Long Evenings and Creative Hands: Get Your Craft Corner Organized

The days are getting shorter and the weather tempts us more and more to stay at home. Right now is the perfect time for all those creative activities you didn’t have much time for in the summer. Are you also looking forward to picking up your hook and yarn again, setting up the sewing machine, or getting out the paints, papers, or beads? Except… instead of joy, you might first feel frustration when you see the chaos. ;-)

You desperately rummage through boxes: dried-up paints take up space, and the colors you need are missing. Finding the right wire among tangled ribbons is impossible, too. And once again this year you’ll be buying new candle holders for the Advent wreath, even though you know they must be here somewhere… but where?

Enough! This time, put an end to the chaos for good. We know how to make sure your crafting brings only joy.

Before you dive into creative fun, set aside some time to get everything in order. It’s worth it!

Start with sorting

Gather everything you use for your creations—sewing, knitting, ceramics, or other crafts. You’ll often discover you have some tools and components duplicated in different places.

Go through everything and sort it into piles. Put anything universally useful in one place. Throw away damaged or unusable items without hesitation. Is it really worth keeping every offcut and scrap of material that “might come in handy one day,” even though it hasn’t for years? You may also realize that what you loved years ago no longer interests you, yet the box of materials still unnecessarily takes up space in the closet.

Organize what’s left, clearly and neatly

If all goes to plan, you now have several piles of things you want and can use. Now it’s time for boxes and organizers. Some people love buying practical storage, others prefer to recycle items that would otherwise be thrown away.

• Decide whether items will be stored in plain sight or behind closed doors.
• If they won’t be visible, clear boxes are practical—you can see what’s inside. Out on display, though, they can look messy.
• Boxes kept outside a cabinet should have lids to keep dust out.
• Don’t want to buy anything new? Use shoeboxes, sturdy paper bags that hold their shape, tissue boxes, or ice cream tubs.
• Empty vitamin bottles are great for small items.
• Choose square or rectangular containers—they make the best use of space.
• Want to recycle but still keep everything coordinated? Cover boxes with matching wrapping paper that suits your interior. You can use fabric instead of paper, too.
• For tiny components, get organizers with small compartments. It’s important that they close securely.
• The inside of cabinet doors is perfect for hanging pocket organizers and a magnetic strip to hold scissors and small pliers.
• To keep different papers, films, and fabric pieces in order, use an office file sorter.
• Store patterns, clippings, and small amounts of bits and pieces in a ring binder with plastic sleeves.

Label everything

So you always know exactly where to reach while you’re creating, clearly label every storage spot. And to make it a pleasure, let it look beautiful, too!

That’s exactly what our home labels can do. Choose the size and shape and send precisely the labels you need to print. You can also pick from several designs and color combinations, so you’re sure to find something that matches your taste. The stickers withstand washing and won’t rub off.

A few final tips

Ideally, keep everything together. Now that you know how much of everything you have, you can assign shelves in a closet or pantry so everything is close at hand.

How do you keep things tidy for good? Make it a habit to go through everything once a year and make sure each item is where it belongs. Return stray items to their place and throw away what you don’t use.

Make it aesthetic: organization should be not only practical but also pleasing to the eye—color-coordinated boxes with stylish labels work wonders!

So, are you ready to begin? Once you’ve brought order to your treasures, you’ll see that creating becomes even more joyful!

Wishing you many pleasant moments with your hobbies—your Mama Labels team.