Monday, January 26, 2015

Class Valentines

Class valentines this year are handmade, handsewn by me. Because I got a new sewing machine from my mom for Christmas.
 
                        
 
And too much time on my hands, apparently. I made twenty-five of these.



                           
 
Want to know what is in these sewn hearts?


                                  
 
 
I found tiny notebooks and mini colored gel pens from Target Dollar Spot to stuff inside. The kids simply rip them open to get the treats.
    
 
 
 
I had this cute red basket for my daughter to bring them to class in.
 
I would do a tutorial on how to make these, but if you have a sewing machine, you probably know how to use it much better than I do. My biggest tip is to remember to stuff the treats into the heart before sewing it all the way closed. I may or may not have forgotten once or twice.
 
 

Linked up at www.carissamiss.com.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Repurposed Organizer

 I was in a craft store awhile back and saw some organizer with feet thingys and thought they were super cute. And then I saw the price tag. 

Seventy-five dollars!!!



It didn't take long to figure out that it was basically a utensil organizer on steroids. For $75. Not gonna happen. 
So I kept my eyes open for one that I could repurpose myself. Because I need more DIY action around here. 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

I found one at my sister's garage sale. I painted it light Aqua with leftover paint and added knobs for feet that I already had from my daughter's old curtains and some dresser hardware I found in Canton. Total for this refinish? $1.25!!!!
Not including all of my Valentine's goodies, of course. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Goodbye Christmas

 
Christmas has almost disappeared from my house. Putting all of the tree decorations away was a little bit easier this year. Because I am a genius.
 
 
I can't believe I've never thought of this idea. Probably because I have never bought new glasses before. We've only ever had plastic. We're grown-ups now. I was walking to the trashcan to throw away some boxes when it came to me.
 

 
Why not use these sturdy drinking glass boxes to store my collectible Christopher Radko and other oddly shaped very breakable Christmas ornaments? They are perfect. The search for a plastic container that will hold them is over! I actually purchased one this year. It didn't work. I've even tried the solo cups glued in a box. Some ornaments still didn't fit. This storage method is 100% better than all of the original individual boxes that I have been putting these back into every year.
 
 
Being that it is Christmas time, I happened to have some wrapping paper tubes that I hadn't thrown away because I thought the kids might play with them. So glad I hoarded those. I used them to roll my lights up to store them. By far, the easiest storage method for lights that I have ever tried. Even better than the piece of cardboard method.

            
 
And of course, it wouldn't be tradition if I didn't find ONE LAAAASSST ORNAMENT after boxing everything up and putting it in the attic.