CD organizer

I've been trying to figure out a good way to organize all of our CD's and finally came up with this. I keep all of our music in a huge CD case, but will keep the ones I want to listen to that week and a few of the kids CD's in this organizer for easy access. We don't really have a place to hang it right now, but eventually I want to have one hanging on the wall next to an old CD player that the kids can use so they can listen to their music whenever they want to. This project was very easy and very quick!




Start out by cutting eight 5.75"x4" and two 5.75"x13" pieces of felt (you could also use vinyl or any other durable piece of material that won't fray).


On one of the big pieces, mark where to sew the pockets... 1" apart.


Next sew ribbon on top of all of the pieces that will be the pockets.


Starting at the top, sew on the pockets (just a stitch across the bottom).


After the pockets have all been sewed on, put the other large piece on the back and stitch all the way around. If you want it to hang, sew a loop of ribbon on to the top.


And there you have it! CD organization complete in less than an hour. I know you can buy things like this, but it's much cheaper to make. And depending on what fabric or ribbon you use, these could be really cute. I just used what I had lying around.

Another Magnet Chalk Board Organizer

So I take ZERO credit for this project but I have this super creative friend Whitney who I've tried using excessive force to have her post on here... but she gave me permission to do it for her... so here I go...
She bought this....

... At the thrift store for really cheap of course.

Its just a picture painted on a canvas with no glass in the frame.  She then just sprayed over it with chalk board paint (I'm sure if it was a real oil painting you would have to sand it down a bit to get rid of all the lumps)... and then she glued some BIG magnets on the back and stuck it on the side of her fridge... like so...

I love the way it looks in her apartment... it doesn't take up any wall space because its on the fridge and it matches the vintage feel of her living room... any framed picture will do as long as its on a canvas... give it a try.
Whitney's Instructions: 
Pretty self explanatory.  Remove picture from frame.  Clean of dirt and dust.  Spray with chalkboard paint.  I did several coats.  Staple the picture back into the frame (or attach it however the frame requires).  For magnets I used about 6 of the biggest one-sided sticky magnets I could find.  These still didn't quite hold the frame onto the fridge (even though it was really light) so I added a really large rectangular magnet that used to be on my fridge as decor.  I think I got it at Target.  Something the size of this...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40386452@N05/5371538348/

Using books to decorate

After Christmas I was trying to clear away some books from our bookshelf to make room for the new toys (a classy addition to the bookshelf, I know). After taking a box of books out to the garage I was still left with quite a bit. So I decided to take the best looking books/photo albums and use them as decoration in different parts of the house. Pottery Barn is always using books to decorate, so why couldn't I?

Organization... tip #3

This isn't crafty or anything, but I thought I'd throw it in here anyway. It has been a LIFE SAVER having these hooks in the kids' room. And total there are 30 hooks to hang stuff on! What more could you ever want. I bought them from Home Depot for about $15 each, worth every penny. With very little closet space, this was my solution for pretty much anything that can hang on a hook... backpacks, hats, coats, snow pants, sweatshirts... anything the kids might need on the go. Everything is easily accessible, and I make sure to put the older kids stuff on the bottom so they can get it themselves. When it comes to organization, a couple things I try to do is (1) make sure everything has a place, and (2) have things I use a lot in a place that is easy to get to. That way I have no excuse to leave things sitting all over the table, floor, wherever.

Organization... tip #2

I have finally come up with an idea that will (hopefully) free my desk and kitchen counter from all random papers, mail, bills, receipts, coupons... the endless clutter that accumulates that I don't really know what to do with. I call it a wall file. It takes everything that might be covering your desk/counter space and puts it on the wall, hidden inside folders, but still easily accessible and easy to find.


Here's how I made it:
-I started with a magazine/newspaper rack that I found a couple years ago at Ikea for $2-$3.
-Cut out 5 pieces (or however many racks there are) of foam core. I cut them to be 11 5/8" x 8 1/4". As wide as a manilla folder and short enough so you can see the top of the folders.
-Use spray adhesive to stick scrapbook paper onto the foam core. Choose colors that will go with your room.
-Place on rack, then put manilla folders behind each. Label for whatever loose papers you want to hide... bills, receipts, coupons, letters, etc.
-Enjoy feeling organized and still having the room look cute!

Organization... tip #1

As much as I like decorating and crafts, it doesn't compare to my LOVE for organization. My house certainly doesn't stay organized and clean on a day-to-day basis (how could it with 3 little tornados constantly running through the house?!), but I'm always searching for ways to simplify and organize my home. So I decided to start a series of organization tips... things that have worked for me and helped make my life easier.

I have a changing table and drawer full of diapers and wipes in my kids' room, but I have found that it's super handy to have a stash in our front room. I'm constantly needing to grab a diaper as I head out the door or changing the baby in the family room while the other kids are asleep in the bedroom. So I keep everything I might need on our bookshelf. Throw it in a basket and it even looks somewhat nice! If you don't have kids, this is a useful idea for anything you use often or need as you're heading out... umbrella, purse, lipstick, gloves, book... whatever. If you put random things that might always be lying on the counter into a basket, it all of the sudden doesn't look like clutter!

jewelry frame

I was tired of having all my jewelry stuffed in a drawer, it was hard to find what I wanted and always tangled up! So I came up with this jewelry frame to help me organize (I LOVE organization). I found a frame at DI and painted it black. Then bought hooks and chicken fencing (the most expensive part of this project) at Home Depot. I cut out the chicken fencing to fit the frame then hot glued it on. Then I covered a piece of cardboard with fabric (just some fabric I already had... you could also use scrapbook paper for a more fun look) and hot glued that on to the back of the frame. Then screwed on the hooks and glued on some decorative flowers (I learned how to make them from my sister-in-law here). And now I love getting ready for the day! I can see everything in one glance.