Kitchen Storage Organizing

I have two "closets" in my kitchen area. Once is clearly a pantry, as it is right next to the fridge, has shelves, and well, it is where I keep most of my food. The other closet is in the area that is kinda my kitchen but not. It is probably where most people would put a dining table, but I use the dining room for that, and I really don't need 2 kitchen tables. Plus, a dining table there blocks the doors to go outside, and makes it just too crammed and tight. I instead have a cute setup that has a nice path to outside, which is especially nice for my less that graceful lab when he is coming and going.

Back to the closet though. I don't believe it is a coat closet, because there is a closet around the corner utilizing the under stairs are, and it has a rod, and a shelf, and is closer to the front door. I have been using the closet in the kitchen area as storage for pots and lids and misc crap, and it is MESSY!!! Don't believe me?  Take a look-

See, I told you. Not only is it messy, it is also dangerous to my health. Do you know how many times I have been attacked by a rogue lid? They are glass...and heavy...and I am usually barefoot. Yeah, I think you understand. Since I don't work most of the summer (ahhh, the luxuries of being a preschool teacher) I have decided to complete one organizing task a day, and I am beginning with this one! AND, I got to do a few  little crafty things along the way. I started by clearing out he whole thing and giving it a good scrub down. I actually considered a quick coat of paint, but that just got a little involved for a closet right now.

My first order of business was detaching the shelves, easier said than done. They are 2 sets of 3, and it took me about 10 minutes of pulling and pushing and banging and swearing under my breath before I figured out they SCREWED together.  Then I used a few things I had in my craft hoard stockpile and I was in business.

I screwed the coat rack to the wall. This used to be in my mom's apartment, and then my apartment many, many years ago. It had random holes drilled in it already, so I went with those. That is why they are randomly placed. I normally would try to center them, or hide them somehow.

Now everything has a nice little home and I can find what I need. I have plans to buy a couple more S hooks, as I discovered they hold the lunchboxes extremely well. Oh, and I am going to make a plastic bag holder to hang on the door itself. Let's see how long we can keep it this way.

Watch out pantry...you're next!

I wasn't allowed to do a turtle, So a Seahorse it is

I have a thing for turtles. I have no idea where this came from, but I love all types. So when I went to do this project, I asked my husband for suggestions on the sea life I would use, and he instantly said something to the effect of, "Oh please anything but another turtle." Now, that isn't a direct quote, but that what was what appeared in the little thought bubble above his head. I threw out a couple of beachy animal, sea life type suggestions, and he gave me an ever so helpful, "Yeah, any of those would be cute."


I ended up choosing the seahorse. I think I recently saw something with a seahorse on it, and that has kinda stuck in my head. Then I got to work. Let's start with the awesome find- the wooden sign...or plaque...or whatever you want to call it. I call it awesome since I scored it at Goodwill for 99cents!

I sprayed it with a couple coats of white spray paint. Once it was dry, I made my stencil. I cut out the Seahorse using my Cricut, and the "Life's A Beach" cartridge. I have about 5 other projects lined up this month using the same cartridge. I stenciled the seahorse on and then used a Plum colored acrylic paint and painted him on. After he dried, and yes, I have decided the seahorse is a boy, i took some black paint and just lightly brushed it along the edges and a little across the picture with the grain. Once everything was dry, I sanded the entire thing. This gave the entire thing a great weathered look. I think it turned out pretty darn cute, what do you think?