Every so often, the state of my creative space begins to bother me. Kits pile up. Layouts need to be filed. My space isn’t large and pretty soon, it gets hard to move around. Part of me understands that this is just part of the package when it comes to being creative. The other part of me knows the mess will become an untamed monster if I don’t act fast and practice a little inventory control. Organizational needs constantly change in a creative space. For the most part, I am happy with mine. If you were to take a peek at my space a few years ago, it would have been a worse mess. Each year, I sit down and evaluate the situation and strive to make a few improvements.
It’s time to take stock of your space.
Taking inventory of your creative space involves more than just counting your physical scrapbook supplies. It’s also a matter of determining how your creative process meshes with the work environment. It can be easier to have an objective eye if you snap a picture of your space. Once you have done so, ask yourself the following questions:
1. What do I like/dislike about my creative space right now?
2. Which direction do I always reach for my tools?
3.Which spots seem to gather clutter?
4. Do I have an adequate surface area to work on my projects?
Let’s take a moment to analyze my little creative space.
What I like: I have useful storage for my washi tape, tools and some miscellaneous supplies on my desk. The Ikea cart works well in my small space allowing me to store items and move it around as needed.
I always reach left for my tools. Moving my tool storage to drawers on my left side has made it easier for me to find the tool I need right away while creating more work space on my desk. I am able to leave my video camera set up out at all times. I have easy access to my lap top and to my silhouette( which sits on a desk shelf hidden behind the Ikea cart).
What I dislike: I have a bad habit of piling finished scrapbook layouts on top of the desk storage on my left side. I scrapbook a lot so these can build up a large pile fast. I still haven’t found a good kit storage solution. I am ok with the ones hanging above me, but I have a tendency to grab more kits and leave them laying around my feet. I also have a bad habit of tossing scraps and planners into the box on my desk( which is supposed to be there for napping cats). Storage under the desk could be improved and neatened up a bit.
Now possible to put together an action plan.
Consider moving around items that aren’t working where they are. For example, I used to have a tool caddy on my desk. It took up a lot of real estate on my work surface and I wasn’t always able to keep it within easy reach. Moving my tools to the drawers on the left side alleviated both the space and usage issues. As you decide what to move around, consider what types of storage you like and what will best fit with your space. You don’t need to go out and spend a ton of money all at once. I bought baskets or drawer systems one at a time over the course of many months. Doing one big overhaul can be draining. By taking it a bit at a time, I could work in 10-20 minute increments but still make time for crafting during the week. I also found I didn’t dread the organization project so much. Doing the project over time also allowed me to access each type of storage solution before making a huge dollar investment.
Some of my personal storage issues are really just bad habits. Maybe I should make a sign to remind myself to put kits away rather than leaving them sitting on the floor. Other clutter spots may be the result of not having a good place to put an item away. For example, I pile my blog planner and notebook into the box on my desk. Maybe I need to clear a shelf for it so that it has a home.
Clutter may also be building up if you are overbuying items. Take a look at what supplies you have. Are they outgrowing the current storage solution? If you plan on purchasing more, then you might need to reconsider how you store the item or simply choose not to buy more. Both my punches and washi tape are great examples of this. I filled my current punch storage (top two drawers on the left of the desk). I decided I didn’t need more punches because I own a silhouette. My washi tape collection was growing fast. Knowing that I tend to receive about one roll per scrapbook kit, I chose not to purchase more tape.
Give every change you make time to work.
It takes time to get used to new systems. Some will work better than others. Constantly shifting your space around is not productive and it also doesn’t allow you to truly get a feel for whether a storage solution worked or not. Give a change at least a few weeks before you shift it again. If your creative space problem was caused by a bad habit, it will take a little time to overcome. I recently read that is can take up to 66 days to form a new habit.
Understand that any creative space will always be changing and adapting over time. You might try new techniques or buy new tools. Your process might change and if it does, your space will need to change too.
Proud member of the Simple Scrapper Design Team.
If you need a little help in taking stock of your physical supplies and getting your creative space in order, consider joining Stash Bash with Simple Scrapper. Taking part in the Stash Bash challenge occurs over 7 days but I found I used what I learned over the months that followed. You will received a variety of challenge ideas and worksheets to help you clear clutter and make your space more user friendly. If you need moral support to help hold you accountable or find ideas for trouble spots, you will find assistance in the Stash Bash community. The challenge takes place from July 7th-14th. Let’s see if we can overhaul or creative spaces together. Visit Simple Scrapper to learn more information.
