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Thursday, April 20, 2017
Sunday, April 16, 2017
Renaissance Noble Dress Project Part 3: Princess Dress Reveal!
I blogged about designing a new Elizabethan Nobility Dress to perform with Husband at Renaissance Festivals. This project was harder than any other costuming project I’ve done. I like the finished dress for the most part, but I don’t love it as much as I do the costume it replaces. There are a bunch of mistakes, and the bodice fit (among other things) needs tweaking which is why I haven’t shown you the finished project.
But I promised you a DIY renaissance festival princess dress and that you shall have, warts and all.
I started with a sketch after pouring over my favorite Elizabethan costuming books working backwards by buying the fabric first and coming up with a dress design second. I like to work the other way around.
I started with the overskirt and underskirt (forepart) first. I attempted hand embroidering the brown velvet trim but didn’t liker my test pieces, not to mention that kind of hand embroidery means an extra year for construction I didn’t have.
But I promised you a DIY renaissance festival princess dress and that you shall have, warts and all.
I started with a sketch after pouring over my favorite Elizabethan costuming books working backwards by buying the fabric first and coming up with a dress design second. I like to work the other way around.
Disclosure: affiliate links appear in this post for your convenience.
I started with the overskirt and underskirt (forepart) first. I attempted hand embroidering the brown velvet trim but didn’t liker my test pieces, not to mention that kind of hand embroidery means an extra year for construction I didn’t have.
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party 367
Have you started Spring Cleaning yet? I've been cleaning and reorganizing a cupboard shelf, closet space, and such bit by bit for the last couple of months or so. I like to think of it as "shopping the house" because I always find something I misplaced or forgot about. It's almost like getting new stuff even though it's my stuff already.
Small projects like this keep my Cabin Fever which rolls into Spring Fever in check while I'm waiting for it to be warm enough to work on projects in my garage workshop.
It not only pays off in more organization, and clearer shelves and closets (after I drop off the donation box) but this year it paid off in cash money. I tossed the stray coins I found while cleaning out my drawers and purses into my Travel Fund coin bank instead of chucking them back into the drawer.
I put over ten dollars in my coin jar without even trying. I don't know if I should proud or embarrassed we had so much money laying around the house. Oops.
Let's Party!
Small projects like this keep my Cabin Fever which rolls into Spring Fever in check while I'm waiting for it to be warm enough to work on projects in my garage workshop.It not only pays off in more organization, and clearer shelves and closets (after I drop off the donation box) but this year it paid off in cash money. I tossed the stray coins I found while cleaning out my drawers and purses into my Travel Fund coin bank instead of chucking them back into the drawer.
I put over ten dollars in my coin jar without even trying. I don't know if I should proud or embarrassed we had so much money laying around the house. Oops.
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
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You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!
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Monday, April 10, 2017
DIY Magnetic No Soliciting Sign
One of the few downsides of living in a condo community with neat little sidewalks is we are an easy target for every single organization that thinks door to door sales is a fabulous way to pester people in the middle of their day with stuff they don’t want.
Like most of neighbors, I put a No Solicitors sign on my front door. Sometimes it works.
Often it doesn’t.
Every surveyor, free offer, or people offering to register me to vote (only me, never my husband, and even though I have been registered to vote since I became of age,) ignored my No Solicitors sign because they clam they “aren’t selling something.”
Even thought they end their spiel with some sort of sales pitch. Every. Single. Time. Grr!
Like most of neighbors, I put a No Solicitors sign on my front door. Sometimes it works.
Often it doesn’t.
Every surveyor, free offer, or people offering to register me to vote (only me, never my husband, and even though I have been registered to vote since I became of age,) ignored my No Solicitors sign because they clam they “aren’t selling something.”
Even thought they end their spiel with some sort of sales pitch. Every. Single. Time. Grr!
How to Make a Quick and Easy Front Door No Sales Sign
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party 366
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
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You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!
And if you love all of this week's favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week's linky party!
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
What’s in Your Trash and How Do You Reduce it (or Not?)
I’ve been thinking a lot about trash lately. The stuff in the bin outside your house, not about tawdry things. Lacey is a genteel lady who not tolerate dirty things in her home (unless it is something muddy or smelly to roll in.)
I’ve been mulling over ideas to share how to reduce your household trash since the New Year. I’m coming up short because every draft I write sounds like some big green guru sitting on a mountain top looking down her nose at the world thinking that my Swiss Army knife of low waste options are the Pinnacle of One Size Fits All Solution to reducing household waste.
Or at least it feels that way and that is not my intent at all.
I want to offer options not absolutes because, honestly, there aren’t any one size fits all eco friendly low waste living solutions. It all depends on where you live, how you like to live, family size, etc.
I love mud!
I’ve been mulling over ideas to share how to reduce your household trash since the New Year. I’m coming up short because every draft I write sounds like some big green guru sitting on a mountain top looking down her nose at the world thinking that my Swiss Army knife of low waste options are the Pinnacle of One Size Fits All Solution to reducing household waste.
Or at least it feels that way and that is not my intent at all.
I want to offer options not absolutes because, honestly, there aren’t any one size fits all eco friendly low waste living solutions. It all depends on where you live, how you like to live, family size, etc.
Sunday, April 2, 2017
How to Make a Farmhouse Industrial Wine Cork Wreath
Many (OK, most) winter weekends husband and I mull a bottle of table quality red wine until it gets too warm outside to drink hot drinks then we switch over to making sangria. So between that and enjoying a bottle of the good stuff from time to time, I have several vases full of wine corks in my craft room.
Quick and Easy DIY Wine Cork Wreath Idea
My wine cork stash is getting high, my door wreath stash is letting low so with my creative powers combined (just like Captain Planet and The Wonder Twins!) I made a quick and easy wine cork wreath and you can too!Thursday, March 30, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party 365
Husband and are I in the middle of planning our travel schedule for the rest of the year. Part of that is double checking we have all of the travel organizers and accessories we need to pack for our trip.
The one thing we never seem to have is enough luggage tags. So I made this music lover's luggage tag for my shop LNW Creative Gifts! You can personalize it with your first name on the front or leave it plan and print your contact information on the bag of this sturdy tag.
I have one on my instrument case to make sure my black case isn't mixed up with the rest of my band's black instrument cases. If you want to keep you bag - tag it!
Sale ends in Let's Party!
The one thing we never seem to have is enough luggage tags. So I made this music lover's luggage tag for my shop LNW Creative Gifts! You can personalize it with your first name on the front or leave it plan and print your contact information on the bag of this sturdy tag.
We're have a20% off sale starting today, Thrusday March 30 to April 2, 2017 when you use this code at checkout:
ZAZDETAILS17. No Foolin'!
I have one on my instrument case to make sure my black case isn't mixed up with the rest of my band's black instrument cases. If you want to keep you bag - tag it!
Sale ends in Let's Party!
Monday, March 27, 2017
How to Make an Easy DIY Floor To Ceiling Shoe Rack Organizer
The over the door shoe rack similar to this one on the closet door and stackable shoe rack similar to this one worked for awhile. Well actually, it worked for Husband’s shoes rather than mine. My shoes are so small they would often slip through the split shelves and end up in a pile on the floor. (I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience.)
And after years of wear and tear, there came a time when even Gorilla Tape wouldn’t put our dilapidated shelves back together again. Which, frankly, I only put them back together every time they fell apart because Husband and I have grand plans to make this closet a cedar closet and pimped out with a custom closet organizer system.
Someday.
That keeps getting pushed down the punch list because blah, blah, yadda, yadda.
Does this happen to you or am I the only one?
After two months of shoe clutter barfing out of the closet and not being able to shut the door I had enough. This project doesn’t have to be my perfect dream of custom wall to wall floor to ceiling shoe storage, it just needs to be done. Now.
And after years of wear and tear, there came a time when even Gorilla Tape wouldn’t put our dilapidated shelves back together again. Which, frankly, I only put them back together every time they fell apart because Husband and I have grand plans to make this closet a cedar closet and pimped out with a custom closet organizer system.
Someday.
That keeps getting pushed down the punch list because blah, blah, yadda, yadda.
Does this happen to you or am I the only one?
After two months of shoe clutter barfing out of the closet and not being able to shut the door I had enough. This project doesn’t have to be my perfect dream of custom wall to wall floor to ceiling shoe storage, it just needs to be done. Now.
Shoe Closet Before. I am not proud of this.
Thursday, March 23, 2017
When is it Wrong to Paint Furniture and Friday Favorites Linky Party 364
As a DIYer, upcycler, and maker of things, it isn't unusual to paint a piece old and beat up furniture. I do it all of the time and I'm sure you do too.
But I am starting to rethink that updating strategy after hearing about the long and horrific restoration job a friend went through to remove silver spray paint from a set of antique rattan Mid Century Modern footstools. There was one footstool for each spouse and they groused about DIYers ruining a classic antique but it also meant they added them to their collection for a song because the current value was shot.
I understand both sides of the coin. I love a good painted or reworked furniture project but I can also get sick to my stomach when I see someone wreck a piece that would sing on its own with stripping, sanding, and retaining the finish (Flea Market Flip I'm talking to you.)
Let's Party!
But I am starting to rethink that updating strategy after hearing about the long and horrific restoration job a friend went through to remove silver spray paint from a set of antique rattan Mid Century Modern footstools. There was one footstool for each spouse and they groused about DIYers ruining a classic antique but it also meant they added them to their collection for a song because the current value was shot.
I understand both sides of the coin. I love a good painted or reworked furniture project but I can also get sick to my stomach when I see someone wreck a piece that would sing on its own with stripping, sanding, and retaining the finish (Flea Market Flip I'm talking to you.)
Which is why I appreciate the extra work Vintage Green took to restore her scratched and water stain dresser rather than take the easy way out and paint it. Bravo!
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
7 Ways to Make Magnetic Embroidery Needle Minders
If you do a lot of hand sewing, cross stitch, embroidery, beading, or other needle crafts, you know eventually you will play the I put my work down and where did my needle go? game.
Slipping the needle into the fabric works to keep track of your embroidery needle but can leave permanent holes in certain fabrics. In that case you can keep track of your needles with the power to science: a magnetic needle minder!
Basically, a needle minder is a magnet that holds your needle and is glued to the back of a fairly thin decorative piece on the top side of the work in your embroidery hoop that is held in place on back side by another magnet.
I am hand sewing beads on a super size beading project – an Elizabethan under skirt. Since I am using a small beading needle on such a large and busy fabric, a magnetic needle minder will help me keep track of and find such a slender needle when I take a break.
Let’s make a needle minder!
Slipping the needle into the fabric works to keep track of your embroidery needle but can leave permanent holes in certain fabrics. In that case you can keep track of your needles with the power to science: a magnetic needle minder!
Basically, a needle minder is a magnet that holds your needle and is glued to the back of a fairly thin decorative piece on the top side of the work in your embroidery hoop that is held in place on back side by another magnet.
DIY Needle Minder Tutorial
I am hand sewing beads on a super size beading project – an Elizabethan under skirt. Since I am using a small beading needle on such a large and busy fabric, a magnetic needle minder will help me keep track of and find such a slender needle when I take a break.
Let’s make a needle minder!
Sunday, March 19, 2017
How to Make a Flannel Sleep Mask
The only way I can get to sleep and stay asleep at night is in a super duper cave like dark room. Unfortunately, curtains in every room on the planet (and especially in hotel rooms) conspire against me.
No matter how well I think I close them, there always is a hairline sliver between the curtains that shoots the early morning light directly into my eyes like a laser beam and wakes me up hours before my alarm is set to go off. Every. Single. Morning. ARUGH!
Fortunately, wearing a sleep mask thwarts the Sun Beam – Curtain Conspiracy. Take that sunbeam hahaha!
Unfortunately, most sleep masks are backed with nylon polyester, which doesn’t breathe making it way too hot to wear.
Fortunately, I reorganized and unearthed more scrap fabric than I realized I had including some nice, soft, cotton, and breathable flannel that makes an excellent and super cute sleep mask!
Pin this quick and easy tutorial for later!
No matter how well I think I close them, there always is a hairline sliver between the curtains that shoots the early morning light directly into my eyes like a laser beam and wakes me up hours before my alarm is set to go off. Every. Single. Morning. ARUGH!
Fortunately, wearing a sleep mask thwarts the Sun Beam – Curtain Conspiracy. Take that sunbeam hahaha!
Unfortunately, most sleep masks are backed with nylon polyester, which doesn’t breathe making it way too hot to wear.
Fortunately, I reorganized and unearthed more scrap fabric than I realized I had including some nice, soft, cotton, and breathable flannel that makes an excellent and super cute sleep mask!
How to Sew a Super Cute Sleep Mask
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party 363
Sunny days are here again! We moved our clocks forward which is a sure sign Spring is just around the corner. I found a stash of viable seeds when Spring Cleaning and I can't wait for the weather to warm up enough to put them in the ground.
That is the inspiration behind my featured pick from last week's Linky Party The Three Easiest Vegetables to Grow and Enjoy from Green Talk. Anna is a terrific gardener. I practically have her on speed dial when I have gardening questions but it sometimes feels like I kill more plants than I grow.
Let's Party!
That is the inspiration behind my featured pick from last week's Linky Party The Three Easiest Vegetables to Grow and Enjoy from Green Talk. Anna is a terrific gardener. I practically have her on speed dial when I have gardening questions but it sometimes feels like I kill more plants than I grow.
Let's Party!
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Tiny Mall Micro Loft House Tour
Tiny houses are all the rage, so it should be no surprise that city dwellers can live cute and with a ridiculously small carbon footprint in tiny micro apartments – in a converted historic shopping mall!
Photos courtesy of Ben Jacobsen/Northeast Collaborative Architects
You don’t have to be a shopaholic to live here. In fact, given that the average size of each tiny apartment is 220 square feet it is probably best if you aren’t.
Photos courtesy of Ben Jacobsen/Northeast Collaborative Architects
Pin this tiny house tour and share it with your friends!
You don’t have to be a shopaholic to live here. In fact, given that the average size of each tiny apartment is 220 square feet it is probably best if you aren’t.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party 362
To deal with this summer to snow temperatures, I'm working on small fiddly projects I've been putting off like updating all of my blog goals and statics.
The fantastic thing is I am just. this. close. to reaching my Pinterest goal of 20K followers by SIX people. Wow!
If you do'n't already can you follow me @condoblues on Pinterest to help me reach my goal of 2)K followers? If you like my blog you will love my Pinterest feed! I pin waaaaaay more awesome projects and ideas to my Pinterest boards than I can share on my other social media feeds. It's easy. Just click the Condo Blues Pinterest box below. Thank you so very much!
I if could find a job curating and sharing fantastic ideas on Pinterest full time I would!
Let's Party!
The fantastic thing is I am just. this. close. to reaching my Pinterest goal of 20K followers by SIX people. Wow!
If you do'n't already can you follow me @condoblues on Pinterest to help me reach my goal of 2)K followers? If you like my blog you will love my Pinterest feed! I pin waaaaaay more awesome projects and ideas to my Pinterest boards than I can share on my other social media feeds. It's easy. Just click the Condo Blues Pinterest box below. Thank you so very much!
Let's Party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
15 of the Best Scrap Fabric Projects
After spending an afternoon finding hidden fabric caches around the house (and wondering if I am turning into a ferret,) I organized the larger than I realized fabric stash into my super big DIY under bed fabric organizer
And oh my goooooooooooodness I learned I have a lot of scrap fabric! More than I thought. I figure I should celebrate National Craft Month by sewing some scrap fabric project to clear out my stashso I can buy more fabric.
And oh my goooooooooooodness I learned I have a lot of scrap fabric! More than I thought. I figure I should celebrate National Craft Month by sewing some scrap fabric project to clear out my stash
Sunday, March 5, 2017
How to Make a Sliding Under Bed Fabric Storage Box
Even though I am fairly strict about only buying fabric and craft supplies that I need for a specific project to keep me from being overrun with cute supplies I won’t use I still have a lot of leftover fabric stored in plastic storage tubs throughout the house.
Which makes it difficult to use in a stash bust project because I have fabric here, there, and everywhere - especially under the bed in my guest room/craft room. There is quite a bit of unused storage space under the guest bed but all of the storage options I found where laughably small for what I wanted to consolidate from around the house and store under the bed.
The only solution is to build an epic super fantastic awesome fabric solution for my craft room that holds ALL of my extra fabric, makes use of all of the empty space under the bed, slides underneath when not in use!
OK, I built a box.
An under the bed fabric storage box.
But it is a huge box that runs the width of the bed, slides out easily on the carpeting, and is a fantastic DIY pocket hole project for all of you who are intrigued but nervous about using a pocket hole jig.
Which makes it difficult to use in a stash bust project because I have fabric here, there, and everywhere - especially under the bed in my guest room/craft room. There is quite a bit of unused storage space under the guest bed but all of the storage options I found where laughably small for what I wanted to consolidate from around the house and store under the bed.
The only solution is to build an epic super fantastic awesome fabric solution for my craft room that holds ALL of my extra fabric, makes use of all of the empty space under the bed, slides underneath when not in use!
Lisa didn't build a difficult earth shattering small space storage solution. She made a simple beginner pocket hole jig project - a storage box.
By the way, Lisa's fabric stash is really comfortable and she totally loves it when I cover it in dog hair.
OK, I built a box.
An under the bed fabric storage box.
But it is a huge box that runs the width of the bed, slides out easily on the carpeting, and is a fantastic DIY pocket hole project for all of you who are intrigued but nervous about using a pocket hole jig.
How to Build an Easy Pocket Hole Sliding Storage Box
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party 361
My master bathroom remodel hit a scheduling snag because we have to remove the floor down to the studs and replace it due to mold found around the base of our current toilet. I have a feeling (but no concrete confirmation) that micro leaks from the seal may be the cause.
Which is a fantastic reason to replace the toilet I hate with a toilet I have come to love for how easy it is to install AND its super sealing wax ring - the Delta Faucet Company Corrente toilet.
Yep, after installing the easiest toilet in the world in my powder room (you can read my Delta toilet review on Condo Blues here) we like it so much that I have two of those bad boys sitting in my garage waiting for our flooring guy to do his thing so I can do my thing with the rest of the remodel.
I showed you my project, now you share yours. Let's Party!
Which is a fantastic reason to replace the toilet I hate with a toilet I have come to love for how easy it is to install AND its super sealing wax ring - the Delta Faucet Company Corrente toilet.
Toilets courtesy of our friends at Delta Faucet Company.
Yep, after installing the easiest toilet in the world in my powder room (you can read my Delta toilet review on Condo Blues here) we like it so much that I have two of those bad boys sitting in my garage waiting for our flooring guy to do his thing so I can do my thing with the rest of the remodel.
I showed you my project, now you share yours. Let's Party!
Sunday, February 26, 2017
How to Make a Travel Mason Jar Coin Bank
I’m putting my Annual Winter Restlessness (trademark pending) to use by periodically cleaning out and reorganizing a drawer and such to help combat our chronic Out of Sight Out of Mind Disease.
I gave myself an extra pat on the back for chucking the coins I found lurking in the kitchen junk drawer into an empty mason jar instead of tossing them back into the drawer to be forgotten. That happens more than you care to know.
The only thing this is my mason jar coin bank is not cute.
Let’s make it cute!
My Annual Winter Restlessness always comes with a serious case of wanderlust, so why not make my coin jar bank with a travel theme?
I gave myself an extra pat on the back for chucking the coins I found lurking in the kitchen junk drawer into an empty mason jar instead of tossing them back into the drawer to be forgotten. That happens more than you care to know.
The only thing this is my mason jar coin bank is not cute.
Let’s make it cute!
DIY Adventure Fund Adult Piggy Bank
Husband and I love to travel. In fact, almost all of the money saving tips and hacks I do here on Condo Blues and my food blog Lazy Budget Chef are so we can put more money into our travel fund.
My Annual Winter Restlessness always comes with a serious case of wanderlust, so why not make my coin jar bank with a travel theme?
Friday, February 24, 2017
Chinese Takout Container Drawer Organizers and Friday Favorites Linky Party Week 360
I'm embarrassed to say that not only do I have a kitchen junk drawer, I actually have two. They are full of flotsam and jetsam and who knows what else because I can't buy a set of drawer organizers that fit what I need to store inside such a large drawer. Please tell me I am not the only one!
Turns out I already had the perfect size junk drawer organizers on deck in my craft room - plastic takout meal prep containers! (affiliate link for your convenience if you end up running out of containers in the middle of the project like I did.)
I emptied each junk drawer, sorted what should stay and what surprising things should go (like the owner's manual to a car we got rid of three cars ago!), and organized like with like in the containers. Once I finished with one junk drawer I moved onto the next messy drawer.
How did you cram all of this stuff in a drawer and actually shut it, Lisa?!
Turns out I already had the perfect size junk drawer organizers on deck in my craft room - plastic takout meal prep containers! (affiliate link for your convenience if you end up running out of containers in the middle of the project like I did.)
I emptied each junk drawer, sorted what should stay and what surprising things should go (like the owner's manual to a car we got rid of three cars ago!), and organized like with like in the containers. Once I finished with one junk drawer I moved onto the next messy drawer.
Sunday, February 19, 2017
12 Small Space Fabric Storage Ideas You Need To Try Right Now!
Recently during some serious Girl Time with a fellow costumer and my BFF, our conversation turned to to talking about how our fabric storage is out of control and threatening to take over not only our sewing studios, but the house as well.
Or at least it seems that way when you live in a small condo.
Most of the time I sew with nontraditional fabrics such as upholstery fabric, velvet, tulle, and plush fleece and they are more difficult to store than traditional cotton quilting and apparel weight fabrics because, even their scraps require much more space!
Ready? Set. Organize!
Or at least it seems that way when you live in a small condo.
Most of the time I sew with nontraditional fabrics such as upholstery fabric, velvet, tulle, and plush fleece and they are more difficult to store than traditional cotton quilting and apparel weight fabrics because, even their scraps require much more space!
12 of the Best Ways to Store Non Traditional Fabric
After spit balling fabric organizing ideas with my costumer friend and coming up short, I turned to the Internet. I found a bunch of small space fabric ideas to add to my ever growing To Do List and thought I’d share.Ready? Set. Organize!
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party Week 359
There is nothing better to chase the Winter Blues away than decorating with fresh flowers. Husband spruced up our shared home office this week for Valentine's Day with a gift of pink and red roses. Pink roses are more special to us than red (although I think they are beautiful too) because we exchanged anonymous pink roses the day our story began.
And the rest is history!
I was surprised to get a new vase. Frankly I was looking forward to the possibility to using one of the cute Valentine's Day vases lining the top shelves in my craft room. When I asked Husband why he gave me a vase when I have several, he simply said, "because they are full of wine corks!"
And the rest is history!
I was surprised to get a new vase. Frankly I was looking forward to the possibility to using one of the cute Valentine's Day vases lining the top shelves in my craft room. When I asked Husband why he gave me a vase when I have several, he simply said, "because they are full of wine corks!"
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Quick and Easy DIY Industrial Farmhouse Kitchen Utensil Holder
We recently outgrew our ceramic kitchen utensil and spoon holder. Trying to cram gently fit and remove wooden spoons and utensils from it was like playing Kerplunk on a daily basis.
After a losing round of kitchen spoon Kerplunk for the third time that day, Husband made the off hand comment that we need a new utensil organizer. He's right and we did what happens a little too often than I care to admit.
We totally forgot about doing something about it until the next round of quickly grab a ladle and everything else comes with it. Grr!
After losing that game one night after cleaning up from making crock-pot chicken enchilada soup recipe (read it on my food blog Lazy Budget Chef here) I liked how the empty red El Pato Enchilada Sauce can looked in contrast to the green ceramic utensil holder on the counter. Instead of popping the empty aluminum can into the recycling bin, I washed it out and plunked my short handled Instant Pot paddles into it. Whimsical and functional!
But I needed more.
Fortunately, that was only a cup of coffee away. The next time I opened a can of Cafe Du Monde coffee (Cafe Du Monde has been on of our favorite brands of coffee long before we visited New Orleans - so good!) I got the "medium" in my low, medium, and high food themed kitchen spoon organizer to follow the decorating rule of three: odd numbers of objects look better clustered together than even numbers.
Not to mention, using low, medium, and high kitchen utensil caddys saves counter space because I can cluster them together and still find everything I need.
What do you think?
Did you enjoy this post? Get more like it by subscribing to the Condo Blues RSS Feed or to Condo Blues by Email.
After a losing round of kitchen spoon Kerplunk for the third time that day, Husband made the off hand comment that we need a new utensil organizer. He's right and we did what happens a little too often than I care to admit.
We totally forgot about doing something about it until the next round of quickly grab a ladle and everything else comes with it. Grr!
After losing that game one night after cleaning up from making crock-pot chicken enchilada soup recipe (read it on my food blog Lazy Budget Chef here) I liked how the empty red El Pato Enchilada Sauce can looked in contrast to the green ceramic utensil holder on the counter. Instead of popping the empty aluminum can into the recycling bin, I washed it out and plunked my short handled Instant Pot paddles into it. Whimsical and functional!
But I needed more.
Fortunately, that was only a cup of coffee away. The next time I opened a can of Cafe Du Monde coffee (Cafe Du Monde has been on of our favorite brands of coffee long before we visited New Orleans - so good!) I got the "medium" in my low, medium, and high food themed kitchen spoon organizer to follow the decorating rule of three: odd numbers of objects look better clustered together than even numbers.
I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience in case you don't have a local international grocery store that carries these super yummy (and now decorative) products.
Not to mention, using low, medium, and high kitchen utensil caddys saves counter space because I can cluster them together and still find everything I need.
What do you think?
Did you enjoy this post? Get more like it by subscribing to the Condo Blues RSS Feed or to Condo Blues by Email.
Sunday, February 12, 2017
3 Year Old Boy Starts a Recycling Company to Save the Ocean (and for College)
At three years old my only ambition was, um, not much beyond what any other three year old was into: toys, meals, and playtime.
Because 3 year olds.
Not Ryan. When he was three, actually three and a half as he always emphasizes in interviews, he started a recycling company called Ryan’s Recycling. Ryan was fascinated a trip to a recycling center and asked his parents if he could give bags to his neighbors so maybe they could give their recyclables to him.
Four years later Ryan is now seven years old and estimates he has recycled over 200, 000 glass and plastic drink bottles and aluminum cans. He’s saved 10 thousand dollars from his recycling buisness and wants to to put it toward new business equipment – a garbage truck!
Because 3 year olds.
Not Ryan. When he was three, actually three and a half as he always emphasizes in interviews, he started a recycling company called Ryan’s Recycling. Ryan was fascinated a trip to a recycling center and asked his parents if he could give bags to his neighbors so maybe they could give their recyclables to him.
Photo courtesy of Ryan's Recycling.
Four years later Ryan is now seven years old and estimates he has recycled over 200, 000 glass and plastic drink bottles and aluminum cans. He’s saved 10 thousand dollars from his recycling buisness and wants to to put it toward new business equipment – a garbage truck!
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party Week 358
It's time to link up your favorite DIY, decorating, and craft projects and tutorials and drool over your fantastic recipes!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
And if you love all of this week's favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week's linky party!
Monday, February 6, 2017
How to Make a Quick, Easy, and Ergonomic Computer Monitor Stand
When I look down slightly at my computer monitor on my desk I get the most horrendous and awful migraine headaches because my head acts as a counterweight and gives me a migraine that makes me want to cut off my own head and pain that makes me feel beaten up all over my body. Pain shoots down my extremities and I feel like I want to vomit when I’m supposed to be productive at work.
If I lower my office chair so my head is level when I look at the computer monitor, I’m so short that the keyboard tray on my desk is too high and gives me a slight shrug while I work. Bam! More migraines and pain.
It took years to find the right person to tell me the cause of my very real but mysterious pain issues are a poor ergonomic work station not tailored to someone of my petite stature.
Luckily, since I already use a desk with a lowered keyboard tray, it was easy to adjust my office chair to to make sure my arms are wrists are parallel to my keyboard and remove the slight shrug when I type. I use an adjustable office desk foot rest to make sure my feet touch the ground otherwise my knees ache because my feet dangle. Disclosure: I included affiliate links in this post for your convenience.
If I lower my office chair so my head is level when I look at the computer monitor, I’m so short that the keyboard tray on my desk is too high and gives me a slight shrug while I work. Bam! More migraines and pain.
It took years to find the right person to tell me the cause of my very real but mysterious pain issues are a poor ergonomic work station not tailored to someone of my petite stature.
I’m just a small pint size girl living in a lanky world. Short girl problems.
Luckily, since I already use a desk with a lowered keyboard tray, it was easy to adjust my office chair to to make sure my arms are wrists are parallel to my keyboard and remove the slight shrug when I type. I use an adjustable office desk foot rest to make sure my feet touch the ground otherwise my knees ache because my feet dangle. Disclosure: I included affiliate links in this post for your convenience.
DIY Duck Tape Computer Monitor Raiser to Kiss Those Headaches Goodbye!
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party Week 357
Happy Groundhog Day!
The little guy saw his shadow this morning. It looks like six more weeks of winter will be heading our way.
But that's no so bad because it gives everyone six more weeks to stay inside and create your fabulous home improvement, DIY, and craft projects and yummy recipes!
Let's party!
The little guy saw his shadow this morning. It looks like six more weeks of winter will be heading our way.
But that's no so bad because it gives everyone six more weeks to stay inside and create your fabulous home improvement, DIY, and craft projects and yummy recipes!
Let's party!
Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:
Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin
If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!
You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!
And if you love all of this week's favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week's linky party! Now on to this week's picks!
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
What is This Green and White Corrosion on My Faucet and How Do I Fix It?
The kitchen sink started leaking from the back side of the faucet handle. Most of the time the kitchen faucet leaks because the washer in the faucet handle wears out.
Faucet handles get a lot of use all day every day so the wearing of moving parts is inevitable. Replacing the washer with a new one is usually the quick and simple fix.
I removed the screw cover and screw from my single single handle faucet to lift the handle up to remove it and replace the rubber washer.
It wouldn’t budge.
You can see a lot of rust inside of the faucet handle. White and green corrosion fused the faucet handle parts together and snapped off in my had. What is this stuff?
Faucet handles get a lot of use all day every day so the wearing of moving parts is inevitable. Replacing the washer with a new one is usually the quick and simple fix.
I removed the screw cover and screw from my single single handle faucet to lift the handle up to remove it and replace the rubber washer.
It wouldn’t budge.
You can see a lot of rust inside of the faucet handle. White and green corrosion fused the faucet handle parts together and snapped off in my had. What is this stuff?
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party Week 356
It's too cold to build things and DIY in the garage so I usually turn to more crafty projects I can do on the sofa.
Because Lacey likes to snuggle on sofa with her humans when it is cold outside.
I learned to crochet when I was a very little girl but I've forgotten how. Mother in Law offered to teach me. I'm not sure what I would do with the project because Mother in Law is fantastic about keeping me in hand made afghans (blankets, not dogs,) hats, and scarves already. Instead I decided to try my hand at knitting socks on a sock loom! (affiliate link for your convenience)
The directions that came with the sock board are written for someone who is familiar with knitting so I bought the Sock Loom Basics to teach myself how to knit. It's a nice portable project but knitting socks is slow going. Maybe because I'm new at it? Do you have any tips for me?
Because Lacey likes to snuggle on sofa with her humans when it is cold outside.
I learned to crochet when I was a very little girl but I've forgotten how. Mother in Law offered to teach me. I'm not sure what I would do with the project because Mother in Law is fantastic about keeping me in hand made afghans (blankets, not dogs,) hats, and scarves already. Instead I decided to try my hand at knitting socks on a sock loom! (affiliate link for your convenience)
The directions that came with the sock board are written for someone who is familiar with knitting so I bought the Sock Loom Basics to teach myself how to knit. It's a nice portable project but knitting socks is slow going. Maybe because I'm new at it? Do you have any tips for me?
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Tiny Recycled Glass Bottle House
Recycling glass bottles into walls isn’t a new idea, glass bottle walls have been around since ancient Rome but seeing a glass bottle house in person rarely happens unless you know where to look. This tiny house made from recycled glass bottles is in Ohio practically under my nose until I stopped while walking past it (for a zillionth time in my life,) really looked at it, and realize it is a tiny store with wine glass bottle walls.
Isn’t it cute?
Isn’t it cute?
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Friday Favorites Linky Party Week 355
Yowza gang Valentine's Day will be hear before you know it! I always struggle with buying Valentine's Day gift ideas for my main man because I use all of my good ideas for Christmas.
You too?
I'm here to help you! I added two new Valentine's Day metal heat key chains to gift to the man or woman in your life in my store LNWCreativeGifts.
Personally, I buy both and give Husband the set as a gift which we split accordingly.
Do you have any good Valentine's Day ideas? Add to our fantastic link party below!
You too?
I'm here to help you! I added two new Valentine's Day metal heat key chains to gift to the man or woman in your life in my store LNWCreativeGifts.
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Personally, I buy both and give Husband the set as a gift which we split accordingly.
Do you have any good Valentine's Day ideas? Add to our fantastic link party below!
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
DIY Flannel Pajama Pants
My 2016 World of the Year was Hygge – the Danish concept of what loosely translates as a feeling of happy coziness which I had no idea Hygge became A Thing but it has.
Well, well, well lookit me being all bleeding edge hipster because I wanted to share the concept of Hygge with my family in the form of handmade pajama pants as Christmas gifts last year.
Well, well, well lookit me being all bleeding edge hipster because I wanted to share the concept of Hygge with my family in the form of handmade pajama pants as Christmas gifts last year.
I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience.
Sunday, January 15, 2017
How to Make Fleece Rain Boot Liners
I have a pair of rain boots standing ready by the front door so I jump into them when Lacey needs to go outside to do her business. This is a great plan during the muddy spring and fall but could be better during winter snow since the boots aren’t very warm.
Putting Lamb's Wool Insoles helps but adding a warm boot liner helps keep the rest of my foot warm and extent the usefulness of my rain boots into the winter. I couldn't find any to buy in a store but fortunately warm fleece boot liner socks are super simple to sew and quick to make because you make them inside out!
Pin this tutorial for later!
Putting Lamb's Wool Insoles helps but adding a warm boot liner helps keep the rest of my foot warm and extent the usefulness of my rain boots into the winter. I couldn't find any to buy in a store but fortunately warm fleece boot liner socks are super simple to sew and quick to make because you make them inside out!
DIY Fleece Boot Liner Socks
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Sears sells Craftsman Brand and Friday Favorites Linky Party Week 354
Super big news in the tool world last week. According to Business Insider, Sears sold the Craftsman brand to Stanley Black & Decker who also owns the Dewalt tool brand. According to The Motley Fool:
I can't say I'm surprised because the writing has been on the wall for Sears Holdings for quite awhile. For example, last Christmas Kmart made it impossible to buy a few items I was interested in both in local store and on line. They were little extras so it wasn't a loss that I didn't buy them. Although I know Husband had to jump through a quite few hoops to buy the Craftsman orbital sander I wanted for Christmas. Originally he wanted to give it to me for my birthday but couldn't find it.
"Rather than buying Craftsman outright, Stanley Black & Decker is buying the rights to use the Craftsman brand outside of Sears-affiliated sales channels. Meanwhile, Sears Holdings will be able to continue producing and selling its own line of Craftsman-branded products in Sears and Kmart stores. Sears will start paying royalties to Stanley Black & Decker for use of the Craftsman brand after 15 years.
Since non-Sears retail outlets account for just 10% of Craftsman sales right now, Stanley Black & Decker is essentially paying for the growth potential associated with making Craftsman products more widely available. The deal was deliberately structured this way to protect Stanley Black & Decker from Sears' ongoing decline."
I can't say I'm surprised because the writing has been on the wall for Sears Holdings for quite awhile. For example, last Christmas Kmart made it impossible to buy a few items I was interested in both in local store and on line. They were little extras so it wasn't a loss that I didn't buy them. Although I know Husband had to jump through a quite few hoops to buy the Craftsman orbital sander I wanted for Christmas. Originally he wanted to give it to me for my birthday but couldn't find it.
I hugged my Craftsman sander like an eight year old girl getting an American Girl doll for Christmas.
Thursday, January 5, 2017
DIY Flannel Handkerchiefs and Friday Favorites Linky Party Week 353
My poor wee little nose just can't take it any more. I blew through a 100 +count box of tissues (literally) in three days and my Plague is now just barely showing signs of stopping. If it weren't for my neti pot (affiliate link for your convenience) I wouldn't be able to breathe since I'm all stuffed up with a cold AND a sinus infection. Never do anything half way I always say!
Fortunately, as I felt this ick coming on early, I made a stack of quick and easy flannel handkerchiefs to use in addition to disposable tissues to keep my nose from getting chapped and feeling raw. By bouncing back and forth between the two types of tissues I don't have a chapped nose for the first time in forever! Not to mention, the flannel hankies don't disintegrate after using a neti pot like the paper tissues do. (Ew.)
Flannel tissues are super simple to make!
1. Cut a piece of flannel cloth in the size of your choosing.
Fortunately, as I felt this ick coming on early, I made a stack of quick and easy flannel handkerchiefs to use in addition to disposable tissues to keep my nose from getting chapped and feeling raw. By bouncing back and forth between the two types of tissues I don't have a chapped nose for the first time in forever! Not to mention, the flannel hankies don't disintegrate after using a neti pot like the paper tissues do. (Ew.)
Flannel tissues are super simple to make!
1. Cut a piece of flannel cloth in the size of your choosing.
Sunday, January 1, 2017
The 10 Best DIY Projects of 2016
We’re celebrating the New Year by taking a look back at some of our favorite Condo Blues DIY projects for 2016.
From the looks of it, we all like to decorate and make things with recycled materials and add green home improvements to our homes, myself included!
From the looks of it, we all like to decorate and make things with recycled materials and add green home improvements to our homes, myself included!
Our Top 10 DIY Projects and Posts on Condo Blues in 2016
How to Cut Wine Corks for Crafts the Easy Way!
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