Organizing craft supplies, crayons, markers, pencils, and paints can be easy if you use the right containers. This Half Hour Organizing Project shows you what steps to take and containers to use to make is super easy and super quick to organize.
Be sure to visit my You Tube Channel for all the Half Hour Organizing Projects!
I have never done a Wordless Wednesday post, but since I have done so many different organizing projects lately, I thought it would be fun to just view to photos of them.
I {well, me and my team} have organized everything from whole houses to just a pantry over the last few weeks. These are real houses with real people living in them. Organizing is much more about function and systems then just making things look pretty. All these spaces put function first and beauty second, but most of the time those two co-exist!
Enjoy the photos!
Summer is only 2 months away, but us moms are already thinking about camps, vacations, and/or summer school! So what do you do with all those brochures, pamphlets, flyers, and registrations forms that you get in the mail or pick up for summer activities?
In this video I show you how to create a Kids Info binder for Summer Activities with labeled pocket folders for different categories. Here are the supplies you will need:
One 3-ring binder
A set of tabbed pocket folders
label maker or pen
I labeled my tabs Local, Fun, and Camps. You can label yours however you like. Just think about what makes sense to you, so when you go to put stuff in it or take it out, it’s easy to find!
Be sure to subscribe to my You Tube channel and not miss any of the Organizing Series Videos!
northtexaskids.com
After posting Organizing a Toy Room a few weeks back, I got several requests for more nuts and bolts on the how-to of organizing toys and playrooms.
This seems to be the nemesis of every mom I know and while there is no lack of inspiration on the internet, it’s the actual getting-it-done that stumps us.
Whenever I am speaking to moms groups I always address the toy issue and to make it easy, I have 7 main strategies for organizing toys. These go for any space, so if you have an actual toy room then that’s even better.
1. Group toys together by type-
Barbies with Barbies, Lego with Lego, trucks with trucks and so on. This seems intuitive but it’s always surprising to me when folks don’t do this. This is the first KEY step. Don’t try to organize anything until you have sorted and grouped the toys first!
2. Create Zones-
Once you have done step 1 you will have an idea of how much of each type of toy you have. You will also know what other kind of play things you have like crafting supplies, books, games, and puzzles.
I love the idea of creating zones because it helps you organize things in each area and it helps kids make sense of where things go. “Go get the crayons from the craft area, Johnny” is super easy for a toddler to understand and even easier when you tell him to put them back in the craft area.
Common zones are reading zone, craft zone, games and puzzle zone, and regular play zone.
Even if you have a living area for toys you can still create zones, just on a smaller scale. If you have an entire playroom, then this is very easy to do.
Roomzaar.com
3. Buy containers, shelving and other supplies-
Once you know how much you have and what zones you want, you can go shopping! Here are some tips when buying containers:
Use small containers that are easy for little hands to pick up. Soft sided cubes, anything with handles, a bucket, or clear plastic bins are great.
Use clear containers with lids for stacking and label and under beds (more on that later on)
Buckets are perfect for hanging on a row of hooks in a craft zone. They also work for organizing small toys like Army men.
Baskets and wooden bins look attractive and are easy to handle.
Use functional and pretty storage like foot ottomans with tops
IKEA makes unbelievable solutions for toy storage and it’s worth the trek to go there. You will find very unique and useful toy storage pieces there.
terpblog.blogspot.com
houzz.com
4. Create fun labels-
Using a label maker is great, but kids love color and pictures, so make your own! I invested in a laminating machine a few years ago and now I make fun labels every time we do a toy room. Using plain card stock, stickers, printed pictures, or anything you like, create the label, laminate it, and adhere to the container.
beingbrook.com
5. Every toy needs a home-
If a toy won’t fit in a container, it still needs a home. Things like race tracks, large activity centers, and so on just need to live in the main play zone. If you have a closet for these large toys, that helps with corralling the clutter.
Still, every toy needs a place to live if you want order and easy clean up. When kids understand where things go, what container they go in, and what zone it lives in, you will have much more cooperation in the clean up game.
6. Don’t over organize toys-
I have seen this so often. In an attempt to get toys in order, parents will make things too specific. You don’t need to separate Barbie shoes from Barbie clothes! Group all her clothes together (seriously, I have had clients do this!).
Trying to keep Lego sets separated is noble, but this isn’t how kids play with Lego. They dump them out and create. Make it easy to do just that by having Lego bins. That said, here is a beautiful way to organize Lego and then the real way to organize Lego.
shelterness.com
Swoopbags.com
This awesome bag from SwoopBags. Here’s what they say about it…
the ultimate toy bag and playmat in one. Ideal for small toys like Lego®, Playmobil®, trains, cars, blocks, dolls, Lincoln Logs®, Lego® Duplo® bricks, stuffed animals and more!
I personally love it and I know your kids will too!
The picture below illustrates the absolute right way to organize toys. Kids can easily identify what’s in the bins and it makes for easy clean up. It’s not over organized and it’s fun. You can do the same with bookshelves and containers, a cabinet and containers, or a piece like this.
/www.kissingthejoyasitflies.com
7. Purge toys every 6 months-
Yes, this is part of organizing your toy room. Kids not only out grow toys, but a toy room can get gross! Gold Fish, Cheerios, apple juice, boogers, and saliva end up on and in everything, so make a new habit of purging, cleaning, and reorganizing every 6 months.
This also allows you to see what the kids are actually playing with and move things around if it isn’t working. The reality is is that all of our kids have too many toys and reducing the amount or trading them out (hide some away for a while) will allow them to play more with what they do have.
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Several years ago we organized a toy room. I have used this room as an example of how organizing can be done inexpensively and still turn out fabulous! Here are the before and after pictures of that project.
Keep in mind that before we organized it, there were toys piled up and in no particular order. They also had way too many toys, so of course, we purged some of them. All shelving and desk was purchased at Target and a handyman anchored it to the wall for safety. The red and blue containers came from Target and Lowe’s and we made laminated label tags to hang off the handles of the soft sided cubes.
In this room we had 3 distinct zones: Reading Zone, Craft Zone, and Play Zone. This made it much easier to organize and much simpler for the kids to pick up after playing.
We hung hooks on the wall in the Craft Zone for buckets of crayons, markers, chalk, and kid scissors. The Reading Zone had a bean bag chair and a small bookcase.
And 3 days later…
This week of the year is always such a weird week. I’m itching to get things cleaned up, but still love the spirit of Christmas that lingers with the decorations, the extra goodies to eat, and the unwrapped gifts still hanging out under the tree.
Still, I feel the need to purge some stuff and yesterday we did just that. With a pile of clothes, some Christmas decorations I no longer want, and some “little boy” stuff my son has outgrown, we have a large pile for donation. During this process I discovered my daughters messy drawers. Yes, she is my constant organizing project! God gave her to me to keep me humble.
Our pile of donations
Using drawers organizers from Ikea, here is what we did in about a half-hour. Doing small projects like this don’t take very long and yet they make a big difference!
Skubb, $7.99
We used the two of the large organizers from this set to create a “make up and toiletry” drawer because she like getting ready in her room.
There was a little bit of everything in here!
On the left is a container for lotions, deodorant, hair stuff, and creams. The right is make up.
Notice that the drawer is not completely full! Always leave some wiggle room in your drawers because you will buy things and fill the drawer anyway, so don’t start with them full!
We took everything out of the drawer and sorted. Then we purged the junk and did not put anything back in the drawer that was not either make up or toiletry related.
Last year I did 12 Days of Christmas leading up to Christmas Eve. One of the days included what to do about stocking stuffers and it was such huge topic of discussion, that I thought we should talk about it again.
Over the years stocking stuffers have taken on a whole new level. I mean really, stuffing a stocking can be just as expensive as getting a regular gift! This year, as I did last year, I suggest you fill them up with consumable items:lip gloss, gum, candy, pens, etc. or useful items like socks, earbuds, a brush, etc.
I was reminded of something my mom did every year and it became my most favorite thing to open on Christmas. She wrapped a shoe box and lid with wrapping paper and filled it with every day items we needed. It was always filled with cotton balls, tampons, pads, gum, tweezers, lipgloss, hair ties, eyeliner, and whatever else we were using. Obviously, the contents changed as we aged because you wouldn’t want to give a 6 year old girl tampons.
Then she included fun things we didn’t need:a cassette tape (yes, I’m that old), perfume, earrings, a journal, nail polish…
I loved opening this box. It was treat to see what she came up with and it was always so personal.
Instead of filling our stockings, she filled a box. And everything in it was either needed or loved. I guess I really learned that principle at an early age.
If you are out of ideas on what to buy or need some inspiration, here is a super fun list from JennaBlogs
Promise me one thing…you will not go buy junk for the sake of stuffing a box or stocking! Say it with me: “I will not buy junk for the stocking!”
Here is where the rubber meets the road. In our 6 Weeks to a Simple Holiday, we have to be honest about the stuff we already have before the influx of new stuff shows up.
This week we are going to start purging some things and clearing some clutter! Before we do that take a look at your stuff through the lens of these Value Questions.
I created these 5 Value Questions, sometimes called Clutter Stopper Questions, in order for folks start looking at their stuff differently.
- Do I love this?
- Do I need this?
- Does this add value to my life?
- I can have or keep anything, but whatever I keep, I have to manage
- Does this choice make my life simple or more complicated?
Think of these questions like a filter you are holding up. In order to decide what to keep or what to give away, you have to “filter” it through these questions.
This week you are going to purge 3 main areas of your home: The kitchen, closets, and toys or kids rooms. To start, pick one afternoon where everyone in your family does a common area sweep and picks up all their stuff that has gotten left behind. You know, the toys that made their way into your kitchen and dining room. Shoes that got kicked off under the kitchen table. Books and papers that are strewn across the counters and table.
Whatever is “not where it belongs” gets picked up and moved to the right room. Then, do the following:
1. Place one bin, tub, or bag in the rooms listed above. If doing kids rooms, each room gets a bag. If doing toys in general, you may end up having one large bin for everything.
2. Have kids choose 5 current toys to donate. Help them understand that not only are you making room for new toys, but that other kids will get to enjoy their old stuff. Pick a donation spot of your choice…maybe your church, maybe an organization in your town, maybe a homeless shelter where families live. I personally like the Salvation Army because of the programs that they create from the sales of the thrift stores.
3. In each closet, commit to filling up the container or bin you have with stuff to give away. Every closet I have ever looked in (including my own) has at least one trash bag of stuff that can go away. This weekend I did our coat closet and here is what I pulled out!
Yes, 3 coats, 3 sets of gloves, a scarf, and two hats. All of it is stuff that fit my kids last year and this year, it doesn’t! In each closet in your home, fill up one bin or bag with things that are not loved, needed, or valuable.
Remember the 5 Value Questions as you do this because they will help you make better, wiser decisions when it comes to purging.
When it comes to your kitchen, look at how full your drawers are, how much plastic ware you have, how much extra (and unused) food you have, and what your countertops are full of that has nothing to do with the kitchen. These are things you want to fill your bag up with.
If you are tackling any kind of paperwork, you must be brutal with it! Throw away any paperwork that is not a bill, a statement, or something you absolutely must have! Get rid of it!
This week is about making room for new stuff. It’s hard to decorate with clutter everywhere and it’s even harder to enjoy new things when old, unused or unloved things are taking up space. Purging can be fun when you realize that having less stuff to manage allows you to enjoy the things that really matter this season…people and family.
Have you ever been Boo-ed at Halloween? It’s one of those annoying yet fun things that happen during this season and we just got it yesterday.
If it’s never happened to you, well, let me fill you in…
Someone rings your doorbell and leaves behind a cute pumpkin or bag filled with candy and junk for your kids. You also get a secret message about what being Boo-ed is about and a sign to place on our front door. This is to alert other neighbors that your family has already been treated to a Boo and not to do it again to you.
When you are Boo-ed, you are supposed to turn around and Boo two more houses within two days! What? Seriously, two days?
Now, I love the idea of neighborly love and the cuteness of it all makes it tolerable, but can I just tell you that it feels a little stressful to produce two more Boo’s in two days. But, I’m a woman up for a challenge and so I fulfilled my Boo responsibility.
These are my Boo bags.
One pumpkin goes to the new family in the ‘hood with two little kids and the other to a family with school age kids. Here’s what you need for your own Boo-ing:
1. A container. These pumpkins are cheap and cute.
2. Candy, of course.
3. Cheap junk. You know this one really kills me because I can’t stand junky, unpurposeful stuff, but go to the Target dollar isle or the Dollar Store and get some junk.
4. A boo poem like this.
5. A boo door sign like this one.
Put it all together and then do a ring-and-run. Then you will have passed on the madness to your neighbor to repeat! Happy Halloween, ya’ll.
Entryway Drop Zone
Every home has an entry way. Whether it’s an apartment or a home, we normally come in the same door each time. This has the greatest potential to become a huge mess if you don’t have it set up to drop your stuff in an organized way.
1. Ask yourself: What are the things always in my arms when I am coming in the door? Normally these are: Purse, a bag, mail, kids, keys, phone, etc.
2. Your drop zone should be easy to use and functional. Using a table, a dresser, a set of cubes, or anything that will allow you to “drop” your stuff, set it up with the following guidelines: A mail station, a place for keys, a charging station for phones and other electronics, hooks or a closet for jackets and umbrellas, backpacks, purses and briefcases, and a place to put shoes.
3. You can also have a basket or cube for each person in the family to drop all their stuff and not separate out each item.
4. Mail station: have a small trash can, a small bin for recycling, and a shredder. Immediately sort mail-throw away all unnecessary mail or toss into the shred pile. Put bills or expected mail into the “keep” mail area.
5. Keys: Use either a small set of hooks, a basket, or a decorative container for all keys.
6. Charging station: Set up an electrical strip so that each device has a place to plug in to. The cord stays plugged into the strip and when you walk in the door, you simply plug the device in!
7. Hooks or closet: If you have a closet, clean it out so that it’s easy and simple to hang jackets up. Add a basket at the bottom for shoes. If no closet is present, add a row of hooks to the wall. Use these hooks for jackets or anything else you want to hang up (purses, backpacks, umbrellas, etc.). Below the hooks or nearby, have a basket or trunk for shoes.
8. Bulletin board or message center: Inthe drop zone, add a bulletin board or some type of message center for important information. Things that you may need to remember or grab on the way out the door can go here. Also, the family calendar, phone lists, babysitter info, etc. can go here.
9. Out-the-door-box: Place a container in your drop zone that is easy to bring in and out of the house. Place items in it that you need to take with you when you leave your house. Items to return, things for the kids, library books, etc. Fill it up as you remember what needs to go in there and when you leave the house, grab it and place in the car. Then you will have all those items with you when you are out!
10. Shoes: Trunks work great to hide shoes. Try a large open basket or a set of cubbies for each person if you don’t mind looking at the shoes.
Source: picmonkey.com via Amy on Pinterest
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