Tuesday, August 17, 2010

IHP August DT Challenge – Get Organized!

This month the i {heart} papers Design Team was challenged to create or alter something organizational. As crafters, we all have lots ofDTaugust-stuff I know my table (where normal people would eat, but I craft) is overrun with it. However, my bedroom is also full of stuff. My desk (with my computer) is in there, and my bedside table is always overflowing with books and, well, stuff!

Long ago, in a galaxy far away – oh, wait – different story. Anyway, several years ago I bought a wooden desk organizer at Ikea and have had it on my desk holding various forms of, ummm, stuff. It was a nice, finished wood piece, but I always meant to decorate it. Never did. You know how that goes. Well, now was my chance! I looked through my 12x12 paper collections (this thing is big!) and found the BG Wisteria Collection Pack that I had bought when it first came out. The colors spoke to me. And I realized that they spoke to me because they were the SAME COLORS as my bedroom! And this is what that desk organizer looks like now:

DTaugust-boxForgive the creative Photoshop treatment. The sucker was too big to really fit in my light tent.

I only covered the 4 outer sides. It seemed a waste of time, energy and paper to try to line the insides, which wouldn’t be seen much anyway. The two sides have the same large-scale print, and the back has a different coordinating paper from the collection. You’ll have to trust me on that. I used Royal Coat clear decoupage finish to adhere the paper to the box. I like it much better than Mod Podge. I had to patch the paper on the front and back, because the thing is about 13” wide. That’s kinda why I used the striped paper on the front – makes it harder to see the seam.

But I couldn’t just stop there. I also have a (huge and DTaugust-cupsgrowing) collection of Crystal Light containers of all shapes and sizes that I’ve been saving for some kind of organizational purpose. Or something. They begged to be covered with more of this yummy paper. Et voilá! (or is it voilà? – I’m accent-challenged)

These are 2 containers, the newer oval kind, covered and attached to each other with i {heart} papers’ very own i {stick} papers redline tape. Worked like a charm! I trimmed the shorter one in the front a bit so I could grab my reading glasses out of it more easily. When you’re “of a certain age,” you find yourself with multiple pairs of these drugstore beauties strategically placed (lost) all over your house. At least I’ll be able to find one pair!

You’ll see that not only did I make use of many of the papers in the collection, but I also used some of the adhesive embellishments (um, stickers) from the pack; the plaque and letters on the box are from the collection. So is the circle border piece on the larger cup. The cute little bee on the shorter cup has some Stardust Stickles on its wings.

I had a lot of fun with this! Hope it gives you some ideas. Oh, and Kate still has (as of the moment of this writing) 2 of the Wisteria Collection Packs in the store. Just sayin’.

Now go check out what the rest of the Design Team did with this challenge:

Cathleen
Deb
Gretchen
Kendra
Loretta
Lori
Lynn
Megan
Tracy
Kate

Enjoy!

CMsignature

11 comments:

Kendra said...

OMW ~ how pretty is that!?!? Great job Carolyn!

Deb said...

These are GORGEOUS Carolyn! What a great idea! Your comment about the glasses made me laugh! Since mine are for near AND far, they're always on my face, but it is the dh who has a pair in every corner, never where he needs 'em. Maybe I should CASE this!

i {heart} papers said...

Oh!! I love this! Such a clever use of the Crystal Lite containers!!

Gretchen said...

OMGosh Carolyn! This is just awesome! I love that paper and what you did with the drink containers! Just fabulous!

LorettaL said...

Your set is wonderful, Carolyn. Using those Crystal Light containers is BRILLIANT!!!

Megan said...

Perfect altered projects! I love those purple file folders--another perfect way to make organizing stylish!

Cathleen said...

How creative and clever are you! Love the fab colors and papers...what a great way to organize!

Anonymous said...

Carolyn,

This is the first time I've been to your blog--came from Tracy's. I have that same exact ikea organizer near my desk at school. I LOVE your brilliant idea--it looks great! I may try to do the same thing this weekend. Thanks for the idea and the info on what you used to adhere it; I'll look for some tonight. --Elena

Lynn Mercurio said...

What a fantastic desk organizer. You altered it in the most amazing way. Love those papers! You really rocked this challenge!

Lori said...

This is fabulous, Carolyn! The papers look beautiful on the desk organizer and I love your creative use (or re-use) of the Crystal Light containers.

whoistracy said...

These are gorgeous! I cannot believe the second photo is of crystal light containers!!! What a great idea.