The Clever Way Savvy DIYers Should Be Reusing Salt And Pepper Shakers

The art of upcycling has been growing, and while you may typically associate it with plastic bottles or old clothes, it turns out there are also some pretty useful ways that you can use salt and pepper shakers, too, especially if you're into DIY. Rather than re-filling or tossing any old ones you have, you can instead turn them into mini storage pots for your crafts, which is perfect if you have plenty of small items you work with. What's more, this craft room hack is also a great way to save money if you've run out of space for any of your other items, as now you'll have somewhere to stow them away. If you're DIY'ing on a budget, then this is ideal.

In addition to being friendly on your purse strings, it's perfect if you need to separate your items and often spend time digging around to find what you need. This will make the crafting process much smoother, and if your shakers are clear, you'll also be able to see what's inside. All you'll need is some salt and pepper shakers and whatever you plan to put in there, and if you already have some lying around, then you're good to go. 

If you don't have any already, you can purchase salt and pepper shakers from Amazon for $12.99 or a 30-pack to bulk up for $28.99. To get started with this trick, you'll first need to decide what you want to put inside them and gather your essentials, whether that be jewels, dried flowers, paperclips, toothpicks, glitter, or other crafting titbits. Next, simply unscrew the lids and slip your items inside, filling it until the top if you can. Now, whenever you're doing your DIY crafting, just grab a shaker and unscrew the lid, take out or sprinkle what you need, and get to work on your project! This could come in especially handy if you have younger children joining in, as they'll be able to easily use it. 

When you're done, simply slip them away in a box or a drawer until next time. Alternatively, if you have a special crafts room or office, you could always leave them on display on a countertop, making for even easier access. Even if you don't want to use them for DIY, you have other options, such as packing away nuts or seeds in them. Whatever you decide to do with them will be much better than throwing them in your trash. 

If you want to take your "savviness" to the next level with this DIY hack, then you sure can. Your first pitstop could be adding labels to your shakers, allowing you to easily identify what's inside for you or anyone else who wants to use them. All you have to do is whack on some labels and note what's inside with a pen or pencil — it's really that simple. If you have an artistic flair, you could consider spray painting them, as long as you do it safely and find a paint suitable for glass, such as acrylic paint, available for $3.49 at Michael's. However, there are some caveats to keep in mind.

First, the effectiveness of this will depend on what type of shakers you have, as it won't be ideal for taller twist-top ones. And, of course, if you only have one set, you'll only be able to store two types of items unless you combine them, so this could be a bit limiting unless you already have a lot of shakers. If you're on a budget, it might not be ideal to splurge your money on a huge order if cheaper options are available, such as this storage box for $4.99 from Michael's. However, if you have the correct ones for the job, it's definitely worth a try alongside any other craft room ideas you have.