wasabi tape fail

Yes, I know the proper name is washi tape but my brain always pronounces it as wasabi. Just like Downton Abbey, I could have sworn it was really Down TOWN!  Speaking of wasabi, it makes me think of sushi, none of which I've had in a few months.  I miss it.

Anyway, I finally bought some as it seemed like it could give me a quick Craft High without a lot of time and effort.   I picked up this pretty pack of tape.

I thought I could take one our huge bulletin boards and pretty her up, for my craft room.

I added the tape, then I added a second coat of tape because it seemed to light.

Then I threw some plain, white paper for more pop. One sheet of something would look better but I was going with what I had.

End result?  I HATE IT!!  The colors remind me of the Miami Dolphins and will totally clash in the craft room, which is mint green.  What looked good under plastic just didn't work with what I had in mind.  Luckily, the tape is very forgiving so I can always rip it off and redo it.  Or, I might just hang it up in The Boy's room.

Not to be deterred, I took the small board we have in the kitchen and did this.

The one colored tape looks better and I am happy with it.  Now I bet The Husband is going to take another look at the board because I did it last week and I doubt he's noticed!

I do think The Husband jinxed me.  Last week he said if the name of the blog is The Unexceptional Housewife, my things should look half-assed.  Honey, my stuff looks like the kids did most of it!!  Most of the bloggers I follow use miter saws, drills, power sanders....I am just beginning to use a hammer!

a tisket, a tasket....

I updated an old basket!!  I actually did it about a year ago but it still counts, right??


This is a basket I bought a Goodwill and spray painted it white.

We used it for stuffed animals and what not for awhile.  Then the paint began chipping off and I thought about getting rid of it.

Then we got new couches!

I realized our old, horrible blankets didn't go with the newness of the couches so I wanted to put them in a basket.   I schlepped the basket into the Family Room and used it in there.

I like the style of rope baskets but they were too pricey so I figured I would try to make my own. Armed with two rolls of rope from HD, my glue gun, almost 40 glue sticks (the big ones) and a few hours. I made this.

As you can see I didn't quite have enough rope for the bottom (of course not!! This is a Lisa project after all)! I did buy more rope and finished the rest.

 All in all, I love it! Besides burning myself a few times, it was very easy and satisfying. That make it win win in my book!

Junk Drawer Org

Maybe when the kids go back to school I will find another purpose in life because right now I have way to much time on my hands.  Today I organized the junk drawer!  In the old house, mine was tiny.  I had junk drawer envy of one of my friends.  Her was huge, spacious and very organized!

So here is what it looked like before I started.  Not too bad but I really just threw everything in when we moved in.

 I took everything out and put it on the counter.

There were 7 different kinds of tape and 7 decks of cards.

 The usual assembly of pencils and pens.  I checked all the pens and threw out the dead ones.

This is what it looked like when empty.  I went through the house and grabbed some more bins.  I am not that anal that they all needed to match.

 I corralled all the tape except for the scotch and put them in the Laundry Room.

This is what it looked like when I was done.  Still plenty of room!

I put some tape on the bottom of each bin so they won't slide when the drawer opens and closes.

I know.  I need a life!

Paper Goods

I have been storing the paper goods on a high shelf in the Laundry Room but the mess was bothering me.

Some people may not want their toilet paper on display (I could care less) but I like things to look neat and tidy.  So I grabbed some baskets.

Each product has their own basket.

Looks like we are low on tissues.

Paper towels

Toilet paper!

Then I put all the baskets back up on the shelf.  I can't see what is in each but it looks good.  The shelf is too tall for me to reach without a step stool anyway but I am happy with the results.

The Clutter Queen in me is at peace now....

The Organized Spice Rack

The new house came with a built in spice rack on the Pantry Door. 

At first I thought it was great until we realized the standard spice bottles were too tall to fit.  Plus I had most of my spices in their precious, airtight Tupperware containers that The Husband hated, lovingly written on with a Sharpie!

I had been stockpiling baby food jars for other craft related goodness and  I was able to hoard some when I was babysitting.

Well, they fit perfectly in the racks!!  So I took as many spices as I could, armed myself with a label maker and ta da!!

 

It looks more organized and pretty!

 

 

I still have some of the smaller spice and Tupperware containers and I am fine with them but The Husband, who has some OCD, is looking for more baby food jars!

I did alphabetize them.

 

I have a basket of the leftover spices and the ones that never made it into a jar but as of now, it is much easier to find what we need, see what is running low and it is a nice, organized sight to see when I open that door!

gallery, rug and a bath update

There is a hallway that separates the dining room and kitchen.  I believe it was labeled as the Mud Room.  On one side of the all there are rows of hooks (picture back packs and winter coats and a very twitchy Husband).  On the other side we made a Gallery Wall!  No measuring, no matchy match frames.  Just hung up some hooks and bam!  Wall is done!

For a house that is bigger than the old one, there is less room for me to stick my framed pictures.  Part of it is that I am (not) patiently waiting for us to find more furniture to stick them on.  I have also taken some older baby pics out of frames.  Sigh.  I love my pictures all over a home but I feel like it is becoming to cluttered.  Need the less is more approach. 

I found an entry way rug for the front door at Overstock!

It was almost the one I had envisioned and the price was great (sale.)  I always wanted a better rug for the old house but there were so many layers on that floor, a door couldn't open over it and a rug.   I am happy with the quality and it feels it cushy under barefeet,

I forgot to update y'all about the bathtub situation. After a big hike on Sunday, I thought a bath would be a great way to relax.  First of all, those tubs are kind of hard to clean.  I was crawling in and out of it while the water dripped down at me!!  Then I began filling it and added bubbles.  Because I was covered in dirt, the water became dirty and icky and it was hard to relax after that!!  I emptied the tub and took a quick shower...which I should have done first!!  I will try again but it did work, although it still makes no sense to me! 

Pillows!

Thanks to an idea on Pinterest, I made pillows!

It was pretty easy to do and I know I will do it again!

I had to buy double lined placements, which I finally found at Target.  They were harder to find than I thought. At $3.99 each I had a minor heart attack but this experiment would yield me 2 inexpensive pillows.

The Back

The Front.  I wanted to add some color to the two dining room chairs that are now in the corners of the room.

Step one is to rip the seam open enough to get your hand in there to add the stuffing.  I found a bag of stuffing at Joann's for $9.00.  Clearly too excited to think, I bought it off sale and without a coupon!  I actually bought 2 bags (just in case) so I will return the other one.  Next time I will be more prepared.  *Hangs head in shame.*

After the pillow is stuffed, you sew up the edge.

I am no seamstress but this kind of sewing I can handle!

Isn't it cute?  I swear it took me less than 20 minutes to make both pillows.  I definitely want to make more for the Guest Room.  Both The Husband and I aren't really Decorative Pillow People when it comes to our bed but I know The Girl will want some for herself.  She helped me stuff them because she just had to help. 

I am estimating the pillows came to about $7.00 since I still have some stuffing leftover. It made me happy to be a little crafty, a little thrifty and a little decorative.