By Poor But Proud from Sweet Home, OR
Approximate Time: 1 hour + drying time
Paint the lids different colors, let dry completely.
After the jars lids are dried, use paint pen to label top of jars. Let everything dry completely.
Spray a coat or two of polyurethane on them. When poly dries, put things like tacks, paper clips, rubber bands, etc in them. Mix and match the lids.
By Sherry from Onset, MA
This is just a simple suggesstion for anyone who creates crafts or does art projects. Materials add up quickly and can get scattered about!
I bought an old picnic basket at a garage sale, added some wide Velcro to the top (on the inside-see photo ) and put all my supplies in it for easy transport to art classes I attend.
The Velcro on the top door of the basket holds some of my smaller brushes, but this idea could easily be used for crafters, woodcarvers, or even a children's rainy day creativity basket!
By Donna
When I moved in, I had a storage unit I could manage and it made life a little less crowded, if not less convenient. Then outflow increased and income did not, and I gave up the unit. My mom used to (more colorfully) say that someone was trying to put 3 lbs. of "poop" in a 2 lb. bag. That was me. When the unit was 10x10 feet, your apartment is not big enough for that much extra stuff. Plus, now the bedroom was not only the bedroom and office, but a craft room. Yeah, it was shades of madness in pretty purples and greens!
Something had to change. So, since I have plans to do a lot more on my computer in 2012, I decided to make the living and dining area into the craft room and office. I don't entertain that much and can't put more than 2 other people in here without bumping elbows, so why not? The cat still gets to look out the window everyday and I actually have a little room. Wonder how I did it? Well, sit back and enjoy - or be warned, I am not sure which!
Since I didn't have a way to set things out of the way when I needed to move things out, it took almost two months. I can only do so much per day with my disabilities. I promised myself that I would work for 40 minutes and rest for 20, and each day not work more than 8 hours. I offset that rule by working my tail off for a day or two then taking one off. This was not the promise, but what drove me was the need to stop walking over boxes and the fact that I couldn't make anything until it was done.
So, the first thing I had to do was move the furniture that was in the living room to the bedroom. I had shelving in there that I had to move out first, so you can see where this is going. Swapping stuff when you would literally have to set things outside to get anything done is never fun. I sold one chair, left the bed in the bedroom, but had to swap the TV/DVR and the computer, printer, entertainment center and desks literally piece by piece.
The white wicker cabinet came out here, the rocker went in there. I gutted the closet, hung the clothes back up and literally put everything that wasn't going to fit on my walls or shelves in boxes and stacked them on one side of the closet. I have a small three drawer unit in there that has a few clothes and the rest is yarn. All the yarn (more susceptible to cat hair) that I can't fit in the new craft room is in that closet, as you can see. There are boxes of yarn under the clothes you can't even see.
With the white plastic shelving assembled, they went up really fast. Then, finding the right tubs and crafts to fit in them was easy. I shop at the local "As Is" store, so getting things by the pound is a great way to shop.
The white folding tables are perfect, as they fold down when you don't need them. I had one fold up table for stereo, stationary, and a desk top calendar to keep my life organized. That is where I now start the day with drink of choice and make sure I am still on point. The other, which I use for a work table for gluing, painting, and all smaller projects, I got in an abandoned apartment, along with my sewing machine, two lamps, a boom box with cassette and CD player, an office chair and two smaller shelf units.
Sometimes you can find clear shoe boxes for $.25 each and they stack with a groove in the bottom that fits the groove in the tops so they "interlock". I use the zippered bedding bags as much as I can, as it's "Cornelius" proof, I can see into it and it's light weight.
My shoe rack that is now for yardage was just $1.00. The two filing cabinets were $5.00 each, and the sewing table is the hot water heater door (submitted earlier). I use every single available space. Even the cat's "perch" is a tub of yarn with a glass door from a junked out entertainment center. If he slides off his blanket, he can see the yarn but can't get to it. So my room often has free entertainment as well!
I left most of the pretty scenery puzzles and posters so I could be inspired by beautiful things. It's also to remind me that if I am lucky, I will make enough to get my RV and travel to some of those places again and some for the first time.
As you will see by the before and after photos, this project was a challenge. Every night when I had to walk a path to the bedroom, I kept saying "this is only temporary". Now I have my Etsy store and am making things every day, so it was all worth it.
Some of you might wonder why it's a frugal essay. Well, the entire process took me just $15.00 to do and considering that was two file cabinets, a shoe rack, shoe boxes, and extension cords - that's not too shabby!
By Sandi from Salem, OR
By maphisx7 from Gordonsville, VA
I am an avid crocheter and I like to have my patterns, hooks, and different color yarns that I'm working with handy. I found the perfect caddy. I bought these clothes hampers at Ikea for around $4.00. I have room for all my goodies and it sits at just the right level next to my recliner. I bought more than one, in case this one wears out. By Kathy from Chesaning, MI
I used a small old garden fence to organize my craft desk. I attached hooks and used wires to attach items. I also used small flower pots to store tiny tid bits. I strung my ribbons on a strip of leather and hung that above the fence.
By wyoKrista from Laramie, WY
By Gem from VA
By Leseera from NSW, Australia
By CDC from FL
By Mary
By Liz from Dodson Prairie, TX
By Patricia G from Brewton, AL
If you are as unfortunate as I am in the health arena and find yourself taking many medications, use your old medicine bottles to hold some materials.
If you suffer from diabetes and test your blood sugar using test strips that come in a vial (rather than a drum or disc), use the empty vials to hold crafting accessories.
Or, if you still use camera film, use the empty film cases to hold the supplies that boxes don't work for.
In the end, I also have the option of keeping them in different craft bags instead of trying to fit a larger box into a space and having to take the whole box out when I only need one type of supply at a time.
Keep your craft room organized with this over-the-door hanger made for shoes. It's perfect for keeping sharp things up high away from small hands. It also separates items nicely, and this one is clear so I can easily see where my items are located. It also saves a lot of space and is a less expensive version than a piece of furniture. By Ci Ci from Yakima, WA
I make handmade jewelry. Whenever I am doing a show, I will carry my tools, extra findings, and some beads with me. I found the perfect carryall. I use a fishing tackle box. I brought the large one to fit my needs. It also has removable walls inside to make the slots smaller or bigger. It is the perfect size for me to carry around. By Georgetta from Waterloo, IA
But, even with a 6 by 6 foot walk in closet, my clothes take up one side and the vests half made take up the other. So, I got a $.97 curtain rod and nailed one side to the wall, hanging the other side on the shower rod. I now have hangers that are out of the way, and if they get a little wet, no worries.
You might want to try this if you are hanging up hand washed clothes, craft projects, or whatever you need a little more room for.
Hope this helps.
By Sandi from Salem, OR
By Georgetta from Waterloo, IA
I even do it at home now so when my daughter and her friends want to make a craft. I can pull out some baggies and away they go with little or no help from me. I love it too for my crafts. I put mine in totes because they are larger but I can grab a tote and craft away.
Yes, you do end up buying multiples of things like scissors and glue but who can't use more of those? I get mine at the dollar store so it doesn't break the bank and re-use any left-overs for another craft bag. I have even started giving them as gifts and other moms love them!
By Stacy from VA
I am looking for inexpensive or very cheap ways to store my yarns and paper craft items. I really want to get things organized by colour and theme, but I am stumped as to how to get it done without blowing my budget. Any ideas?
By Carol
By (Guest)06/02/2012I'm working on organizing my studio now, myself, so I completely understand the need to keep costs down. "Studio" is code for the room overstuffed with all of the "junk" that I have collected for all of the projects for the creative days that come, but I fear I will never have the time.
I use manila folders for similar scrapbook papers and paste a swatch on the tab for easy recognition. My small items like beads and buttons or ribbon and string scraps I store in small glass fishbowl type jars that I can easily stack as a lid for each one below.
The small plastic containers mentioned by another poster come in all kinds of types and colors if you want use color coding are now available for a dollar at the everything for just a buck type stores. Those stores have been a life saver for me when it comes to small storage and other items when it's not going to be subjected to everyday wear and tear. I've even used the space bags for larger pieces of material and yarn that I don't plan to use for a while.
Hanging shoe bags with the small, flatter type pockets work well for scissors and tools. Any instructions, examples, designs, or ideas that I have collected or scribbled myself, I put in a binder with plastic protectors until something becomes higher priority, at which time I scan it. When it is saved to my computer, I index it under any information that I can think of so that I can find it later when I kinda know what I'm looking for, but not completely.
I hope my seemingly endless dribble helps. I have more ideas than I have energy or time, so organization is very important. Almost any crafting magazine, no matter what type of craft it is about, will offer ideas on their website if you signup for free on-line newsletters and forums without a subscription.
The best way that I have found to organize craft items is to reuse things I already have. Why bother going to the craft store and buying expensive containers when you may have something similar at home? Glass jars from store bought sauces or baby food hold a multitude of odds and ends, an old spice carousal works great for beads and buttons, and clean empty childproof pill bottles are great for keeping young kids away from needles and other small items. Crystal Light canisters, coffee cans, oatmeal containers, and ice cream buckets are all great containers with lids that keep craft items neat and out of sight. All of these items can even look pretty set out on a craft table with the addition of some paint or decorative paper to cover up any store labels.
By Tracey from Duluth, MN
By Debbie52
By bjptl
I like the plastic containers for Gerber baby food. they are see-through, stackable, with snap-on lids that don't come off. I use them for stones, beads, bobbins, buttons, and straight pins. They are good for paint cups, too.
If you don't have a baby, remember these are just-right-sized portions of pureed veggies and fruits. Anyone can enjoy them with a meal or as a snack. Since I am a diabetic, I like the convenience, labeling and ready-to-go features.
I use the large-sized bottles of Ocean Spray Lite Cranberry Juice with handles to store dog kibble and Cascade dishwashing detergent. This way, they are easy to pour and waterproof. In fact, for everyday use of Cascade, I use a smaller recycled plastic container with a small pour spout, since it is easier to hold and pouring is more exact.
The Renizit Super Odor Neutralizer pump spray bottle is good for isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, bleach and plain water. I print up labels on my computer using the Word label program.
I use the Pringles' containers for scissors, paint brushes, tools (I am tool junkie), and anything tall or long.
If you can't figure out how to make these containers attractive or look like a matched set, please don't call yourself a crafter. hahahahaha (06/04/2007)
By the Oracle
Foldout fishing tackle boxes make great storage boxes for craft supplies and projects. You don't have to search for paint brushes or other items, and you can easily transport your supplies.
Source: My own idea
By Momof1 from Wilkesboro, NC
By JoanDogs
By Angela
By Cyinda
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I keep my paper for scrapbooking and making cards in those plastic scrapping envelopes and on the bookcase also.
By MartyD
By MartyD
By MartyD
I have 2 five drawer storage containers with wheels. This is where I keep my stamps, paper, inks, material, pins, needles, You get the drift. I love my craft space.
Oops, I forgot to say you need four, 2 foot pieces of wood to put up on the wall and then nail the peg board to the wood. That way there is room for the hook to go into. If you don't do that the hook would only hit the wall. Cost of the cheapest wood for 48" is under $2.00 They will also cut it for you in 2 foot sizes.
By jkl
By jkl
By cfbandit
Post your ideas below!
Milkjugs? Cut the bottom off any size you like . mark what you put inside them and they stack. You can even stack bottoms of soda bottles in much the same way. If you paint or paste old magazine pictures on them as a camouflage.
If we were to really sit down and think about it. There are many reuses to almost everything. I love yours and keep up inventing new ones
REUSE SAVES MONEY AND THE PLANET (10/26/2007)
By Mr. Thrifty
By TonyaG
By sawn61
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