DIY Ribbon Organizer

World's Best DIY Ribbon Organizer!

As I am packing up my house for yet another move, I was struck by the fact that I am a frickin' genius!  Or at least I found a genius idea when searching online before Pinterest was cool.  Using an actual search.  All by myself!  And I mention this now because this little installation needs to be removed. 

See, I have a lot of ribbon.  Approximately 400 spools of ribbon.  Satin ribbon, organza ribbon, raffia ribbon... It's like Santa's workshop up in here!  And if one is going to use said ribbon, you've got to find a way to organize it, right?  Otherwise you're just a hoarder. 

There are approximately two options on the market for ribbon storage.

1) A stupid design where ribbon spools are threaded on a stick, meaning if you want to use the middle one (which you will), you have to take all the others off to get to it.  Ummm... stupid. 
2) An UBER-EXPENSIVE custom ribbon holder that mounts to the wall, that really is nothing more than a couple shelves glued together.  At first I bought several UBER-EXPENSIVE custom ribbon holders that took care of approximately 1/32nd of the problem.  There's $80 down the drain, and I still looked like a hoarder to my in-laws (probably still do... but for different reasons ;).

Then I found a genius idea that uses plastic gutters to store ribbon!  GENIUS!  They are the perfect size for standard 20-50 yard ribbon spools (or smaller), you can cut them to fit any space you have, and you can easily access any spool of ribbon, no matter where it is located.  Score! 

The original version looked way better.  It was 2 rows of 8ft long organizer (err... gutter) over my desk.  But of course I couldn't find a photo of that. So this wonky version will have to do.

DIY Ribbon Organizer

Why so wonky?  I got impatient and didn't want to wait for Mr. Martini to install it, so I just grabbed a drill and went at it.  Level schmevel.  Eh, it served it's purpose.  

Here's the low-down:
 
Measure your space and/or calculate how many linear feet you will need to accommodate your ribbon hoard. 

Buy that much plastic gutter. 

 Buy as many end caps as you will have rows x's 2. 

Install the gutter by simply drilling screws into the back into the wall.  My wonky version used those metal hanger thingys you see on peg board walls because this particular wall was one of those fancy hollow fake wood paneling walls, and the screws just kept popping out.  ** I recommend using a level, since not using a level can lead to wonkitude (see above).

A couple minutes later you'll have yourself an awesome, inexpensive custom ribbon organizer that is actually user friendly.  Genius!

Got any genius storage ideas of your own?  Share them!  Post me a note or send me an email and I'll be happy to feature your genius ideas too!

Pin-it to the test: DIY Oven Cleaner

 

Okay, so we are all addicted to Pinterest, right?  It is an actual addiction.  And for those of you who haven't discovered the women's Wikipedia of DIY projects and decor inspiration, you MUST email me and I will send you an invite.  You simply MUST get on the Pinterest junky train.

That said, if you're like me, you pin like crazy.  You pin things that you love, things that make life simpler, storage ideas, cleaning ideas, DIY projects... the list goes on ad infinitum. But how many times do you actually put those pins to work?  I am going to do a weekly feature (at least weekly) where I will try out one of these fabulous "make life simpler/more beautiful/more convenient" Pinterest finds, and share the results.  Sadly, my first post is a PinterTest FAIL.

A few weeks ago, Grandma Martini and I were talking about how gross our oven doors were, and how no matter what we did we couldn't get those puppies clean.  I thought, "there's got to be a Pinterest solution to that". And Eureka!  There was.  I found a pin linking to DIY Home Sweet Home (a blog I think is fabulous and is on our Monkey Love Link List).  I was particularly drawn to this at-home solution because it was super easy to follow, and used on-hand, green ingredients (i.e. baking soda and water).  Clearly this gal has a magic DIY touch that I just don't have, because her oven looks awesome, and mine looks, well, the same as it did before I tried her method. 

Exhibit A:



Example Oven BEFORE
Courtesy of DIY Home Sweet Home



Example Oven AFTER
Courtesy of DIY Home Sweet Home

Exhibit B:

My Oven BEFORE

My Oven AFTER

 
So, not sure where I went wrong.  I followed the directions, making a paste with some baking soda and water,

Baking soda paste... perhaps too thick?

 

And I left it on for 1 hour (twice as long as her recommended time).  Scoured it off, and was left with shinier grime on my door.  I will say may hands were super soft after the baking soda paste, so even if this isn't my go-to oven cleaner, it will certainly be one of my go-to self-spa treatments.

 

Anyone have an alternative they think is more effective?  I'd love to take on the challenge!  I'll be trying this again with slightly looser paste... maybe it just didn't have the juice it needed the first time.  In any event, I'll be keeping an eye on DIY Home Sweet Home for new tips and tricks to try.  And you should too ;)  



How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies and Gnats Naturally

Gross but effective fruit-fly catcher

 

Gross! So I'm trying to sell my house and the number one thing you DON'T want to see in a house you plan to buy is a swarm of fruit flies hanging out in the kitchen.  My monkeys love bananas (I can't even say it without thinking Gwen Stefani: this shit is bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s).  But that means we are prime targets for these pesky little bastards.

 

Until now!  I found a solution that actually works at getting rid of them. It's cheap and easy, and it works outdoors if you have potted plants and the gnats that may sometimes swarm them too.

 

Small bowl or Ramekin

Apple Cider Vinegar

Dish Soap

A Splash of Water

 

Add vinegar and about a 1/2tsp of dish soap to your vessel.  put a splash of water in to create bubbles.

 

The little rat bellies are attracted to the vinegar and then get stuck and drown when they try to hop on the bubbles to drink up.  Change it every day or so and you will soon have a gnat-free kitchen.

 

Who Knew?