Clever Bathroom Space Saving Storage Ideas

Bathroom clutter can be a real problem. There never seems to be enough space for all the bottles, tubes and containers that we need for our everyday routines. We found a clever space saving storage idea via the MSN Home Improve and Repair channel.

There are lots of suction cup shelves available, but they aren’t terribly aesthetic and the suction cups typically fail at some point dumping the contents out on the counter (at least mine do).

With a tube of Household GOOP you can glue shelves to mirrors or shower interior to free up space with a permanent stick. GOOP works on most surfaces, so it’s no problem to glue to tile, glass, fiberglass or plastic.  GOOP is also waterproof - handy in the bathroom. Remember the stick is permanent, so check things like whether the door can open all the way with the shelf full of stuff.

Find 19 more do-it-yourself projects that take 20 minutes or less here.

Photo via Flickr by MartinHoward

Repair, Don’t Replace: Ceramic Tile

In well-appointed homes, tile is a popular choice from earthenware tiles in the foyer to porcelain in the bathroom and ceramics in the kitchen. A cracked or broken tile, even when it appears to be nothing more than a hairline, can cause thousands of dollars in water damage. Don’t delay making this repair.

1. Use a hammer and chisel to completely remove the broken tile, taking care not to damage surrounding tile or to break the adhesive seal.
2. Clean out the broken tile completely, including all the old grout and adhesive.
3. Apply new adhesive. You can use tile adhesive, or for simpler application, try Amazing GOOP. GOOP is also a waterproof sealant and at about $5 a tube, can save even more money than specialty adhesives. Be sure to read the directions for the best results with the adhesive you choose.
4. Replace the tile, regrout and leave to dry overnight.
5. A quick clean up in the morning and your tile is as good as new.

Bottom line: A standard four-inch tile, plus the supplies will cost you less than $10.

Photo via Flickr by Abmatic

Happy Holidays from Eclectic Products!

Last Minute Holiday Gift: Gift Card Boxes

This is the last in a series of last minute gift ideas from ’round the Web counting down to the 25th of December. All the projects can be done very quickly and require minimal supplies. Let us know if you do any of these projects. Enjoy!

The ultimate in last minute holiday gifts is the gift card. I have to tell you, I’m a fan of the gift card. I love getting them and I love giving them. You can be pretty creative - choosing the perfect locale for each recipient. From Hello, My Name is Heather, our final Last Minute Holiday Gift is a how-to to create a gift box for a gift card.

Materials List
• 8.5” x 11“ or larger double-sided cardstock
• glue stick
• paper-scoring tool
• Xacto knife
• embellishments of your choice

For the glue, we recommend EcoGlue. It’s eco friendly and has a bit more grab than a glue stick. If you’re going to go to the trouble, might as well make the box last. Heather has a free pattern for these adorable boxes that can be as creative as you want to make them. She also has a beautiful collection of craft papers.

There you have it! Five great last minute gifts from around the internet. From a clever biz card holder, to fun and funky jewelry, to making the ultimate in last minute gifts personal, we hope this series has been helpful. If you do any of these projects, we’d love to see photos.

Last Minute Holiday Gift: Custom Mini-Lights from Tealight Holders

This is the fourth in a series of last minute gift ideas from ’round the Web counting down to the 25th of December. All the projects can be done very quickly and require minimal supplies. Let us know if you do any of these projects. Enjoy!

From DIYAlert.com, using empty tealight holders, this last minute gift could be specifically for the holidays, a bedroom, a patio or just for fun. And homemade means that you can customize based on decor, favorite colors or time of year. Could be a great project to do with your kiddos, just be careful because you are working with metal. As DIYAlert suggests, you might wear gloves to protect your hands.

Supplies:

• One string of mini-lights. White light is nice, because it allows you to see all the
  colors in your finished collars.
• Metal cups from used-up tealights. You’ll need one for every light there is on your
  light string.
• Sharpie marker.
• Scissors. These should not be your expensive scissors, by the way.
• Paper hole punch. You need one that makes a hole at least 3/8” diameter.
  An old-fashioned paper punch will work better than a craft-punch for this project. And your punch should be pretty heavy-duty.
• Glue. Use a glue for non-porous surfaces, like E6000.
• Shiny things, such as glitter, flat-backed gems, beads, sequins, etc.

This is a great recycling project. You could also use EcoGlue in place of E6000. It’s eco-friendly. According to Dollar Store Crafts, JoAnn Fabrics has tea lights - 100 for $5. For all the instructions, visit DIYAlert.

Last Minute Holiday Gift: Fun Costume Jewelry

This is the third in a series of last minute gift ideas from ’round the Web counting down to the 25th of December. All the projects can be done very quickly and require minimal supplies. Let us know if you do any of these projects. Enjoy!

From Swelldesigner (Alexa Westerfield), we bring you a how-to for costume jewelry on the cheap. Super colorful costume jewelry is fun for girls of all ages.

• Jewelry-making pliers
• Earring wires
• Ring blank
• Assorted buttons and other flashy stuff
• Glue (like E6000)

For more info, visit Swelldesigner’s post here.

Last Minute Holiday Gift: Glass Chip Magnets

This is the second in a series of last minute gift ideas from ’round the Web counting down to the 25th of December. All the projects can be done very quickly and require minimal supplies. Let us know if you do any of these projects, we’d love to see your pictures. Enjoy!

Our second last minute gift idea comes from the Big Ass Book of Crafts by our friend Mark Montano (and it’s also our December Craft of the Month).

Glass-Chip Magnets Supply List:

Amazing EcoGlue® Craft adhesive
Amazing E-6000® Craft adhesive
Clip art (sized to glass chips)
Glass chips
Magnetic tape (sized to glass chips)
Flat foam artist’s brush

We got our supplies at Walmart for less than $15.00.

You can get all the instructions via our Web site.

Last Minute Holiday Gift: Playing Card Biz Card Holder

This is the first in a series of last minute gift ideas from ’round the Web counting down to the 25th of December. All the projects can be done very quickly and require minimal supplies. Let us know if you do any of these projects. Enjoy!

From Diane Gilleland at CraftStylish, we bring you a creative biz card holder made with playing cards (or tarot or loteria cards). Diane provides great directions along with a handy pattern. Her glue of choice is E-6000 from Eclectic Products.

Supplies needed:

What you’ll need:

• Downloadable template (see link below)
• Five playing cards (per case)
• A sheet of 65# cardstock
• Metal straightedge
• X-Acto knife and cutting surface
• Bone folder
• Glue stick
• Poly fiberfill
• Five-mil lamination pouch
• 1/8-inch hole punch
• 1mm stretchy beading cord
• Craft glue
• Scissors
• E6000 adhesive
• Masking tape

Get directions for this project at CraftStylish.

Repair, Don’t Replace: Wooden Picture Frame

Custom picture or art framing can be awfully expensive. Wooden frames are elegant, but the joints expand and contract a good deal just from the temperature fluxuation in your house. And that can create loose joints.

If you have a frame that’s coming apart at the seams, a quick repair using Amazing GOOP Wood & Furniture will have it back together in no time.

After a recent move, I found that one of the corners of the wooden frame for a large Cheri Blum print was a bit loose. The print is probably 30” x 40” and with the frame it measures closer to 40” x 50”. The repair is easy enough to make. Here are the instructions:

Supplies:
•    Screwdriver
•    Amazing GOOP Wood & Furniture (about $4)
•    Two clamps ($20 if you need to buy)
•    Famowood wood filler in matching color (about $4)
•    Finishing nails
•    Small hammer

Step 1:
Carefully remove the paper backing and determine how the frame is held together: glue, brads connecting the corners or a spline joint. Most frames are held together with glue and one brad.

Step 2:
Gently separate the corners. Old glue can be chipped away or warmed slightly so it can be pulled apart.  A joint with two brads may require you to cut through them using a small saw and a spline joint may require a screwdriver to loosen.

Be gentle! It’s crucial that you don’t cut any wood away from the frame. Even a seemingly minute adjustment can result in an ill-fit when put back together. Don’t bend the spline – you only want to remove one side of it for repair. Final don’t – don’t leave tool marks on the frame.

Step 3:
Clean the corner you’re repairing. Pry away and remove the nails and any remaining dried glue. Fill the old nail holes on the outside of the frame with Famowood, and allow it to harden.

Step 4:
Put the frame corner back together. Lay the frame flat on the corner of a table to line up the sides.  You can also use a T-Square to ensure you have a sharp right angle. A suggestion: put a “cushion” of thin cardboard or something between clamp and wood so you don’t leave marks on the frame.

Clamp one side of the frame to the table. Apply Amazing GOOP Wood and Furniture to the loose side of the frame. Replace the spline if necessary. Allow the glue to partially cure – between 2 and 10 minutes – before joining the two pieces. Remove any extra adhesive immediately.

Position the two corners until the edges are smooth and consistent. Use your second clamp for the remaining side of the frame to hold the corner tightly. Wait about 30 minutes.

Step 5:
Hammer two finishing nails into the corner – one from each side. Countersink the nails into the wood and fill with Famowood in a matching color. Allow the adhesive to fully cure for at least 24 hours before replacing the picture and hanging up.

The Bottom Line:

Cost for supplies is about $30 if you have to buy everything

Cost of custom framing a 30” x 40” print: estimates range between $300 and $500 for basic framing.

By doing this repair yourself, you’d save at least $250!

Photo via Flickr by trimmer741

Show Off Fall Arts & Crafts With Acorn Magnets

Any preschooler’s mom knows that the collection of arts and crafts to display on the fridge is seemingly never-ending. Create some fun acorn magnets to show off the fall collection. Make & Takes has this quick and easy project:

Acorn Magnets from Make & Takes

The directions say to use a hot glue gun, but you can also use QuickHOLD (no heat and instant grab) - it’s part of our Designer’s Collection Series of craft adhesives.