Tool Time Tuesday...Electrical Switch Plate Organizing

Switch it up with switch plates that is! Switch plates are the covers that you put on electrical outlets or light switches. They also come in "Blanks". They are the solid plates that you might use to cover the electrical boxes that aren't being used any more.

Well, look at these in what else...galvanized metal. However, they do come in white, black, off white and so many other kinds from metals to plastics.


and these were on sale too!!



Ok, can you hear my mind ticking away. Here we go...

This is a very old wooden box that came from my grandfather's woodworking shop. My dad had them and now they're mine. I left the finish just the way it was so many years ago.

I placed the switch plate on the front of the box and centered it.

Mark the screw holes for drilling.

Don't you love all the dinks in the box...I never met my grandfather. He passed away before I was born, so it's nice to have something of his.

Now it's time for my favorite tool!

Drill the 2 holes from the pencil marks.

Here are the 2 screws that come with the switch plate (flat tips). They worked fine for this box, but if you have trouble with another surface, you might want to use...

pointy (technical term) wood screws.

Now just screw the plate to the front of the box.

and here you have it all finished. See below for different ways to use them.

You could put your favorite herbs in the box and label the switch plate.

Look who helped me do the labeling...our old friend Mr. Dry Eraser. It rubs right off the switch plate when you want to change the contents of the container you have.

How about all my quilting friends out there!!! I know you have fat quarters, scraps, squares or strips that need organizing.

Remember the "Crap Baskets" on my stairs? Well, instead of the name badge holder for the names how about a switch plate!!

I used the dry erase pen here again just as an example, but you could paint the names on or use a stencil or vinyl lettering or even a picture of the person Mod Podged on!

How about in the mud room over each person's coat hook.

and last, but not least, on the front of a fabric covered box. I used the same method as the wooden box. Mark the holes, but I just used a pointy awl to pierce the fabric and the cardboard box. I screwed in the flat screw and it stayed, but you could use a little nut to secure it on the back.

I think I might find some nice lettering in the scrap booking section to label these for my recipes. Not sure yet what to put in there.

The top row is more covered boxes with the pipe straps that I used on another post. Missing 2 though off to the right! Off to Home Depot I guess!

The bottom row are the photo boxes that I painted black. They actually have photos in them. Now the only issue I have with them is the brassy gold label plate...they don't match the galvanized plates above. Never fear though, I see paint in their future.

So ladies, onto the electrical department and "switch" it up a little.

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Don't forget to look back at other fun Tool Time Tuesday ideas here.

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I'm linking this post to Just A Girl...Show and Share Day. Go take a peek for some unbelievable ideas.

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I'm also linking to CSI's Hardware Store Challenge...You have to make something from a hardware store! I know...hardware is my middle name. I've been doing hardware posts for over a year now!! This is perfect for me. I should have their blog button here, but I am inept at adding that to a post, so I put it in my side bar. I hope that's ok!

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Happy Tuesday,

~Karen~

Sharing on Sunday Give Away...

Edit...This give away is now closed, but see the current give away from the link in my side bar.

Remember after the last button give away, I wanted to start a "Sharing on Sunday" Give Away. Each Sunday I will be giving away something small, something I found on sale, something I have but don't use any more and want to share with someone who will use it...just about anything. Sharing on Sunday is my way of saying Thanks to everyone for all your wonderful comments, support, friendship and for all the little gifties that I have received.

Well, here is today's Sharing on Sunday give away. It's a large vinyl tote bag that I found on sale. Isn't she CUTE!!




It has a very large zippered opening with a wide flat bottom.



It's very wide and deep, so it's great for the beach, grocery shopping, a diaper bag, a super big purse, picnics...what ever you'd like!

It's 20" wide and...

15" tall...

So, how does Sharing on Sunday work? It's easy! Just leave a comment on this post and I will pick the winner next Sunday. On that same day, I will post another little item for the next Sharing on Sunday. I will ship international, except if it's a super heavy item, Lol. I'll try to keep them light though, so everyone has a chance!!

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I just keep thinking of all the good things that have happened in my life and want to share a little bit with you.

Have a wonderful day,

~Karen~

Yahtzee Anyone? Lazy Susan Remake

Games...high tech or low tech they are popular around our house. Our girls have lap tops, ipod touches, ipods, wii and all the latest what nots, but once in a while they still go back to the basics. Yahtzee is big at our house right now. Our daughter Courtney and her boyfriend Courtland have matches all the time. We came home from Kelsie's last dance recital today (pictures later) to find the 2 Courts on the porch playing Yahtzee. Then they asked us if we wanted to play...lots of fun and Courtney won with 280 points! I wanted to share something I made for them.

When they would play on the table, they thought it was too noisy and would roll the dice on a magazine. Here's what I came up with.

I took a wooden round tray, some fabric and Mod Podge glue. I used a round tray, because the table we have it on is round so it looks cute. However, any tray would work.




Cut the fabric to fit your tray. Brush a layer of Mod Podge glue on the tray and then place the fabric on that. Once you have the fabric positioned, brush on another layer of Mod Podge.




The glue is milky white until it dries.




I added an antique box for the score cards and pens, a matching mug instead of the plastic cup it came with and cute wooden dice.

and look...I rolled a Yahtzee!!! (yeah, right)

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Here it is on the game table. I gave them each their own mug and 2 different sets of dice. You could definitely customize to your own with fabrics and colors.

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Now go through some old board games and steal 5 dice or look in that junk drawer, they've got to be in there! Go to the computer, print free Yahtzee score cards and have fun with your new homemade Yahtzee set!!

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Have fun,

~Karen~

Snowball Night Update...Add A Nine Patch

First, I would like to thank everyone who is joining in on the Snowball Night. It's going to be so much fun looking at all the different blocks throughout the week. I am compiling a list of all the ladies who are joining in. If you would rather not have your name on the list just let me know. I also wanted to mention to Jenn who asked "do you need a blog to join in"...you sure don't!! We would love to have you join us. I couldn't answer you in an email, because it was a no reply. If you want to share your pictures, you could email them to me and I'll post them for you!

Secondly, I have a great big Thank You to my new blogging friend Elizabeth from Such A Sew and Sew. Do you know she made me a code for my snowball button out of the goodness of her heart. Can you see it...top right of my side bar. I was just blown away by her thoughtfulness. She took the time out of her day to make my button a little easier to grab. You are a peach Elizabeth and I can't thank you enough. Go for a visit to her blog and give her some blogging love. She has great quilts, tutorials and yummy recipes.

As you're busy sewing your snowball blocks, maybe you could consider adding a nine patch to your design.

The only issue with using a nine patch with your snowball block is that the math would be a whole lot easier if the snowball you are making was a size divisible by 3...like a 6", 9" or a 12" snowball.

Here is a quick look at a snowball nine patch with a 6 1/2" (unfinished) block.

You will need 2 1/2" squares for the corners of the snowball and for all the squares in the nine patch.

Make your snowball with the tutorial from the first post.

Now make your nine patch. I used alternating white patches for this design. I will have another post with a nine patch with all colored squares for a different look.

When you are done with all the blocks, take 5 snowballs and 4 nine patches and now you will build a bigger nine patch.

Sew the 3 blocks across in all 3 rows...



Then sew the first row to the second....

then the third row to the second row. Now you have a big snowball nine patch block that measures 18 1/2" x 18 1/2". Keep making these along the way and all you do is sew these big blocks together for a larger quilt. This is much more manageable than sewing all the smaller blocks together row after row.

Here are some old pictures of quilt tops I made years ago. In the picture below, the snowballs are made with adorable sheep fabric with black and white polka dots for the 4 corners. The nine patch is made with 5 squares of the black polka dots and 4 squares of blue back ground fabric.

The way the fabric is positioned, the black fabric looks great around the snowballs!

Here's another old one. I made the nine patches with half square triangles in the 4 corners. Great look from far away.

Here's a close up.

Look for more posts to come, but in the mean time you can always google snowball nine patch quilt and click on google images. There are thousands of inspirational pictures.

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Hope you're having fun sewing!

~Karen~

LAURA ACUÑA SE CASA ENAMORADA

La hermosa y muy talentosa presentadora de farándula del canal RCN, Laura Acuña y el empresario Rodrigo Kling estan preparando los últimos detalles para su matrimonio, que se realizaría a finales de este mes en Miami.

Según rumores del medio, Laura Acuña está tramitando los permisos de trabajo para poder disfrutar de su luna de miel junto a su nuevo esposo.
.La boda será una ceremonia civil que se realizara el próximo 29 de mayo en la ciudad de Miami.
La pareja también planea una celebración en Bogotá, a la que estaran invitados los amigos más cercanos a la pareja.
Se tratara de una fiesta en un exclusivo restaurante ubicado a las afueras de la capital colombiana.
Laura Acuña y Rodrigo Kling iniciaron su relación a principios del año 2009, tan solo unos meses después de que la presentadora terminara su controversial noviazgo con el productor musical Jose Gaviria.
Desde este pequeño rincon de la farandula le deseamos la mejor de las suertes y toda la felicidad que la vida le pueda brindar a tan hermosa colombiana .¡SALUD POR TI LAURA!