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CandaceC
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| Posted: July 25 2009 at 11:32am | IP Logged
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Question about organizing art supplies...
What all do you leave OUT for your kids to use ANYTIME they want to??
Glue?
Oil pastels?
watercolor pencils?
watercolor paper?
crafty supplies like cotton balls, pipe cleaners, sequins, etc??
stacks of construction paper?
If you leave out things like the watercolor paper, do you buy it ALL the time? My kids will really go through the paper I'm afraid, if I leave it out?
But I do want to start leaving the paints more readily avaible for them to choose when they like.
Do you let them paint "free for all" on cheaper paper? (and where and what kind do you get?)
Maybe save the nicer watercolor paper for special projects and specific art lessons??
Can you tell I'm reorganizing my craft closet? I"m pulling more of it OUT for the kids to use freely...but am having trouble figuring out the logistics.
I was completely inspired by Jen's art supplies found here. And I"ve been pulling out mason jars, containers, etc, to get things more easily usable by the kids.
Wildflower & Marbles art supplies
Ok - and for paper - if you leave out stacks of say white paper, construction paper, colored paper...how do you organize the paper? If I leave stacks of it on the table it will get messy FAST. Do you put it in a basket/rubbermaid container on the shelf?? Any better way to do it??
THANKS!
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Candace - wife to David since 2000...mommy to Hannah (Feb. 2002), Emily (April 2003) and Caleb (March 2005)
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: July 25 2009 at 1:04pm | IP Logged
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Looking forward to answers.......I'm in org-mode over here this weekend.....  I'm in completely over my head, and taking a nacho-and-forum break right now..... 
Please, anyone else link pics if you have them on a blog, or put pics here.
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Suzanne in ID
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CandaceC
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| Posted: July 25 2009 at 1:27pm | IP Logged
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Suzanne, well too bad we can't be organizing together! I suppose these questions on the board will have to do. 
I pulled everything out of my craft closet. 
Rearranged. 
And could not find sufficient places for everything. 
So, now I'm coming to the boards to read some more. Whew, it's been a long morning!
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Candace - wife to David since 2000...mommy to Hannah (Feb. 2002), Emily (April 2003) and Caleb (March 2005)
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Mackfam
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| Posted: July 25 2009 at 2:29pm | IP Logged
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Hey gals!
I have just a minute this fine Saturday before I go dig into my ironing...
Candace,
If you've seen my post  you know I keep everything out and available. We discuss proper use of materials...like glue is not to be used with reckless abandon...oil pastels must be used carefully...other specific how-to's with regard to not being wasteful really...but, beyond that everything is available at all times!
We're a pretty creative family and I encourage creative expressions for almost everything we do...nature journaling...book of centuries...copywork books...history related coloring books...science related coloring books...efforts of hospitality. I keep a pretty stocked art center. I've never regretted it. It's the one area we invest in on a consistent basis and we all use on a consistent basis. I like to keep a spectrum of quality available...so we have everything from Prang (a GREAT brand for youngers - good quality, inexpensive) to Prismacolor...from scratch paper to quality watercolor paper...all out and available. The key is helping the youngers choose an appropriate selection - maybe a coloring book or scratch paper with Prang over the Derwent pencils and the watercolor sketch book. BUT...if the 4yo wants to watercolor I let him!
Ideas for the art center re-org....
:: Give yourself permission to get rid of all the tins, boxes, and containers that are currently holding your pencils, crayons, markers, etc. that aren't transparent. I've found that if you can't see it, you won't use it. Look through your pantry and closets for old jelly glasses, mason jars, glass desert dishes you never use...hit the thrift store or a garage sale - you can pick up very functional clear glasses for pennies.
:: Group the paper, the glue, the paint, the color pencils, etc. It's easier to find if like things are together.
:: Consider some type of open display shelving - mine are set out on shelves that hang on our wall. Target/Walmart make some inexpensive little cubby type shelving that are meant for use in organizing closets. I think you could set up a really neat art center using those. Again, I'd check the thrift store and think outside the box...look for old cd holders, old shelves that could use a coat of paint, spice racks that might hold a collection of glue or paint.
If your art supplies aren't out in the open, they aren't going to get used. I don't like those plastic drawer options because of this. They're handy, but everything is out of sight. Can you switcheroo something in exchange for the art supplies. Can you tell my art supplies have pride of place in our spaces? I'd consider moving books we aren't reading for the year, manipulatives we use on an every now and then type basis, etc, out and make place for art supplies wherever you are most frequently. My preference (and I admit I'm spoiled now) are those tracks you hang on the wall with the shelves and brackets. They're adjustable, hold A LOT of weight, and take up no floor space!!!!!! My husband put those up on every square inch of wall space in our learning room and I've NEVER regretted it!!! Best thing we ever did to organize the spaces in there! We got them from Lowe's and just did one section at a time as the budget allowed.
Now, craft supplies are a different story entirely. Some of the very frequently used stuff is out, but in clear plastic bins. All the other cotton ball-y, small wooden egg-y, toothpick-y, pipe cleaner, craft-y supply type stuff is kept in a bin in my supply closet.
Paper ideas...For paper use, we have 2 suppliers of free scratch paper. Everyday when my dh powers up his computer at work the printer automatically generates a page with his name on it...and it does this for everyone. He keeps an empty copier box by the printer and all his friends collect for us!  Then, my mil volunteers at the pharmacy on post and gets these little square papers that the pharmacy just discards...something extra the printer generates with every Rx? Anyway, ask around where your husband works, the pharmacy you usually go to, any place that you think might use a printer on a regular basis. Most people would love to recycle like this - and you'd have a free supply of scratch paper. I set out two piles for the kids and my 4yo knows that the big stack of square paper is HIS! Anytime he wants to draw, that's where he goes. He even paints on it. I set out my paper in a couple of ways...
Paper storage Scratch paper is stacked on the shallow Montessori shelves. It is butted up against the end of the shelf and we don't have a problem keeping it neat...it just needs to be accessible. Card stock, colored paper, specialty paper I keep in cardboard magazine holders. I tip them on their side so that the top is viewable as you're facing the shelf and all the colors are easily viewable. This takes up a minimum of space on a shelf, allows the paper to stay neat and not warp, bend or crease, but allows for visibility of colors.
Focused displays Sometimes, even though I keep all art supplies out all the time, I set up a media collection on a tray to encourage use. Maybe a nice watercolor tray with paper, nice brushes, a glass for holding water, watercolors, watercolor pencils, some art for inspiration. Then, on Fine Arts Fridays, I might encourage one of the children to grab the Art Tray and see what they would like to do. I don't always set out a tray...really just when we're studying a particular use of media or a particular style or approach in our art appreciation times.
I think I covered all your questions, Candace...let me know if I missed anything! I look forward to others responding because I love gathering new ideas about organizing art centers and art supplies.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Wildflowers and Marbles
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sunny
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| Posted: July 25 2009 at 2:42pm | IP Logged
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Jennifer, I agree completely with always having supplies available but you have caused me to think about them being "out of sight, out of mind". I plan to rearrange! Thx!
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KauaiCatholic
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many newspapers will sell the end rolls of newsprint for cheap ... ours gives them away to kids who ask, but I imagine it depends on the size/friendliness of the newspaper. we keep a roll or two on hand for big, messy projects but smaller pieces can be ripped off as needed.
love this thread! thanks for all the great ideas!  I, too, have found that accessible = used, although I've learned the hard way that glue and glitter needs to stay on a top shelf ...
ETA: we don't have a lot of shelf space, and glass jars are too dangerous around here (the downside of slate floors ) but this solution works for us: small plastic containers (grouped by colored pencils, markers and dry-erase markers) can stack on top of each other (nestle, not stack), don't take up much space and my DC can reach for whichever they want at the time, as well as carry it easily (and safely) to wherever the project is happening. we also keep a pencil sharpener (and small container for shavings) in the pencil bin.
for paper storage, we picked up some of those vertical metal paper racks from Costco; I generally see them in classrooms or offices. they work great; sometimes get messy but everyone can see colors/types/etc. and grab as needed.
anybody going to post before/after pictures? 
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Viviane
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: July 25 2009 at 3:25pm | IP Logged
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Notebooking Pages has some cool pics on the right side bar of how she stores her things.
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Suzanne in ID
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Mackfam
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SuzanneG wrote:
| Notebooking Pages has some cool pics on the right side bar of how she stores her things. |
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And...can I just say that I am sooooo close to buying one of those Pro Click binding machines after I saw it on her site! That thing looks awesome!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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SuzanneG
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Mackfam wrote:
| And...can I just say that I am sooooo close to buying one of those Pro Click binding machines after I saw it on her site! |
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I know!!!!! Isn't that neat??? I had to hold myself back and tell my self that we aren't quite "old enough" for it yet....but it's on my radar for in a couple years!!!!!!! 
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Suzanne in ID
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Erin
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Candace
We live in a very small place so we can't have art supplies out all the time  so we have a special box like a builders box that the supplies sit in and then are put away at the end of the day (so we can eat ) Pictures here.
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CandaceC
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| Posted: July 25 2009 at 8:38pm | IP Logged
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Viviane, I've snapped a few pics today...not sure if I'll get them up tomorrow or it might be Monday but I'll post again here when I've gotten the pics up on my blog.
I also want to post pics of my school room and see if anyone can help me figure out any better ways to "do" my space in here.
Anyway, thanks so much for posting ladies, I'm getting excited about my newly organized school/play room!!
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Candace - wife to David since 2000...mommy to Hannah (Feb. 2002), Emily (April 2003) and Caleb (March 2005)
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CandaceC
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| Posted: July 25 2009 at 9:51pm | IP Logged
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I did get my pictures up! YAY! Now, before you click here, it is definitely not as impressive as Jennifer's room...so just a warning! LOL!!
But I did get a lot accomplished, and if you see any suggestions for me, PLEASE share!!
Our school room - re-organized
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Candace - wife to David since 2000...mommy to Hannah (Feb. 2002), Emily (April 2003) and Caleb (March 2005)
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Kathryn
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| Posted: July 27 2009 at 2:27pm | IP Logged
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I found lots of glass jars, vases etc. at Dollar Tree this morning. Of course they were $1 each and that does add up but nice straight, tall ones perfect for pens, pencils etc. and then some shorter ones for the other items.
Also, I'm kind of a Pottery Barn Kids junkie so I'm always looking at their site (mostly sale stuff) and I thought about buying these for my kids. Not sure exactly how I'll use them yet but they sure are cute and not too expensive (well, I only need 2): http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/da20/index.cfm?clg=4 9&cm_src=CQS&showsku=7212541&pkey=k49%2C7212541
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Kathryn
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| Posted: July 27 2009 at 2:28pm | IP Logged
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Ok...so I don't know how to make a link directly. I'll try to figure that out.
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Angel
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We've had our stuff in glass jars, open tins, etc. since last fall and it has made a big difference in what gets used and what doesn't. Anything still in a box (because I didn't have space to put it out, like oil pastels) hasn't been used in a while; anything in a jar or open tin or wooden organizer (Prismacolor markers, colored pencils, little boys' pencils, markers, and crayons) gets regular, heavy use.
I've got more shelving waiting to be put up so I can put out paint without having my 2 yo try to drink it. (Which is the only problem with having stuff out and available all the time... the problem-solving, chair-climbing toddler is attracted to it, too!)
One thing I have learned, though... if you have limited shelf space (as I do; I only have 3 open shelves to work with right now), it's better to not try to jam *too* much stuff on the shelves and to rotate materials than to have overfull shelves. If it's hard to reach in and take a jar off a shelf without moving something else out of the way or knocking something else off, the supplies won't be used as much either. I've whittled down what I have out in the interests of maintaining a non-cluttered environment. It's easier for the kids to put stuff back where it goes when there's enough space on the shelves, too.
What I have out right now:
*wooden playdough tray, with playdough in a ziploc bag and tools
*3 drawer plastic cabinet of Sculpey, watercolor pans, and tape of all kinds (my 6 yo uses A LOT of tape)
*a couple of plastic sleeves full of stickers
*Crayola markers, Ferby colored pencils (skin tone and regular), crayola crayons, beeswax crayon in a wooden caddy (which can be easily picked up and moved to wherever the younger kids are working)
*colored pencils and markers in Mason jars, arranged by color
*drawing pencils in Mason Jar
*black drawing pens in Mason Jar
*glitter and gel pens in Mason jar
*glue (several kinds)
*scissors (in a recycled tin can from tomato sauce, the label peeled off; I have a can opener that doesn't leave a sharp edge)
*paint brushes (in a 28 oz recycled can)
*glue brushes [old paintbrushes] (in a 14 oz recycled can)
*clay tools (also in a 28 oz recycled can)
*a tin of watercolor and acrylic paints in tubes (But this is problematic because of the toddler, so it's been moved)
*a mug full of rainbow Sharpies
*glitter cannisters (but the toddler discovered these the other day)
*collage materials in mason jars of various sizes -- feathers, corks, googly eyes, chenille stems, felt shapes, etc.
That sounds like a lot of stuff, but it does seem to fit pretty well. I removed a container full of rubber stamps and stamp pads, and ... something else, I can't remember, so there was more room to get the playdough tray in and out.
The paper -- watercolor, construction -- is in a drawer in the same cabinet. I still don't have a good way to organize it. And the boys regularly pick up recycled materials to use out of the actual recycling, so I don't have a big bin to organize those in or anything... but have thought about it.
I have more supplies (and am going to place my yearly "big" order soon... I need regular air-dry clay, for instance), but they are in labeled plastic bins in a closet.
My new shelves are going to be for paint, my dd's quilling supplies, drying and displaying clay sculpture,and in-progress projects. I'm also hoping to string some clothesline across the top of the window like you did, Candace, to display more art work. Right now we have only one bulletin board and the refrigerator, and it isn't enough.
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Angela
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Angel
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Oh, and wire... I forgot. I have a rectangular glass vase (thick glass) holding a few rolls of different gauge floral wire. My 6 yo loves this. It adds greatly to robot creation and spider web pictures.
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Angela
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Lisa R
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Angela,
I'd love to see pictures. I read your blog all the time and love the projects your kids are always doing. Such a great creative home! Do you have a post on your blog already that you could link?
Thanks,
Lisa
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Lisa, married to my best friend, Ray and loving my blessings Joshua (17)and Jacob(15), Hannah(7) and Rachel (5)!Holy Family Academy
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Angel
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Lisa,
My browser is doing all kinds of funky things to my blog tonight, but here's a link I *hope* will work. It's old, though, from when I first started reorganizing my shelves (so you might have seen it before.) I've removed the blue container of stamps, the wooden box of alphabet stamps, and that yellow and red plastic bag of playdough bit the dust. (the playdough is now in a nice wooden tray.) I have more drawing pencils out, and the masking tape on the top shelf is now in one of those plastic drawers (which really should be relabeled!!) The do-a-dot markers in their clear plastic container are no longer out either. But I'd like to find a good permanent place for them, because the little ones like them.
Here's another old post with
the art shelves pre-Mason Jars. You can tell that the mason jars are a great improvement. I do still have my craft supplies in the same labeled plastic bins from this old post, but, er, the closet itself has seen better days.
Hopefully my dh will be able to put up my new shelves this weekend (! )and I'll be able to take some more pictures!
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Lisa R
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Thanks, Angela!!
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Lisa, married to my best friend, Ray and loving my blessings Joshua (17)and Jacob(15), Hannah(7) and Rachel (5)!Holy Family Academy
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: Question about art supplies (organizing)
