Magnetic Spices at Hand on the Frig.

Credit: Photo courtesy of Lauren Davison
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Magnetic Spices at Hand

From parsley to cinnamon, it's easy for spices to take over your cupboards. To fix this problem, Lauren Davison repurposed baby food jars and turned them into magnetic spice jars that easily attach to the side of the refrigerator. "They're a great way to keep clutter out of your cupboards, save time while cooking and add a touch of personality to the kitchen," she says. "Plus, it's easy to find the spice you need and see when you're getting low." Want to make your own? See Lauren's full tutorial.

 I still have some spices left in my cupboard, but I ran out of magnets, so I was only able to make 10 jars.

These took a bit of time, but very little skill. 

Obviously.  

I just collected baby food jars, rinsed them out, and pulled off as much of the label that I could. Then I popped them in the dishwasher (the lids, too). I didn't worry about the sticky spot left over since it would be covered by the paper/cardstock I wrapped around the jar.

I had some nice powerful magnets. I got mine from some store on ebay. 

To eliminate any need to coordinate colors on my part, I used the DCWV Latte Mat Stack, with its coordinating solid mat stack to decorate the jars. I had bought them a long time ago when I was on my paper kick. It was fun to be able to use them for something besides eye candy!

I Mod Podged 1" strips of paper around the jar. The Mat Stacks I had were 8x8, and I found that a 1"x 8" strip is the perfect size to wrap around standard baby food jars. I Mod Podged them to the jars, and then covered the strip in Mod Podge, too, to give it a nice finished sheen and to make sure the end of the strip wouldn't ever start peeling up. 

I made the labels out of two circular pieces of paper. I used a half dollar for my big circles, and a quarter for the cream colored circles. Hi-tech, I know. I wrote the names of the spices on the cream circles and let them dry for a bit, just to ensure they wouldn't bleed at all when I put Mod Podge over the top. I the glued the big circle to the bottom and let it dry a bit. Then I covered it in Mod Podge and put the cream circle on it, let it dry, and then covered the whole thing in Mod Podge again. 

Now for the magnets. The ones I had were smaller, so I used two on each jar. Kirby is a genius and pointed out that if I just hot glued the magnets straight to the lid, they might not end up being level, which would make the magnetic bond with the fridge weaker, and could even cause the magnets to pull free from the lid. So we got out an old card table and I stuck the magnets to it, put hot glue blobs on those, and actually set the lid (with the jar attached) on top of the magnets. That way, when the glue hardened, the magnets would be perfectly even. Worked like a charm. That wouldn't be an issue if you had magnets with a nice big radius, though. I reinforced the magnet by putting a ring of hot glue around the edge of the magnet. 

Whew! That's quite an explanation for a project that requires little skill!

So far I am loving it. It's SO easy to find the spices I need. No more rummaging around like a mad woman. Plus--my fridge is right next to our stove, so it is the most convenient spot to keep them!

Use Old Furniture

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Uses for Old Furniture

Oversized, Vintage Message Board

Don't turn your back on an old mattress. Hang a mattress spring on the wall for a one-of-a-kind, oversized message board. Donna of Funky Junk Interiors cleaned the rust from the spring with a wire brush and treated it with a clear overcoat for a vintage look. Simple clothes pins hold up messages, and hangers keep other everyday items at hand.

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Cottage-Style Display Shelf

When you think an item has no functionality, think again. Melissa Michaels of The Inspired Room placed a small, brightly colored stepladder on the wall to function as a display shelf and eye-pleaser. The weathered finish on the ladder paired with crisp white frames on the adjacent wall gives the room a classic cottage look.

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Playful Kid's Dresser

If you don't like the look of an old dresser, update it with a bright color. Janell Beals of Isabella & Max Rooms painted a forgotten dresser with bright pinkish-red chalkboard paint for a playful look that works perfectly in a kid's room. The dresser allows kids to use their imaginations by drawing or writing anything they want on it, keeping the walls safe from any unexpected drawings.

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Salvaged Home Office

This home office is filled with items from the junkyard. Sawhorses make up the legs of the desk, a wood pallet works as the desktop and an old ladder provides the framework. Donna used a garage storage unit and wood pallets as back support to create an industrial-style shelving unit to maximize storage space. Fill the shelves with vintage-inspired objects to finish the rustic look.

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Cabinet Door Mantel Decor

When you remodel a room, you oftentimes are left with extra material. After remodeling her kitchen, Melissa Michaels placed her leftover cabinet doors on the fireplace mantel as decor. "I was able to reuse the cabinet door to cover up a hole from the TV," she says. Painting the door to match the room's color scheme and leaning it against the mantel gave it an entirely new purpose and look. Top off the look with a decorative plate and candles.

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Chalkboard Storage Container

Take an ordinary tea tin and transform it into a stylish storage container using chalkboard paint. Marian Parsons of Mustard Seed Interiors created this look by applying one coat of primer and two coats of chalkboard paint to the surface. "Fill the tin with office supplies, kitchen dry goods or bathroom toiletries," she says. Write on it with chalk for an easy, creative way to label the contents inside.

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Practical Antique

A piece of old, unused furniture can become functional again with a little creativity. This Hoosier cupboard, popular in the early 20th century, was sitting in a woodshop for years. With some refinishing and paint, Janell Beals turned it into a practical home office desk. The crisp white cupboard against the black walls makes it the focal point of the room. The cupboard drawers allow for an abundance of storage space, and the size of the cupboard provides plenty of room for office equipment. "The piece not only adds to the design of the room but holds great memories as well," she says. Hang framed memorabilia to add to the timeworn look.

 

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No Damage Here

Damaged furniture doesn't have to be thrown away. Marian Parsons suggests hiding imperfections on furniture with decoupage. She used aged sheets of music to hide imperfections on this neglected dresser, while also giving the all-white bedroom a shabby chic look. Other items great for decoupaging furniture are maps, book pages, letters and postcards. "The treatment will hide gouges, water marks, missing veneer and other signs of abuse on furniture," she says. Decoupaging furniture will also add dimension and distinct style to a room.

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Headboard Rack

A vintage headboard is given new life as a hanging rack. Donna painted the headboard white and attached a rack with hooks, transforming the headboard into a towel or coat rack for guests. "Random house numbers are fun additions that add some graphic interest," she says. The rack is also a great place to hang keys and other everyday items.

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Bright, Bold Focal Point

Sometimes a fresh coat of paint is all a piece of furniture needs to breathe new life into a space. Melissa Michaels painted this once-dull coffee table into an eye-catching royal blue color. "The unexpected pop of color is a fun contrast to its otherwise traditional lines," she says. The bold color makes the table the focal point in this mostly neutral living room.

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From Tired to Stylish

Even the smallest, most outdated items can be repurposed with a little love. Marian Parsons updated a tired wood frame with decoupage using aluminum foil, antiquing glaze and polyurethane spray. The gold finish gives the framed chalkboard a contemporary, stylish look that works great resting on a dresser or hanging on the wall.

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Wallpaper Table

Turn to unexpected materials to freshen up old furniture. Will Taylor of Bright Bazaar used scraps of old wallpaper samples and some paint to transform this dining table into a work of art. The different patterns and colors make the table a versatile piece of furniture that fits any room and style.

Temple Grandin's Brain Scan Asperger's

Green Smoothie

Drink this daily and watch the pounds come off without fuss. 

The recipe

2  handfuls of baby spinach, 
1 cup of chunk pineapple,
 2 bananas,
 1 cup of yogurt
 1 cup of filtered water.
Blend well and enjoy!

 Thanks to Bunty for this great recipe!

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cups

**No-Bake Peanut Butter Cups**

1 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
6 tablespoons butter (melted)
6 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/3 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup milk chocolate chips (melted)

Directions:
1. Mix together - Peanut butter, melted butter, brown sugar.
2. Stir in - Powdered Sugar & vanilla.
3. Melt Chocolate chips in double broiler or microwave.
4. Line up muffin pans with paper baking cups inside.
5. With a rubber spatula, drip some chocolate on the bottom of all the baking cups, then layer with peanut butter mixer, then add more chocolate on top. No thicker than 3/4" each.
6. Let cool in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to harden.
7. Peel paper and enjoy!

Lemon Loaf

Starbucks Lemon loaf

1 1/2 cup(s) FLOUR
1/2 teaspoon(s) BAKING SODA
1/2 teaspoon(s) BAKING POWDER
1/2 teaspoon(s) SALT
3 EGGS
1 cup(s) SUGAR
2 tablespoon(s) BUTTER; Softened.
1 teaspoon(s) VANILLA
1 teaspoon(s) LEMON EXTRACT
1/3 cup(s) LEMON JUICE
1/2 cup(s) OIL

LEMON ICING
1 cup(s) POWDERED SUGAR; Plus 1 Tablespoon.
2 tablespoon(s) WHOLE MILK; I Used 2%.
1/2 teaspoon(s) LEMON EXTRACT

Instructions
Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
Use a mixer to blend together the eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla, lemon extract and lemon juice in a medium bowl.
Pour wet ingredient into the dry ingredients and blend until smooth.
Add oil and mix well.
Pour batter into a well greased 9x5-inch loaf pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until a toothpick stuck into center of the cake comes out clean.
Make the lemon icing by combining all the icing ingredients in a small bowl with an electric mixer on low speed.
When the loaf is cool, remove it from pan and frost the top with the icing.
Let the icing set up before slicing.
FROM: teamskinny01 on FB.

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