If there’s one thing that makes me sooo happy, it’s reusing containers for another purpose. And when they’re pretty too, well then, my heart just sings.

Supplies

1. clean formula cans or cans that contained food
2. scrapbook paper or other thick paper
3. sticky tape

Directions

1. Measure the length of your can and cut scrapbook paper to size.
2. Cut a piece of sticky tape the entire length of the can and stick one end of the scrapbook paper to the actual can
3. Gently ease the paper all around and use another piece of sticky tape to close the end
4. Voila – you’re done

This is a really easy organising project and if you use the same paper to make a set of cans, it looks neat and is functional.

a matching set of three and a set of two these hold Post-it notes and different buttons for crafts and these hold scissors and lanyards and keyrings

As you can see, I use them for:

• scissors
• pens and pencils
• post-it notes
• buttons
• glue
• party favours
• twins’ eating utensils in the kitchen
• kitchen utensils
• tissues (my kids pull out the tissues from the box regularly and I make them put them back in a bigger formula can so that we can use them without too much bother and fuss)

What other uses can you think of?

Hopefully this has provided some inspiration for the weekend? What are you planning to do this Easter weekend?

I received the nearly-final cover for my book from the designer today and it is gorgeous.

It feels very “me” and I can’t wait to share it with you.

I’m a visual person so this book is finally starting to feel real, especially since I also got my copy of Elizabeth Hagen’s new book, Confidence, yesterday. Her book is just lovely to look at in all its pink and brown beauty. I can’t wait to read it (yes, I’m pushing it into my non-fiction queue)

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These felt placemats are in all the home stores at the moment.

If you’re South African, they’re R15 each at Sheet Street, R16 each at Mr P Home and a whopping R24 – R25 each at Ackermans.

The styles are all the same except their patterns are slightly different around the border.

I saw these at Sheet Street and was captivated by the lovely turquoise colour.

I originally had plans to make the middle section into a Kindle cover despite the fact that I can’t sew

I still have plans to do that but for the moment, this is what I did.

I cut the middle section out and was left with two pieces – the overlapping circles and then the solid mat from the middle.

Isn’t it pretty?

I’ve used the swirly outside border to frame a notice board in my study (pics to follow) and the middle bit is my new mousepad on my desk. I cut a little bit off so that it was smaller and didn’t take up too much of my desk space.

What have you repurposed recently?

Any weekend projects you want to tackle around the house?

I found these cleaning caddies at a gigantic homewares store and immediately had to have some.

Not for cleaning, mind, but for crafting.

They’re so useful because you can easily carry your stuff to wherever you want to play.

These pictures are from when Kendra was in the hospital over Christmas.

I took lots of stuff with me to make some mini books, washi tape books, notecards, etc. 

Where do you re-use containers for other purposes like organising?

I saw these cute notebooks somewhere on the internet.

Most people make them with paint sample cards.

We have a bookshop in South Africa, Exclusive Books, that always has lovely bookmarks at the cash desk.

The bookmarks usually promote something or other and are made of nice, thick card and so I decided to use these to make a couple of matchbook notebooks to keep in my car.

As you can see, these ones promoted Corinne Bailey Rae.

Get some paper ready for the inside. Scrap paper works perfectly.

Two folds of the card, a staple and you’re done.

It really is as easy as that.

I’m a bit of a fanatic about re-using both sides of paper til completely used up. I also use the 2 – 3 cm bits of scrapbook paper for fancy notepads

I also make bigger notebooks, all with scrap paper, for the babies to scribble on.

Do you use up all your scrap paper?

I love finding new ways to use existing items in my home. I find that it forces me to be more creative and also, it saves me money because I don’t need to go out and buy whatever I need 90% of the time.

One of those things is in-trays.

Did you know you can use them not only in the office but also all around your home?

Let me show you how:

1. In the office

Use for standard in and out trays but also for To Pay, To File or To Read trays.

2. At your command centre

Your command centre is the place in your home where everybody dumps their stuff and is usually also the place where you toss the mail.

Have a vertical stack of trays (like a plastic storage drawer system) or a hanging file in a filing box for each member of the family. When you bring in the mail or empty the backpacks, sort immediately and place each person’s mail in their tray.

3. In the kitchen

Use for recipe books, menu plans, grocery lists, coupons, etc.

I have an in-tray for my cleaning lady too so we both have a place to leave notes for one another.

4. In your craft area

In-trays work beautifully for keeping different coloured paper and project board neat, tidy and organised.

Remember to work with and not against your organising style.

If you like things visible, use a hanging folder system. If you like things out of sight, use a plastic storage drawer system and simply label the drawers.

Find out how you can get more help in organising your home here

Marcia Francois is a time management and organising coach who empowers small business owners and other busy professionals who want to make the most of their time. You’ll get simple, practical organising and time management secrets to help you work less and enjoy life more! Visit http://takechargesolutions.org for your free Organising Success Pack.

Look what I found – gorgeous, colourful cutlery caddies.

Of course, cutlery is really the last thing I thought of when I saw these as I immediately had other plans for them.

In the babies’ room this holds their sleep and classical CDs, nose drops (I’d never even HEARD of saline nose drops before the babies were born!) and other such medicinal stuff (lovely and vague, isn’t it?).

I’m not the only one who loves this gorgeous, bright caddy – Connor literally whirls that head of his around to look at this thing if he so much as catches a glance of it. LOL

That was my original purchase.

After a few days of looking at the loveliness, I couldn’t resist and I went back to get another one. Thank goodness they still had some left.

This time for my study/ home office.

I was all about simplifying and increasing space on the desk, especially now that I’ve added a plant.

A plant I received as a gift because, just in case you didn’t know this about me, I do NOT have the gift of growing plants. In fact, it’s more honest to say I kill them. Fortunately my friend bought me a plant that came with instructions so it’s already lasted 4 months which is a BIG record for me.

The caddy now holds a few pens, my camera cable and stapler (don’t you like the way the stapler hangs off the side) and a couple of notebooks I use on a daily/ weekly basis.

Which other uses can you think of for these beauties?

P.S. They’re R49,99 each at Mr Price Home.
P.P.S. Mr P is not paying me a single cent to write about the caddies.