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Submitted by: Tracy

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Hi Darlene, It sounds like you are providing wonderful activities for the children you care for! I can understand, though, how frustrating it must be to have to live surrounded by craft supplies. Here is what I would do, if I were you. First, get some plastic drawer units. Usually you can find 3-drawer units that stack on top of each other. Use these to store general craft supplies such as construction paper, felt, craft foam, pipe cleaners, etc. Sort the supplies and use one drawer for each, individual supply. You could even go so far as to separate the construction paper by color and use one drawer for each color - depending on how much you have. Next, head to the automotive/garage section of your local home goods store and get yourself one (or two, depending on your needs) organizers with small drawers - these are typically used for sorting nails and screws. Use them to sort any small craft items that you have such as googly eyes, pom poms, bells, or small precut foam pieces. Finally, for the theme projects that you do, create project kits. Take the time to gather all of the craft items you will need for a particular project. Get enough of each item for the number of kids you typically work with. Use a set of plastic drawer units (one drawer for each project) or individual plastic storage bins with lids to create your project kit. Place the materials necessary and the instructions for completing the project inside each kit box. Finally, create labels for the outside of each and every bin or drawer so you know exactly what belongs inside. You can even use pictures to create your labels - for the drawer that holds pipe cleaners, put a picture of cleaners on the label - this will allow the small children to help you clean up and know exactly where everything goes. The keys to keeping this system working will be to clean up at the end of every single day and put all of your craft supplies back where they belong and to replace your project kits as soon as possible after using them, so they will be ready the next time that holiday or special occasion comes around.

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