Friday, November 5, 2010

The Challenge

I have a craft room.  I don't craft in this craft room.  Do you want to know why?   You've hear the expression, "A picture is worth a thousand words."  Let me show you what I'm talking about.
               (Sorry, no matter how I tried, I couldn't get this picture to flip.  Just tilt your head to the left. )



Not exactly the best place to discover my inner crafter.  It does, however, serve as a reminder that there's cleaning that needs to be done.  Who wants to be reminded of that when trying to get creative?  Oh, that and I can't find everything I need.  What I needed the other day, for instance, were my acrylic paints.  I had seen them just 2 weeks earlier when I was helping my son with a paper mache project.  I had "put them away."  Somewhere safe, I'm sure.  They are gone.  Into this blackhole I call my craft room. 

Let me tell you a couple other things about myself.  Along with this hoarding problem, I'm a recycler.  If it can't be given away, I try to find a way to use it without throwing it away.  I really am a recycler.  When my kids want a piece of paper, I have them pull it from our recycle pile.  No joke.


Our local recycling depot doesn't take tin cans, so I decided to use them for a birthday project (later post about that).

SO, here's the challenge.  Are you ready for this?!!  I challenge myself to clean this room.  Here's the catch: sticking to my no throw away rule, if I can't give the item away, I have to craft it.  I'm hoping you'll join me in this journey as I clean this room up and make it into an actual room...a CRAFT ROOM.  You'll watch me get creative with things I already have.  No need to go to a store for supplies when I have it all in this room...somewhere.  Here's a preview of things to come:

16 comments:

Chris Henrichsen said...

We are quite the blogging family.

Chris Henrichsen said...

Whoa...you changes the backgroud...I like it. Is it from the cans?

Lyndee @ A Recovering Craft Hoarder said...

I was choosing from the background options they gave me. It's hard being creative. I know there are ways to make it more my own, but one step at a time. No need to overwhelm myself this early in the game.

Anonymous said...

Love it girl! I'll do it with you. I have a boutique at the end of the month. I need to make as many sellable jewelry items with what I have. At least, that is the plan. Good luck in your adventure!
Misti

Lyndee @ A Recovering Craft Hoarder said...

I'll hold you accountable to that, Misti! It's amazing how many things I have one can have.

Britt said...

Wouldn't you feel better if you threw some of it away, and reused/repurposed the rest?

I am in a huge DI/throwing away mode right now. I have kept things for years that I thought I'd eventually use with my preschoolers, but I haven't yet, so I have moved it on.

Good luck with it though!!

elizabeth @ twelvecrafts said...

Thanks for linking up to stuff your stockings Lyndee!

I'm glad I'm not the only one with a crazy craft/sewing area

Lyndee @ A Recovering Craft Hoarder said...

Britt, it's a great thought, but I've already done the thrift store/throw-away rounds before we moved here. However, in my rules, I am still allowed to giveaway and send to recycle. This room is SO small but it's the catch all area. I'm hoping to get some shelves and other organizational tools set up. I have to say, you totally just sounded like your mom.
Elizabeth, I linked you in my next post. I LOVE your blog!

PerfectlyHappy said...

I MUST FOLLOW UR BLOG IN HOPES THAT U WILL INSPIRE ME TO DO THE SAME IN MY "CRAFT ROOM" PERHAPS I WILL TAKE PICS TO SHARE WITH U TOO! :)

Liz said...

What a brilliant challenge. I am attempting to make all my Christmas cards this year without buying any new materials, but you take it a whole load further!

MELANIE WADHAM said...

I loved you blog, Melanie here from New Zealand, had to have a laugh out loud that got my hubby asking, " what you laughing at" " Nothing, you wouldn't understand' I replied! A girl thing.
My craft room come my 19 year olds room for the past months needs major cleaning, sorting and airing out of teenage male odors!! I am looking forward to watching the space to see you transform your room!

Lyndee @ A Recovering Craft Hoarder said...

Oh, Melanie. I SO remember that smell. I had three older brothers who's smells scar me even to this day. Good luck with that one.

Lyndee @ A Recovering Craft Hoarder said...

Liz, I hear ya. It's fun though, asking myself, "What am I going to make today?" This way I have tons of things on hand to use as gifts. I will need to give the stuff away, otherwise the clutter will never clear.

Unknown said...

Your craft room looks like how my sewing room, did look, just 4 weeks ago. I have been working on it, & I'm happy to say it is looking better.. It was really bad!!! I had to walk around things to be able to get to my sewing machine...
Keep trying, it will be worth it...

Lyndee @ A Recovering Craft Hoarder said...

That's what I'm hoping Loulla Belle. I can't wait to see it to it's completion. At this point, I'm working at getting the stuff off the floor. Then I can go through each container.

Debra@Dejarenew.blogspot.com said...

Hey, love you blog. Linking over from the newbie blog hop I just posted on my site. Ms. Sassy Sites is throwing it. I am now your newest follow. I look forward to tooling around your blog. I would love to have you come join me as well.

Take care.
Deb
http://dejarenew.blogspot.com