Creative Space: Building A Craft Room

It all started when I couldn't find a paint brush. My little "craft area" is located in my basement, it is a drafting desk in a 5x5 foot space cluttered with supplies. It is a wreck. I'm talking train wreck. I wont even take a photo of it because it's THAT bad. When I want to paint, I gather all of my supplies and use either my kitchen table, kitchen counter or go outside. To the left of my "craft area" there is this unfinished basement storage area. It's been a storage area for 10 years and you know what? I haven't used a thing that is being stored in that area for about 10 years!

{"Light bulb" Gru voice} Why am I storing junk when I could be using this space?

So one weekend I went a little crazy and cleaned out the storage area. I could not believe the junk I had. Baby toys from my 21 year old for example, sitting in a large storage container. I channeled my inner Peter Walsh (organizing guru) and did the Keep, Toss, Donate thing. It went quick and I am thrilled to have a blank slate to work with.

Here it is with it's prison walls... but I can't do prison walls. That's not creative! {Light bulb} Let's frame and sheet rock it. Come on kids, Joe, we can do it!

Sophie and Kaleb helped remove odd chunks of concrete from the walls to make them smooth. (We added chalk graffiti too.) They also helped with the framing, since Kaleb is in shop class this year Joe put him to work with the chop saw and drill. It went fast.

2 hours of work and the 12 foot wall was framed.

By the next day it was done. It took them about 4 hours total. And cost under $100. All of the studs were the same height so it was just a matter of cutting lots and lots of the same size. I think Kaleb (he's 15) really enjoyed it.

Yesterday we bought insulation. The kids and I will be installing it while Joe is at work this evening. I have all ready scoped out my cabinets and work table, salvaged from other spaces in my house. I am hoping to have the dry wall go up this weekend.

Happy Spring!