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A Craft Organizer Using Upcycled 80’s Music Holders

Hi! This craft organizer project took me a while to complete.  I am glad it is done and I love the way it turned out!

This is my entry for the August Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest.  This month’s contest was sponsored by D. Lawless Hardware and the theme was “Class It Up”.

They sponsored the contest for last August as well when I made the Coffee Station.  I love their huge selection of drawer pull, knobs and more.  They provided me the hardware for the drawers and the wheels on this organizer unit.

Some or all of the hosts of The Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest receive monetary and/or product compensation from the sponsoring brand, D. Lawless Hardware, in order to complete their themed projects. D. Lawless Hardware will also provide the prize package for the contest winner.

 

Finished craft organizer made from 80's cd, cassette and VHS drawer holders.  Stacked in an old stereo cabinet with a new wooden top.

 

Craft Organizer

Now this did not always look this good.  Here is what I started with.

First was a $5 stereo case from the Goodwill.  I removed the front small panel across the top with the RCA logo on it and the glass piece on the front.

 

Craft Organizer - www.michellejdesigns.com - I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders and gave them a cohesive look to create this awesome craft organizer!

 

I primed it, as always.  Then used my favorite Americana Decor Chalky Finish paint in Vintage.  That is the final color from the first photo.

 

Craft Organizer - www.michellejdesigns.com - I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders and gave them a cohesive look to create this awesome craft organizer!

 

 

I also found five different cases.  One is a cd case, one is to store vhs tapes and the rest are for cassettes.  I spent $4 on all of them.

When I first had this project running through my DIY mind all of the drawer units were the same width and length.  But in reality, they are not.

The threes cassette tape holders were the same and the two larger units were the same width.  But there was about a 2 inch difference between the larger cases and the smaller ones.

 

Craft Organizer - www.michellejdesigns.com - I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders and gave them a cohesive look to create this awesome craft organizer!

 

And don’t even get me started on the differences in the depth.  Sheesh!

 

Craft Organizer - www.michellejdesigns.com - I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders and gave them a cohesive look to create this awesome craft organizer!

 

OMG!  How am I supposed to work with this?  I didn’t think they would stack very well so I decided to put a shelf in between all of them.

But first I primed and painted all of the drawers and the cases white.  They looked so much better. I

The top of the unit was in decent shape but I wanted a more updated look.  Jeff built a top to size just like the one on the baby cabinet I did at the end of last year.

I used a very watered down brown latex paint on the top so the wood grain of the lath would show through.

 

Craft Organizer - www.michellejdesigns.com - I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders and gave them a cohesive look to create this awesome craft organizer!

 

Once everything was painted Jeff added the awesome wheels to the bottom.  I didn’t get a photo of the entire bottom of the unit but he added some wood blocs to drill into for the wheels.  I was excited to have it be able to roll if I needed to move it.  It is a little heavy.

 

Craft Organizer - www.michellejdesigns.com - I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders and gave them a cohesive look to create this awesome craft organizer!

 




 

Then we added the fun bookplate drawer pulls, also from D. Lawless to the drawers.  Jeff made quick work of this with his drill and some matching screws.  I love the way they turned out.

 

Craft Organizer - www.michellejdesigns.com - I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders and gave them a cohesive look to create this awesome craft organizer!

 

They really did “class up” those 80’s style cases  and made them look more cohesive as if they belong together.

 

Craft Organizer - www.michellejdesigns.com - I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders and gave them a cohesive look to create this awesome craft organizer!

 

Once I get them all filled up with craft supplies they will be labeled…of course.

 

Craft Organizer - www.michellejdesigns.com - I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders and gave them a cohesive look to create this awesome craft organizer!

 

I also made the custom wire basket for the top shelf.  I love that I could make it pretty much make any size I wanted.  That will be a post for next week so be sure to stop back.

 

Craft Organizer - www.michellejdesigns.com - I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders and gave them a cohesive look to create this awesome craft organizer!

 

 

Craft Organizer - www.michellejdesigns.com - I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders and gave them a cohesive look to create this awesome craft organizer!

 

I just love it and I can’t wait to start filling it up with supplies.  These drawer units make great storage.  Last year I used one of the cassette tape holders to place on my bedside table.  I use it everyday!

Thanks so much to D. Lawless for sponsoring the Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest this month.  We have some awesome bloggers in this group that are so creative.  You will want to check out all of the projects.  You can find them at the host’s blog  at 58 Water Street. 

If you are a blogger and are interested in participating in the contest you may email [email protected]  to get more information.  What are you waiting for?  It is really a fun thing to do.  I get challenged each month and I love that.

 

Old_Fashioned_Milk_Paint_Ottomans - www.michellejdesigns.com - See How I Created These Ottomans from Flea Market Tables!

 

Update:  The Inside

Since I posted this I have had many, many questions about what I am going to put in these drawers and many requests to see the inside.  So I am posting some photos for you today.

Now, mind you when I took the original photos I did not have it stocked full of craft supplies.  The drawers were empty.  And to be quite honest I am still deciding what to put in them.  But these are some of the thoughts I had envision when I stared this project.

I did not open each and every drawer because some are the same but these are all of the different “insides” there are.

This photo is of the best drawers.  They don’t have the holes in the bottom like the others do.  If you can find these at garage sales or thrift stores they are the best!

My kitty PeeWee is at the bottom of the photo checking things out.  LOL!

 

Craft Organizer - www.michellejdesigns.com - I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders and gave them a cohesive look to create this awesome craft organizer!

 

This is what I plan to put in these drawers.  My larger bottles of paint fit quite nicely in the VHS drawers and my ink pads fit in the cassette drawers.  I have a lot of ink pads so this may be the perfect solution for them.

 

Craft Organizer - www.michellejdesigns.com - I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders and gave them a cohesive look to create this awesome craft organizer!

 

Craft Organizer - www.michellejdesigns.com - I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders and gave them a cohesive look to create this awesome craft organizer!

 

Some of the drawers have holes in the bottom.

 

Craft Organizer - www.michellejdesigns.com - I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders and gave them a cohesive look to create this awesome craft organizer!

 

This is the same photo as above but you can see in the lower right corner I have place a thin, plastic basket from either Walmart of the dollar store in it with my washi tape.  The basket is thinner than the drawer and I have been looking for a better basket/container that will fit but until I find it this may do.

 

 

Craft Organizer - www.michellejdesigns.com - I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders and gave them a cohesive look to create this awesome craft organizer!

 

Or you can place a piece of wood, chipboard or plastic in the bottom.  We happen to have some poly-styrene sheets that we cut to size to fit.  This covers the hole so you can add products with out baskets.

 

Craft Organizer - www.michellejdesigns.com - I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders and gave them a cohesive look to create this awesome craft organizer!

 

I hope this answers the questions to the inside of the drawers.  When I get them all filled up and labelled I can add another update.

If you like the project I made please share it with your friends and on Pinterest.  Here is a photo you can share.  I really appreciate it.

 

 I found a bunch of the old 80's cassette, cd and vhs holders.  I gave them a cohesive look  with white paint and stacked them in an old stereo cabinet to create this awesome craft organizer!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

You can see more of what I do and blog about by clicking on the following links:

Printables

Craft Projects

Silhouette Projects

Furniture Makeovers

T-Shirts

 

Happy Crafting!

Michelle

Kathy

Sunday 31st of December 2023

I just love this

Michelle

Friday 5th of January 2024

Thank you!

Cathie

Sunday 27th of October 2019

Hi Michelle, I have lots of the cassette tape cases and I am excited to try your amazing transformation. My problem however is how to cover the drawer fronts. Some have broken pieces of the plastic and there is no way I can figure out how to put the drawer pulls on even if I only paint the fronts. Would you be able to direct me to an easy? Solution. Thank you so much. Not sure this is where to post a question so forgive me if I messed up!

Michelle

Tuesday 29th of October 2019

Hi Cathie. So sorry I didn't see this until now. Could you cut small pieces of something like light weight wood to adhere to the fronts and add the drawer pulls to the new fronts? Just something thin. My husband looks around Menards or Home Depot until he finds something that works. It may be an option. Send me a photo to [email protected] that will help me to see what is going on.

Elgie Cloutier

Sunday 18th of August 2019

This is fabulous! Why, oh, why did I throw my many tape holders away? Your work and your ideas are inspiring! Thank you for all the great ideas.

Michelle

Monday 19th of August 2019

Hi Elgie! Thank you so much. I love hearing great feedback especially when it is complimentary. LOL! I appreciate it very much.

Tina

Wednesday 10th of January 2018

If it is in the article, I totally missed and apologize, but what type of paint did you use on the drawers? My mom actually has some and we are redoing her bedroom. Painting them white would put it over the top. Thanks for the idea and info.

Michelle

Wednesday 10th of January 2018

Hi Tina! I just used spray paint. It is the Rustoleum paint/primer. I love that stuff and use it all of the time! Good luck with your mom's project!

Lynnea Berr

Monday 20th of March 2017

I watched your St. Patrick's day video on YouTube and then came to the Craft Organizer from 80's Music Holders. The white wire baskets can be used in either a Closet Maid or Elfa frame if you can find the racks. I know The Container Store carries them, but I don't know if they only sell the frames. The slotted wood organizer I have seen used for stamp pads, but I see you have used the drawer cassette holders.

If you are lucky, you may find the frames in thrift stores or even along the side of the road on trash day.