Crayons

Before and After

Finding the "right" color crayon from a caddy/box had always been a challenge for my son. To help, I stacked a bunch of them upright, wrapped them with a rubber band and put them in a small tub making it easier for him to eyeball just the right shade of green.

Just in time for the holidays....

Reusable Gift Bags

These holiday gift bags come in handy to wrap last minute gifts.

Holiday Display

This year I decided to display holiday cards by hanging them with removable hooks, curling ribbon and a jingle bell at the bottom.

Picture Frame Directory

Sometimes, for me, simple is better; especially when it comes to phone numbers. Our home phone has a memory feature, but it always takes me a long time to scroll to the correct number.

To help, I made a directory of important phone numbers in a frame to keep by the phone. I also included our home address and phone number, handy for visitors in case of emergencies.

Fabric Storage

I came across this AWESOME method for storing fabric on bolts made from foam core board found at the $ store. I turned an old bookshelf on its side and cut the boards into two different sizes to maximize space. I cannot tell you how much space this mini bolt storage system saves!

Small Storage

I'd been searching for an inexpensive way to store small items in my craft room; shelving is too bulky and expensive. An unused coat rack and hanging canvas shoe holders turned into the perfect solution. I am able to sort all my items and still see where I put them.

Craft Organizer

Before...and after...

I use this really cute travel case to organize my craft materials. It make it so much easier to find items.

Another Free With Purchase Bag

I have a drawer at home that has a ton of chargers for all of our electronics: phones, headsets, laptops, cameras, iPods, etc... I used to get frustrated trying to figure out which charger went with which electronic. I added cord identifiers, which helped, but I still had to dig through a very messy drawer to find what I was looking for.

When my auntie gave more "free gift with purchase" cosmetic bags, I knew exactly what to do with them. I put each cord along with accessories into a bag. For instance, my phone bag (in the photo) has a bluetooth headset, its charger, my phone charger and manual plus an extra case for the phone. Now the charger drawer is much cleaner and brighter!

Lid Organizer

I used to keep our pot and pan lids in a box under the stove, but it was difficult to dig through the pile without removing all the lids. I found a dish drying rack and loaded it up small to large. Now if I could only find a solution for Tuperware, any suggestions?

Building Set Solutions

My son LOVES building sets, but he sometimes gets frustrated looking for specific pieces. After hearing, "Mommy, where is this piece?...Mommy, I can't find that piece..." one too many times I came up with a few things to help him organize his toys and keep me sane at the same time.

This double-sided plastic container, from Daiso, can fit two mini building sets with instructions in one container. If my son gets the urge to build something, he doesn't have to search the massive piles of pieces to find what he needs. Also, I can pop one of these in my bag to keep him entertained in the car and/or restaurants.

These stackable plastic containers are great for organizing pieces. I use the divided compartments for small parts (such as slanted bits, round bits, tiles) and bigger trays for parts like flats, windows, wheels and minifigures. I labeled each tray to make it easier to sort/find pieces.

I keep the manuals in several three-ring binders according to categories (Star Wars, City, Power Miners...) and three-hole punch plastic bags to keep the smaller manuals.

Gallon-sized plastic bags are helpful in keeping specialized sets together, again, cutting down on the frustration for both of us.

Plant Markers - Rock!

I'd been searching for a long time to figure out a way to mark plants in my garden. I tried using metal and plastic plant markers, but after one rainy season the ink wore off. I found this idea for a natural plant marker on the Martha Stewart website.

Bento Containers

My family enjoys eating bento lunches from our local Japanese Market. Basically, bentos are small portions of tasty food packed in plastic divided trays.

The empty trays are perfect for sorting my 5 year old son's building sets. Before he begins to build, I sort the parts by color, size, and/or use into compartments. This makes it easier for him to spot the pieces he needs.

Tradeshow Badge Holder

I use this tradeshow badge holder to carry my son's immunization and medical membership cards. If you have more than one child you can change the strap to each child's favorite color, or have them add their own "bling", to identify whose is whose.