5 Steps to Designing a Small Space Custom Craft Closet (Part 2)

It's been nearly a year since lovely beauty arrived and it's been very fulfilling to have a seamless part of our apartment dedicated to my crafts. I'm still organizing the depths of this massive closet and finding new ways to utilize every inch efficiently but I thought I'd share more about what I learned from my process.

Designing a Small Space Custom Craft Closet

It's a huge financial and design commitment but it is well worth it if it meets your needs and helps you live more efficiently. For us, it was a no-brainer given my crafting obsession, our cozy (read small) New York apartment, and the curious itty bitty fingers wandering around. Here are the five steps I took to designing and organizing my small space custom craft closet:

1. Take stock of tools and supplies. Minimize when and where possible.

The same organization rules you've come across in the past for a tidy home are the same ones for your craft closet. If you haven't used the item for over a year, it's time to share it with someone who will make use of it. Or take an adapted KonMari method, and ask yourself, "does the item spark creativity?" Will it be used to create a project in the next few months? If not, again, share it!

2. Organize supplies and tools by frequency of usage. 

Once I cleared up all of the supplies into just the essentials that sparked creativity, I started organizing by frequency of use and access. Organizing by usage gives essentially forces you to distinguish between storage and everyday supplies. This is an important distinction.

Take for example, you have a huge supply of acrylic stamps, but you tend to use just your Project Life stamps on a daily basis while all of your seasonal and holiday stamps are only used once a year. In order for you to create efficiently, you'll want to keep the Project Life stamps in a place that is more accessible than your seasonal and holiday stamps since you won't need those every day. You can probably put your seasonal stamp stash at a higher level towards the back of your closet, so it doesn't get in your way while you're creating.

You may be tempted to organize by use or type of craft as that makes more sense for you, but you'll still want some semblance of organization by frequency of use. For example, out of all of my supplies, I use my acrylic stamps and stamping-related tools the most. So that's taken a full two drawers in my closet. I organize by manufacturer but I also have a section of frequently used stamps that I keep in the front of the drawer, so I don't always have to open the drawer all the way to the back. It also makes cleanup easier because I don't have to reach as deep into the drawer to put things away.

3. Measure stash and space. Sketch out a rough drawing with measurements.

This is the fun part because you get to bring your visualization to life by putting pencil to paper. But it can also be hard because if you're looking for maximum use of every inch, then you'll also want to be very accurate with your measurements.

Start with the sections that are at working surface and eye level. Envision what you need closest to you based on your most frequently used items. Then go up and down.

4. Research custom cabinetry makers.

Before calling anyone up, research on widths and thicknesses of different types of materials. Also research the type of closures you want, whether they be drawers or pocket doors, etc. The best way to find a cabinetry maker that's a good fit for you is to really talk to them and learn what is their process and what is included as part of their services. Trust your gut! Questions that helped me determine the maker for my closet:

• What is the process? Do you render 3-D drawings with clear measurements of each piece of the unit? Can you build the unit flush to the wall including measuring all floor and ceiling moldings? Do you measure the location in person prior to locking down measurements of the custom cabinet(s)?
• What are the terms of the agreement? How much is the deposit and accepted terms of payment? How many installments and by when? Is balance due upon arrival?
• How long does it take to make the unit and have it delivered? Does the unit arrive completely installed or will it be built on location? What type of insurance do you have?
• Do you have references to speak about the custom unit you've built for them? Do you have floor samples of the quality of your work? Do you have floor examples of heavy-duty drawer units and pocket doors (or any other kinds of fabrications you're hoping to have built as part of your unit)?

5. Produce an at-scale drawing, complete with all specifications. Sign off.

This was probably one of the most important parts of the process for me and I really appreciated that this was part of the service. The at-scale drawing is an exact blueprint of your unit and you'll want to make sure you account for every detail. Look for where all of the pieces will be connected and where all of the rails and hinges will be placed. Lastly, look at all of the measurements and make sure they meet the specs of your original measurements. This is important for you to review before you sign-off.

Then comes the hardest part... the wait. But once it arrives, it's back to happy organizing again!

Working Mom Blogging Tips

While I was blogging last weekend, I snapped the above picture for my Project Life daily photo. I often come across people asking how I manage finding time to do anything other than the essentials with a toddler when I am in the office almost 50% of my week days. I have been pretty bad at keeping with a blogging schedule as seen here by the lack of weekly posts. Quite the opposite from what I had originally set out to do earlier this year, but I'm getting back into it now that summer is about to run its course. I thought I'd share some tips on my blogging process as a busy working mom.

Weekdays are 100% focused on work and the essentials. Therefore I have to do everything else during the weekends including managing this blog and my creative endeavors. Since every minute counts, I've devised a bit of a system for more efficient blogging. I think of it as less writing, more living.

1. Build a habit and set realistic goals. Figure out how much time will be committed to writing. Learn how long it takes to create a post and then set goals on frequency. I decided that I will only spend 1-2 hours a week to blog posts which means I can realistically only post once a week.
2. Plan ahead, create a calendar, and organize your notes in a way that works best for you. When an idea for a blog post is sparked, put it into Evernote or your planner. Use commute time to organize notes on what you want to write, reference, and share. "Pencil in" the calendar with blog topics so you know your goal for each post. I tend to let real life determine my posts so my starting point are photos on my phone. Sometimes you write with intent and the photography follows. Figure out what works best for you and otherwise it'll never stick.
3. Put care into content but embrace imperfection. There's no such thing as perfection with a baby, especially when you are doing the job of a photographer, editor, copy writer, copy editor, and graphic designer along the way! Be okay with that but always proof and rely on a checklist to help. I spent an early part of my career proofing marketing collateral and checklists never failed me. Put together a checklist of things you always have to proof such as title, copy, images, videos, links, credits, any legal language, and scheduled launch date.
4. Say no. Most importantly know when to work, when to care for the family, when to play (and blog), and when to simply say no to a project or someone who wants your time. Do your best to prioritize.

Here's my process:

• Take photos and videos. I let photos/videos and everyday life inspire my writing topics.
• Evernote is my command center and I start piecing everything together in it during my commute to and from work.
• Determine subject of post. Once I have my photos and topic, related tags and categories come naturally and I add those to my Evernote.
• Prepare an outline of the topic. The basics include an intro to what you're posting, how it can help or benefit others, and why it's important to you.
• Note references, save credits, and clip links.
• Sit down and write! This is the fun part and goes hand in hand with proofing and scheduling.
• Proof and schedule.

Extra tips for blogging from the couch with family: Make sure the babe(s) are independently playing and already occupied. Secondly, set an alarm at exactly 30 and 55 minute markers to keep on track. Lastly, stick to the time you've committed to blogging, no more or less.

About Evernote: I love all of the gorgeous planners out there with crisp planning pages and beautiful handwritten notes. However, this method that once worked so well during my high school and college days has proven ineffective for me as a working mom. Evernote has been a game changer for me. (More about Evernote in a future post.) My best advice is to find the system that works best for you!

Designing a Small Space Custom Craft Closet

For years, I've assembled several pieces of furniture to make the perfect scrapbook and craft studio. That worked well in an apartment for one and that worked ok in an apartment for two. Space is much more limited with a baby and my craft furniture footprint took up too much room. Safety is also a constant concern. After much research and countless hours pinning dream studios, I finally invested in a built-in custom craft closet to house my studio.

Small Space Custom Craft Closet: Small Space Sewing and Crafting Space

Small Space Custom Craft Closet: Small Space Sewing and Crafting Space

I essentially designed a compact and efficient craft headquarter that would allow for all of my crafting tools and materials be stored in a 6 feet x 3 feet footprint hidden behind doors. A reasonable dining-table size footprint in a small apartment, designed with pull out drawers and work surfaces. The beauty is that everything can be easily tucked back in and out of sight when not in use. More importantly, little fingers won't be tempted! :)

More about the design process later this month!

I would be remiss if I didn't express my love for my nifty Scrapbox Workbox. It's been the home for all my crafting goodies for 4 good years.

What is your dream craft studio, maker space, or scrapbooking nook?

Minimizing Practically: The Wardrobe

As posted in January, I am learning to live minimally, in a way that works for my family. I am beginning with reorganizing, reducing, reusing, and recycling anything unnecessary. I want to do more with less and really only keep things I need and love, starting with one of my biggest problems, the wardrobe. Going from years of everyday traditional business setting to a business casual setting and now a casual setting, along with the changing pregnancy body last year, I accumulated too much clutter in my closet.

As part of my reduction process, I researched paring down to a minimalist closet. I came across so many great blogs that have been through this journey before. Here are a few guides that have inspired me to take action:

Be More with Less’ Project 333
Becoming Minimalist’s Practical Guide to Owning Fewer Clothes
Unfancy’s Capsule Wardrobe
House for Five’s

And this little gem I came across on Pinterest on how to organize your closet.

I purged more than half of my closet; selling some, donating a ton, and recycling a lot more. It felt great! I haven’t quite reached the 33, 37, or 30 piece closet but I’m experimenting and will continue to prune.

My goal is to get to 50 pieces total for an all year round wardrobe with all weather essentials, including shoes and outerwear, excluding home and gym clothes. Let’s see how that goes!

Setting Goals Made Easy with Goal Setting Worksheet

Last week, I blogged a bit about mind mapping. This week, I'm back with a free goal setting worksheet! I began the year looking for a goal setting worksheet and couldn't quite find one that met my needs. So I designed one and perhaps it will meet your needs too.

Designed by Pearl Lui: Free Download Goal Setting Worksheet for Action Planning and Successful Habit Building with Disc-Bound Margins

I wanted something that was rather simple in design with flexibility and not a ton of lines which I often find limiting my writing and drawing space. Channeling the spirit of high school biology workbooks, the worksheet was designed with a dashboard view and limitless flexibility. I'm sharing a watermarked version of this for free PDF download below.

Designed by Pearl Lui: Free Download Goal Setting Worksheet for Action Planning and Successful Habit Building with Disc-Bound Margins

1. Subject/Date. The top of the worksheet has a gray bar for titling with a subject, theme, or name. There's also room for a date so you can record when you filled out the sheet.
2. Goal/Why/Success Measurement.There's a big box for writing or drawing a goal! Next to it are two sections for you to write why the goal is important to you and what success looks like.
3. Action Steps Checklist/Due Dates. In the left of the main middle section is an area for listing 5-7 action steps needed to meet the goal, a gray circle for checking off when a task is complete, and a place to write the date of when the action should be taken.
4. Routine Building and Recurring Tasks Schedule. In the right of the main middle section are rows of light grey and white alternating perfect for creating a table of recurring tasks in a weekly or daily view. By having a clear view of the routine you need to bake in the day or week, allows you to build habits in a set schedule. To use for weekly recurring tasks, just use each row as a day as shown in the image below. To use for daily recurring tasks, just use gray and white rows together as needed to create your own table. See below for a daily schedule with AM, PM, and Night identified in the left column.
5. Notes and Brainstorm. The bottom left section can be used for notes or brainstorming. There are no lines so you can make lists or draw in this area.
6. Result/Learnings/Next Up. The bottom right section is a tracking area. Write down the result of your goal and what you learn. There's also an area for you to write down a next focus area based on learnings.

Designed by Pearl Lui: Free Download Goal Setting Worksheet for Action Planning and Successful Habit Building with Flexible Routine & Habits Section

It's been helpful for all of the goals I've set up for myself this year. Let me know if this works for you and let me know if you run into any issues with the download below.

If you're interested in a watermark-free version of this worksheet, you can find it here in my Etsy shop, Pearl's Pen Pals.

Download Free Goal Setting Worksheet for Action Planning and Successful Habit Building designed by Pearl Lui

Designed by Pearl Lui: Free Download Goal Setting Worksheet for Action Planning and Successful Habit Building. For watermark-free version, visit pearllui.etsy.com.

Mind Mapping to Stay Goals-Focused in 2015

Every new year, I write a long sectioned list of goals. I've done the same this year. But I'm also trying something new by mind mapping.

Mind Map: Routines focused on goals and how to achieve them.

Mind mapping is a great way to see how all goals are related. It shows the bigger picture. Here's my process:

1. Identify one main goal. By limiting to only one thing, you find what is most important to you this year. If there's only one thing to achieve this year, what would it be? Start your statement with a verb. Put this statement at the very center and heart of a blank page.
2. Identify habits and objectives. If there are 5-10 only habits or objectives that will help you towards your main goal, what are they? Put these statements around the page and let each thought lead you to the next. Once you get to a natural stop, look at each statement and identify any gaps and write those down. By limiting yourself to 5-10, you again focus only on the things that are most important to you.
3. Connect your habits and objectives to the goal. Identify the relationships in the habits and objectives so they become "workflows" or routines. Simply draw arrows to illustrate the connections.
4. Create routines and build a mindset. Now that you have all of these dots connected, start filling them in with action.
5. Hold yourself accountable. Remind yourself of how you want to live every day. Take action!

My mind map is centered around one main goal: Live a fuller life.

The relationship between my habits, objectives, and goals are clear.

• Make great memories. This goal is purposely vague. Great memories apply to all parts of my life, whether it be to laugh with my family, dance with my God-children, travel with friends, or enjoy lunches with coworkers.
• Take more photos. My list of crafting goals boils down to this one doable daily routine.
• Minimize practically. I am learning to live minimally, in a way that works for my family. I am reorganizing, reducing, reusing, and recycling more than ever. The first thing is starting with the closets. I want to do more with less and really only keep things I need and love.
• Spend less by reorganizing, reducing, reusing, and recycling.
• Cook more. I want to continue practicing making meals regularly which will also help us spend less!
• Be healthy. Eating out less and cooking more at home means consuming more nutritious foods.
• Prioritize and build efficiency, to do more, live a fuller life, and make more great memories.
• Craft and create. The decision-making process becomes easier by minimizing the number of choices, leaving me more time to fill my soul through creating, crafting, and learning.

I've already started some routines. The key now is consistency.

I look forward to holding myself accountable here. :)

Project Scrapbox Workbox: Installment #3

Hello! I decided to share my workspace, the Original Scrapbox Workbox, again. I just went through a big purge of unused supplies. As you've seen here and here, my craft area is teensy. So constant cleaning and organization is a must. The space is a real work in progress...

In an effort to take up less space, I've upgraded most of my full size stamp pads with Tsukineko Dew Drops, Clearsnap ColorBox Cat's Eye Queues, and SEI Ink Blocks. It's made such a difference and I love how I can quickly see all of the colors all in one small tin.

It's been a real struggle for me to find the right function behind my storage space since I always tend to have more than what can fit into the space. What are your tips to keeping an organized small craft space?

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Project Scrapbox Workbox: Installment #2

I've been getting things back in order... both cleaning and organizing around the apartment.

Since I got the Scrapbox Workbox almost two years ago, I've had it neat, tidy, and closed for maybe a total of 5 days. It sits in the middle of my living room and since I'm constantly using this station, I've wanted to add a fabric panel to conceal my mess for quite some time.

But first, I actually had to clean my table top mess to even tackle sewing a fabric panel. Here's the whole transformation via Vine.

Materials used: Ikea fabric, Singer sewing machine, Velcro

Wait, this is Installment #2? Where's Installment #1? Here you go.

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Getting Organized: Tape Holder Shelf

It's January, so it's time to get organized! I've accumulated a small collection of tape and I've been looking for a flexible system to store them. Here's what I made:

Materials Used: Kaisercraft Sweet Nothings You & Me, Acrylic Paint in Gold, Mini Drawers; Other: Mod Podge

I love Kaisercraft's mini drawers because it's up to you with how you want to use it. Perhaps you have need for all the small compartments to hold beads or small findings. For me, the foundation shelf for the mini drawers was perfect to store all of my tapes. I love how it can stand horizontally like a bin or vertically like a shelf.

And it was so easy to make! I first painted the entire piece with gold acrylic paint. I then carefully adhered all of the paper to the shelf using Mod Podge. I then clipped a medium sized binder clip to hold my mini scissors which are perfect to snip tape. So simple and easy!

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Planning the New Year

Back again to show another project sure to help with organization. The best part about this project is that it's super easy and it will serve for an entire year!

Materials Used: SEI Spooks collection, Bazzill cardstock, Janome Sew Mini Sewing Machine

I created a fun and simple calendar that also serves as wall art and a picture frame. To create this calendar, I printed out the 2012 calendar, punched hearts of different sizes, cut a business card holder pocket and sewed them all to the page. I then finished it off with the 2012 stickers and slipped in a picture of my friend and I to personalize it. It's a simple enough of a project where you can even mass produce these to give to friends as a lovely handmade gift that helps them stay organized all year round too!

Hope you like this idea and be sure to check out the SEI blog for more inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl