Craft Cart

Do you have a bunch of these?

And more paint, paper, foam and more glue than you can stand?

I have a great way for you to store it all!!!

I used to store the boys' belongings in my studio in a cabinet and some drawers, but I was getting frustrated.

It isn't like I don't love that they share the room with me.  It isn't that I don't want them to craft with me.

But, their stuff was taking up VALUABLE space for me!!

I have to thank my dear sister-in-law.  In a way, she got me thinking...she mentioned that she stored her boys' (she has FOUR too!) in some plastic storage in her kitchen.  But they weren't out when we were visiting this summer.  I instantly thought, WOW...why don't I move the boys' stuff into some sort of rolling cart that I can tuck away somewhere other than the studio.

I hunted high and low and settled on this one.  The drawers are not deep, but I LOVE that.  Less room for them to shove things that don't belong, right?

So here is what I have stocked up in there:

Index cards and coloring books

More index cards and small dictionaries 

 (the English dictionary is in the car right now)

 

Flash Cards 

(my room is so much more than crafts!)

 

Foam....Foam......Foam

 

Modeling clay, pipe cleaners, tissue paper

 

Some Paint. 

I keep the larger quantities are with my paints!

The Christmas guys in here are waiting until they get noticed again.

 

Yarn.  

The boys love to weave.  Seriously love it. 

The purple and yellow are a iPod holder in the works.

 

More yarn. 

They use it for alot of projects.  They also have some beginner crosstitch kits that they dabble with every once in a while. 

Love the stencils. 

I just punched a hole and have them on a ring. 

 

Glue.

NEVER enough.  I restock during Back to School days at the stores!

Stapler.  Odds and ends. Rulers. 

And Hand Sanitizer?

On the top?

I have their big bin of crayons.  The extras always come home at the end of the school year, so I dump.  They throw out the nubs (that is my own Heidi-ism) as needed!

 

BEST PURCHASE EVER!

A utensils basket.  Handle makes it to-go.  Looks pretty sitting out on a countertop while in use.  Organizes the markers, colored pencils, regular pencils, pens, and bookmarks.

 

Okay...now I have to recant my own words.

THIS pencil sharpener is the best purchase ever.

The boys managed to kill 4 automatic/electric sharpeners.  I found this good ole fashion one at office depot.  Hubby secured it to the top of the cart.  

DIVINE!

However......the most Divine thing?  

I have my cabinet back!!!  

My jewelry and clay are much happier now!

But don't worry! 

The boys still have one cabinet for the larger items. 

Sewing machine, Playdo instruments, bouncy ball maker, and foam goodies.

  I keep the old cereal containers that don't seal tight anymore or are missing the tops....the boys love shaking out the letters and shapes.

Where is the cart?

You know that closet that stores the vacuum and jackets?

I am gradually trying to use every wasted space in this house!

School Memorabilia

LONG TERM STORAGE

You've collected art.  You've collected math tests.  Spelling tests with "GREAT JOB".  Projects you stayed up late nights with your kiddo.   The winning essay for a contest (and no, none of mine have, just projecting my hopes!).

  Hopefully, in a portfolio envelope like I suggested.

Just add a sheet of paper that you can slip in to "label" your portfolio like this:

If not, you could go "old school" like I used to!

 
 I simply folded a posterboard in half and taped 3 sides with packing tape.  Punched a hole on each side at the top and tied with a ribbon.

Old School!

Better yet, I used to just to label them with marker!










  Once the portfolio is all set, you first find storage bins that work for you!

I bought these about 8 years ago, so I am not so sure you could find these.  They are my favorite because they are actually the exact width of a normal/average shelf in a closet. They stack up on top of each other on the highest shelf.

However, I suggest you find something that works for you.

Decide if you want some under the bed storage, closet storage, attic storage, or garage storage.  Just remember the glues and glitter can only take so much extreme temperature.   Make sure that it will store all you want to store!

  I am not a huge Walmart shopper, but they are ALWAYS my go-to store for plastic storage bins.

Have your bin?  Time to fill it!!!

I just set the pre-bound books/binders loose in there.  They generally are already marked by the school year.

Recorder anyone?

I even throw in some things that I have stored like his birthday newspaper.  I still can't believe we bought this!  And no, we didn't buy any for the other ones.  We can just google it, right?

 

Portfolios in?

Think you are all set now?

WAIT! 

One more step.

This is Butter's.  Since he is in high school this year his is getting quite full.

It is time to assess the older portfolios.

The one on the right is just not going to work for the long haul.  

What do you do?

You do just one more sort through the old portfolio.  You will be surprised about how much trash you kept last year.  TOSS it.  So it looks like the one on the left.

Any questions?

I am sure the last two posts for this series don't excite everyone , but they have to be done to keep your sanity and keep memories!

Back to School

 

The last few weeks, I have spent my time gearing up for the school year.

As I have been organizing, sewing, and preparing....I realized that I have been doing this for 12 years (including preschool) now!  I figured I could share some of my own habits to keep this family organized and do the little things that make sure they are completely ready!

Today, I thought I would share what I do to keep the paper flood that begins on the first day under control!  So far, I have been on the ball....but in May, I wasn't so much!  The backpacks were stored away in their home in the garage cabinet and I discovered I had a bit of work ahead of me!

So I thought I would take the moment of sorting through it all to share how I handle it!

PLEASE NOTE:  This is not about "looks" for me, it is all about function. 

Someday I will pretty all of it up! 

______________________________________________

The key?

Start the moment the kiddos open their backpacks!

The wad of papers:

  Sort.  

Sort the papers right away.  Granted, if they hand the papers to you while you are cooking dinner, like mine do, stack the pile knowing you will be sorting before you go to bed.  This is NOT fun in the morning.  Trust me!

There are three categories....Return, Trash, and File.

Return:  IMMEDIATELY return any forms that need to be filled.  Write the checks/attach the cash.  Sign the graded paper and test.  Make decisions about buying the newest Spirit shirt, yearbook order, or the Libary book club as soon as you receive the form.  DO NOT hold on to them. Give them back.  I have made the mistake of holding something to "think" on it and have missed deadlines!


Trash: This is really difficult for parents.  But I am going to be honest.  The first year my oldest went to Kindergarten, I kept EVERYTHING.  I had a whole Rubbermaid tub full.  It wasn't pretty.  Can you imagine if I continued the madness?  I calculated that I would have 27 tubs.  Yes.  27!!!  

So be smart.  Keep the special things like handprints, art (but not every single thing in preschool), projects, and papers that are great examples of handwriting. If they struggled with a concept and finally got it and the teacher wrote "YOU DID IT". It's a keeper. I usually gauge it based on how much the child covets it. Keep it!  All else...trash (or recycle in my house!).   

IMPORTANT:  DO NOT DO THIS IN FRONT OF YOUR CHILD.  EPIC TEARS WILL COMMENCE!

File:  So you saved all of the items...NOW WHAT?

..................................

  Storage

  Short term:  This is where you sort your items by child.  I keep all the items in this for the week.  Ex. Graded items, field trip info, artwork and paperwork to be saved, study guides, spelling lists.

Hubby and I agreed recently that I would use nicknames only on my blog...so FYI the labels look so much better than photoshop text!! 

 

Long Term:  At the end of the weekend when I have a quiet moment, I file the items to clear out the wall file boxes so they are empty for the next week. They get placed in a three different places.

• School Binder:  Items that include future dates (field trip).  Reference items (teachers syllabus), lunch menu, PTO events, Photo order forms with the check number and amount written on it (I am missing last years class photos, I promise...comes in handy) etc.  Basically anything that I might need throughout the year. 

 

I like the dividers that have pockets, but I also have a punch holder that stays inside the binder.

I have separate sections for various items. A section each for the two different schools they go to.  A section for each child specifically (class papers).

• File:  A regular file folder for report cards, awards, conference reports, modifications/IEPs, etc.  Anything we will need if we ever had to transfer schools or had to reference in a meeting with school officials.

Portfolio: For the memorabilia.  Remember all the artwork, papers, projects?  They go in here for the long term storage at the end of the school year.   I love these envelopes.  I buy a big pack from Office Depot.

I keep all three items in a deep drawer in the kitchen. That way the are easy to pull out Sunday afternoon.

I hope this helps.  But if not, no hurt feelings!

UPCOMING:  LONG TERM STORAGE AT THE END OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!!!