The Genius Hack That Turns A Plastic Bottle Into A Craft Room Storage Basket

Keeping your craft room spick and span can sometimes feel like a difficult chore, but just a few genius organization hacks can make all the difference. Using plastic bottles you likely have lying around in your recycling bin right now, you can DIY a handy storage basket to keep your favorite supplies stored away and declutter your workspace in a snap.  

The bottle's circumference will dictate the storage capacity of your finished baskets, so make sure you choose one large enough for your needs. Gallon-sized water jugs or 2-liter soda bottles are good choices, as are soap refill bottles (whether round or square). Once you've selected a container of appropriate size, all you need are an X-Acto precision knife or retractable utility knife, a ruler, marker, craft items for decor, and plenty of imagination. The resulting basket will make for ideal yarn storage, but it can also be used to tidy up all of your other craft room essentials. Here's how to carry out this genius DIY.

There are a number of ways to transform an empty plastic bottle into a storage basket, but the basic steps are the same. First, remove any labels, wash the bottle, and place it flat on a stable surface. Determine the height you want for your basket and measure it from the bottom of the bottle. Mark a straight line all the way around the container using a ruler. For an additional chic touch, use the bottle cap to trace half circles along the straight line, which will leave you with a beautiful scalloped edge to cut out. Cut away the top of the bottle with a precision knife. In a pinch, you can use scissors, although it's easier to make meticulous cuts with a knife. 

To create built-in plastic handles from the start, trace two half circles to make a rainbow shape on each side of the bottle coming up from the line you drew to mark the top of your basket (a protractor can help make this perfect). When you cut away the bottle, follow the half circles, leaving the ends of each "rainbow" connected to the basket. To add handles after the basket has been cut out, hot glue them to the finished product or drill two small holes on each side of the bottle and thread ribbon or string through them. Finally, decorate the basket however you wish. Paint it, leave it plain, or use a hot glue gun to cover the surface with fabric, plastic flowers, a pretty plaited rope, or any other accessories you fancy.