organization

Guest Post: What to do with Old Christmas Cards

January 7, 2013

Things have been quiet here on my blog! We’ve been busy settling into the new year and celebrating a big birthday….

Emmie turned 7!!

We’re a week into January and I’m still trying to get 2012 all packed up and put away. So today I’m over at Lori May Interiors with a guest post that should help us all achieve that!

Confession time….my Christmas cards are in a paper bag, sitting on my kitchen floor. Do you still have your Christmas cards lingering around your kitchen or living room like me? Pop over to Lori’s blog today for some creative ideas on what to do with them!

I hope you get inspired today!

jen

By Jen Leave a Comment Filed Under: Christmas, guest post, organization

Favorite Things…Chalkboard Pens

September 17, 2012

Writing on a chalkboard can be messy. Chalk dust gets everywhere. And the letters sometimes smudge if your hand lays on the writing.

The solution? A chalkboard pen!

I just recently purchased my first chalkboard pen. Maybe I’m slow to be on board with these….but I love them!

The precision that you can achieve with a chalkboard pen is much greater than with regular chalk. Dear Lilly created this on her chalkboard. Surely she used a chalkboard pen!

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I have the pen, and I have several chalkboards… now I just need to practice {and practice and practice and practice} my handwriting so I can create something as beautiful as Dear Lillie.

I recently purchased this cute caddy from Target’s new Threshold collection, and was was able to try out my pen.

Writing with it was so simple! And when I made a mistake, a wet paper towel cleaned if off in no time!

I can’t wait to try my pen out on other chalk boards! And maybe one of these days, I will have mastered some fancy writing to create a piece of art like Dear Lilly!

jen

linking up to:

nifty thrifty things, home stories a to z, my uncommon slice of suburbia, todays creative blog, savvy southern style, primp, aka design, the 36th avenue, the shabby creek cottage, serenity now, shabby nest, at the picket fence, chic on a shoestring

By Jen 9 Comments Filed Under: favorite things, organization, shopping

Redecorating for a New Client

April 14, 2012

This week I had the pleasure of heading to Seattle to help Jamie, a new client, with her family room. Jamie and her family live in a fun, older home that has lots of charm. She was overwhelmed with the placement of her furniture and the look of her shelves, so she invited me to help her out. Nothing new was purchased for the transformation. I just rearranged existing furniture and frames and created a shopping list for Jamie for filler items (such as end tables, a throw, and pillows to add some color to the couches…). So the room isn’t complete yet…..but we sure made some progress. Now let’s look at some pictures.

Lots of frames were displayed on the shelves…

And the narrow room made furniture placement a challenge. The couches were facing each other, perpendicular to the fireplace and tv.

Before we started, I had Jamie walk me through her house so I could see if there was any home decor that we could ‘borrow’ from other rooms to decorate her shelves. After I spotted some potential items, I cleared off all of the shelves, creating a blank slate for decorating.

When the shelves were cleared, I was able to easily assess the different sized pictures that I had to work with. I created a gallery wall on the floor by arranging and rearranging the frames until I came up with a display that filled the wall space best.

By selecting which pictures would be hung on the walls, I then knew which ones were left to accessorize the shelves. After raiding the kitchen for a few vases and cutting some fresh flowers from the front yard, I created simple vignette’s of frames, books and vases.

Here are the new shelves…

The couches and lamps were moved too, giving the room better flow. The love seat now faces the fireplace and tv….

And the longer couch is perpendicular to the fireplace, in front of the widows.

By moving the couches away from the shelves, it opened the corner up for another chair and side table. For the time being (until a new chair and table are purchased), I put an extra dining room chair there as a place holder.

Jamie hopes to paint the room soon with a more basic color, like a light gray. And she will add in accent colors with pillows and throws to brighten up the brown leather furniture.

I feel like the walls and shelves clearly display what is important to them….family. The room has a new, refreshing look – without having purchased a single thing! Doesn’t it look great?!

Let’s take one last look at the before and after…

Thank you, Jamie, for inviting me into your home to help out!

Jen

linking up to:

stylish once again, i heart naptime, the girl creative, nifty thrifty things, i should be mopping the floor, sisters of the wild west, the sweet talk shop, between naps on the porch, the southern institute, making the world cuter, craft o maniac, home stories a to z, my uncommon slice of suburbia, todays creative blog, tip junkie, how to nest for less, blue cricket designs, the shady porch, savvy southern style, romance on a dime, the 36th avenue, somewhat simple, house of hepworths, aka design

By Jen 11 Comments Filed Under: Before/After, gallery wall, Home Decor, mantel, organization

Shelf Tutorial

February 10, 2012

A good friend of mine was in need of a solution for foyer. There was no place for guests to put their stuff, so coats and bags ended up in a pile next to the couch. I was certain I could help her come up with a solution! So I started doing some measuring and research and came across this on Pinterest. The Idea Room made this shelf for her bathroom. Isn’t it darling!

With a few modifications, something like this would fit perfectly behind my friend’s front door! After a bit more measuring and a trip to Lowes, I made this…

I’ve had a lot of people inquiring about making one for themselves, so I thought it was time to write a tutorial!

Supply List for Top Shelf

1 x 12 – back of shelf (mine was 32″ long)

1 x 4 - top of shelf (use a 1×6 for a deeper shelf)

3 and 5/8 inch crown molding

1 and 1/8 inch decorative molding

miter saw

nail gun

caulk and wood filler

masking tape

primer/paint or stain

hooks

supplies

1. Cut the 1×12 to the desired length (mine was 32″ long).

2. Cut crown molding to fit length of your board (Note: this was my first time cutting crown molding so I am not an expert in this field. I viewed a few You Tube videos to learn the best way to accomplish this task). The back of the crown will need to be the same length as the board (i.e. 32″) and the crown will angle out at the corners to be longer than the back board.

3. Cut side pieces out of the crown molding. Only one edge of the crown will be angled (to connect with the front piece of crown, making a corner). The back will be flat, as it will sit flush against the wall. The entire cutting process may take awhile if you are new at this like me. Look at my pile of mis-cut pieces!

4. I used masking tape to hold my pieces of molding together. This allowed me to make sure the corners matched up nicely (or at least close enough!). I’m not sure that a true craftsman would agree with my use of masking tape, but it was effective for me, since I was working alone!

5. When you are finished cutting the crown molding, cut your 1×4 for the top shelf (or 1×6 if you are creating a deeper shelf). You will want 1″ to 2″ longer than the crown molding. Attach the 1×4 to the top of your board with some wood glue and your nail gun. Then attach the molding (this is where I loved using the masking tape. Everything stayed right in place until I secured it with a nail!)

6. Cut molding for the bottom of the shelf the same way you cut the crown. Tape corners together. Then use the glue and nail gun to attach it to the bottom edge of the shelf.

7. Caulk along the edges of the molding. And fill nails holes and corners with wood filler or putty. You will most likely have to sand it smooth and re-putty a time or two until the finish is smooth and flawless.

8. Prime the shelf and then paint to desired color!

This is my new favorite spray paint from Lowes! It goes on evenly, doesn’t spray so hard that it runs on your project AND it doesn’t drip out of the sprayer and all over your hands.

9. After the paint has dried, attach the hooks. Space evenly and screw them into the wood.

10. Attach D rings to the back and hang the shelf up on your wall.

For the lower shelf, I simply used the smaller decorative molding on the top AND bottom edges of the shelf.

The set of three picture frames are from Michaels. They were black ….. but thanks to more Valspar white spray paint, they now match the new shelves perfectly!! I added the ‘hang your coat’ until my friend had a chance to put photo’s in the frames.

And one last look at the finished product!

I was at my friends house for a party a few days ago, and I must say, those hooks can hold a LOT of coats and purses! No more coats on the floor!

Jen

linking up to:

2805, feathered nest, kitchen fun with my 3 sons, shabby nest, at the picket fence, common ground, stuff and nonsense, my repurposed life, it’s a hodgepodge life, chic on a shoestring decorating, creation corner, fun to craft, a glimpse inside, naptime crafters, here comes the sun, raising oranges, funky junk interiors, tatertots and jello, nutmeg place, craft envy, be different act normal, six sisters stuff, the not so functional housewife, tots and me, stylish once again, i heart naptime, sisters of the wild west, flamingo toes, nifty thrifty things, twigg studios, eye heart, my 1929 charmer, i should be mopping the floor, the sweet talk shop, the southern institute, the girl creative, create with joy, a simply klassic home, making the world cuter, diy home sweet home, sumo’s sweet stuff, craft o maniac, embellishing life, sew can do, between naps on the porch, skip to my lou, a pinch of joy, sassafrass salvation, northern cottage, knick of time interiors, home stories a to z, coastal charm, southern product queen, today’s creative blog, tip junkie, vintage wanna bee, hope studios, a stroll thru life, new nostalia, the blackberry vine, our delightful home, romance on a dime, adventures of a diy mom, my uncommon slice of suburbia, southern product queen, not just a housewife, laugh love and craft, uncommon designs, chatty chics, my girlish whims, faded charm cottage, michele raven designs, domestically speaking, southern lovely, the shady porch, savvy southern style, mrs. hines class, the thrifty home, trendy treehouse, polkadots on parade, creations by kara, southern lovely, sew much ado, take it from me, beyond the picket fence, the shabby creek cottage, thrifty decorating, saved by love creations, house of hepworths, how to nest for less, the brambleberry cottage, the 36th avenue, somewhat simple, these peas taste funny, happy hour projects, miss mustard seed, nutmeg place, days of chalk and chocolate, wayward girls crafts, centsational girl

By Jen 47 Comments Filed Under: Before/After, Home Decor, house, organization, tutorials

Pantry Before and After

January 28, 2012

The pantry project is complete. Thank goodness! By removing many of the items, we have so much more room now! Some of the excess went to the Goodwill. Some in the trash. And some just relocated to other cabinets in the kitchen. The end result brings me much joy!

A few days ago, I showed in detail the chaos that was my pantry. (Click here to read more about my pantry clean up process.) Let’s take another look at some before pictures so we can truly appreciate the after!

And now……drum roll please…………

Look at all that extra room!

One of my favorite purchases was the three tiered can organizer. What a space saver! And it’s so easy to see what you have on hand as well! If you don’t already have one, you won’t regret the purchase.

tiered can organizers from Target and Fred Meyer

Previously, things were tossed into plastic storage bins that weren’t easy to see through. The new clear containers allow us to see exactly what is inside! Less mess and less headache!

basket from Michaels, tall canister from Ikea, square canisters from Target

square canisters from Target

baskets from Target

And those labels…..don’t you love them? (Click here to learn how to make the pantry labels.)

basket from Fred Meyer

And here are a few other views of things that were re-organized… The apron/stool/recycling corner before…

And the after….

I installed hooks to hang the aprons and stool from. Recycling was moved under the shelves (you can see it under the shelf, right behind the stool). It is out of the way and surprisingly, we can fit a lot more recycling in there than before!

And the printer and cereal areas before….

And the after….

wooden drawer storage from Fred Meyer

basket from Michaels

And a few last shots of the after….

Isn’t it amazing what a little time and effort can do to your pantry?! I can’t help but ask myself why I didn’t do this sooner!!

Jen

linking up to:

funky junk interiors, craft envy, tatertots and jello, be different act normal, i heart naptime, stuff and nonsense, chic on a shoestring decorating, my 1929 charmer, embellishing life, craft 0 maniac, diy home sweet home, making the world cuter, home savvy, sew can do, stylish once again, under the table and dreaming, the girl creative, the southern institute, eye heart, homemaker on a dime, create with joy, life made lovely, between naps on the porch, skip to my lou, northern cottage, home stories a to z, knick of time, my uncommon slice of suburbia, coastal charm, i should be mopping the floor, the southern product queen, today’s creative blog, vintage wanna bee, a stroll thru life, the blackberry vine, crafty confessions, new nostalgia, eclectically vintage, tip junkie, hope studios, elizabeth and co, my girlish whims, michele raven designs, the shady porch, savvy southern style, romance on a dime, romance on a dime, trendy treehouse, chatty chics, polkadots on parade, sew much ado, take it from me, uncommon designs, laugh love and craft, the brambleberry cottage, the shabby creek cottage, beyond the picket fence, the 36th avenue, thrifty decorating, saved by love creations, somewhat simple, house of hepworths, shabby nest, 2805, french country cottage, no minimalist here, at the picket fence, stuff and nonsense, chic on a shoestring, it’s a hodgepodge life, happy hour projects, days of chalk and chocolate, my romantic home, pinkapotamus, the rooster and the hen

By Jen 45 Comments Filed Under: Before/After, house, organization, pantry

An Impossible Challenge….The Pantry

January 26, 2012

Our kitchen pantry isn’t exactly a pantry. It’s more of a walk in closet. But due to it’s size, it has become a catch all for anything that needs a home. I know this is a silly thing to complain about – having too big of a pantry. It is a blessing, but it can also be a curse. It not only holds extra food, but it also contains a full size fridge/freezer, our printer, extra office supplies, kids art supplies, our recycling bin and so on and so on. And because it houses so many things, it has gotten out of control as of late.

Re-organizing the pantry tends to be an overwhelming project for me. It’s almost always on my list of things to get done. Yet it never seems to get done. Some fellow bloggers are hosting a challenge called ‘Imagine the Impossibilities’, where you tackle the most daunting of projects. So I’ve joined the charge and decided this was my opportunity to tackle my pantry challenge.

Let’s look at some before pictures (PLEASE PLEASE don’t judge me. I’m being vulnerable here, showing you the chaos that ensues behind the closed door in my kitchen.)

Here is a closer look:

The catalyst for this clean up (other than just simply needing to be done) was that our 1985 freezer started to break. For fear of losing a bunch of meat, I raced out and bought a new fridge/freezer combo that day. While we used our old freezer a lot, we really had a need for more fridge space as well (see all of the drinks on the floor of our pantry above…).

So after the new fridge/freezer was delivered, Pantry Project 2012 began!!

The first thing I did was get rid of any unnecessary pantry items. Kids games went to an empty cabinet in our kitchen. The goodwill received a nice gift box of things I wasn’t using anymore. Food that was past it’s expiration date was tossed (I confess I had some hot cereal that EXPIRED in 2006. I have no idea when I even purchased it. Maybe 2005?) The picture below is just a small representation of the things I got rid of.

Drinks went into the fridge. The recycling bin was moved. And bye bye plastic bins! Target and Fred Meyer supplied me with much cuter baskets and food storage containers.