Organizing Space - Part One

I don't have a lot of room in the current space I have - but it's a whole lot better than living in a hotel for a year while my husband was going to school and having even LESS space to work with than I do now!!!  I can actually create in the area I have now, though it is a bit cramped!!!!  I started making a list as to what isn't working - and what I need to do in order to be able to get more done in all aspects of my life!  I am on a budget, plus my space is for both work and creative purposes, as well as my own business - so I have my work cut out for me in this project for sure!  

I know it isn't going to be overnight that I get all of the pieces I need for my space, as well as a new space all my own to create in!  In between time, I make the best out of what I have - and will grab pieces that I can bring with me, that is stylish AND can be used for different things too!!!  But - the whole key is to get more done and be more organized by the time this project is done!  I have started making a few tweaks in my current space:

• I am going through all of my creative items - selling that in which I will never use again, or haven't used in a very long time!  If I have a cartridge from my Cricut machine that I can use instead of, then GREAT!!!  If I haven't used the stamp for the past few years - I am getting rid of it!  
• I have been re-organizing items, and putting things with "like" items to make it easier to create in the first place, and it helps to find things quicker too!   
• As I am re-organizing things, I have been re-purposing storage items for other things!  For the moment this is working until I can purchase the items that will truly help me to organize my space!  
• Boxes sent to me with Creative Paperclay or birthday presents inside - made into one of a kind organizer boxes that hold various crafting items in them that are easier to get to - and things I use most often right on my desktop! (Pictured above) 
• In my 3 drawer organizer drawers, since I have 2 of them, I use 3 of the drawers for things I am working on - such as my planner pages, cards, etc., with everything I am using included in the drawer to make it easier for me to create.  

We are looking at things that will make my space complete, which means I am getting all new furniture for my space (Or - used furniture reconditioned)!!!  This also means, since being on a budget, I have to save as much money as I can - yet get the pieces I need, including:

1. A wardrobe piece that can have shelves added to the inside, in order to hold all of my paper craft/crafting items in one place.  
2. I will utilize the inside of the doors with a cork board, magnet piece, and small shelves to add small items to (pictured above)! 
3. Plenty of altered boxes to put things inside - as well as baskets that will match!  I will then be able to purchase a few key pieces to go with!  
4. An "L" shaped desk - with plenty of room for 2 monitors (and maybe 3 down the line), a printer, a space to put file folders, drawers to put "office" materials in.  
5. A series of cork boards, white boards and organizational items hanging on the wall!
6. My file cabinet painted to match the rest of the items I get, in a color that I can change easily as far as the accent colors!  

I have found a lot of cost savings by simply recycling boxes and other organizing items - and simply reusing a lot of the things I have already been using - just in different ways!  The desk I have - though I love it - it simply isn't working for the things I need to use it for - I simply can't put 2 monitors in a small space meant for one!  The other desk I have, well - bad memories - vindictive things scratched into the glass, where - how many years later, it's best to get rid of the memory!  
I am excited to get things done this next year both creative wise, business wise, and work wise!  I have learned that life is what you make of it - and when I concentrate on creative things - life goes wonderful!  I hope you join me this year and go through all of YOUR stuff - if you can't make something out of it in the next year - have plans for it for the next year - then get rid of it!   

Lynda Jeffs

Memories in Tyme