Guest Blogger - Organize and Decorate Everything - Kitchen Cup Organizer

Hi, I'm Leanne at

Organize and Decorate Everything.

I was so excited when Michelle asked me to guest post at Someday Crafts. I read this blog daily and love all the great ideas I get that are filling up my "favorites" box. Now I just need to find the time to work on some of them.

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As you can tell from the name of my blog, I really enjoy organizing and decorating. I believe they can go hand in hand and I try to keep an organized home that is appealing to look at too. I think I've always been organized, but having 8 kids made it a priority for me (I only have 4 living at home now).

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I also enjoy crafts, DIY projects, gardening, sewing, baking (not so much, cooking) and I love spray paint. I also try to do everything on a thrifty budget. Hubby has been out of work for 6 weeks now (not like I'm counting everyday) so "thrifty" is my motto right now.
Here are a few of the projects I've done in the past.

I love my Family Letter Wall. I actually came up with this idea about a year before I finally started on it. It's one of my favorite things in the house. I've added 3 more letters for my newest grandkids recently.

Clipboards are one of the ways I help my kids stay organized. We've been using them for years. These are their latest ones.

After a few hours, I get frustrated and usually pick them all up and throw them in the sink or load them in the dishwasher. Then the kids get new cups out and the cycle starts all over again.

I fould this tray at Target, on clearance for only $2. 40. It's not a bad looking tray, but I only bought it for it's shape. It's getting painted with Krylon paint for plastics. One of my favorite things to do is change up my Mantel for the holiday or season. I'm sure I do this way too often.

Another love I have is for vinyl, so I'm going to share a project with you using vinyl today. But since I'm being extra thrifty, it's actually shelf liner.
Here is my inspiration for this project. I only have 4 kids at home right now, but most days my kitchen counter looks like this.

Black, of course. If you're new to my blog, black is my "go to" paint color.

I cut some letters out of shelf liner with my Cricut.

Then some circles and laid them out on the tray to check the placemet.

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I don't measure everything precisely. I eyeball a lot of things. I started in the middle and worked out from there trying to space the circles evenly.

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Then I added the initals of our first names. Amanda's is the "M". Amanda goes by Manda and the "A" was already taken by Ammon. I really have a thing for black and white so I love how it turned out. Now that I have it finished it kind of reminds me of typewriter keys. Don't ya think?

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I placed it on the small counter between the stove and fridge.

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The ice and water dispenser are right on the door of the refrigerator so this was the perfect place for the tray of glasses. Yay, now the drinking cups all have a place of their own and we don't have to guess which one is which.

Organize and Decorate Everything. I would love to have you join me for We're Organized Wednesday link party twice a month. We share some great organizing ideas we each other and there's always a fun giveaway too. Thanks again Michelle for letting me be a guest on your blog. It's been an honor. Hope to see you all soon.

I hope you'll stop by and visit me at

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THANKS, Leanne!!! I absolutely love this idea! How often do I have a kitchen counter that looks like that too!!!!! Every once in a while I get an email asking about a good blog about organization. I refer them to Organize and Decorate Everything. It combines organization, home decor and crafting! Stop by Organize and Decorate Everything to get some amazing ideas! And head over to the organization parties to see even more ideas out there in blogland. You would be smart to follow Organize and Decorate Everything!!!







Linking to Finding Fabulous, Romantic Home -Show and Tell Friday, Miss Mustard Seed -Furniture Feature Friday, Lit and Laundry - Finished For Friday, The Inspired Room, Remodelaholics Anonymous, Poppies At Play - Creative Cats , Crafts In Bloom, Kojo Designs - Friday Fun Finds, Fingerprints on the Fridge - Feature Yourself Friday. The Girl Creative - New Friend Friday, That's So Cuegly - Craft Concoction, Sweet Charli , Just A Girl , Frugal Friday - The Shabby Nest

Handmade Cornucopia

With Thanksgiving near, a cornucopia a perfect deocr item to have in your home. Learn how to make one with I Am An Inspiring Artist.

See how to make a Raffia and Burlap Cornucopia.

Anthro Knock-off Shirt

Everyone seems to love Anthro! Why not make an Anthro shirt for the holidays with Yellow Blackbird? It's darling.

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Make your own Anthropologie knock-off rose shirt.

Picture Frames To Canvases

Turn your dollar store frames into "canvases" on which to display pictures, fabric or other lovelies. Looks great over a bed or a wall like at Rosy Red Buttons.

See how to turn picture frames into canvases.

10-minute Placemat Apron

Here is a quick, easy and inexpensive idea for Thanksgiving or Christmas from Just Another Day in Paradise. Turn an adorable placemat into a hostess apron in just a few minutes!!! Perfect for any kind of gifts!

See the placemat hostess apron .

Round 2 Winners!!!!

Good news! My partner, Amy at Naptime Crafters,

moved on to round three on Crafting With The Stars!!!! Yipee! She painted pillow using paint and freezer paper stencils. Check out the freezer paper stenciled pillows tutorial HERE.



There were some very amazing projects linked up to the last round. See the winners and links to the tutorials at Sew Dang Cute HERE.

Here is the tutorial for the baby cowboy boots she made the prior week.

Seriously, check out the links to the other great tutorial for last weeks winner! They are amazing!

PB Knock-off Mayflower!!!!

What a fun Pottery Barn knock-off! Look at what The Pink Peony of Le Jardin made for a Thankgiving centerpiece! I don't see many Mayflower ideas around and this one rocks!!!

See the Mayflower PB knock-off centerpiece!

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2x4 Turkey!

I knew someone had to come up with a 2x4 turkey!!! AND isn't this one freaking adorable! I'm smitten! Craft Goodies created this cutie!

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See the 2x4 turkey just in time for Thanksgiving!

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Sewing/Craft Rooms Showcase

Welcome to the
Sewing/Craft Room
Categorically Crafting Show

where you can show off your sewing and craft room!

Today's Categorically Crafting show is compiled by Mayya at Sew Chic and Unique! Welcome.

My name is Mayya and i am a sew a holic :) I blog about my adventures in sewing over at Sew Chic and Unique.

I recently painted, decorated & organised my sewing room which i love

That doesn't stop me from looking for sewing room inspiration because i believe that one needs a dedicated "space to CREATE"

Wouldnt we all love to work in a room like this?

Well it belongs to Megan of Crafty Intentions to work in everyday?! I mean look at the BEFORE and AFTER!

Loving Karen of Sew Many Ways sewing studio i mean what is not to love?



Not only is everything organized there is a sewing station, a cutting station, a mailing station yeah i know AWESOME!

But i know that not everyone can dedicate a whole room to sewing and that's ok all you need is a little creativity and imagination just like Laurana did and turned her closet into a sewing sanctuary

Check out Sharlyin of Lovelydesign who also made it work in the closet

Your space can be simply that a space

I love how I like Orange too transformed her teeny weeny space into her sewing space

I hope these room inspire you to create your own space to create

(If you would like to have free advertising for your blog by rounding-up a Categorically Crafting post, email me at somedaycrafts@gmail.com)

Please join your crafty post if, and only if, it corresponds with the category and theme of Sewing/Craft rooms. (If it doesn't fit in this category, please link it up to Whatever Goes Wednesday.) Link up crafts, decor, sewing projects, food, tips, etc, that has to do with SEWING/CRAFT ROOMS. If you have joined a SEWING/CRAFT ROOMS project to a party on my blog before, feel free to add it to this show too! If you have a lot of candy corn projects, please choose your favorites. (Please no more than 4 posts per blog). Link to the specific posts, not to your main blog page.

Let's see what you have created (either recently or in the past)!

You can paste the "Categorically Crafting" button onto your blog post. I would love to see these floating around so more people can post their themed projects. I will leave this linky post open until next CC Show. Keep checking back for more ideas!!!
The next 4 Categorically Crafting Shows are as follows:

Nov. 12 - Turkey

Nov. 19

Check back here to see the rest of the HALLOWEEN ideas from the last CC Show- Amazing!!

Wheat Thanks

This is an adorable display for Thanksgiving and fall! I love wheat like this, but I love it even more with it in bottles labeled with "Thanks" as seen at Thrive!

See this wheat displayed in "Thanks" bottles.

$200 Giveaway!!! OH My Pathetic Window!!! Thank you, Simple Fit!

Read to the bottom to enter the giveaway for free shades from Redi Shade worth over $200.

When we were engaged, my husband and I bought a "fixer-upper" house. That is an understatement. The house is about 95 yrs old and was severely abused when we bought it. After we bought it, we learned the history of it from the neighbors (drugs, SWAT Team, prison, intentional flooding, foreclosure, abuse, molestors, parties, etc.) There has been one owner since the craziness who had made some improvements to it. The house has quite a bit of charm, but there are parts of it that are plain ugly!!!!

As you walk up the stairs, this is what you see - this odd large window. There used to be a door here that went outside to some stairs, but after 85 years of the same stairs, the wood was rotted and dangerous. The prior owners tore the stairs down and installed a large window where the door used to be. This is what it looked like when we bought it. This is what it looked like as of a few days ago (we've yet to remodel this part of the house). Very inviting and lovely!!! (Absolutely not!)

There was a nice lacey topper over a dark green sheet with blinds that weren't long enough for the window. The blinds were screwed on the outside of the trim a few inches from the top. Don't be jealous:) Looking at it, I should be embarrassed to show the world, but I obviously don't care that much!

Here is the lovely window from a different angle! My husband is being goofy!

A while ago, Redi Shade Simple Fit Custom Shades contacted me about testing out some blinds and doing a giveaway. When I learned they would send me a free set of shades, I knew this window needed serious help and intervention.

Not only does the window look decent now, but ordering and installing the shades were way too simple. After measuring, I ordered online and the shades showed up a few days later. While showing my husband the shades, I received a phone call. I came back about two minutes later and he was admiring his installation work. No fair. I wanted to install the shades. I didn't even get pictures of how easy the process was because he did it so quickly!

If you want to watch a 1:30 second video showing how easy it is to install, check out this YouTube video. All you have to do is put the Simple Fit Shade in the window and the little sides pop out against the frame to hold it tightly in place. No screw driver. No frustration!

Can I just say for all of us that the window looks TEN TIMES BETTER with Simple Fit than before?

There are some other really cool things about Simple Fit besides the super simple installation.

1. It doesn't have cords. No choking hazards to kids. Kids can't try to swing from the cords like Tarzan. You just pull the shade down and push it up.
2. It doesn't have the slats!!! My kids are notorious for breaking the slats on normal blinds by looking out them, bending them, and who knows what else kids do. The shade is one continuous piece so there is no little hands in there destroying them!
3. Simple Fit Shades install inside the window. Not on the outside. Most of the shades we have screw into the outside and it is annoying!
4. Simple Fit Shades looks very classy and sophisticated. If I am going to have shades in my home, I would much prefer these nice ones over a cheap look one with slats!
5. I'm wondering if this provides a little better insulation in the winter due to the nature of the shade. Time will tell, but I'm hoping it will.

I am very impressed with Simple Fit! I would like about 20 more shades for my home!

There is good news for you.

Simple Fit is offering a custom shade to one of my lucky readers.

Just pick a window in your house and chances are that Simple Fit will be a great fit for it! The value of the shade is between $99- $220. SCORE!!! You must live in the United States to enter.

GIVEAWAY

Ways to enter (Leave a comment for each entry)

1. Visit REDI SHADE Simple Fit Shades and let me know which shade you would get.

2. Blog, Tweet or Facebook about giveaway.

Winner will be announced next Thursday.

Giveaway Directory #31

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Here is your best chance at FREE stuff on the web!!! Join these giveaways!!!!

If you don't know what this is, the giveaway directory is a place to promote a giveaway on your blog of your "goods" (or even someone else's). Link up the giveaway. If you are looking to win free "stuff," visit the other blogs and enter. It's that easy!!!! Some of these giveaways only have a few entries so your chance of winning is great!

I only leave this link open for 24hrs because giveaways are time sensitive. So if you are going to have a giveaway in the future and want to link it up here, please plan it accordingly:)

What is free on the internet this week! Let's find out!

Give Thanks for these Links!

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Here are some more fabulous ideas from the Whatever Goes Wednesday! Which ones do you like?

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I love this "Give Thanks" window at Mama's Thompson! I would love a window like this!

Ok, there is another adorable advent calendar for Thanksgiving. This one is a turkey from Project Naptime!!!

Look what Marvelously Messy made with that twisted paper I see at the craft store. I never new it could make such a cute Thanksgiving lady.


Every sports fanatic would love this wall art made from sports tickets at Madigan Made. Great idea for your sons, husband and males.

What a fun hair accessory for Thanksgiving! See this turkey hair holder at Life ON The Ridge Side.

See more Whatever Goes Wednesday links!