10 Ways to Organize DVDs {Organizing Tips and Tricks}

It's still January, so it's still "organizing season" in my mind. One thing I've noticed recently is that our DVD collection is a little out of control. My kids seem to own a copy of just about every kids' movie ever made. I hope to pare down some of the discs we don't watch or need...and reorganize the ones we keep. For today, here are some Organizing Tips on Ways to Organize DVDs.

As always, please be sure to Pin from the original source.

DVDs in Sleeves via Ask Anna

DiscSox  from The Container Store

Popsicle Stick Filing System via Turnstyle Vogue

DIY Chalkboard Instagram Photo Display

This post brought to you by Martha Stewart Crafts® and Plaid.// I'm easing back into creative blogging after taking an extended maternity leave, and I am so excited to show off today's post, a DIY Chalkboard Instagram Photo Display, made with Chalkboard Paint and other items from the new line at Martha Stewart Crafts®. What do you get when you mix a thrifted cabinet door, some instagram prints, and some super-fun chalkboard paint?

I don't know about you, but I seem to take more photos with my phone than my Nikon lately. I don't want all those special moments living forever on my phone screen, so I decided to come up with a way to display our family memories where we can all enjoy them.

Don't have an Instagram account? Don't worry, I'll give you some more ideas for this display at the end of the post!

I decided to do my best to use thrifted items and things I had on hand for this project, so I hit up my local Habitat for Humanity ReStore to browse their cabinet door selection. They had plenty to choose from. I wanted a sizeable display, so I selected a large oak cabinet door for around $10, because I wasn't sure how the laminate would work with the chalkboard paint layered over spray paint.

Here are the supplies you will need:

1. Martha Stewart Crafts ® Laser-Cut Stencils
2. Martha Stewart Crafts® MultiSurface Chalkboard Paint
3. Martha Stewart Crafts ® 2oz Erasable Liquid Chalk
4. Craft paint brush (or see #6)
5. Assortment of coordinating fabrics (optional)
6. Martha Stewart Crafts ® pouncers--these are better if you're using small stencils
7. Baker's twine, string, ribbon, or plain twine
8. Pencil
9. Printed instagram photos (this is how I print mine)
10. Staple gun
11. Scissors
Not Pictured: Sand paper or palm sander, spray paint in your color choice, mini clothes pins, hot glue gun or needle and thread for fabric rosettes (optional)

How to Make Your Own Chalkboard Instagram Display:

1. Prep
Sand, Clean, Paint

I started with my plain old cabinet door. You know, the one with lovely white paint drips down the front. After removing the hardware, I took it outside and sanded it down in about five minutes with a palm sander. I also made sure to clean it off well before spraying. It took me several coats of spray paint to cover up the oak. I figured that some of the grain would continue to show through, but wasn't too concerned because the photos would cover most of it.

2. Stencil
Secure, Paint, Dry, Cure Time

After choosing which of the stencils I wanted to use and deciding on a layout, I secured my stencil using stencil tape from my craft stash (Martha Stewart Crafts® brand). I added my chalkboard paint to a paper plate palette, and used plain craft sponge brushes to brush the paint on.

I did one light coat, let it dry for one hour, and then added a slightly thicker coat. After that dried, I moved the stencil to paint the next portion of the cabinet door. When the pennant shapes were dry, I grabbed another stencil sheet and added polka dots in black and pink chalkboard paint for some extra pattern.

It's important to let the chalkboard paint cure for 24 hours before writing or stenciling on it with chalk. 

I loved the effect! Pennant banners are so much fun--Martha's team is great at choosing fun and trendy patterns and shapes for their stencils.

3. Creating a System for Hanging Photos
Decide on amount of photos, secure twine, clip on mini clothespins, add photos

I took a stack of my photos and moved them back and forth across the board until I found a grid that worked for me. I used a pencil, post-it notes, and a level to mark off the lines where I wanted my twine to go. I was lucky enough to find this pretty turquoise and white baker's twine in my craft stash, but you can find it in most craft stores or even the Dollar Spot.

My grid ended up with space for twenty photos, which is a great amount!

I used a staple gun to attach the twine to the back of the cabinet door, pulling the twine taut (without snapping it). I also left a bit of twine on each end to make a knot, so no twine would slip under the staples. This is where having a nice, thick oak door came in handy. No staples going through the wood!

4. Fabric Rosettes (Optional)
Use scissors, a hot glue gun, or a needle and thread to craft some rosettes as an embellishment for your display. Hot glue onto the frame of your display board as embellishment

There is absolutely no rhyme or reason to any of the rosettes I made. I just twisted, braided, and pressed the fabric until I found a shape I liked. I ended up using hot glue for these guys, with the exception of the one with the button embellishments...I folded that one back and forth and sewed through the center to keep it in place!

I used my trusty got glue gun to adhere the rosettes onto the frame in a pattern that I thought looked cute.

5. Use your chalkboard!
Stencil or hand-write something onto your pennant banner with your Martha Stewart Crafts® Liquid Chalk. I thought about using another shape to stencil inside the banner, but decided on lettering. 

You'll need to "season" your chalkboard with a piece of a chalk before you can write on it. I rubbed a piece of chalk over it and then erased.

Other words: Inspire, Fall, Autumn, Summer, Spring, Winter, Grace, Smile, Inspire, Create
Other ideas for the board: recipes, 4 x 6 photos, favorite quotes or verses on small cards, postcards, baseball cards, business cards

Voila!

What I love about the new line of chalkboard paint is how easy it is to work with! The finish goes on smoothly, and the dry/cure time is true to the advertisement. My only wish would be that it might come in the "Martha blue," which is my fave! The liquid chalk goes on smoothly, doesn't smudge...and it erases with water!

Are you loving this medium too? You can find the Martha Stewart Crafts® Chalkboard Paint line at Michaels craft stores. They also have a new line of Martha Stewart Crafts® Vintage Decor Paint!

If you're interested in learning more about Martha's chalkboard paint, you can watch this brief intro video from the folks at Plaid:

 What would you write on your chalkboard display?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments.

Want to connect with the Martha Stewart Crafts or Plaid team?

● Plaid Website: http://www.plaidonline.com/  
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I wrote this post as part of a paid campaign with Plaid Crafts and Blueprint Social. The opinions in this post are my own.

IKEA Spring Decorating Ideas {Shopping Inspiration, April 2014}

It has been a long time since I took you all on a little tour of our Woodbridge IKEA showrooms. Our IKEA is less than half an hour away, so even if I don't have a big ticket item on my list, it's close enough that I can go up to browse and find some decorating ideas for the next season. IKEA didn't disappoint during our recent trip. The showrooms and marketplace were full of new pieces! I thought I'd share some of the best IKEA decorating tips and ideas from my recent trip. Please forgive the grainy, darker iPhone photos.

It was Harris' very first IKEA trip. I think I was quite a bit more excited than he was, but he was very well behaved...even better than his two sisters! He napped in his stroller, had a bottle in the cafe, and smiled at all the other shoppers in the elevator on the way down to the marketplace.

I always enjoy peeking in at the living rooms and family rooms. The IKEA designers do such a great job of showing shoppers how to layer pieces, add lots of storage, and include different seating options without cluttering up a space.

While many of the Swedish superstore's pieces are more modern in design than my taste, there are always plenty of things I can see mixing in well with a traditionally designed room. And they do, of course, have some furniture and accessories that fit well with a cottage/Swedish country vibe.

This orange couch would be much too loud for my family room, but it could be the star of a kids' play space and media center:

I always want to sit down and have a mocha and a good chat with a friend when we pass by the dining spaces:

I don't know what the quality of an IKEA kitchen would be like in the "real world" as far as durability over a long period of time, but the showroom spaces are so open, with tons of storage. They definitely get an A for the pretty factor, especially the showrooms where the kitchen and family spaces were open concept.

The designers do a good job of creating warm, relaxing bedrooms and baths. I sort of wanted to ditch the fam and take a nap. Or soak my feet in a fake tub. That wouldn't have been weird at all would it?

Of course, my girls were most enthralled with the kids' bedrooms and nurseries. As far as making good use of space for children, IKEA's designers really do top notch work. The layout of each child's space provided plenty of room for sleep, play, and storage (a key ingredient!).

Who wouldn't love to spend time in these outdoor spaces?

I love browsing the marketplace for fun accessories...saw a bunch of new items!

Realllllly wanted to get some yardage of this rustic fabric to use as a backdrop, but was trying to be frugal with the money I had to spend, so I didn't get any. They had some lovely fabric choices!

Some very cute polypropylene rugs that I think would look great on a covered porch or deck area:

Springy baskets for display or storing things...

We brought home a set of glasses, a SIGURD bench in white, a stuffed dachshund for Harris' nursery, and an adorable Barbie-sized set of IKEA furniture for the girls' doll house. Not bad!

I know this was picture overload today, but I hope you enjoyed shopping with me if you don't have an IKEA close by. We are lucky!

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments.