If something is basically already organized or put away, don’t pull it out now. Start with the stuff that’s in your way. Go a bit at a time, especially if you have a lot of stuff. Spend fifteen minutes sorting, or just sort one bag, bin, or area.
Go for the easy stuff first, to help yourself build momentum. Toss anything that’s obvious: hopelessly tiny scraps, mostly empty packages, dried-up paints. Remember, you decide what’s worth keeping. At the same time, organizing only goes so far if there’s too much stuff. Be choosy about what you bring home from the craft store. Do you have a project in mind for this item? Do you have a place to put it? Do you really find it attractive or promising? Can you do the project? Anytime soon? Be realistic, and you’ll save money, space, and time.
Sort by item type. Put glue sticks, bottles, and jars into one pile. Put decorative stickers into a different pile. Put fancy paper into a pile of its own. Better yet, sort by activity. Have one kit, bag, bin, or space for painting, one for paper crafts, one for yarn, knitting needles,
Try a drawer organizer or even a fishing tackle box to corral many small items. Something with multiple smaller spaces helps separate little stuff. If you have a lot of small items, like beads or buttons, giving each group its own small container or compartment that seals or closes tight can save spills. Do you craft on the go? A tote bag or even a purse-sized craft kit might be just the right organization system for you. Keep a project at hand when you go out to make use of wait times.
Sort a little bit whenever you start or finish a project or get new supplies. Rearrange if you notice something isn’t working. If it’s not where you looked for it, put it back where you will look for it next time. If it’s not handy and you use it often, put it back near the top or closer to where you work.
Put the flat objects into the container first, standing up on one side if possible, and then place the non-flat objects on top of them or alongside. Put frequently used items near the top. For materials, like paper or fabric, try a filing system that displays them. Stand them on edge in a bin or drawer so that you can sort through them and see at a glance what you have. Smaller pieces might be rolled and stood up in a basket or bin.
