Organization Tips: Craft Room Closet

 

I recently decided to organize the closet in my craft room.  As you can see from the picture below, it was in some serious need of TLC.  I have a lot of craft supplies from scrap book paper, paints/brushes, ribbons, tissue paper, fabric, and pretty much anything else you can think of.  It got to the point where it was difficult to find things and I could barely open the door without being afraid of the potential avalanche of items.

I decided to begin the daunting task of organizing it and I am so glad I did! It is so much easier to find things as I need them and it even looks pretty.  I don't know about you, but when it definitely inspires me more when things actually look appealing around me.  I decided to compile a couple of tips to help you in case you are faced with the same problem. 

1. Don't be afraid of downsizing- I got rid of a trash bag worth of old supplies.  If you have not used something in over 6 months and don't have plans to do so, then throw it away. You can also donate to a local charity if the items are in good shape.

2. Purchase pretty storage bins- Storage bins can be life savers, but just make sure you aren't transferring the mess from one space to another.  If it helps, you can purchase some labels to help you remember what is inside each one.

3. Make it functional based on your own needs- The top shelves in my closet are pretty high, so I use them for the items that I don't use as often.  Also, I try not to stack boxes too high, so that  the ones in the middle are easy to get to. 

4. Set aside some time and space- Overall this took about 3 hours total (I literally went through everything lol).  I also used all of the available floor space in my craft room to lay everything out and wrap my brain around all of the things I have.

5. Enlist help- This is much more fun done with a buddy, or in my case a boyfriend who is not afraid to tell me I have not used something in years.  Talk about a gut check when contemplating whether or not to get rid of something!

I hope these tips were helpful for you! Have a great weekend!

DIY: Sequin Hanger

I am totally loving the sequin hangers I see all over Etsy.  I have a couple from Pearls and Pastries and I love them! I decided to try to make one and it was easier than I expected.  I made this one for my best friends B-day...Happy Birthday Renee!!

Here's what you need to make your very own.  By the way I purchased 10 yards of the sequin roll and it was way to much.  For one hanger you probably only need about 4 yards. 

Start by applying some glue directly onto the hanger.  Then wrap the sequins around. 

Glue and wrap some more.

Glue and wrap some more...

...and voila! You have your very own sequin hanger!

I hope you enjoyed this DIY project. Personally, I cant wait to buy some sequins in different colors and start making more of these for my closet! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Gallery Wall: Tips and Tricks

 

 

 

As many of you may know, I have a slight obsession with gallery walls.  They are my default decorating tip when trying to fill up a bare wall.  One of the reasons I love them so much is the fact that they are so diverse and no one gallery wall is the same.  In this post I'll be sharing some tips and tricks on how to make your very own gallery wall. 

 

 

1. Decide on a Design

There are so many different varieties of gallery walls, so first try and narrow down the type of style you want.  Decide if you want something completely symmetrical, same color or different color frames, mixed media, layered, on a grid, etc. The gallery wall from the first pic is straight out of our living room and includes pics from our last trip to Europe. The plan is to use that wall to highlight pictures from our future trips.  Pinterest is a great source of inspiration if you are drawing a blank. I've also posted a few pics of the gallery walls I created in my own home, as well as some that I'm inspired by, throughout this post. 

 

Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke

 

2. Start Collecting the Materials

Keep in mind that this can potentially take some time depending on the design you choose.  If you decide to go the route of a mixed media collage you should constantly be on the lookout for that perfect piece to add to your gallery wall.  I have also purchased an item that I really loved and used that as a focal point in the gallery wall.  Don't be afraid of a little DIY in the event you don't find what you're looking for.  I painted a few of the frames in my craft room gallery wall, to get the exact look that I wanted. Remember that this doesn't have to be an expensive project.

 

I Heart Naptime Blog

3. Placing and Spacing

When you have all of your frames ready to go, it is now time to hang it up. The best tip on hanging up the wall is shown above.  Start by tracing the frames on the outside, using some left over craft or wrapping paper.  If you have an intricate frame or letter than consider tracing the inside as well and cutting around the design.  That way you will have a better visual of what it will look like when it's all done.  Next hang up the pieces in your desired placement using masking tape (painters tape also works well.)  From here you can re-arrange as needed. 

 

 

4. Have fun and Get Creative

Most importantly have fun with this project! The gallery wall should be a reflection of you and your own personal style, so don't be afraid to get creative and add some personal flavor to it.  The great thing is that you can continue to add to the design as you find more great pieces over time.

 

 

Classy Clutter

 

 

 I hope this was helpful and inspired you to get started on your very own gallery wall project.  If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to ask.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Shop Announcement: Tassel Garlands

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately and it has led me to a difficult decision.  I will be discontinuing tassel garlands from my Etsy shop.  I have been very busy with work lately and it has been difficult to keep up with the demand.  To be honest they can be time consuming to make, especially when I have multiple orders. My weekends have been busy with creating and packing up orders, which has not left me with any rejuvenation time from a busy work week.  Right now I need to be able to focus on work and myself a little more. 

 

The good news is that this should allow me more time to focus on this blog and be more consistent with posts and even better content.  My plan is to keep my Etsy shop open and debut more items to sell. I still need to narrow down what they will be, so stay tuned for more updates. 

 

If you were wanting to purchase a tassel garland, you are in luck! I will be selling the garlands until I reduce my tissue paper supply (yes I have a ton! ). This means that I will not be re-ordering anymore tissue paper, so first come first serve on the colors I currently have.  Also I will be offering an additional 15% on all tassel purchases during the month of May.  Use code TASSEL15 at checkout.

 

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has purchased a tassel and supported my little business. It truly means the world to me and I hope I was able to brighten up your day with a little something special. 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Burlap Bunny Banner DIY

 

 

 

I stumbled across this tutorial at Living Well Spending Less and I was instantly drawn to the soft neutral palette. It is also a no sew tutorial which was even better. I decided to make it and could not be more pleased with the end result! Here are the steps to complete your very own burlap banner.

 

What you'll need:

 

Burlap (I bought two yards and it was way too much!)

Felt in any color of your choice

Pom Poms

Ribbon

Hot Glue Gun

Scissors

Craft Paper

Iron

Spray Starch

 

 

(By the way I am a terrible DIY blogger since I did not take any "during" pics, but if you need the visuals check out the original tutorial link...sorry and I'll try to do better next time!)

The very first thing I did was iron the burlap using a little bit of spray starch. I found this to be very helpful in keeping the shape of the burlap and even preventing some fraying.

 

 

 

Next cut out your bunting and bunny stencils using the craft paper. I freehanded mine since I don't have a printer, but Ruth has some free printables on her blog if you need them. The craft paper I used was the consistency of cardstock, so it made for a nice stencil.  After this I cut the burlap and felt one piece at a time, to make sure they were even.

 

 

 

 

Now it's time to glue! I glued the pom poms onto the bunnies first and then glued the bunnies to the burlap pieces.  A helpful tip would be to use a small amount of hot glue on the felt. The first time I used too much and it bled through a bit. Also when you glue the bunny to the burlap make sure you have a hard surface underneath. I had to use some cardboard because it seeps through the burlap. Next glue the banner pieces to the ribbon and you're all done! Easy right?

 

 

 

If you are not up to making one yourself I have teamed up with Kristin of Crafter Thought Blog and Megan of The Sis Kiss to create this giveaway! Check out my Instagram account for more details on how you can win your own banner, a cute bunny canvas, and an adorable chick print!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!