HOW TO EASILY BREAK CRAFT ROOM MYTHS TO FIND YOUR JOY

Inside: 11 craft room myths you might still believe and can easily be broken to get your creative mojo back!

I've been crafting for a long time but I recently realized that I and all of us crafters are prisoners of some craft myths that are simply not true. These myths not only get in the way of us crafting they also influence the way we shop for craft supplies and organize them. I think it's about time we break these myths and go back to doing things the right way!

LET'S BREAK THOSE CRAFT ROOM MYTHS ONE BY ONE

WE DON'T CRAFT MORE BECAUSE OUR CRAFT ROOM IS NOT PERFECT

You probably heard the phrase: organizing craft supplies and crafting are two different hobbies. That's actually true and you likely don't have time for both.

It's easy to think: "if I only had..."

• More space
• Better storage
• New furniture
• A different space
• And so on...

However this is a myth! The problem is not our craft space, the problem is our craft supplies! We just have too many of them and sometimes we just don't know where to start...

The solution... organize your craft space into an inspiring place that will encourage you to create.

WE NEED A LOT OF CRAFT SUPPLIES IN OUR CRAFT ROOM

First let me say: YOU DON'T!

The craft companies don't want me to tell you that. They depend on you getting excited about new supplies and going to the store and buying new supplies even though you don't need them. If you get rid of some of your supplies and re-organize your craft room you'll realize you don't miss those supplies and you don't need them.

This myth's solution... change the way you think about your craft supplies. More is not necessarily better!

WE MUST BUY THE NEWEST CRAFT PRODUCTS TO KEEP UP

Think about the excitement you have when you buy a new product or tool. You buy this pretty new supply and then you bring it home and not use it... Soon enough your craft room is filled with un-used craft supplies and instead of getting excited about crafting you get overwhelmed by all the clutter and a never ending organizing routine.

This myth is like a snowball... the more you buy the more you need because there will always be new supplies out there.

The solution...shift your joy to crafting and not buying! You can make amazing projects with what you already have. Challenge yourself to use your stash before buying the new shiny supplies.

WE MUST KEEP OUR CRAFT ROOM STASH

When we buy craft supplies and don't use them we feel guilty, but on the other hand we keep them and don't throw them away. The stress of having such a huge stash is killing your creativity!

Why don't we treat craft supplies like food? If you don't like beans you don't eat them and you don't shuffle them in your fridge for that day you decide you suddenly do like them.

The solution...if you don't like that 2010 old paper don't use it and don't keep it! Go over your papers and decide what to keep and what to get rid of..you'll feel so much lighter and your craft room will suddenly have so much more space.

DON'T GO SHOPPING FOR CRAFT SUPPLIES OFTEN

Logic will suggest that going to the craft store often will result in buying a lot of craft supplies but that is a myth! If your craft room is not overloaded with unnecessary supplies it means you won't have all the supplies you need for every project and that's a good thing! You get to go to the craft store OFTEN and get exactly what you need to complete your project... how fun is that?

The solution...go to the craft store whenever you're short of something and get only what you need so you'll make your project without buying supplies you don't need! If you have less supplies you don't feel guilty when you buy them!

BUY CRAFT SUPPLIES IN BULK OR SETS

I know I previously said this is the way to shop for craft supplies but only if you need it! If your craft room is full of paints and you only need blue and turquoise paints to complete a summer project just get the two paints you need. You'll have less to put away when you finish and your craft room will not get cluttered from supplies you don't use.

AS SOON AS I'LL GET RID OF IT I'LL NEED IT

I've heard this many times from my husband and even myself. When my grandmother moved to an old people home she gave me all her sewing supplies. The only thing I use are the buttons...I haven't touched the rest.

The solution...if you don't use something for 6-10 months you don't need it. And even if you will need it, thanks to the wonders of the internet we have access to every craft supply we could possibly want right at our finger tips.

I KEEP IT BECAUSE I SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON IT

If you have an item you don't use but you keep just because you spent a lot of money on it you're wrong. You're wrong because the money is already spent and the time it took for you to organize the space for it and shuffle it around your craft room is also spent. So basically the cost is lost! If the cost is lost there is no reason to keep it.

The solution...get rid of it!

IT'S A LIMITED EDITION SO I HAVE TO KEEP IT IN MY CRAFT ROOM

Craft supplies are meant to be used. They don't last forever or increase in value because they're vintage. I guarantee that that Tim Holtz limited edition ink you bought a few years back is all dried up now. Limited edition is a way the craft companies make you want to buy their products in the fear you won't get it again later.

The only exception I can think of is paper...I do have some limited editions of paper that is not available anymore. But again... only keep it if you love it and use it!

The solution...don't turn your craft room into a craft supplies warehouse, let the craft companies and stores do that!

I PLAN TO USE IT SOON...

Let's be honest if you haven't used it in the last 6 months you'll probably never will.

Before you get rid of it do this:

• Think of a project you can make with this item
• Set a date to make this project in the next 6 months
• Add a reminder to your calendar on that date to make the project
• If you haven't made it... it needs to go!

I DON'T HAVE TIME TO CRAFT

Life is busy and we all go through times when we can't find the time to craft. BUT I think that the problem is not lack of time because you can always find a few minutes to craft in every day or on the weekends or holidays. The problem is that your craft room is not inviting enough or fun enough to go into. If your craft room is cluttered and disorganized then you won't have any joy in crafting.

The solution... de-clutter your craft room and make it into a space you'll want to be in!

Check out the COMPLETE AN AWESOME CRAFT ROOM MAKEOVER IN 3 EASY STEPS 

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Have fun creating!