How do you store your arts and crafts things?

ILoveBoys

Sorry to be posting so much, but I've started thinking about the new house and kind of want to get some ideas before we move in. We have tons of arts and crafts stuff (playdough, markers, crayons, paper, coloring books, finger paints, scissors, etc). I kept them locked up in the entertainment center (that we are selling) when we rented, because I wanted to keep the carpet nice. They are a little older now, and while I understand these are still "supervised" playtoys, I also want them to be accessible. How do you store these things? Do you have a true art desk for children?

ilovemygirls

I got the Trofast storage system in white from Ikea & have been really happy with it. This was for the whole playroom- not just arts & crafts stuff- but I love it.  One of the areas I have is a smaller unit with all bins for paper, crayons/ markers, color books, etc.  I have a taller unit where I store things up high in bins such as paints, glue, etc that I don't want them having access to, but I can get to them easily. You can also get shelves instead of bins. I got almost an entire wall of units for less than $200, then it was about $75.  There are so many different combinations, so they could fit a lot of needs & they are super sturdy. 

roseroseroseroserose

I have tried a few systems. I recently switched and I'm so happy. LOL it's the easiest and cheapest thing I've tried. I just got a shoe organizer that hangs down the door. All the scissors and paint are at the top and stickers, crayons are at the bottom. It's on the inside of the closet door so I can keep it hidden and it takes up NO space. I highly recommend it.

brightning

On any given day, certain items are available to DD, but it's not all out for her.

A variety of coloring items (different kinds of markers, crayons, colored pencils) are out at her easel, which is always out. Her won't-cut-hair scissors are usually out at one of her Montessori trays and she is always free to ask for whatever she wants (which she regularly does). I don't feel the need to have it all be accessible because she needs my help with activities anyways. But we do an art activity at least once a day, plus lots of free time at the easel, so I think she get plenty of art exposure.

All of our other craft supplies (and we have MANY) are stored in our spare bedroom closet. I have 3 large Sterilite drawer units filled to the brim, plus several other small containers. It gets pretty disorganized but that's due to my messiness, not the system!

We have the Mammut kids plastic table from Ikea and that's her art area. It's where we do all of her indoor crafts (though most are done outdoors) and there's usually a few other supplies just sitting out on that table as well. It's not a true "art desk," but it does the job for us.

Read2Me

Eva's craft table is in a nook in our dining room.  The table has four plastic bins built in that hold paper, crayons, stickers and old greeting cards.  On top of the table is a handled organizer (for utensils at a picnic) that holds her scissors, a glue stick and markers.  I keep stuff I don't want her getting into unsupervised (paint, liquid glue, glitter, good paper) in the buffet that the table is near.  On top of the buffet is her sensory tub, playdough and accessories and a place for projects to dry.  My neighbor was getting rid of two plastic 5-drawer organizers (the little ones that can fit on a desk).  I grabbed them and those hold all the extra craft materials- pompoms, pipe cleaners, felt board pieces, tongue depressors, clothes pins, etc.  Eva can go through them as she wants but tends to only empty out the clothespins for some reason.