Don't Toss Plastic Fruit Containers — Turn Them Into A Genius Craft Organizer

If you're a berry lover, stop throwing out your empty containers. More than just clear plastic boxes, they can actually be repurposed in brilliant ways, including for crafting. Plastic fruit containers, like those used for strawberries, are ideal for organizing all kinds of items — but they're especially helpful as a craft organizer to keep things like ribbon, thread, and yarn in order. Instead of letting your supplies become a tangled mess, simply store your spools inside an empty fruit container. What makes this hack extra special is how it can help dispense them, too.

Plastic fruit containers can be upcycled all around the home and garden. One feature that adds to their usefulness is the holes — which are there to help the fruit breathe and allow moisture to be released from the packaging. This in turn helps it stay fresher for a longer period of time. As we know, they're also very handy when it comes to rinsing your fruit as well, since the package is essentially a mini strainer. When it comes to crafting, these holes also serve a great purpose after you place your string-like material inside the box.

Ribbon spools fit really nicely inside one of these plastic containers. Simply line them up vertically in the box, but as you do so — thread some of the ribbon out of the bottom or top holes. Just make sure that they're all going the same direction. Once you close the box, you now have a ribbon dispenser to make crafting and avoiding tangles, much easier. Simply pull on the ribbon, make a cut, and you don't have to worry about losing the end. It would work the same for yarn and thread, although — rolls of ribbon seem to fill it the best.

Since the package is clear, it allows you to see everything inside your organizer. However, it does still look like a fruit box — so you might want to remove the stickers, and consider painting or decorating the container before you place anything in it. You could even decoupage it with colorful paper or floral cutouts, just as long as you don't cover up the holes. You'll still be able to see the ribbon coming through the openings, so having it clear really isn't necessary.

Some people use plastic baskets for this storage solution instead. However, with a berry container, you have a lid that snaps shut and it's a genius way to upcycle. There are all kinds of clever hacks for leftover boxes like these — as they come in a variety of sizes, and you can store whatever you like inside. But if you use them to organize your small craft items, like buttons or beads — just be sure to line them first so that nothing falls out.