Creating a Crafting Space - Part 1

I have always wanted an art/craft room.  Maybe always is an exaggeration, but for as long as I can remember, I have wanted a space of my own to create in.  My craft room is a shared one - I have spaces for me and the kids.  It has been a work-in-progress for the past few months and will continue to be that because it will need to change as its purpose(s) evolve.  I hope this is a fun blog "segment" for you.  If you want to create a crafting space, follow along, swap ideas and get inspired.  It doesn't matter if you have a drawer or a basket to spare or an entire room, I'm going to be sharing ideas through February while I'm working on my art/craft/learning room.

This is how I got started:

• looked for ideas online (BHG has great ideas), in magazines(Pottery Barn, Ballard Designs, Land of Nod), and on blogs
• came up with a purpose for the room - a mission statement, if you will
• chose inexpensive posters and cards to inspire my kids and pretty up the space
• painted the room a soft, serene color - Benjamin Moore's Whispering Spring (Ecover, by Benjamin Moore - no VOCs and flat finish) - this paint covers phenomenally and has NO smell!  Great for winter painting projects.

With these things in place, I was ready to plan and create a workable mommy and kid-friendly space that we can all grow into and enjoy creating in.  

First, I made a list of what I wanted to be able to create in this space - it looks something like this:

• paint
• sew
• draw
• paper craft
• decoupage

Then, I made a list of what I want my kids to create and do in this space:

• draw
• color
• learning time
• cutting/pasting
• glitter
• read/look at books
• sewing and weaving

Then I looked at what we already had and how I could make that work to in this space.  I knew that we need a table and chairs, but I didn't want a kids' table because then I wouldn't be able to use it easily/comfortably.  We had an old kitchen table and chairs - it's a little beat up, but I decided to work with it.  Instead of painting it, I covered the top with oilcloth.  This stuff is amazing - it wipes up easily and adds some color and style to the room.  It's essentially a plastic covered fabric.

Here's a quickie how-to:

• measure the top of the table and add a half of a yard to be able to stretch the cloth on the underside of the table
• buy oilcloth, flat-headed tacks (can even use a flat thumbtack), get a hammer
• lay fabric upside down on the floor (print touching floor)
• put table upside down on top of oilcoth
• start at the corners and stretch the oilcloth into place - nail down with flat headed tacks (on the underside)
• tack down all four corners (on the underside)
• tack down the middle on each side (on the underside)
• tack evenly around the table (on the underside)
• flip table over and  - you have a "new" table for about $30!

Here's what my new craft room table looks like:

Do you have a space to create in?  How about your kids?  Later this week, I'm going to show you how to make clips to hang art work or posters or flash cards in your craft room or any other room.  I made mine for under $2.  Really.  It's worth coming back for.  And don't forget there's a surprise Shaklee giveaway in the works this month - keep checking back.