Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Project Genesis: Storage Solutions

Once again I am joining Old Grey Mare for Project Genesis where once a month we share simple ideas and changes anyone can use to improve the environment and make an impact in their world.

My boys seem to need new shoes as often as I need to make an appointment with my hairdresser which means we always have shoeboxes.

So when I came home this summer with supplies for crocheting beaded bracelets (my cousin showed me how to make them), I knew I needed a place to store everything.

Rather than run out to the nearest store for a storage box, I pulled out this beautiful aqua shoebox. The color is already fabulous.

Perfect for storing my jewelry supplies and can easily be moved from room to room.

I went to my SCRAP box (a previous upcycled shoebox)

and used graphics and papers that I already had to decorate my jewelry supply box.


There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before. ~Robert Lynd, The Blue Lion and Other Essays

My husband buys a lot of laban (yogurt drink) and they come in this little plastic container which is perfect for sorting beads, and it happened to be in the same aqua color. The lid of the shoebox keeps everything in place and is my work area when stringing the beads.

You can decorate your shoeboxes as much or as little as you like. I have many more saved up and will be upcycling them as gift boxes for friends, filled with lots of lovely little handmade gifts.

It is mind boggling to think of all the garbage that is thrown away each and every day around the world. I feel that this is just my small part to make a difference. I may not be able to change the world, but I can certainly impact my own environment. I hope you will do the same.

Sending blessings and wishes your way for a most beautiful day! Tammy

26 comments:

Just Me said...

You are so right about how much garbage is being thrown away. I have become more sensitive in the last year when I recycle and reuse things. I love how you fixed up the shoe box. It is quite a treasure now! Thanks for the inspiration!

Live Creatively! Patti

Diane said...

How simple - a shoebox. You have decorated them so pretty, too. I like the little tray that you use to separate the beads, too. I think you're always looking for ways to use up what you have. Love the quote too, Diane

Susan said...

Great idea, Tammy. Good job! Susan

BellaRosa said...

Tammy amor, I love what you did with your upcycled boxes...They came out gorgeous!Hmmm I wonder if my girls have tossed their shoe boxes, when I have gotten my shoes, lately they come with no box...and I didn't mind since honestly I would just toss them....but now...I think I will look through my kids closets while they are at school tomorrow & just maybe...I will have something I can make pretty for storage too! Grazie for sharing your lovely idea! Besos, Rose

oldgreymare said...

Tammy,

Terrific recycling! I'm sure you have inspired some other shoe box
savers. Recycling can be so much more than just reusing items. You mentioned giving them as gifts, spreading the love, and the ideas.

All the smart parts of an engine enable a plane to fly. Never downplay the importance of small efforts.

Thank you so much for joining Genesis today!

Suzan

Maureen said...

Great upcycling project. I do use shoeboxes to store things but making them pretty would be even better.

Anonymous said...

Great project! I'm sure most of us have little hoards of paper we could use to decorate a box that would otherwise be discarded. It was a wonderful coincidence that the llittle tray was the same colour...I love that!

Anonymous said...

Hi Tammy!
I too use shoe boxes as my DD is a shoe-nut. LOL!! I use the large boxes that our printer paper comes in for my stamped embroidery projects. I decorate them & they look like they belong in any room.....
Have a Wonderful Week!
Love,
Marilyn

Unknown said...

How beautiful you make it all look! EVERY little bit counts!

erin's art and gardens said...

great idea for a shoe box and lucky you to have one in aqua! lately, i have been buying my shoes at stores that don't have boxes and i miss them. you have reminded me of when i was little and we would decorate shoe boxes on Valentines Day with a slit in the top for receiving valentines. i wonder if schoolkids do that any more?

Faith said...

Stopping over for a cup of coffee...but I am wondering if I am early or late? What time is it now in Kuwait? Oh heck, in the blogosphere we can be together in our time continum...so anytime is coffee time..You were not kidding when you said you lived far awasy....you have been to many beautiful places...the shoe box came our really pretty.....thanks for stopping by my place for a visit.

Anonymous said...

Who knew a shoe box could look so good?? What a lovely bead storage box you have. Certainly better than anything you could buy in a store, and you help the environment while you are at it. VERY NICE!!
Glad to see you are finding time to get organized and be creative!
Love,
Renee

Anonymous said...

Pretty shoeboxes Tammy.Funny I just remembered I sat out two big shoeboxes this morning for the trash LOL.They didnt come yet maybe I will just go and bring them in.Every little bit counts and you decorated them so cute.Thanks for visiting my blog have a lovely evening.

Linda said...

That's beautiful, Tammy!
Our household unfortunately produces a lot of garbage. We don't have a free recycling program and I don't have any room for keeping things at our house. Still, I do like to reconstruct certain things into new uses. This is a lovely idea.

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I don't have as many shoeboxes...but I always keep them...great idea to cover them and use for crafts!

Claus said...

So pretty!! and very unique! You are a very creative person indeed Tammy!, and come up with the smartest, most wonderful ideas. What a great way to recycle and make something pretty with every day things.
Inspiring.
have a great day!!

Shellbelle said...

I love that yogurt container and your reuse of them and your shoeboxes is brilliant. Such pretty boxes you made, I'm going to look around and see what I have in my cupboards.

You recycled the boxes, my posts tells how to recycle the shoes! I think together we've hit upon something. Of course, mine is only for tennis shoes, but every bit helps.

Aussie Maria said...

What a great idea. A bonus is that shoe boxes are very sturdy

Rostrose said...

Dearest Tammy, that's a wonderful idea! I also collect shoeboxes as containers for "everything and nothing", but I never pimped them up. Now you inspired me and I will do like you!!!
Big hugs, Traude
PS: Please visit my blog - there is something waiting for you-hou-hou!!! ;o)

Anonymous said...

I save old boxes too, but they aren't this pretty! Lovely ideas, Tammy!
Hugs,
Zuzu

Anonymous said...

HEY TAMMY!!!

your post didn't make me hungry today! ya!!!!


this is really great...I love seeing how you upcycle things...and yes, it sure does save the waste...I grew up with this type of reuse it thinking...my parents were very frugal...

thanks for the wonderful inspirations....your boxes are wonderfully decorated...and I think I feel a project attack coming on! lol

ciao bella

CREATIVE CARMELINA

Daydream Living said...

Hi Tammy,
Thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving your comment. I just now saw that I didn't wrote back to you, sorry about that. I became your newest follower, I read a few older posts and have to say, I like what you write about and also that you live somewhere I don't know, or hear much about. I look forward to read more! Also, my daughter is now at camp with school, but I will show her this shoebox post when she is back. She loves to make things from shoeboxes, so thanks for sharing this! Goodnight!
Maureen
x

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

Great idea making your shoe boxes into something useful. How did you ever think of dressing them up so pretty.
I love the ones you have here very pretty.
It is hard to believe how much garbage I have and it's just me and my Cat. lol
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment about the sorry looser. I appreciate it very much
Love
Maggie

zeth radtra syam said...

i love what u did in ur shoe box,
it's really inspired me..

xo,
zethra

zeth radtra syam said...

i love what u did in ur shoe box,
it's really inspired me..

xo,
zethra

Ella said...

I love this! A treasure after you creatively
added your touches! I reuse them for storage to, but haven't decorated mine, yet! Next rainy day I will...Thank you!

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