SittingPretty

I love plastic canvas, especially the colored kind because it is heavier. You can make any size box or tray by cutting to size and whip-stitching the sides together and the bottom. You can even make a lid. Cover with yarn or fabric or not. I've made drawer organizers, magazine holders, boxes, etc.

I've also used the plastic mushroom boxes for storing glues, hand stitching supplies for when I handsew the binding to the quilt back, plastic pill bottles for used needles and pins, and no small cardboard box ever goes to waste. If not in use, then waiting for the next idea.

Besides hanging pictures, I came up with another idea for used needles. I made my design wall out of foamcore board covered with flannel. If I needed to pin up a strip or row that was too heavy to stay stuck to the flannel, I tried to pin it, but often bent the pin. Now I use a used machine needle. Much sturdier and doesn't bend.

hopingtobegood

About the only reusable item in the kitchen that has not been mentioned is the plastic containers that individual shortening come in, one has a lid the other 4 do not, but they are great for straighty pins, loose threads, bobbins, etc. All these ideas are great and thanks everyone for sharing..

JenGaile

When they are empty I wash out the plastic containers from my "Oil of Olay" face cream. They are heavy plastic with a screw on lid and are perfect for buttons, clips, etc.

deenatoo

There is another kitchen item that has not been mentioned. One of those dish drainers that have the straight up posts. If you are a machine embroiderer, you can use one of these to line up your different colors of thread. It works very well and you don't have thread rolling all over the place.

BarbaraSue

I reuse cleaned popcorn tin cans as wastepaperbaskets; for sorting scraps-lights-mediums-darks.

needles3thread

I am using 2 metal hospital bedside cabinets for 'legs' for my cutting table. They were discards-very inexpensive.
My husband made a large wood piece for the top. The cabinets have a drawer each & shelves inside a door for
storage.
We re-painted them, & they look nice..........just the right height too.

Rosella

I cut the bottoms out of the large coffee containers and place them around my tomato pants at planting time. Bury them an inch or so in the soil around the plant and they make watering easy and the water seeps in slowly.

nhnative

I've made purses out of the cigar boxes.

ashiecat

I reuse the shaker spice containers (the ones that are about 4-5" tall) for my used needles & pins. The shaker holes are big enough for the yellow ball headed pins and it opens & closes easily. And it's big enough to find - I kept losing the film cannisters.

LMB

I poke a hole in the lid and put string in them. When I work with more than one color yarn (I crochet) I keep yarn in them. I use a round file and smooth out the hole so the yarn slides easy. Been doing this for a long time. PS it works well for binding too... just cut a slot rather than a hole. I also drink a ton of coffee, and these cans are great~!