Catch-All Stand

I have been wanting to make a simple catch-all tray for my nightstand for a while now. The other day I got the inspiration I needed to go get the supplies. I saw this picture on Pinterest and I knew that's what I wanted to make.

Source: sarahortega.com via Krysta on Pinterest

So I made a trip to the Dollar Tree and picked up a couple of plates and smaller bowls. The bowls are more like pasta plates or salad plates. They are shallow bowls. I like that it has that bowl shape but it's still flat. I also got several short, clear candle holders.

I glued the candle holders to the two bowls Saturday. I glued them opposite of each other. One has the base at the bottom and the other has the base glued to the bowl. I like both looks. I stuck a pile of heavy books on top of each and I let them dry for a couple of days. Overnight would have been fine but I did the gluing on a Saturday and then didn't get to the project until Monday (today). (You can see in the photo below how I glued them "opposite" of each other.)

I decided not to glue the bowl to the plate because I'm not sure if I want it in the center or off to the side. I'll just set it on until I decide for sure. I have been having it off to the side and I really like it that way. I can place my rings and earrings and small things in the bowl and the larger things (like my keys, mail, glasses, or whatever) on the plate bottom.

Before ...

Before ...

After.

After.

I like it a lot. It fills the space back there quite nicely. And I like having two tiers. It gives me more room and I won't clutter the rest of the nightstand too much. lol.

P.S. Someday I'll upgrade that lamp.

Hollow Book #1

Pre-Script Note: I have had this book done for a few weeks now. And today I realized I haven't shared it yet. :)


I have wanted to hollow out a book for years. Seriously, I have a few books that I got for free from my high school library with that intention in mind. I have read some of them first. One of them is about Marie Antoinette and I actually really like that one. So it stays whole. But there are others that get to be gutted and turned into a hollow books.

I found a tutorial online that is hilarious. They have lots of pictures (it being a photo tutorial that would be expected) and after reading it I really wanted to finally make that book. So using Mod Podge instead of glue/water I started that hollow book the same day. Over the next several days of working a little bit here and there I finished my first one.

With this first book I just made one compartment since it is a smaller book. With the next book I will be making two compartments since it's a little bigger. I found this photo on Flickr and I thought it was an awesome idea to have two compartments. I don't know what I'm going to keep in these books or even where I want to put the book itself. lol. But I love this first one. I can't wait to make the second one. :)

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Since my book used to be a library book it had that pocket that the old system used glued to the front jacket page. So to make my book look pretty I cut the pocket so it laid more flat and then simply glued the first page to the front cover. I did the same to the back so that it looks uniform. Plus I didn't really like the grey pages on the ends anyways. lol.

Before: Ugly grey pages and old check-out library pocket.

I got the idea for the bottom of the book from the same flickr photo as before. It uses little pieces of paper from the pages that I took out. But looking at that collection of pictures gives me some fun ideas for the second book. Like finishing with scrapbook paper. I liked the raw sides so all I did was glue those together but leave them as is.

The bottom of the book covered in book pages.

Right now I keep my flash drives and memory cards in the first book. I suppose I'll think of something for the second one after I make it.

My SD cards in the book. Isn't it pretty.
You can also the after effect of gluing that page to the front.

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Some Tips and Extras for Making a Hallow Book

• Use a sharp x-acto knife or even a box cutter. It makes cutting the pages easier.
• Cut the corners crisply. It helps getting the pages out easier and keeps it looking crisp on the inside.
• Mod Podge works wonderfully but I'm sure the glue/water concoction would work great. Just make sure it's not too watery so as not to warp the pages.
• You can leave the pages plain after you cut them or decorate. You could use colored paper and line the inside. Or use bits of the pages you cut out. (Which is what I did.) Or even line the inside with fabric or felt.

Recycled Gallon Jug Containers

I found this idea on Disney's Family Fun craft site (here) and I thought it would be fun to make. Reading through their instructions I get kind of lost because they don't have enough info and picture. (One thing I don't like about that site.) So I searched the internet to see if someone had made these and had more tips. And I found some good tips here. (Like the thing about the seams. Genius! It made it all make sense.) I used dry erase marker to draw the lines on the jug but they sort of stay on. But I am pretty sure they'll come off with hot water. :)

Do you want to know how I made mine? Complete with pictures. This will help me when I do another one too. I'll have all the tips and stuff right here with photos. Then I'll remember what works best.

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Supplies

• A one-gallon plastic milk/water container
• Rinsed and dry.
• Peel off the sticker if you so desire. Wash sticker residue off.
• Velcro self-adhesive dots
• Sharp scissors - sharp scissors are key
• Thumbtack
• Utility knife (optional)
• Ruler (optional)
• Dry erase marker (optional)

Let's get started ...

1. Locate the seams of the plastic jug. ... There are small seams down all four corners and about 1 1/2 inches from the bottom of the jug. (In the photo the seams are marked blue for the vertical corner seams and green for the bottom horizontal seam.)





2. Using the thumbtack, pierce holes, approximately every 1/4 inch, on the bottom (green) seam. The thumbtack holes will create fold lines for the container.



3. Draw cut lines on three short sides of the jug. ... These cut lines will begin at one corner and make an arc to the next corner, extending about 2 inches above the thumbtack lines.



4. The fourth side will be the cover of the sandwich container. Draw this cut line all the way to the top curve of the milk jug, arc like the other three sides.




5. Note: the cut lines form a small upside-down “Y” (or a triangle) right at the thumbtack line. This will ensure the plastic folds into a box.



6. Start cutting the plastic milk jug with the large scissors. (You may also use a utility knife for the longer cuts. Be careful! It's not the most steady idea.)



7. Make sure you use sharp scissors when approaching the bottom of the jug. ... Use the tip of the sharp scissors to form the upside down “Y” and nip off the sharp triangle that is formed.



8. Use the sharp scissors to trim any jagged straight lines.
9. The jug now has three short sides and one long side.
10. Fold the sides back and forth along that dotted line until they fold nice and flat. (I folded them all in and creased. Then folded them back out and creased. And one more in the center and creased.)



11. Fold the long side over the box.
12. Use Velcro dots to create a reusable closure where the long side folds over.



13. There you have a recycled container.

• Some ideas for uses I had:
• Use for lunch. It's hand washable and great for a sandwich and some chips or snacks.
• Put one in your glove box to keep pens, pencils, a small notepad, some change, gum, etc. (I might just do this.)
• They would be perfect for snacks when travelling. (ie. dry cereal, goldfish, teddy grahams, etc)
• Use them in suitcases to keep small items such as jewelry, phone cords, small trinkets, etc.


The same instructions/idea can be used for half-gallon jugs for smaller and/or taller snack containers.

Starburst Chain Links

I have various sized jars filled with Starburst wrappers. Some still have candy in them. Others just flat. Others folded into tiny "V" shapes. Jars with Original flavored wrappers and every other flavor that makes it's way to me. See, a long time ago, back in 2008 or 2007, I decided I wanted to learn how to make those Starburst paper chains that people make. (I remember a friend in junior high school who would fold them in class in between taking his notes.) So I learned how. And I started making a chain with the original flavor wrappers. I have a pattern of three pink (strawberry), two orange (orange), two red (cherry), one yellow (lemon), repeat. The chain is over six feet long. It's fun to make. With these new colors I am just going to chain them together however they want. I won't have a pattern. I plan on just pulling one out and adding it on. It's going to be really colorful and fun. I think I will not put two of the same colors next to each other but that's my only rule for this second chain.

I thought I would share how to fold a link piece and how to connect them into chains. Complete with photos. I photographed every step so hopefully it all makes sense. If any of the steps don't quite make sense leave me a comment and I'll see if I can explain it better. (Click on any photo to enlarge it.)

PS. If you ever eat a Starburst and the wrapper is in good condition you are so welcome to mail them to me. Especially the original pink (strawberry) wrappers. I seem to run out of those quicker then the others. :)

PPS. This a really long post because it has lots of pictures. I hope you enjoy as much as I did while I was making it. :P

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Key Tips For Folding

• Flatten wrappers before you fold. No turned in corners or rips.
• Always fold straight and to the edges of the wrapper.
• Crease well.
  • The "V" links work best when there are crisp clean creases.

How To Fold a Starburst Wrapper

1. Flatten. ... Yes, this is the first step. To get a clean "V" a nice start is key. No folded corners. No tears. No puckers.



2. Fold long way in half. Match edges and crease.



3. Unfold.


4. Fold into center line. Crease.



5. Fold the same on other side. ... or more simply, fold outer edges into center. Leave in center. Make sure you have nice crease and the edges match up.



6. Fold long way put the center line creased again. (It's really hard putting into words without physically showing you. Try it. Maybe this will make more sense as you are folding the "V".)



7. Fold, long way, in half. Crease. It should be a skinny piece.



8. Fold in half to form a "V" shape. Match ends well. Crease well.



9. Fold into that center. ... Hold the "V" fold (the left in the photo) and fold both ends, one at a time, into the center. Crease well.



10. The end result.



11. Repeat to make lots of them.

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Key Tips For Connecting

• There is a clean side and a dirty side to every "V". If you learn the difference it will help when connecting them together. Linking through the clean sides, the links won't snag on each other as it goes through the loops.

• Clean sides are clean looking. They have one edge to them.



• Dirty sides have many edges when you look at them.

How To Connect The Links

• For the sake of ease, on you and me, I will be numbering the links. To help explain what is going on.
• From left to right: One, Two Three, Four, and so on. Purple, lemon yellow, hot pink, green, orange, burgundy, yellow, pink.

• To Start ...

1. Take two "V"s ... One and Two.



2. Hold the One link by the "V" point ... clean side up.



3. Take Two in other hand.



4. Insert Two going in the clean side of One.



5. ... Note: Two should rest at One's "V" point. ...



6. They should form a larger "V" with One's clean side out and Two's clean side in.

• For the rest of the links.

1. Insert Three into the clean side of Two. With Three's clean side going down.






2. ... Note: Three and One's clean side should facing the same way. ...



3. Repeat previous step (Three into Two) until a long chain is formed.

• Remember: continue connecting links through the clean side. When linking through the clean side you will not have problems getting link B through link A. If you try and go through the dirty side you might snag in the folds.

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And I'll end this post by updating you with pictures of the Starburst chain that started it all. I measured it too. It is 86.5 inches long (7 feet 2.5 inches). You can see more photos on my Flickr account.