Inside the Baskets You Will Find….

All seven of the kids have a basket. They are in order of age….
so the two at the top are Emma and Graham….they can reach them….
The next shelf has Liberty and Jubilee
The bottom shelf is for Isaiah, Elizabeth and ElijahWhen whomever is folding clothes, they put the folded clothes in that person’s basket…so that person can then carry the basket upstairs, empty it and bring the basket back down.In these baskets on the sink wall you will find….PlaydoughColoring books we swap out with the ones they are currently enjoying….{variety is the spice of life, so they say}….I find that if kids have too many options it creates chaos….at least that’s the way it works in our home….Sewing buttons…{and future supplies as I purchase more to sew}Paint and brushes….so we can do crafts….which we love to do….My toolbox….and spare tools….{yes, I LOVE having my own toolbox, and YES! I use it}Yummy smelling stuff that I use for guests…and lest anyone have a coronary that I spent bunches of money….you just don’t know me! I am the one of the most frugal people you will ever meet. I got each of these yummy things from Pier I for less than a $1.00 each….and they smell delightful and I save them for when we have special company….Folded socks for the four youngest….
so when we are putting shoes on the socks are not far away….Artwork, sorted, dated and marked….so that someday the kids can see the special things they made….I do not save everything….some is posted on the fridge, some on the walls and the other special things go in this basket so that I can pile it up and eventually it will go in a box in the storage shed…..
There is also a basket for hand washable stuff….but didn’t figure you all need to see pictures of undergarments. =) You all know what those already look like. haha
These are our two picnic baskets….we use them fairly often….the one on the right we found at a yard sale and the one on the left at a vintgage/antique store for $5.00!! We think picnics are a bit more special with a sweet basket along to carry our treats!
The big baskets have things like the one on the left has gift bags and ribbons….we don’t usually buy wrapping paper…and we recycle all gift bags we get…..I will tell you what we love to use for wrapping paper on a subsequent post….
The basket on the right has shipping boxes {small} and behind it is Priority Mail flattened boxes…so when I need to send something to Tyler when he is deployed, it’s all there, including the customs forms…..it also has bubble wrap in it…and shipping tape….

There are a few baskets that are empty so that I can decide about some other things that need to go in them….
More soon about organizing for a big family….xo

29 thoughts on “Inside the Baskets You Will Find….

  1. Smart idea! I have a cabinet above my washer and dryer…maybe I could find some bins that would fit those shelves! Thanks for sharing!

  2. Linny, Oh how I love to organize! This post brought a sweet smile to my face neatly placed of course! And we too have our play-doh in a bin!

    Happy organizing,
    Sara

  3. I love organization! But I kept waiting for a picture of the "Catch!" – what had Elijah put in a basket that you had found! :)) Love that guy.

  4. so excited about seeing your tips for large families. I was looking for that when I found your blog a couple years ago. We were 5 kids and looking at an adoption. So, now we are 5 kids and two failed adoptions and waiting. Int he waiting we are organizing and de cluttering. Your baskets are SO pretty!! We do this, lol, but our sad little plastic baskets are literally wearing out. lol I may need a replacement soon. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  5. What a great idea, I love your organisation tips! ๐Ÿ™‚

    My grandmother, a widow, also has a toolbox which she keeps in her kitchen ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. I love the socks by the shoes too! ๐Ÿ™‚ I'm wondering, where did you get all of your baskets? Did you get them all at once, because I have found that if I buy a few, then I go back and they don't have the ones I started with! Looking for a good place to get them!

    Blessings!

  7. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! OK, now I need to talk Chris into helping me build a couple of shelves.

    By the way thank you for the Crazy Love adoption post. I ordered my painting and I couldn't be more excited. I never EVER buy anything for myself but since this was a "good cause" I asked for it for my birthday. What a precious thing to hang on my wall. I would have never found it without your Crazy Love post.

  8. Looks great! Just in case you needed ideas to fill the others, we have baskets for: little purses and wallets (from having three girls under 10, one for nail polish stuff (all the stickers, idea books, nail polish remover, etc.) and one for instruments.

    Thankf for sharing! I like the sock idea too!

  9. Love, love, love the baskets!!! We started this with our laundry several years ago and it's sooooo freeing! Even our 3 yr. olds love to fold their laundry and put it away! Loving your organizational tricks!!

  10. Love it! Did you purchase the storage baskets recently? I've been looking for something similar.

    Also, do you use kiddie art work as wrapping paper? Its cheap, available with so many little ones and makes them feel special to use their art work. Just an idea I used to use in my nanny days.

  11. Thanks so much for sharing. I'm in awe at how organized you are,seriously! When I grow up, I want to be that organized, lol!!! It's my dream, along with sewing and photography:O) Just a few things to dream of **wink, wink.** I love all your baskets, and believe I may steal your idea for after our move.
    Love ya,
    jenn

  12. I love the baskets! What a great idea. With so many kids (we have 5) there are always little things around EVERYWHERE! I am all about organization. Love it!

  13. LOVE IT!!!! We are a family of seven and our laundry room is about half the size of yours. (Really – what were the people who built our house thinking?!) Laundry makes me want to scream but your shelf basket system looks perfect!! We plan to use it and it will certainly make things go much easier. Love the socks by the shoes idea too. That's another pain in my rear. Socks seem to run away when it is time to put shoes on little feet. ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for sharing!!

  14. LOVE IT. . can you do a Memorial Box Monday and then another day of the week do a Organizing for Large Family Post?? Even have others link up their organizing ideas like you do with the Memorial Box post. . make them linkys. . and I loved the picture linky. . made me want to click more ๐Ÿ™‚ Just my 2 cents. . .

    thanks for all your give your blog-
    Su

  15. Thanks for the ideas! Many times we assume it is common sense to do things the way we do them….but you sense "ain't so common." Got me thinking about my own little pick up baskets!

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