I just wanted to start by saying thank you to Jen for having me here today. 🙂 We recently moved back into this home (long story) and I’ve been pretty busy creating projects to spruce up my kitchen. Aside from my craft blog, I’m also a food blogger over at Amanda’s Cookin’. I love to cook and bake and have tons of different utensils. They were taking over my drawer space and getting harder and harder to find, so I turned some old beanie baby boxes into fun kitchen utensil holders.
Note: While I did use my Silhouette machine to create the letters and pictures for these, you could certainly print them out on regular copy paper, spray them with clear matte sealer, cut them out and Mod Podge them on.
I started with these plastic beanie baby boxes (which of course I washed out first, yuck). My husband called me from work one day and asked me if I wanted a case of them that someone was getting rid of. Being the craft supply junkie that I am, I of course said yes! I apologize that I don’t have step by step photos. My camera batteries gave out on me in the middle of the project. The next step was to give them a quick spray with some primer to help the paint adhere to the plastic. Then I simply painted them with Vintage White acrylic paint. I ended up giving them a total of three coats, allowing them to dry an hour or so between coats. I did use the Silhouette, and if you would like to use it or edit it, the template is here.
The font that I used was Lithos Pro, so you could recreate these in Word if you like. Here’s a PSD file with the clip art if you use Photoshop. I printed the designs onto vinyl and added them to the containers, being sure they were all lined up with each other. Once I had attached the vinyl I sprayed them with two coats of acrylic sealer (matte finish), allowing them to dry between coats. For the fabric liner, I simply cut strips of fabric from an old tablecloth and doubled them up using hot glue. Then I glued the doubled fabric to the outside, tucking the extra inside the containers. I added a simple piece of twine around the outside of the fabric and my utensil holders were complete!
I love the way they turned out. I hope that you like them too! They have been a great way to free up some drawer space and keep all my different utensils separate.
Thanks for having me today Jen! I hope you guys will come visit me at Crafts by Amanda, and maybe subscribe or follow me to keep up to date on what I’m doing. I am also on Facebook and Twitter.
In case you aren’t familiar with Crafts By Amanda —
I Love your ideas
Love your ideas and your freebies. I just found your site while looking for how to make water labels. I have done some but was looking for a better way. Thanks for your freebie label and for the tips. I look forward to reading your other ideas.
I am new at this Arts N Craftie stuff. So what I am going to ask my sound a little silly to all you pros!!! LOL! I keep hearing about vinyl. I was tolad I would find it at craft/fabric stores, but what exactly am i looking for? It is sold by bulk, sheets, yard? Are there different colors? Is it tacky on back so it will stick or do you glue it? Sorry! Like I said, I’m a Newbie!!!
Thank you all so much! You are TOOOO kind!!
Amanda, I saw these Friday and I thought they looked great – but I have to share: I was driving around yesterday doing errands and I couldn't get them out of my mind, lol.. I would never have thought to make such great looking bins from those plastic containers! Great idea! ~Lori
These are really adorable. I never would of thought you could paint plastic to look that beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Love the utensil bins!! And the distressed EAT sign is lovely too! I will def. check out your blog!! Thanks for a great tute!
I absolutely love the utensil bins! I wish I had that kind of counter space.
Thank you all sooo much for your kind comments, I am so glad you like the utensil holders! They are working out wonderfully in the kitchen so far!
@Tiff – I have a whole dang box, I could send you some LOL!
Such cute containers! I never would have guessed what they looked like before!
This is adorable, I was over at this creative gal's blog and….gasp! There it was that she was featured here today! Blogosphere getting smaller by the day. I am feeling all inspired now!
So cute!
I love these, how cute to sit on your kitchen counter.
Amanda!
Once again you rocked it! That is awesome and oh so cute!
I want to make these for my mom and myself today-now where do I find beanie baby boxes? 🙂
-Tiff
What an awesome idea, and so cute!! I love the way they are divided into categories too…mine aren't and it gets so confusing trying to find stuff!
xoxo
Kristan
Cookbook Queen
Freakin' adorable!!!
I love, love, love your blog!!! I have tagged you on my blog and awarded you the Stylish Blogger. Come check it out! http://stampinwithmimi.blogspot.com/
Oh man, these are awesome! I need to make some of these for my mom. Her utensils are all over the place! LOL
Amanda! these are awesome!!!
oh I really like those! what a great idea!!
Theresa
those came out adorable! Great job!!! Love them!
http://www.mesewcrazy.com
Yay thanks for having me today Jen! And thank you ladies for the compliments! 🙂
I love Amanda's site – the luminaries are classics – and these utensil holders are adorable! Thanks for sharing!
Love! The luminaries and the distressed EAT sign are awesome! I wish I were this crafty! 😛