DIY: Spice Rack Makeover

I've had this cheapo spice rack kicking around in my kitchen for about five years, which, as it turns out, is about five years too many since I have barely touched the plentiful spices stored inside. My mom picked this up for super cheap (like $5) when I moved into my apartment and I used it here and there, but my supply of other spices always seemed to call to me more than these. Cut to years later when all this spice rack does is take up precious, precious counter space and periodically get splattered by the food that I'm cooking in my cramped kitchen. Not the best use, I don't think. Combine that with my constant desire for cute, unconventional storage and a crafty idea was born! I turned a no-longer-used spice rack into a handy-and-always-used craft storage rack, which is now proudly displayed on my sewing table! This kind of spice rack is pretty common, so here's how you can do it too:

WHAT YOU NEED

Spice Rack, Acrylic Paints (white and whatever color(s) you choose), Paint Brush, 

Sticker-Back Glitter Paper, Scissors, Pencil, Sandpaper (optional)

HOW TO MAKE IT

1. Empty and clean the spice jars and wipe down the rack itself. I also sanded mine lightly, but that's optional.

2. Paint the rack with a coat or two of white paint and let it dry.

3. Paint the rack with a coat of your colored paint and let dry completely. Repeat until the coverage is opaque.

4. While the paint dries, trace a spice jar cap on the back of the sticker glitter paper. I traced 16 circles, one for each cap. Cut those out. Peel the backing off the glitter paper circles and smooth one onto the top of each cap.

5. Fill the spice jars with bits and baubles and put them back into the rack. You're done! Hooray for you!

These are great for all kinds of storage, like office supplies or beauty tools, but I chose to store my smallest craft supplies here since they can be hard to keep in a visible space. Things like googly eyes, metal studs and tiny buttons can be hard to find when you need them, but in this new storage rack they're always within sight and within reach. Plus, the whole thing adds a nice pop of color (and glitter!) to my craft space, which always puts a smile on my face.

Do you have any fun, unconventional ways that you like to store things?

xoxo,
Michelle

OBSESSED: Sistema Containers

I know it might seem a little over the top to declare an obsession 

with a to-go lunch container, but hear me out, ok? 

Have you ever dreamed you could conveniently and securely transport your entire lunch in one container whilst keeping everything safe and separated? What’s that – you haven’t really ever thought about it? Oh, well maybe you’re more the type to dream about life ambitions or world peace, but I had a dream for the perfect segmented lunch container and it came true!

There are several models made by Sistema, but I’d like to express my love for one in particular: the Klip It Lunch Cube. This mighty lil’ guy, which I have in both a dazzling blue/green combo as well as a snappy purple/pink permutation, can hold an entire salad on top, plus a container of dressing, a pile of croutons and some tangerine slices without your lettuce getting all citrus-y and your croutons losing their crunch. To quote the great SchoolinPJs.com commercial, “but how is this possible?” I’ll show you:

The top is a separate section with snap closure which perfectly fits a sandwich, salad, slice of square pizza or general leftover type goodness. Oooh, ahhhh.

The bottom half has two sections, one slightly wider than the other, which are great for pretzels, crackers, fruit, baby carrots, chips – you name it. It’s a great place to stash a tiny container (of which I have many – got an 8 pack at Staples of all places for $1.00!) to hold peanut butter, dressing, dip, salsa, whatever.

I’ve been using these containers for about a year  and I  was battling a pretty strong addition last spring – I couldn’t go within a 2 mile radius of my Old Navy, where I bought them, without getting a fix…until I ran out of storage room. Now I have a happy collection and enjoy (because this is now how I derive pleasure, I guess) prepping lunches for the week ahead of time and having several bright containers looking back at me every time I open the fridge for a glass of water. I know this sounds crazy, but I have to assure you I'm not - I know on paragraph five of a rave about plastic containers sanity may not be taken for granted.

My love for Sistema containers stems from my admiration and fascination with Bento boxes (this site could mesmerize me for hours!) and while these are different, I do get that feeling of smart storage with a little fun. Plus my sandwich never gets pickle juice on it so this is basically the second coming, right?

You can find Sistema containers at The Container Store and on Amazon and my local Old Navy has been carrying them by the checkout at about $6.00 for the past year or so. Drool over more Sistema containers on their website.

xoxo,

Michelle

DIY: Bangle Holder

Remember those bangles made from a Pringles can that I featured a tutorial on recently? Well, it turns out making them is kind of addictive. Only one problem: bangles are kind of a pain to store. Solution: a handy DIY bangle holder!

What You Need

 

> A Solid Base (I’m using a circular piece of wood from the craft store – it was about $1.50)

> Aluminum Foil Roll or Paper Towel Roll (foil rolls are more narrow but thicker and sturdier – that’s what I’m using)

> Hot Glue

> Decorative Paper (I’m using GLITTER PAPER!)

> Scissors

> Paint, ribbon and/or embellishments (optional)

How to Make It

1. Trace the top of your roll on your decorative paper and cut out the circle, leaving a 1/4" border. Got glue this circle over one end of the roll and secure the border with more glue.

2. Measure your roll against your decorative paper and trim paper to fit both the height and circumference of the roll. Hot glue the paper onto the roll.

3. Paint or decorate your base piece if desired. I painted mine silver.

4. Glue your covered roll in the center of the base, holding it in place until dry and set. You can also add a line of hot glue around the perimeter of the roll where it meets the base and cover with ribbon, a string of craft pearls or whatever you like to conceal this seam.

 

That’s it! Stack your bangles on the roll for a great vertical storage solution to cluttered jewelry collections. Now you have an excuse to make more Pringles can bangles…

xoxo,

Michelle

BEAUTY: Ikea Helmer Beauty Storage

I didn’t invent the idea of keeping beauty products in the Ikea Helmer storage unit, but I’m definitely behind it 100%. When I started seeing this small wonder on various beauty and nail polish blogs, I became almost instantly obsessed and plotted a trip to Ikea.

 

There’s a reason these are so prevalent in the beauty blogging world – they really work. Small but mighty, the unit is only 11” wide,  27” tall and 16.75” deep, but its six drawers provide the perfect storage for all your girl bits (no, not those ones). Another reason they’re so popular is that the drawers are deep enough to store nail polish bottles upright, which is best. I’ve had mine in a mangled horizontal mess for pretty much eternity so I’m psyched to have them all neatly standing up where I can clearly see everything.

The Helmer is fairly easy to assemble as far as Ikea furniture goes and didn’t require any special tools. It also comes with wheels to keep it mobile. At $40.00 (US) it’s a little more than I wanted to spend (especially at Ikea), but if given the chance I would DEFINITELY do it again! Enough blabbin' - on to the pictures!

 

My top drawer is most of my makeup, which I’ve organized into sections with all my quick grab kind of things (chapstick, liquid eyeliner, tweezers) right up front.

The second drawer is more makeup, mostly palettes and more lip products.

The third drawer is my hair items, separated by type in these small dollar store organizers (3 for $1.00!). My brush fits right along the side and headbands are in back.

The fourth drawer is all my nail products.

 

The fifth drawer is various scarves, bandanas and more headbands.

The bottom drawer is body sprays and fragrances which I honestly barely use. Looking at this I just realized one of these perfumes was a Christmas gift – in 2001!

This is a great storage unit for small spaces like apartments, and combined with a TV tray table I was able to make a tiny vanity area in my somewhat cramped bedroom. A veritable oasis if I ignore the mountain of dirty laundry behind me!

A major bonus is that the Helmer would work anywhere in your home. If I ever get a new makeup storage solution (in my fantasy world where I don’t live in an apartment) I can easily make this storage for files, utensils or towels in other rooms. I got my Helmer in white for this versatility (it also comes in gray and red).

Do you use a Helmer too? If not, how do you store your makeup? Show us pictures!

xoxo,

Michelle