Cheapo Green Craft Bin

Part of the reason I enjoy being Miss Green Jeans as well as Cheapskate Of The Century is that many times, the two go hand in hand. Not always, of course, but that's a dull diatribe for another day.

My kids are the clever ones who came up with this idea; I just follow their lead. They have me wrapped so tightly around their little fingers anyway, I might as well just wave the white flag in the "craft" area too.

Let me begin my saying that I "hate" crafts and "hate" mess. And if anyone would like to give out the Fun Mom Award, they mighta-oughta-looka somewhere else.

That being said, a kid has to have some creative artsy play time, and as for *my* kids, it's going to have to be funded by the pocketbook of frugality.

So the idea, yes I am getting around to that at some point here, dontcha see.

What works for us is to let our recycling bin double as a craft bin. Oh sure, I have to shell out a few bucks now and then for markers, crayons, and glue, but the other supplies come from stuff already used: packing peanuts, cardboard boxes, empty cartons, colored paper. My oldest son (shown below), resourceful boy that he is, is coloring on some thick paper that came stuffed in a box of junk, errrr, something nice we got in the mail. Correction, in the *picture* he is actually coloring on the marker box, making little notes as to which marker belongs in which spot.

And if you are wondering where he might have came up with these anal-retentive ideas, well, we'll just let that one remain a mystery.

The best part is, after the kids have "forgotten" about their Precious Treasures, I can sneak them right back into the recycling bin and all is right with the world.

For more life-changing, truly revolutionary tips such as mine, head over to Shannon's Place for more Works For Me ideas.