New Ironing Board Cover, x2

My ironing board cover was getting really nasty.  I've had it for a long time (3 moves worth or so!), and it finally started getting actual holes in it.  It was time to break down and make a new cover.   I actually made this over a month ago before my life started revolving around wiring our house...but that's a story for another day.

While I was at it, I also made a cover for Dolly's ironing board...thank you, Mom, for saving it from my childhood!

The trouble with closets.

One of the things I missed most about our old house was the storage.  We custom-designed each closet, and everything had it's place. 

A few weeks ago, my cute husband decided to add shelving in the playroom closet (we set aside the fourth bedroom for toys for now, yippee!)  We learned how to create custom shelving when we built our first home, which has been the blessing that keeps on blessing us.   We discussed what we wanted to keep in the closet, and designed the look together.  He did all the cutting and installing...I spackled, sanded, and painted everything. 

The closet started with your typical builder grade shelf and a rod.

First we added a second upper shelf and also a lower shelf.

My little guy loved being able to help Daddy.

A divider and additional shelves were added.

And now all of this stuff:

Looks like this.  Ahhh, much better.

Now onto the next project.

Linked to Blue Cricket Design, and Someday Crafts.

Keeping myself focused

 

Staying focused on what needs to be done, what I want to do, and how to get there is tricky...especially with four children to mother and at least minimal housekeeping.  I saw this idea for using clipboards to organize a crafty desk area at Ashley's Thrifty Living. Instead of a cork bulletin board, she put up several clipboards over her desk.  I bookmarked the post, and was able to make my own version.

Using white cardstock, some scrapbooking paper I had on hand, and some decoupage medium, I prettied up some cheap clip boards I picked up at WalMart for about $4.

I wanted them to be white so that the paper showed up better.  Plus, cardstock is easier to decoupage if you are in a hurry.

I added some labels to keep myself organized.  "Crafty to do", "Inspiration", and "House projects to do". 

Ready for keeping me more focused as I try to keep up with my to-do list.

Linked to:
Today's Creative Blog, Someday Crafts, and Blue Cricket Design.

Label Making Tutorial, Pickup style

I have found that if you want to be organized, you have to play the part...even if you aren't to begin with.  What am I referring to?  Labels, my friends.  If you label baskets and bins, then items have a home.  And magically, they start to find their way back to that said home.  Another plus, it gives the illusion of organization when necessary (like in staging your home for sale, for instance!) 

Now if you are like me, one of those expensive label makers is not an option.  I also have a stack of scrapbook paper my mom snatched up for me for free (have I mentioned how great my mom is lately?)  So I came up with a way to make labels that was really cheap, meaning I made them with stuff I had on-hand, with the exception of the laminating plastic.

You'll need:

• your computer and printer
• white cardstock
• decorative paper in a pattern you love
• paper glue or glue dots
• hole punch
• scrapbooking paper cutter, if possible
• paper scissors
• skinny zip ties
• a roll of self-laminating plastic

I looked at purchasing a packet of expensive self laminating plastic in the office supplies aisle at wally world...and then I cruised down the closet organizing aisle and found this:

I got a huge roll of this fun stuff for half the price of the spendy stuff...and got about 3 times the laminating power.  So, try the shelf liner area, and you should find some there. 

I also tend to add little illustrations with pen and colored paper, but those are completely optional.  I do it mostly for my little kids who can't read yet.  I also did it for my color-challenged family when it comes to sorting laundry.

Step one.  Determine what needs to be labeled.  I emptied my kids' closets.  We sorted through all their junk stuff, and decided what was staying and going.  Then we grouped things into categories.


Step two.  Make some labels on your computer.  I am no expert, but I found that if I used a two column format, with enough space in the middle, that I could cut them out and everything looked even.  I have uploaded a basic example HERE.  You just have to cut and paste for your own label needs.  I used my favorite font, Quicksand.  Print the documents on white cardstock. 


Step three.  Cut out the labels so you have equal distance from the lettering on all four sides.  I also left room for illustrations.  The key is to keep them all about the same size.  Glue the cardstock label onto your pretty paper, and repeat cutting an equal distance so you have a fun boarder all around.

Step four.  Punch out holes for your zip ties.  You can skip this if you are adhering your labels in another fashion. 

Step five.  Laminate your labels.  I did this by carefully removing the paper backing from the plastic, and then laying out my labels with enough space in between.

Now, CAREFULLY apply plastic to the other side of the labels, making sure to minimize any air bubbles or wrinkles.


Step six.  Cut out your labels, leaving a thin strip of plastic on all sides. 

Step seven.  Use your scissors to open a small place for the zip ties to go through, and then use zip ties to attach labels to baskets.  (Or in the case of my laundry  labels, I used poster gum to adhere them to the wall.)

There you have it, a fun way to label your stuff and get more organized, or at least pretend that you are! 

Here are the laundry sorting labels:

Close up:

These labels have helped a lot...if only for my mental health. What do you do to attempt organization at your house?

Featured on One Pretty Thing.  

Linking up to Be Different...Act Normal, Creative Jewish Mom,  Under the Table and Dreaming,  The Girl Creative, Sew Can Do, Skip to My Lou,  Today's Creative Blog, and Shannon Makes Stuff.

Girls' Hair Stuff Organization

A lot of July was spent going through closets and drawers, taking care of all the hidden messes in our home that I allowed to slide while in school.  One of the worst offenders was the drawer where we kept all the hair stuff for my girls.  Be prepared...it's pretty scary.

So, I divided and conquered.  For all the clippies, I made a framed organizer.  I didn't have a specific tutorial I followed.  For the remaining ribbons and headbands, I used the hanging basket tutorial from The Mother Huddle. 

I found this frame at our local thrift store.  It was the perfect size, and I could reuse almost everything.  I had a twinge of guilt removing and throwing away the embroidery, so here is a photo to preserve it in cyberspace:

I removed all but the backing board, and then primed and painted the frame.

I cut batting about 0.25" bigger than the board, and my chosen fabric about 2" bigger than the board with my pinking shears.   (Thank you, Michaels, for having your Gingher pinking shears on clearance for $9.99!)

I then glued the fabric to the back.  I used hot glue for quick hold, and tacky glue for a more permanent one.

I attached two ribbons equal distances from the center to hold the clippies.

After the glue was dry, I decoupaged scrapbook paper to the back to cover all the folded fabric.

When everything was dry, I fit it to the frame, securing with some glue.

For my hanging baskets, I made fabric labels to organize by color.

I made them with the same method I used for my Toddler Quiet Toy.  I measured where I wanted them to be on the front of the pockets, adhered with some heat n bond lite, and sewed them to the outer fabric before assembling.  One change I made, rather than interface both the outer and lining fabric, I used fusible fleece to strengthen the outer fabric, and did not interface the inner.  I love how sturdy they are.  One tip, if you choose to do the same, be sure to trim down the fleece about 0.5" from the tops, so you don't have as much bulk to fold down.

Here are my finished baskets close up:

I spent a total of $6 for this project.  I used scraps and materials I had on hand, and only had to purchase the thrift store frame and cafe rod.  My girls are having fun picking what to hair accessories to wear that matches their outfit.

And the best part, our drawer now looks like this:

We've also been going through other scary drawers, closets, and other places prone to clutter. It has been very liberating.
 

UPDATE:  I was asked to share my favorite tips on saving money on craft supplies at FaveCrafts Blog.  You can see all the answers HERE.

Linked up with A Few of My Favorite Things, Just a Girl, Tatertots and Jello, Kojo Designs,  Creative Jewish Mom, Under The Table and Dreaming, The Girl Creative, and Skip to My Lou.
Featured on Tatertots and Jello! 

Destri added more the tutorial I used for the hanging buckets.  You can see the whole post HERE.  She even referenced my version.  Thank you!