This easy DIY bathroom storage ladder is a pretty way to add easy, functional storage to your bathroom space. Perfect for small bathrooms or to add interest to blank wall spaces.

Main Floor Powder Room

Our main floor powder room didn’t have a lot of storage options and had this blank vertical wall in the back corner. After trying out a few different ideas in the space, I came up with this easy DIY storage ladder. It fills up the space perfectly, adds a little extra interest to the room, and provides some additional easy access storage. This really is a very simple DIY that anyone can do with just some basic supplies. The dimensions can also easily be adapted to any space or your specific storage needs.

DIY Storage Ladder Tutorial

This simple DIY bathroom storage ladder is the perfect beginner project. My version came in at around $30 for all supplies {although I did already have the paint on hand}, which was way cheaper than other storage ideas that I had been looking at.

Materials

• two 1×3 boards {ours measure about 7 feet each} for the sides of the ladder
• wooden garden stakes or 1×2 boards cut down to your desired size for the rungs {we used 8 rungs on our ladder and they are about 11 inches in length}
• 1 1/4 inch wood screws
• drill
• wood putty
• level
• paint or stain {I painted ours with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Graphite}
• wire baskets {these came in packs of 2 at Target in the bathroom section}
• shower curtain hangers or ‘S’ hooks

Directions

• Cut all of your wood pieces to your desired size and sand smooth.  Make sure that you find your baskets before building your ladder so you can determine what the length of your rungs needs to be and how much space you would like in between them.  This will especially be important if you are wanting more baskets on your ladder to ensure that you have enough space.
• Once you have determined the distance that you would like between your rungs {ours are about 8 1/2 inches}, cut a spacer from the 1×2 board at that length to ensure that you place your rungs evenly.

• If you’re assembling the ladder on your own, you will likely need to use some wood glue to attach the rungs prior to drilling in the screws.  In our case, I aligned and held the rungs while Dave did the drilling which eliminated the need for glue. Take extra care with the placement of the first rung, as that will determine the alignment of all of the other rungs to follow.  Align the long edge of the first rung against the side rail {see photo above} placing it in the middle of the 1×3. Secure in place with the screws. Once you have this first rung in place, all you need to do is slip in your spacer and make sure that it is level when placing your next rung. Completely screw in the rungs on one side of the ladder before doing the other side. Repeat on the other side.
• Once your ladder is assembled, fill in the screw holes with wood putty.  Allow to dry and then sand.

• Paint or stain the ladder and allow to dry.  Attach your baskets and some other fun accessories and you are good to go!

What can I store in a bathroom storage ladder?

The fun thing about this storage ladder is that you can customize it however you’d like. The possibilities are endless, but here’s a quick list of storage ideas. Let me know if you have any more!

• hang larger towels over the rungs
• roll up smaller towels into the baskets
• place mason jars in the baskets and fill with basic self-care items
• store extra toilet paper rolls
• display small decor items
• use hanging metal planters for small plants or as storage for other items
• store extra toiletries for guests

How else could I use this storage ladder?

The dimensions on the ladder can easily be adjusted to your particular needs and can really be used in any room in your home. Here are just a few ideas to help get you started…

• hang throw blankets
• display table linens
• hang pretty scarves or other accessories
• use the baskets to hold art supplies
• fill the baskets with small potted plants

More Bathroom Organization Ideas

For more bathroom organization and storage ideas, check out these posts…

Bathroom Cabinet Organizer Ideas

Coastal Style Design Bathroom Makeover

20 Items to Declutter from the Bathroom

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Get all of your family’s paperwork and schedules organized with these kitchen command center organization ideas. Simple tips that anyone can do!

What is a Kitchen Command Center?

If you haven’t heard of the term “kitchen command center” before, it’s basically just a central area in your home for you and your family to keep all of your daily paperwork and schedules. It really doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but it can make a huge difference in controlling paper clutter and keeping your whole family on track. Generally command centers include your family calendars and schedules, any papers that you may need to refer to on a regular basis, basic office supplies, etc. You can, of course, customize yours with whatever you want!

This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission {at no charge to you!} on items purchased directly through the links provided. Thanks for your support!

How to Set Up a Kitchen Command Center.

If you have difficulty controlling the paper clutter in your home or need help keeping up with everyone’s schedules, a command center is for you! What you want your command center to look like and how you would like to set it up is totally individual though. It’s all about meeting the needs of your specific family. Here are some command center organization ideas to help you with the basic set up…

Pick a location.

A kitchen command center can really be anywhere – it doesn’t even have to be in the kitchen!  Ideally you want to pick a spot that’s easily accessible to the whole family. When choosing your location, look for spots where your clutter tends to accumulate and pick a location close by. A spot in the front entry, mudroom, or even a hallway could work. If you’re short on space, you can even hide it away on the inside of a cupboard or closet door.

Choose what items you want to include.

Spend some time thinking about what it is that you have difficulty keeping organized and what information needs to be shared.  What type of things are you constantly looking for or is your family needing? Depending on your needs and space available, you’ll need to decide what items you want to include. Here are some common items that may be needed…

• family calendar
• day planner
• file folders and somewhere to store them
• incoming and outgoing mail
• shopping lists
• chalkboard or white board for messages or other reminders
• a menu plan
• hooks for keys
• a menu plan
• charging station for electronics
• basic office supplies
• frequently called numbers and emergency contacts
• shopping lists
• coupon storage
• current bills to pay
• takeout menus/flyers that you want to follow up on

Declutter your papers.

The kitchen command center should be where all of your paperwork arrives – bills and other mail, school papers, medical papers, etc. To get your paperwork organized, gather up all of your papers and sort them quickly into three piles: keep, file {for more long-term storage elsewhere} recycle, and shredding. Group the papers from the keep pile into categories that make sense to you. This can include {but is definitely not limited to!}…

• bills to pay
• upcoming events
• kids’ papers
• coupons
• records to file and papers that need to be kept long-term
• personal papers for each person in your household

If you need more ideas for keeping your paperwork under control, check out this post on how to eliminate paper clutter.

Put it all together.

Once you’ve decided how you want your family command center to look, you’ll need to put it all together. Shop your home for items that you can use that you already own and then determine what items you may need to purchase. Remember that you’re trying to cut down on clutter, so only purchase what you’ll need and use. It may take a few weeks of using the system to really figure out how it will work for you, so start with the basics and add more if needed.

Other Kitchen Command Center Organization Ideas

File Folders

My file folders are probably the most helpful thing for me to keep all of my papers organized and I actually have two places that they’re stored.  One is in the wall mounted system {it’s from the Martha Stewart collection at Staples but is sadly discontinued} and the other is in the bottom drawer of the desk.  In the wall unit, I have a file folder for bills to pay, things to do {such as a letter that needs to be mailed or a prescription that needs to be filled}, things to file in our long term filing cabinet, and a personal file for any miscellaneous items.  You can simplify it even more if you like into simply “file” and “to do”.

The bottom drawer in the desk was pretty much filled with items that I never used.  So I tossed them all out {after donating what I could}, and added a wood block so I could place some additional file folders there.  The vertical storage is so much more functional than stacking everything on top of each other especially in a really deep drawer like this. There wasn’t quite enough room to use the label tabs on the file folders so I just used my label maker to print out some labels for the front of the files.

I have a separate file for every member of the family as well as one for coupons/gift cards that aren’t necessarily going to be used for a while.  The family files are more for short-term storage like school papers that need to be returned, medical forms or prescriptions that need to be dealt with, birthday party invites etc.   I also have our address book here and a few extra office supplies.

The most important thing to remember when using a system like this is to have a day of the week that you sort through everything.  Papers can quickly pile up!  I spend about 15 minutes per week going through the folders, completing what needs to be done and filing away those items that I need to keep.

Calendar

I actually use more of a planner calendar than a typical wall calendar and it fits nicely into our bottom drawer with the file folders. I like the portability of it and the fact that there’s lots of room to write notes on the other pages. Use whatever works best for you though.  Some people really do better if the calendar is always right out in the open in front of them. You can color code your appointments but family member if you would like, but I try to keep things as simple as possible.  I’ll use a little washi tape to dress things up a but for important events or vacations, but otherwise it’s pretty basic {and unfortunately a lot more filled up now than when this photo was taken!}

By putting the additional file folders in the drawer, I was able to get rid of the bulky drawer unit that I was previously using {you can see it here} and create a lot more work space on the desk.  Less clutter on the desk also means, easier cleaning!

Basic Office Supplies

Keep your basic office supplies on hand that you use on a regular basis. This can include pens, pencils, erasers, paper clips, stamps, elastic bands, tape, or whatever else you use.  Use drawer dividers, jars, or small bins and containers to keep everything separated with a specific home.

Re-evaluate as you go.

Every now and then, re-evaluate what items you’re using and what things you might want to change. After a few years of using the wall system, I wanted to simplify things a bit more and replaced it with an acrylic wall calendar. I was able to fit everything that I still needed in the drawers, and it definitely created a more decluttered look. I promise I do actually use the calendar – the photo below is just from when I first purchased it. lol!

So there you go – my organization hub of the home! I hope you enjoyed these kitchen command center organization ideas. Having some kind of family command center in your home can truly make a difference in your paper organization and planning. You may need to tweak things every now and then as your family needs change, but get into the habit {and train your family!} now. It really is worth it! Happy organizing!

More Organization Ideas

For more organization ideas, check out these posts…

Free Organization Printables

The Household Organization Diet

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Create a rustic Christmas sign with this free Sleigh Ride printable and easy DIY canvas frame tutorial. Turn any print into a custom wood-framed canvas sign!

Free Christmas Printables

I know how much we all love printables so I am super excited for today’s post!  I have joined forces with some of my favorite bloggers to bring you 23 gorgeous free Christmas printables!  You can find the links to all of the printables at the end of the post but, first, let me show you my sleigh ride printable and easy rustic sign tutorial.

Old Fashioned Sleigh Rides Printable

This chalkboard sleigh ride printable will fit in with almost any Christmas or winter display. If you want to keep things simple, you can just print out the printable and place it into your favorite photo frame. But, to take it up a notch, you can easily create your own rustic DIY canvas frame with just a few simple supplies.

DIY Canvas Frame Tutorial

Create your own rustic canvas sign with this DIY canvas frame tutorial.

Materials

• Printable {you can download an 11×14 HERE or an 8×10 HERE}.  A favorite photo will also work!
• Canvas frame {the ones with the thicker sides work best}
• Mod Podge
• Sanding block
• Garden stakes trimmed down to size
• Thin wood screws or nails.  The length will vary depending on the thickness of your frame so just make sure they are long enough to go through the inside of the frame and into the garden stakes.
• Stain {I used a dark walnut}

Directions

• Cover your canvas liberally with Mod Podge making sure that you are getting right to the edges and corners.  Place your photo over top and use a roller to apply pressure to adhere completely.  If you don’t have a roller, you can turn the canvas upside down and apply the pressure to the back of the canvas.  {You can read more about how to create a DIY photo canvas here}
• Depending on your canvas, there may be a slight overhang of your photo.  To help blend in the photo edges to the canvas, take a sanding block and sand downwards from the front of the frame to the back {DO NOT SAND IN BOTH DIRECTIONS} until the photo is level with the edges of the canvas.  If there are any loose edges, secure with more Mod Podge.
• To make the wood frame, cut two garden stakes to the length of your canvas.  For the 2 width pieces, you will need to cut them the width of your canvas plus the thickness of the wood x 2 {so that your width piece will cover the length pieces on each end}.  Just remember that canvases are not always perfectly square, so double check your measurements up along the side of the canvas just to be sure. 
• Stain your wood pieces with the stain of your choice and allow to dry.
• To attach your frame, nail or screw from the inside of your canvas.  For the cheaper canvases, the nails work fine; however, you will need to use screws if your canvas is made from thicker wood. If you have a nail gun, you can use thin nails and nail them in from the outside if you prefer.

That’s all there is to it!

Old Fashioned Sleigh Rides Printable Download

To get your own copy of the sleigh rides printable, just download whatever formatting size you would like and save it to your computer. From there, you can either print it from your home computer {if printing the 8×10} or send it out to have it printed at any photography printing centre.

NOTE: ALL OF THE PRINTABLES ON THE BLOG ARE FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY.

Download the 11×14 HERE.
Download the 8×10 HERE.

This sign works perfectly for a Christmas or winter themed hot chocolate bar but would really go with any Christmas decor or neutral winter color scheme. If you use it, I’d love to see what you do with it!

More Christmas Printables and Vignette Ideas

For more free Christmas printable designs, check out these posts. They’re all amazing and I know you’ll love them! I can’t wait to get printing!

• Free Printable Vintage Christmas Advent Calender from Ella Claire
• Printable Glitter Christmas Sign and Gift Tags from Yellow Bliss Road
• The Names of Jesus Isaiah 9:6 Printable from Nest of Posies
• Joy to the World Christmas Printable from The Lily Pad Cottage
• God Bless Us Everyone Printable from Sweet Cs Designs
• Red Buggy Christmas Printable from Craftberry Bush
• Joy to the World – Vignette and Printable from AKA Design
• Simple Christmas Wrap with Printable Gift Tags from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
• DIY Printable Christmas Village {Anthropologie Inspired} from Thoughts from Alice
• Keep Warm and Drink Cocoa Printable from Top This Top That
• Cookies and Milk for Santa Printable from It’s Overflowing
• The Most Wonderful Time of The Year Printable from Making Home Base
• Ten Minute Holiday Vignette with Free Printable from The Chronicles of Home
• Christmas Mantel with Free Printable Banner from Just Destiny
• Free Christmas Stag Printable from Rooms for Rent
• Christmas Mantel and Free Printable from Town & Country
• Cocoa and Cookies Party from Migonis Home
• Hot Chocolate Bar and Free Printable from Finding Silver Pennies
• Elf Movie Free Printable from Eclectically Vintage
• Free Christmas Printable from My Sweet Savannah
• Sleigh Ride Printable and DIY Canvas Sign from Clean and Scentsible
• Free Christmas Printable from City Farmhouse
• Fun snowman printable and DIY frame from Jennifer Rizzo

The post Free Sleigh Ride Printable and DIY Canvas Frame appeared first on Clean and Scentsible.

Add some coziness to your home with a fun fall hot beverage bar. Lots of pretty fall decor ideas and easy tips to set up your own hot beverage bar.

If you’ve been around here for a while you know that setting up a seasonal beverage bar is one of my favorite things to do. I try to make something a little different every season and have lots of fun coming up with different combinations. If you haven’t tried one before, I encourage you to give it a go! It doesn’t need to be a big space. I often just use a little corner of the kitchen or small side table/tray in our dining room. Here’s some inspiration for you!

This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may receive a small commission at no charge to you if you purchase any items directly through the links provided. Thank-you for your support!

Our Fall Hot Beverage Bar

Creating a fall hot beverage bar is the perfect way to add some coziness to your space. They’re also a fun way to incorporate function with your seasonal decor and can be totally customized to your style and preferences.

The inspiration for our hot beverage bar came from this Pumpkin Spice Latte sign that I found at Michaels. {I tried to find a link for you but couldn’t see it online}. The funny thing is, I’ve never actually had a pumpkin spice latte! I just really liked the stye and muted colors, so I bought it anyways. To hang it, we used a Command crystal knob hook and topped it with a couple of faux fall leaves.

I also used the same faux leaves to turn our lighted Christmas trees into pretty fall trees. I just pulled the leaves off the stems and slid them onto some of the thinner branches. For the thicker branches, I attached the leaves with some clear elastic hair bands.

They look especially pretty when they’re all lit up!

What You Need for a Fall Hot Beverage Bar

I’ve always loved putting together little beverage bars. I think the best thing about them is how fun and easy they are to put together. Sometimes I find something new that inspires me and sometimes I just shop my home and try to come up with creative ideas to use what I already have. Either way, you’re sure to create something pretty and functional for your home!

The Basics

You really don’t need much to put together a hot beverage bar. I’ve listed some of the basic items below, but even these can change a bit depending on what type of drink you’ll be serving.

• mugs or cups. You can go for a neutral color so you can use them year round or find a few seasonal ones to add in. These owl mugs are still available at Superstore if you live in Canada. Copper mule mugs also look really pretty for fall decor.
• tea pot. My owl tea pot is no longer available but this one is also cute!
• coffee maker
• milk frother. You can get more expensive ones but I find this handheld one works great.
• napkins. These are an easy and inexpensive way to add some color and texture to your display.

Warm Drink Options

There are lots of different options that you can choose for your fall hot beverage bar. Don’t feel like you have to stick with one drink either – the more the better!

• coffee
• hot chocolate {I’ll share my pumpkin spice hot chocolate recipe soon!}
• apple cider
• fall flavored teas
• steamed milk {this is really good with fall flavored syrups!}

Add-Ons

• fall flavored syrups. I love the Skinny Syrups. They have lots of delicious seasonal flavors to choose from.
• marshmallows
• cinnamon shaker {I have mine in the little pumpkin salt and pepper shaker}
• cinnamon sticks
• caramels
• whipped cream
• fall colored sprinkles
• caramel syrup

Decor Touches

Depending on your space, you might not have a lot of room for added seasonal decor, but even a few touches make a big difference. For small spaces look for decor pieces that double as functional items. Here are a few things that I often use…

• seasonal napkins or napkins to match the color scheme. A little punch of color makes a big impact!
• twinkle lights
• faux stems in seasonal colors. Don’t be afraid to cut these down into smaller pieces or pull off the leaves or blooms.
• free fall printables {You can find all of my free fall printables here}
• small seasonal items to add texture or height. For fall this could be wheat bunches, small real or faux pumpkins, apples, colored or themed tea towels, etc.
• find small cake stands or other risers to add height and interest. This not only allows you to fit a little more in your space but provides a more visually interesting display.

Fall Hot Beverage Bar Printables

If you’d like to create your own fall hot beverage bar, I’ve created some free printable labels that you can use.

DOWNLOAD FALL HOT BEVERAGE BAR LABELS

DOWNLOAD HOT BEVERAGES
5×7  /  8×10

I hope these ideas give you some inspiration to create your own fall hot beverage bar! Let me know if you make one or tag me in your photos!

More Fall Beverage Bar Ideas

For more fall beverage bar inspiration, check out these posts…

Apple Cider Bar

Fall Beverage Bar

Halloween Hot Chocolate Bar

The post Fall Hot Beverage Bar appeared first on Clean and Scentsible.

A little oLearn how to organize sports equipment with this simple DIY pegboard organizer. Can easily be customized for different sports and activities.

If you have kids, you probably have a garage full of outdoor toys and sports equipment. My kids were always asking where things were and never putting anything away when they were done. I decided that we needed a better organization system that was easier for everyone to use and came up with this pegboard organizer.

Pegboard Organizer

We have a lot of various sports equipment that we store in our garage – both for the kids and for Dave and I.  Unfortunately, we weren’t able to find most of it.  When we started to sort through the space, I knew that I wanted to organize all of the sports equipment in one place as much as possible.  I also wanted to make sure that the kids would easily be able to reach everything on their own {both for taking down AND putting it away!} so I was not constantly being asked where stuff was.  We ended up choosing this wall to work with…

The scariest thing about this photo is that it was actually taken AFTER we had already moved a bunch of stuff.  Not pretty.  All of the gardening tools got moved to the opposite wall {you can see the full garage organization post HERE}. The wall was painted with Behr Marquee River Veil, and we were ready to get going on our pegboard organizer!

We painted the  pegboard system using Behr Marquee Interior Paint in Balboa and Pure White. It measures 6 feet x 8 feet {you can find the pegboard wall organizer tutorial HERE}. We used our pegboard for organizing sports equipment, however, it can pretty much be used to organize anything. Tools, gardening equipment, craft supplies – you name it!

Pegboard Sports Equipment Organization

The pegboard organizer served as the main focus of our sports organization zone in the garage. Once we had it up, we sorted all of the sports gear into categories so we could figure out what accessories we needed for the pegboard. We purchased all of the pegboard organizer accessories from Home Depot, but you can find them at most home improvement stores.

Rail and Basket System

The baskets were a bit on the pricier side, but since everything else was so inexpensive, it was my one splurge and has definitely been well used.  We just screwed the rail system into the pegboard frame and then the baskets just clip on. The baskets hold small balls, knee and elbow pads, hockey tape, the air pump, and a few other odds and ends.

Shoe Rack and Baskets

I painted an old shoe rack in Behr Marquee Balboa to match the pegboard and added some baskets for little items that we didn’t want to hang.  It also works to hold the boys’ cleats.

Pallet Organizer

The pallet organizer holds all of the kids hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, baseball bats, and the occasional light saber or pirate sword. It was an easy DIY project and probably one of my favorite things in the whole garage.

Garbage Can

Garbage cans are in inexpensive option for large items that need to be stored and can be purchased in a variety of sizes. The cute metal garbage can that I picked up from Ikea fit the kids’ street hockey pads perfectly.

Ball Bag

I found this ball bag at Target to hold our soccer balls and footballs.  It has a little zipper at the bottom that you can open up a bit to get out the ball you want without having to take the bag down. We do have to help the kids get the balls back in, but it works pretty well.

And there you have it!  The only thing that we did not include in this space is our rollerblades and hockey gear. We have those stored in a Rubbermaid tote and hockey bags. You can see the rest of our garage organization HERE.

And, in case your were wondering, we just have our bikes parked up against one of the other walls.  We had considered mounting them to a wall; however, we wanted the kids to be able to access them whenever they wanted. As they get older, we might switch to another system.

I hope this gives you some ideas to organize your own sports equipment and outdoor toys. A little organization goes a long way. Work hard, play hard!

More Garage Ideas

For more garage organization ideas, check out these posts…

How to Paint the Garage Floor

Pallet Organizer

The post Garage Pegboard Organizer and Sports Equipment Organization appeared first on Clean and Scentsible.

Keep your fridge tidy and organized with these free printable fridge labels. They’re easy to create and make a pretty and functional space.

Fridge Labels

I made some vinyl fridge labels a few years ago and have loved them. {You can see the previous ones here}.  I was actually surprised how well they have held up with all of the cleaning over the years, but they had a few nicks out of them and needed a refresh. Instead of just making new ones, I decided to switch things up and try a new style. I think I love these ones even more!

This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission {at no charge to you} on purchases you make directly through these links.

DIY Fridge Labels Tutorial

Add a little personality and organization to your fridge with these cute free printable fridge labels. They’re super easy to make!

Materials

• clear sticker paper
• printable labels {see below to download} or create your own in PicMonkey or other photo editor
• printer. I highly recommend using a laser printer to print these out as the ink will stand up much better.

To Do

• Download the printable labels and save them to your computer.
• If you would like to create your own printables or make some additional word labels, you can create a blank canvas in any photo editing program and add whatever text you would like. I used PicMonkey to create my labels using one of my favorite fonts – Hello Sunshine.

• Print out the labels on a laser printer. If you don’t own one – don’t worry! Just put the labels onto a USB stick and take it down to Staples or other printing center that has a laser printer. If you have to use an ink jet printer, you’ll need to be careful that you don’t get liquids directly on the writing as the ink can run.

Fridge Organization Tips

There are a few simple tips that really help to keep you fridge organized. They’re all pretty quick and easy to do – it’s just a matter of adopting a few organization habits that you do regularly.

Use fridge bins.

I find that the best way for us to keep our fridge organized on a long-term basis is to use a variety of fridge bins for specific food categories. It makes it so much easier to find what we’re looking for and it avoids those “lost items” that always seem to get trapped in the back of the fridge.

I use these stackable bins for our sandwich cheese and lunch meat so the kids can easily find what they need to make their own sandwiches. It also keeps any messes that they make {like drippings from the lunch meat!} contained to one spot so it’s easy to clean up.  My hubby’s a vegetarian so we try to keep the meat separated from everything else as much as possible.

I’ve had emails in the past asking about whether or not the fridge bins were worth the space that they take up and I definitely think so!  In reality, they probably don’t even take up that much more space because everything is so neatly contained in them.

Spin a lazy susan.

Lazy susans are the perfect way to easily access items and prevent jars from getting stuck in the back of the fridge.They especially work well for round food containers {like sour cream, yogurt, dips, etc.} or mason jars.

Have dedicated storage for leftovers or food overflow.

Our large middle shelf is always free for extra food items and left over food storage.  It will actually fit 8 of these stackable food storage containers so we really don’t need much more space than that.  If you do find that you’re still short on space, remember to condense your food packaging and food items as much as possible – it really can make a huge difference!

Have a regular schedule for cleaning the fridge.

Take 10 minutes each week prior to going grocery shopping to give your fridge a quick decluttering and cleaning. It’s so much easier to do BEFORE filling it up with all of your new groceries. Plus you’ll waste less food since you’ll know exactly what you need.

Download Your Free Printable Fridge Labels

For those of you that would like your own fridge labels just click on the links below.  NOTE: While these can work on ink jet printer, the ink may run if it gets wet.  A laser jet printer is recommended – you can always run it down to have it printed at Staples or another printing store if you don’t have one.

DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE ONE
DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE TWO

More Fridge Organization and Cleaning Tips

Need more ideas on how to keep your fridge clean and organized? Be sure to read these posts…

• how to clean your fridge
• fridge organization using bins and mason jars
• organization tips for the fridge and freezer 

More Kitchen Organization Ideas

For more kitchen organization ideas, check out these posts…

How to Keep Your Counters Clutter-Free

8 Steps to an Organized Kitchen

How to Organize Your Spices and DIY Spice Jar Organization

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This DIY bleached pinecone and cranberry garland adds a beautiful rustic touch to any of your Christmas decor.

Hello, it’s Susan from Love of Home. I have a pretty DIY Christmas project to share with you today. It’s a bleached pinecone and cranberry garland! We have lots of pinecones in my neck of the woods so I am able to go out and pick a bag or two just about any time of the year. If you don’t have pinecones readily available you can buy them at the craft store.

Pinecone and Cranberry Rustic Garland

This beautiful pinecone and cranberry garland is easy to put together and makes the perfect rustic addition to any of your Christmas or winter decor. I think it would be a fun little project to do while you’re watching a Christmas movie! NOTE: This post does contain some affiliate links. This simply means that I may receive a small commission {at no charge to you} if you shop directly through any of the links provided.

Materials

• Bleach
• Pinecones
• Jute or thick string
• A bag of cranberries {I used real ones but you could also use faux cranberries if you wanted to re-use this for years to come}
• Large eye needle. You can find them by knitting supplies if you don’t have one.
• Felt cut into tiny circles to fit on the bottom of your pinecones.
• Hot glue

How to Bleach Pinecones

To bleach the pinecones, put them into a bucket or container and add two parts bleach to one part water and submerge the pinecones. Leave for about 1 1/2 – 2 days. Remove from mixture and let dry. They will open again as they dry. Mine looked pretty bad after the bleaching and I wasn’t sure it worked, but they turned out beautiful.

How to Make a Pinecone and Cranberry Garland

• Decide about how long you want the garland and cut the jute with approximately an extra 18″.
• Start by stringing the cranberries one by one.  Thread onto the string with your needle. At the ends, I used 10 cranberries, then a pinecone, then 5 cranberries, repeat to the end, end with 10 cranberries.
• The pinecones were kept on the string by gluing the string down with the felt circles {see photo below}. The design is completely up to you! The end of the jute nearest the needle took on the red of the cranberry so I left myself enough room to cut that off when I was done.

Where can I hang a garland?

This garland was hung on our mantle, but you could use the garland almost anywhere in your Christmas decor. Place it  around a door frame, on a tree or make tiny ones for gifts. It also looks great draped over a Christmas vignette or hot chocolate bar.

Do I have to bleach the pinecones?

I love the look of the bleached pinecones. It gives them a more rustic, lighter look than the natural color ones. If you’d like to save time or just prefer the look of darker pinecones, regular pinecones work just as well!

How long will a fresh pinecone and cranberry garland last?

Since the cranberries are fresh, this garland will last about 7-10 days depending on where you want to hang it. If you would like it to last longer or would like to use it for future years, you can always use faux cranberries. You can find these on Amazon or other craft stores. I think this would work for general winter decor or a sweet Valentine’s Day decoration too!

More Christmas Decor Ideas…

For more Christmas decor ideas, here are some other Love of Home posts that you might like, The Best Holiday Decor Tip and 3 Easy PinePinecone Projects. You can also find more ideas here….

Christmas Kitchen Decor Ideas

Christmas Mantel Decor

DIY Christmas Poinsettia Centerpiece

The post Bleached Pinecone and Cranberry Garland appeared first on Clean and Scentsible.

Learn how to paint a garage floor with this simple DIY tutorial. It’s an easy painting project that can completely transform the space!

Garage Makeover

We have been working really hard at getting our garage cleaned and organized for this month’s Household Organization Diet. While most of the big projects are finished up, I still have a few more little things to sort out over the next week or so.  We have gotten rid of a ton of stuff, cleaned from top to bottom, and done some fun organization projects to tie it all together.   I can’t wait to show it all to you! I will be sharing lots of garage organization posts over the next few weeks, but today we will be starting from the ground up  and talking about how to paint a garage floor! {UPDATE: You can see the completed garage makeover HERE.}

Our garage floor was really gross. It had oil spills, about 20 different colors of spray paint overflow {I have since come up with a better spray painting technique!}, and a bunch of miscellaneous stains. Even after we had given it a good cleaning, it still looked really dirty.  

Painting your garage floor will instantly make your garage look cleaner and fresher and is a relatively easy and inexpensive transformation. Compared to plain concrete floors, painted floors will provide extra protection against mold and mildew and automobile fluids.  They are also water-resistant, easier to clean, and will eliminate the dust that bare concrete floors produce. It’s a win-win!

There are basically two types of paint that you can use on your garage floors – latex acrylic paint or an epoxy paint.  While the latex paint is a bit of a cheaper option in the short term, epoxy paint is more durable and will provide a better bond to the concrete making it more chip resistant.  Typically, a latex paint should last you about 2 years while an epoxy paint should give you three to four years.  We ended up using the Behr Concrete and Masonry Bonding Primer and Behr Premium1-Part Epoxy Concrete and Garage Floor Paint in Slate Gray and the whole process was surprisingly easy.

How to Paint a Garage Floor

Clean and Prep the Floor.

Concrete is very porous and will easily collect dirt and grime, so cleaning with a power washer  or floor buffing machine is best. Do not skip this part!!!  If your pressure washer will allow it, you can add a degreaser to the water as well to really get things cleaned.   Allow to dry well!

For those of you that do not have access to a power washer, you can use  a stiff-bristled scrubbing brush {on a broom handle} and a hose with a high pressure nozzle as an alternative.  You will just need to use a lot more elbow grease to really get that dirt out of there!   Use either a degreaser, TSP, or laundry detergent for added cleaning power and, for extra dirty floors, allow the cleaner to sit for a few minutes before giving it a final scrubbing.  Just make sure that you do not allow the cleaning solution to dry on the concrete!

**NOTE: We were starting with a bare concrete floor. If you have any old paints or sealers on your floor you will need to remove this first with a chemical stripper. **

{I’m sad to say this is what it looked like AFTER it had been power washed!}

Fill in any cracks in the concrete.

There are various products on the market to help you fill in the cracks.  For smaller cracks, you can use a concrete/mortar repair compound; however, you will need a concrete patch for thicker cracks or holes. If it is a deeper crack, you will need to fill the crack in layers allowing adequate dry time between layers {this can take a while!}.  Wipe the access product off the crack with a wet rag or scraper to level it out and create a smooth surface.  Be sure to read all of the manufacturer’s instructions on your repair product for recommended cure times before painting.  Ours was supposed to be a week while some others recommended up to a month.

Etch the Floors.

Depending on the surface of your concrete floors, you may need to etch the surface. {We didn’t have to do this part.}  Etching basically opens up the pores of the concrete to allow the paint to absorb better.  To test if your floor needs etching, drop a small amount of water on the floor and see how quickly it is absorbed.  If it is absorbed quite quickly, you likely do not need to etch.  If it tends to pool on the surface of the floor, using a commercial concrete etcher is recommended.  Allow to dry thoroughly.

Apply a Bonding Primer.

The primer is a pre-treatment for porous concrete and is designed to promote the adhesion of the paint.  We just used a paint brush to cut in on the edges around the garage and used a roller for the rest.  It goes on a little milky so you can see where you are painting, but it dries clear.  Let it set for at least 4 hours {and no longer than 30 days} before applying your paint.

Apply the 1-Part Epoxy Paint.

The paint went on really smoothly and covered well.  As with the primer, we just cut around the edges using a brush and then rolled on the rest.  It actually looked pretty good after just one coat but we did end up doing a second coat just to be safe.  It was recommended that the second coat be applied in the opposite direction than the first coat {i.e. if the first coat was applied length wise, the second coat should be applied width wise}. However, due to the layout of our garage it was much easier to apply it lengthwise and we just did it that way for both coats.  Although we were walking on the floor after about 24 hours, it’s recommended to wait at least a week before driving on it.

It made SUCH a difference and is definitely one of the easier DIY projects out there!

Obviously there is still a lot to do in the rest of the garage, but just painting it made it look so much cleaner!   We were very happy with the end result – and now we can actually see our floor!

Don’t forget to follow along for the rest of the garage reveal and more garage organization and cleaning tips!  You can find some of my inspiration
This post is part of my DIY Behr Expert Painting series.  Look for a new painting project each month!

The Household Organization Diet

Haven’t heard of the Household Organization Diet yet?  Start with this post HERE and find all of the past projects over on my Pinterest Board.  You can find the past month’s To Do lists here…

January – The 30 Day Detox
February – Kitchen Organization
March – Bathroom Organization
April – Office Organization
May – Outdoor Spaces
June – Laundry Room Organization
July – Garage Organization

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Give the gift of your time this holiday season with these 12 months of dates!  All of the printables are included – just brainstorm some fun ideas and you’ll have the best Christmas gift for your spouse or kids!

12 Months of Dates Christmas Gift Idea

If you’re looking for a meaningful Christmas gift idea without adding to the accumulation of “stuff”, these 12 months of dates are the perfect gift!  Instead of giving an actual present, put together 12 activities that you and your loved one can do together – one for each month of the year. I did this last year for my husband, but you could also do it for your children or a really good friend or family member that you would like to spend more time with.  The activities can be as extravagant or as low key as you would like. Really it’s just some dedicated time that you will be setting aside each month to spend some time together.

Non-Material Gift Ideas

The gift of experiences and time spent together is so much more meaningful than material presents. Think of favorite places that you used to go together in the past, or things that you have talked about doing that just never seem to happen.  You could also leave a few “mystery months” in there and plan something extra special too!  Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• dinner out at a favorite restaurant or a restaurant that has special meaning to both of you
• tickets to a concert
• a romantic dinner at home {after the kids have gone to bed!}
• go for a hike with a picnic lunch
• tickets to a sporting event
• a night of pampering with their favorite treats and a massage
• have a movie night {either in or out}
• do a favorite sporting activity together
• a weekend getaway
• game night

I pre-purchased all of the gift cards for dinners, movies, etc. and put them in an envelope with the date card for each month.  You could always just pay as you go though if it is easier on the budget.

Don’t limit this little gift idea for just your spouse though – it is a great gift for the kids and can help cut down on all of that toy clutter!  Include a family movie or game night, a trip to the zoo, dinner {and dessert!} of their choice, an outing to your library to pick out some books, or any other activities that you enjoy doing together.   The possibilities are endless!

Download the 12 Months of Dates Free Printables

To get your own printables, just click on the links below.  Download the file, print it out, and you’re all ready to get gifting!

Poem
January – April monthly tags
May-August monthly tags
September-December monthly tags

Really, there’s no better gift than the gift of your time and it ends up being a lot of fun for both of you! Just remember to actually write the dates on your calendar so you don’t forget to actually do them!  A personalized photo calendar would be another cute gift to go along with this to mark all of the dates directly into the calendar itself. Sometimes just writing things down helps to actually stick with the plan!

If you don’t have enough time to put one together for Christmas, you can always save it for a Valentine’s Day Gift Idea! I put together another Valentine’s Day poem for that one!

Merry Christmas! xo

More Christmas Gift Ideas

For more easy Christmas gift ides check out these posts…

Hot Chocolate Gift Ornaments

Christmas Bath Salts Gift Idea

Hygge Christmas Gift Guide

The post 12 Months of Dates {Christmas Gift Ideas} appeared first on Clean and Scentsible.

Create that traditional Christmas feeling with these fun and easy Christmas cinnamon ornaments! They smell heavenly and work great as tree ornaments, present toppers, and other Christmas decor.  All you need is two ingredients!

Cinnamon Christmas Ornaments

The smell of cinnamon is one of those things that always reminds me of the holidays – it just kind of brings back memories and feelings of Christmases past.  So this year I thought that I would bring some of that cinnamon love into our Christmas decorating with these simple cinnamon Christmas ornaments.

Cinnamon Ornament Tutorial

These ornaments are so quick and easy to make – and the scent will last for years!  They would be a wonderful holiday tradition to start with your kids and would also work well as a fun class Christmas craft for all of you teachers or class helpers out there.

MATERIALS

• 3/4 cup applesauce
• 1 cup + 2tbsp. cinnamon
• plastic wrap
• cookie cutters of choice

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat the oven to 200 F.
• Mix the applesauce and cinnamon together until a smooth ball of dough is formed.  You will need to use your hands for this so it is a great task for those kiddos to do!
• Place about 1/3rd of the dough between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and roll into a thin sheet approximately 1/3rd of an inch thick.
• Remove the top layer of plastic wrap and cut out dough with the cookie cutters.  Repeat as needed until all of the dough has been used.
• Place the ornaments on a cookie sheet and use a skewer to make a hole.
• Bake for 2 hours and 30 minutes and allow to cool. {NOTE: If you are doing this for a school project and you don’t have access to an oven, let them air dry for at least 2 days until firm}
• The ornaments can be left as is or painted on with opaque paint pens or chalk markers.  Add baker’s twine or ribbon to hang.

Cinnamon Ornaments Video Tutorial

How to Use Your Cinnamon Ornaments

One of my favorite things to do with these little ornaments is to use them as gift toppers.  Not only do they add some cuteness to your gift, but they also serve as a little gift themselves!  I seriously love this moose!  You can add the date and your name to the back too for a little keepsake.

Just tie them up to your ribbon or twine or add them to the tops of treat bags.

I made enough ornaments from one batch to decorate our little rustic tree in our kitchen with 6 left over for gift bags. I’m sure the kids and I will be whipping up another batch though!

The cinnamon ornaments can also be used as a mason jar tie.  The little gingerbread man ornament was the perfect topper for these gingerbread chocolate thumbprint cookies.  If you’re looking for a new Christmas cookie recipe, you’ll have to try these!

I hope you have some fun with these!

More Cute Christmas Projects

For more Christmas ideas, check out these posts…

Believe Christmas Canvas

Christmas Swag Wreath

Christmas Simmer Potpourri

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