Tool Time Tuesday...Take Out

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Take Out...Woo Hoo that means food!

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Do you remember this post...the framed magnetic board? If you haven't seen this one yet, it's a good one. Don't forget...don't buy "sheet metal", it's very expensive. Go to the roofing chimney section in the hardware store for this. It about $5.00 - $7.00 a sheet vs $40.00 and up.


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In that post, I had to cut the 24" x 36" sheet to fit the frame...
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and the piece I am cutting off on the left side below is what I had remaining. It is 4" x 24", so that's what I'm using in this week's TTT. You can definitely use any size piece of metal to fit your needs.


Well, here's where the title of "Take Out" comes in. I save way too much crap...because I am now a Tool Time Tuesday addict, lol. Nothing is out of bounds for a post and it doesn't even have to be from a hardware store. These little puppies below are take out cups from restaurants.
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Yes, I washed them and saved them. I know...I need to be medicated, but look at the potential in them and they are free. Well, you paid for them when you bought the food, but they are free, because normal people throw them away and I (and now you) keep them.
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The large size had duck sauce and the medium had hot mustard, both from Chinese take out. The tiny ones are from McDonald's for the ketchup...don't forget the covers!!



For this project you will also need little magnets found in any craft store.



Here are a few close ups of the sizes of the containers.

The first and only step for the cups is to hot glue the magnet dots onto the bottom of each take out cup. Done!

The next part is to get the magnetic board ready. If you have already made the larger framed piece, you can use the cups with that. You can also cut the metal into different sizes to fit an 8" x 10" frame or an 11" x 14" frame if you want to keep it by your craft area or desk.

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These next few steps are if you are using the scrap pieces or if you are not using it in a frame. The metal can be flimsy and curls up on the ends, so it needs a backing.

Well, how about these little freebies from the paint section. These are paint sticks. Remember this post when I used them in another TTT.

Mark one of them for a hole where the nail will go into if you are hanging it on the wall.

Here's the drilled hole.

You will need to glue the wooden sticks to the back of the metal...hot glue doesn't work on metal, it pops off. I used this and boy does it work. It just takes a while to dry. Any glue for metal will work, just follow the directions on the box.

This is the back after the glue had dried. That stuff spreads out, so if you want the back to look neat, don't put too much.

That's what it looks like dried. Looks gross, but who's going to see it.

It takes a lot of pictures just to say...glue magnets to the back of the cups and glue sticks to the back of the metal, but that's a tutorial for ya!!
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Now the fun part. You can fill those little cups up with anything. How about all your embellishments...beads, buttons and yes those are eye balls. You'll see those in tomorrow's post.

Just hang your metal on the wall and stick the little magnetic cups on. That edge of the metal looks rough from where I cut it, but I sanded it down.

You can also fill it with office supplies...

and use it over your desk.

See it under the frame?

Too cute!!

Easy to grab and find things. The covers are clear so you can see what's inside.

Because I mounted this horizontally and I forgot to put 2 holes in the sticks for the nails, I used my favorite mounting stickers from the 3M Command hooks.

Other places and things to put in the cups:

• inside a kitchen cabinet to hold spices
• use a cookie sheet for the metal and it can sit on your counter on a plate stand and the cups can hold cake decorating sprinkles and colored sugars or spices again
• they can hold all the different sizes of safety pins
• all the different presser feet for your sewing machine
• scrap booking doo dads (this one is for you Sarah B.)
• earrings, rings
• how about stick them to your refrigerator...great for spices again or great for your child's lunch money for school or a little snack cup of M&M's as a reward for a good deed. Just keep them on the refrigerator and they are ready to grab.
• stick them to your file cabinets at work
• how about in your husband's work shop to hold screws and nails
• and the list could go on and on to fit your own needs

Just remember to think outside the box.

One more tip...if you are putting in something heavy, remember to purchase stronger magnets or the weight in the cup will just pull it off the metal.

Have a great Tuesday and stop back tomorrow...I have a couple TTT updates from some previous posts.

~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Recycled Cereal Box Magazine Holder

Hello All...a whole week between posts...not good. I am getting a lot done though. My sister is determined to get a sewing room together for me and she is here almost everyday to help. We are painting and moving furniture and rebuilding furniture to make it all work. Hopefully I will have a post of the finished room soon.
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In the mean time, I am making these organizers for my new room. I have figured out that our household uses certain things all the time. The girls drink bottled water by the case, so I save the card board box it comes in. My husband likes the 4 C drink mix, so I save the tube shaped container that it comes in and we also eat a lot of cereal (but ironically not for breakfast). They eat it for an after school snack, for a quick snack before a dance class or a treat at night. We all have our favorites...Frosted Flakes is hubby's. So this week's TTT is to recycle these cereal boxes. I think these are probably out there in some tutorial, but thought I would share anyway.


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Tool Time Tuesday...Zipper Bow

How many of you have a box or a bag of zippers some where in your sewing/craft room? You know those zippers from your mom, grandma or Great Aunt Mable ( I can say that, because I did have a Great Aunt Mable). Well, I have that box too. Don't get me wrong...I love zippers, but you can't sew a zipper in a quilt, so I won't be using a zipper any time soon. Plus, after this weekend's fiasco of sewing Kelsie's Halloween costume...I'm officially DONE with zippers...except for the way I used the zipper below. Now I love zippers again.
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I think I mentioned before that Kelsie is going as Belle from Beauty and The Beast to her Senior Halloween party. She wants a short party dress rather than the full length ball gown. For some reason making this dress was like a Halloween nightmare in itself. It's not like I haven't sewn clothes before. I did it all the time...just not lately. It's like riding a bike right? WRONG!
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Here's a list:

• yellow satin frays like there is no tomorrow (right through a stitched seam) It disappeared right before my eyes into a pile of threads
• try not to sew the front skirt into the zipper in the back it will leave a mark!
• careful when you are snipping threads...try not to snip a triangular hole in the front of the skirt.
• trying to hem a satin skirt that is fraying is like trying to hem the hair on your head
• and sewing over a metal zipper will break your needle

Thankfully, I have Kelsie's comforting words of wisdom..."Mom, it's only a costume it doesn't have to be perfect". I love her!!
If I'm brave enough next week, I'll take a picture of her in full costume...maybe.
Now onto a very fast Tool Time Tuesday:
Take a zipper...
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open it...
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and make a bow for that special someone who likes to sew.
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This was a little fat quarter gifty. I didn't have a ribbon to match the fabric, so this zipper was just perfect.

It's like a 2 for 1. It's a bow and then she can use the zipper after. Plus you're going green, so that's a 3 for 1.

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Hope you like this one...I'm going to "zip" off to bed now.

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Have a great Tuesday,

~Karen~

Recycling Candles...

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I have completely pulled the whole basement apart and the garage (our basement walks out to the garage) My sewing room is in half of the basement and there is stuff everywhere. The garage is finished and there is a light at the end of the tunnel (although faint) for my sewing room.
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So since there is no sewing going on right now, I thought I would share with you something I put together earlier.
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I love candles and Yankee candles are wonderful. I usually receive the big jars as gifts from my sister. They are $25.00 and I hate spending that much money on a candle. I normally buy the votives or the little tarts.
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My family and I love all scents of fall: cinnamon, pumpkins, apples and all the scents of Christmas too.


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However, I hate when this happens...look at all that wasted wax. The picture doesn't show it well, but it is thick on all sides and on the bottom.
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and this...

and this...the wick burns out and won't relight before the whole candle is used up.

So here's what I do. Place jar in the freezer for 15-20 minutes. Then take a pointy knife and break up all the wax in the jar. Be careful not to hurt yourself or press too hard that you'll break the jar. If frozen or chilled it should pop right out.

Chopped up the pieces so they will fit out of the top of the jar.

Now, you will need a tart burner, which is the kind where you place a votive inside and melt the tarts on top.

Place your broken pieces on the top of your votive burner. Not too much at first until you see how it melts. You don't want it to over flow. Maybe put it on a tray at first.

Now, you are good to go again with the heavenly scents of fall.

Just take the extra pieces, store in a sealed bag and label the scent.

Have a great Sunday everyone and I'll be back with an update for all my I Spy swappers. I'm starting to get packages in..woo hoo!!!. I also have a final list of swappers as of yesterday.

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Talk to you soon,

~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Recyled Trash For Organizing!!

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I know Tool Time originated in the hardware store, but I've moved to the trash again. It actually starts in the grocery store, so keep your minds open when you're food shopping too.
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These few items below look like we aren't healthy eaters. We do eat our veggies, but hubby has a sweet tooth. He works out daily and has the lowest cholesterol levels ever, so he loves his cake or cookie at night. I, however, am a different story. If you read one of my posts yesterday, I mentioned that I had a bad day of eating Saturday. I love chips and salty things, but I had myself a few Pecan Sandies this weekend (by the way, I found out today why I ate junk food like there was no tomorrow. I guess eating like that once a month isn't too bad. It's a little more than you need to know about me, but we're all friends here right? Am I the only one?) Ok, I digress...sorry about that...
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This is the plastic liner of a package of cookies.
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This is the organized tray for sewing hexagons. Great to keep right next to your comfy chair. Also great for hand sewing or embroidery. Will hold all your threads, embroidery floss and scissors.
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This is the box the mini cupcakes come in.
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Hubby and Kelsie said they were delicious.

I think these are delicious.

This tray snaps closed, so it's great for traveling to a friends house to sew, when taking a class or going to a retreat. The large cupcake or muffin trays are great for hexies too.

This next one is a drink container from one of those quick stop stores. The domed top has a big hole on the top for the straw.

Take your favorite skein of yarn and knitting needles. These are some things I found of my mom's. I don't know much about knitting, I just picked those needles, because they matched the cup and purple was her favorite color.

Look how cute this is. Great to keep the yarn clean and easy to carry any where...especially in the car in the cup holder.

See the yarn...it pulls out of the hole in the top. I thought of my friend Dawn when I did this one. Go visit her and tell her I said hi, she creates such amazing things. I really need to learn how to knit or crochet.

Ok, ladies, take a trip through the bakery aisle. These little plastic containers come in so many different sizes. Remember think outside the "box". The best part though, is eating your way through the "box".
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Have a great Tuesday.

~Karen~