Shelf Reliance Mom: Thrifty Thursdays...a day late and a dollar short :)

So I am typically very on top of my blog posts. If I say I'm going to do it, I am going to do it. I am embarrassed that this Thrifty Thursday post is coming, well, on Saturday, ahem. I promise it has been a crazy busy week with much that has been out of my control, but thankfully this baby growing in my tummy is doing well so I guess that means we're doing great. I'm 32 weeks tomorrow... THANK GOODNESS! I cannot wait until 37 weeks and then she can come on out. Knowing her stubborness though, she will choose 37 weeks as a time to stop letting me have contractions and will wait until the last day of 42 weeks to come. Anywho, back on target!

This month we have been showing you simple ways to revitalize your home for Spring Cleaning using basics that you just happen to have lying around the home rather than having to buy a bunch of pricey organization boxes, planting pots and buckets. I will have to edit this post throughout the week as I finish my spring cleaning project, but wanted to let you see what I've done with the #10 cans so far.

As I told you in this post before we have already adjusted our home quite a bit. My sister and her two kids moved in with us in December. We are making room for our sweet little edition coming our way in June, and now my wonderful mom is coming to live with us so I can be on some much needed bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy. So, we are going from 4 people living in our home to 9 by the end of June. While we are happy to have everyone coming, we've definitely had to make some major adjustments to how things are stored. I want to show you guys a few things I've done as the week progresses. Stay tuned for updates!

A cute birthday bucket I made for my sister. She can reuse it now for
a styling trash can at the office or pencil holder... the possibilities are endless really.

What you'll need:
Emptied and cleaned #10 cans
2-3 Sheets of Themed Paper
Double-sided tape or Hot Glue
Ribbon (optional)
Markers

Since I was trying to use a theme that would be a little more lasting for my son's room, I chose to use pirate themed paper. I used 12x12 scrapbooking paper. Because the cans have a perimeter that is larger than 12 inches, you will have to overlap some of the paper. Have fun using the different size scraps to add more depth to the designs. I wanted to make the look a little more "rough" so I tore the edges of the solid paper. You can choose which way you want to go with that.

Going for a cleaner look? You can apply ribbon on top of where the two pages would meet to make a cute decorative look.

I have used these buckets more than just Storage Containers to revamp a room. Here are a few ideas:
(Pictures to come of those which I still have on hand!)
- Buckets for "spare parts" You know, all of those nuts and bolts to different random things that you are afraid to throw away in case they become handy in the future.
- Buckets for odd game pieces - Don't you just hate when you find puzzle pieces, little white balls to Hungry Hippos or little cherries from Hi Ho Cherry-O and you don't want to throw it away because it'll be needed again eventually... store them all in the same place so you know where to look
- Buckets for pens, markers, pencils, etc.

This is where I first got the inspiration for most of the others. http://imperfectlybeautifulms.blogspot.com/2010/09/gettin-crafty-with-empty-cans.html

- Gift buckets - I really hate paying $5-7 for a gift bag that might just get trashed. Why not decorate a bucket for cheap (or free depending on what you have at home).
- Date Buckets - Surprise your spouse with a bucket with a movie or movie tickets, some candy, popcorn, a sweet note. You can really make it geared for your hubby and add a little bottle of massage oil and promise that long needed back rub. Don't you love it when someone goes the extra mile...its like a what flower arrangements do for ladies.
- Mommy Buckets - Know someone who could really use a little break. Why not create a little spa bucket... lotion, bath salt, candle, chocolate... sweet escape, yes please!
- Easter/Halloween Buckets - Just drill holes and tie ribbon on either side of the can.
- Reuse cans for Make a Mix containers - I love making my own instant meals so its fun to decorate and label a bucket for whatever food it is I'll be storing.
- Break down larger buckets into smaller containers. This is nice so you're not having to expose the food as often each time you open the container.
- *Another Hubby Idea* Target Practice - I guess when they are empty you don't get to watch things explode when you shoot them, but you can paint them or tape target pictures to them.

Some uses I haven't tried but have seem at friends homes:
- Furniture! We spent the night on a bed that was laying on a bed frame made completely of buckets and boxes of #10 cans... BRILLIANT!
- #10 Can Stoves

Ideas from around the web: