Monday, December 03, 2007

Art Supplies Storage on the Cheap!

I am more than a little embarrassed to show this photo of how I've let the little ladies art supplies get out of control in one of our kitchen cabinets. But, to appreciate this project and in the spirit of remaining honest about sharing myself - here is the before:

Collective (gasp)!? Ok, now here's the rest of the story. We have a little nook at the end of our kitchen that is hard to use. It is behind a door and past the pantry. We used to have a buffet table and two stools there - but it was nothing more than a clutter catcher! You can kind of see it at the very end of the kitchen - this photo was taken during Spring Cleaning last year.

Anyway, the table and stools were left by a former room-mate of David's - so we had nothing invested in it. I sold it recently at a yard sale and have been so excited to have this cleared out. Then, I noticed the art supplies and started dreaming about what I'd like to store them in behind that door in the now empty nook.

I remembered this unused dresser in a closet in Emily's room and decided to add my touch to it! I sheepishly admit that I disliked this dresser so much I had thought about selling it too at the yard sale and now am so glad I didn't!

David made a trip to the shed and discovered we still had some usable paint left from painting the kitchen - then we found a can of black spray paint and here is how it ended:

I love it! I cut a "scarf" for the top from some black and white toile fabric my Mom had given me that I've been using sparingly! I set up a pencil sharpener I had gotten free on one of my deal-days and used all things we already had. And, I love that we still have some room to grow in here and I gained a kitchen cabinet, some closet space and a great storage space for the ladies art supplies!

I spent a total of $4 on this entire project and that was for a roll of black drawer liner to spiff up the inside a little bit.

There was just one problem at the end - the door knob was going to be chipping the paint easily. So, I cut a square of fabric and put a few cotton balls in the inside. Then, I found some black ribbon and tied it on to the door knob. Problem solved!

22 comments:

Kimberlee said...

Such a good idea! I need to get our crafts under control too!

Wendi said...

Great job! I love that you used what you had on hand.

Staightening my craft area is still on my to do list! It is in our coat closet and I cringe everytime I have to pull out the vaccum.

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness ~ what a darling "tightwad" transformation! Way to use your resourses ~ a win/win solution! Love you, Mom

Liisa said...

I love this idea! So cute! I also love your solution to stop the door knob from damaging the dresser. I never would have thought of that.


Blessings,
Liisa

Tracy said...

I knew I loved this blog! Charlie's art is EVERYWHERE and I've been trying to figure out what to do with it. I actually bought that exact dresser at a yard sale this summer and have been wondering why (b/c it's ugly!). Now I know what to do! Give it a paint job and hide all the art! Thanks Monica!

Katy said...

OK...i am totally loving how that dresser looks once you painted it! It looks GREAT!!!! And what a great idea for the door knob as well!!!! Love your ideas and creativity monica! :)

MamaBirdEmma said...

This is a great idea, Monica! Even though our little one is only a year and a half, we are already encountering an overflow of art supplies! You've encouraged me to try to organize them a bit better!

Blessings from Chestnut Hollow said...

Looks lovely Monica - it is amazing how a bit of paint can really transform a piece of furniture!
Karyn

Crafty Mom said...

Too too cute!!!

*carrie* said...

Monica,

I loved seeing these pix! You do such a great job with this stuff--way to use your resources.

Thanks for calling yesterday--the night continued to be chaotic, but chatting with you was a bright spot!

Anonymous said...

WOW!!! This is an AWESOME idea!!! Way to go!!

My Blessings From Above said...

Oh I just love it! Doesn't it just make you so happy when you find an inexpensive solution!

Anonymous said...

I just absolutely love your blog and the wonderful ideas you share with us. It is so funny, I have two of those same bureaus and have wanted to change them. Now I know just what to do.
Thank you for sharing such wonderful ideas. You are very talented.
I can't wait for your Christmas goody. I was so sad to hear I didn't win the homespun garland.
Ruth

Anonymous said...

Good job on the transformation! Looks great ! Best of all, I love the door knob cover...too cute!

It's a Mom Thing said...

What a great use of space. I have a random idea. It looks like you have a little space to one side of your little dresser. Could you put up a tension rod to hang pictures as they dry? or to display pics using clothespins? Just and idea to maximize the space. I love it!

kimi said...

TOILE TOILE TOILE!!!!! yeah! what a great project! impressive!

Meredith said...

Monica, you are so clever!

And my art cabinet looks far worse right now. I submit that it's nearly impossible for a kitchen cabinet to contain art supplies neatly--drawers are much better.

Anonymous said...

What a super cute and great idea!! I especially love the container holding the pencils. Do you mind sharing where you got it?
Thanks!! Elise

Saralyn said...

Very nice. I'm trying to move toward collecting and keeping only things that are both useful and beautiful. What you've done with this space fits those requirements wonderfully!

Monica Wilkinson said...

Elise - I got the pencil holder that is kind of like a partitioned egg basket with little tin cups in it at Hobby Lobby on a 1/2 off sale. I am not fortunate enough to live near a Hobby Lobby, but any time we travel, we look up and see if we'll be passing through a town that has one and always stop!

Monica Wilkinson said...

Meredith - I agree, a cabinet did not work at all! :)

gemma said...

Great use of existing things...I love to do that.