Craft Closet in the Making

Today starts my first organization project. I've been talking and thinking about this project all week, so if you follow me on Twitter you already know what this project is all about. My first project is going to be making a craft closet! I hope that it turns out as good as the idea in my head.

Here is what we're working with:

This is my craft area. Right now it's located in the dining room, which in theory works great because it's the room with the best lighting and the table is big enough that I can have a friend or two over to craft with me. I originally had all my craft stuff in my bedroom closet. I never crafted when it was in there because it was too much trouble to bring it all out. So moving it to the dining room fixed that issue and for awhile this system (if you can call it that) worked well. Until I started getting so much stuff that I have to fight with the drawers to get anything in or out of them. So I'm back to rarely crafting.  It's such a hassle to find what I'm looking for and then trying to put it all back - ugh!  I'm hoping that by creating the craft closet I'll get back into crafting on a more regular basis. Being able to find what I want and hopefully the ease of putting it back will inspire me to enjoy creating again.

Top half of coat closet

Bottom half of coat closet

We have a lot of coats in there. I think we wear maybe four of them. Many of them are my darling husband's from way back when. "They are good coats, we can't get rid of them". Yes, my love they are good coats and if we were still in the late 80's early 90's I'm sure we'd be wearing them. No matter we're out of that decade, I'm sure we're long out of some of those sizes.  You wait, I'll show you some pictures of the treasures we have in there. :)

And those TV trays - can you say faaaaancy!! They were his parents and honestly they were quite handy when the big kids were little.  I used them often when the kids were sick and I would make them stay in bed (that's how I keep them from faking to get out of school *wink* ), but I can't honestly remember the last time we actually used them recently.  So I think we can get rid of them and maybe just buy one wooden tray to have on hand if kidlets are sick.  All the games will likely go into my closet for now (that's another project for another weekend) and the hats & mittens will be gone through and divided up into the bedrooms of the owners.  The kids already keep their coats in their bedroom so it's just a matter of making room in our closet for the coats hubby and I decide we must keep.

This is my inspiration - We'll see how it actually turns out.

So this afternoon we are off to buy shelving. R is going to help me clear out the closet and get the shelves up, then it will be up to me to get it all organized.  Tomorrow I hope to have beautiful pictures of an organized craft closet to share with you.

What are you organizing this weekend? 
Have you made a craft closet before? Do you have any tips or recommendations for me?

Craft Closet in the Making