Tip Thursday: Creating your Craft Room

First and foremost, before you begin creating your craft space - take a look at it.

Is it a small corner of the family room? Is it sharing a space with your children's toys? Is it next to a railway track?

Well I can't help you with the railway track but the rest it you really need to consider.

If you're serious about crafting, or if you run a craft business, then it's important enough to be your own space. Not only does this include sharing it with family members and pets (you'll realize how 'fluffy', Fluffy really is when her hair has dried in your paint) but also the television. I don't care how much you need to see your shows, watch them later online. T.V. is just a distraction; make the time for yourself to be in your workspace.

You might be saying you can't make room for your own hobby, but you might not need a lot. Depending on your craft, you might only need a bit of space. Sometimes a closet or just a screened off portion will work.

Also, I always recommend a window. Natural light is not only good for you but it also shows the true colours of your materials.

Lastly, paint your area something appealing to you. Try something bright. You're going to be spending time there; you want to be happy in it.

Here are a few ideas for your area:

• If you do different crafts, set your work space up into separate stations or if you run a business, separate it into: shipping, crafting, and the business section (such as filing and marketing)


• To separate your area if you are sharing a room, try using an older wooden door and put wooden feet on the bottom to make it stand on its own.


• There are many types of containers that work, but I find clear ones are the best. You can use just about anything. I like stackable craft jars. Or try using spice jars and a spice rack for something more creative.


• Tool peg boards are great for hanging up basically whatever you want. It's easy to hang the boards and you can buy many types of pegs for anything you'd like to do with it.


• If you have items that you'd like to display or equipment that you use often, buy a tiered h'ordeuvres tray. They can be found very cheap and in intricate or simple styles.


• Coat pegs make useful hangers for stray ribbon or materials. When they're not in use, they take up little space.


• If you're like me, you have lots of material hanging around. Hanging shoe organizers work well for holding it and makes it easier to find what you're looking for.


• Shelving can be made with milk crates and if thats not pretty enough for you, try stringing ribbon through the holes. Or try printed-paper covered shoe boxes. They work well for larger items you need to store.


• A typical craft room staple is a cork board, but how about sewing pockets to attach along the bottom. They can hold your pencils, scissors etc.


• I can't say this enough - Label, label, label! Label everything! It'll make you put things back where they belong, keeping your room tidier, longer.


• And last, have a soundsystem of some sort. Just because you don't have a t.v. doesn't mean you can't have music. It'll keep you grooving with what you're doing.

Good luck on your workroom and happy crafting!