First ORDER of Business

As I have mentioned before I can't operate successfully unless I'm organized. I've labeled myself a hoarder because I rarely throw out something that I can later turn into a craft of some sort (which by the way is one of my "happiness project" goals: to create a craft a day no matter how small.)

My official start date of the project is June 1st so until then I am doing a massive "spring cleaning" of sorts and going through and organizing all I own. This process takes awhile as I have had to actually part with some of the "treasures" (aka normal mans trash) I've been holding on to. Hopefully with all of the tornadoes that have passed through my neck of the woods, I will find someone in true need that I can give some of my clothes and extra dishes/other unnecessary excess to.

Hope you like organization because you're about to get an eye full....

storing my belts in a shoe box... I don't wear them often so there's no need to have them laying around

color coded wardrobe... because it makes it easier to find what I'm looking for

ahhhh... yes.... organization

if you don't mind a few wrinkles roll your tshirts... you can maximize your space

I can't take credit for this idea but I love it... Martha Stewart had a brilliant idea to keep all of your posts on buttons for easy access... and it's cute. oh and that old Suave jar has my rings in it

repurposed cardboard bottle carrier (gasp.. it was for beer) cover with cute paper and you have yourself a craft caddy

Oh organizing sure is fun. It really is. And although it takes some time and thought. In the long run it makes every other task more quick-like (improper grammar.. ignore).

Prepping for the Happiness Project.. BLOG UNDER CONSTRUCTION

I'm not going into the full details here but just look up the book The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. She did a full year of "happiness" searching and working on the things she always wanted to. I want to draw, paint, create, love, give, laugh, sing, dance,.... but always feel weighed down by life so to speak. I'm starting in June. the next couple of weeks I will be prepping and coming up with my goals (I really hate that word but can't think of a different one right now) for the year. here are a few so you get the idea:
- learn the ins and outs of photo shop 
- attempt 2 new recipes a week
- 8 hours of sleep a night, lots of water
.... yada yada. I won't give it all away yet. these are just some broad goals.

the bird lamp with cloud lamp shade I made on a whim the other night

Anyways my first step is to get organized. I have slight ADHD and I can't function if things aren't in order. so until June I will be organizing, getting rid of excess, and coming up with my "commandments" and lists of skills/goals/arsenal of artistic expressions I desire to accomplish. Until then I will continue to take pictures. and post them.

LACK OF GREEN THUMBEDNESS

if you can't grow em' ... make em'. too bad this won't work in other avenues of life.

DIY COMPUTER BAG

One Urban Outfitters bag... lots of buttons, embroidery thread... and creativity. That's all you need.

I wanted a unique bag for my new mac so I decided to make a cover for mine.

DIY PUSH PIN FRAME

I had an empty frame lying around. I think the glass got broken out of it at some point. So I wanted to do something fun with it.

yeah... it's sideways

STEP 1: Frame plus a piece of cardboard. Measure and cut the cardboard to fit into the frame.

this is what it looks like after step 1

STEP 2: Pick any kind of fabric to cover the cardboard. I used an Urban Outfitters bag (they have ridiculously cool bags there... they're like reusable shopping bags that you get every time you buy something... and they come in different patterns)

step 2 in action... oh I used my fav duck tape to tape
the fabric on the board

STEP 3: Insert the fabric covered cardboard back into the frame.

oh hey cute duck tape....

STEP 4: use push pins/ any kind of stick pin and decorate the frame however you want. Mine (for the moment... I change things up a lot) displays a post it note with a cute letter Matt wrote me, random buttons from an old pair of my mom's jeans from like the 70's, a picture from our wedding, and my dad's classic "signature"-- a dog head with it's tongue sticking out... no seriously he draws this thing on everything... even on the card he and mom wrote in for our wedding.

TA DA!!! you likey?? me likey!!

let me know if any of you do this .. I want to see pictures. enjoy the fun craft.

DIY: Coffee Sleeve Flowers

This key holder/coat hanger used to have a board in it that said "Welcome." I busted it out and for now have vintage post cards hanging as fillers until I can print out a panoramic shot from my grandpa's farm. 

I don't hang coats obviously but I wanted to put something up as decoration. Matt and I have been saving coffee sleeves because I use them for other projects (i.e. the backing for those magnets in the post below) and I have an over abundance. Easiest DIY project ever.... just staple a couple of those puppies (not literal puppies... I'm referring to the coffee sleeves for you animal rights activists) together in the corners and THERE YOU HAVE IT!!! Coffee Sleeve Flowers. Enjoy.

Old flyswatter I found in an
abandoned house...

O'HENRY'S how I love thee... Coffee will you marry me?

DIY Home Organization... for Limited Space

So hubs and I live in a two bedroom apartment. That means I have to get UBER creative when trying to utilize all of my space. My decor as of right now is eclectic. A hodge podge of antique/vintage/rustic/bright color-age/... hoard-ish? I keep a lot but in my defense I am super organized when it comes to my "work" space. This is a DIY of sorts on organization when you don't have an entire room to dedicate to crafting. 

Guest Bedroom Turned Craft ..... Wall? 

Metal Bar from Ikea $1.99
Metal S Hooks Ikea $0.99
Clip Boards from the Target Dollar Spot

Magnetic Board from Ikea $7.99
Magnets I made ....

Inside the Cabinet... Baskets from Target Dollar Spot.

Filers from Ikea $2.99 for a box of 4

I'm a sucker for organization. I will hopefully never actually end up on the show Hoarders as long as I keep my "junk" in check. Please don't call in and recommend that they track me down and reveal my obsession with saving small bits of trash.... I mean... TREASURE!!!!