Trash to treasure: acrylic storage edition

I’m always a huge fan of reusing things when I can. The other day I was cleaning out my coffee cabinet and found an empty box of coffee straws. Not so much ‘found,’ I guess, since I knew it was there the whole time – but I realized it was something I can reuse.

The coffee straws in question are Sip-Stir Straws from Soodhalter Plastics. The only ones I can find online are massively overpriced from Amazon, but I’m fairly sure I got mine at Kroger. I’ve also seen them around at places like Party City and Liquor Barn (I can practically hear you guys starting to be concerned about my shopping habits) so I’m guessing they’re probably pretty easily available.

In any case, the 235-count box, once you take the sticker off, turns into a nice clear acrylic cup with a nice clear acrylic lid – or if you’re me, a big acrylic cup and a small one.

The bigger half I turned into a brush holder for a few brushes that have ridiculously long handles and always tried to flop out of the candle-jar brush cups. You could also fill it up a bit with acrylic beads and use it for pencil products (which was my second choice). Or put flowers in it. The options are pretty much limitless.

The smaller half I’m even more excited about – finally I have a way to store my perfume sample vials that doesn’t involve them rolling around in a drawer, leaking everywhere! Not only does it keep them all nice and organized, it matches the rest of my setup perfectly.

What are your favorite things to reuse for storage?