Okay I’ve got a new fun game for us to play. My good friend Sarah owns the local thrift store so I spend quite a bit of time there. Quite often I find little gems at the store that were originally designed for one purpose but that could easily be adapted or used in so many other creative ways.
Starting today and then whenever I’ve got a new treasure to share with you I’m going to put up a picture of my find and show you some alternate ways to put it to good use. Then I’m opening the floor up to you and if you can think of any other clever uses then please share in the comments. What I’m hoping to accomplish is to inspire us to think a little more outside of the box than what we might be use to in order to come up with some clever organizing solutions that don’t cost a lot of money.
So my find for today’s “How Many Uses?” game is this lovely holder originally designed for spools of thread:
It’s an excellent little organizing device that I also thought would make a great jewelry holder:
or a fabulous holder for my daughter’s growing collection of head bands (this is only a few of them for demonstration purposes):
Not bad for a $1.99!
Now it’s your turn?
How many uses can we come up with?
Carla says
I was thinking keys, and sunglasses or reading glasses if the rows were far enough apart you could hand the hings of the glass on a peg and it would hang down along the rows.
not sure it the pegs are far enough apart to hold rolls of curling ribbon or regular ribbon. Thats all I got at midnight. OH no I know what it would be perfect for and I need it! to display all those tiny build a bear animals that my daughter collects from yard sales. I think originally came in happy meals we have a bunch and I don’t know what to do with them, I could tie a ribbon around there neck and hang them on this. Perfect
Sweetpeas says
depending how far apart the pegs are, and how long, it might work great for finger puppets, or are we the only ones who have HUNDREDS (and I can’t even blame the kids, I’m the one addicted to Folkmanis finger puppets LOL).
Katie @ 3Blondes&... says
I would use that for my daughter’s hair stuff. Clips could be attached on, rubber bands won’t fall off, headbands, love it!!!
evi says
I would use it rotated by 90° to dry bottles or jars – but who has that many bottles or jars? Hm.. Maybe when it’s jam-cooking-season!? 😉
I like the hair-ribbon-idea – for my hairribbons and necklaces, I use one of those wooden puppets with joints that artists use for drawing human bodies (the ones that stand upright because they have a stick in their buttocks, do you know what I mean? ;->). I arranged it in a “dancing pose” and she has hair-ribbons on one arm, necklaces on the other. Looks pretty in my bathroom…
Carla, do you really want to HANG your daughter’s dolls? lol!
Tara says
My first thought is – of course – to organize my scrapbook stuff. i.e. ribbon, tools, thread, I could go on and on! I am going to run and and get one tomorrow and get my craft room tidied up! Thanks for the inspiration.
Thea @ I'm a Drama Mama says
It might work as a tie/scarf and belt rack.
Chrissey says
Wrapping paper station! Wrapping paper roll could be laid across some of the tines, tape and scissors could hang from them and gift bags could hang from the bottom.
Christi in Atlanta says
I have so many wire backed earings and have never found a way to keep them organized and not a tangled mess in my jewlrey box. This is a great way to be able to find what I want at a glance.
Teresa says
My hubby has so many tools/building materials, etc, that my first thought was it would be great for rolls of tape (electrical, plumbing), etc. My next best idea is for all of our keys to apartments. You could use the rows to keep the together for each bldg. Not a household item for everyone, I agree, but great for us!
Chrissey says
I thought of another one! Miscellaneour extension cords, head phones, computer cords., ipod cords, etc.
Lady Ozma says
I have a few ideas. I’d look at it for some of these items:
Baseball caps
Belts
Ties
Scarves
I really need something for those top three especially. We just moved into a new house and I’m trying to figure out what to do! 🙂
natalie meester says
I would use it for hanging bunches of flowers to dry. For fall, bittersweet, queen’s anne’s lace, fall grasses, etc. all tied with individual rubber bands and then tie a raffia or homespun fabric bow.
see my blog for great ideas for fall!
www.http://nataliemeester.blogspot.com
natalie meester says
i would also use it to hold ribbons from a local county fair or sports ribbons from events my kids have won like wrestling, track, etc.
Jenny says
I’d use it for jigs(fishing), lures…so hubby could be a little more organized.(although he’s not bad I must admit)
Kari says
Puppets, ties, belts, keys (you would have to have enough keys to open the National Reserve, but still), mittens to dry, hats to dry, cup towels, hand towels, wash cloths for a very big family, pot holders, cups if the pegs were long enough, bobbins if you were a serious quilter, hmmm, the possibilities are endless.
Laura says
Well aren’t you guys so clever! So many great ideas here…I’m especially loving the belt and scarves idea, can’t believe I hadn’t even though of that. Also love the finger puppet idea and the fishing jigs.
Great stuff!
Shannon says
It may look a little strange, but if you lay it down you could put bills and outgoing mail in it. Of course they would run diagonally through the spikes.
Emily says
I would use it to store the wheels from my Stampin’ Around Wheels. They are the image you snap into a handle to stamp with . They are round rubber..
Bevin says
I would love to use it as a magazine holder. You can drape the magazines over the pegs by the spine. That would get take care of the coffee table clutter (well, some of it) and be an interesting piece of wall art. =)
meg says
What about using it for ribbons as well as wrapping paper. It would keep keep all those Christmas ribbon together and make it much easier to find the right one.
onourwayonline.com
Sandy says
Hi Laura, I’d have to think about that for a while – ha!
Wanted to say hi – see how you are!
Have a great weekend.
Melanie says
Has anyone mentioned keys yet? I don’t know about everyone else, but always have loads of keys – work keys, storage keys, house keys, mailbox keys, car keys, etc etc etc.
Penny Raine says
actually, I would love one to use as a… thread holder, it is pretty!
blessings, Penny Raine
http://pennyraine.com/blog
Sue says
I like the wrapping paper station idea. It was the first thing I thought of. I’m a new reader here, I have yet to check out your archives, have you discussed package wrappings and all the stuff that gos with it?
Forgetfulone says
Craft items: spools of ribbon, scissors, etc.
Marcia "HDMac" McFar says
Laura, I tried to email my craft room pictures to your hotmail addy but they came back.
Marcia "HDMac" McFar says
Never mind, Laura… I sent them singly and they went thru…. .. Brave sole am I to send these to you! lol
Nicole says
I’m thinking, mounted on the wall, it would be perfect for all of my medals I’ve accumulated from various marathons,triathlons, and other race. I could hang it over one, two, or even three pegs to make the medals hang in such a way they could all be seen!
Kristy says
How about small picture frames, or a collection of ornaments at Christmas time?
Rachel says
This is a great idea to be thinking outside the box to get more use of out things which were designed for a single purpose.
Perhaps this would be a good utensil rack in the kitchen if mounted to the wall. Many utensils have holes in the handles and those which don’t might rest on the pegs.
Organizing Mommy says
So, what’s wrong with using it for thread? (just kidding) I put all of my thread in a tool box. First things first.. what really needs to be on display at ALL times? You could hang it on the inside of a cupboard door for.. thread or letting plastic baggies dry, or barbie doll clothes.. Anyway, I like this game.
Heidi says
I would use this to display vintage lace and ribbons, wrapped on vintage wooden spools (after I painted it white). I would like it leaned against a wall, instead of hanging it, next to a big handled basket of vintage thread spools. More for decor than practical use.
Beautiful find!
Julie says
I would use this as an odd sock sorter. Hang the odd sock and wait for the the other sock to return.Then again, many of you ladies sound more organised than me so may not have many odd socks!
Jen says
How about a drying rack for a girl’s undergarments. 🙂
Bevin says
Hi Julie! I got these for my family members as a stocking stuffer last year, and they were a huge hit! They are SockPro – Sock Organizer! . They are wonderful! No more sock monster!!!!!!!
Anon says
I agree with Emily, guessing she means the ones from SU!. Great ideas, everyone, love them!
Mark Gurley says
I purchased my wife for her birthday 268 Threads of colors and now i am looking for a rack that will hold them or a suggestion how to organize them so they are handy to get to. Any suggestiions
Laura says
I’m thinking mount it to the Wall and hang cooking utensils, measuring cups and spoons, maybe pot holders on the bottom. I’m now also thinking I must have one of these 🙂
Lotta says
I can think of one real great way to use it too! To sell it to me so I can use it for my thread!!! 🙂 That is the most genious way I can think of to put this to really, really GREAT use!!! 🙂
Never seen a thread stand like this, and since I have to have my sewing table in my living room, that thing would sure be such a nice thing to use in place of most other alternatives!!! 🙂
Sorry, just couldn’t help myself! Was googling for thread holders and stumbled over yours…
Karen says
I am thinking Advent Calendar or ornament display.