{Trash to Treasure} Feminine Metal Storage Solution

One of my favorite things to do is give new life to old, outdated items.  There's just something so satisfying when you can create something wonderful from items that would have otherwise been tossed or donated.  I usually don't pass up anything free, so when I spotted four metal and plastic hardware storage containers in the Goodwill pile at my parents house I quickly claimed them.

Thankfully, my parents are always happy to get rid of their junk.  My husband on the other hand is not always as thrilled that I keep bringing more stuff into our home.  I don't think he understands or appreciates my thriftiness as much as I do :)


I understand most people aren't worried about organizing their screws and hardware as much as I am, but hear me out a minute.  These little metal containers have endless possibilities and can be used to organize anything from hardware to craft supplies.   

I started by wiping down the box and giving it a light sanding.  I then gave it two coats of my new favorite paint color, Sherwin Williams Iron Ore.

After the paint was dry it was time for the fun part!  I was hesitate to paint the drawers since they are plastic and I was afraid the paint would chip over time.  Washi tape on the other hand was a great option to add a little pop of gold to the drawers.   

Using PicMonkey I made a few labels for items that I knew I had on hand.  (You'll see in a minute why I desperately needed my hardware organized.)  I can't tell you how many times I've had to dig through boxes looking for a certain screw or hook to hang a picture.

To add a bit more color and feminine touch to an otherwise masculine storage box, I added pretty scrapbook paper to the fronts of each drawer using Mod Podge.

And....here's my completely unorganized mess of miscellaneous hardware. 

Yeah, I told you it was bad. 

After sorting, trashing and organizing I now have everything neat and organized. 

Oh, happy day!  I can finally find what I'm looking for. 

I showed my husband and the first thing he said was "you better keep that far away from my stuff!"  Ha, looks like I just found a way to keep him from stealing my hardware.  I still plan on painting at least one other box to organize the rest of the hardware, but for now I'm pretty satisfied with how this little storage solution turned out.  The best part?  It was completely free!