Hair Supply Storage

Pretty fancy title, huh? Well, I would like to call it something fabulous like...hmmm, I don't know. The title makes sense now doesn't it? I just couldn't come up with anything. So, it is what it was meant to be. Anyway, I started this project with a billion different ideas and wasn't planning on blogging it so I don't have a ton of pics...especially the "before"s but I did manage to get a couple.

The first problem was that I had this great Container Store sorter. I loved it...at first. Then I had 3 little girls that kept getting their hands on it, cracked the top major trying to get into it, and then finally the youngest one found her way to opening it. Well, let's just say that mess took a while to clean up! (See pic below but be prepared for much snickering as well as "awwww"ing as this one is ADORABLE...annoying at this moment but adorable).

What we're supposed to be noting in the above picture is my daughters' handiwork with the all the hair supplies scattered about her. In fact, she was chewing on a barrette in this picture. This is what led to...

 

 Sigh..."Well, at least it was all in the container" you might say. It wasn't...and it was severely difficult to find anything. So, an idea was born.
Idea #1: I originally planned to use the same containers under my medicine chest on either side of my faucet. However, as I lined them up there I realized I didn't like the look since I had an entire wall to the right of my door (small though it was) that only had a clock on it. (The wall is about the depth of the cabinet in our bathroom so quite small. The perfect size for idea #2.

Idea #2: Stack the two racks with containers on the wall so as to utilize the wall space better and still allow room for my counter items that would have been forced into retirement. Idea #2 it is!

Here's what you'll need: a hammer, screws (with anchors if you are not going into a stud), a screwdriver, level, pencil, painters tape, and a screw hole starter.

In addition, you need to purchase or up cycle some small shelving that will fit some glass containers (see images at end). I bought my glass containers and shelving from IKEA (it's pretty much my favorite store). Follow the directions for putting the shelf together and then move on to your wall.

 So, most of this is self explanatory. You need to line up the holes on the back of the shelf to the screws you put in the wall. Though this part has always maddened me in the past, I found a trick on Pinterest.

Take the painters tape and run it across the back of the shelf. Use your pencil to mark where the holes are. Remove the painters tape and put it on the wall where you want your shelf to hang. (Remember that you mark where the top of the holes are and not the bottom otherwise your shelf will hang lower than you plan. Just a friendly tip from me to you. I may or may not have made that mistake in the past.)

Once you've line up the painters tape, grab your handy level and check it. Then check it again. And probably again. It's the old adage, measure twice, poke holes once...or something like that. ;)

Here's what it should look like as you line it up. Keep in mind my pics of this were after I hung my shelf so the glass jars are already on there and yours wouldn't be yet.

Once you are sure the shelf will be level start the holes. I used my screw hole punch starter thing. It looks dangerous whatever the real name is. (Disclaimer: Do not hold onto this tool if you are having a big fight with your husband! hehehehe. Just kidding!! And yet not...)

Add your anchors, then screws and pop on the shelf.

The  next step is the fun one. Sort, organize and add all your hair supplies to your new, cute, glass jars. Add jars to shelf and voila!

Okay so I was going to crop out the two white spots higher on the wall I decided to just let you see that we have more projects in the works. The reality is that we need to get more paint. I'm dreading that situation! How could I possibly find a perfect match? And I really don't want to repaint the whole bathroom...So, it stays white for now and I never notice it until I look at pictures. But, I digress.

Now I have a bathroom wall used more effectively and efficiently, hair accessories more easily accessible, and less junk to pull out from under the sink. What more could a girl want?

Well, actually a better solution for the leftovers...

These were items that didn't fit in my new, amazingly cool hair supply storage system. I pondered this for a while and wouldn't mind getting your ideas. What do you think of the new storage? Any ideas on these leftovers, plus all the headbands? I might have an idea or two up my sleeve but any suggestions, comments, or questions are appreciated.

Happy Creations! Jennifer

Please feel free to comment below.

Jeans Wreath

Hi. This is my first official blog. I've always enjoyed crafting and I usually take pics of what I do. Normally I just talk about what I've done with my friends, but I've decided to put in on the web. Why not? Everyone else seems to be doing it! ;)

So this post is about making a wreath with jeans. I can say I wasn't sure how it would turn out but I decided to take pictures as I went and, worse case scenario, I'd just trash the photos. It turns out, it turned out! So here's the method:

Step 1: Purchase, "borrow", of finally use a metal wreath as pictured below. Mine has been staring me in the face for 2 Christmas seasons now. I couldn't stand seeing it sitting around the pile of unused items. I had a lot of great ideas when I bought it I just never got around to doing anything with it. So while I still don't have the time, I happened to complete this project after all!

 Step 2: Cut a lot of strips. Okay, I'll be more precise. I made 2 different cuts. The wreath has 4 wires. After some trial and error I decided to use fabric as the "background" (that's the cream colored blocks) you'll need 9 of those or however many sections you have on your wreath. I didn't take exact measurements because it was not an exact process. All I did was take the fabric I was using (an old cream skirt that the zipper had broken) and wrap it around. I then cut the block and measured it again and cut again. Once you have your size, use it as a template to cut your other 8 pieces. You do not have to be precise.

You will need roughly 45 strips of jeans. Again, I used old jeans of my husbands that were no longer wearable. I cut the strips to be roughly 1" by 10". Depending on the width of your strips you will need more or less. You'll have to determine that based on your desired outlook.

 Step 3: Heat up that glue gun! (I secretly love using my glue gun but don't have a lot of projects for it so I always enjoy pulling it out.) You will first take your large blocks and wrap it over the top and bottom wire so the ends connect in the middle. (See image below) Lie one end flat and apply hot glue. Paste the other end on top and voila! You have one section done.

Continue covering with large blocks until all 9 sections have been covered. You will be left with a wreath that has only the 2 middle wires showing.

 Step 4: Start weaving in the jeans pieces. I chose to alternate them so that one strip was face up the next was face down and so on to get some varying colors but you certainly don't have to. If you're using old jeans like myself, that effect might be accomplished without doing that. Some of the strips were hard to tell what was the front and the back compared to others.

 Step 5: Once the strip has been weaved under the 2 wires in the middle, just double knot it. I decided to weave all the jeans strips into the wreath to get them off the floor. My little one had just gotten up from a nap and I didn't want her carrying my jeans strips everywhere. It did go quickly doing it that way but however you do it is your choice.

 That's it! You're all done!! I had planned on having all the knots going different ways but as I was initially tying them they were all facing the one way and I found I really liked it that way. However, you could choose to let them go all wonky and have an entirely different look. To hang, I looped one extra strip from the back on one of the center wire pieces and knotted it the same ways as the ones on the front. It doesn't detract too much from the wreath itself but you could also use a long ribbon or whatever will work for your door.

Remember, the background fabric color is your choice. You could use any fabric to create this wreath. I like the stiffness of jeans because they will hold the bow shape better but any similar fabric will do. This project was easy, quick, fun, and it used up some odds and ends fabrics. It would also be a wonderful project to use up all those scraps you're not sure what to do with. Having a red door, sticking to a more neutral color scheme worked well for us.

Another addition would be to add something to center of the wreath. A title like "Merry Christmas" or "Season's Greetings" would work or just a large image. I didn't do that as I was trying to make a quick project and didn't have that handy but maybe you will. Make it your own and post any pics you take so I can see your creativity!

Happy Creations! Jennifer