Thrifty Storage

So I've been working towards organizing my pantry for weeks now.   I wanted some really cute storage bins, but I didn't feel like spending the money for the look I was after.

Supplies:

• Dollar store storage bins
• Double-sided tape
• Ribbon
• Wooden plaques (or something similar but sturdy)
• Chalkboard paint
• Paint
• Glue gun

I went to the dollar store and got these at $1 each.

Using double sided tape, place a strip in the center of the long sides, and on the corners.

Cut your ribbon to fit around the top of your bin.  Starting with the middle point of your ribbon, stick it to the tape on the front side of your bin,

If your bin has an angular slope like mine, twist the ribbon on the sides of the bin so that it remains flush with the corners.  All the while pressing the ribbon to the tape.  Otherwise it will bunch up.

                                

 To finish it off, place a dollop of glue to the bin where the ends of the ribbon meet.

Take your wooden plaques and paint them with the chalkboard paint.  I found these at Hobby Lobby for two for a dollar.

Using a q-tip and coordinating paint, I repeated the pattern around the edge of my plaques.

Take your plaques and glue them to the front of your bin.  Viola!  

Six bins @ $1.00 ea....$6.00

Two spools of ribbon @ 3.99 ea, 50% off... $2.00

Six plaques at 2 for $1.00...$3.00

Chalkboard Spray Paint ...$7.99

I had all the other materials in my craft closet.

$19.00 total divided by six bins.  That's $3.17 a bin!

You'll see these bins put into action after I finally quit procrastinating cleaning my pantry!

Indoor Terrarium

After years of secretly desiring to make one of these, I finally stepped up to the task. An indoor terrarium can be a unique, natural and inexpensive feature that can be added to your home in under an hour.  You can make any size to fit any budget and lifestyle.  It's also great for cat owners, who's cats eat plants!  Let’s get to it!

What You’ll Need

• A glass jar with a lid (I bought mine at Hobby Lobby for half off at $25.00.  I have seen smaller yet still impressive sizes at Target for under $20.00.)

• Sheet Moss
• Gravel/River Stones/Fish Gravel/Rocks from your back yard
• Activated or Horticulture Grade Charcoal (I couldn’t find this ANYWHERE so I omitted.  It’s good for moisture and odor control.)
• Potting Soil (I used moisture control.)
• 3,5,7 plants depending on the size of the jar.  An uneven number is aesthetically more pleasing to the eye.  Try to get plants that need low light, and like moisture.

 Instructions

• Place a piece of sheet moss on the bottom of the jar

• Put a 2” layer of gravel or rock on top of that.  The gravel suits as drainage for the water so the roots of your plants won’t be sitting in water and rot.

• If you found the activated charcoal, put a 1” layer on top of that.
• Add another layer of sheet moss, so the soil doesn’t mix with the gravel.

• Using a plastic cup, scoop some potting soil onto the moss.  Stand your plants next to the jar so you know how tall to put the soil in.  Ideally, you don’t want the plants to touch the side of the jar, but every picture I’ve found, it rarely happens.
• Take your plants out of their planters.  You may need to pull them apart so you get a smaller plant.
• Dig a hole in the center of the soil, and start placing your plants in the hole.  Pat the soil around the plants, over the roots back in place.  I added a little more soil at this point.

• With a spray bottle, spray the plants and soil until they’re damp, not drenched.  You can also squirt down any soil that crept up onto the sides.

• Clean the inside of the jar with newspaper, and replace the lid.
• If your terrarium becomes too foggy, remove the lid for a few hours to dry out the soil.  Feel the soil every couple of weeks to see how dry it is and if you need to re-spray.
• Remove any yellow leaves that may grow.

There you have it!  A wonderful, natural piece of artwork for your home!

No Knit Scarf

My Mother

My family still lives in Northern Virginia, and whenever this time of year comes around, we always go back and forth about how beautiful it is here in Phoenix, and how bone-chilling cold it is back there.  I remember one time I was floating around in my pool in March, and I believe they had a snow storm that same day.

So when my sister celebrated a recent birthday, I wanted to make something that would keep her warm.  I found directions for a no-knit scarf on Martha Stewart's webpage.  I pulled on some Capri's and flip flops, hopped in my truck and drove to Hobby Lobby with my windows rolled down, the air keeping me cool as the hot sun bore down.

After I picked out my yarn, I went home to tackle the project.  Here are my interpreted directions...

1. Cut 12 pieces of bulky-weight yarn to about 1 1/2 times the desired length of the final scarf. I found a scarf that I currently had and measured it against that.
2. Divide yarn into 4 bunches of 3 strands each.
3. Tie 2 bunches together with a square knot, leaving 6 inches of fringe at end; repeat with remaining bunches.
4. Martha's instructions say to pin the knots to a piece of foam board. But I didn't have any foam board.  you can tape the ends down to a coffee table, or do what I did, My coffee table has drawers, so I shoved the ends into the drawer and shut it.  Either way, you need to find some way to hold the ends down as you knot.
5. Knot inner 2 bunches of yarn together, spacing knot about 1 inch from existing knots, then knot left and right bunches together. Alternate knotting the inner bunches and the left and right ones, spacing knots evenly apart, until about 6 inches of yarn remain on the end. Finish so that final knots mirror opposite end, and trim to even the ends.

Here are directions for the square knot...

Start with two pieces of rope that are close in diameter, in this case, you're using two bunches of yarn.   We'll call them rope A and rope B for ease in describing this process.

Hold the end of rope A in your left hand and the end of rope B in your right hand.

Cross rope A over rope B to form an X.    

 

Cross A over B again, forming another X.

Wrap A once to the left around B.

Pull on the free ends to tighten the knot.

It was kind of awkward in the beginning as I was learning how to tie the knot, but once I found my rhythm, it went really fast.  The whole thing took me maybe an hour and a half.  it's a great craft, even for a beginner crafter. 

My sister called and said she LOVED the scarf.  As the snow is still melting back east from the the big storms this year, I think I'll go search for my next project out on my patio!

Wrap A once to the right around B, just like the first step in tying a bow in your shoelace. A is now sticking out to the right and B is to the left.