Do You Have a Catch-All Drawer?

For All the Things There Are to Make!

When I was little my grandmother would put all kinds of things into a grand-kid accessible, bottom kitchen drawer, for hours of exploration and craft possibilities by the grand-kids. This was our drawer, and whenever my sisters and cousins visited our grandparents we could not wait to get to Nana's catch-all drawer, to discover what new items had been added since our last adventure there.

Endless Crafting Possibilities

Old spools of thread (without thread) can be strung, painted, and turned into a necklace, a dog collar, or used to trim a Christmas tree.

String and yarn threads everything from flower leis, and beaded bracelets, to popcorn streamers and shell necklaces.

Twisted silverware (retrieved from the garbage disposal) can be tied together onto a stick, and hung on the patio for durable wind chimes.

Paper and cardboard can be cut, colored on, painted up, rubber stamped, and/or glued with all kinds of colorfully unique mosaic pieces of construction paper, foam sheets, or tissue papers.

Large wooden beads can be glued together and painted, creating waterless bud vases, or taper candlestick holders.

Over-sized metal washers can be painted up and individually tied onto curling ribbon for mini-wreaths, or tied together for Christmas tree streamers or swags.

Wooden scraps can be painted, glue on a family photo, and spray clear varnish (or not) for a lasting picture.

Science for Some

Rocks can be explored, hammered, cracked, magnified, organized and labeled into a private collection (or skipped over water).

Magnets of any size or shape can be taken right out to the dirt pile or sandbox for hours of science with soil-metal collecting, and attraction versus polarity experimentation.

Entertainment for All

Packing tape rolls (after the tape is used up) can be painted to become a bracelet, a super-hero's cuff, a princess' tiara, or a king's crown.

Paper lunch bags and plates can be assembled into everything from puppets and clocks, to Halloween costumes when cut, colored, and painted. For more ideas see "Puppet Shows & Crafts for Kid-Fun Therapies", "Halloween Costumes Crafty Kids Can Make Out of Paper Plates", or "Easy to Make Elementary School Theatrical Costumes from Paper Plates".

Motivated by all the great puppets, costumes, and props we were able to make from items found in Nana's catch-all drawer, they inspired more elaborate productions as the years progressed. Many of our family reunions would turn into concerts, puppet shows, or theatrical productions to entertain ourselves, as well as the folks, while we waited for barbecue dinner, and hand-cranked ice cream.