JuneBillie

I had just read through the wonderful thread Those Wonderful Empty Tissue Boxes . It gave so many of us wonderful ideas, with others coming up with their uses. It had me wishing there was more threads like this that would help all of us.

I always have these empty large tin coffee cans, because me and my husband go through a lot of coffee. I use some of the plastic ones with the built in handles to fill with water for my dogs to have extra water outside, because they have their water bowls inside.

Anyone have good sewing/quilting/crafting/etc. uses for these cans, and what other tips of things we can all use that we have around the house??

I look forward to all of your ideas/tips. Pictures are also nice.

Vanuatu Jill

Quilters are great at finding ways to re-purpose everyday items-I am looking forward to seeing the responses,too!

ArtsyOne

At our office we often have catered lunches and I take home the black rectangular containers with clear lids. They're about the size of a rectangular cake pan and stack really nicely on a bookshelf. Perfect for storing strips by color.

AliKat

I repurpose the square tissue boxes and have one on my sewing table for threads and snips.

I repurpose Altoids container for old needles.

When we have a sew-in we often use coffee filters for our threads and snips so it easier at cleanup time.

Have also used NEW pizza boxes for sorting strips ... and some carefully washed take out containgers.

Looking fwd to hearing more.

ali

Rosie the "Ripper"

Hello to all of you who get a thrill out of re-purposing items. I sure do. It makes me feel like I just saved myself a ton of $$$$!

Of course we all use ziplock bags. I like to use the jumbo ones for sets of fabrics that go together with their matching thread and pattern.

Those pop up laundry baskets are good for sorting scraps as you toss them - lights in one and darks in another. I like that they are not heavy to move around.

Empty medicine bottles are good for dull machine needles AND the needles are good to use as nails to hang scissors, rotary cutters etc. when not in use.

We eat a lot of the pre washed spinach that Sam's sells in plastic containers with lids. I have an old set of dresser drawers where I keep my threads. These containers are a perfect fit. I can get eight tubs side by side in each drawer and have each one hold a different color. Sure saves time when looking for a certain color. I even have individual ones for the variegated colors, metallic threads, transparent threads, embroidery threads, etc.

Stacked hanging shoe organizers are great too along with those blue baby wipes containers that fit into each compartment perfectly and hold millions of different things. I put a sticky label on the outside so I know what is in each. You can hang several next to each other and solve many storing problems in a small amount of space.

My husband smokes cigars (outside only) and the empty boxes stack great and hold pieces of blocks I am working on along with pattern, thread, etc. and are great for grabbing quickly and taking along on a short trip when my husband drives and wants company.

Have more but can't think right now.

Oh yes - I have a coffee can in my laundry room for all coins and bills left in pockets before washing - my money stash for fabrics!

athomenow

My husband had smoked cigars long ago that came in the individual plastic tubes with lids. Those are great for storing the steel crochet hooks. Love this thread.

barny

I use the Huggie wet wipes to store all my sewing machine stuff. Cutters, pins etc. I use medicine bottles for my bobbins.

Quiltaddict

Chocolate!! Fill that empty coffee can with chocolate and keep it close to your sewing machine. Quick cure for any frustrating moments (and you know there will be some).

TanyaL

The small jelly jars are just perfect to hold the various sizes of nails, screws and bolts on the shelves in the work shop. The large plastic 2 or 3 lb coffee canisters are perfect as water containers for acrylic painting, just put a layer of window screening in the bottom to keep the water separate from the sediment. Plastic shoe boxes with tight fitting lids make excellent storage units for the kitchen holding everything from sugar, flour to different pastas, beans, etc. They sit atop each other so neatly and they are so convenient to dip a measuring cup into.

JuneBillie

I have also used the jumbo baggies to put the fabric and threads etc. in for a particular project. I like the coffee can idea for change. Round cheap curtain rods will work well to put ribbon spools over, and fabric can be hung over them too. Hanging fabric on hangers and put on rods.