Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Project Organize

Yes, I call myself organized but these first few pictures will prove otherwise. We have an area upstairs that we call "the loft" although it is basically just a bedroom minus one wall. It has a closet that we store everything and anything inside. It is the catch all closet and needed some work as is evident in this picture...


And here is a close-up of the madness...


It is amazing what you find when you go through a closet. I found a small file box full of index cards, one for every one of the people invited to our wedding. It was in ABC order and listed everyone's address and reply. Why do I still have it after 7 years? That is a good question. I threw it away along with tons of other junk that was just cluttering up the closet. I love getting rid of stuff. It feels so good.


I found a treasure of mine in the closet too. The one and only trophy I have ever won. I was so proud of that thing for years. Who am I kidding? I'm still proud of it.

That's right, it's a spelling bee trophy. I won it in 5th grade. Such a proud moment. Hey, I didn't play sports so spelling was my thing. Pretty pathetic, huh?


So, we got to work. I emptied out the closet and we began to give it a fresh coat of white paint. It was already looking better...


However, "the loft" was not looking so great since I unloaded the entire closet into the room. Yikes...


We had some wood leftover from a sandbox project so Jason used that to construct shelves for the closet.

This is what our garage looked like during the organizing of the closet...


So, it was finally completed and here is the after picture...


We got rid of a ton of stuff in this process which makes me so happy! We only bought the orange stuff that you see plus a little extra wood for the custom shelves that my amazing husband built. It was a cheap project that has made a world of difference already. I loved going through the house and finding stuff I could use to make the closet functional and pretty...


I had spray-painted some black cardboard magazines holders awhile back. They weren't working for me in the closet so I just cut fun scrapbook paper to fit the front and I liked them again...


Also, the story behind the messed up #'s on each shelf is this...I used sticker outlines of the numbers as stencils. I painted the numbers with black paint. When they had dried, I went to remove the stickers. Well, it turns out the stickers worked too well and they did not want to come off. So, after some work to scrape them off, the numbers were left looking crazy with scrapes and marks all over them. Well, what do you know? It turned out that I liked them that way so I did not bother fixing them. Gives the shelves some character.

Oh, and I love me some scrabble tiles so they had to be included...


I had saved a couple soda bottles from my son's birthday party (which I will share about soon) so they are proudly on display in the closet now...


We used a little wooden shelf from the basement on the bottom to add more shelves to hold computer paper and my trusty iron-on transfer paper. We also set the charger for the camera and video camera on top of the little shelf so we can just throw in the battery, plug them in, and close the closet door. I love it.

Now every time I open the closet, I smile instead of feeling overwhelmed and crazy. It's a great feeling to be organized. And anytime is the perfect time to tackle that closet that makes you crazy. You don't have to spend money to get organized, just a little elbow grease and time and it is well worth it!

So, go forth and get organized my friends! Also, join me in checking out these link parties for some inspiration and fun!

Happy Tuesday!

31 comments:

Jessica June 22, 2010 at 8:06 AM  

So refreshing! I could use this revamp in my closets!

the thrifty ba June 22, 2010 at 8:06 AM  

so nice and clean! almost inspired me to clean mine!
almost

Erin A June 22, 2010 at 9:26 AM  

This is wonderful! A clean closet is just so refreshing, it's crazy how much a jumbled one can drain you, this makes me want to go tackle my closet! And I love those numbers, I think they were meant to be that way :)

Amanda @ Healthy House on the Block June 22, 2010 at 10:58 AM  

Wonderful job! You've inspired me clean out my closet> Hopefully it will be as cute as yours!!

The Fear Fam June 22, 2010 at 11:52 AM  

Looks great! (Although, I didn't think it was *that* bad before, which just goes to show the state of my closets.)

The Single Nester June 22, 2010 at 1:31 PM  

Great job and congratulations on your spelling bee trophy!

Amy June 22, 2010 at 1:57 PM  

Love your organizing abilities! You put me to shame!! The closet is awesome, esp. with the orange!

Unknown June 22, 2010 at 4:58 PM  

I love the numbers on the shelves!

Emmary June 22, 2010 at 7:42 PM  

Inspiring!!! And I love the First Days of School book. That was like my bible that first year. Now I make my college students buy it.

I hope to "simplify"like this in several areas of our house before our 3rd little one comes!

Be Colorful Coastal June 22, 2010 at 11:18 PM  

Oh wow. This just looks so great and you have to have a real sense of accomplishment and a wave of calmness when you look at it. :)
Pam

The Autocrat: Haley June 22, 2010 at 11:51 PM  

Oooo looks so fabulous! Oh how I love re organizing and cleaning stuff out! Feels like weight it lifted on your shoulders. Love it!

Leanne June 23, 2010 at 9:14 AM  

I love an organized space and closets are my favorite. I'm hosting We're Organized Wednesday link party this week. I would love for you to join.
http://organizeyourstuffnow.com

brandi @ tales of a domestic goddess June 23, 2010 at 4:01 PM  

i hope to do these same shelves in my kitchen pantry. it's my creative station that gets all my supplies and other things... were the shelves hard to make?! anyways, great job and i'm so jealous! =)

JOY June 23, 2010 at 8:55 PM  

SO beautiful that you could take the closet door off!

Elizabeth June 23, 2010 at 9:38 PM  

That closet would make me smile, too. I love the numbered shelves and the ampersand. I have a huge one waiting for something like that. :)

Maria-Isabel @ Agape Love Designs June 23, 2010 at 11:01 PM  

Oh great job! :) I love making things organized and pretty! I love the idea for adding pretty scrap paper to the magazine holders!

May I ask where you go those adorable giant clothes pins and that(looks like wood) "&", Ive been looking for something like that! Id love to know where to buy them!Thank you. :)

Also, I hope you dont consider this spam.. I normally dont put links to my own blog in comments, or try to advertise myself in other peoples comments. :) But when I read you loved scrabble tiles, I thought you might be interested in checking out one of my projects using scrabble tiles and the game board! :) You dont have to check it out.. but if you would like to you can see it here: http://agapelovedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/06/scrabble-shadow-box.html

Anonymous June 23, 2010 at 11:38 PM  

Wow! Turned out great! I'm in the process of organizing my crafts into my "loft" as well! Small world! I am now follwing your cute blog.

Leanne June 24, 2010 at 12:39 AM  

Thanks for sharing your totally organized closet at We're Organized Wednesday.

Brianna! June 24, 2010 at 7:06 AM  

I LOVE the name of your blog!
and your header is super adorable too.

xoxo
bB

Tiffany June 24, 2010 at 7:24 AM  

Hi, Maria Gridley!

Thanks for your comment! Just letting you know that the clothespins came from a scrapbook store called Archivers. I love them. I used them to hold pictures of my son at his birthday party before they were used in the closet!

The & sign is from Hobby Lobby.

Have a great day!
Tiffany

Vanessa June 24, 2010 at 7:41 AM  

Thanks for the sliver of inspiration. My home is filled to the brim with boxes right now while I organize- this inspires me to finish the whole damn project this weekend.

Tiffany June 24, 2010 at 10:25 AM  

Hi again, Maria Gridley.

So sorry to have given you wrong information. The & is actually from Kohl's. It was a gift from my sister and so she informed me it was not from Hobby Lobby. Sorry about that!

Mama Thompson June 24, 2010 at 3:23 PM  

Looks so great...and good for you for getting rid of stuff...it's always hard, but so worth it when things are uncluttered and organized!

Dusa June 24, 2010 at 3:58 PM  

So much love! Now I want a closet just like that!

Helena June 24, 2010 at 6:16 PM  

Oh man... your before picture looks like my apartment on a good day. And your after picture is like a fantasy...

Megan @ Megity's Handmade June 24, 2010 at 11:08 PM  

Fantastic! I bet the closet makes you happy everytime you see it. I love the shelves and numbers.

Kris Hughes June 25, 2010 at 8:02 PM  

Great job! I luv these kind of projects!

Unknown June 25, 2010 at 9:14 PM  

Wow, I'm really impressed! It's not only organized, it's pretty! Great job!

Anonymous June 26, 2010 at 6:55 PM  

That. Is. Amazing. You are truly an organizing queen. Makes me want to paint and build and organize...*sigh*

Drop by my blog for my vinyl art giveaway! All you have to do is comment to enter!

Patrice June 27, 2010 at 4:09 PM  

This is amazing! I could never achieve such fab. organization, but I'd LOVE to try!

Mrs. Lopac July 11, 2010 at 10:56 PM  

I'm a little late with this comment, but I'm just catching up on some blogs tonight. I have the same trophy, but it's red! 3rd Grade Spelling Bee Champ! And....I'm still proud of it, too ;)

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