Check Out How This Reader Upcycled The Packaging From One of Her Son’s Christmas Gifts

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More Happy Friday

Melissa & Doug Train Cars Tray

Heres a tip for the next time your child gets a toy with great packaging like Melissa & Doug!

Hip2Save reader Sindhoori had a brilliant epiphany that easily transformed the packaging from her son’s Christmas gift into a drawer insert. With just a couple of tweaks, she was able to effectively organize makeup, jewelry, and more! 🙌

This is such a fantastic idea considering a basic bamboo drawer organizer can you run you about $20 on Amazon!

One’s trash is another one’s treasure…

Melissa & Doug Train Cars

My son got a Melissa & Doug’s wooden train car set as a Christmas gift. He immediately discarded the wooden tray and was happy playing with the train. I quickly transformed that tray into an organizer with the help of some small cardboard pieces. The good thing is, I can give that tray back to my son at any time 🙂

Melissa & Doug Train Cars Case

Thank you, Sindhoori, for sharing your simple yet ingenious idea with us! We love the idea of upcycling and getting organized without having to spend another dime. 😍

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Do you have a funny, “Hip”, or unique tip to share?! Fill out our Happy Friday form. Every Friday, we post one submission by a Hip2Save reader (view past submissions) that gives us a glimpse into their frugal lifestyle or simply makes us smile. If yours is published on Hip2Save, we’ll email you a $10 Amazon eGift card!


About the writer:

Stacy has 12+ years of experience as a content manager, editor, and frugal living content creator. She has been featured in major publications for her coupon expertise and has a passion for finding and sharing hot deals. Connect with Stacy on LinkedIn


Join The Discussion

Comments 10

  1. Quinna

    I actually stained and use one Melissa and Doug box as a coffee table tray. I have another purple one that had paper dolls and I covered the edges with coordinating contact paper and use it for jewelry on my dresser.

  2. EmilyMab

    Great job! I can’t bring myself to throw away stuff like that either, I actually repurposed all my target beauty boxes into a perfect organizer for my huge desk drawer. One for tape, one for batteries, etc. Makes my life so much easier, no more rummaging around to find what I need. Thanks Marie Kondo for the incredibly simple yet brilliant idea of putting everything in its own box!! 😄

  3. Momof3superkids

    Good idea! Those trays are really nice.Nicely repurposed 👍

  4. Couponanimal

    Great idea! When my daughter outgrew her chunky knob puzzles, I superglued the pieces of 2 Melissa & Doug puzzles inside their slots. I hung them on the wall and she uses them as a coat rack and necklace holder.

    • chenga57

      I love this idea!!

    • Sallys

      awesome idea! I bet that is so cute!

  5. brittanyrunda

    I did this with the same toy packaging only I used it for my sewing stuff!

  6. Lisa

    We used one like this to sort the lego pieces for a big build

  7. Lynne

    Simple, yet awesome!! Thank you =)

  8. Gigi

    I got wine from Costco in a wooden box with 4 compartments….one for each of 4 bottles. I use it now to store/organize our clean masks.. There is one section for each of us.

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