Organizing Solutions...taking over for MMMblog.

I am loving the fun, funky flair of this adorable pair!
Colorful rulers and bright coffee cans...all pulled together for a darling display! I have a craft-crush a burnin'!

Wanna join me in creating this fabulous decor?  BHG is the anwers to THIS desire! I think I even have a old can or two kicking around in some boxes. Now I have an excuse to go digging at my local flea markets and salvage yards!

Mess Makers Unite!

 Today happened to be one of those days. I was running constantly but seemed to be doing nothing but spinning my wheels. In reverse.  So I decided to take stock in the one thing I have copious amounts of....MESS!

Granted, these are all works in progress...I need to focus on the end point and not this somewhere-in-the-middle-piles-of-stuff point.

So, make yourself feel better...

 Half-done projects, empty soda bottles, laptops on top of everything else BUT a lap! These are a few of my things...favorite, not so much.


Here is my living room. My husband decided that the crooked ceiling (the slope was off 1 1/2 inches from one side of the room to the next) had to go- NOW. He ripped it all down to find water damage, lots of rot and a HUGE wasp nest (empty, thank goodness). It's a mixed blessing.

Then there is my classroom and lab. I just took a position teaching in a room that has been {mostly} occupied by two men over the last twenty years. I have had the pleasure of digging {and I DO mean digging} through the accumulated items from the pair. Many items I have NO idea what they are for or if they work or not.

Thrilled as I am to be teaching {with POWER TOOLS} I am feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment.

Anyone else?

The Art of Clipboard Design...Part III- Clipboard Station

I now have six self-designed clipboards...enter husband. He always is around for the finishing parts. We had some MDF lying around in the garage (as always), so we cut 4 equal planks.

We attatched the planks to the wall with finishing nails, using the clipboard as our measuring tool and we placed them where there was about 1" clearance above the plank and then a 1" clearance below the plank, as well. We then attatched the clipboards to the planks - we eyeballed (much to husband's chargrin) the placement on the planks.

They all fit neatly onto the planks and looked really clean with the finishing nails. I can barely make some of them out!

We did the same thing with the second set of clipboards- eyeballing. ;) 

Here's the second set all lined up and ready to hold all those crazy papers!

So here's our finished product- kind of a pretty gallery of organizational goodness, yes?  I love that my family all seemed to gravitate to the orange. That says something, doesn't it? If I remember orange increases appetite...great- perfect for my kitchen!

Pop over to Mindy Mae's Blog to see what the next craft theme will be for Saturday!

The Art of Clipboard Design, Part II

So, I cheated a little. I waited to finish my clipboard. I wasn't trying to have mine any more special than anyones or more "crafty"...I just didn't have enough hands at the time. I liked how it turned out.

I started with my clipboard painted with acrylic paint and dried (1). I had this random piece of plastic from when I ordered shoppping baskets for the shop {shipping packages, mostly} (2).

I used a metal letter I had as a template and cute an 'n' {for Nikki}(3).

Pulled together some random washi tape that I had in a bin....

and started to apply the washi tape in a random pattern.

At the end, I carefully peeled the tape up, keeping it affixed to the letter. (It started to tear a couple of times and the top washi strip had to be replaced with a new one.)

I started to cut the tape (as you can see in the lower right-hand corner) and opted to wrap the washi around the letter instead. I was happy with the choice. Way easier, cleaner, smaller margin of error.

I flipped it over, applied some hot glue and voila! A neat little character clipboard. 

Tomorrow, I'll show you the WHOLE clipboard station!

Check over at Mindy Mae's Blog for our first Burlap Feature from out Link-up!

The Art of Clipboard Design, Part I

I've recommitted myself to organization....again. I don't know if it's because I have a problem or if we truly do need all the papers that are in our home. Between phone lists and schedules and school assignments {x6} there is just waaaay tooo much information that has begun to pile in my once fantastically organized spaces. I needed something cheap, fast and {hopefully} cute. I'll reveal in three parts...

 

Enter the $1.47 clipboard from Walmart. I however had to tie down my type A personality to allow my children to decorate their own clipboard. I LOVE their paintings and drawings and doodles...but they are all disposable, rotatable and often later go into files...THESE would be a little more permanent. Now I 'm focusing on how neat it will be to have my 16 year-old son still use a clipboard he decorated when he was 2. {awww, cute!}


Here is said 2 year-old decorating his clipboard. He is using acrylic paint- and does have an apron on, which he put on after he took off his shirt...uber protected from paint, now. I love his use of red and orange, don't you?

Here's his oldest sister...also wearing an apron.

And his older brother...please note THIS apron picture will probably be used as blackmail at a later time. I especially like the pink ric-rac and zebra-print ribbon peeking out. He went a bit more masculine on his clipboard. ;)

Here is our youngest daughter carefully and methodically planning her masterpiece. She slowed to a snails' pace when I was taking her picture.

And Dad. Yep. Even talked him into doing his board, too.

So all in all it was a fabulous start to a fun family project...stop by tomorrow when I show you MY clipboard! Pop over to Mindy Mae's Market blog for some cute, cute ideas for old windows this week and to Mindy Mae's Market for some amazing vendor features, too!