I am a craft-a-holic….yep it’s true, although I haven’t found a 12 step program for it. I am not sure I’d care to change either. I find sewing, knitting, and crafting to be soothing, calming, and therapeutic. I really enjoy using the skills my grandma taught me too! I love sitting down with my kids and creating fun projects together (and for them). We have a junk closet…..much like a junk drawer but bigger, and it certainly needed to be revived with life. Because I do so many projects at once I thought it might be a good idea to get all my craftiness supplies in one central location rather than strewed about the house. Want to know how I turned my closet into this lovely thing? Well, then read on…
Like I said, I started with quite a junky looking mess. It was actually embarrassing for me to take a photo of it to share but I am doing it for the greater good. (tee hee hee) Here is what I started with. A heaped pile of disorganization! Oy that is so sad looking and completely NOT functional.
The first thing I did was take every single thing out and sorted the items into piles. I decided what needed to stay and what needed to go. Once I had an empty closet to work with I felt like the fun was about to begin.
I reserved my top shelf for items I didn’t want my kids to be able to reach without my assistance. I used two old soup cans for storing markers and brushes. I covered the cans with pretty card stock paper and added a little label to complete the look. For storage of my paints I used an old Goldfish Cracker carton. I used my handy box cutter and carefully cut the top off of the box. I covered the box with coordinating paper and labeled it as well.
The next shelf was my biggest cost. Are you ready? $3.22! Yep you read that right! I purchased 3 pink baskets in the dollar area at Target to store my scissors, elastic, and needles. I used two clear glass cookie jars for my thread and rick rack storage containers.
The next shelf took me the longest. Because I have 4 children I had ample supplies of diaper boxes and wipe boxes. They were sitting in a pile waiting to be broken down for recycling. Instead of purchasing expensive core board (like I had originally planned) I got out my box cutter again and started to cut the boxes into rectangle pieces. I took the rectangles and wrapped my fabrics onto the boards. I then arranged my material by color so I could easily see what it was that I had available to me. I am loving the way it turned out!
Next came my shelf for my machines. I reserved this shelf for them because they are at the perfect height for lifting. These machines are not only bulky they’re heavy so I wanted to make it easy for me to grab. I put my serger and sewing machine next to each other along with two clear plastic tubs with machine parts and the pedals. Just below that shelf I filled that space with all my pretty ribbons and other “crafty” supplies. I had these plastic tubs already so this was something I didn’t need to purchase.
Last but not least my floor of the closet was reserved for two plastic storage containers I have had since my college dorm years. I used to keep socks and underwear in them. I used one for my yarn storage and the other to keep all my patterns (and my grandma’s) neat and organized.
So there you have it…my perfectly organized craft closet for a grand total of $3.22!!!!! I am so in love with the way it turned out. Let me know what you think and if I have inspired you as well!
Very nice job – I turned the guest room closet into my craft room – I have things organized and labeled but I am waiting to “decorate” the area and make it more inspirational. Found you through the Funky Junk Interiors Link Party – would love for you to come over and check out my site if you have a chance!
Thanks –
Carol@arewethereyet
i have LOTS of organzing to do very soon and i love seeing how others make it work in their home! it looks GREAT!!!
It looks fabulous!!! love to be organized. First time visiting your blog ~nancy~
Thanks for this, your closet looks fabulous. I have a closet in my husband’s study that I have my quilting stuff stuffed in. The last day of my holidays -today- will know be spent doing just this to it.
That is AWESOME! I love it. I am organizing my craft room right now and your closet turned out great!! I love your fabric storage idea! I just Linky Followed you! Come and check out my site if you have a chance!!
I love checking out all of your craft supplies and how you’ve got things all organized. If you have time, please come on over and link up at my party going on now. Have a great weekend!
fantastic reorganising !
This looks amazing! I love it. Don’t sew (I don’t even have a needle and thread in my house, lol) but this really makes me what to start!
This is so great. Well done on the fabric storage. I love recycling/up cycling, but I hate if it looks junky. You did a wonderful job being frugal while keeping it visually pleasing.
I am so envious of your very neat and pretty closet. Every time I look a the bomb that is my craft room, I want to throw up but I just can’t get my butt in gear to make it pretty. I did organize my material in one of those hanging sweater organizers and I not have it all organized by color. But that’s as far as I got!!! can you come do mine for me?
Stopping by from the Girl Creative Blog Hop! http://queenofsavings.com
Oh I am so envious of your closet. I love to craft and so does my oldest son. We have craft stuff everywhere. I love the idea of using the cookie jars – so smart and it looks adorable. Great job – you have inspired me to get my butt going and organize!! Stopping by from bacon time!!
Your closet is so cheerful and tidy! I love that you were able to make it pretty and functional for practically free.
Thanks Ange- Im on my way to visit your site now! Hope you got a little inspiration.
Aw thanks Carol. I keep trying to talk my hubby into letting me turn our spare room into a craft room.
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Thank you Jill. I had fun doing it and to me that is the best part! =)
Thanks for stopping by! And thanks for the lovely compliments. =)
How did your last day go? Did you take before and after photos to share? =)
Thanks Allison. I love that it only cost me 3bucks! YAY!
I’m on my way now, Terry. Thanks for the invitation.
Thanks Sandy!
Thanks Happily…sewing is so relaxing to me and I love it!
Aw Sparkling if you only live a few minutes away I’d help ya =) With 4 kids it doesn’t get to happen very often.
Thank you for stopping by Justine =)
Thanks for dropping in Lindsay =)
Mels- I think the practically free part was one of the best perks! That and now I just wanna stare at my pretty closet all day =)
Aw Meg, thank you! I bet you could get some great organizing done around the house with all those empty boxes =) Best wishes!
That is AWESOME! I wish I had a space like this—already organized, of course. 🙂 I love how you organized your fabric! I have diaper boxes galore (currently used for storing old children’s clothes) and this would definitely come in handy with my stacks of fabric around the house! I’m pinning it. Great job!
I love the idea of using the cardboard from old boxes to wrap fabrics. I will be re-organizing my fabrics this way from now on. Thanks! Monika, My Lovebug Baby
Very nice. I have about 10 times as much to figure out, but I have a couple of areas available. Now to make all the free cute stuff. Love the fabric on cardboard idea. Well done!
What a Great Closet!! I’m jealous – We are going to take our spare room and turn it into a craft/office area – I can’t wait – your ideas for the material were wonderful. Now if I can get my daughter to bring me over her empty diaper boxes, LOL
I found you from TipJunkie – now following you on Linky
http://underthecraftzone.blogspot.com/
Thanks Lovebug Baby- Happy to share the idea!
With 10 times as much stuff you better hop to it =) I will have to ship you some extra diaper boxes =)
Aw, Thanks Michelle! So happy you like it! It was fun to do and so fun to use now =) Thank you for following!
Love your craft closet! It looks great! I would love it if you linked up at my party going on now! (It’s my very first one!!)
Jill
http://www.jillifyit.com
Looks great, makes me want to stop what I am doing and clean my craft hutch. Thanks for sharing at Bacon Time.
Wow! I’m inspired!
Thanks for linking up to my party at Jillify It! I’m a new linky follower!
Jill
http://www.jillifyit.com
Very nice! I’ve had my eye on that way of storing fabric for a while. Gonna be trying that soon. Love the way the closet looks pretty and organized both.
Melissa
redflycreations.blogspot.com
I desperately need a closet like this. Maybe I need you to come organize mine!!! I would love it if you shared this at my party!
http://www.herecomesthesun-kelly.blogspot.com/2012/02/fabulous-friday-14.html
Thanks for linking up to my party! I am featuring you this Friday!!! Can’t wait to see what you link up this week 🙂
This is beautiful! You utilized every inch of your space so well and it is all so pleasing to the eye!
Thanks again for hosting Mindie! Hope to see what you did with your hutch soon!
We linked up with you Jill =) Thanks for the invite!
Yay! Glad to hear you are going to give it a try!
Knowing we’ve inspired you made my day!
Thank you for the follow Jill
Thank you for the invite, we linked up with ya! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Kara- Wow!!! Thanks so much for the feature! We can’t wait to link up again tomorrow!
Thanks for the lovely compliments! So happy you stopped by.
Ha!!!! I love that idea Michelle! So funny! Thanks for hosting a great linky party!
You did a great job!! Now do you want to come do mine? I’m slowly working away at it and it is getting there. Just not fast enough for my husband, but he also doesn’t give me the free time I need to do it. Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!! I hope you will share with us again this week!
Your closet is awesome! Well done! 🙂
This looks fantastic. I’ll just hang the picture in front of my craft space and pretend it looks like that. 🙂 Thanks for linking up with DIY under $5!
I love this transformation. Would love to have you come link-up at Finished it Friday! Have a fabulous weekend!
~Kimberlee, The Spunky Diva
Fantastic! I’m currently working on organizing my craft area and you are an inspiration! Thanks!
I love this transformation. You have a whole sewing/craft room neatly organized into one closet. This does inspire me.
Beauteous! I especially love the glass jars for thread and rickrack. Nice job!
Love it! Nothing makes my heart happier than an organized space. Problem is you have to keep it that way 🙂 Popping over from Tip Junkie! Please stop by my blog if you get a chance http://www.momsbusycrafting.com
I love the fabric wrapped and stacked like books. So easy to see and pull out one at a time.