So this idea comes from a need to be a wee bit more frugal and the fact that I am ALWAYS changing my mind about where things should be placed. The pencil tin (above) was quite simply one of those “goddamit” moments (as opposed to “ah-ha” moments) when I had so many tins from crushed tomatoes and so many uprighty objects needing storage.

Then I scrounged around for more things to put things into and came across my Kikki-K label book. Originally purchased to add quirkiness to scrapbooking layouts, I now decided to use them for the purpose they were intended.

I began with these drawers (ugly as all get-up) that we brought with us from our previous home. It was our bathroom cabinet. The house was built in 1959 and had a teeny-tiny bathroom and minimal storage and this unit was the only one that fit. Now it serves as storage for all my mediums, adhesives and junk.

Another scrapbooking hangover is this trolley from K-Mart. Perfect 12x12inch drawers which now house ribbon, stamps, rubons and alphas (which I am desperate to turf).

I thought I was Queen of Scrapbooking when I found these drawers a million years ago. Now they house very little scrapbooking paper and much more ephemera, stencils, music sheets and crazy ephemera kits.

After reading Sarah Ahearn Bellmare’s fab book “Painted Pages”, I loved the idea of having wet and dry areas on my worktable.

The wet area still isn’t with appropriate storage, but I’m still on the look out!

And as you can see, the dry area has yet more tins to alter, but at least they’re functional without the decoration.

Sarah’s book also has some fantastic art prompts to kick start some creativity which I have found incredible useful. I found an old watch box, added some tape and alphas and it now has a sturdy home.

Finally, when I’m taking a class with specific supplies I want to keep separate, I give them their own home.

This was a horrible plastic storage container but fits these supplies perfectly. And, I’ve since added more washi tape to the outside, because you can never have too much.

Next time you polish off that tin of tomatoes, empty that jewellery box or groan at that container without a lid, ask yourself if it can be re-purposed quickly and easily using supplies you already have. I’m even thinking of using some of the altered tins to house small pot plants, because they tins are water-tight!!!!
Hmmmm, now I’m freaking myself out a little.
xx
Giovanna