School Supplies Cabinet {ReOrganize}

School has been in full swing for just about two weeks.  I'm feeling the pinch of my disorganization when homework time rolls around.  We moved in the beginning of the summer.  I'd say we did well getting things unpacked and diving into our home remodeling projects.  Not so good was the organization... especially of this little cabinet.  It sits in a fairly central spot in our home, just outside the kitchen near a dining area. And is collects EVERYTHING!  

For the last few years our school has sent home all the school supplies that the kids used throughout the school year.  This includes boxes of broken crayons, highlighters, half-dry glue sticks, and the list goes on.  Having three kids in elementary school has led us to quite a collection. This cabinet is the graveyard for all that and more.

This is more of what was in the cabinet before I started taking pictures.

• Knowing what I wanted to use the cabinet for was the first step. Since this cabinet is so centrally located in our home, it's a great place to have odd things on hand.  Things like more batteries for the Wii Remote, lightbulbs, and activities for the toddler, as well as homework supplies.  It may not work for everyone, but this is what helps our family function.
• Secondly I pulled everything out and sorted it into the usual KEEP, DONATE, TRASH piles.  
• We organized items into like piles.  Sorted through the mountain of crayons and markers and stowed all the extras in storage bins down in the craft area in the basement.

Now we are left with just what we need.  Everyone can find what they need when it comes time to work on school projects and I can open the cabinet without creating an avalanche.  We have duplicates of marker and colored pencil jars since they are so popular.  Better to have two than to have to referee a fight.

I had a dozen or so mason jars I picked up at a garage sale.  They work perfect for holding markers and pencils.  Everything is labeled with chalk board tags so it's easy to find.

I love my chalk board tags made from bead board.  I just wrapped the neck of each jar with sisal twine and added the tag.  You can check out my Etsy Shop to find them : )

I picked up several of these baskets at a garage sale and they work great to hold the larger items like glue bottles, stickers, watercolors and flashcards.  

I ran out of cute storage on the bottom shelf.  But the see through containers with labels at least make it nice and clean looking.

Now I can't wait to paint this little guy.  The drab brown is bringing me down. I've had the shelf forever and have always meant to paint it, but never got around to it.  What would be cute? I'm leaning towards turquoise or something for a bright pop of color!

For now though I keep working on the kitchen!  

I'll be linking up the parties listed in my sidebar : )