Introduction: Small Items - Pill Bottles - Wall

About: Tinkerer, Maker, Futurust, Robot
In our modern lives, we end up owning a lot of small items (usb dongles, memory cards/sticks, adapters) which always accumulate around our work space.

Aside from the mild annoyance of the scattered nature of the stuff, we also end up displacing a lot of them, or mixing them up with other items, never to find them when needed the most.


This issue prompted me to reuse a trick my grandfather used in his shop; with the vital difference of using plastic pill bottles instead of baby puree jars made of glass.

Another difference was that he used wood screws or nails to secure the screw-tops to a wood wall or a beam.

Step 1: The Resources

The things we will need:

1. Unused, plastic pill bottles, whichever size and color we have.

2. Scizzors, to cut stuff.

3. Velcro strips with sticky backing, found in arts/crafts and fabric stores.

4. Paper to cut labels out of.

5. Any sort of thicker pen or marker.

6. A screwdriver, or any stick or chisel-like implement.

7. Glue.

8. A ruler.

9. (optional, and not pictured) Masking tape.

Step 2: Measuring and Cutting

Measure the width of the label currently on the bottle. This one is 6 centimeters wide.

I chose to add a label because the glued pharmacy label was hard to peel, and it was easier to just cover it.

Some pill bottles are non-see-through, and if you can peel the labels, you can just write on the bottles, to note the items inside.

If you had to (like me), cut a label from the sheet of paper.

Step 3: Glue or Tape Your New Label

Using glue or masking tape, secure your new label to the bottle.

Glue or tape the beginning and the end of the paper label, to secure it to the body of the bottle.

Step 4: Flip the Top Paper Label (if Available)

Some bottles have a paper label on the top, which you can flip and write on.

Use the screwdriver to gently pry off the label.

Use the marker (or pen) to describe the items inside, and place the label back inside, with your sign showing.

Alternatively, if you have a simple mono-color top, just write on it with a marker.

Step 5: Labeling and Adding Your Items

Place your items inside!

If you haven't done so yet, describe the contents of the bottle on the side label.

Be creative! Draw the items, use color, etc.

Step 6: Add the Velcro Tape

Time to use the sticky Velcro tape!

Peel the backing of the tape and stick one of the two sides on the bottom of the bottle.

Use the opposite side of the tape by sticking it to a wall in your shop or a garage.

Alternatively, use hot glue to place a magnet instead of the Velcro, and stick them to your fridge.

(Sidenote: This can be used to stick your real pill bottle to your fridge, so you never lose them)

Feel free to arrange the bottles in any pattern, hex, X-Y grid, scattered, etc.