10 Things you should never throw out if you have Children

I'm one of those people who is a borderline hoarder when it comes to not wanting to chuck things out. I always look at things and think of a great use for them. Luckily I don't keep everything or my house would be a tip! But here are a few things I do keep because they are just really handy if you have children. Especially if you love arts and crafts. 

1. Toilet Rolls - I have a small tower being built in the bathroom at the moment, and its not because I'm to lazy to put them in the bin but because they are so great for crafts! You can make rockets out of them, castles, they make great chimneys for houses. The list is endless to what you can make out of them. 

2. Coloured Tissue Paper - When I've had certain items delivered in the post, or been given a gift in a gift bag, sometimes they have come wrapped with nice coloured tissue paper. I always store this into my art box, and we have always made such lovely things with them such as flowers and pictures. It saves you money as then you no longer need to head to the shop to by some. 

3. Bottles - Empty plastic bottles are also another good one. Firstly you can use these for crafts, make them into a rocket, cars or anything you can think of. Secondly the lids make great windows with them being round. Thirdly you can make sensory bottles out of them. (See here for a example)

4. Cereal Boxes - These are great to build out of or simply chop up and paint on or drawn on. Perfect for that day you have run out of coloured card. They are also easy enough to store if you flatten them down. 

5. Old clothing - If its not worth the charity shop, don't just chuck it in the bin. You can cut it up and make great collages out of it. If its baby clothes you can always make a nice picture to frame as a keepsake. We plan to do this soon so keep your eye out for it. 

6. Used takeaway tubs - Obviously wash them first but then they are perfect for storing snacks, pencils, crayons, your cut up material Etc. The list of what you can store is endless and they all neatly can stack on top of each other when put away. 

7. Used jars - Ever opened a packet of sequins and the bags ripped to much and they are falling everywhere and there is no way of now storing them? Well I've started using old coffee jars to store them in. They are perfect and keep all your arty bits neat and tidy. You can also store buttons, that last bit of pasta or rice you saved for crafts, glitter, or that open packet of sweeties that you don't want them to have all at once. 

8. Newspapers - If you are about to do arts and crafts then what better way to protect your floors or work services from glue and paint. I kept forgetting to save them until I recently had a messy paint incident and the newspaper came to the rescue. Also don't forget all the fun you can have with Paper Mache. 

9. Wrapping paper and Cards - I've always been one of them people who neatly opens her gifts and so always managed to keep my paper neat. Wrapping paper is usually so colourful and so perfect to cut up and use to make a picture. Then birthday cards all come with colourful pictures on the front and are again perfect to cut up and you could even use it to make your own personalised card for the next occasion. 

10. Yoghurt Pots - These have several handy jobs. My favourite is using them as paint pots. That way you don't end up with it all mixed together and making a horrible brown colour. Then another great thing to use them for is growing things. They make great starter flower pots perfect to grow herbs in. 

I hope I have given you a few things ideas for the future and I would love to know what things you have saved that you have found handy!

Have you or do you think you will start saving any of the above from now on?