Kitty Litter Box Turned Quickie Toy Box

Thanks to those who donated last week I can keep the litter clean and fresh for the rest of the month.  Now it's time to feed the kitties with this fabulous tutorial...how to turn those litter buckets into toy boxes.   One of last week's donors commented how she uses her Tidy Cats buckets for this very purpose but she hadn't had time to "pretty them up."  Little did she know, that was the next project I was working on.  But, I took a slight detour from the design I was working on based her "not enough time" comment.  I've made it a little less labor intensive to make and added a detail that would help the kids keep things organized without mom's help.

Isn't it fun?!  I wanted to use primary colors on my toy box so I didn't paint the lid or the center of the handle but feel free to change the color of those to suit your design.

If you love it, please consider donating to help feed the kitties and I'll post another cute use for these kitty litter buckets next week.  Here's the link to donate:

Here's how I made the toy box. Before you start painting you'll want to sand the entire surface of the bucket with an extra fine grain sand paper.  Then wash and dry completely before you start painting.  You can pop the handle out of its "socket" and spray the bucket and handle with 2-3 coats of spray paint meant for plastic.

Once it's dry, you decide whether to leave it as-is or add a detail or two to help the kids keep their toys organized (so that you don't have to).  If your kids don't read yet you can Mod Podge on a picture of the toys that belong in the bucket.  If they do read, add the words.  And viola!  You have a fun toy box that doesn't look all that much like a kitty litter bucket for the cost of a half can of spray paint.

A Little Upcycled Height for Your Craft Show Display

I've really had a blast this year making my patio-sized bird baths and feeders! Hauling and displaying them at craft shows has proven to be a bit more of a challenge, however, than my paper bead jewelry. While I can't do much about the hauling aspect of this new obsession, I was determined to find a way to add a little height to my bird bath/feeder display. I'm still working on finding additional ways to achieve the height that I'm looking for, but I did upcycle this old plant stand into a display stand for my smaller feeders:

All I needed to make this into a proper display was a few mirrors and epoxy. It really is as easy as mixing and applying the epoxy to the frame and setting the mirror onto the frame:

 

TIP: I use plastic lids for mixing my epoxy. Any excess will peel off the plastic once it's dry so I can re-use the lid over and over again (for crafting, I wouldn't use it to cover a container that has food in it).

Once your mirrors are dried into place, add your display pieces. I'm showing it with bird baths here but I think I might use it to display jewelry when summer is over.

 

Besides serving as the upcycled display I was looking for, what I really love about this stand is that it is somewhat collapsible making for easier packing into my tiny car. I had to apply the mirror pieces a bit off center but once the piece is open you can't even tell.

DIY Cereal Box Pocket Folder

It seems like I finish one organization project and another one pops up over night.  This time it's my file drawers, I would show you a before picture but I'm too ashamed!  Instead, I'll show you how to reuse some things that you have laying around the house to make pocket folders for those larger items that need organizing.  Here's one that I use to store my ECO-Fi felt sheets:

Here's what you'll need; assorted cardboard boxes, an old manila folder to use as a template, tacky glue, old t-shirt, something to cut with and a marker

Begin by placing the fold of the manila folder on one of the folds of your box and trace the edges of your template

Cut your folder out.  Now if you just need a few small folders to organize papers and such you can stop here and repeat for as many folders as you need.  Read on to complete your pocket folder...

Use an old t-shirt to cut a strip that will form the side of your pocket.  You should cut the strip to be a minimum of 1" wider (1/2" for each side) than the side opening of the folder and a minimum of 1" longer than the height.

Add a little tacky glue along the edge of the cereal box to the first fold and attach the t-shirt fabric to it.  Give a little time adhere before you move on

Fold the finished side up and glue the t-shirt to the bottom of of the file pocket

Then add glue to the remaining unfinished edge, fold it upwards and press the t-shirt into place

Repeat on the second side and you're ready to label and fill your new upcycled pocket folder!