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How to Organize Kids Crafts So They’ll Actually Use Them

April 25, 2018 by Laura Kiernan 1 Comment

Did your vacuum cleaner suck up fuse beads and an old marker cap again? Do your kids complain about boredom even though there are loads of art projects they could make? Learn how to organize kids crafts so they’ll find them and know exactly where to put them away!

How to organize kids craft supplies

“That’s why I don’t do crafts with my kids,” one mom told me as we stood watching my son’s soccer game after I shared that earlier in the day daughter’s latest crafty pursuit ended with marker streaks on my kitchen table.

“The mess is just too much,” she lamented.

She’s not wrong.

I find tiny bits of paper, specks of glitter (the horror!), and dried glue around my home regularly.

As a type-A person who prefers a clean home but gets easily overwhelmed by cleaning, I’m not always excited when my 5-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son whip out their boredom-busting craft supplies. A paint or marker-filled disaster is only a few minutes away.

But here are a few reasons why I craft with my kids, messes be damned:

  • They can explore their creativity to figure out what artistic medium suits them. Paper crafting? Painting? Sculpting? Hot-gluing everything in sight like their mom does? 😉
  • All that cutting, folding, drawing, and fuse-beading builds fine motor skills.
  • It keeps them relatively quiet and stops sibling arguments, as long as there’s more than one gluestick on the table.
  • It’s not TV. I can only take so many episodes of “Henry Danger” before I lose my mind.

Since we’re a crafty family, we accumulate a ton of craft supplies. But with all that stuff, I wondered how to organize kids craft supplies in a way that makes them convenient to use and easy to put away (that’s the crucial step).

Here’s what I came up with, and I hope these craft storage and organization ideas help you devise a system that works for your family.

How to Organize Kids Crafts to Make Creating and Cleaning Up a Breeze!

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We’re lucky to have a lot of cabinets in our kitchen, so since my kids spend a lot of time in there I dedicated one cabinet for craft supplies.

Although some of their arts and crafts supplies are in our guest room’s craft area, everything the kids use regularly is here.

Choose a convenient spot for your kids’ craft supplies close to where they typically craft.

That will localize the mess, and you don’t need much space.

How to organize kids craft supplies in a kitchen cabinet - decluttering arts and crafts

Over time, other random stuff landed in the cabinet, so I recently decluttered the space.

I’m not gonna lie, this took some time, especially with a little girl leaning over my shoulder to say “But, Mommy! I love that pink marker even though it’s dried out!”

But since I pared down their craft stash – with their help – the craft cabinet’s stayed pretty tidy for the past few weeks.

To say I’m shocked is an understatement.

Easy Ways to Organize Crafts for Kids

Create Dedicated Storage Space for Craft Kits

It’s helpful to have a neighbor who’s a sales rep for a toy distributor! She invited our kids over on a snow day to pick through her brand new craft kit samples, and they had a great time using them.

But, we didn’t have storage space for the craft kits until we cleared out the top shelf of the craft cabinet by

  • Moving what didn’t belong (a basket of CDs)
  • Tossing broken or used-up craft supplies
  • Throwing away the unnecessary packaging for completed crafts

organized craft kits in a kitchen cabinet

Now that the craft kits are organized and have a dedicated storage spot all for themselves, my kids can easily find and use them on a bad-weather day.

Set Up Simple Storage for Fuse Bead Templates and Projects

Fuse beads, like Perler or Aquabeads, are awesome for developing kids’ fine motor skills.

But you know what’s not so fine?

When they spill all over the floor.

Try to consolidate all of the loose beads from different kits into a single container. Although it’s more challenging for kids to find the colors they want, it’s a whole lot better than slipping on loose beads.

I haven’t yet found a great way to display completed fuse bead projects, so, for now, a clear plastic shoe box stores small finished bead projects and templates.

Organized fuse bead collecdtion

Organize Crayons and Markers That Go Anywhere

A portable craft caddy is the best way to organize crayons and markers so kids can bring them wherever they want to create. While the caddy doesn’t completely stop crayons and markers from being left on the floor, it certainly helps a lot.

How to organize crayons and markers with a portable caddy

Weed out all the cap-less, dried out markers, then check to see if your child’s school participates in ColorCycle, Crayola’s program to recycle old markers.

Or just toss them. I won’t judge you.

If you have tons of broken crayons, use them to make your own DIY crayons with my step-by-step tutorial.

The Easiest Way to Organize Coloring Books

Toss or recycle all the coloring and activity books that aren’t used anymore or filled with scribbles although your kid’s moved on to coloring within the lines.

Since coloring books are a popular party favor, you may have new ones that your child will never use. Instead of recycling them, bring them to your daycare, preschool, or pediatrician’s office.

Once you’ve trimmed the collection, organize coloring books in magazine holders – one for each kid so you’ll avoid arguments!

How to organize coloring books

Organized Craft Supplies Make Happy Kids

Now that I figured out how to organize my kids’ craft supplies in a way – and location – that makes sense for them, my creative kiddos use the supplies more often and (most of the time) put them back in the right spot.

That’s a win-win, if you ask me.

How to organize kids craft supplies with smart storage ideas

Awesome Craft Supplies for Rainy Days – Free Printable!

Your kids won’t be bored on a rainy day if they have an awesome selection of arts and craft supplies to fuel their creativity! Sign up for my mailing list to get a free printable craft supply shopping list filled with ideas chosen by my very own kiddos.

You’ll also get access to my whole library of free printable art, stationery, checklists, and more! I’m always adding new stuff to it. Plus, you’ll receive my weekly newsletter with smart tips I only share with my subscribers.



Check out these other ideas!

  • 16+ Awesome Craft Supplies That Will Keep Kids Busy
  • 8 DIY Art Caddy Ideas That Will Organize Your Creative Mess
  • Find Motivation to Declutter and Clean with Simple Strategies that Work
  • How to Declutter Toys in a Day Without Yelling at Your Kids
  • How to Make a Chore Chart for Kids (So You Can Quit Nagging)

Laura from TheNoPressureLife.com

Filed Under: Organize Tagged With: kids

About Laura Kiernan

I'm Laura, a mom of two little humans and one furry rescue pup. As a full-time working mom, I understand how tough it is to keep your home looking nice and functioning well while juggling everything life throws at you. Check out my organization tips, decor ideas, and quick crafts that will help even the busiest mom feel more in control of her home.

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Comments

  1. chalkeddesigns says

    April 25, 2018 at 6:57 PM

    This post makes my heart happy! I love organizing!

    Reply

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I'm a working mom of two who loves making something from nothing, rearranging furniture, and finding a place for everything. Come learn more about me and my journey to a less-stress life!

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