Hi Happy Scrappers!
We hope your new year is going wonderfully well. Have you gotten bitten by the organization bug yet? With all the new additions from the holiday season, you may be looking for ways to organize all your new gear. Also, after perhaps a lot of generous spending on others, you may also be looking for ways to save a buck. Well, we’re here to help you with both today at the Lilypad. Here are some budget-friendly ideas of ways to organize without spending a fortune.
1. Recycle and Reuse!
Neighborhood markets are always looking for ways to get rid of extra boxes so why not grab a few the next time you go shopping? I found this wine box at my nearest Trader Joe’s store and it would come in handy for organizing my Christmas light strands so they don’t get all tangled up:
Also, I am a huge fan of using tote bags as organizers– if you’re like me, you probably have a whole bunch that are not usually in regular circulation, so I use them to house emergency items in my car. This one has a blanket, some extra dipes and wipes, and extra pair of leggings and undies for my oldest and a first aid kit. It’s so cute and I can empty it out in a flash if I need to carry something in a pinch.
2. Think Outside the Box
I found this ornament organizer on sale after Christmas at Walmart– a steal at $7 with twenty shallow, adjustable compartments. This shallow box with a hinged lid is perfect for storing crafty things, office supplies or nails/screws, etc and it has room to spare.
Right after Christmas, I found this cute vintage metal button container at JoAnns for $3. It was supposed to be for Christmas but fits perfectly in my craft room to hold all my… wait for it… buttons!
There are plenty of containers that can be easily repurposed for a different use… just let your imagination be your guide!
3. Forget about Color
Speaking of reusing ornament boxes, some of the best deals you can get on organizing containers are at the after-holiday sales. I found this four, tiered box with a handle for $5 at Walmart. It’s perfect for carrying fun activities around for my kids to do at restaurants and other places where they might have to wait for a bit. I have another one with an orange lid that I purchased on sale after Halloween. If you don’t mind the colors, you can get some terrific deals on post-holiday storage.
4. Bonus Ideas for Wire Organization
Use bread bag clips for organizing or labeling your wires. One side is almost always blank so you can write on it with a Sharpie (or tiny labeler) and use it to clip together your wires. You can also clip them to wires that are plugged into a usb hub or surge protector to keep track of which wire goes with which device.
Hope you’ve gotten some good ideas and that you’re inspired to organize your Pad. Remember, our Month of Challenges is underway and we’re having a blast meeting new members and joking around with the old timers while we busily scrap the month of January away! Join us!! See you in the forums!
Justine/bellbird says
Bread tag! super awesome idea!