Re-purpose This: Nail Polish Storage

I don’t have a true “before” picture because I came up with this idea before I began a blog, but would you believe that I found the perfect way to store/organize my nail polish from a chocolate container?!

This is the closest image from a google search to show what I started with. The detailing of the lid inspired me to hang onto the packaging:

Unfortunately, I soon discovered that it was impossible (tell me otherwise!) to get the label off. I then started thinking about ways I could use the bottom of the case. The case itself is acrylic, but the bottom is lined with paper, and on top of the paper is that thin/cheap kind of plastic, and that is what divided and held the chocolates in place. I removed the paper and left the plastic sheet on top of the case bottom, and eventually realized it was the perfect size for nail polish (depending on the brand; some fit better than others).

My desk is usually the place I paint my nails because browsing the internet is one of the few things I can do while my nails dry damage-free. This tray actually fits perfectly into one of the cubbies on my desk:

It’s super easy to slide out if I need to, and I can rearrange my nail polishes as needed and put my most frequently used polishes in the front row.

I’m in love with this quick fix because it fits my needs perfectly (previously I had my nail polishes lined up on the shelf, and I had to take them out or move them around to get to the ones I wanted), it’s “on trend” as acrylic storage is all the rage right now, and it was 100% free. My parents were gifted the chocolates from a co-worker and I claimed the packaging once it was empty.

What creative re-purposes of “trash” have you discovered lately? 🙂

Weekly Finds

Goodwill scores from this week:

A beautiful blue & ivory stoneware bowl. $3 tag, purchased for $2.10 during Goodwill’s happy hour sale (30% off housewares).

An acrylic wreath holder. A clearance item from Target, marked $1. Paid $0.70.

And the best of this week: a round tray (another clearance item from Target) in perfect condition for $7, paid $4.90.

Thrifty Find: $0.80 Tea Storage

On one of my many pinterest sprees (find me at pinterest.com/leadingtone), I stumbled across this photo:

(source)

It was just my luck that only a few weeks later I found an almost identical acrylic case at Goodwill ($1 but I got it for $.80 because I used my -expired, shh- student discount).

The one from chefscatalog.com definitely has mine beat, but for less than a dollar compared to $16 + shipping, I’m not complaining much. There actually is a lid for mine, but since the tea bags are taller than the dimensions of the box I can’t use it with the tea inside. I love how pretty our tea looks now, and it’s so convenient to see what we have/need (for the most part; it doesn’t hold our entire supply) and grab it quickly as the mood strikes.

On a related note, this is what our makeshift coffee station currently looks like:

It’s still a bit of a work in progress because I only really use the Keurig, but my husband also uses the Mr. Coffee, and semi-regularly the french press and coffee bean grinder. I tried to corral all of his supplies into the woven basket and it definitely helped, but I still feel like the counter is too cluttered for my liking. Our coffee stirrers were temporarily stuck into another cheap Goodwill find, but they’ve been working so well in there that I’ll probably just leave them. The Keurig stand is a fairly recent purchase that was well worth the $20-25 (available at both BB&B and JCPenney, as well as other places I’m sure).

It can hold up to 36 k-cups so not only does it hold more than my previous system (dumping them into a small, shallow basket), but it’s much more organized and takes up no extra space. BB&B also has a bamboo version, but it’s an extra $10-15 from what I remember, and it wasn’t worth the price jump to me because at the end of the day it wasn’t going to make my rental kitchen look any more modern or aesthetically pleasing.

One other storage method I’ve employed:

Hanging oven mitts and pot holders from shower curtain hooks on a rod.

Anyone know if that’s what this rod is actually intended for? It was driving me crazy until I came up with this idea. I briefly got excited and thought I could detach the rod and use it to hold a paper towel roll, but not the case.

Other than that, I’ve discovered the beauty of shelf stands:

It would have been even better had the length been longer, but these things have definitely been useful in maximizing space in my kitchen.

Still trying to figure out a good, rental-free way to organize our many pots and pans!