Project Organize

DIY Photo Labels
5 Easy Steps!

1.  Take a picture of the item.  This is an actual T-shirt on the floor.
2.  Order print of picture.

3.  Cut out items.
4.  "Redneck Laminating"- Use packaging tape on both sides of cut-outs & trim edges.

5.  Attach "laminated" cut-out to bin.  I used little clothespins I already had.

...and there you have it!  Very cute, easy DIY photo labels. I have left over cut-outs that I am turning into magnets for Wyatt to play with.  LOVE them!


Repurposed File Cabinet
Organizing the garage toy clutter

"Tie" Raid

$ Store bins to organize ties.

Broom/Cleaning Closet Makeover

3 baskets found at garage sale,
$ Store caddy, broom holder at
thrift store for $.99! I also used
 the Command strips to hang the
 baskets from. 

I had loads of fun creating this space.  Between thrift store shopping, garage sales, and figuring out how to create labels without a printer or label maker it took a little longer than anticipated.  Thanks to my hubby for putting up with the prolonged messiness in the once organized kitchen.  Doesn't the saying go that a room always looks messier before it looks cleaner?  Well, my rooms look like complete chaos during a project.  Maybe that's why it's so rewarding when it's complete. :)  Enjoy the pics!

The "bins" are actually shoe boxes!  I covered the back
of the cupboard with contact paper from Target ($5.99).

Created the labels using scrapbook paper scraps sold in packs
at JoAnn's for 3.99 (plus %40 off coupon) and used the
left-over white stickers from the Daddy's Day gift.  Then I used
Mod Podge over them and glued them to the baskets.  

"Upcycled" Soup Cans & Baby Food Jars

Soup cans & baby food jars covered in contact paper.  

FAMILY FILES

Family Files
I pinned this on my "Get Organized" board on Pinterest.  The link took me to Iheartorganizing.com. I fell in love with the idea (tweaked it to fit my needs) & knew this is what I had been looking for to help with the piles and piles of papers taking over my home.  

This is what the final product looks like.  I admit I would have preferred all white binders, but this is what I had around the house (Old binders from teaching so I saved on costs!).  I bought the labels, the bin, the canvas zipper cases (great to hold receipts) & the title paper from The Dollar Store.  I also had the plastic sleeves & a few 2-pocket folders from teaching. 

Step 1:  Decide on categories for your household.  I made a list to start which included:

- Auto

-  Bills

- House (Hemlock)

- Medical & Dental

-  Menu Planning

-  Karen Personal

-  Karen Work

-  Pat Personal

-  Pat Work

-  Taxes

-  The Boys

*As I begin using these binders I may need to change them or organize them differently, but I won't know until I put them into practice.

Step 2:  Label each binder.  I used labels for the spine & printed the title on pretty paper for the front (you can see through the front cover of the binders).

Step 3:  Separate papers into piles.  I sorted them into "shred", "trash", "file", & "check with hubby".

Step 4:  Separate the "file" pile using the titles of your binders.  I put a double pocket folder inside each binder and began by just putting the papers for that folder into the pockets.  

Step 5:  Organize each binder using tabs, plastic sleeves, receipt pocket, etc. 

Step 6:  Put binders into storage bin.  They are flimsy so just putting them on the book shelf would not have worked.  Plus, it's really easy to pull the bin out each night and file multiple papers into the appropriate binders.  

* The key to this file system is to take 5 minutes each night to make sure all of your papers have been put somewhere.  This means the trash, the shredder, or in the appropriate binder.  You'll feel so good when your head hits the pillow!  Nothing like being organized to begin a new day. :)