It’s week 15 of my Declutter 52 Things in 52 Weeks Challenge. If you haven’t signed up yet, join me today as I help you remove all those things in your home you no longer need or use.
You love getting creative, right? You love that your child can spring an Easter hat parade or a friend’s birthday on you, and you’ll be able to whip something up from your fabulous collection of glittery felty crafty goodness. If a rainy day rolls around and the kids are bored, you love that you have heaps of craft supplies to keep them happy.
If you’re not whole-heartedly agreeing with what I’ve just said, don’t sweat it – I get it! When we have too many craft supplies (and believe me there is such a thing), it not only makes for a messy stressful room, it’s also incredibly impractical when it comes to actually creating something with the kids!
With the school holidays upon us, this decluttering task could not come at a better time.
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Decluttering Task #15
Craft Supplies
A few years ago I had to move my craft space into an even smaller space. I had to be ruthless with what I sold, donated, repurposed and threw, and smart about how I organised and stored the things that did make the cut.
It was an emotional rollercoaster because some of the items I’d kept for years, and some had come from my Nan. I held on to these things thinking that it was in memory of her, but soon realised that I had plenty of cherished things in my life to remember her by. Once I made the decision to move some of these things on, I realised it freed me up to fill those spaces with things I used much more regularly instead.
BLACKBOARD STYLE LABELS: Available from my online store here.
TODAY’S TASK: PURGE AS MANY CRAFT SUPPLIES YOU HAVE NOT USED IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS
Note: My definition of purge – sell, donate, repurpose or throw away items as you see fit
- Take each craft supply out of where you store it. Think about whether you’re holding on to them for sentimental reasons, and if so, consider whether these memories and emotions could live on through other things in your life instead.
- Look at your craft supplies and see what storage solutions aren’t working.
- Remove everything from the craft supplies, grouping like items together.
- Determine what items you haven’t used in over 12 months and consider purging them.
- Add any new and/or your current storage products in your cupboard to help you keep it organised.
- Place items you don’t use often towards the back.
When I decluttered my craft supplies a few years ago, I donated many of my mother’s old quilting materials to charity, and instead chose to keep the completed quilts I had that she created for me.
READ MORE: Craft Room Storage Ideas
READ MORE: Create Your Own Positive Sticks to Help Decrease Anxiety
HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH: Create your own playdough, complete with printable labels
6 comments
Hi Kat – this one has come at a very appropriate time. I am part way through cleaning, tossing and re-homing many of my craft supplies as historically I was a ‘collector’ rather than a crafter. It made me feel down to think I wasn’t using all these items and even worse to think I most likely will never use them that I actually realised i needed to do something about it. It’s still hurting to let some things go and, yes, I am still pushing some of the clutter to another corner but I have managed to get 2 recycle bins removed, taken heaps to my son’s school’s prep class and finally getting the stores organised together rather than scattered all over the shop. Hopefully, I will be able to hold workshops again and get my mo-jo back!
You’re relentless!
Struggling with feeling overwhelmed the last few weeks. I guess it’s clear, it’s time to do this!
Craft is hard for me, I’ve had big ideals that my son would love it as much as I used to as a child. This is simply not the case!
When I saw the picture I thought it was going to be the living room and I was thinking – OH NO not the DVD cupboard!! (haha)
Then I saw craft and nearly cried haha – this is obviously an emotional and tough one. I have a few “crafts” that have dedicated spots, and taking up quite a bit of space. I have some kids craft stuff but not much. As much as the kids love it, we dont do it much. I have it all over the place. I will have to think about where I want to keep it. It is time to organise it better as one hobby after another is taking over sections of the house haha
That task has been and gone LOL! How did you go with this task Debi?
I’ve been dreading this challenge!!! I had a feeling it would come up sooner or later and knew it would be a hard one for me….BUT….I’m ready!! Keen to give it my best shot once I get over this stupid head cold!!
let me know how you go Keren – you’ve got this!