Tutorial: Junk Drawer Organizer

Listening to "Sunday" by Sia

It's happened. Your remote is dead and you need a battery. Oh no... to the junk drawer. Yes, we all have one. It's where we throw that fortune cookie from last year or even floss (seriously, I saw it in someone's..). I hate the drawer and I make Tim get stuff out of there because I'm scared something might live in there. Unfortunately, because he and I both THROW stuff in there it's cluttered and we have to dig to find things. LIGHT BULB. I should organize our drawer. Late one afternoon I took to this easy yet productive project to organize the dirty deed.

Junk Drawer Tutorial:

What You Need:

It's easy. All you need is an empty box. I used empty tea and plastic baggie boxes. Try envelope boxes. You'll have different sizes to fit your need.
Tape
Scissors
Straight Edge Cutter
Glue (I used Modge Podge)
Patterned Paper (I used a 12"x12" paper)
Decorations
Now'n'Laters (they help with tension ^-^)
Paintbrush
Exacto Knife



1. Take your patterned paper and measure it out to a good length to cover the box all over. It depends what box you use and what paper but I taped (above) my paper to the box to help me start and rolled it through to make sure it could cover all of it.


2. Once you've figured out that the paper will cover the entire box then using a brush you can start laying that glue on the box. Don't wipe it on the paper because if you're like me and you used a plastic baggie box then you'll waste glue where you have to cut. Slowly roll the box (above), covering and gluing the paper all over the box.


3.You should have some paper sticking out on the edges. You can attack this anyway you want but I think the "gift fold" looks pretty nifty. You can cut the side pieces sticking out to the length you feel will cover the sides. About an inch will work depending on how big your box is. Start applying glue to the side of the box and begin folding in the side pieces. Then apply glue again to the top and bottom pieces and press them down. Now, depending on how much paper you cut you might have a gap (above). I did this on purpose because I wanted to put a second piece of paper there. You don't have to obviously. Repeat on the other side.

4. Now depending what box you are using you will need some sort of hole or opening to put your knick knacks in. With the plastic baggie box I used the exacto knife and slowly cut out the hole where you pull the bags out. Easy. Don't cut the hole out exactly but instead leave half an inch of paper so you can fold it under and have smooth rounded edges. Always a nice round edge. :)


5. Glue the hole's edges down and take a gander at your box. Now, at this point you could add paper inside the box to cheer it up a bit but I figured I would be filling it up with everything dirty under the sun. My first box was going to hold Tim's "tools"- drill bits, nails, screws, anchors, etc... So instead, I decorated the outside. I love buttons so they took over this box. Feel free to use anything you can think of- yarn, eyelets, more paper?!, etc... Also, I sealed the papers in with another coat of Modge Podge once I was done. Go crazy!


6. Now fill 'er up! :) Add this box into your junk drawer to make organized space. I have several "boxes" in the drawer holding batteries, sewing thread, keys, etc... Email me if you have any questions. Cheers. x0x0.


p.s. the kitty is Abby ^-^

Dusty Dresser..

Listening to "In the Hospital" by Friendly Fires

I'm sorry I haven't posted in awhile. It's been an awful few days for me. I was deliriously sick for a couple days, missed a great wedding, and ended up with the worst food poisoning money could not buy. I even got a charlie horse.... *sigh* But I'm back to posting and to let you know the high notes of my weekend.

Sunday I was able to finally work on a dresser I bought a couple months ago. Before you scroll down I encourage you to jog your imagination. Eyes open? Good. Now think of a beautifully crafted piece of furniture such as a dresser. Got it? Now add butterscotch paint all over it. I know. Ok... now take the drawers and add a metallic shimmering gold paint onto them. Yes, I know. Now breathe in that aroma of cigarettes because this baby is coated with it. What? More? Oh, yes. Don't forget the cat pee or the other stains left all over it... Finally. I didn't have my camera with me when I did this project so I only have the after photos but that is exactly how the dresser came. Absofruitly dreadful.

After 4 hours of intense cleaning, sanding, painting, refinishing, and distressing this is the end project....


Don't peak yet...




Seriously..



You have your picture of the before??



Ok..



Now scroll down...

like it?

distressed..

I hate this pic.. but it's what the top looks like...

All those lovely pieces on top were brought together by my mom and I. She's a fantastic thrifter. I'm bugging her to get a blog started because all the stuff she has.. gardening, crafting, etc... she is like the wizard of Oz- all knowing...

I hope to have some new photos up tomorrow after work. I've started the leather burning. I have ideas out the wazoo and I began doodling with some leather pieces already. Works fantastic. I should be getting my gun metal snaps tomorrow..? As soon as I get that started I'll have loads of pics. Let me know what you think and as always.. Cheers! xoxoxo

Type Tray

Listening to "Lose You" by Pete Yorn

I did it! I finished.... sanding one of my type trays. :p I started adding some of my tid bits here and there including my notorious rubber stamps. I only count 3 in that picture but there are more and I am presently searching boxes for the rest..

I bought these trays off a fellow who was looking to get rid of them- fortunately for me. They have an original stamp etched into them, "The Hamilton Mfg. Co. Two Rivers, WI", I made sure I didn't sand off. They were very dirty and junky but I tried to keep the one up top as original as possible. The second one I have I actually washed with an olive green & white paint. I'm still working on it and I'll have pics up soon. Let me know what you think. :)

A Hasty Retreat

Listening to "Song for the Orca" by Travis Morrison.



I was just reading up on a jellyfish-doily(sp?) craft when I came upon this canvas. It just made me dwell on more ideas for projects. I'm thinking about turning that jellyfish craft into a mobile. I have a hook in my bedroom that is empty for attention. Irina's work is fantastic. Check out her other work here.



I recently came upon two printer type trays and spent this weekend sanding both and whitewashing one with white & olive paint. They both came out great and I'll have pics up soon. My camera is acting weird. On the downside, all 3 cats have had a time swatting things down.. bye-bye feathers...



If you read my tweets you might have saw that I was trying to work on a yoda beanie. Still working on it. It would have been perfect for this past Saturday. We went to the Rays vs. Blue Jays game and wouldn't you know it was "Sci-Fi" night. Would've been perfect for us to wear those then.. oh well.. there's always next year.



Well, time is short today but I leave you with another canvas from Irina.. :)

Study Time

Listening to "Shake the Tree" -The Rosebuds

Preference I like to think is a choice that we utilize with our creative side... Me? Oh, I looked on Craigslist with a co-worker *cough* I mean not at work of course... and found a free desk. Free? Yes, and before you start asking questions out loud- yes it was a POS. Broken, ugly as sin, falling apart and they even left their bills inside the drawer! Um.. ok? Hi, I'm an identity thief thank you for your social and overdue electric bill... *sigh*

The free desk was for my scrapbooking supplies. I'm also looking for a type printer tray if anyone knows of a decently priced item. I haven't touched them in forever because it's like looking for a needle in the comforter *Ow, my foot*. Anywho, I've been wanting an outside project for awhile and this was perfect. Below is the before shots.. *eeek*

bleeeehhhh aaaaaaaaaah
who paints over knobs?? that paint makes me gag..
Tim, my fiance, stripping away 3 layers of paint...

After 3 hours of stripping away 3 layers of 3 different paints we finally got to the actual wood desk and began sanding away. Thank you dad for that electric sander... *whooo*. Oh, and the picture above is exactly how the desk came.. with only one side attached.. lol. Tim had to reattach the right side of the desk. I whitewashed the entire desk leaving some of the ugly paint for a 3-d texture. Turned out pretty well for my first desk project. We bought all new hardware and I absolutely love it. Finally, I waxed the entire desk so just in case I or the kitties scratch it the paint won't peel off... See below for my pictures.. cheers! xoxo

Update: Belt Chair & Terra Cotta Bird Bath

Update: Finished the belt chair. The back of the chair definitely needed some help so I decided to finish that. How's it look? :) Better, I think.

We started with a bird feeder a couple weeks ago and now we have a swarm of songbirds that live in our yard. I love that morning bird chatter.. the cats love it too. I've been looking at a bird bath but they're so expensive... it's just a bird bath.. not a whirlpool.. so I decided to create my own bird bath. I saw a couple ideas to stack them on top of each other but I wasn't really moved by them. Tried my own little project.



A quick rundown of how I made it:

I bought (4) 8" terra cotta clay pots, (1) 18" saucer, and (1) 10" saucer. I sprayed Thompson's Water Sealant on all the pots & saucers inside and out to waterproof them. Using EcoGlue I began stacking the pots, starting with the small saucer and one pot. Let it dry for about 45 min before stacking the next pot. Also, I placed a textbook on top to weight the glue down not leaving any cracks. Adding the saucer last I sprayed it. I want to add more to it. Soon... I finished coating it with a water-based polyurethane coat. Added some rocks and water and the now birds are partying. Tweet. :)

Project 1: Belt Chair

This is a project that has consumed my creative senses for years but I've never gotten around to completing it. My future sister & brother-in-law have done a couple of these and I thought I'd give it a try. First things first. I got all my belts from thrift stores. Nickel or quarter a piece. I wouldn't pay more than that because you're going to (a) either poke a hole and ruin them, (b) rip them from pulling too hard or (c) find out they are either too short. BTW... I did all those so safe tip :) This was my first try at this so bear with me. My mom found this really chic antique chair at a thrift store for $5 and I was able to take the leather hide bottom off of the chair. I cleaned the chair with wet/dry rags and then sanded it down. At this point I'd recommend doing whatever it is you want to do to the chair (i.e.. staining, polishing..) unlike what I did. I laid my belts out to figure out what pattern I wanted. I had a small chair and I used 25 belts in all. It really depends on how big, thick, and types of belts you use. I'd recommend used worn belts that you can stretch out and poke holes in. Fabric belts are very easy. I used leather saddle soap to clean the leather belts before putting them on the chair and using leather wipes after to keep their hold. My chair needed some TLC with wood glue and sanding so it took me a littler longer to do this project.

Start by putting your belts on horizontally first. It'll be much easier to weave them vertically. Pick your pattern and go. I buckled them underneath the chair that way the worn pieces of the belt were on the underside. 2 people makes the job quicker but hey... solo is my last name. after finishing with the belts I wiped them down with the leather wipes. My mom recommended a matte wood finish which we brushed on. It sealed the wood polish/stain and gave it a nice matte coat. I loved it. The rustic feel was fantastic and I think it turned out great as my first try... behold...