Cute D.I.Y. Kitchen Cabinet Organizers

While reorganizing the kitchen cabinets over the past couple of days (what amazing discoveries! We have microwave cheese corn!) I realized I needed something to organize the various packets that we keep on hand -- numerous flavors of Kool Aid (staple beverage), gravey mixes, crock pot starters, Tuna Salad creations...where does this stuff go?

Well, I've started a drawer in my studio where I stash useful recyclables -- things I like the shape of and think might come in handy later. And, there sat a couple of coffee cans. I wiped out the inside and covered them with a couple of Cute and Useful papers. It took two sheets of 8.5x11 to get around each can so at the seams I used some orange electrical tape, cut straight and taped straight. It's fine. I bet washi tape would be nice, too. It was a very quick project, and there they are...cutening up my cupboards. 

Left to do today...

1. Still need to mail my sister garlands. Dang.
2. Still need to work on my Band program. Dang. But this sounds worse than it is. All the other stuff on my list I got done! (Except the nap).
3. I'm also going to start on my free paper for Friday today, and work on my Illustrator 102 class. And watch the rest of an episde of Downton Abbey (Heart).

I do not heart Smash. Cannot believe there could possibly be that much back-crap going on, while they're trying to put on a show, people! All the sweetness, any tenderness that was in the storyline, seems like almost all of it has gone. Too bad.

Make a Mother's Day Garland

This Mother's Day Garland is easy to make, and it's cute! (As you can see).

Supplies: Printable (scroll down), patterned paper (choose from any of mine on the right), circle gift tag template, solid paper, scissors, 1.5 inch circle punch, glue, baker's twine, needle.

1. Trace circles on patterned and solid paper
2. Cut circles out with scissors and punch letters with hole punch
3. Arrange the circles how you like them and glue together. Vary some that have two cut circles, and some that have just one of the larger or smaller circle. 
4. Glue everything together
5. Use yor needle to poke holes before you start threading
6. Thread the garland togehter
7. If you want to mail it, fold accordion style and use a pretty envelope liner.

You can choose from 4 printables. 3 of them also have "sister" in them, so they are useful for your sister-sister, or your visiting teaching sisters -- for all my fellow Mormons out there :)

• Forgiving Mother (my husband came up with this one)
• Hello sister/mother
• Loving sister/mother
• Super sister/mother

 

To do still today:

• Mail my sister garlands
• Visit my neighbor
• Take Cub Scouts on hike 
• Take Drew to mutual this evening
• Eat Lunch
• Work on concert program for my 380th Army Band
• Maybe watch yesterday's episode of Smash
• Make deposit for Pottery class the scouts are doing Thursday
• Take nap :)

 It's too much, isn't it? Well, root for me! Maybe I'll get it done.

Roasted Peeps

This seems somehow wrong, but do you know what is delicious? Roasted Peeps is deliecious. Oh my gosh. Put a stick in the Peep, hang it over a campfire...the sugar on the outside carmelizes, the inside gets almost frothy. Put this in your mouth with, say, chocolate bunny ears and you are in heaven. Close your eyes and chew. Nothing else in the world matters. 

I've been marketing this roasted Peep idea since Drew went fishing last weekend. I got no support. The Peeps went camping, the Peeps came home. But, that's OK, (and I really mean it) MORE FOR ME! Saturday night, a handful of Drew's friends came over to rake leaves and earn money for High Adventure this summer. We built a campfire in the front yard when the sun went down. Mmmm...roasted Peeps...and some salty hot dogs.

So there it is, my contribution for Monday.

Also to do today, since the last two Peeps are missing (Why?!? Where?!?)

1. Make "hello sister" garland for my sister and the sisters I visit teach
2. Mail same
3. Maybe go to the garden center and get flowers for window boxes
4. Touch up the paint on the hanging baskets Emily and I painted Saturday 
5. For heavens sake, make progress on Illustrator 102 from Nicole's Classes.

See you tomorrow!

Free Paper Friday: Cake Cookies

Do you love those Archway cakey cookies, that were usually lemon or orange, with lemon or orange frosting? They were shaped like the pattern in this paper. Those cookies were so good! Dipped in milk! They were almost creamy. This shape is made from a geometric arrangement of circles, just happenend to be the cookie when I was done with it.

• Cake cookie paper 8.5x11
• Cake cookie paper 12x12
• Cake cookie transparency overlay 8.5x11
• Cake cookie transparency overlay 12x12

Ali Edwards used a transparency overlay in a project published in the most recent issue of Scrapbooks Etc. It turned out really cute and gave me the idea that this pattern would work that way. In the transparency files, the shapes are all white, so when you open the PDF it will look like there is nothing there. But, you can layer it over any color or pattern for added dimension.

The weekend came so quickly! Where did the time go? Have a great weekend, everyone!

Make an Envelope Liner

I've been meaning to post this for some time -- how to make an envelope liner. There's nothing to it. I see envelope liner kits online for, like, $15. Why? 

1. (uno) Select a piece of paper. If you like, choose any of mine from the column on the left. Trace the outline of the opened envelope onto the paper (trace on the back if it's patterned). Mark where the envelope folds on both sides.
2. (due) On the traingle-part of the envelope, mark in from the edge as much as you need to clear the glue. Draw lines on both sides of the triangle using your marks as guides. Draw a straight line across your fold marks, and draw straight lines up the sides about 1/8 inch from the edge.
3. (tre) All the lines are shown here. Cut the paper on the lines you drew that go around the sides. Fold on the fold line.
4. (finito!) Slide the liner in the envelope, a bit of glue on top...finished!

I like making the envelope liner this way it because it will work just the same with any and every envelope. Have fun dressing up your envelopes!

P.S. The border paper is a preview of tomorrow's freebie!