Organizing with Materials Pages

As part of Moira’s Craft Cleanse eCourse, she challenged us to not only inventory our crafts stash, but also to create materials pages as a way to make art during the process.  Mind you, she’s on Mission Thirteen for the course, and here I am blogging about Mission Two!  (That’s what happens when I decide not to “pressure myself.”)

Materials pages show you a small labeled example of everything you have in your stash—the colors of your pens and pencils, or small swatches of fabric or washi tape, for example.

These pages can help you make sure that you don’t purchase materials you already have, and they also help you plan projects, because you are able to see what colors look like together or on the page.  It takes your inventory beyond a list, and becomes a visual reminder of your materials and supplies.

Shortly after Moira posted this Challenge, I read this fantastic post by Lori Vliegen at Elvie Studio.  She turned watercolor paint splotches into adorable chickadees (and pigs and mice and bunnies).  It occurred to me that I could use this great idea to add some interest to my materials page for some new markers I had purchased. 

Markers notoriously look completely different on paper than the color of their lids, so I am able to look at my Marker Materials Page to see the true colors of these marker sets.

I also made a materials page for my decorative edge scissors, and discovered patterns that I really like that I had no idea I own!

Even though I haven't given 100% to the Craft Cleanse course, it has helped me greatly reduce my buying/spending tendencies, and I no longer feel a sense of obligation to use every craft coupon that shows up in my inbox and my mailbox!  I am also continuing to organize and streamline my craft spaces. 

Check out Moira's free Craft Cleanse missions to bring some order to the chaos of YOUR art and crafting life!

Happy art-making!