So my friends Carolina at Moore Craft Time and Angie at The Country Chic Cottage have teamed up to bring a new challenge to the Crafting world….Craft Lightning! These crafty gals are challenging us to create something in 15 minutes or less. Now I don’t know about you but the only thing I can create in 15 minutes is a mess! Speaking of messes that pretty much sums up the state of my studio right now…an UNHOLY MESS!
I was attempting to clean up said mess while trying to come up with an idea for a Craft Lightning project. After gathering up the trash in my studio and taking it outside I noticed an empty cat litter box by the garbage can. At that moment Craft Lightning struck!
Clearly my storage situation leaves much to be desired. Talk about an eye-sore! Not to mention a total waste of space.
Who knew an empty cat litter box was the perfect size to store Sizzix dies? Sheesh, I go through one of these boxes a week. Before long I can have my entire craft room organized with up-cycled storage. This Sizzix Storage box is quick and easy to make. After all we want our time to be spent making things rather than making things to organize our things. Am I right?
*To ensure speedy production it helps to imagine John Travolta and the T-birds singing “Craft Lightning! Go Craft Lightning!”
How to Turn a Cat Litter Box into Craft Room Storage
STEP 1- Grab a Sizzix die and use it to measure where you want your cuts. (The top of the die should be peeking over the box so you can flip through your collection with ease.) Use a straight edge to score and cut.
STEP 2- Wrap box with foil tape and use a scraper to smooth out wrinkles. *This is the tape the HVAC guys use…the real Duct tape. You can find it at Home Depot for less than $10. I’ve had this roll for 2 yrs and have created many projects with it from Mailboxes to Scrapbooks and now storage.
STEP 3- Add texture by scraping or sanding. Remove fingerprints by wiping your box down with rubbing alcohol.
STEP 4- There is a variety of ways you can add color with Alcohol ink. I have a penchant for rainbows and went with rainbow striping by covering a felt applicator in a rainbow of Alcohol Ink. One application covered the entire box!
STEP 5- Once the Alcohol Ink is dry you can add more details to your box by stamping with Archival Ink. To cut down on time I used the Flowers and Text Stamp from Hero Arts. This is my FAVORITE stamp of all time…you will be seeing more fun projects with this stamp in the near future. * Your stamp is going to come out a bit spotty but I think that adds to the charm of this project. To get more of the stamped image to show press your hand on the underside of the box as you stamp.
When you’re done your box should look something like this. I added a book-plate with decorative brads and a scrap cardstock label to finish it off.
Can you believe this used to be a cat litter box? Me neither! I’ve taken one small step towards an organized craft room. However….
I still have a looooong way to go! Call the fire department I’ve been bombed….Glitter bombed that is.
Well at least my Sizzix Dies are organized. One organizing project down…many more to go! I will keep you posted as I come up with more thrifty craft storage and organizing ideas. Have any you would like to share? I’d love to hear about them! I need all the organizing help I can get 
Don’t forget to stop by and link up your Lightning fast crafts!
Have an organized day!
Amy*
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Love this storage idea – and the rainbow effect you did! And such a win-win for you AND your cats too!
Laura / Pet Scribbles recently posted..My Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Awesome repurposing and organizing too!
Jenn/Rook No. 17 recently posted..Brown Sugar Bacon Belgian Waffles
Bravo!!. What can I do in 15 minutes?. Eat cake maybe
. You are a genius, did I say that already?. Perfect size for the dies, and the box is sturdy too I think. LOVE the rainbow stripes!. Looks like a happy place to work your magic, that is a lovely mess, inspirational mess 
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Shahrul Niza recently posted..‘Tea Time Notes’ for Scrappingville
Shahrul I will challenge you to a cake eating contest any day of the week…as long as it’s chocolate. I must warn you though I can eat cake in about 5 seconds
The box is VERy sturdy holds 28 lbs…thanks for making me feel better about my creative warzone!
Amy*
Amy Bowerman recently posted..Cat Litter Box to Sizzix Storage
Amy, I love it! This is such a fun, functional repurpose. I never thought to create stripes in the felt and dragging it down the surface. Must get back to Indiana and my alcohol inks!
Johnnie recently posted..Guest Post: Beaded Hoop Earrings
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