Thursday, March 24, 2011

berry cheep project



Happy Spring! Or as we say in New England, "Did you check the forecast?" Popsicles outside one day, hot cocoa indoors the next. Never mind the weather, I'm ready to make some sunny treasures.



Never one to discount the possibilities held in a container, I saved a few plastic berry bins from last year.



I gathered a bunch of supplies like decals, ribbon, and flowers and started tinkering . . .





Vents throughout the bins lend themselves to weaving ribbon in and out.



Guess where this sweet oilcloth-type material in polka dots and gingham comes from? (Betty knows!)



A reusable shopping bag from TJ Maxx! The water-resistant fabric is especially useful if you plan to line your berry bins and use them to present foodie gifts.



Sweet mini holders for all kinds of spring treats and occasions.



Best of all, this project is very cheep!

xo
elyse

62 comments:

Lisa said...

How brilliant! Never thought of getting an extra for crafts!!! Love the bins and smile everytime I see my bag!! Hope they are not all gone!

Free Pretty Things For You said...

Featured My Love!!!

Unknown said...

I am supposed to be taking a blog break, BUT, then I saw Elyse had posted and HAD to stop by!! I cannot tell you how much I love this project!! What a beautiful, cute, cottagey, clever idea!! Thank you Elyse, you come up with the best things :) And now I want to go to tj maxx, lol!

Big Hugs,
Amy

Alyssa said...

Great idea! I hear ya about the forecast. Winter needs to let go!!! Great idea and so refreshing!
Alyssa of Boston Bee

My Vintage Mending said...

Beautifully done. Two treats in one perhaps. Berries and a pretty package. Smiles...Renee

Diane Mars said...

You are sooooo... cute I sure hope we meet some day, again love how you think outside the box! oxox, Diane

giovanna said...

beautiful blog! congratulation!
kiss
giovanna
do you want to see my blog?

Unknown said...

they are really nice, what an excellent idea.

Mi Pequeño Rincon said...

Hola !!!! Ando paseando y me encontre con tu blog que esta superrrr bonito, bellisimosssss los trabajosssss cariñossss desde Argentinaa

Odile said...

Vraiment vous avez un blog trés mimi! adorable! Bonne journée et coucou de l'espagne.

hilary@oldhousetruelove said...

you are so damn cute!

Floss said...

They look so pretty, and it's a great example of reuse and recycle too!

debi said...

Elyse, those are just as cute as can be! What a great idea for treats...and we love cheep!

Pink Piccadilly Pastries said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Claudia said...

berry cute!

xo
Claudia

Betty said...

You're so smart!! I love that idea. Do you have a Joanns by you? That have some really, really cute bags right now. We should come up with a whole bunch of ideas for those bags, write a book and make a fortune. teehee

KatCollects said...

Soooooo cute! Love that idea. I would want to put them in my craft room and store things in them : ) I hope you have many smiles today.
Hugs,
Kathy

Sandi said...

Your creativity never ceases to amaze me Elyse!! So pretty!
hugs~

Carrie @ Cottage Cozy said...

Nothing wrong with "cheep"!

OneCraftyFox said...

Very cute!!

Unknown said...

Too cute...I bought three of those bags....too fun! I am sure after this post you won't be able to find them anymore! GREAT project! :) Sandy

fitty's pinky rose cottage said...

ahh Elyse so creative of you and yet the outcome is beautiful! never thought of recycle the bins! lovely!

Theresa said...

I was just at TJMaxx today! I would never have thought to use those berry tubs for decorating! Thanks for the tip:) HUGS!

Jenny said...

I saw this in a sidebar and had to come check it out. What a brilliant and adorable craft! Wow. Super, super cute!

Hearts Turned said...

Adorable, Elyse! You always come up with the most wonderful ideas! Fabulous tinkering once again, my friend!

Julie

SLR said...

ahhhh...so cute!! what a great idea and use of the TJ Maxx bag. how do you keep getting more clever with every project?! you really need a book published with all your great crafts - instant Best Seller!

Jill said...

I love how you worked your magic on those containers~ absolutely brilliant!!

I was just eyeing those bags at TJMax a couple days ago. I wanted one, but talked myself out of it because I have so many shopping bags. Now I can justify the purchase~ love it!

Hugs,
Jill

Sweet Bee Cottage said...

Now that is sweet! Who would have thought! You are a smart cookie!

Jen Kershner said...

Holy cuteness! Love! After sleet/snow yesterday morning, that is just the Spring pick me up I needed! Love that shopping bag. Did you get that recently? I've never noticed it and I'm in there lots. LOTS!

Anonymous said...

Too cute, Elyse! ♥

Jessica Rodarte said...

I love your tinkered projects. This one is too cute! You are so clever! I would have never thought to save those strawberry containers.

koralee said...

What a lovely lovely idea..your creativity amazes me. Hugs for a great Friday my inspiring friend. xoxo

birdie blue said...

sweet project, elyse. clever, cute and practical...my favorite combination. plus, the colors are darling.

have a lovely weekend, my friend.
xo
~molly

Kristin said...

What a clever and pretty use for those containers! Love it!

Home and Heart said...

SOOOO clever and cute!!! Happy Spring!!

Ren said...

Oh my! I just threw two away yesterday! Now I have to go rooting through the trash! *giggle*

Heirloom treasures said...

Lovely idea, I hate throwing these away but can never think what to use them for Now I know, will save the next lot. xx

Alison said...

So darling and creative! Great job!
Alison

Suz said...

It is berry, berry cute, Elyse! You make such pretties out of such simple thing. I love it!
Hugs,
Suz

Unknown said...

You always so creative! Cute project!

Xoxo
Charo

~*~ saskia ~*~ said...

Another super sweet idea, Elyse!
Have a lovely Sunday xx

{oc cottage} said...

Sista-friend...I say this because I care...if you keep coming up with this unmitigated cuteness...Marty Stew gonna put out a hit on you! {she's been in the "pen"...she knows how to deal with MAJOR competition! ;}

gangsta m in the oc

Terri said...

Great idea Elyse!!! I love it..reusable bags..too creative. Terri

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

You can make ANYTHING cute Elyse! Who would have thought...clear containers? Darling!

Love,
Maryjane
xox

Unknown said...

What a great idea Elyse. It breaks my heart to throw away those wonderful plastic boxes. Some of them are so sturdy too. I buy the plastic egg cartons so that I can reuse it for my watercolor painting. I can sit with numerous little bits of water to paint with. When one gets dirty I just go to the next little water bin. I just love those plastic containers.

Karen

permanent magenta said...

Oh Funny, yes, that is the question about the weather!!

Such a pretty project:)

Sharon Lovejoy said...

ADORABLE. I usually turn my little containers into mini greenhouses for my grands, but this would be great too.

Thanks so much!

Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

Unknown said...

I will never look at a plastic container again w/o thinking of you! Too cute for words! Those TJ Maxx bags are da bomb, right?? Always love visiting you and all your cuteness over here!
xo
Roselle

Sky said...

I love them Elyse. They remind me of the corsage boxes that Easter corsages came in when I was a child. Brings back lovely Easter memories of my Mother and Grandmother. Have a lovely day :)

Little Pink Studio said...

Love this Elyse! Brilliant idea.
xoxo, Cerri

Mercedes Spencer @ Liberty Biberty said...

Yet another clever project Elyse! Oh how I wish we had TJ Maxx here.
You're a great inspiration!
Mercedes

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Love it, those bags look like Kath Kidston (Is that how it is spelled?) fabric. Yep I think I need some shopping bags

Carol

Anonymous said...

This is so very cute, and the photos are stunning! Lovely as always!

Anne Lorys said...

Absolutely darling!
This post just makes me smile. :-)

XOXO,
Anne

Pitsimiinin Laura said...

How beautiful and elegant blogsite,
and this easterbox project sooo cute...
I like!
Pitsimiini from Finland : )

stefanie said...

soooooo sweet!!!!

Anonymous said...

Berry beautiful, Elyse! :)

Jean A. said...

These are sooo cute!! I have noticed those bags, but would never have thought of that! Thanks for sharing :)

katie jean said...

You are brilliant! And I love that you used the TJ Maxx bag, 99 cents. So cute and so smart :)

Kristen said...

Good luck.

Zita - Mlle Magpie said...

LOVE this project post!!! I've been collecting these containers for a while to store my ribbons and other craft supplies because 1) they're free, 2) they're see-through so you can see what's inside without the dust getting in and 3) SO eco. Thanks so much for your wonderful embellishing ideas!

SharonA said...

The "makeover" idea is great fun, But the raspberries looked to good!!, I could barely get myself to concentrate on the project!