House Plants and Upcycling

Along the path of downsizing the number of things you own, you man run across items that you find pleasant to look at, but not useful in the traditional sense. When I think of owning less and having more space, I often try to think outside the box to find non-traditional uses for items. This helps us use what we have for what we need at the time.

Many everyday items can be used for things you wouldn't think of. For example, I love house plants. I have many a pot with greenery over-flowing. Many of my flower pots are recycled pots, but quite a few are repurposed items. I have pretty bowls and vases that I wasn't using for their traditional purpose, so I potted plants in them. All you need are some small pebbles (or aquarium gravel works well too) under the soil for drainage. This is a great way to keep things that I find pleasing to look at by giving them a job to do. I also like to use saucers and plates as water catchers under house plants to catch the overflow when they get watered. I have quite a few antique dishes that have been used in this manner. This way, it's not just sitting collecting dust and cluttering up my space.

I have a set of teacups that I would never use. Not that I have anything against tea, but I have a cup designated for my hot beverages. I only need the one. However, I have an old-looking tea set that makes a cute display for cacti. 

With a little bit of ingenuity and effort, you can turn old toys into plant holders as well. Some toys may not be suited for this. Any wooden toy will probably rot when exposed to soil and water. This sort of thing is cute and will add a conversation piece in moderation, but don't over do it if you are going for a look that is more adult themed. 

Here is a cool DIY tutorial from Thrift Core if you are interested in converting toys to planters. It has step by step instructions and photos.If you don't have any of the items listed above, visit your local Goodwill or other thrift store. Garage sales are a great place to find things to repurpose for this as well. However, the thought is to use what you already have lying around.

 I hope that you have enjoyed this post and that you have taken some inspiration from it. If you try this, please share your photos and stories. Any questions or comments are more than welcome.  I would love to hear from you.  Have a great day, and as always, happy organizing!

Upcycle and Repurpose to Declutter

Need more space and less clutter? Don't we all. As I  have said before, with the impending cold season upon us, I feel it necessary to declutter my home. I once heard someone say that a cluttered home is a sign of a cluttered mind. I don't know how true that is, but I do know that decluttering and organizing while cleaning is the best stress buster I know. So, in turn, decluttering the home declutters the mind. Here are a few ways that I have found to help with both problem. You can upcycle, recycle, and declutter without giving up items that you really want to keep, but don't have a practical solution for storage.

For issues of magazines that you cannot bear to throw out (for whatever the reason), simply roll them up and use them to help keep tall boots from sagging and flopping over. The magazines will curl, but are still completely readable. Pool noodles work well for this too.

If you have extra sets of curtains taking up space in your linen closet, double up on them to help keep out cold air. Complementing colors will not take away from the room.  Take some throw rugs out of storage to keep hardwood and tile floors warmer. Place extra blankets on your beds instead of cranking the thermostat when the temperature drops to save on your power bill. 

Stack books that you have already read and bind them together with an old belt or two. Place a cushion on top and you have an ottoman or a small stool that is an instant conversation piece. Leave off the cushion and you have a creative table. 

You can use vintage lunch boxes to store electronics or other small items. You can do this with old lunch boxes that are collectors items as well. It helps to make use of the space that the box takes up. You can also use them to store instruction manuals, journals, or phone accessories. After you have the items tucked away, display the box.

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Old suitcases can be turned into foot stools or tables with storage or a medicine cabinet. Both require you to alter the suitcase, but the results are amazing. It adds an element of nostalgia to the room. The older hard suitcases work best for this. Consider adding some scrapbooking stickers that look like old postage stamps to give character. 

Old t shirts can be upcycled into produce bags, quilt pieces, bracelets, pillows (just sew three sides, suff, then sew the other), pot holders, table covers, etc. The sky's the limit.

I hope that you have gotten some inspiration for these ideas. If you try any of these and would like to share, I would love to hear from you. Feel free to leave feedback or pictures in the comments below. Good luck and happy organizing! 

De-clutter for Fall

It's that time of year again. The leaves are starting to change color, the weather is getting progressively colder, and the smell of pumpkin spice permeates everything. Fall is almost here, my friends. The calender says that September 22 is the official day, but I can feel fall in the air already, and I love it! I like to take this time of year, just like spring, and re-evaluate all of my organization. After all, I will be stuck in the house all winter long, staring at my stuff. I want it to look and feel good for as long as it can so that I don't get sick of looking at it. It needs to be aesthetically pleasing, at least until spring, when I do it all over again. Today, I would like to present an idea to you that works great for clearing clutter permanently. It's called minimalism.

I like to keep minimalism in mind when I organize and decorate. The Japanese have successfully made an art form out of minimalism. For those of you who aren't familiar, minimalism is keeping only what you need or what is necessary. A minimalist theme creates more open space and a calmer feel to a home. Below are some examples of minimalist rooms to give you some inspiration before we move on. I also like to call pictures like these organizer porn.

These are just a few examples of minimalist home decor. They create a clean visual effect. They aren't cluttered, but they don't feel empty either. Everything has a place. This is the easiest form of organization to maintain and the space is easier to clean. 

If you would like to employ the idea of minimalism in your home, I would suggest that you start with one room and work from there. Here is a short list of things to get you started.

1. Start with the furniture. It's the biggest thing in the room. If you have any furniture that can be eliminated without sacrificing convenience or comfort, then do so. 
2. Keep only the essentials. You don't want to keep things that you don't use or don't need. Toss out things that are out of date. 
3. Clear your floors. Nothing should be stored or stacked on your floors. If you can't store it out of sight, donate, sell, or trash it.
4. Clear off all of your surfaces. Items should be stored in drawers or baskets out of sight. This creates the illusion of less stuff.
5. You will want to clear your walls of excess decorations. In a minimalist home, there are only one or two pieces of art on the walls of any given room. Think about choosing simple art as well to compliment the theme you are working with.
6. As you are storing things out of sight, you may be running out of room. Before you head out to purchase a bigger storage container, stop. Re-evaluate the things that you are keeping. Are they all necessary? Do you use them all? The answer is probably no. Down size. Minimalism is about owning less. 
7. Plain window treatments and simple patterns work the best. Simple bamboo blinds look great with this kind of style. Do not put curtains with blinds. It over complicates things. Block prints or plain colors are great for furniture and bed clothes.
8. When choosing colors, try not to go with overly bright colors. Most minimalist designs work with a simple color pallet. Classic black and white are favorites. Don't be afraid to add a pop of color to each room, but do it with something smaller, such as a rug or pillows. Working with a complimentary color pallet for each room adds uniformity to the overall appearance,
9. You must have a place for everything, and everything must be in its place. With this kind of decor, anything left sitting out or simply out of place will throw off the room. 
10. After you have finished, sit back and enjoy the peaceful feel of the room. Without the over complication of clutter and things you don't want or need, your home will feel entirely different. Also, without all that unnecessary stuff, you will have more space and more time because you won't be constantly re-arranging your things. 

Keep in mind that this style is not for everyone. I find it to be a great concept and thought that I would share it with you. I strive for this sort of organization, but often fall short. If this is something you really want to implement, don't give up. Our homes are all works in progress. Over time, with being persistent, you will achieve your goal.

I hope that you enjoyed this post. Questions and comments are always welcome, as are stories and pictures. I would love to hear from you. Good luck, and happy organizing!

Craft Storage 103

I have recently started actively art journaling. By this, I mean that I have started actively collecting materials to use in my art journal. You can use so many cast off items as valuable art journaling materials. There are the scrapbooking materials that are used. There's jessop and paint, and don't forget the "found" items. I like to take apart old jewelry and often incorporate beads from my jewelry making supplies as well. Art journaling is a mixed media activity. It is very easy to accumulate materials faster than you can use them.

 I have a very simple system of organizing my art journaling supplies. The paint and adhesives fit right in with the system I have in place for craft items in general. My past past craft organization blogs are here and here, in order. However, there are some extra supplies that go with art journaling, such as collage components, recycled packaging, and found items. Here are some simple solutions that I have used.

Children's school folders make great "catch-all's" for paper components such as magazine clippings and fit on any bookshelf. They are available anywhere school supplies are sold and shouldn't be more than $1 each.

I found this dish drainer at Goodwill for fifty cents. I later realized that it was cracked and leaked water, but it works very well to hold all of my recycled packaging. Plus, it was only fifty cents. Thrifty!

Small plastic baskets are my go to option for storing "found items". I have plastic bags to hold the smaller items and make it easier to search. The tin holds small metal pieces and old jewelry that I will use. These baskets fit easily onto shelves or slide under tables to keep them out of sight. I purchased this one and a few others from a Dollar Tree store and they were only $1 each.

Organized in this fashion, my art journaling supplies take up very little space and blend in well with the rest of my craft supplies. I am lucky enough to have a home office/ crafting room all to myself. If you don't have this option, may I recommend a sturdy set of plastic (or wooden if you would like to spend a little extra) drawers. 

Models with smaller drawers at the top allow you to separate paper components that need to be handled with more care. Larger drawers at the bottom work well for oversized items and are easily separated with smaller baskets. These are available at stores like Walmart and they often offer the option to build your own.

I hope that you have enjoyed these tips on organizing your art journaling supplies, whether you are an old pro or just starting out like me. If you have ideas, or try any of these methods, I would love to hear from you. Feel free to share any pictures or stories. Good luck and happy organizing!

Organization and Upcycling

Aluminum is one of the strongest materials used in the production of everyday household items. While most areas have a place to recycle aluminum soda cans, it can be hard to recycle food cans because the amount of aluminum used is much lower. Why not clean and reuse some of those cans to help with everyday organization?

Why not reuse tuna cans to organize small items, such as office supplies, in a shallow drawer?

Mount cans to a kitchen wall to hold cooking utensils. 

Mount them to a magnetic board to better manage art supplies.

Use paint, contact paper, and add embellishments to dress them up for a beautiful touch.

These cans can be decorated numerous ways. If you can imagine it, you can do it. They hold a variety of object to help keep your life together. In return, you keep them out of landfills and the environment. The pictures here are just a few examples of how to use cans and how to get started making them your own. If you try any of these projects, I would love to hear from you. Feel free to send pictures and stories. Thanks for reading, and as always, happy organizing!  

Craft Storage 102

Welcome to the second part of my series on organizing craft supplies. Here, I hope to help you wrangle the trickier supplies. Most crafting activities have one thing in common: small pieces. From buttons and beads to stickers and zippers, these tiny pieces can be hard to get -and keep- in order. For all of my tiny misplace-ables, I use inexpensive plastic boxes that have separate compartments inside. The compartments are often adjustable in size and the boxes are available in many colors, but are most often clear so that you can view the contents without opening the box. They are sold in craft stores, Wal-Mart, Lowe's, and can often be found in second hand stores like Goodwill. They hold and separate beads, buttons, embellishments, thread, needles, small stickers, small tools, and the list goes on. They come in various sizes, but sturdier ones (the kind made for hardware) are a bit pricier. I find that the kind sold in the craft section of Wal-mart hold up just fine to the bits and pieces that I put in them.

Make friends with this guy.

Yarn is another item that is difficult to keep in order, especially if you accumulate a lot of it. I prefer a nice wicker basket to keep in the floor. It's pretty large and keeps my yarn on display. If you have more that a few skeens, however, you may want to invest in some of the stacking crates that I suggested using here to help store shoes. They also make a great home for yarn. Another creative way to store yarn is in the over-the-door pockets that most people put shoes in. I have to give credit to indlugy.com for this wonderful idea.

A pencil case is a handy way to keep all of your crochet and knitting needles together and would go nicely with any of the storage options I have listed for you. Pencil cases are a good way to group any writing utensil and I find that they work well for storing jewelry tools, such as pliers, wire cutters, and the like. You can find small plastic ones in the school supply isle for $1 or under. Larger ones may be a bit more, but they last for years. If you want to go all out, you can always buy a tool box from the hardware section with many divided spaces to keep all of your tools together. 

As always, if you have any ideas that you would like to share or questions, please feel free to to leave them in the comments below. You can also find me on various social media networks, listed here. I love hearing from you. I hope that you enjoyed this post and were inspired. Until next time, happy organizing!

Craft Storage 101

Lots of people, both men and women list crafting as a hobby. It relieves stress and focuses the mind. Many even find that their crafting can turn into a very lucrative endeavor when the apply themselves. Crafting requires supplies. Many are small, but a few can be considered big, bulky, and hard to store. Many people, such as yours truly, do not limit themselves to only one kind of crafting activity. That means more supplies. If you are a multi-crafter, then you know just how much organizing your supplies matters. In this three-part series, I'm going to share with you what has worked for me when storing things correctly means the difference between actually getting to work on your project or spending your allotted time looking for that one thing that you know you have, but can't seem to find.

I consider myself a recovered "cluttered crafter". You may laugh, but I have been working in all sorts of mixed media crafts since I was a child. I don't waste craft supplies, so I have amassed a lot. It takes work to keep it all in a neat and orderly system. I really did not care about how it was all organized until I started losing things that I needed. I knew that I have the item, I just could not seem to locate it. Sometimes I would find it a time later, only to realize that I had lost the project I was working on. Something had to give. Craft supplies are not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. Finding them on clearance is blessing. Losing them in my own home was a waste of time, money, and effort. I really do hate to waste things.

To start off, as a general rule, crafting supplies should be stored in a cool dry place away from sunlight. You can add them to my list of what not to store in the bathroom. I have jokes. Moving on.

Scrapbooking seems to be a really popular activity. It requires its own plethora of supplies. There is paper with different patterns, stickers, rub-on transfers, paper punches, stamps, ink, adhesives, cardstock, page protectors, scissors (regular and sets that cut different shapes and patterns), specialty pens, photo corners, and the list goes on and on. There is a lot to keep up with, and I did not even list the actual album that you will be working in or the photos.

To  keep most of your flatter supplies in check, may I suggest a large accordion folder. They help to separate paper by size and pattern as well as keeping stickers and other small items in order. It is separated, but together.

Pens, brushes, and cutting tools do nicely in a multi-sectioned pencil cup. If you can find one with a lazy susan bottom, it is so much easier to spin and browse supplies, ultimately finding things faster.

 If your supplies overflow these containers, you may want to look into a large tower of plastic drawers. These are wonderful for keeping stamping items in. I cannot tell you how functional these really are when organizing anything. I have pictured the sets from department stores in previous blogs. Here, I'm going to show a few specialty towers available in craft stores and online.

These work great to store other supplies as well. Polyclay and related items do well in these drawers. To organize smaller items, such as findings, glitter, or glaze, simply insert small plastic baskets as separators. You can find them in different sizes in sets of two for a dollar at Dollar Tree stores. If you have a lot of heavier supplies, these towers tend to sag under the weight and become unstable. 

For heavier items, such as paint bottles, large containers of adhesive, and bulky paper cutters, you need something sturdier. I would suggest shelving with a good amount of weight capacity. Invest in a quality shelf and it will last years. Lowe's offers great shelving. The plastic ones are less pricey and go on sale from time to time. You just have to check your local stores. Grouping smaller items (like paint bottles) in baskets on these shelves helps you to use all of the available space. Make labels for the different baskets so that you will know what is inside without taking the whole basket out. Just use your imagination and replace the items below with craft supplies. 

Next time, we will tackle some trickier to organize items. If you have questions or comments feel free to leave them below. I would love to hear from you. Thanks for reading and happy organizing!