Tag Archives: calendar

Getting Organized in 2015 #4 School Binder & Entryway

Does anyone else have bulletin boards covered in school papers or a refrigerator covered in chaos?  I just couldn’t take it anymore.  We have limited wall space in our kitchen/entryway area and this is the where everyone drops their stuff and where reminders are posted.  Although the space was “functional”, it was lacking “flow” and “style”.  I’m a visual person as well as practical and the whole area was giving me a headache.

BEFORE:

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AFTER:

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First I took down most of the bulletin boards and created a “School Binder”.  I keep all the important school papers for each child in one binder.  At homework time I pull out the binder for reference and to update papers.  I also created this form for each child as a quick reference.

School Binder

Next, I moved our “shoe bin” to the central drop location.  These bins hold winter gear and shoes.  I added the fruit basket to hold keys, wallets, mail, etc.  The picture frame can easily be turned into a white board to write notes.

Entryway Makeover

On the other wall I still have the family calendar.  I added the hooks for the kid’s school bags and got this great wall verse from Amazon.

This area is not the “Main Entrance” to the home, but it’s where we come through the garage and enter as a family.  I think this awkward space works much better for us now and it’s much more visually pleasing.  I can’t wait to add more artwork and accessories in the future! 🙂 Mama Nice

 

Family Command Center

It’s that time of year – back to school time!  I don’t know about you, but my calendar fills up with activities pretty quickly in the fall.  Kid sports, church activities, school functions and not to mention all the fall festivities that I feel the need to cram into our schedule- apple picking, pumpkin picking, hayrides, etc.  With so much to juggle, our family needed a larger “Family Command Center” to keep us all in the loop and connected.  Of course I couldn’t make just ANY “Family Command Center”, I had to add some creative flare.  I also didn’t want to spend a lot of money and since I’m a craft junkie – I had a lot of things laying around that I could already use.  What do you think?

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….. and the break down…..

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I had the large cork boards already hung on the wall.  I bought the circles at Ikea – they were labeled as “trivets”, but they work great as message boards.  I added the kids’ names to each section so I can keep all their important papers in their area.

As for the other wall, here are the links for the “How To” crafts:

Canvas Verse/Quote

Cardboard & Yarn Frame

Cookie Sheet Message Board

Cardboard & Yarn Frame

Another thrifty craft adventure.  I needed (ok I wanted) a frame to go around my family calendar.  It just looked too lonely and naked against the plain wall.  I began my search in my bin of spare frames – no luck.  I went to the local craft store – the prices were too high.  I got inventive – score!

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Materials

  • Cardboard
  • Yarn
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Sharp Blade
  • Glue (I used a Hot Glue Gun)

Step By Step

  1. Trace the outline of your picture or calendar about 1/2 an inch wider to allow room for the yarn.
  2. Trace the width of the ruler to create a boarder.
  3. Using the egde of the ruler and a sharp blade, cut out the frame.
  4. Put a dab of hot glue on the cardboard and secure the beginning of your yarn.
  5. Start wrapping the yarn around the cardboard in whatever style you like!  I also put a little dab of hot glue along the way to keep the yarn tight. **This took longer than I thought it would, just an FYI.**
  6. Secure the end of the yarn with hot glue.
  7. Hang on the wall.  I used Command Strips.

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