Today's Organizing Tip

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Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Sun Aug 29, 2010 10:43 am

Patterned Magnetic Board

Cover a plain magnetic board with pretty paper and it becomes an organizer and a work of art. Buy the board from an office-supply store. Cut a sheet of decorative paper slightly larger than the board, and lay it on top. Hold one half of the paper in place; lift up the other half. Brush a decoupage glue on the board. Glue down a small section at a time, working from the middle outward and smoothing as you go. Repeat for other half. Let dry. Flip board over. Cut notches at corners. Apply glue to paper edges; fold under. Once dry, brush polymer varnish over the board, including edges -- this makes it durable.

Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Sun Aug 29, 2010 10:46 am

No Slip Knife Drawer

Storing sharp knives in a drawer makes for less-cluttered counters and a safer kitchen. But with each pull of the drawer, sliding knives collide, dulling and damaging their finely honed edges. Artists' drawing-board liner (available at art-supply stores) has a slightly rubbery surface that keeps sharp implements stationary and wipes clean easily. Using a ruler and a utility knife, cut a piece of liner to fit the bottom of the drawer, and anchor it in place with double-sided tape.

Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Sun Aug 29, 2010 10:50 am

Appliance Warranty Expiration Date Reminder

Putting warranty expiration dates on appliance boxes lets you know when it's safe to throw those cartons away.

Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Sun Aug 29, 2010 10:55 am

Vase Upkeep

Cut flowers, naturally, need a little maintenance now and then to survive. To keep an arrangement fresh, you should clean your vase with a bleach solution to eliminate harmful bacteria. Before filling a vase, scrub it with a mixture of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water; rinse. Later, if the water gets cloudy, remove the blooms, scrub the vase again, and replace the bouquet.

Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:28 pm

Hanging Multiple Framed Pictures

Hanging multiple framed pictures so that they look orderly can be a challenge. The secret is to divide and conquer: Mark a horizontal midline on the wall, and hang all pictures above or below it.

The line can be delineated with a strip of painters' tape and then removed once the pictures are in place. To unify the group, choose a single color for all frames and, if displaying photographs, stick with either all black-and-white or all color shots.

Picture Hanging How-To

Unfurl a length of painters' tape (1 1/2 inches wide) horizontally across a wall, making sure tape is level.

Determine nail placement for frames above the midline by measuring from the bottom of a frame to its bracket. (If the frame hangs on wire, pull the wire taut, and measure accordingly.)

For frames below the midline, measure from the top of the frame to the bracket. Use additional strips of tape, positioned vertically, to create even spaces between pictures arranged next to each other.

When all frames are in place, remove tape from wall.

Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:30 pm

Linen Shelf Labels

Take a few minutes to tag linen-closet shelf edges, and you'll save time whenever you take things out or put them away. The labels might say "guest room," "master bathroom," "cocktail napkins," "crib," or "twin fitted," depending on how your closet is arranged. You can also label table napkins with the number of pieces in the set.

You can get fancy with labels in holders or simple with printed labels.

You think this is over the top but it is so helpful.

Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:34 pm

Coordinating Mismatched Towels

Most linen closets hold a few perfectly usable but mismatched towels. You can easily unify an assortment of solid-colored towels by sewing on washable, decorative ribbon that complements all the hues. Baste ribbon onto the right side of the towel along the dobby trim that is woven into most terry towels, or at a similar distance from the edge, about 2 to 3 inches. Turn the ends of the ribbon under for a neat edge. On a sewing machine, secure the ribbon in place using a small zigzag stitch. The result is a multicolor matched set that is good for more years of service.

Note: I recommend washing the trim before applying just in case it bleeds or shrinks ever so slightly.

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lucylee
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Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby lucylee » Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:52 pm

Indiana -- I just want to thank you again for these tips. I have printed off the one about hanging pictures for ds, b/c he wants his "music room" to be pretty much covered in photos & posters. These tips might help him organize them.
Tomorrow is another day.

Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Wed Sep 01, 2010 11:01 pm

lucylee I'll post another one that works. My daunt's decorating showed me how it works and I use it.

Indiana

Re: Today's Organizing Tip

Postby Indiana » Wed Sep 01, 2010 11:02 pm

Art Hanging Trick

Here's a way to plan a display of framed pictures without making a single needless nail hole. First, trace around frames on kraft paper to make a template for each piece of art; cut out. Pull hanging wire on frame taut; measure distance from top of wire's arc to top of frame. Make a corresponding mark on template. Lay picture hook on template so bottom of hook is on mark; make another mark where nail hole will go. Use drafting tape to hang templates. When you're satisfied with placement, hammer nails through picture hooks and into wall over the marks on the kraft paper. Rip off the paper, leaving nails and hooks in place, and hang your frames.


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