Using thrift store finds for storage

I love looking at the craft spaces of other people, see the craft spaces category at right for more examples. Unfortunately, I don't have enough room in my home to dedicate a space only to crafts. What I do have is a very nice large dining room table that allows me to spread out. It's not my own personal space though and so it's a constant battle to keep things neat and presentable for guests, keep the table usable for things other than my crafts, and have enough space to work on my projects. I dream of the day when I can have a room totally devoted to crafts, but for now I have little patches of storage all over the apartment. Here are a few pics of my totally random storage, including some of my latest thrift store finds that I'm putting to use.

I have a few shelves on our make-shift credenza to store jewelry supplies. The green metal box at right was a thrift store find. It says Xerox on top and looks like it is intended to store photographic slides. I have no such slides, but for now it's good storage for beads.

These are a couple of great ceramic pieces I'm using to store markers and pliers. I like storing items like those vertically as it allows me to see everything with one quick glance. I'm a big fan of using thrift store finds for storage. It's cheap as heck for one thing. And secondly, the things you find are totally random and unexpected, which is all part of the fun. Who knew I'd be using a Xerox slide holder to store my beads?!

Finally, since I'm in a sharing mood, here are pics of one of my weekend projects. I used batik techniques to make these, waxing directly onto the cards, then painting in the outline and scraping off the wax once everything dried.

This is my favorite card:

For more craft space ideas and inspiration:

http://www.mypapercrane.com/blog/?p=180whipup

http://www.supernaturale.com/glitter/viewtopic.php?t=19278&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/2006/06/making_progress.html

http://chrysti.wordpress.com/2006/06/22/pretty-organized-atc-giveaway/#comments

Comments

[Sarah]

Those cards are fantastic...and the blue card is my favorite, too (although it might be tied with the red vase-y one, or the blue birds!) Nice!!

[Tsoniki]

Love the cards, thanks for sharing!

I struggle with craft organization too. It doesn't help that we moved earlier this year and my new space is completely different! I am still trying to figure out what works and what doesn't. And I love shopping at thrift stores! :)

[Karyn]

I absolutely love those cards! Very pretty!

[rifferaff]

Thanks for the kind words about my cards!
I still have to work on the technique, couldn't quite get all the wax off. :)

[Melissa]

I can totally relate to your post--I use my dining table as my craft-making surface too! I am planning on rearranging some furniture in my house, and getting a craft desk/table. Thanks for the great organizing ideas!
Melissa

[Cherry]

Cool ideas! I use glass apothocary jars so I can see all my stuff. I store them on the shelves of a wood kitchen cart (stainless steel top so glues, piants and inks clean right off). It looks really cool and tidies up my itty bitty studio.