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10 Tips to Help You Spring Clean Your Craft Room

10 tips to help you spring clean craft space via Spark and Chemistry title2
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It’s Spring cleaning tiimmmee! (I said that in my Oprah voice, lol) And that means, yes, you have to tackle your craft room – or craft space, craft closet, craft garage, small cabinet under the kitchen counter where you keep your supplies – pretty much, anywhere you do your crafting. Even if you just want the get the sense of deep cleaning house spring cleaning is a great yearly habit you should develop to purge your old supplies and make room for the new stuff.

If you’re dreading it, don’t!

In this post, I’ll give you some helpful tips on how to tackle cleaning and decluttering one of the rooms in your home that gives you life- the room that makes you feel creative and inspired. And hopefully by the end of this list you feel fired up all over again to MAKE MORE STUFF.

Let’s go!

10 tips to help you spring clean craft space Spark and Chemistry blog

Tip #1: Make a Spring or Summer project with supplies that have been sitting for a while.

It’s Spring, and you’ll definitely want to decorate if you haven’t started already. Using the supplies you currently have, but haven’t been getting much use, make a few Spring crafts to give away for Easter or simply to decorate your home – whether that’s a wreath, mantle display or tablescape idea. Try not to buy anything new for this- the key is to declutter. This will quickly help you use some of those excess supplies.

Tip #2: Sell or give completed projects away.

As a diy/craft blogger, I have a lot of completed projects that are just sitting on my shelves – not getting any use. If you’re like me, pull some of those projects out, dust them off and give them away! There’s something that makes me happy when I see someone else enjoying a craft project I made. It’s just like giving away clothes you can’t fit. It benefits them and you at the same time. It might be a painful process at first. But you’re an amazing crafter, and if you really wanted another one, you could make it again, right? Another option is to sell your projects for a little cash – of course, to buy new supplies for this year! lol

Tip #3: Throw away dried paints, glues, primers, resins and mediums.

Yeah, you know they’re there – tucked away in the back of your craft closet or drawer, collecting dust- drying out and becoming so solid they might as well be a paper weight, LOL!! Sometimes you can’t get the lid off because the glues have hardened inside the cap! Pull them out, open the top (if you can) and make sure these materials are not dried out. For the painters out there, check your paints often to make sure they are still useable. Doing this often will surely help you free up some space on your shelves.

Tip #4: Turn scrap paper into confetti.

This is truly one of my favorites. We are a party blog, and confetti is our middle name. But we all have left over cardstock and patterned paper that was used for various projects. If you don’t have one, buy a paper cutting board or use scissors to create confetti from these scrap pieces of paper. Use your custom confetti as table decoration elements for parties, cards, gift wrap, or any festive craft project that comes to mind. You’ll be surprised at how many different types of confetti you can create with paper you were going to toss away.

10 tips to help you spring clean craft space turn scrap paper into confetti

Tip #5: Upgrade where you can.

It’s Spring – and it’s okay to want a fresh start for the year. Don’t hesitate to upgrade some of your storage as you continue to buy new items and expand your collection. And then when it gets too much, you can always look into using the service of removalists to help store your supplies in a self storage facility. You can then make space for more items around the home. Maybe there’s some new high quality office desks that you think would give you more surface space to work, or a shelving unit that’s a little bit bigger than what you currently have. Upgrading elements in your room not only makes you feel good, but it’s a motivator to want to start cleaning if you’ve been dreading it. I personally like to upgrade my storage containers to the same type so they look cohesive on my shelf. Perhaps some of your older craft supplies can get a face lift – a heavier duty hot glue gun, or a fresh sewing machine. Whatever it may be, be sure to buy supplies that are useful and will help you stay organized for the year.

Still with me? Yes!!

Tip #6: Look through all of your boxes and label, label, label!

Look through ALL of your boxes and label everything! It’s so easy to finish a project and throw all the supplies you used into an unlabeled, empty box. Try not to do that this year, if you do. I know I’m a little guilty of that- so maybe this step is just for me, lol. But if I so happen not to be the only one out there, have a place for everything as best you can. Go through all of your boxes and containers. Empty the contents, sort and relabel them so you can keep track and know where to find what you need. And you may find craft supplies you forgot you had! You don’t have to buy boxes if you don’t want to. Head to your local grocery store and ask for boxes, or search your home to find small, empty cardboard boxes for storage. Wrap them in pretty paper or decoupage scrap fabric on them for an easy face lift. This step will definitely save you time searching for things and will make crafting less stressful this year.

10 tips to help you spring clean craft space Spark and Chemistry blog go through boxes

Tip #7: Optimize your storage with your own DIY containers or dispensers.

So we know you’re creative, right? Well, use some of your current craft supplies (don’t go out and buy more – I’m watching you lol) to craft your own diy containers or dispensers for more storage options. Try your hardest not to go buy more supplies, unless it’s absolutely necessary. Try creating shelving, washi tape dispensers, or use diy shoebox trays to help organize your small supplies. Put your creative thinking cap on, harass Pinterest lol, and create your own custom containers and storage units with supplies you have to clear space.

Tip #8: Buy mobile storage for quick, easy access to craft supplies.

Mobile storage is the best, most convenient piece of furniture when you’re in the middle of crafting. I love not having to walk around the room just to grab the supplies I often use. Also, it keeps supplies off your work surface and in a contained place. The Raskog storage cart from Ikea is perfect for this purpose. It’s mobile, small, and comes in a few different colors to match any space. Sometimes it’s okay to get a little messy while crafting; and keeping your supplies on a cart gives you that flexibility They‘re also great if you don’t have a craft room, but work in your kitchen, office or living room and need to quickly wheel supplies in and out. And the best part, it’s affordable. Try it out!

10 tips to help you spring clean craft space Spark and Chemistry blog raskog mobile cart

Tip #9: Give craft room walls a face lift to keep you inspired to create.

Sometimes just a light coat of new paint in a room can help you feel more inspired. Plain white walls can feel dull and unmotivating. A dark room may feel claustrophobic and heavy. If you have time on a weekend, try painting a light, calming color on your walls like a soft blue or green; not only give your craft room a new look, but also to visually keep you motivated. This is especially helpful for those of you who craft for your creative business. You need a space that keeps you artistically stimulated and excited to work! You’ll be surprised how you feel when you walk into the same space, but this time with a fresh coat of new paint.

Tip #10: Utilize unconventional storage places to keep your surfaces clear.

It’s so easy to pile up and pile up supplies on your work surface. But your crafting surfaces should be used for just that – crafting! Try keeping you surfaces clear as much as possible. A clear surface helps clear your mind to create. When there’s a lot of clutter in front of you, it can be hard to focus. Use the mobile storage in tip #8 or utilize your walls as a way to store supplies so you have room in front of you to create. Build upward with wall shelving, or craft a peg board diy, utilize any closets to their max, and maximize hanging space behind your doors.

Don’t overwhelm yourself. Put on some good music,

and have fun with it!

Whew! That was a lot, but hopefully these Spring cleaning tips were helpful to you. Add to this list anything that is specific to your space. I know for me, I need to go through my craft magazines and recycle ones that aren’t relevant to my niche anymore or are outdated. I also need to hang my gift wrapping paper for easy dispensing when Christmas comes around. Remember to clean your baseboards, dust behind boxes on your shelves and vacuum. Typically, the same tidiness you do with your other rooms carries over to your craft space. If you do your crafting at the dinner table then consider using vinyl table cloths to protect your table.

It’s crucial to not get overwhelmed during this time. I promise, this process is refreshing and you’ll feel so much better when it’s complete. Just put on your favorite music and get to work! When you’re done, you can buy and collect brand new crafts and this time it will be in a newly renovated and clean, craft space.

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Bonus Checklist:

  1. Detangle your yarn and twine
  2. Recycle outdated or irrelevant craft magazines
  3. Assess your paint brushes to make sure they are still useable
  4. Recycle rusted wire or metal crafts
  5. Turn your scrap fabric into a potential project
  6. Assess your craft knives for dull blades
  7. Replace dried out markers with new ones
  8. Scan and make digital files of your drawn or painted artwork
  9. Consider getting better or additional lighting if needed
  10. Use mason or apothecary jars to store smaller items


10 Tips to Help You Spring Clean Your Craft Room was last modified: April 9th, 2017 by SparkandChemistry
April 8, 2017 0 comment
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FashionLiving

10 Spring Closet Cleaning Tips

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Yep it’s that time of year again- the time to get into the dark corners and critter hideaways of your house to clean. I’m not sure who came up with the idea to clean as soon as the weather gets nice, but I’d rather lounge on a blanket at a park somewhere and read a few good books, to be honest. But, we must not neglect our Spring cleaning. It’s a great time to tackle those forgotten areas and just give your house a bit of a refresh. Speaking of forgotten areas, did you know that cleaning your gutters is a vital home maintenance task? This is definitely something that many homeowners forget about and consequently suffer water damage. There’s no better time to call out professionals Clean Pro Gutter Cleaning Charleston to tick another spring cleaning task off your list! However, it’s time to discuss the cleanliness of more obvious places in our home…
For me, included in Spring cleaning is closet purging. It only takes me about a year to stock pile a ton of clothes, shoes and accessories that I “swore I would wear,” only to find that it’s been a year and it’s still sitting in my closet (sometimes untouched). A friend suggested though, that I get something like this trendy shoe storage to help keep things neat and tidy, as I normally just throw them all in the closet and forget about them. But I decided that it was probably time to sort through everything in my closet first and then get storage stuff. Or maybe it’s just something I probably could do without in order to make space for the clothes I really need. So I’m going to share with you my “10 fool proof ways to tell if you need to get rid of an article of clothing.” Maybe you’re thinking, “I really don’t want to get rid of anything, ” and maybe you don’t. But if you’re anything like me, you need to go back through your closet and do a double take. Check out the tips below and be sure to download our Spring Closet Cleaning Flow Chart for future reference.
spring-closet-cleaning-10-tips-spark-and-chemistry-blog-2
Before I share, know that this process takes me having to be completely honest with myself and you’ll find out why in a minute. Then, once I am at a point where I can be honest with myself, I can begin. Hopefully, this list will be helpful for you as well. Remember, this is for those of us who really want or need to get rid of a few items, and start the season with a fresh, clean wardrobe. Hopefully each year you can make this a healthy habit.

Ok, so how do I know if I should get rid of something?

1. It doesn’t fit.
This can be a tricky one for me. Sometimes I’m in love with a shirt or something, but it just isn’t fitting right. Maybe it’s too small or too big. Maybe it hugs the wrong curves, not the right ones. Can I make it fit? Remember, I must be honest with myself. If I know it’s not fitting the right way, it’s okay to shed it. I can purchase another one or a look-alike at a later time. You can always try to lose or gain weight to fit in to a piece of clothing, but for the sake of this article, I want to focus on altering our wardrobe, not altering our physical selves. Another way of getting rid of clothes that don’t fit, is to sell them online. Just because it doesn’t fit you, doesn’t mean someone else won’t want it. If you have a large collection of clothes you want to sell, why not look into something like a courier service, who will look into the best form of transport to take your items to the required destination.

2. It’s damaged and no, I can’t fix it.
The operative word here is “I.” In figuring out whether to keep or purge, I like to take sole responsibility of my own clothing. Sure, I can see if someone I know can sew that button back on, can patch that hole, or fix the snag; but when a full year’s cycle has gone and I haven’t taken it to anyone to fix yet, it might be time for it to go. Obviously it wasn’t important enough to me to fix asap.

3. It’s been a year already!
Yeah, this one is pretty self-explanatory. If it’s been sitting in my closet for a whole year and I haven’t wore it, chances are, it’s time to say goodbye. Let’s be honest. It’s sitting there collecting cobwebs, lonely and untouched. No piece of clothing should have to go through that! Last year, I skimmed over the same polka dot skirt that my sister and I picked up at a local thrift shop, that yes, was cute, but never was worn. And in the meantime, I kept buying new skirts! Yep, it’s gotta go. When you’re buying something, be sure that you love it, no matter how much it costs! You can even find discount codes for popular clothes shops, for example, save on Kohls here! Shop around and find items you adore!

4. It’s ruined beyond repair.
There’s one thing if the item can be repaired, but I can’t hold on to things that are unrepairable, only because I love it so much; unless it comes with great memories- but even then, is it worth it? I purchased an awesome black and white striped, knit sweater from Express last year, and unfortunately it got mixed up in the wash. So when I took it out, it was stained with patches of an ugly light blue color! Yes, I was upset and I mourned a little bit. I tried to get the dye out, and even folded it up and put it back in the drawer- as if when I took it out again, it would be good as new. But it’s ruined beyond repair, so it’s gotta go.

5. It’s outdated.
Let’s be honest. Yes, some styles do come full circle, but that sparkly, fringed, leather jacket from the 70’s just has to go. I try hard not to keep outdated clothing, because it’s harder to style with pieces that are currently on trend. So what ends up happening? It sits in the closet for yet another year, giving me another reason to toss it.

6. It’s not conveying the right message.
Everything we wear conveys a message whether we like it or not. The question is: is it conveying the message you want it to? Maybe it’s just that because it’s too big or small, it doesn’t convey the right message. For me, there are certain clothes that regardless of the fact that I’m 27, it makes me look 16 when I put it on. No, I don’t want to look like I’m a decade younger, so it’s gotta go.

spring-closet-cleaning-10-tips-spark-and-chemistry-blog-6

7. I’m not in love with it.

I picked up this one from Geneane. When shopping for clothes, if she puts something back on the rack and I ask why, she’ll say, “I don’t know, I’m just not in love with it.” That helps a great deal with impulsive shopping, but at the same time it helps me when I’m purging. I go through my closet, and for some items, if I’m not in love with it, I’ll let it go. I want to love what I’m wearing because in turn, it helps me project poise and confidence.8. Someone else can benefit from it more than me.
If I’m on the fence about a piece, I’ll tend to think about someone else that I know may benefit from wearing it, like my mother, sister or friend. Not only them, but there are many clothing donation centers of which those shoppers could benefit from the clothes I don’t need anymore. If you feel you have great style, there’s no harm in sharing it with others!9. There’s no space.
Point blank folks. I know some of us live in mansions with 2,000 square foot closets; and if you’re one of those people that’s awesome! But there’s a limit for all of us. I only have but so much closet space and I refuse to let my clothes spill out into the bedroom, the bathroom, the hallway, down the stairs and into the garage. It just gets to be a bit unruly. Also, some pieces are just too large to fit with the rest or maybe it’s that I have too many of the same item. No, I don’t need 10, mint green, button down, summer shirts. There’s not enough space for it all. Those thick, Winter sweaters are another great example of space hoggers. I find that once I have purged most of my similar items, it gives me room to buy more of the clothes I really need.

10. Because I can.
How do I know if I should get rid of something? I know, because I can. If you’re trying to overcome that hectic closet, train yourself to become unattached. Yes, you have the power to let go of anything in your closet. Don’t feel like you have to hold on to something if it’s causing you to be disorganized or stressed. The great thing about fashion is that there’s always something new you can buy and fall in love with all over again. Try not to have a deep attachment to a singular piece of clothing as opposed to an attachment to an entire outfit. Think of all the outfits that you wore and loved over the past year, and hold on to those pieces from it. It’s better to fall in love with a whole outfit or a completed look rather than just one piece. In turn, it helps keep your closet balanced (for example, not having so many more tops than bottoms).

spring-closet-cleaning-10-tips-spark-and-chemistry-blog-7

So now you have a pile of clothes pulled from your closet. Naturally, there are going to be items you want to keep, some you’re not sure of, and some you definitely want to get rid of. A helpful way I keep myself on track throughout the year is to put my clothes into 4 categories. I first have the pile that I know I want to keep. I’ll just hang those right back into my closet. Then there are items I’m not sure about. I’ll put those into the “6 month” pile. If I don’t wear it within the next 6 months, it goes into either the donate pile or the recycle pile. Here’s where I have to be honest with myself again. Yes, I have 6 months to wear it, but it needs to be worn naturally. Meaning, I don’t force it. If that shirt or pair of pants so happens to work with the outfit I’m going for that day, then I’ve made the 6 month deadline. But I’m not going to throw it on for the sake of not throwing it away. If it’s just not working, I’ll know within the time frame. Remember, try as best as possible to stay unattached (you’ll always buy more clothes). This is also helpful for damaged clothes that can be repaired. If you, or someone you know can fix it, give yourself a 6 month time frame to have it repaired.

Then there’s the donate pile- items that undoubtedly will go to another person, a clothing center or thrift shop. Make sure they aren’t damaged items, as most second hand stores won’t accept clothes that are ruined beyond repair. You might as well put it in the final pile, recycle.

Below, I’ve created a flow chart based on these tips that is helpful to hang in your closet to remind you to keep it all in perspective. For some items, I’ll go throught this twice a year if needed. You know your wardrobe and you know yourself. No hoarding allowed. Soon it will become a habit to stay organized and you’ll begin to see and appreciate what a balanced and practical closet you have. You can download our “To Keep or Not to Keep” flow chart HERE.

Picture

The key to purging is to make it a healthy habit. I know Spring cleaning can seem like a chore, but going through my closet gives me a chance to try on things and create new outfits. It’s like shopping again, but in my own home. Keeping to this method each year will cut down on impulsive shopping. I’ll always want more clothes, but I find that cleaning out my closet causes me to try new ways of wearing my own clothes. It helps me make better buying decisions and keeps my closet in perspective.
I really hope you all found this helpful. If you did, let us know below and share this post with your friends!
10 Spring Closet Cleaning Tips was last modified: April 5th, 2017 by SparkandChemistry
April 10, 2015 0 comment
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