Pinspiration: Pantry Organization

I didn't quite hop on the Pinterest Challenge boat like many, hosted by YHL, Bower Power, Emily Henderson, and Making a House a Home.  As soon as I saw all the posts yesterday, I kicked myself in the booty for not challenging myself as well. Sure, I've already tackled at least 5 Pinterest inspired projects, but nothing major or life changing like a new piece of furniture. It's never too late, right? I will definitely have something pretty spiffy whipped up for next Tuesay, just you wait!

In the meantime, this is one of my most recent Pinterest inspired projects. I'll save my blabber for another post on organizing, but I must say this lady has grown to be one organized gal, and I owe Pinterest much credit.

This is one of the many organized and labeled pantries that inspired me. It's not perfect, but I liked the similar canisters used throughout and the use of pretty labels.

I got meeself some dolla store action (just found a new one by my house that is MY HEAVEN) and plopped down abuout forty bones to get enough storage solutions for my pantry, fridge and closet.

Those glass canisters with stainless steel lids? I saw *almost* the same ones at Walmart for $20. EACH! At the dollar store, they were $1.25! ONE DOLLAR AND TWENTY FIVE CENTS! Yes please! Hallelujah!

I also had some smaller bits and pieces that cluttered my cupboards with mostly empty boxes and packaging. Not only were they not pretty, but it's also pretty darn hard to know when you're almost out of cornstarch when it's hiding in the back of your cupboard inside a solid cardboard box. I thought a better solution would be tupperware (ok not Tupperware, but to go containers not made by the Tupperware corporation but still called tupperware by most of the population), but didn't want the blue lidded variety that just scream disposable! At the same dollar store, I scored 10 clear plastic stackable lunch containers for $2. Yup. They were perfect and just what I had in mind! Granted, they aren't super dee duper leak proof so I would never actually use these for storing leftovers in the firdge, but for what I needed them for, perfecto!

I literally have almost no cardboard left in my kitchen. At all. I cleared all the store bought packaging out, and brought in my own. It's amazing how much happier one feels when you open up your cupboard and see this.

Oh, and the labels? I just made those myself with my I-get-by, taught-myself design skills.

Total cost of reorganizing this one cupboard? Under $15. And well worth every penny!

[Update- check out my etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/thepapersociety for your very own custom labels!]