My 6-year-old jumps from craft to craft. My mom was so helpful this summer with project ideas to keep her interested and busy.

Though I enjoy some crafts, Miss 6 enjoys all things creative. Thankfully, our dollar store carries a large number of diverse crafts that kept her busy.

She painted by number, created sticker mosaics, worked with beads, painted magnets, and colored velvet.

With partial projects done and leftover supplies for additional crafts, our art supplies were overflowing from their designated container.

When that happens, it is time to organize or re-organize. This project took less than half an hour and was worth the investment of time.

Remove all Items

The first step was to remove all the items from the craft box and gather any miscellaneous items that would not fit within the box.

Purge Items

I then tossed trash, removed extra packaging, and removed old or unusable items from the supplies.

Sort the Items

With my table full of paint, stickers, and markers, I began sorting like items together. I chose to sort by project (e.g., paint, markers, stickers, etc.).

Consolidate the Items

We had lots of stickers leftover from projects. I tossed the packaging and put all the extra pieces in a sandwich-size baggie which saved space. I repackaged similar items to make accessing them easier.

Organize the Items

Putting the items back into the space, I put like items together and used containers to compartmentalize different projects. I had a large box that held ready-to-do crafts.

Return Box to Shelf

With all the items organized and put back into the space, I had filled the container without an overflow.

During this fall as the rain and cooler temperatures drive us inside, I am prepared to give Miss 6 craft projects to promote her creativity and need for expression. Part of the fun is discovering new projects to do with the available supplies.

As seasons and interests change, I am always finding something new to organize or re-organize. Keeping up with the changes as they occur allows me to nip these projects when they are small. If I let the situation continue, then I will need to invest lots of time to get the project organized.

In using time wisely, I try to organize at least one box, shelf, drawer, cabinet, or closet each week. For me, there is always something we have outgrown or can better use, so I love the challenge. Having this art supply project complete just makes me smile. Happy organizing!

Question: What is a current area that your family has outgrown that needs organization?