(another) bathroom caddy

I probably should space out my posts. Maybe schedule some for when I'm on vacation next week. But it's fun to share. I'll just have to keep coming up with more stuff!
 
Ready for TMI:

I keep reading material in my bathroom,

My scale is constantly kicked around the floor,

And sometimes I uses this:

That's a lot going on in a little space.

But at one of the first rummage sales of the summer, I found this magazine caddy for $2.

Love it.

I used the same primer and glossy black from my other caddy project and:

There you have it.

Another simple organization solution.

blog encouragement

I've said it before, but it's worth revisiting. 

I write this blog, first-and-foremost, for myself. 

There is a sort of therapy I get from writing, posting, and sharing.

I'm proud that I've been able to create these things and made a place to keep record of them.

However, I do like to know that other people are enjoying my contributions to the blog world too. 

My cousin Kim (Hi Kim!) has been my #1 supporter; making me feel like my posts are actually anticipated and enjoyed. 

I've once had someone tell me they couldn't believe I only had 8 followers. I was both flattered... and kind of sad. 

Why don't I have more followers?

How do I get more?

Do I really even care?

^^^Hello to my awesome followers!^^^

I think I'm split 50/50. 

I care

   & I don't. 

Because admitting that I would want to have more followers is admitting that the focus of writing for myself is shifting to writing for others & I'm a little hesitant. 

But then I think about how much I love to check in on some of my favorite bloggers (check out my "Blogs I Love" page above)and the simple joy I get from reading about their new projects & life happenings. I'm inspired and encouraged to keep sharing.

And then yesterday this happened:

What a 'small world' moment!!

I really am flattered.

Hi Sabrina's friend! Thanks for finding (and sharing) my blog!!

 Where am I going with all this?

I guess I think it would be cool (and encouraging) to ask the people who are enjoying my blog to show some love!

follow me

subscribe

leave a comment

Let me know you're here!

Because, I guess, at the end of the day I'd be ok with 8 followers but I'd be encouraged by more. 

I won't called it begging:

simply asking....

please don't make me beg-

I'm not above it!

I'll hold up my end of the deal, too-

 bringing you more projects and tid-bits than ever before.

Let's do this together.

UPDATE: In an attempt to make this blog more follower friendly- I've added new ways to connect. -------> check 'em out over there on the right.
AND choose one way to follow- or two- or all! 
 

i'm obsessed

I am completely obsessed with my new SMASH journal from K&Company.

I picked mine up at Hobby Lobby. It was $12.99 and then I used my 40% coupon. 

I have also seen them at Wal-mart for about the same price- and I know Michaels carries them too.

 

Isn't it beautiful!

I love all the pretty pages.

You can even buy fun accessories like pockets and stamps. Everything is super reasonably priced too: between $3-$5 & you can use your Hobby Lobby coupons.

I was so excited to start filling the pages.  

But pretty and fun don't always produce great ideas for entries. I was still kind of at a loss for how I would have stuff to actually SMASH on the pages.

Enter this:

Source: lilblueboo.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

I'm a huge fan of Ashley and her blog. 

Is it awkward to admit that, after I did my entries last night, I totally had a dream that I met her! 

Huge fan. 

In fact, do yourself a favor and check her awesomeness out over at 

www.lilblueboo.com 

The timing could not be more perfect. I'm excited everyday to see what prompts she'll introduce. I even shared my first two on Instagram. It's really fun to connect with so many other people that are participating. 

You can see the prompts on her website. The first one was to write this using your non dominant hand AND to draw your pen. 

By the way: FriXion pens are amazing. They're erasable w/o an eraser. It's fascinating!

 

And here is my drawing of the first classroom I can remember.

I really am obsessed- in a good way- about my new journal adventure. 

I think you should try it too!

multipurpose caddy

I found this basket at a rummage sale a couple weekend ago for just .50

 

I hit it up with some primer,

sprayed it with a few layers of glossy black spray paint that I had on hand,

gathered up some mason jars I had around the house,

And made an awesome little caddy that has multiple purposes!

It can be used in the office,

the kitchen,

or even the bathroom.

I'm kind of obsessed with how awesome it turned out. I'm having a tough time deciding where to use it because I love all the options.

large magnetic picture board

I've actually been in the crafting mood again recently. Feels good to go to bed with some paint on my hands! 

I've been meaning to post the projects as they are completed. Sometimes I even take pictures for a tutorial. But then, somewhere between completion and a blog post, my motivation gets lost. 

In an attempt to get over this. I'm going to just toss this tutorial at you. Simple. To the point.

Here goes.

I found this awesome frame at thrift store for $10:

I then bought a roll of steel at Menards:

I painted the frame (at midnight) in my backyard:

A simple pair of scissors cut the steel to size:

 

I used a generous about of E-6000 and a foam brush to adhere the metal to picture.

 

You'll want to work fairy fast at this point.

 

I gathered all kinds of heavy stuff from around my kitchen to help secure the bond.

 I just cut a piece of fabric to size and used glue to adhere it.

You can see the edges are a little frayed. I found some of this rope lying around and used hot glue to boarder the frame and hide the fray. 

 

 Then I was done. Loving the final product. But the frame sat in my hallway for a good month! At some point, my niece played with all the magnets and pictures. 

When I finally did get the frame hung, I had a really hard time getting a good photo of it. I wanted to show the details: the cute magnets I made, the fun pictures and quotes I posted, the pictures of me when I was little, how awesome it transformed my hallway. I wanted them to be Pin-worthy. Dang-it!

 But none of them turned out well. 

 

 I love it though. I love walking past and seeing the people I love. I love that it's easily changeable, that I made it, and that it was a fairly cheap transformation!