Easy Repurposed Craft Supply Containers

Speaking of organizing....I've come across some fun ways to store craft supplies in repurposed containers lately that I want to share.  They go beyond coffee cans and glass jars, which pretty much everyone I know who's into crafting already uses.

Here's something you can do with those plastic straws that you pick up when you grab a drink on the run.  Wash them out and turn them into seed bead holders.  (discovered via CraftGossip.com) 

I've seen fancy ribbon organizers on Martha Stewart, but here are a couple that most of us could whip up without having to make a trip the craft store to buy even more supplies.  This nifty little number made from a recycled egg carton is good for those little scraps of ribbon that get all tangled up in your ribbon bag. (discovered via Craftbits.com)

The trusty shoebox is a great container for dispensing ribbon on a roll.  (discovered on The Fun Times Guide)

Finally, I found this pretty photo from flickr on fixerupper's photostream.  There isn't a tutorial with it but I think the idea is that you screw the lids into a piece of wood. Then you can unscrew the jars when you need them.  Baby food jars would be perfect for this!  I find that I am more inspired when I can see my supplies easily...and the bright colors make me happy!

What other eco-friendly craft supply storage ideas do you have?  Here are a few more simple suggestions:

• A tic-tac box = a seed bead holder
• An old tackle box = a bead or supply holder
• A hanger (the type with the removable cardboard part on the bottom) = ribbon or yarn storage

 

Comments

[graceonline]

Wow, excellent suggestions all. I especially like the egg carton for managing bits of ribbon, and the ribbon for keeping rolls of ribbon tidy.

[Ashley]

When we were really bad about buying potato salad from the deli, we'd save the clear plastic containers it came in and at the end of the year, I'd take them all and organize the craft closet at work.

For each student's materials (safety scissors, pencil, crayons...) I took a box full of clear zippered pouches and we re-used them as the student's "toolkit".

And since we are a school... and things like cake are bound to show up every other month (at least), a few of us started saving the big plastic lids that cover the big sheet cakes. Since paint + kindergardener = big mess over the table/carpet/teacher, we flip the lid upside down, put the paper and water colors inside, and let the kids paint away. If they spill inside the overturned lid, oh well! If they can't keep the paint on the paper, at least it stays in the lid and off the table.

[Condo Blues]

I used old medicine bottles to store my beads. I like that the locking lids keep the bottles from accidentally opening in my storage drawer.

[Kimberly Hosey (AZ Writer)]

Great ideas; thanks for sharing! I am so not crafty, but I wanna be. I'll just go looking for great suggestions from people like you!

[John at Cell Phone Recycling]

That straw idea id brilliant. I personally like the last idea as well.

[e cigarette]

cool stuff

[ECC]

Great ideas and tips! I love it when people think outside the box!