Mostly Done!!!!!

So, here is my closet! I LOVE how it turned out. A few notes about what I did inside... I couldn't put all of my ribbon on my holder because the dowel is too big for the holes so I hung a string with hooks from the shelf above. I'm hoping to figure out how to make the holes bigger in my ribbon spools to get them on my holder because I'm not loving the string. I also hung wrapping paper by string and hooks. I'm not sure if this will stay here, either. I'm just going to see if it gets in my way. I had to "pink it up" because it seemed too boyish while I was painting it!



This the area above my work table. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! Just used some photo/cd storage boxes from Ikea and covered and labeled the fronts. Same with the magazine holders...SO easy...and fun:-) It's really been working great. One box for stickles, embellishments, tape, etc. Oh...and the jars! Scrap ribbon in one, inks in one, and flowers in the other. I've got more jars (and flowers and buttons to fill them) on the way!!!!


The ever evolving "Cricut Nook!" I really love how it's working out, but it certainly needs it's own "prettification!" That AF picture in the back will be moved out, and something much more appropriately girly will replace it! My favorite part are my mats hanging on the wall to the right. SO convenient! My cuttlebug is out and ready for use (embossing folders in the pretty white box on top) and my gypsy parks here too! I got the idea for the shelf on a youtube video. It's there to keep things out of the way of my cricut mat in the back and it's not wasted space! I know...the lamp HAS GOT to go! Workin' on it:-)

I know these pictures aren't the best, but I will post some more detailed ones later. I'd like to include some of the whole room but it is overtaken with Cooper's Closet preparation right now. Just keep an eye out! I'll figure out my next project soon, too! I'm thinking Millie's closet, which should be quick. Then the closet off the kitchen desperately needs some attention!

Project #3 Before Pics

Well, we have pretty much finished the transformation of the guest room and one of it's closets into my craft storage and work area. Now I'm just working on moving all of my stuff in there so I can actually use it. I wanted to at least go ahead and post my before pictures and I'll post a progress picture as soon as possible.




The closet from every angle


What is to be the "Cricut Nook"

Work Area

There you go! Progress pics coming soon!!!!

Attic After Photos (Project #2)

Give away pile, Pile to sell at Cooper's Closet, etc.


Christmas Stuff, empty storage containers and kid's keep clothes boxes


My "crap to go through pile" (Bill has one of these on the other side!)


This is actually a little storage area just before walking into the attic. It doesn't quite look how'd I'd like for it to, but it's a work in progress.

Project #2 Done!

Okay, so it's been a while since a post but I've been procrastinating because this whole blogging thing is a bit overwhelming to me! We actually completed the attic clean up WAY ahead of schedule and I totally forgot to take BEFORE photos. I did, however, take AFTERs and I will post them as soon as I figure out how to do it. Right now, I'm blogging from my M Word program. I'm trying this out to see if it's easier, but when I registered my blog account there was some confusion (obviously only on my part) on how to upload pictures…something about an image server??? I don't know. All I DO know is that I didn't want to fool with it right now! So, if anyone has any words of wisdom on this blogging stuff send them my way!

Reflection

So, a little bit about the attic clean up. It went WAY better than expected. We were able to clear out a lot of CRAP (empty boxes, trash, etc.) and condense stuff into smaller piles. We were also able to make areas for give aways, items to sell, and stuff to go through more thoroughly. My hopes were, of course, to actually GO THROUGH everything, but I quickly realized it wasn't gonna happen! That's a major task, realistically one that probably won't happen until we move again.

Project #3: Guest Room Closet Transformation

Completion Goal: Friday, March 5

I have already begun taking out SOME of the junk that IS the guest room closet. I did get some "MOSTLY BEFORE" photos; unfortunately, I had already taken a few things out before I remembered pics. This completion goal is likely unrealistic because Liam's birthday party is coming up so I'll have a lot to do to get ready for that, however, I'll also want it to be finished before all the family gets here so I can show it off! This is a LARGE job ONLY because I have high hopes of painting inside. PRETTIFICATION (thanks for the word Wendy, it REALLY is a word! I looked it up! ) makes all the difference!!!

 

Project #1 Complete!

Amy's Desk Armoire BEFORE:





The first picture shows the contents of the drawer along the bottom of the armoire. The second picture is the smaller drawer, and the last picture depicts the chaos in it's entirety. It drove me nuts to the point that I didn't want to work there! I didn't have specific places for ALL of the crazy papers, etc. that I have coming in and going out so it just all got piled up and stuck here or there. I had systems, but not enough!


Amy's Desk Armoire After:



I decided to make all bins, containers, etc. that are visible coordinate! I used modge podge and some paper from a Halloween pack by My Mind's Eye. The magazine holders are just white cardboard (bought many years ago at Ikea) and I only covered the spines. I also made the spines of all of my notebooks coordinate and put new labels on them. The little box on the top shelf is a CD storage box and it holds all my stationary, greeting cards, etc.

These push pins were my inspiration for the colors and patterns (from Wal-Mart)...



The small drawer:



The larger bottom drawer:



And, my favorite part of all...



These are contact lists that I use on a daily basis. Before, I had to either go to that organization's notebook to get the list (IF it was returned to it's respective home the last time it was used) or I had to dig through all the piles to find the one I needed. I used my "Sir Crop-A-Dile" (as my husband calls it) and put large eyelets through the corners of each list then put a ring through the holes to hang them all together! LOVE LOVE LOVE that I thought of this!!!! They now have a home TOGETHER and will certainly be put back there each time! They hang on the inside of the right door of the armoire.

Reflection:

This project was actually much more difficult than I first anticipated. I was so excited when I decided to do this that I thought I would be totally motivated and be able to knock it out no problem. I quickly realized that it wasn't just one project. EACH little space, notebook, stack, drawer, folder and container had to be organized! The great thing about this was that I was able to do little bits at a time between household chores, baby's naps and errands. The not-so-great thing about this was that I HAD to make one large chunk of time to be able to make the finishing touches that, I NOW think, are the most important things. The "prettiness" is going to be what inspires me to KEEP this space organized. It wasn't easy to convince my husband that the "arts and craps" (so named by him) are a necessary part of this project and they actually benefit the greater good. However, I finally did, and we did our parts to get it done. His part, to supervise the children AND remove past years' files from the file drawer.

I think the only thing at this point that could make this space more perfect is having a chair nearby so I could just swing it around instead of having to carry one over from the kitchen. (Hint hint, wink wink, hon;-) Nonetheless, I LOVE IT!!!! I'm so happy with it and I will strive to keep it orderly! And, now...

Project #2: Attic
Completion Goal: February 15

This project is a HUGE one and, quite honestly, I don't even know that we'll be able to knock it out by the 15th, but I thought I'd give it a try. This project needs to be done so that I can begin the process of moving my "arts and craps" closet up stairs to the guest bedroom to essentially have a craft room. We need to make "homes" for items that accumulate that we need to give away, items to sell on ebay, items to store, etc. so that we can clean out the guest room closet and take those items directly to their "home" instead of just throwing them out in the attic. Wish us luck!

Physician Heal Thyself

What a low blow. I couldn't decide if I wanted to cry or scream. One night while watching the show Hoarders on A&E with my husband I declared that I thought it would be fun to help people get organized. I was astonished by his response, "Physician heal thyself!" HOW DARE HIM say such a thing to me! How could he possibly think that I am not organized? I pride myself highly on my organizational skills, and if, of all people, my own husband doesn't think I'm organized enough to show someone else how to be, then something's very wrong!

Most people that walk into my house probably think I'm rather organized, or at least they wouldn't think that I'm not. In most regards, I appear to have it together. I'm learning, however, that I intend to be organized. I have visions of systems, bins, labels and arrangements for almost everything in my house. However, those systems, bins, labels and arrangements are not all placed into being. I undoubtedly have a skewed view of my skills. Obvioulsy, it doesn't mean anything if I don't do it, but I consider myself "organized" because I think about it.

In my husband's defense (as well as my own), I later learned by intense interrogation that he was not implying that I am not organized, he just meant that I'm not organized enough to coach someone else on how to be. That certainly makes more sense, however, it's still disheartening to not be considered exceptionally organized. I really thought I was. I immediately blamed my lack of an impeccably organized home on a deficiency of time due to raising two children, caring for my husband, volunteering in various organizations, facebooking, two home-based business hobbies, ebay purchasing, crafting, etc.

I've pondered, deliberated, hemmed and hawed myself into blogging. I will systemize until I fully reveal the inner orderly me. I suspect that I will become more than just organized on this journey. My blog will be my accountability. My goal is to do this on a project by project basis. I will have a completion goal for each project, I will share any tidbits of helpful information that I find along the way, and I will share before and after pictures of each project.

With each piece, I shall find peace.

Project #1: My Desk Armoire
Completion Goal: Sunday, January 31st. (One Week)