Friday Inspiration: Independence Day Decorating!

In honor of Uncle Sam's day, I wanted to devote today's inspiration to decorating for this holiday. I will be honest, with my sister's wedding, teaching summer school, and taking graduate classes, I didn't get to decorate this year. *TEAR* But, I intend on using these ideas to plan for next year. I love to decorate for holidays and I am a little sad that I missed out on this important one. But, there is always next year... Right?!?!

Have a wonderful, blessed, and relaxing weekend. And, try to stay cool!!! It's hot out there.

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In honor of Uncle Sam's day, I wanted to devote today's inspiration to decorating for this holiday. I will be honest, with my sister's wedding, teaching summer school, and taking graduate classes, I didn't get to decorate this year. *TEAR* But, I intend on using these ideas to plan for next year. I love to decorate for holidays and I am a little sad that I missed out on this important one. But, there is always next year... Right?!?!

Have a wonderful, blessed, and relaxing weekend. And, try to stay cool!!! It's hot out there.

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Unused Greeting Card Storage... Take Two!

Back in February, I showed everyone a way to store unused greeting cards using a mesh tabletop file.

I still love the idea, but found an even better way that I had to share.

While I was searching for the Iris photo storage box that I purchased for my June photo challenge, I saw this awesome little box for greeting cards.

I didn't purchase it at that time because I had several projects lined up, but I did eventually pick it up at a Michaels store when they were having a 40% off sale on craft storage. I think I paid around $6.99 for it. You can also purchase this Iris storage box from Hobby Lobby, Amazon, Organize.com, and Stacks and Stacks.

Since this box only had six dividers, I had to narrow down my greeting card categories. After some thought, here are the categories I decided to use:

• Birthday
• Blank
• Congratulations
• Thank You
• Thinking of You
• Miscellaneous

Next, I had to create labels for each category. I used Avery #48860 labels for this process!

Now, it was time to place the greeting cards in their correct spots.

And, the last step... Any guesses on what I did for this step?!?!

Placed a label on the box. Once again, I used the Martha Stewart chalkboard labels I purchased at Staples.

Completing this project frees up the mesh tabletop file, so my husband will actually have a place to keep his files now. Overall, I am very satisfied!

I linked up this post here:

Back in February, I showed everyone a way to store unused greeting cards using a mesh tabletop file.

I still love the idea, but found an even better way that I had to share.

While I was searching for the Iris photo storage box that I purchased for my June photo challenge, I saw this awesome little box for greeting cards.

I didn't purchase it at that time because I had several projects lined up, but I did eventually pick it up at a Michaels store when they were having a 40% off sale on craft storage. I think I paid around $6.99 for it. You can also purchase this Iris storage box from Hobby Lobby, Amazon, Organize.com, and Stacks and Stacks.

Since this box only had six dividers, I had to narrow down my greeting card categories. After some thought, here are the categories I decided to use:

• Birthday
• Blank
• Congratulations
• Thank You
• Thinking of You
• Miscellaneous

Next, I had to create labels for each category. I used Avery #48860 labels for this process!

Now, it was time to place the greeting cards in their correct spots.

And, the last step... Any guesses on what I did for this step?!?!

Placed a label on the box. Once again, I used the Martha Stewart chalkboard labels I purchased at Staples.

Completing this project frees up the mesh tabletop file, so my husband will actually have a place to keep his files now. Overall, I am very satisfied!

I linked up this post here:

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A Medicine Cabinet Makeover! (Part 2)

Why do I always have small project ideas that turn into HUGE ones?!?! My husband constantly keeps telling me that I need to finish one project before starting another. Well, that is easier said than done. And, for me, some projects are like works-of-art... They don't happen over night. For example, my office isn't finished, but it is gradually getting there. I am looking for a rug, shelving over our desks, and trying to move the playroom closet contents into this room (since most of them are office items). None of those things need to be rushed, so until I make up my mind, I am moving on to other areas in need.

I told y'all last week that I wanted to reorganize my medicine cabinet and that led to me wanting to move the medicine cabinet to the master bathroom closet. Well, that isn't as simple as I originally thought. My OCD self can't just tackle one area in the closet. I have to make the whole area appealing and functional to put my mind at ease.

And, I want to share why today...

First, when moving everything that is medicine related means touching on other areas in the house. Like this drawer in my daughter's bathroom...

YIKES! This drawer is full of medicine and mess that shouldn't be in there. I am wasting a whole drawer of space here, so that must be fixed. 

And, now, I want to show you my master bathroom closet...

Lets be honest... I could definitely utilize this space a lot better. The bottom of the closet if completely wasted space. So, I would like to purchase a shelving unit to put down there that will serve as the linens spot. I hate to see wasted space and this closet is full of it. : (

Enough with the talking... Lets get this process started.

Next week, I hope I have made a good amount of progress that I can show y'all. Fingers crossed!!!

Why do I always have small project ideas that turn into HUGE ones?!?! My husband constantly keeps telling me that I need to finish one project before starting another. Well, that is easier said than done. And, for me, some projects are like works-of-art... They don't happen over night. For example, my office isn't finished, but it is gradually getting there. I am looking for a rug, shelving over our desks, and trying to move the playroom closet contents into this room (since most of them are office items). None of those things need to be rushed, so until I make up my mind, I am moving on to other areas in need.

I told y'all last week that I wanted to reorganize my medicine cabinet and that led to me wanting to move the medicine cabinet to the master bathroom closet. Well, that isn't as simple as I originally thought. My OCD self can't just tackle one area in the closet. I have to make the whole area appealing and functional to put my mind at ease.

And, I want to share why today...

First, when moving everything that is medicine related means touching on other areas in the house. Like this drawer in my daughter's bathroom...

YIKES! This drawer is full of medicine and mess that shouldn't be in there. I am wasting a whole drawer of space here, so that must be fixed. 

And, now, I want to show you my master bathroom closet...

Lets be honest... I could definitely utilize this space a lot better. The bottom of the closet if completely wasted space. So, I would like to purchase a shelving unit to put down there that will serve as the linens spot. I hate to see wasted space and this closet is full of it. : (

Enough with the talking... Lets get this process started.

Next week, I hope I have made a good amount of progress that I can show y'all. Fingers crossed!!!

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June Challenge: Aww... Snap! (Week 4/Wrap-Up)

Welcome to the final week of my June photo challenge. I hope everyone is starting to have some organized photos at their household. I am happy to report that all of my photos are now organized, containerized, and easy to find, which is a HUGE accomplishment!!!

Before I wrap-up this challenge, lets take a look at the first three weeks of tasks...

Week 1

Step 1: Locate all of your photos and place them in 

one central location.

Step 2: Take all of your photos out of their current storage accessories. 

Week 2

Step 3: Sort photos according to size.

Step 4: Label the back of all photos.

Week 3

Step 5: Sort the 4x6 photos.

Step 6: Place the sorted 4x6 photos in 

individual storage units.

Step 7: Make labels for the front of each individual

photo holder. Then, place them in each container.

Step 8: Place the individual storage containers 

back in the bigger unit. Then, place a label 

on the front (of course!).

Now, to this week's final tasks, which involve containerizing and storing the 5x7, 8x10, and 11x14 photos. We will start with the 5x7 photos and photo cards...

Step 9: Containerizing the 5x7 photos 

& photo cards.

I purchased a Recollections memory box to house my 5x7 photos and photo cards. These exact boxes can be found at Michaels, but you can also find similar versions at many other retailers like Target, Wal-Mart, Amazon, and Hobby Lobby. This particular memory box was on sale for $2.00 when I visited Michaels.

After I took off all the packaging, I added my 5x7 photos and my photo cards.

Next, it was time to add a label to the front. I cut an index card and used my Brother label maker to create the label. 

Step 10: Containerize the 8x10 photos.

For this step, I used one of the Craftologie scrapbook storage boxes I had purchased at JoAnns a couple of months ago. If you get these boxes on sale, they usually cost around $5.00.

I used the same label making process for this box as well.

Step 11: Find an ideal location to store the boxes.

I used the bottom shelf of my husband's bookcase in our office to store the two boxes.

And, I am sure you are wondering where I stored the 11x14 photos. It turns out I only had two of these photos, so I stored them under the 4x6 storage box in my living room entertainment center. You can barely even see them, which I was happy about!

I hope this photo challenge has helped everyone organize their photos. If not, I hope it at least got some ideas started and created some interest for you. 

Stay tuned next week to see what monster I will tackle in July. Here is a hint... It seems like every room has one!!!

Welcome to the final week of my June photo challenge. I hope everyone is starting to have some organized photos at their household. I am happy to report that all of my photos are now organized, containerized, and easy to find, which is a HUGE accomplishment!!!

Before I wrap-up this challenge, lets take a look at the first three weeks of tasks...

Week 1

Step 1: Locate all of your photos and place them in 

one central location.

Step 2: Take all of your photos out of their current storage accessories. 

Week 2

Step 3: Sort photos according to size.

Step 4: Label the back of all photos.

Week 3

Step 5: Sort the 4x6 photos.

Step 6: Place the sorted 4x6 photos in 

individual storage units.

Step 7: Make labels for the front of each individual

photo holder. Then, place them in each container.

Step 8: Place the individual storage containers 

back in the bigger unit. Then, place a label 

on the front (of course!).

Now, to this week's final tasks, which involve containerizing and storing the 5x7, 8x10, and 11x14 photos. We will start with the 5x7 photos and photo cards...

Step 9: Containerizing the 5x7 photos 

& photo cards.

I purchased a Recollections memory box to house my 5x7 photos and photo cards. These exact boxes can be found at Michaels, but you can also find similar versions at many other retailers like Target, Wal-Mart, Amazon, and Hobby Lobby. This particular memory box was on sale for $2.00 when I visited Michaels.

After I took off all the packaging, I added my 5x7 photos and my photo cards.

Next, it was time to add a label to the front. I cut an index card and used my Brother label maker to create the label. 

Step 10: Containerize the 8x10 photos.

For this step, I used one of the Craftologie scrapbook storage boxes I had purchased at JoAnns a couple of months ago. If you get these boxes on sale, they usually cost around $5.00.

I used the same label making process for this box as well.

Step 11: Find an ideal location to store the boxes.

I used the bottom shelf of my husband's bookcase in our office to store the two boxes.

And, I am sure you are wondering where I stored the 11x14 photos. It turns out I only had two of these photos, so I stored them under the 4x6 storage box in my living room entertainment center. You can barely even see them, which I was happy about!

I hope this photo challenge has helped everyone organize their photos. If not, I hope it at least got some ideas started and created some interest for you. 

Stay tuned next week to see what monster I will tackle in July. Here is a hint... It seems like every room has one!!!

Read more ...