Buckets-O-storage

Our family goes through buckets and buckets of ice-cream. Having birthdays and get togethers every month ensures an endless supply of buckets for me to use daily; it also forces me to find new ways to utilize them. This post is the first post in the "I have so many ice-cream buckets that I don't know what the heck to do with them" series.

Do your cupboards look like this?

. . .Then you need to find a way of utilizing all those ice-cream buckets instead of throwing them away. Here's a couple ways that I like to use these wonderful plastic pails.

First of all, I needed a way to get rid of the labeling on the outside of the bucket. One day when I was shopping at Walmart, I stopped by the paint section and saw that Krylon was changing out the labeling on their packaging so they had a buttload of their "plastics" paint on clearance (for more on paint for plastics, check out my "shopping spree:The paint aisle" post). I found this cute blue color that I thought I could use more than once. I'm not sure exactly how much I paid but I think it was like $2.00 or something. Awesome!

I put 2 coats of paint on the bucket. . .it covered like a dream! It was so pretty and it could've been used just like that (think those little buckets they sell at Walmart at Easter time).

You could now decorate it however you wanted: stickers, vinyl, markers, even more paint!

I actually wanted them for storage. . .cute storage. I came up with a lining for the bucket (similar to Mileka's makeup storage cans) utilizing old T-shirts (so I could spend as little as possible. Who doesn't have old t-shirts laying around!) Of course you could always use pretty fabric if you had some of that!

Here's how I did it!

Then. . . .here's the hard part to understand for those of you that has never done it.

Get it? Got it. Good!

If you did it right, your bucket (and lining) should now look like this!

It will look great on a shelf and help you with some of your storage needs.

Because I used what I had, this project cost me very little!

Ice-Cream Bucket: F-to the-R-E-E!!

Krylon Plastic Spraypaint: $2.00

Old T-shirt: FREE

 cloth-lined storage bucket=$2.00

Brandi-Lee

Forgetful? Need reminding?

I've been crazy busy lately!

I got so busy that

I would put a load into the wash and forget it's there!

My max?

...3 times I had to wash the same load

because I forgot it in the washer and it didn't smell so great...

so I had to wash it again...and again...and again!

That same load must have sat in that washer for a week

by the time I finally got it into the dryer.  Yuck!

Usually I get the kids to help me do the wash...

but I just kept forgetting.

Not a problem anymore!

I started clipping a clothes pin on my shirt to remind me that I have clothes in the wash.

Totally works!

I stole the clothes pin off the clothes line in my girl's room.

They use these clips to hang up their art work.

Brandi did an awesome post on her version of it!

(click here to see her post).

The great thing about it...you can use this to remind you about anything!

Yes, I'm wearing it as I post...I have a load I'm waiting on.

happy washing!

mileka:)

Pump...Pump...Pump It Up!

Remember the song with the lyrics...

Pump...Pump...Pump It Up!?

(sing along and move to the music)...

I have fallen in love with pumps (not the shoes:)

bottles with pumps!

Well...if you got a good thing...go with it.

I did a repeat on my toothpaste dispenser (above)!

(click this link to learn more about it)

Guess what this is...

Gel!

No more mess!

We also use oils instead of lotion.

We use olive, coconut and grape seed oils.

It's great slathered all over your body as a body lotion,

as a facial moisturizer,

and as a detangler and leave in conditioner for your hair!

This is what the kid bathroom counter looks like...

Tada!

Nice and neat (most of the time:)!

I used old hand soap dispensers = FREE for me:)

pump...pump...pump it up!

mileka

Did You Know?...Toothpaste Dispenser

Is your bathroom a mess?

Tooth paste all over the place?

Yes!

The kid bathroom WAS almost always a mess...

NOW...

it's a little cleaner.

Why?...

because we have a toothpaste dispenser.

Have you ever seen that info-mercial that advertises for a toothpaste dispenser?

You know the one I'm talking about.

That sucker costs $20...

(ok...they'll give you one free)...

 $10 each.

I wanted one.  The kids wanted one.

I didn't want to pay $10-$20 for one.

SO I MADE MY OWN!

Yes, it can be done!

my cost = FREE

(I already had everything I needed)

Supplies:

• toothpaste
• soap dispenser (empty and clean!)
• water (distilled preferred)

  Use an empty and clean hand soap dispenser.

Squeeze in your toothpaste.

Dilute with a little water.  I read somewhere that regular tap water can have a high level of minerals which can make "stuff go bad" quicker than distilled water. 

So...I usually have a gallon of distilled water in my house.  $0.83 at my Walmart.

I wish I could give you an exact amount of water to add. 

I'm thinking that you are wishing the same thing.

Each toothpaste is a different consistency. 

You are going to have to figure it out...sorry!

(I added just enough to get it to be able to get it through the pump. 

It is still solid enough to sit in a little glob on the tooth brush).

It works just as good as the thicker version.

and...

the bathroom counter stays cleaner!!!

The kids love to use it and

I love it when the bathroom is clean (cleaner than it used to be).

It's a win-win!

mileka:)

happy brushing!

I got CANned!...again!

I got CANned!...again!

I sooo loved my last CAN project that I did a repeat because I just CAN't get enough.

This time I got CANned in the kitchen.

Tada...

CAN you guess what kind of CAN I used?

(answer at the end of this post)

My kitchen "tool" drawer was full.

I've tried organizing it a few different ways but it still seemed crowded in there.

After my bathroom organize and store project...

(click this link to check it out and

how to instructions for this project)...

it only made sense to do a re-do on my can project.

It's all black so...I heart it!

cost for me = FREE

(already had everything I needed)

answer = large pineapple juice can

Recipe...

Spiked Pineapple Juice

1 large can pineapple juice

1 (or more) can(s) lemon & lime soda pop (according to your taste)

mix and serve cold

Got a kid that doesn't like fruit/won't eat it.

They will drink this!...and ask for more!

Ya...it's got soda pop, but...you can't win them all:)

Chug-a-lug

mileka:)

Organizing & Storage...I just CAN't get enough:)

I've been looking for a way to store my make-up.

Something simple...cute...easy....different...free.

and... it's a no sew project:)

TADA...

Organization!

Supplies:

• empty cans (beware of sharp edges)
• Spray paint (I used some of my left over Krylon)
• Old unwanted t-shirt
• Scissors
• safety pin

I spray painted an empty can.

I used some of my left over Krylon spray paint.

1.  Cut off the sleeve of a shirt

2. Cut off a small section from the sleeve (about 1/4 of an inch wide)

3. Stretch the small section to create a string & cut a slit in the hem of the sleeve

4. Attach the safety pin to the end of the t-shirt string and

thread it through the hole you cut in the hem of the sleeve.

Continue feeding it through the hem and bring it out at the other end.

Tie in a bow:)

It should look like this

5. Put the shirt on the open end of the can.

Adjust your bow tie if needed.

6. Tuck it in.

Finished product.

I repeated the process with a tuna can for smaller/shorter items.

(with no shirt embellishment)

I also used an empty baby food jar and an empty plastic container (that I had lying around),

to give it some variety and to fit different sized items.

I cut another strip off of the shirt and tied it around the tops to tie it in so it matches.

Now everything is nice and neat!

Just the way I like it!

Now I can find my make-up without having to dig in my drawer.

Unfortunately...so can others:p

my cost?

FREE

(I already had everything I needed)

happy face painting!

mileka:)

Personalized Dishware

Problem #1

6 kids + homeschool + home all day  =  lots of dishes to wash!

Solution - kids wash their own dishes...

Problem #2

Denial!

Whose dish was whose?...

The kids didn't want to wash dishes and would blame the mess.

Solution?

Labels!!!

Check this out...

You get 1 bowl & 1 cup!

It's yours!

You clean it!

Each kid has an assigned number

(according to birth order).

Now we know who the dish monsters are!

No more blaming it on the little kids!

If its got your # you clean it!

Supplies:

• contact paper
• pen
• scissors
• spray paint (for plastic - or you can find an art pen that will write on plastic)
• newspaper

 I printed out the font that I wanted. 

At first I tried using a box cutter to cut the numbers out but my blade was dull. 

I ended up using scissors instead. 

I traced the numbers onto the contact paper (put the numbers under the contact paper and trace).

Then I used a scissors to cut the numbers out.  It was a little tricky...I made a couple of mistakes.  No prob...I learned from my mistakes, tried again, and got better results:)

  Ripped a hole in a piece of newspaper (this is where I put the contact paper number).  The newspaper helps to protect the outer surface and keeps paint where I want it. 

 Here you can see the number stuck on (a cup).  NOTE:  press the contact paper down VERY firmly.  I recommend running your finger nail along the edges.  If it is not stuck on good then the paint will leak out.

I used spray paint specifically designed to stick on plastic.  If you use this stuff it will stick onto your plastic and stay!  Believe me...we've used the dishes a bunch of times already and they have held up excellent!  (how do you like my black spray paint nail polish?)

The kids love it!

my cost

Spray Paint $4 (Walmart)

Contact paper $1 (Dollar Store)

Plastic dishware that we already had = FREE

Total = $5

I was totally low on supplies and actually had to buy:(

But I only used a little of each...

which means...lots of left overs...

which means...

more FREE projects to come:)

Happy eating!

mileka:)

Office Organization: File Magazine Box

My paperwork was a mess!

I needed something!

I had a ton of Capri Sun boxes laying around (I heart boxes:)

When in need...use what you got!!!

This is what I got...a file folder holder

or

turn it upright and use it as a magazine holder

Supplies:

• capri sun boxes (or another type of box)
• measuring tape/ruler
• pen
• box cutter
• tape
• spray paint (optional)

1. Find a box.

I used a capri sun because I had a ton!

They were on sale:)

And...they are very sturdy!

2.  I measured 4 inches from the end

(of the closed side or just tape a side closed).

This is how I wanted my box shaped.

You can always alter this design to be what you want.

3.  I drew a line from the 4 inch mark to the other opposite end (on both sides).

Then I cut along the line (on both sides) and around the top and bottom of the box.

 4.  I taped the end of the box.

 Before & after.

Tada!

a File/Magazine Box

Here it is on my shelf:)

You can use it like this...natural cardboard...or

paint it black.

Take a look at the difference between the two.

Can you tell what color I chose to go with?

Cost for me...$1

(for spray paint)

Happy organizing!!!

mileka:)