Today's Organizing Tip

[Harriet]

tip to add to above about covering boxes -

Cheap shiny trinkets can be re-used as a pretend front "latch" on covered boxes to make them appear "richer" and more decorative and important when viewed on a shelf. Children often have suitable trinkets, or use old unimportant trophy-type fobs in "silver" or "gold", mini holiday items, shiny odd hair barrettes, etc. Even on a box that does not have a separate top, the trinket can be glued onto the fabric or paper covering at the approximate lid imaginary line, or draw a line where you want it with a Sharpie.

[Indiana]

Car Organizer for Kids

A canvas shoe bag is just right for keeping toys tidy and easy to reach in the car. Cut a shoe pocket organizer to fit the back of a front seat in the car. Attach ribbon loop at the top to be used to hang the organizer over the back of the front seat. Attach long ribbons to the bottom corners so they reach around the seat and tie in front.

The pockets can hold cassette players and headphones, playing cards, coloring books and pens, a flashlight, and a few favorite friends.

[Indiana]

Recipe File

Use photo protectors to keep recipe cards organized and free of spills and spatters in the kitchen. Protectors are available at office-supply stores and come in a variety of sizes; choose ones to accommodate your recipe cards taken from magazines as well as handwritten ones received from friends. Store the pages in a three-ring binder.

[Indiana]

Kindling Keeper

Use a glazed terra cotta or a heat-resistant material garden planters in a different shapes or sizes. Set them on the hearth to stow spilt logs, kindling, and aromatic enhancements, such as dried lavender and pinecones.

[Indiana]

No-sew Liner

Dress up square or rectangle storage baskets -- and make them easier to clean -- with lining cut from oilcloth, a durable and moisture-resistant fabric that requires no hemming.

Simply overlap two pieces crosswise in the basket, leaving several inches of overhang on each end before cutting.

Hole punch the corners, and tie in place with ribbon.

[Indiana]

Car Trunk Organizer

By arranging supplies in a handled bin it will keep items in the car from rolling around and ending up under the seats. Organize them in a heavy vinyl catchall or zippered canvas bag.

Stock it with paper towels, a first-aid kit, auto fire extinguisher, duct tape, flash light, coffee can, candles, lighter, flat-repair kit, bungee cords, radio, and a bag filled with flares, jumper cables, and other necessities.

Also pack a messenger bag with bottled water, granola bars, a blanket, and warm clothing, in case of a breakdown.

[Indiana]

Preparing for Guests

Creating space for guests in your home is an opportunity to make people feel welcome and ensure that their time spent with you is memorable.

Decorate Sparingly
In a strange room, comfort and space are more soothing than a clutter of unfamiliar things. On a bedside table, place a single flower bloom in a simple glass, a nice clock, and a selection of books suited to your guests' tastes.

Outfit the Bed
Make up a double bed with four ample sleeping pillows -- two medium or firm, and two soft -- as well as two smaller pillows to prop up the head when reading. Use cotton or linen sheets, starched and ironed for hotel crispness. Provide both light and heavy blankets, as well as a lightweight throw for afternoon naps.

Closets and Drawers
Make sure there is adequate closet and drawer space. Supply a variety of hangers -- at least a dozen good wooden or metal ones -- that will hold trousers and jackets, flimsy dresses, and heavy coats. And make certain there is a full-length mirror.

Bathroom Essentials
If the bathroom is shared, clear space in it for guests' toiletries. Stock it with new toothbrushes and toothpaste, and a supply of clean cotton towels (two large bath towels, two face towels, and a washcloth) for each guest. Supply a few luxuries that one might not find at home: a beautiful soap, an unusual cream, a special shampoo, or a small bottle of perfume or cologne. If your guest has allergies, provide a hypoallergenic soap and moisturizer.

Sitting Area
Space permitting, set up a comfortable chair with a pillow and throw, an adjacent table, and a good adjustable-brightness lamp. Assemble a small personal library, including some magazines and a daily newspaper (useful for local listings like concerts). A radio for morning news and quiet evening listening is a thoughtful addition; you might also include a portable CD player with a selection of music.

Desk Supplies
Provide a small desk or a cleared tabletop, and stock it with pens and paper, note cards, envelopes, and stamps. Compile a list of some favorite local places -- restaurants, cafes, museums, antiques shops, movie theaters -- and provide timetables, if appropriate, for buses, ferries, or trains. A telephone in the room is a convenience, but not a necessity.

Extra Warmth
If the room has wood floors, place a small rug beside the bed. For visitors during the coldest months, think of providing a hot-water bottle in a soft slipcase -- a soothing amenity your guests won't have expected to find.

Food and Drink
Consider your guests' food preferences: If one is a vegetarian, or allergic to fish or dairy products, be sure your menus include options and that your pantry and refrigerator are appropriately stocked. Show guests where to find snacks, drinking glasses, and utensils, and encourage them to help themselves. Leave a pitcher of spring water and a glass on the bedside table in the guest room.

[Indiana]

Boot Trays

Rectangular baking sheets make perfect receptacles for wet shoes and boots. The pans move easily in and out of cubbyholes, taking their contents out of the way. Once the shoes are dry, the pans can be washed and replaced.

[Indiana]

Felt Mending Book

When clothes need mending, reach for this book -- its felt pages are designed to keep sewing supplies organized. Devote one page to extra buttons that come with garments, one to pins, and another to needles (pre-threaded with your most-used colors).

To make the cover, cut a piece of heavy felt into a 5-by-7 1/2-inch rectangle. Sew a button halfway up one short end, 1/4 inch in from edge. Make the tab closure by cutting a 1 1/2-by-2-inch strip of heavy felt, rounding it at one end. Sew the straight end of the tab to the end of the cover opposite the button, halfway up the cover and 1/8 inch in from the edge; make a slit in the rounded end of tab to serve as a buttonhole.

For the pages, cut three 4 3/4-by-7 1/4-inch pieces of lightweight felt. Fold each page in half, and iron along the crease. Open the cover, and center the opened pages on top. Close book, and use a blanket stitch to bind cover with pages, 1/2 inch in from folded edge.

To make the blanket-stitch binding, you'll need an upholstery needle and embroidery floss. Hold the book in your lap with the fold at your waist, and start in the left-hand corner: Draw floss out through the fold from inside the book. Insert needle down into fabric, 1/2 inch up from fold, 3/8 inch in from edge; bring it out at the edge, as shown, keeping the floss loop under the needle. Continue stitching, working from left to right, until book is bound.

[Indiana]

Organizing Spices

Organize spices by transferring them to plain jar and tagging the containers with self-adhesive labels. Your collection will be easier to scan -- no more mistaking the cumin for cinnamon. If you prefer, stick round labels on the lids and stand the jars in a drawer.

Almost all of my spices come in glass jars. When one is empty I save it and put a new label on it and fill with a spice that came in a plastic container. With them all in glass containers they fit well in my spice rack and the ones in the cupboard are easy to store and use.