Display Board - Cut open a large cardboard box and cover with butcher paper or paint to use as a display board.
Flannel Board - If you wish to have a flannel board, it is easy as pie to make your own. Cut open a big cardboard box and staple on a length of flannel. You can use a worn flannel sheet or just get a yard of plain flannel from a fabric store. Set it on a chair for teaching, and store behind the couch or a dresser when not using. When it gets worn, pull out the staples and toss the flannel in the washer. Staple onto a fresh piece of cardbaord and it's like new.
Portfolios - In my home state of Florida, we are required to keep records for our homeschoolers for two years. With five children, that's ten portfolios that I have to keep stored at all times- ten portfolios that I am not using, but must keep. Here's my solution. Start with two identical storage units: this can be bins, wastepaper baskets, folder cubes... anything identical in size, able to withstand weight and hold papers inside. I use two stainless steel stock pots. Put your paperwork that needs to be stored into the storage units and place in the top of your closet, one on each side of the top shelf. Now lay a clean board across the storage containers. This will give you an extra shelf at the top of your closet, and your papers are safely stowed away inside.
Storing art projects while they dry - If you don't have drying space for art projects, put your projects in pizza boxes. You can stack these until your projects are dry.
Storing supplies - Go to your local shoe store and ask if you can have some free boxes. Some will let you have them, some won't. Just ask. Cut off the ends - not the tops or bottoms - and stack boxes. This way, you can see and reach the contents without moving the boxes around. If you feel fancy, you can cover the boxes with pretty paper before stacking.
