EASY DIY: 10 MINUTE HOMEWORK CADDY

I'M NOT A DIY PERSON. SOME GIRLS CAN TAKE SOME BOTTLE TOPS AND A PIECE OF STRING AND CREATE A KATE SPADE LOOK-A-LIKE NECKLACE.

But not me. Unless it's super simple, quick and easy, I've got no hope. Luckily, this little 10 Minute Homework Caddy is all three!

So Missy's art cupboard has been overflowing for a while now, and I've been wracking my brains for an easier way to sort it all out neatly.

After jumping on Pinterest, I found heaps of really awesome ideas - but none that I could actually create myself because I couldn't for the life of me find the right 'ingredients'.




I often have this problem doing DIY stuff - you've got to get the materials just right or it won't work.

So, eventually, after several unproductive shopping trips, I came up with a few ideas for a Homework Caddy - or Art Caddy for those of us with preschoolers.




And that's what I'm going to share with you today - a couple of really easy ideas, so you can quickly organize your own - it really won't take you longer than about ten minutes.

And don't forget - yours won't look the same as mine - but it'll be perfect and spot on for your style :)

10 MINUTE HOMEWORK CADDY:
 
I used a white wooden tray I had sitting in the cupboard as a base.

You could use a plastic or melamine tray, a platter with a lip or flat sided serving bowl - it depends how often you want to move it around, and whether you want the kid's to be able to move it too.




Mine had an ugly design on the bottom, so I cut out a square of wrapping paper to cover it. This isn't a forever homework caddy, and I've got a whole roll of that paper, so if I have to replace it in a few months, I'm not phased :)

I used a couple of jars I had in the cupboard and wrapped some baker's twine around them - it gives them a little grip but mainly just looks pretty.

And I bought a couple of candle holders from the dollar store to hold some chalk and pencils.




These little tea light holders, by the way, are the perfect size to hold heaps of different art supplies, so if you're thinking of making up a tray like this, check some out.

And to finish it off, two little ramekins are holding the rest of the chalk, and sticky notes (see top photo).



What I love most about this little caddy, is once I get sick of it, (which I know I will), I can pull it all apart - no harm done!

The jars can go back to holding jam, the string can get used for something else, the bowls can go back in the cupboard, and I can use the little candle cups to hold Missy's hair clips in her room.

AND A FEW OTHER IDEAS:

While I was brainstorming ways to organize Missy's art supplies, I had a few other ideas too - just thought I'd share to help you guys get organized too!




If you're not keen on trusting your kids with ceramics, this one is all plastic. I just used my peg basket and a couple of little plastic containers.




And this is how I was keeping Missy's textas - in an icy-pole mould. Mine is a super tiny one, so only two textas fit in each hole, but the bigger, normal ones would be perfect.

Kmart also had a few great solutions I thought I'd share  (if you're not in Australia checkout Walmart or Target for similar items.)

They had a white tray similar to mine but plastic here, a bamboo cutlery tray that would be awesome as a Homework Organizer here, and a little rustic rack here. They also had a lovely cleaning and sink caddy here and here, and a cool dish organizer that would have space for books to sit here.

This metal cutlery holder here, and this candle holder here would also work well for this project. By the way, I'm in no way affiliated with Kmart, they just had some great solutions!

I hope this gives you a few ideas on how to make a Homework or Art Caddy for your kids!

And, just because I could (lol... I got a little carried away...), I did up a few grownup desk organizer versions for us too!


GROWNUP DESK ORGANIZERS:




Super simple, with a chalkboard for weekly meal planning (forgot to add the chalk pen!), some notepaper, a journal, a few sharpies and pens. Plus something decorative - my white horse bookend.



A little more business like with plenty of stationery, diaries and notebooks and a couple of spring daffodils :)




And this one, which is much more me!

So there we go :) Hope this gave you a few ideas to get your kids (and yourselves!) organized. As ever, if you end up making one of these yourself, I'd love to see a few photos!

Check out more of my Back To School Series to help you make things even more hassle free!

Free Printable School Organizers
62 Back To School Organizing Tips
The Top 36 Things to Label for School

All the best,

Eliza.