Playroom shelf labels

Oh, what? I found a project on Pinterest? Weird.

I wanted to use this binder clip idea for organization in Ellie's playroom:

Since I've set up rotation bins on Ellie's toys, my idea was to laminate labels and then Velcro them to the binder clips, so I could swap out tags as the toys rotate. The tags had both a photo of the toy and the word, to let Ellie be able to match the item and the picture, and be exposed to some language.

However, they were too tall, and every time I pulled a bin off the shelf, it would flip the tag off. Ellie also quickly discovered she could pull the tags off and run around with them.

Here was attempt #1:

You can see the problem, right?

So I made a few changes and came up with this:

I mod-podged (what is the past tense of that??) fabric onto the binder clips (another parenthetical note, this may not have been the best option; it worked but it is STIFF and hard to open those clips!). I made the labels a quarter of page and laminated them, then secured them to the inside of each shelf.

I also decided to use the small labels I originally made on the bins, so we knew what was inside (since you can't see the labels under the bins).

Here's the whole shebang:

I do like the little pop of color that the binder clips add. And how lucky was I that Ikea made a lampshade the EXACT same colors as the bins I got from Target??

Lest you get the wrong idea, by the way, here is the other side of my playroom. Let's be honest -- this what it looks like most of the time. But hey, maybe the organization will help?

EDIT: I've since seen that spray adhesive and the no-fray stuff is supposed to work well to cover binder clips. I'd probably give that a go. The mod podge worked but not perfectly. 

On a more important note, here is Ellie actually USING these labels to put away her toys!

Rotating bookshelves

Yesterday was awful. Like, everything that could have gone wrong pretty much did. So I was in the mood for a GOOD day.

Here was the highlight:

Planting succulents together

I also really wanted to make progress on moving in to our new place, and on some Pinterest projects. So, I (mostly) finished building her rotating bookcase. This was a highlight in the personal productivity department.

Here was my inspiration (from here, found via Pinterest):

Needless to say, I was not going to spend $600 on this. I liked the spinning aspect so that all four sides could be used. But it didn't quite fit my needs. My version is Ellie-sized, extra-wide on the sides (I added chalkboard vinyl to one side; I am going to add cork, felt, mirrors and/or magnetic boards to the other side -- I haven't decided yet), and moves as well as spins. 

Materials:

• Two 3-shelf Closetmaid organizers (I got mine for $20 each at Lowe's)
• 6 6-hole metal plates (about $3 for a pack of 6)
• 3 9-hole metal plates (about $4 for a pack of 6)
• 4 casters. I wanted mine to rotate, roll and lock, so I got 2" swivel casters with locks (about $3 each)
• Screws. I used 36 screws -- 8x7/16" pan-head sheet metal screws (about $1 per bag of 16)

Total cost: $42

How to make it:

1. Assemble Closetmaid shelves per packaged instructions. 
2. Flip both units over (take shelves out first). Line up cardboard backs so both shelf sides face out. 
3. Center a 9-hole plate in the middle of the units, to connect them. I used 4 screws for this plate. FYI, I have an aversion to drilling pilot holes for some reason, so I used Ryan's Makita, because it is freaking amazing and you don't have to predrill.
4. Repeat with two more plates, one on each side, so there are three plates spread across the bottoms of the units to connect them. 
5. Repeat, using two 6-hole plates to connect on each side. I used two screws in each of these plates (so this step is a total of four plates and eight screws).
6. Attach your casters to the corners of the entire unit.
7. Flip the whole thing over. Use two more 6-hole plate on the top. 

The whole thing took around an hour. I was expecting it to take much longer, but it went quite quickly with the Makita. Here's a view of the top. The bottom (which I forgot to get a picture of before I loaded up the shelves) has one additional plate in the middle, and they are the 9-hole plates.

I think I may add molding to finish it a bit, like the inspiration shelf. Otherwise, done and DONE!

Organizing keepsakes

I'll admit it -- I'm a sentimental person. I tend to hoard things of sentimental value and easily chuck those without (side note: I learned early on in my marriage that I need to make sure things aren't sentimental to my husband before I put them in the bag for Goodwill...).

I know I will need to limit myself of what I save of Ellie's, and how I store it. But there were a few things in her first year that I definitely 100% want to save -- her going-home outfit (and the turkey bunting she got at St. Luke's because we went home on Thanksgiving!), her first Christmas dress, the Halloween costume my mom slaved over, the first outfit my grandma made her. But I want Ellie to eventually know about these things too, and not have to ask me what they all were.

I decided to make printed tags for each item with a short explanation of what it was and why it's important and sentimental. Then I got a photo printed of her wearing each thing (or with each thing, like her first birthday photo banner). I safety pinned the tag and photo to the actual item, and I'm keeping them in the cedar chest Ryan and I got as Ellie's first birthday present.

Here's a few of them -- the turkey bunting, the tank dress from my grandma, and her first Easter and Christmas dresses. 

I know I probably won't be able to keep this up for all of the stuff we'll eventually keep for all our kids. But as long as I can, I want to document in this way!