Spring Clean Your Art Supplies: Reignite Creativity with What You Already Have

As spring arrives, many of us feel the quiet call to freshen up our spaces—to clear the clutter and welcome in light and possibility. But spring cleaning doesn’t have to be just about dusting shelves or organising cupboards.

It can be a creative practice too.

Creative decluttering

Let me tell you, I love a good decluttering session. But one area that I struggle with is collecting art supplies. I can squirrel away craft materials for years, imagining their potential and not actually using them. Bought with the best intentions many of my supplies are sitting waiting for the right time, the right mood or the perfect day. Sound familiar?

Call it a hazard of the art therapy profession (that's the excuse I will run with anyway). No box, no piece of ribbon, no pretty postcard or glitter pen will ever be disposed of without me saying to myself 'this could be good for a project' or 'someone might need this for their art' or 'I can use that someday'.

Here's the truth...the cupboards are full and the perfect someday never comes.

So here is my intention. I will use this Spring to actually use my art supplies.

Join me.

Creative decluttering. Why Clear Out Your Art Supplies?

If you’ve ever opened a drawer of unused pens, tangled threads, or half-filled sketchbooks and thought, “Ugh, where do I even start?” you aren't the only one.

Instead of throwing those gorgeous art supplies and bits and bobs away, or letting them gather dust and remind us of intentions and promises, let's just use them.

Let's reignite creativity and reframe spring cleaning to;

• Clear physical and mental space

• Reconnect with forgotten tools

• Reduce waste and cost

• Spark playful, pressure-free exploration

  
  

How to use old art supplies and begin using what we have?

1. Make a Scrappy Collage

I know you have junk mail, old greeting cards, cardboard packaging, old magazines, or patterned envelopes. No shame here I have several folders and a large tub stuffed with these things and all my other papery gatherings.

Why not spend some time going through what you have. Reacquaint yourself with it all.

Throw away what you don't want and stash the rest in a folder or box just for collage supplies.

Set aside some time this week to reach for that stash.

As you look through it pull out things you are drawn to.

Create a collage.

Cut, tear, layer, and glue without overthinking.

Collage is so forgiving, torn edges and imperfections are embraced. Work big, small or somewhere in between but make something.

Use your supplies and allow yourself to shift the 'I'm keeping this for good' pile into 'I made something'. No matter how it turns out the fun was in the making not just the collecting and storing.

Top tip: you can make a folder or a box just for the kids and bring it out on rainy days. You could even do this with friends. Take turns as a group adding something to one picture and see what happens. Give it a title and hey presto a memory has been made together.

2. Make a ‘Swatch & Scribble’ Scrapbook

Use an old notebook or staple paper into a booklet.

Swatch every art material you own—paints, pens, pastels. Ok that might be too ambitious so take it pen by pen, crayon by crayon.

Let it be a personal record of texture, colour, and feeling.

You will definitely notice what you don't like using and what sparks joy as Marie Kondo would say.

I have seen gorgeous art made from simple swatches of paint. Plus I bet you will find some dried up pens along the way that no one wants nor needs.

Let them goooooo! Use what works.

Top tip - Add a word or short note next to each swatch: How does this colour or texture make you feel today? what does it remind you of? Explore using the positive to you colours in a picture.

3. Transform Old or Unfinished Art

This one is a beauty. Take a half-finished piece and give it a second life.

Paint over it, cut it up, collage it, or turn it into a journal cover.

Gift it, frame it or wrap a present in it.

I just love this idea. You could also photograph sections you like and notice the shapes and colours that please you. We are too quick to rubbish our own art.

Top tip: Why not use a drawing app like procreate or free phone apps to change and edit the colours of your art.

The world is your creation. Have fun.

4. Create an Art Box or art tote bag

Instead of storing everything away, gather a small, cosy collection of tools that feel good to use. You could add your newest or oldest supplies or even the stuff that never gets used to this bag. Keep it somewhere visible and easy to reach.

I hang a bag of creative things over the chair in my office. This bag migrates with me around the house or on adventures outside. It holds basics and a few favourite art supplies and is a gentle reminder that I can doodle instead of scrolling. I can create for 10 minutes in the evening and I don't need to have a big perfect set up or grand space with tonnes of time.

Art making can be small and fit into your life.

Prettiness in art is overrated. Just create for yourself.

Give yourself permission to play, to get a feeling or thought out and please stop, stopping yourself.

You don’t need new materials, overflowing energy, or a big plan to make something meaningful.

Some questions to ask yourself

What’s one forgotten supply you’d love to use again? Why not use it today?

Are you feeling drawn to a colour, a shape or a size?

Have you found any interesting ways to actually use your art supplies? Let me know.

Now, I'm off to practice what I preach and do something with an unopened block of clay that I've had for over 10 years (does clay go out of date? Probably, but I will find out).

I wonder what you will create with all those beautiful art supplies waiting to be used around your home.

By the way if you’re looking for support in reconnecting with creativity, I’d love to help.

Stay creative,

Ellen