I haven’t awarded a Storage Star in quite some time so I’m excited today to give this one away to Niki, the Minimalist Mommy (update: sorry her blog is no longer up and running). A couple of weeks ago Niki posted about the stack of canvas bags she scored at a yard sale for $2.00! As a lover of tote bags myself, I can totally understand the excitement in that find. I wouldn’t have been able to resist either! I was curious as to how she was going to use them.
The first idea she came up with was to use them to help her organize her son’s preschool homework, one for each day of the week. I love how she used iron letters to label them too, so impressive! Take a look:
Then she decided to use one of them for a library bag, another great use, but what I love most about her library bag is that she took it even a step further. Have you ever gone to the library only to realize you didn’t have your card? To alleviate that problem Niki punched a hole in the corner of her library card so she could keep it attached it to her library bag with a carabiner clip at all times. Now she never has to worry about whether or not she has her card on her. It’s there. So smart!
I also love carabiner clips. Some of you might remember that I use them so I never have to worry about losing my keys again!
***************
Related posts:
Organizing Bags also help keep you organized.
JoeGirl says
Clever!!! With all these tote bags, a girl’s gonna need a lot of hooks throughout the house. And oh, how I love hooks!!!
Tanna says
I love this idea! I have been wanting to make a library bag, but I hadn’t even thought of iron on letters. My daughter is always sneaking off with the library card so the carabiner clip would be a great fix. Great find Laura!
Jeni from Kansas says
What a fantastic idea! Thank you for sharing!!
LauraWilliamsMusings says
I love canvas totes for going to the library, using them to put books, etc. in for long car trips to keep the children occupied.
I also use them to go shopping with so I’m not bringing home oodles and oodles of plastic grocery bags… I can only use them so fast in the bathroom trash cans as liners. lol
Krista says
I love the tote idea! I have been wanting to make me a library tote too! Great idea about attaching the card to the bag.
Letti says
I love the library bag idea. That is so smart. My kids would love to have their own bag. Thanks for spotlighting her.
Tracey says
Amen Sister! I’m all about the carabiner clip on my keys! It saves my life! I make handbags and always make sure that I include a spot to clip my keys to!
Michele says
This is a great idea. I keep bags packed for various purposes (swimming, gym, farmers’ market, etc) and it really helps get me out of the house faster and not forget anything.
Susanne says
Great ideas! I love tote bags and have used them for all sorts of things. Love clipping the card to the bag idea, too.
Allison says
GREAT idea! As a teacher, I’m always getting these bags. Good idea for what to do with them (right now, they’re stacked in the corner of my closet–going to get them out!).
Found your blog by accident–I’m a crazy organizer, too. I’m subscribing to your rss today! Nice to meet you. 🙂
Rose says
I Loved your idea of the caribiner clip for car keys. I have since started doing that myself! It is great!
susieshomemade says
Those are some great idea!!!
Organizing Mommy says
That was a great idea that NIKI had!! Good job!
Lisa says
Very clever to attach the library card to the bag. I think I need to do this!! Great ideas!!
Dawn says
Love this idea…
shawnalee heiner says
Those are cute. I think that is a great idea. I love your website.
trish says
Clever! We at the library are always pleased when someone walks up to the checkout counter, library card in hand. Not that we mind looking up your record using your ID (everyone leaves their card at home at some point or other), or patiently waiting while you search the depths of your purse or wallet for that elusive piece of plastic (it’s an understandable and very common occurrence), but we do appreciate the extra thoughtfulness, especially when the checkout line starts to get long! Now that I think about it, I may adopt Tracey’s idea of clipping my keys onto a caribiner, because they do tend to get buried in my bag.
Lisa says
I just sat here, in the dark quiet stillness of my living room, mouth agaped, and said aloud, ARE YOU SERIOUS?. I’m think I scared my dog. hehe… I LOVE love love the idea for the library card!! I can’t believe I’ve never thought of that…it’s one of those *duh* things. So simple, yet so needed. I’m glad you posted about it on here, because I’ve never visited her blog. Whoohoo! What a great idea…I’m just so amazed at this simple tip that I want to head to walmart right now and buy the clip (too bad it’s midnight here). lol
Now if only I could find my library card…of which I have two. They’re both missing… *sigh*