Wednesday, August 26

It pays to organize


My latest DIY project was so simple, I'm excited to show it to you.

How to make your own pretty storage bins from cheap plastic containers

My closet is one place that has badly needed de-cluttering. Okay, that's an understatement. It needed cleaning out in the worst way. It's a pretty good-sized closet, but I could barely walk into it. Anyway, it's nice and clean now, but I found myself wanting more than just nice and clean. I bought some inexpensive plastic bins to hold things (undies, socks, etc.) on my closet shelves, but they were so ugly. I wanted cute baskets, but I didn't want to spend any money on cute baskets.

I resigned myself to being satisfied with the plastic bins, until I remembered that I had a few scraps of fabric left from my new bedding.


So I cut up those scraps and hot-glued them to my plastic bins. . . and voila! Cute baskets!


Remember this ottoman that I re-covered with my other bedding scraps? It has a home in my closet, too, where everything is now organized AND cute.



And now for the part about how it pays to organize. You may not believe this story, but it's true. Sometime last year, I lost my favorite bracelet. It's a simple little bracelet by John Medeiros, whose jewelry resembles that of David Yurman or John Hardy. Not expensive like DY or JH, but very nice. Anyway, I had a bracelet that I just loved--wore it practically every day. Here it is:


And then one day it was gone. It just vanished. I searched high and low, to no avail. And I eventually went and bought another bracelet just like the first one. (This was before the economic downturn of last fall--I now find it hard to believe that I went and bought another bracelet, but that's the truth.)
Well, guess what I found yesterday as I was finishing my de-cluttering and organizing?

Yep. I found my bracelet. So now I have two, just alike. See?


Can you believe that?  I'd actually gone and bought another bracelet to replace one that I thought was lost forever--and it was actually hiding in my closet!

In trying not to be wasteful, I held a giveaway on my blog and gave the second bracelet to one of my readers.  So at least someone profited from my disorganization!



**This giveaway is closed.  The winner was Traci.**

Be sure to check out all the fun DIY projects at Kimba's!




70 comments:

  1. Those bins are too cute!

    We have recently redone Kiddo's room and have yet to go through everything to put back into his newly remodeled, newly CLEAN room. He has gone through a little bit of his stuff, and even just that little bit he keeps finding stuff he'd lost. It's like a treasure hunt!

    Glad you found your bracelet. I probably won't win, but that's okay since bracelets NEVER fit me anyway. I got the big-boned maternal genes while my sister got the petite paternal genes. Not fair at all! : )

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  2. I love the bins, too! :) That bracelet looks great!

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  3. WOW....I want my closet to look like that!!! So cool and organized and pretty.......ahhh....don't you just want to sit in there on your cute ottoman and stare at it??LOL....
    I would love to be your twin, so enter me for that lovely silver bracelet!! I need to find something at my house......perhaps I should clean my closet!! :)

    suzanne

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  4. I love the bins idea. How cute, no more ugly plastic bins sitting around. Please enter me to win.

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  5. I adore that floral fabric--it would match our bedroom perfectly. Don't you love finding something that was lost?

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  6. Those bins look like the 'Sterlite' ones, which I have a ton of, but I've never thought to cover them with fabric. They look so pretty, I will have to try that.
    So glad you found your bracelet, it's so pretty, and so generous of you to offer the other as a give-away :-)

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  7. You are a girl after my own heart!
    I love the bins and the shoe "holder" is awesome!

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  8. But you didn't say where you found it! Please tell! You definitely need to come over and help me organize and purge my closet!

    I love the bracelet. Pick me! Pick me!

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  9. Richella, aren't you just the most clever? I never would have thought cheapy plastic bins could look so cute - great job!

    Laura
    LEFThompson@hotmail.com

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  10. Pick Me! Pick Me!

    Great tip on the baskets. I will have to file this one away!

    XOXO

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  11. Squeal! What a neat idea for the bins...they are so lovely now. :) I really. really. like that bracelet! Would love to win. :) Visiting from Kimba's party. :)

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  12. Love your closet! I've been working on mine, too. Glad you found your bracelet - it's beautiful.

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  13. I love an organized closet - great job. I love your bracelet too

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  14. Those bins look really good! And I love the ottoman, the fabric is to die for!!

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  15. What a great giveaway! So glad yo found it! :)
    Blessings,
    Traci

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  16. Regular plastic bins? For real? That is awesome and so cute! Now you'll never loose anything again :)

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  17. aw- how sweet are you!!

    And those bins are terrific - great idea to fancy them up!
    I found some really nice bins at the Dollar Tree of all places! I bought 18 of them (at $1 a piece) for my pantry and they look really nice and spiffy it up!! I keep meaning to post about them... you have inspired me :) I'll get it done soon :)

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  18. i love pretty ways to organize! great idea.

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  19. Lovely bracelet - and I am a storage ottoman junkie in the worst way.

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  20. Adorable Bins!!
    I love that bracelet. I will be happy if you pick me :)

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  21. Ahhhh...those bins are ADORABLE! ANd that storage bench is too cute for words. LOVE, love, love that blue and brown houndstooth fabric! Can I order it online somewhere?

    Also...I am slightly jealous of your GINORMOUS closet. It's a good thing I like you Richella.

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  22. I have fabric, I have bins, guess what I'm going to do tomorrow?? Thanks for the great idea. Oh, and the bracelet, it is beautiful and I l.o.v.e. me a nice bracelet. It's the only jewelry I wear so please enter me in your lovely giveaway. Thanks Richella..;p

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  23. great idea with the bins!
    love the bracelet!!

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  24. Great job, you've also shown us that organizing can be beautiful too!

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  25. Maybe if I clear out my cupboard I'll find my missing ring!
    The space looks so......clean and uncluttered! Well done!
    Donna (from Australia)

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  26. Cute bins! Please enter me in the giveaway. Here is the link back to my where my blog where I posted it: http://meganmacymadisonsmom.blogspot.com/2009/08/jewelry-giveaway.html

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  27. I'm so jealous of your closet! I love the bins - so clever! :)

    I love finding something ... although "years" is so frustrating!

    Roeshel

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  28. You are officially Brilliant. Yes. You. Are. I have tons of those tubs... and oodles of fabric... and a glue gun even! I am so going to copy you! Does your bracelet fit tiny wrists?? Love your closet!! Great job!! Blessings!

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  29. Those new baskets are awesome!! I really need to try out this idea because I've got tons of plain plastic boxes.

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  30. It's amazing what I see women do with hot glue and fabric. Those bins are really great. I am going to have to try that one.

    I like it when I find lost things, especially when it is money or jewelry!!

    Sign me up that bracelet is too cute!

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  31. Those bins are so cute! What a great way to dress them up and use up some leftover material!

    Glad you found your bracelet. I've don't the same sort of thing in the past! Oh how times change!

    Manuela

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  32. I love your idea of gluing fabric to plastic bins! I have a ton of them and thats a great idea! I actually even have a glue gun sitting around somewhere.
    Bracelets are gorgeous!

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  33. I love the idea for the bins!!! I think I'm going to have to steal it from you and do some for my daughter's room. She has a bookshelf in her closet and I'm getting ready to take her closet doors away (they are mirrors and she spends too much time in front of them in the mornings) so having cute bins would look fabulous!!!

    I love that you found the bracelet that is so wonderful!!! I'm glad to have found your blog and I'm definitely becoming a follower right now. :) XOXO

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  34. You are a dip making savant.

    No one will know what that means but you. It's a compliment people.

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  35. Super cute bins! I love that idea! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  36. Ok, the bins are awesome! I am ordering some for my daughters room, and now I think I might rethink this idea, and just do this project. I would be glad to link your blog on mine with this giveaway. Thanks for sharing this!

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  37. Oh how clever! I'm totally stealing your idea. Would you mind posting directions or the pattern you created for your baskets? I have the exact same ones I want to do it to.

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  38. This is definitely an idea worth stealing! I will be making over my dollar tree bins this weekend! Love the bracelet too. So simple but stylish and classy. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  39. I love little unexpected rewards from de-cluttering! And how sweet of you to share one of you rewards!

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  40. Love the bins! What a great idea! I love the bracelet -- it's amazing what we spend on things we already have!

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  41. Now can you come organize my closet? And I would love to be your twin!

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  42. I love what you have done to beautify simple bins. Can you come to my house and find my missing pearl earring? :)

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  43. Wow! I hopped over from ASPTL DIY and I am glad I did. I love, love, love the baskets! I am going to borrow you idea for baskets for my pantry. :)

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  44. Way cute bins! I love the fabric and I love your bench too. It does pay to be organized. I help people get organized and you would be amazed at the things we find. Sometimes they don't remember they even had the item or they had been looking for it for years. I've found checks and cash too. Looks great!

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  45. How clever to cover the boring plastic with fabric!! I'll have to keep that in mind. Love the bracelet too. That so sounds like something I would do!

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  46. Wow those bins are great, I am too cheap to spend money on the cute baskets and bins that I see out there, so have plastic ones in my closet, but I absolutley love what you did with yours. I may have to try the same. Also love the bracelet and can see why you bought another. Like your blog alot, I plan to follow. marla

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  47. Well my organizing summer seems to have snuck right on by my organinzing mojo. LOL

    I am glad I found your blog, I am enjoying perusing through your posts.

    Great giveaway!

    Cece

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  48. Love the bins. And the ottoman. And the bracelet(s) :) I just read your taking your son to college post. And of course, I cried. These letting go days never end, do they?!

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  49. Great idea with those bins. I am having a Roadkill Rescue party on Monday. I would love for you to link up. I would like the bracelet too ;-)

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  50. You really are imparting grace to us through your blog. I gave you an award on my blog. Hope you have time to swing by and get it. Thanks for being the real deal!

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  51. omg how nice!!! so pretty!! =) hope iw in!

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  52. wow love the bins! please add me to your giveaway!!

    ericaloves @hotmail.com

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  53. I will be covering my plastic bins with fabric also, they look so put together. Thanks for the idea.

    Sara at crystalclear75@yahoo.com

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  54. I love the bins!!
    And it's so great to find something that you loved and wore so much...after thinking it was lost and gone forever.
    I am still praying to find a pair of my fav riding boots :(
    Maybe it's time for me to empty out my closets!! Thanks for the great ideas!

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  55. Don't enter me since I have one like it, but your bins are ADORABLE and that ottoman is way too cute to leave in your closet. Seriously, I would just pile all my clothes on it. :)

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  56. The bins are super cute. :) I'll keep that idea in mind when we finish our closets. We remodeled our entire house, and are still finishing up odds & ends. So far only one out of 4 closets is done - and it's in our spare room. I can't wait to be finished to truly organize!

    monahanr -at- gmail.com

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  57. I love the bins...what a great idea..and I love the bracelet thanks...thanks for sharing...Pat H
    pattygary@kc.rr.com

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  58. I love your bins.
    Just checking in with everyone and to give an update.
    I have a new party starting- Wed Sept 2. So each week I will have the Knock Off Knock Out party on Mondays and the Holiday/Seasonal party on Wed. I hope you come for a visit.
    New buttons to grab as well.
    Cheri
    Its So Very Cheri

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  59. Wow, your closet looks so good.
    It's such a good feeling to be organized.
    angiey

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  60. I've started the decluttering process with our playroom, and starting tomorrow (when my kindergartner starts all day school), I'm starting on other rooms. Such a great feeling to have a place for things to go without them being shoved into a space!

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  61. Looks like I got in on the giveaway at the last minute! :) Love that bracelet.

    Your bins look great! I love that idea.

    Thank you for your sweet comment and prayers for our family. They really mean a lot.

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  62. OOoohhh.. bracelet buddies!!! Like Chandler and Joey!! Love it!

    Jessnole

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  63. Wow, what a great idea for the bins! I am going to have to copy that for sure =)

    I've done the same thing - buying another of something, and then finding the old one in a mass of clutter. Drives me crazy!

    I'd love to win the bracelet - it's gorgeous!!!

    Thanks for the great post and giveaway =)

    Heather

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  64. Just discovered your blog! Love it! and, I'm a silver girl so I really like the bracelet, too!

    denise in nc

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  65. wow waht a great idea!! thanks so much!!

    swtbabylovechick@ hotmail.com

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  66. oo that bracelet is pretty!!! please enter em!!

    rubyroseandrews @gmail.com

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  67. Looks amazing and just as good as the expensive baskets.

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