use.
It is not really worth the added clutter to try to save every little scrap. Or at least compromise by only keeping the scraps that are larger than 5"x7", by having a definite limit, I tend to toss more junk.

If my fabric is the cluttered mess, then I will put all the fabric on the floor in one area and then start organizing. I use plastic milk crates to store my fabric. Thanks to the $1 a yard fabric at WalMart, my fabric runneth over. Just pick one area per day. By the end of the week, you will notice that you have accomplished a lot. This is inspiring, and it motivates me to continue. Now I will be honest, once I start my next craft project, the craft room looks a mess again. I am not a neat crafter, but I sure do have fun.
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Posted By: Debbie NH
Date: 02/2/1 1:26 p.m.
The only area that really stays organized in my craft room is my paints, stamps, pattern packets, and fabric. The rest I'm working on.

The paints I have on a bookshelf by the types of paint they are; my stamps are in category on shelves I made; and the fabric I keep in a large dresser and each drawer has it's theme.

The pattern packets I have having up on pegboard with hooks; they're grouped by category. Sounds like I'm really organized; but there's awhole lot more that needs organizing that I'm doing. I still need to organize all the wood shapes,hair,etc etc etc..... Sooooo,on that note,I need to get busy before Adele beats me!!!! Hugs.... Deb
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Posted By: Dot Wilson Creche Lady Nevada USA
Date: 02/2/1 3:06 p.m.
I think I have the neatest way to keep my craft area clean, I just put everything that is paint in one place and the patterns go in binders in a cupboard, my books and magazines in file boxes and they are on top of cupboard.

And then here comes the fun part everything else goes on my ironing board and when I hear the poor dear groan I decide it is time to see what is there and try to figure out where to put everything that is on it. Sometimes I find things I figured I had put away or lost it and then I start over.

Everything that comes off the computer get put back on the ironing board and here we go again. My yardage and yarn are in tubs and stored away in the bottom of a closet. Now if someone can tell me how to keep my computer desk cleaned off I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you Dot Wilson Nevada USA
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Posted By: luci ritchie (canada)
Date: 02/2/1 3:19 p.m.
I don't start another project until everything from the last project is put away.
That's one of the reasons I don't get much done.
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Posted By: AdeleH New Mexico USA
Date: 02/2/2 12:51 a.m.
I hate to have to admit, that I really don't have any tips. Just that for me, the best thing I've found that helps, is having enuff containers to put my "stuff" in. Otherwise, it's just in stacks or piles and ends up getting mixed up, knocked around or sliding into the floor.

Even if I don't have enuff shelf or table space to put the containers on, at least it's all together in containers. And even if I can't afford to buy "special" containers, just having boxes will help. AdeleH Carlsbad New Mexico USA
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Posted By: Marcella Italy
Date: 02/2/2 9:43 a.m.
First of all I will need a craft room. At the moment I only have a table in my dining room and put all my stuff in the furniture on the balcony.
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Posted By: Granny2shoes
Date: 02/2/2 1:36 p.m.
Just a couple. My craft room is the storage room built off my screen porch. I live in Florida and we all have singlewide mobile homes with a screen porch and storage room.

I have a table in there and a chair for quicky jobs. My shelves have shoeboxes (well, actually sweater boxes) and I use an index card in the end inside to list what is basically in it. These boxes are stacked double high on shelves above the table. On the side wall, I put a shelf between the studs (stud to stud) and as deep as a stud. I put a thin strip of wood across in front about 1" up and set my paints on this shelf. I did this up the wall spacing the shelves to match the size of paints.

Since I love baskets, and baskets have handles, I have a couple i have around for no purpose but to haul stuff. I put all my stuff for my project in a basket. I can tote this out on the porch and work when the weather is beautiful, like now, or in the house at night. Somehow all that stuff in a basket doesn't really look like a mess. I work with a trash bag beside me.

I have ribbons on a dowel and hung under a shelf by stringing paper clips in chain and tying it to the dowel. This tie is easy to pop undone so you can add more. Must add more! I love all these ideas. Keep 'em coming. Anybody have a picture of where they craft?
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Yarn storage
Posted By: Country Roads Linda (Canada)
Date: 2003/4/10 2:58 p.m.
Lists are a great idea. I also have 3 shelves that I keep decoratives tins on. They are just pretty and for looking at, in each tin I store things like buttons, ribbons, beads, shells etc. etc. I use a bit of masking tape on the bottom of the tin with what is inside. Works for me.

For my yarn, I made a storage box out of 4 liquor boxes. They have those wonderful dividers in them already. I taped them together with duct tape and spray painted the boxes (did this outside) and each compartment is big enough to hold a big ball of yarn. It sure saves putting it all in a box and hunting through it every time I want a certain colour. I keep it on the top shelf in the closet so I can easily and quickly see all the colours I have.

I originally made this as a "mailbox" for the kids in a kindergarten class I had, they each had a compartment to store their work in each day. But when I moved out of kindergarten I took it home for my yarn. I had secretly always wanted it for yarn :lol but didn't tell the kids that :lol hint for craft storage .
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Posted By: Granny2shoes
Date: 2003/4/10 2:58 p.m.
I keep things in plastic shoe boxes. Actually they are a size up from a shoe box. They are clear and are stacked on shelves. I put a 3 x 5 card in the end facing out with contents listed. You can see through the box. And the card just sits there. No tape, no glue, no nothing.
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How I label stored boxes
Posted By: Country Roads Linda (Canada)
Date: 2003/4/10 2:58 p.m.
The boxes in the closet are cardboard so I use a permanent marker on those. Most of the binders have those little plastic pockets in the top so I print the heading on the little piece of cardboard that comes with it. Some do have masking tape along the spine. The last 2 are quick and easy to change when I move things around. linda from country roads
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organize craft book table of contents
Posted By: Granny2shoes
Date: 2003/4/10 2:54 p.m.
In Response To: organize craft book pages in plastic sleeves (valerie)
I suggest you copy your table of contents in a text file. Don't use the name of the article like "Let it Snow" but use what the project is like Snowman etc. Give mag date and page. Just do one magazine a day and you'll be up to speed in no time. You can then use the find feature to find anything. I go one step further with what the project is made of like styrofoam in case I am looking for something to do with styrofoam. I used to use big cereal boxes cut lower on one side than the other. They pretty much held a years supply. You can tape the boxes together in groups for stability.
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organizing craft books
Posted By: Linda P
Date: 2003/4/10 2:54 p.m.
What a find... My mom used to do this... Take some cardboard and make a binder. (It needs to be bigger than the magazine opened up... about 1 to 2 inches larger on all sides.) You will need to decide how big to make the spine. Look at a binder or a book... see how it is done in 3 folds? Then she took string and wraped around the spine part. (You just wrap it around and around the center spine.) Then cover the outside with contact paper... covering the outside strings, but not the inside. You slide the strings inside the center of your magazine. Does this make sense? This keeps them all in one binder, you could use a differnt color for each topic... Linda
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organize craft books in file cabinet
Posted By: margie coughran
Date: 2003/4/10 2:54 p.m.
Marg, Well, most of my hard bound books are on book shelves according to catagory, crochet, nature crafts, ....the rest are part of the pilot system. I pile them here and pile them there. Don't you just love when you get a deal like that? I know they have cardboard magazine holders to put magazines in. I got some years ago and can't remember where. I use them for my woodworking and home improvement magazines. I keep planning to organize them...but I never find the time. A file cabinet would be a good idea, maybe you could find one at a garage sale, thrift store or a place that sells old business equipment and furniture.

Somewhere I saw where they attached material with Velcro around the file cabinet so It would disguise what it was and you could open it at the front to get into the drawers. Or you could use a footlocker that you could decorate to look like a large footstool. I have seen footlockers decorated with a padding on top, covered with a material to match your decor and a ruffled skirt to cover the sides. You might find an used one of these at a garage sale or thrift store too. I think we all have a problem with orginization. Good luck with yours. Margie
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organize craft book pages in plastic sleeves
Posted By: valerie
Date: 2003/4/10 2:54 p.m.
Hi Marg, You sure did well at that garage sale..some of my soft-covered books are in wicker baskets...the rest I flipped through and tore out the pages(mainly the magazines) I needed and placed them in plastic sleeves and then into a 3-holed notebook... If you feel so guilty about gloating...hehehehheheheheheheh how about sharing any interesting angel ideas with us!lol Enjoy your craft books and happy crafting... Valerie

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