Kat Sews

My brother-in-law uses the metal coffee cans to make shop caddys. He fastens several together around a heavy metal handle then paints them. He uses them alot because he can keep an assortment of supplies and tools for a job together and everything stays near as he works. He also makes them as gifts and sell a few at times. My husband has one of them, now I want one too for my stuff.

KyKaren1949

I bought the inexpensive clear plastic shoeboxes to organize my pantry. I keep large packages of jello in one, small packages of jello in another; same for the puddings. I have a large one I use for partial bags of powdered sugar, brown sugar, rice, tapioca. Another one for baking powder, baking soda, cocoa, etc. Another shoe box size for packages of items like taco mix, a small one for kool-aid and other and drink packages. I love how straight my pantry stays now. I can find everything in a heartbeat and also make grocery lists much quicker when everything is in its place.
I use large plastic containers with lids to store sets of quilt fabrics plus the pattern. I bought small plastic containers from the local business store to organize thread. All the cream goes in one, white, black, gray, brown all in their individual boxes and the dark colors and pastels are in their own. I also keep my different pins sorted that same way. Those smaller boxes fit well in the built in drawers in my sewing room.

sewellie

I have an empty coffee can on my dryer. I put the lint from the dryer in it. We take it to the trailer and I start a new one. That way I always have one ready to go. We use them to start fires while camping. Great use for dryer lint.

slk350

I used the plastic Kool Aid containers to store nuts, nails, bolts, etc. in the garage. (they are from many years ago, don't know if they are still made). Now, Marshmallow fluff comes in plastic jars (used to be glass) and they work the same. Actually better because you can see whats inside. I also keep left over paint from painting jobs in glass or plastic jelly, PB or fluff jars. The paint doesn't dry out like it would in the original can. A tidbit of info I learned quite a while back, when storing leftover paint in can , store the can upside down. Air cannot get into the can and it doesn't dry out. I also use the baby wipe containers. I have one of those "wood" shoe storage containers in my sewing room and the baby wipes turned sideways fit perfect. I also throw patterns, magazines rolled up, odds & ends in the shoe storage container.

doris.meek13088

I use the extra large zip lock bags (2 1/2 gal) to make kits for future quilts. I try to cut all of the pieces, put in the pattern or magazine or whatever drawing I have done to design the quilt. I sometimes have the binding and/or border in there also but mostly I do not pick these until after I have finished the top. This method gives me something I can grab at a moment's notice when my DH decides he wants to take the trailer out for the weekend. This way I can grab my machine, a kit, my sewing table and an extension cord and be happy all weekend. He sets up the all mesh tent we bought for just this use so I can be outside in nature without those pesky bugs. He can go fishing for the afternoon and come back to a very happy wife which makes life all that much nicer for us both.

Hint, it also lets me keep things a little more organized in my stash. I don't accidently use a fabric I bought for thing A on thing B and have a problem when I get back to thing A.