Whatever Goes Wednesday #76

Welcome to this crazy day of linky love and blog exploration! I love to see what is new out there in blog land. Get started clicking away to view everyone's creations!

I'd love for you to stick around and click on at few a links before leaving. Don't be a link-and-run blogger!

NEW SPONSOR

For ribbon, fabric and more, check out The Ribbon Retreat! So many craft goodies to desire!


GIVEAWAY

You've got to check out this cute Bacon Time blog and her corresponding etsy shop called TLC Creations! They are both fantastic! Enter the giveaway worth $75 HERE.

MOST VIEWED LINK LAST WEEK!

Based on the number of views City Girl Gone Coastal received last week in her post about ribbon storage, I'm not the only one with a serious ribbon problem! I gotta find me a dowel and a small box!

BLOG TIP

Today's blog how-to is brought to you by The Letter 4

HOW-TO: Widen your blog!

I'm loving the width of my new blog design. You may want to think about making yours wider too!

CRAFTING FOR A CAUSE

Check out the Crafting For A Cause this month. Help the Funk family adopt a daughter!

Don't forget to check out the Giveaway Directory tomorrow! It amazes me how few people enter giveaways. This is your chance at free stuff! FYI, this link is only open for two days. If you are going to do a giveaway and want to feature it here, make sure you link it up sometime on Thursday or Friday.

Stay tuned for the next Categorically Crafting.

You know what to do. Enter your project (up to 4 links), tip, idea, recipe, whatever. Visit others. Leave comments. PLEASE NO ETSY SHOPS! Come back again in the next few days more projects are added throughout the week. Let the fun begin! (Because blogging is not my full-time job, I will not be able to visit every link. I apologize.)

Guest Blogger - Simple Simon & Co. - Decoupaged Patterned Boxes

Hi! I'm liZ from over at

Simple Simon and Co.

There, my ridiculously talented sister-in-law (who is also named Elizabeth) and I post our daily sewing, crafting, and kid related projects.
Today we are super excited to be here at Someday Crafts with a little project I've been working on. Among other things I hoard, I mean I collect, vintage patterns. And well, my "collection" had gotten out of hand and I needed some sort of system to store them in. I wanted something that would keep my patterns tidy, easy to access, and look as cute as my patterns do.

Here's what I came up with:

Mod Podge Patterned Pattern Boxes.

They are easy to make and absolutely perfect to store your sewing patterns in.

Here's what you'll need:
*5 Quart storage bins (I bought mine at the Dollar Store but they also sell them at Wal-Mart)
*Mod Podge
*An old paint brush
*Some old patterns that you are willing to part with

Just a note here about the patterns---I can't bear to see any potentially good patterns being wasted---even if it is to decorate something I want. SO I chose patterns that should never ever be sewn again to use for this project. That way I wasn't destroying something that I may want later and I was saving the planet from pregnant women walking around wearing that red jumpsuit.

Now. On to the instructions:

#1. Using your paintbrush, slather some Mod Podge over the area of the bin you are going to start covering.

#2. Lay a piece of pattern over the area covered in Mod Podge. Press it down firmly with your fingers or the paintbrush. (Note: Patterns are very thin so be a gentle...)

*Don't worry about having to fold the pattern over on itself around corners. That will happen. As for the wrinkling...don't worry about that either. Wrinkles happen and it's ok. It will give your bins texture and character.

#3. Use large pattern pieces first and then fill in any blank areas with smaller pieces. Do this until your entire bin is covered with patterns.

#4. When your bin is covered go over the ENTIRE surface with your Mod Podge. (This will give the frail pattern paper a protective layer that will become hard and prevent your bin from getting rips and tears. Plus it makes it look shiny and cool.)

#5. Hot glue a big old ribbon to the front. (I used strips of scrap fabric to make mine.)
And now your done!

(However, if you are really particular about your patterns you could skip the bow and make a cute label for the front detailing the sizes or styles of patterns in each bin. Obviously I didn't do that with mine...as per most of my projects I chose fun over practicality...)

I love my little army of pattern boxes. They are exactly what I needed--I can easily flip through the contents of each bin, the patterns are organized by size and style, and of course, they look good on my shelf. It was just what I needed.

Thank you, Michelle, for letting us share one of our projects amid so many other amazing tutorials. We have been so excited to be a guest on your amazing blog and we had a lot of fun putting together our project.

Thanks again,

liZ

THANK YOU, liZ!!!! My favorite projects are ones that are quick, simple, inexpensive and turn out really cute and this is definitely one of those "favorite" type projects!

Head over to Simple Simon & Co to check out all the AMAZING tutorials and ideas there. You will spend hours looking around!

Rolling Crates/Storage!

Rolling crates or storage areas are a must for organization. Think about toy rooms, closets, under beds and more great places these rolling containers would come in handy. Whether on hard wood, tile, cement or carpet, I could use about 10 of these. This one was made by Shanty2Chic.

See the rolling crate tutorial.

Flat Iron Case

Check out this flat iron case (or curling iron or many other things) from Crafty and Cooking Mama. Perfect for traveling or storage. It keeps those cords out of the way.

See the Flat Iron Case.

Button and Thread Storage

I see quite a few ideas on how to store ribbon and fabric, but rarely do I see a button or thread storage idea. These organization and storage solutions at Made It On Monday are brilliant (especially for buttons). It makes me want to run out and buy a lot of buttons.

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See the button and thread organization and storage idea.

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Ribbon Storage

I've seen quite a few ways to organize and store ribbon and some work for me and some don't. Young and Crafty has another new way to store ribbon that I think I'd like. Hopefully, you will like this way too.

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See this ribbon organization and storage idea.

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