You can keep your craft space tidy by looking at it in its messy state and analyzing what is out that makes it messy. Is it stamps? Paper? Ink pads? Think about the last time you cleaned up… what was left at the end when you ran out of steam?
For me, the issue is always scraps of paper and stamps/dies. I can keep up with the ink pads and markers, the glue and punches, but I’m always left with a pile of paper scraps and can’t ever seem to get the stamps and dies put away.
I’ve started using a three-box method to keep my craft space tidy all the time.
One box is for the paper scraps – the leftover bits of inky backgrounds, scraps of patterned paper or cardstock, or extra die cuts. One is for stamps, dies, and stencils. The third is for everything else that needs to be put away. I can clean off my work surface into these three containers, and then efficiently put that stuff away as time permits.
I’m striving to make this a no-shopping year for craft supplies, and part of that effort is using what I have. This approach has really helped me use the supplies and not focus on the thought “oh, I’d make something but it will make a mess” or not being able to find what I want to use.
I hope you can adapt this tip to your crafting style, and that you find it useful!
Papercraft Crystal 