Stationery Binder Organizer

Last week, I made an amazing purchase at Target: a small, 3-ring binder and clear cover pages that fit inside. With these, I created my own organizer for all of the beautiful cards I've accumulated over the years but have yet to send.  When I was in London last summer, I visited some really cool old bookshops and several stationery stores and picked up some unique cards that I have never seen in the U.S.  I tend to stock up on cards when I am in a museum store. I literally have a stack of a hundred cards that I have purchased but never sent. Having them all in one place that is handy and organized will be a huge asset to actually getting these puppies in the mail.




I also thought that while I get organized on all my beautiful cards, I would get organized on all of my awesome stamps.  I organized my sentiment PSA Essentials stamps -- the ones that I use to switch out my monogram and add in a saying like "Way 2 Go" for a graduation card that I was sending -- into the binder too.   Now I will easily be able to pull out the "Happy Birthday" stamp or "Thank you" stamp when I am sending that type of card.

The cards and the clear acrylic stamps by PSA Essentials all fit nicely in the binder and they make me want to write just about everyone I know.  I also added tabs with "birthday", "anniversary",  "sympathy", and more greeting categories to know what I need (more like would like to...) shop for and where I have holes. (Strangely, I have an over abundance of baby girl cards...)

I've been searching for a stylish perpetual calendar so that each month or week I can look at see who I should sent birthday or anniversary cards to.  I would just love to be able to sit down with a cup of coffee on a Sunday morning and look through my perpetual calendar and send out cards from my stationery binder organizer.  The next part of this mini-project is finding that perpetual calendar.  I have yet to find a pretty and stylish one.  If you know of one, please leave a comment here! I even hinted to my friends at Lifeguard Press at the National Stationery Show that I was searching for one. Kate Spade should certainly add that to their new product line...

Of course, then I will stamp these beautiful cards with one of many of my PSA Essentials Personalized and Switchable Peel & Stick Stamps.  Eek! This is super fun for a stationery and stamp geek like me.

More on this project when I find my perpetual calendar!

Organizing Tips

I spent much of my weekend organizing my house.  In 2014, I plan to be uber organized. I am going to be that mom who is on-time for school, never looses a tap shoe (and then has to spend $25 before class to buy them...), always has socks rolled neatly in the drawer, and laundry will never pile up.  I can dream, right?

To really get organized and tackle all the projects I have on my list, I am doing one project a day. I compiled a list of 24 things that I want to organize in my house, ranging from a complete revamp of the laundry room, organizing my PSA Essentials Peel & Stick stamps, gutting my junk drawer, cleaning out the medicine cabinet, and filing paperwork.  Bring on the label maker!  By doing just one project per day, I don't feel as overwhelmed.  It's the only way to keep my sanity as I try to whip things into shape.

I'd also like to make organizing and whipping my house into shape fun.  Mae Armstrong of our PSA Stamp Camp design team proves that this is possible.

Mae designed a magnetic dishwasher sign, which makes an organized and well-run kitchen also a bit more decorative and enjoyable. Being that Mae is crafty, got a knack for design, and an organized momma, she came up with a solution to share for that age-old question: are the dishes in the dishwasher dirty or clean? She created a magnetic "Clean" sign!   Stick it on as soon as you've run the dishwasher.  Take it off just after you've unloaded it.   Never put a dirty spoon in with clean silver wear again!



Mae picked up wooden craft boards at Michael's and used her PSA Essentials Archive Peel & Stick stamps.   She choose the rooster stamp from the PSA Country Home Peel & Stick stamp set, too.  She added a vintage spoon stamp from her own stamp collection. 

To replicate, plan the letters and stamp away.  Then add four magnets on the back of the board.

 

What a simple, fast and usable project! 



I can see different ideas for this project already... 





What ways are you making organizing and order fun this January?  We'd love to hear your ideas - share them here on the blog or on our Facebook page!

Magnetic Dishwasher Sign

Are the dishes in the dishwasher clean or dirty?  It's a never ending question in my household - in many households - and in Mae Armstrong's, too.   Being that she's crafty, got a knack for design, and an organized momma, she came up with a solution to share.  It's a magnetic "Clean" sign!   Stick it on as soon as you've run the dishwasher.  Take it off just after you've unloaded it.



Mae picked up wooden craft boards at Michael's and used her PSA Essentials Archive Peel & Stick stamps.   She choose the rooster stamp from the PSA Country Home Peel & Stick stamp set, too.  She added a vintage spoon stamp from my stamp collection.  (LOVE THIS Vintage Spoon!) 

To replicate, plan the letters and stamp away.  Then add four magnets on the back of the board.

 

What a simple, fast and usable project! 



I can see different ideas for this project already... 

Toy Storage Organization

My 3 year old daughter Molly goes to a Montessori school and among the many things I am grateful that she is learning is the concept of order.   Molly likes things in their place, organized and neat.   If you leave something open, she will ask you to close it.   If she takes something off a shelf, she’ll put it back.   If something is messy, she likes it to be clean.   Yes, she has a mother who has some tendencies of OCD, but mostly I attribute this characteristic of Molly’s to school.     One of my best friends Susan who watched her this summer said that one time Molly practically begged her to clean up her room!

Taylor Urban of our design team also likes be organized, especially with her kids cars, puzzles, books, cars and other toys.  She created these simple and attractive toy storage organization labels.   Now “big toys,” “cars,” “small toys,” and “balls” all have a place.   And they are creatively labeled and decorated using PSA Essentials stamps.  

Taylor chose stamps from Peanuts Joe Cool Peel & Stick pack to illustrate each label.   She framed them against colorful patterned cardstock and hung them with yarn and washi tape on bins. 

The room is uncluttered and her kids can easily find their stuff, even if they aren’t reading yet because of the stamp illustration.   Got to love this neat idea.  Pun intended. 

Back to School Week - Day 4

Today’s our last day of Back to School Week and I’ve been sharing a few organizational household things you can do to get ready for the craziness when school is back in session.  Today’s idea will get you organized with all of your kid’s school papers and everything they bring home.  Start by getting a basket,  8.5 x 11” folders in varying colors, and then get stamping with your PSA Essentials stamps.    Get creative with our stamps – use the Funky Numbers as Jamie Cripps did for different “periods” at school, the A+ stamp from Super Star to save work that you are really proud of, and another precious folder “Keep” from “Keep it up” on Super Star.    You can even create folders for yourself from “Mom’s Calendar” and “Date Night” for your own files. 

This makes organizing all those papers a little bit more fun, doesn’t it? 

Stamp Organization

A few months ago when I was preparing the nest for Connor, I was organizing a bunch of my crafting supplies.  I wrote a post proudly declaring victory on all my clutter – particularly when it came to paper, punches, stickers, embellishments… you get the drift.  I also bragged about my stamp organization.   I have nothing on Jamie Cripps.   In fact, my post just looks silly now.   Proof:

There’s a color system to this filing system!  She’s stamped each stamp onto the folder for super easy reference.   She’s filed each set into it’s own folder – then into one nice bin.  She can find stamps quickly and easily by name.  I am so jealous.

How do you store your stamps?  I seriously applaud this organization! 

Chalk Board Pantry Labels

Just one of the keys to being a great cook is having a stocked and organized kitchen.   That way you can easily find things in your pantry or fridge, and shop when things are running low.   I am constantly digging through my pantry to find corn starch or pepper, it would be so helpful to have them arranged where I could easily find them.   Angie Holden has a solution for me – anyone else who is suffering from pantry mayhem – by creating labels for all your pantry needs.   Best of all, they LOOK great too. 

Angie stamped with her PSA Essentials personalized stamp that says – “From Angie’s Kitchen.”    She used magnets that fit perfectly in the inside of her stamp which she purchased from Target, and painted them with chalkboard paint.   Now she can erase and change them up when reorganizing.    And since they are magnetic, they also double as fridge magnets.   She punched a hole in the top and threaded with twine to hang from the containers.

She also organized her spice rack using the same idea, but scratched the chalkboard since you are less likely to change up your spices.

Lastly, she applied the idea to her dog treat container. 

This simple and easy project is a great organizing solution for your kitchen, isn’t it?   

Command Center

In my nesting craze, I have a serious need for organization.  This fridge and desk in the kitchen were not cutting it.  Clutter kept piling up.  Admittedly it’s not a disaster, but it was still not up to par… this is what it looked like before:

I have been really wanting a “command center” and loved the Daily System from Pottery Barn.  (Even have a board dedicated to this idea on Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/libby_oregan/command-center/).   I used some gift cards from Christmas and purchased the white board, letter and pin board I wanted.  If you are doing the same, don’t forget to order the rods, too.  The “O” for “O’Regan” is from Restoration Hardware Baby.

I made magnets to jazz things up a little.   It took me 5 minutes and I was on the phone the whole time with my father.  So it was really easy!  Here’s what you need:

·         Colorful paper

·         PSA Essentials Peel & Stick stamps:  Date Night & Mom’s Calendar

·         Black ink & your PSA Essentials stamper

·         1” inch hole punch

·         Strong adhesive – like 3M photo mount

·         Magnets

Just stamp the images you want onto your paper, punch out and adhere to your magnets.  I didn’t finish off with a sealer, there’s no need.

They add some color to the calendar.

For my fridge, I ordered chalkboard stickers from Wallies.  I am using these to plan my weekly menu for our family and another to keep track of what we need at the store.

The result of my organization is a few dollars less in the bank, a little bit more organization and total peace of mind for the preggo lady.

Happy organizing!  I was so proud of this project, I posted it to linking parties on my favorite blogs.  Ever done a linking party?  They are so fun.   Check out these amazing blogs and come join the party.

http://www.houseofhepworths.com/ 

http://www.the36thavenue.com/

http://lilluna.com/ 

Tutorial: Photo Holder

I take a lot of photos.  I just finished my “2011 O’Regan Yearbook” – an 80 page book I made on Kodak Gallery that’s complete with 1,027 of my “favorite” pictures of 2011.  What can you really do with all those pictures?  The key is ordering prints of your favorites right away.   Order them in a variety of sizes, color finishes (black and white, sepia, full color), and even papers (matte and glossy) and put them in frames and photo holders when you get them in.    Mae Armstrong on our PSA Essentials design team came up with a photo holder – you will be sure to order and fill this one up!  She’s also chosen to display precious cards and other paper keepsakes in it…. Simply adorable. 

Here’s how Mae went about doing this.  It does involve a few power tools but Mae’s compiled a great step-by-step tutorial here.  First she purchased wooden dowels, wood glue, and a thick 3" 1 1/2" wood base at Lowe’s.   When she got started, she measured a 2 ½” allowance on each side of the base before drilling holes for the wooden dowels.

She lined up the wooden dowels and made sure the spacing looked even, about 1 ½” space in between.    She used a pencil and marked up the middle of the wooden base before drilling to ensure accuracy and to avoid having to drill again. 

The 5/16" bit was a perfect size for the wooden dowels, she was happy to use her new drill!    Drilling does make a bit of a mess, for that reason Mae suggests doing the drilling outside the house or maybe inside the garage.

After drilling, she filled in holes with Elmer's Wood Glue Max and used a mallet to secure the dowels all the way down.  She set it aside and let it dry for an hour. 

While waiting for the wooden stand to dry, Mae dressed up wooden clothespins with a fine crochet yarn.   She picked red and pink.   She wrapped the bottom half of the pin to dress it up and secured the yarn with glue. 

Mae found some extra wooden discs and stamped them using PSA Essentials Peel and Stick Rosettas stamp set.  She punched some scalloped tags and mounted the wooden discs on it.
To give it more depth she pre-cut some cute doily accents for the outer design. 

She then glued the wooden disc onto her scalloped paper and then glued everything on top of the doily accent.  She dressed it up with some puff pearl paint and set aside to dry.

As one of the last steps,  Mae glued the flower tops onto the clothespins and glued them on the wooden dowels. She waited for a bit and then, this project was complete!

Here’s the finished project on her mantel – looks great, don’t you agree?