Window Treatments

Bedroom: My old apartment, which was in an older home (before I was married), had these really tall windows. I bought fabric from Walmart for about $1/yd and with no sewing involved, made hanging drapes that were held by 2 small grapevine wreaths at the corners (which were on hooks attached to the wall). After Joel and I got married and bought our home I cut that same material down to make mini versions of my former window treatment for my new bedroom windows (which were a fraction of the size of my apartment windows).

I never did bother to have them hemmed. My mother-in-law has offered to do it, but its not a necessity right now. She is going to make me some curtains for the sunroom and thats a bit more of a priority. Besides, who knows if I’ll decide to “reuse” this fabric for something else

I did have soooo  much fabric (because my apartment windows were soooo long) that I had used some of the extra fabric to drape over one of our dressers. I don’t use it there anymore but it was something different.

Sunroom: I decided to throw in the sunroom here since I did make my own cafe style rods out of pvc tubing, end caps, brackets, etc and some left over interior wall paint.

Somehow I did mess up on the measurements and the main rod is a bit shorter than I need, but I will make do (see last picture at bottom).  The rod above hangs over 2 windows. You’ll see the aprx. 16 foot rod down below.  It might have cost me $10-15 to make these rods (everything included). Thats a great savings. However, I did have some regrets because I didn’t do it “quite right”.

What I learned from this project…

Having a (aprx) 16- foot rod that doesn’t come apart is NOT convenient. You may want to reconsider doing it that way. I’ve tried to move this thing through the house. Not good.  A shorter rod wouldn’t be so bad though.

Don’t use housepaint (hehe)…I’m all about using what I have on hand and cutting corners. But honestly, I think you need spray on paint or something that won’t come off easily. And maybe something to seal it.

When you paint a long rod like this, you need a proper place to put it to dry. I didn’t have this option handy and I was painting outside when the fall leaves were on the ground. Newspaper stuck to my rod, I was in a hurry.

Sometimes it isn’t as rewarding to take the cheap route.

I won’t be applying for any jobs with Martha Stewart. I’m not that patient nor precise with measurements!

Click here to read one of the posts I found while researching “how to” make my pvc rods. I recommend doing it his way instead of taking my shortcuts. I also see he has some pics of making an “L” shaped rod (probably with an “L” bar?) – looks very interesting to me!

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I found these in my parent’s garage and they’ve  been holding  our toiletries in the bathroom for quite awhile now. Personally, I like it. I like giving new purpose to “old” things. I like thinking outside of the box when it comes to organizing, decorating, whatever. You can actually buy glass jars of a different sort at Walmart or where ever. I didn’t have to buy these

Incidentally, when we bought the house it was already purple. Quite a bit of purple tile. Not my first choice in bathroom decor but it was in very nice condition so there was no need to change it. But I would sure like a newer countertop. I’ve thought about painting this one but I’m not sure I could get it to look right so it will stay for now.

You saw how I use crocks in the kitchen, but I also use them in the bathroom. I was going to take a picture but then changed my mind. But I have 2 crocks just the right size for what I want to use them for…one to hold the plunger and another smaller one that hold the toilet bowl scrub brush.

There is another item in our bathroom we use in a slightly different way. Its not old, it was made to go over the toilet but we use it in an alcove in the bathroom and put our hamper under it. It provides some nice higher-up shelving where I keep supplies I don’t want the kids to reach.

Just some ideas to get you thinking outside the box.

Part 3 will be about a window treatment or two I’ve done around the house.

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Before you go throwing out your “old” stuff, consider whether it might find new meaning when given  a new purpose. Afterall, people furnish or decorate their home with expensive antiques or even reproductions so…what about those old crocks sitting in the garage?

I really like the look and feel of crocks and here’s what I do with mine in the kitchen…

The small one is for hamburger grease, the larger brown  one holds tea bags and then lots of cooking utensils fill the large white pot. And they all fit nicely right here…

And because you can never have enough wooden spoons while you’re kids are young and mischievious – I found this Pfaltzgraf crock (and a bag of wooden spoons) at the Salvation Army store one day. Now I don’t have to worry about misplacing my spoons

Something else I use in my kitchen that I bought for maybe 40cents at the Salvation Army (they have half off most everything every Wednesday, by the way)…

…that long white (magnetic!) flat curtain rod (I think thats what it is). It hangs nicely on a couple nails and now I have another option to staying organized. I put this rod under my cork boards.

Then there is the book shelf I got (used) that tries to keep me a little bit more organized.

Okay, so this wall doesn’t look so “hot” and  I see I’ve  hung one of my boards unequally and its been hanging there for a long time (hehe).  Just keeping it real, folks.

Since its in the picture too, lets talk about that nice big sturdy basket next to my bookshelf.  I think it held toys for while, now it holds a big bag of cat food.

Have you given new purpose to something old in your home? Please leave a comment and share.

*I’m also linking this post to Raising Homemakers.

Well, look at it now. How’s this for improvement!

Well, I think its a  BIG improvement and its now the toy room. Well, and some other things are in there…

but the point is…its now a playroom. Its not exactly done, but it looks a lot better and the boys’ toys are there and they have room to play. And the paint was a mistint I’d picked up at Walmart months ago for another room. I think it looks great in here though.  Its not exactly yellow…its more like butterscotch or spicey brown mustard. I LIKE it!

Maybe the boys will let ME play in there too!

Before.

One of the things I’ve been working on lately is home improvements. Things that have needed to get done, but can’t get done in just one day. Jack’s old bedroom has been a “catch-all”  room lately. This is a picture of part of the room before I get it turned into a playroom for the boys. It won’t be done even when its cleaned out because we ran into problems getting some old border off and the walls are a bit of a wreck ;(  But if I can just get rid of some of this stuff and find a proper place for the rest I will be well on my way to finishing it up. The painting can wait.

What about you? Have any unfinished projects you’ve gotten in the mood to work on?

…to be continued,

It took me a few days to get it together. I had to start somewhere…so I made a list of what I needed help organizing. I came up with 8 categories for us…Emergency, To-Do, Schedules, Meal Planning, Brendan’s School Info, Restaurant/Entertainment, Current Car & Home Ins. Policies, and Ideas. I bought a 1.5″ clear cover binder on sale at Walmart…but now that I have it filled (and I’m just beginning) I see I really may need a 2 or 3″ binder. I like the clear cover because I can design my own front, back, and spine with scrapbooking paper and I can change the look easily. (Which I may be doing soon…I think I want something a bit more fun and trendy).

Our Family Home Manager.

I used scrapbook paper for all my dividers again, they are the clear page holding tabbed dividers). You can really have a lot of fun doing this. You decide what you want within each section. In the Emergency section I list things I would want a babysitter to know…our phone numbers, simple directions to our home, our choice of doctor and Hospital, a copy of our medical insurance card, missing child info (the kind you can get done for free sometimes with Police)…etc..

Table of Contents

To Do section.

Schedules.

Meal Planning.

School Info.

Restaurant/Entertainment.

Anyways…you get the idea. Within some of the sections I have a pocket divider to hold other items and empty page protectors to fill when the time comes. This binder also has two pockets on the inside of  both covers.  You can put other brochures or reference materials in it.

So, now I want to share some of the links that helped me come up with “my” version of a home management system and a few others I’m just digging up for you now. Enjoy looking at the systems other women have come up with!

http://notebook.organizedhome.com/

http://notebook.organizedhome.com/topic/notebook-tours

http://piecesfromme.blogspot.com/2007/09/my-home-management-binder.html

http://www.squidoo.com/home-management-binder

http://www.flylady.net/

A couple of the links above have links within them to other management binders women have made so be sure to look for them. These should give you plenty of ideas and even some resources to print if you choose.

Have Fun!

(My post re-do).I decided about a week ago to start using charts to help my boys with learning good habits, responsibility and good behavior. My boys are 5 and 3 years old. I did find some “free” printable charts online I’d like to share with you.
I will add that this system has really had a positive effect on my 5 year old…the 3 year old, well, he likes to copy his brother so its okay with him- except he thinks coloring in the blocks is too much work! I also have stickers, etc.. if they want instead of coloring.

I assigned each boy a folder (the 10cent kind with pockets and prongs inside that you’d find on sale in the back to school season). Inside they have three main charts.

First, I use this basic block style chart I found here at Simplemom.net to fill in basic daily chores like brushing teeth, picking up toys, helping mom and dad, staying in bed at night…etc..

Second, I use this cute character chart with two separate sections I found at another site found here to list current/future issues the kids’ need to work on…I picked out Arthur and Bob the Builder. Here I list issues that may get moved to the daily chart eventually.

Third, I use this cute chart that focuses on ONE single objective. Each day (doesn’t have to be consecutive) each boy does well enough (doesn’t have to be perfect) on THAT one goal he gets to fill in one spot which leads closer to an earned prize! I picked out the frog chart for my 3 year old and the bike path for my oldest.

I do find that I need to remind my boys about the chart and help them learn these goals. I noticed yesterday I didn’t tell them to brush their teeth in the morning and they didn’t seem to remember. Sometimes when I tell them to pick up their toys or clean up their mess they think its too big of a job for themselves to do alone. I can see they need my example, working alongside them. Keep that in mind too.

And something else I realized…I need this chart-exercise for them as well because it keeps me accountable for teaching them things they need to learn at home.  My job is to prepare them to be able to live without “mom and dad” someday.  It all starts with the simple things like…brushing their own teeth and learning how to treat each other right.

**If you find these charts don’t work for you feel free to search for more “free printable chore charts”.  But, before you do…I recommend signing up for FREE with Swagbucks…do your search through their engine so you can start racking up Swagbuck points withwhich you will redeem for gift cards or maybe money! Its a great way to pay nothing out of pocket while you get to start earning freely…cover birthdays or Christmas this way!