Part 1: Creating an Art & Craft Space When You Have No Space

This post is inspired by one of my readers who asked about creating an art & craft space at home.  There will be to parts to this post.

Part 1: Creating an Art Space

Part 2: Storing Completed Art & Craft

Part 1: Creating an Art Space

I used to be a I-don’t-do-painting Mum.  I found dealing with all the creative mess stressful. However, over time, I’ve come to highly value the messy forms of play so I’ve found ways to encourage it in our home while still maintaining some level of organisation.

We don’t have room for a designated art space so I have a mobile craft/activity system I can easily pull out, in entirey, or in sections depending on level of art my children are doing. This takes a lot of pressure off the mess side of things (as you can see, the table below is well used) because everything in my mobile art space is designed for that very thing: creative mess!  I think this a key to enjoying art at home.

My Mobile Art Space

 

1. Useful/Recycle Box

2. Foldable Craft Table

3. Laminator

4. Supply Drawers

5. Craft Box

6. Paper

7. Floor cushion

1. Useful/Recycle Box

This is where I keep cardboard boxes, toilet rolls, milk bottle lids and other useful recyclable household items.  I use hobby bin or a large box works well.

2. Craft Table

I purchased a fold down table specifically for craft.  This has been a wonderful investment in creativity because I don’t have to worry about paint, glue or any other mess. (As you can see from the picture above, it’s well used).  If the table you are using does need protection, use an old tablecloth, newspaper or butchers paper to cover it. A fold-able table can be purchase at Target, Kmart and Officeworks.

Painting our Rainbow pots

3. Laminator

If you don’t have a laminator machine, I’m telling you to drop everything right now and buy one. Once you have a laminator, you won’t know how you survived without one!  I use the laminator for printable reward charts, posters from magazines, craft, awards, protecting documents, photographs, school projects and special drawings. You can pick one up for $30 (like this one).

4. Supply Drawers

I like to keep supplies in drawers so they are compartmentalised. Items such as these:

• Pencils, pens, crayons
• Paint & brushes
• Sticky-tape
• Stapler
• Glue

5. Craft Box

The craft box has everything from cookie cutters to activity colouring books. I only use the Useful Box (1) for recycled items so other craft things like paddlepop sticks and pipe cleaners go in the craft box. Ideally, it would be great to keep craft items itemised in a hobby box (like the one I use for my children’s dress-up jewellery (shown below) or separate jars or containers. However, I have found this doesn’t work for my family as there are too many restrictions for my young children, so I keep all crafty things in one craft box.

6. Paper

My daughter does at least 5 drawings…everyday, so I like having paper on hand.  It’s great if you have a designated drawer for paper or you can use a box like I do. This is much easier than trying to get paper out of the packet.

7. Floor cushion

While this is not craft related, our floor cushions have become very much part of our creative space. Our family uses the floor cushions for reading, lounging, watching television, rumbling and even drawing.  I purchased our floor cushions from Strawberry Jam Designs (they don’t ell them anymore unfortunately). They are washable and comfortable. Even a few pillow cases sewn together can work well too.

All these things are kept in a cupboard and I can pull either pats of it all out when needed.

Other Ideas for a fixed art space

My sister uses a great system for her art nook.

1. Use a wire line with clips to hang children’s art work. It looks fantastic, plus the clips are strong so the art stays on the line.    This way, the artwork becomes an attractive feature in the home.

2. Keep art supplies like pens, paint and brushes in hanging tins on the wall.  Supplies are easy to access, neat and organised.  The beauty of this systems is the workspace is kept clear.

1. Ikea Curtain Wire with Clips

2. Ikea Bygel Rail

3. Ikea Kroken Cutlery Caddy

Doing art at home with kids can be so rewarding!  The secret to being relaxed about doing art (for me) was twofold. 

First: use products especially for art.

Second: have a place for everything. 

Whether you are looking to create a fixed art space at home or like me, a mobile one, it’s a worthwhile investment. 

Need more inspiration? Here are some great links:

The Artful Parent: Making Space for Art

The Artful Parent: Art Studio

Childhood101: Sharing Our Kids Art Space

Read Part 2: Storing Children’s Art Work

Be A Fun Mum Links

Paper Clip Crafts & Activities

Make a Flower Head Wreath

Creative Kids: Drawing Out and About

A Fairy’s Home or a Pirate Trap

Paper Dolls

3D City Skyline

A Pile of Straws

We Play: Blu Tack