Monday, April 12, 2010

Crafty Storage for Small Things


I recently had an a-ha moment, and I just had to share it with you. This picture is the end result, but I need to back up and show you why I even had to go there. 

This. These raggedy boxes of decks of cards make me CUH-razy. 

Am I alone here? Anyone? We talked about this, you know. We were going to start that club. We were going to call it Freaks of the World Unite? Remember?

Dang it. I'm so lonely.

Anyway, as I was saying, my monsters don't take the time to put the cards away properly because they don't fit right, or they can't get the lid in, or the box is falling apart, blah, blah, blah.

These are the kinds of things that, if I wasn't such a control freak, would drive me to drink.

This game was my inspiration. Have you ever played it? It's a blast. It's only about $5 and you can pick it up at Wal Mart. It's super easy to play, and, maybe I shouldn't admit this, but Stinkerbell kicks my butt every time I play with her. Girlfriend is a maniac and she thinks a lot quicker than her Mama does. That, and I'm easily distracted.

Anyway, when I bought this game I thought to myself "Brilliant! Why can't all card games come in a durable tin like this?"

And that excited inquiry withered on my lips until six months later when I was able to connect the dots and exclaim to myself, because no one in this house listens to me, "Hey, wait a minute! I can make my own ding dang card tins."

So I gathered all the miscellaneous tins I already had, and then I bought a few more from Oriental Trading Company, and I set to work.

For some of the tins, I just cut the card boxes apart and repurposed them on my new box. Because I'm so green and all.

Then I slopped some Modge Podge on the tin, slapped the box piece on, and finally slopped some more Modge Podge over that. They're nothing special, but they do the trick.

In retrospect I think I should have added some nice scrapbook paper as well, and maybe even a little ribbon.

Nah. These babies are going to school and I'm sure they're going to take a beating, so I think I'll just keep them rustic.

The Go Fish box is staying home, so I will allow it to be cute. Because I'm all about the cute.

I also have a couple boxes on the right that I have birthday candles stored in. They come in raggedy boxes too, you know, and they shouldn't have to forego the cute, right?

The possibilities are endless, really. What would you store in them? Talk to me.

38 comments:

  1. wow you amaze me. Why didn't I think of that I end up putting my cards in ziplocs so not cute. I was thinking you could even use the crop a dile to make them more durable on their travels to and from school plus its a little extra cutiness. Keep up the good work.

    ReplyDelete
  2. One of my boys just recieved the Blink game for Easter and I had the same thought about the tin vs cardborad box. What a great way for repurposing used tins. Thanks for the idea!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Why have I never thought of this??!!! Great idea! We even have that game "Blink" that came in a tin, and I looked at it and thought it was such a great idea, yet it never occurred to me to actually put the card games into tins.
    I'm glad you thought of it because I'm so copying this now. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is a good idea for old boxes that are falling apart. I have some tins I didn't know what to do with, but now thanks to you, I just might use some for my old card games. I like this idea! I never played Blink, but if it involves quick thinking, I'd probably be bad at it. My thinking is not as quick as it used to be.

    ReplyDelete
  5. You are a kindred spirit! This project actually makes me a bit giddy. Thanks! (I have a ziplock bag holding our Phase 10 cards who will be so happy in their new home!!)

    ReplyDelete
  6. That is a great idea! I don't have small kids anymore so I don't have the game issue, but I would use this for birthday candles. I'm always looking in our cabinet for them when it's right before the time to light for whoever's birthday. I'll bet there are other things around the house though too that this would work for. Love this!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Totally with you there - I worked in day care so it wasn't fun to put that stuff away. This will be great especially when I have older kids.
    You're so clever!
    I'd love if you linked up to Scrappy Saturdays: http://myscrappygifts.blogspot.com/2010/04/8th-scrappy-saturdays.html

    ReplyDelete
  8. can we duplicate you and shrink you and put you in my brain so I could have some super-duper cute and smart ideas too?

    or, you could just come live with me and be my idea-person. :)

    well... I suppose I could just keep reading your blog! :) hehe

    I really need to play with my modge podge some more. I've only used it a couple times and I think I freaked out because I messed up and haven't played with it since.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love 'em! So very nifty. I keep my tea bags in an old spaghetti can, lol. Of course I have yet to add nice paper to the outside. You are such an inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I had a similar project for my Brownie Girl Scouts. We decorated Altoid tins and filled them with first aid stuff. Cute, useful and I got to eat all the chocolate covered Altoids.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Jill, you ALWAYS come up with the GREATEST ideas!!! I'll definitely be looking around my home for things to go in cute little tins now!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great idea! We have Scrabble Slam and Blink also and LOVE them.

    Any ideas for puzzles and board game boxes?

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have extra buttons (you know, the ones that come with a new shirt or pants) in a decorative coffee mug on top of my microwave. I so could use one of these tins to put those buttons in! Safety pins would be another good idea! And bobby pins! (My bobby pins are loose in one of my bathroom drawers....you would so have a fit about it!) HA!

    ReplyDelete
  14. KA-Re-EY-Tiv girl! I loved tins, and would pick them up at thrift stores to store my artsy fartsy things in, and I love Modge Podge! It holds my marriage together, kidding, but its great!

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a cute idea!! I love your stuff!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Brilliant. You are so clever.
    I have a book for you to read (totally off the topic), but when I read it, it sounded like you.

    The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller.

    It's about getting kids to love reading.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great Idea!! Now to start collecting tins.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love this idea! Now to go buy some Modge Podge...

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great idea Jill! Love it. We actually do store our decks of cards for one of our games in a tin.

    We just bought a couple of small card games....I will have to do this so the kids will stop losing all the cards!

    ReplyDelete
  20. thats a great idea! i always end up putting the cards away because the kids can't put them away properly and so don't bother!! i'm an off to source some tins. rubber bands and paper clips would be good in a tin ....

    ReplyDelete
  21. Smacking myself in the forehead with a loud DUH! Why didn't I think of doing this with all the metal tins I have tossed. Great idea.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I want to cry, I love you so much right now. I am SO in your freaky people club. I am ordering those tins. Right. Now. Most especially for the birthday candles, which I was cursing at just this morning. Don't be freaked out that I have a total crush on you at the moment. :)

    mary

    ReplyDelete
  23. Those are the cutest. I got some of those at Christmas when they were marked down. Now I can pull them out and put them to use! Thanks for the great idea.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh you and your brilliant ideas! I am so glad you share them with the rest of us because you are one talented lady! Now you know I am going to have to try this one. The boys are just getting into the age where they want to play cards and games. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Genius! I am quite obsessive, also, so these are just perfect for all those flimsy boxes that get destroyed!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow! What a fabulous idea. You are so creative. I just got done taping up the raggedy game boxes last week. I am going to get going on this idea. Thanks my super creative friend!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Love this. Gonna steal it and act like I thought it up on my own. =D

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love it so much you and your crafty brain are fab...You deserve at award op look at that I have one for you on my blog :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Those are fantastic! My little girls have been into tins lately too. Everything from bobby pins to bracelets, buttons, and even the random pellet from a pellet gun they find on the way home from school. They make fantastic little treasure boxes. Now I just need to get out some stuff to pretty them up. They'll be in heaven!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Seriously! I LOVE this!!!

    I Linked you up!

    http://pinklittlenotebook.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. I seriously have to say I am in love with you :0) lol I didnt know there were other freaks like me out there...your blog is amazing. Keep the great ideas coming!! You inspire me to start my own blog...im new to this tho. YOU are the only one I follow :) feel special? lol

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love this idea! Do you have a link to the tins you purchased from Oriental Trading Company? I'm having difficulty finding them.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I just had a "duh, why didnt I think of that moment." I have been "searching" for Uno in a tin can. Well, now with your smart thinking, I'll just make my own!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I'm thinking batteries. You know there are a bajillion different sizes, so each may be getting its own tin soon. Though I recently heard that storing batteries in the fridge preserves their lifespan.
    --Laci

    ReplyDelete
  35. Thanks for the great ideas!
    This is one of those "why didn't I think of that".
    Gloria
    Florida

    ReplyDelete