What If I Actually Tried Some of Those 500+ Pins I've Pinned On Pinterest? Experiment #1

I was rearranging my Pinterest boards this week and realized I have pinned over 500 (five hundred!) ideas, few of which I've actually tried.  So, I've decided to begin a new series--What If I Actually Tried Some of Those 500+ Pins I've Pinned on Pinterest?

Experiment #1 is this Pin on my "Crafty" board:

Apologies to the originator of this idea, but this Pin goes to a parked site, so I am without anyone to credit.

First, I gathered supplies & tools:  Two different sizes of cans, some jute, a glue gun & glue sticks:

Then, I went to work wrapping & gluing.  I started with the bigger can and from the bottom up.  Here's an in-progress shot:

I wrapped & glue the smaller can from the top.  My tips & impressions?  It goes much faster if you can keep the glue gun in your hand while gluing & wrapping (rather than repeatedly setting it down & picking it up).  Also, I think it was easier to keep the jute horizontally straight/level when working from the top down, but the finish at the top of the can looks better on the bigger can that I wrapped and glued from the bottom up...

Here's the finished product--2 ways:

From a can of soup to a shabby-chic stylin' vase

From a can of pinto beans & a can of soup to 2 containers with bath supplies for a visiting guest

What Pins have you tried out or do you hope to try out?

Stay tuned for more experiments in What If I Actually Tried Some of Those 500+ Pins I've Pinned on Pinterest?

Have a great weekend!
~Melissa

Summer School = Organizing & DIY Opportunities

So, I've been a cleaning & organizing machine what with both the boys in summer school for the first time ever!!  Inspired by a blog post I ran across here on the Mini Manor Blog, and fed up by all the searching for "that necklace" or "those earrings", I decided to clean out & organize my personal stash of jewelry.

I'd been storing my jewelry in these shallow top drawers of my dresser:

 Here's just one of the drawers, in two shots:

:

As you can see, what used to be organized jewelry drawers had become a hot mess!

I decided to both clean out & reorganize my drawers & to add hanging bamboo cutlery trays (a la Mini Manor Blog) to my walk-in closet for all my necklaces & my favorite rings.  I opted out of painting the trays, as I have both white & oak accents in my walk-in & figured the natural bamboo would look fine.  I did not use screw-in hooks, but rather some Command adhesive hooks--I went with silver hooks on clear bases.  Here's a picture of the cutlery trays with hooks applied:




I also added hooks to the bottom of one of the trays to hang long necklaces from (oops--forgot to take a before pic).

Here's what the drawers look like all organized.  I organized by metals, type, color.  Cue the angel choir!!

Drawer Number 1 in two shots:

 Drawer No. 2 in two shots:

That's all well & good, but what about the cutlery trays, you say?  Wait for it...

Here's the blank space in my closet before:

And, here it is after:

There are actually 4 trays end to end--I just screwed them into the wall--but my closet isn't deep enough to get all 4 in one shot.  Here are some close-ups of the cutlery trays in action--see how the long necklaces hang from the hooks attached to the bottom of the bottom tray?  :D

I am now positively giddy about picking out my jewelry for the day!  How about you?  Have you come up with any creative storage solutions?

~Melissa

The Big Reveal

I finally finished my cover-the-not-so-attractive-big-empty-wall art project that I told you about here.

It's finally time for The Big Reveal (with much thanks to the magic that is the Command Picture Hanger)...

Tada:

Isn't that so much better? And, no giant ugly white triple switchplate staring back at you.

One more time.

Before:

After:

Pay no attention to the ever-changing pillows...they are subject to the whims of 2 boys & move about the room with frequency.

A fun & easy DIY project...glad I did this!

Any DIY Projects on your To Do List?

~Melissa