Friday, May 27, 2011

More Spring Projects

 

This Spring has been all about organization and projects!  I love it.  Due to health issues and coming out of a very difficult season in life, if feels delightful to be able to do the things I love.  One of which is ORGANIZING!  I am awful at taking ‘before’ pictures as I am usually in a snit fit to get organizing that I don’t want to stop to take a picture.  Sorry, it really would be more dramatic with a before and after photo.

In our bathroom I put these cute, cheap matching baskets in Brian and my drawers.  I spray painted the little tins that hold the nail clippers and Q-tips.  I painted them black.  I found this really cool shelf liner paper.  I adore black and white right now.  So clean and crisp.  Don’t you think?

P1030610

This is my drawer.  I purged tons of old make-up products that I kept for . . . for what, I don’t know. Winking smile  I even lined my box and baskets with the pretty black and white shelf liner, just for the “pretty factor”.  It makes all the difference in the world, for me, to have small baskets to keep things in.  If I just have one big basket I throw them every which way.

P1030612

Moving on to our bedroom closet.  If you knew what was on these shelves for ten years you would know why it thrills me to see this closet!  I leave the doors open sometimes just for fun!  I had the big white baskets from a kitchen makeover about 6 years ago that I never used.  They were perfect.  I put an extra shelf in to use up as much space as I could.  The other baskets were from the Dollar General.

P1030615

I even replaced the mismatched baskets above Brian’s side of the closet with matching white ones.  We keep things in there that we don’t need that often, as it is quite a reach.

P1030616

Now, for the back bathroom!  I so wish I had before and after pictures!!  This was my nemesis for years.  I never could figure out what to do with these cabinets and above them.  It was always a mess.  Now it looks so nice!!  They are the cabinets above the washer and dryer.

In the baskets I have extra rolls of packing tape (the down side to buying in bulk) and light bulbs.  I made cute little labels for them, ‘laminated’ them and tied them with a ribbon.

P1030620

Behind the door on the right are the laundry products. It just so happened to work out that the laundry detergent I use comes in a white container.  (yeah!)  I removed the label from the bleach and replaced with my fancy ‘chalk board’ labels.  I put the Downy in a quart jar because we only use Downy on Saturdays for our sheets.  (I still love the smell of fresh Downy sheets)  No sense having the super huge Costco size bottle taking up space, that is down stairs in the storage room.  (I should show you that sometime, organized, though not as pretty) 

See how much space I have since purging and organizing?

P1030619

This is the left side of the cabinet.  I purged out a ton of large vases!  How many do I really need?  And, they are like a quarter at Goodwill if I ever want more!  I’d rather them store them than me.

P1030618

I am not totally thrilled with the slight curve in the little shelving stand I have, but it serves its purpose and it was free.  Found it in my garage.

I have a bunch of skinny, tall vases that I line up on the kitchen window sill that are always falling over so I put them in their own basket.  The short vases, are just that, short, so there was always a waste of vertical space.  They got their own basket.  Any other odd size vases got their own basket too.  I try not to let the fact that the two baskets on the left are blue, they were only a dollar each, just wish they were white.  I’ll be okay, though. Winking smile

P1030617

This little cutie patootie table was only $2!!  It was unmarked at a garage sale and I thought they might be asking $10 for it, and I was willing to pay $5.  Imagine my delight and inside squeals when the gentleman said $2!!  It was a country blue and painted very well, but you know how I feel about green!  I wanted to distress it like my headboard, but it was blue under the green, not white.  I did apply a light rubbing of stain over it to make it look a little more rustic.  It is so cute by the back door.  I came in from gardening the other day and set my seed basket on it, I think I’ll keep it there.  Looks kind of cute, don’t you think?

P1030624P1030622

On to the pantry!!!  One of my favorite spots in the house.  This is the rack that has been on the door since we moved in.  I have finally accumulated all the same size spice jars.  It has taken awhile to figure just what spices I use on a regular basis too.  I also  removed all the Costco size containers from the top shelf in put them in jars.  (except for that rogue bottle on the left, I really just want to throw it away)

P1030625

Doesn’t it look so cool to see all those labels???

P1030626

The top shelf here has the more commonly used spices in my house.  Italian seasoning, chili powder and cumin deserved larger jars.

I put a ‘sweeteners’ label on the shelf, as things never seemed to get returned to where they belong.

P1030627

This is the lower rack.  A spot for the oils, vinegar and the baking powder, soda, salt and cornstarch (which is really arrowroot, just haven’t changed the label) . . .

P1030629

On the bottom row I removed all the oddball boxes of tea and put them in jars.  Love it!

P1030630

On a tiny wall just inside the door I have these really cool square jars.  I bought them when we did the kitchen remodel six years ago.  I reorganized an repurposed them.

P1030242

P1030631

Oops, the millet jar is really popcorn.  The jar used to be used for millet, I just labeled the other side.  I have MY Tazo Cucumber White tea squeezed in between two jars.  I drink this every single morning, so it is in a convenient spot.  (right there next to chocolate chips, hmmmm)

P1030632

The bottom shelf in the pantry has baking supplies, flours and sugars.  I even made cutesy labels for the onion and potato baskets.  Did you get the idea that I love to label thing sin my home?  As far as I am concerned, an organizing project isn’t finished unless it’s labeled.  Just my opinion.

P1030241

Phew!  That was a long post!  I know there are more projects, this is just what I remembered today.  I will have to show you all we have done in the garden too.  That was the other huge Spring project.  Oh, and the guys are doing the roof as we had some leaks and it is nearly 25 years old.  Does it ever end?  Hope you enjoyed the tour.

8 comments:

His bondservant said...

Wow, you sure have been a busy lady. Since we just moved, I am doing some organizing of my own. It is so nice to see projects finished and things neat and within reach. Love the labels. How did you do the chalkboard labels? Love that idea! So glad you are feeling like doing this again. Blessings, Jackie

Katie Benson said...

Yes - please tell how you do your labels -- so cute! I am also in love with black and white right now :) I love the pictures -- thanks for sharing all of your projects. I read and re-read your blog posts as I am standing for my complete healing and restoration. You are such an encouragement to me. Thanks so much for sharing your journey. God Bless!!

elaine said...

oops - didn't realize that my daughter was signed in to her account ... the above post was really by Elaine :)

Michelle (She Looketh Well) said...

Tutorial for 'chalkboard' labels coming right up! It is so easy and cheap!

Coby said...

I'm drooling...no,not over the spices, but over the containers and labels! I LOVE organizing and planning! In fact, I think I'm better at planning than executing plans (ahem! I'm on my way to getting delivered from this! ;-)). I love your little green table - I think the seed basket looks adorable on it!

Enjoy your newly organized and purged home!

Tania said...

I love how you have organised your pantry, and like the others have said, the labels look great!

Thank you for the motivation to go and tidy my pantry!

Tania

Unknown said...

I am another organizer! I love it!!! You did awesome!

busymomof10 said...

I LOVED this post!!! Organizing is so satisfying! I have some spots that need my attention, and this post has motivated me to attack them!

I LOVE all of your baskets and containers and those labels are beyond amazing!!! Looking for your tutorial!

Oh, and I love your green table with seed basket too! Thanks for sharing the fruit of your hard work! I love what yoou have done!