Meet Lil Bits Scrap Jar... A Magical Kids' Art Supply Organizer!
- 3 days ago
- 9 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Every Creative home needs a Lil Bits Scrap Jar
Just like when we craft cakes or birdhouses, when we make art projects we are left at the end with a bunch of SCRAPS. Usually these scraps are made from paper but they can also be ribbon, bits of washi tape, tissue paper and so on.
It may seem at first glance that these extra bits should just go into the garbage can, but if we look a little closer we might find that many of these pieces are works of art themselves!
If we save these scraps in a thoughtful, organized way, they become a wonderful art supply kids and family members can pull from anytime. In fact, scraps are some of the best sneak attack art supplies!
Meet the Lil Bits Scrap Jar.
This is the adorable, eye-pleasing place where your family can stash their art scraps. I love this simple art organization tool because it helps kids build more flexible mindsets, develop their taste AND inspires them to keep their art supplies in good order!
A Powerful Tool in Kids’ Art Supply Organization
One of the biggest challenges in organizing kids’ art supplies is figuring out what to do with all those tiny, colorful scraps that seem too beautiful to throw away but too messy to leave scattered across the table.
A Lil Bits Scrap Jar solves that problem. It gives those treasured leftovers a permanent home, keeps your creative space tidy, and turns what could have become clutter into an inspiring art supply that kids can reach for again and again.
Even better, it empowers kids to become active participants in organizing their own art supplies. After each project, they can sort through the leftovers and decide, “Keep this!” and “Throw out the rest.” That simple habit helps children practice discernment, take ownership of clean-up, and complete the creative loop from making to organizing to making again.
In other words, this sweet little jar doesn’t just organize your art materials...
... it empowers and inspires kids to get involved in clean up and organizing, but it all just feels like making more art!
Not just Any Old Jar: this artsy organizer teaches BIG lessons
Sure, a Lil Bits Scrap Jar is a super cute way to organize art supplies.
But it’s also much more than that.
This handy dandy jar teaches kids to see possibilities where other people see scraps.
That may sound like a small thing, but it’s actually a huge creative skill.
We live in a very consumptive society. We are all on the conveyor belt of:
BUY → USE → THROW OUT
We also tend to buy highly specialized objects that only do one or two very specific tasks.
This can be really cool sometimes (I LOVE my julienne veggie peeler!), but it can also narrow our thinking about tools and resources.
We start to believe that, in order to solve a problem, we need a highly specific product made by someone else and used in a very specific way.
This narrow mindset about tools and resources is a MAJOR wet blanket for original thinking.
Some of the world’s most important inventions- from MRI machines to pacemakers- exist because people looked at tools and materials designed for one purpose and imagined an entirely new use.
I know it sounds a little dramatic, but I truly believe our humble Lil Bits Scrap Jar is one of the gentle first steps kids can take toward expanding their inventor mindset.
It helps them shift from:
“That’s trash.”
to “That’s a resource.”
And that is powerful in both the art room and the big, wide world.
Creative Skills Kids Build with a Lil Bits Scrap Jar
Here are just a few of the creative skills this simple art supply organizer helps kids build:
Look for resources in unexpected places (Resourcefulness!)
Once an art supply has been partially used, it may transform into a BRAND NEW art supply, or byproduct (Even More Resourcefulness!)
Inspiration for the next work of art can come from the tiniest scrap (Creative Flexibility!)
Keeping art supplies organized sparks MORE creativity (Studio Organization!)
Cleaning up after a project is part of the creative process (Creative Responsibility and Discernment!)
Being able to sort between “I love this” and “this is not for me” (Taste and Artistic Voice!)
Be on the lookout for accidentally creating beautiful things (Creative Opportunism!)
Your Lil Bits Scrap Jar isn’t just a cute storage idea. It’s a tiny training ground for resourceful, original thinkers.
That’s a lotta oomph for a purdy little jar sitting on the shelf, amiright?!
Making your Lil Bits Scrap Jar
Okay, hopefully I’ve sold you on the unlocked charisma of this simple studio tool.
Or maybe you were into this idea all along and you’re ready to get making already.
Either way, let’s do this!
This project can take:
10 minutes, if you keep it simple
2 glorious hours, if you turn it into a full Saturday morning art project
It’s completely up to you.
Pick Out Your Scrap Jar Container
You can use just about any container for your Scrap Jar.
But it’s worth thinking about how the jar will actually be used.
When we organize art supplies thoughtfully, we’re much more likely to use them because they beckon to us and spark ideas.
What to Look for in a Good Container
Looks attractive on your shelf
Makes it easy to see what’s inside
Allows little hands to reach in and pull materials out easily
My Favorite Container:
Without a doubt, my favorite container is a wide-mouth 32-ounce Ball jar.
Why I love it:
Easy to reach into
Transparent and inviting
Easy to decorate
Cozy and homey
Just straight-up nice looking
Other Great Container Ideas
Wide-mouth canning jar
Cardboard oatmeal canister
Metal coffee can
Used tomato sauce jar
Used jelly jar
Decorate your Scrap Jar
This is the fun part!
When decorating objects that will live in your home, use colors that make you happy.
I personally love bright, clean colors like:
yellow green
hot pink
aqua
(Yes, I’m a color girlie.)
If you prefer neutral, earthy colors like olive green, mustard, and linen, go for those instead.
Simple Decorating Ideas
Tie yarn, ribbon, or string around the neck of the jar
Add a handmade tag that says “Scrap Jar” or “Little Bits”
Paint the lid
Glue a tiny decorative object on top (my newest jar has a little chicken!)
This is a wonderful project for:
kids and adults to do together
kids working independently
a relaxing weekend creative session
Get creative and make a yummy-looking jar you’ll be excited to reach for again and again.
Place your Scrap Jar where it will actually get used
This seems obvious, but it matters a lot.
Art organizers hidden in closets often sit untouched.
I keep our Lil Bits Scrap Jar on a shelf near our dining room table, right next to our other art supplies.
Because it is:
visible
attractive
easy to reach
packed with colorful treasures
…it gets used constantly.
My little guy especially LOVES reaching for it.
Give your jar a place of honor where it can be admired and used.
What to put inside your Scrap Jar
When thinking about what to put into your Scrap Jar, the sky really is the limit.
Here are some of my favorite additions:
Watercolor paper towels filled with vibrant colors
Hole-punch dots and shapes
Marker-covered paper scraps
Crayon rubbings
Tissue paper pieces
Cardstock scraps
Watercolor paper offcuts
Bits of ribbon or yarn
Washi tape leftovers
Make Your Own “Little Bits” on Purpose
This is one of my favorite quiet-evening art activities.
When you’re not in the mood for a big project but want to get into the creative zone:
Experiment with colors you love
Tear paper
Cut shapes
Add crayon and marker
Stamp and paint
Save your favorite pieces
You can also play with adhesives by securing these itty bitty creations into your sketchbook!
Only Keep Scraps You Genuinely LOVE
This is the most important rule.
Only save scraps that make your artsy heart go:
“Yaaaaaaay!”
If you dump out the jar and discover a bunch of ugly scraps that should have been thrown away seven months ago, clean-up duty will kill the art vibe in no time flat.
Remember: only keep scraps that you genuinely LOVE.
That “I love this!” feeling that wells up inside of you? That’s your artistic voice coming out to say hi. Listen to it. It is your true north on your creative journey. Only scraps you find interesting, compelling or just plain pretty make the cut.
That “I love this!” feeling that wells up inside of you? That’s your artistic voice coming out to say hi.
Art Projects to Make with Your Lil Bits Scrap Jar (the fun stuff!)
So you’ve lovingly filled your jar with colorful treasures.
Now what in tarnation can you DO with it?
The obvious answer:
PLENTY.
Here are some of my favorite projects:
Sketchbook Collage: Glue scraps into your sketchbook and expand your shape language.
Nature Collages: Cut your scraps into tiny leaves, flowers, butterflies, and insects.
Handmade Bookmarks: The BEST gifts for grandparents, I promise!
Expressive Art: Combine scraps with paint, crayons, and markers. These are wonderful projects for kids of all ages.
Greeting Cards: Build a stash of beautiful handmade cards you can reach for in a pinch.
Decorative Painting Accents: Add contrasting colors to artwork without creating muddy paint.
Creative Play with Adhesives: Experiment with tape, gesso, glue, and glitter glue.
Make “Spice” Jars for Creative Play: Mix scraps with beans, corn kernels, and pennies for pretend play.
Sketchbook Cover Collage: Personalize a sketchbook with your favorite little bits!
And of course, these are just the ideas my family and students have explored.
Just imagine all the amazing things YOU will invent.
It’s just a fact… these fun little art organizers unlock serious creativity.
Let’s Get SCRAPPY with our Little Bit Scrap Jars!
There aren’t many tools out there that kids can easily make and use that pack this big a punch.
Our Lil Bits Scrap Jars teach us that:
waste can become possibility
organization can be inspiring
leftovers can become treasured art supplies
I LOVE teaching kids to be creatively scrappy.
It’s important that they learn to:
look for hidden opportunities
create tools out of "nothing"
make their own inspiration
Isn’t it fitting that a literal jar full of scraps can help us do just that?
If you loved this post about organizing kids’ artwork & art at home, you might also like:
FAQ: Lil Bits Scrap Jar
What is a Lil Bits Scrap Jar?
A Little Bits Scrap Jar is a kids art supply organizer that stores colorful paper scraps, tissue paper, ribbon, and other tiny materials for future collage and mixed media projects.
How does a Scrap Jar help organize kids’ art supplies?
This simple art supply organizer gives beautiful scraps a permanent home, reduces clutter, and makes it easy for kids to sort what to keep and what to throw away.
What can you put in a Lil Bits Scrap Jar?
You can fill your Scrap Jar with tissue paper scraps, cardstock offcuts, watercolor paper, ribbon, yarn, hole-punch dots, and other collage materials.
What art projects can kids make with a Scrap Jar?
Kids can use their Lil Bits Scrap Jar to create sketchbook collages, bookmarks, greeting cards, nature collages, and expressive mixed media art.
What is the best container for a kids art supply organizer?
A wide-mouth mason jar is my favorite kids art supply organizer because it is transparent, easy to decorate, and simple for little hands to reach into.
Why is a Lil Bits Scrap Jar a good cleanup system for kids?
A Lil Bits Scrap Jar turns cleanup into part of the creative process by helping kids decide, “Keep this!” and “Throw out the rest.”
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