Like many people, I start off each New Year with a resolution.  Years past have included getting fit, saving money, being a greener citizen and other popular resolutions. This year, I'm focusing on 'Getting (more) Organized' in my home. 

Tips on 'how to be organized' have been LITTERED across magazines and the TV recently. They all are saying similar things: Beat clutter! Create a file system! Color code to create order! With all these tips, it should be easy-peasey right?! In the past, they've encouraged me to run out and purchase organization 'tools' which unfortunately have ended up collecting more dust than use. But not this time!

This year I'm using things I already have and love to create clever organizing tools closer to my taste. In my past posts, I've confessed to being a market hound with a love for *OLD* things.  In addition to using these aged treasures to display photos, last week some of them items I've picked up at sales and markets took on new life as storage supplies as I resolve to create an orderly craft room!
 


Using the tins from old FILM reels helps create and maintain order. I filled and labeled several different sizes with scrapbooking supplies like photographs, stickers, and paper scraps. They make a nice accessory next to my Kodak PD6000 on my photo printing station.  (Note to self, I can't WAIT to trade it in for one of the new KODAK EASYSHARE All-in-One Printers!)

 

I took office supplies kept in their boxes packed away in desk drawers (or some cases, multiple drawers) and put them on display with old jars. This also creates order, looks neat and keeps stuff in plain view for easy-access when needed!

To help beat clutter, I took several old napkin holders that I scored at a garage sale and updated them with a fresh coat of BRIGHT spray paint to give them some new life. You can use them to organize just about anything! Like envelopes and cards at my mini mail station for example! (some of us still send snail mail!) Then - when my filing cabinets ran out of space, I got creative and made one with a square wooden crate.

 
Other storage items I found in my junk piles include old tins, film canisters, hat boxes and salt-n-pepper shakers. The shakers make a colorful storage solution for glitter and small bead embellishments. I don't smoke cigarettes, but this old tin drew me in because it says LIVERPOOL on it and that's my hometown. It was a BONUS when I found out cigarettes are the same size as mini glue sticks.

 
I'm very excited at how much progress I've ALREADY made to ring in the New Year with everything in its place in my craft room.  By creating storage solutions that are beautiful (whatever your taste may be!) AND functional - you can create tools that you'll love using over and over again. Just these small efforts should go a long way to help support my other New Year's resolution - planning a wedding!

Do you have any unique storage solutions made from items you've had in your home?!

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