DIY Jewelry Organizer

I have been itching to organize our accessories ever since we moved in to the new house. We had those dress jewelry organizers gifted to us a few Christmases back. It kind of worked in our old house but we couldn't find a place for it in our new small room. It ended up hanging on a door, hung on the curtain rod. Yep, it wasn't  nice to look at. At all.

I searched the net for some inspiration. My brother used empty frames for his wedding's photo booth last December so I wanted to put that to good use. These were my pegs:

I considered nailing strips of wood to make horizontal panels where I can screw hooks in, or use chicken wire-like material (thicker and used in the kitchen) which we already had at home, but I ended up using scrap cork sheets, left over from multiple bulletin boards we have here in the office. I ended up using the following materials:

- old frame
- old poster (illustration board or card board would do, but I needed something big enough to fit my frame)
- cork sheets
- jute sack (or any fabric you like)
- spray adhesive
- big stapler
- cutter
- pen or pencil
- push pins

First is I need to make a base, something to hold the cork sheets since I'll be putting small pieces together. Also, to make it a bit more sturdy since cork sheets are too thin. I measured the inside of my frame and ended up attaching 2 posters together. I didn't cut these anymore so 3/4 of each poster is attached together, making a stronger (and thicker) backing. I used adhesive spray to glue them together.
 

Then I glued the 2 biggest pieces of scrap cork sheet to my base. It's as simple as measuring the amount of sheet you'll need and cutting off any excess. I used adhesive spray again to glue them. I was so pleased that it holds pretty well.

Since the cork sheet is really thin, I realized that the pins I'll use to hang the accessories will be sticking out at the back so I thought, I'll need something thicker. The remaining cork sheets wouldn't fit to double the thickness of the whole thing, so I decided to just put 3 strips horizontally and those would be the line I'll follow for my pins. I measured the inside of my frame and marked how much material I'll need, cut it using a cutter, and attached it using spray adhesive.

And since I'm using several small pieces of cork, I know I definitely have to cover the whole thing. I used jute sack I already had on hand. I totally covered it making sure I also line the sides of the small horizontal panels to make it nice and neat. Yes, I still used spray adhesive to glue the cloth and cork together. I love this product.

After covering, I inserted it in my frame and stapled them together. I just used an ordinary office stapler and it worked just fine.

And then yay! After this, I couldn't wait to fill it up with our necklaces!

I initially used white push pins but eventually replaced them with clear ones. It's so pretty!!

I just wanted it to be super simple because the necklaces will complete the look. Aaah I'm so happy. I can't believe I created something like this hahaha.

And now a super kilig before and after photo!

I think I mentioned in a past post that I've always wanted to organize and make DIY projects but although I'm able to get the function I need/want, I don't always get pretty results. I am so happy about this project because I think I actually made something pretty and I'm really pleased with it, aaaand I'm really proud of what I did. It's nice that when I walk in a room, I can see something that's really mine. And I think that's what's so addicting about DIY-ing.

Now the challenge is to organize all other accessories like bracelets, watches, and earrings. I'll be juggling room and office organization for now since we recently renovated our office (can't wait to write about that too aaaahhhh) but just the same, I'm sure I'll enjoy every bit of purging, organizing, and DIY-ing along the way!

DIY Venture

I have recently been super inspired to DIY. I think I always wanted to do it since I was little, but growing up, I never had a room to myself so I didn't have a space to play (or mess up) with. While researching for drop/pendant lights for our school cafeteria, I found engineeryourpsace  channel on YouTube for a drum light tutorial and I ended up watching all her videos, DIY-ing her whole apartment. I was totally amazed.

Aside from wanting to DIY, I am also a fairly organized person. I'm the type whose heart leaps when I see boxes, bins, different types of organizers, and everything with dividers. I may not know (yet) how to cook nor bake, but (I think) I am pretty good in cleaning and organizing. At home, when I fight with my mom or siblings, it's usually because I put (or throw) away their things lying around the house. Some people like it when things are in places that are easily accessible, even if it's in an awkward position. But for me, it's most efficient when it has a proper place and you always know where to find it, especially when you need really it.

A usual conversation with my family would go like, "Elda! Saan mo na naman nilagay yung ______ ko? Tinapon mo na noh?" (Elda, where did you put my ____? Did you throw it also?) And I would go like, "Nasa lalagyan kasi. Kaya tingin niyo nawawala kasi di kayo sanay na may lalagyan siya." (It's in its place. You just always think it's lost because you're not used to it having a proper place).

Or they would often ask me where things are and my answer would go like, "Sa drawer ko, naka label na ____________, makikita mo agad." (In my drawer, labeled as __________, you'll easily see it).

The YouTube channel seriously sparked my OC side and I found myself googling "organzing blog" and the heavens opened for me. Stumbling upon IHeartOrganizing was one of the happiest things that happened to me in the past weeks. I seriously spent nights backtracking her posts until I was too sleepy to put my phone down, and wake up with it still on my hand or my pillow (hahaha). I would keep on hitting "previous posts" and several links to more previous posts and the party in my mind and heart wouldn't end. I felt so happy to finally see someone who can put to words what and how I feel about organizing, which a lot of people don't really understand.

Although a bit of a late bloomer, and I although I couldn't always get the "pretty" results, I am still so excited to create things and learn so much which I can use now as a single person, and maybe someday when I make a home for my family.

I was really itching to organize something but I really didn't know where to start. I just found myself doing little things here and there as seen below:

1. Reorganize part of my closet which really needed help - the scarves and belt situation. I used an unused hanging shoe rack to corral my scarves (by color or type hehe) and some fabric I would like to use for future projects.

2. Use a hanger for all my belts. I just looped each belt once and let it hang

3. Go crazy on command hooks to hang all my necklaces inside my closet, plus a bonus for the hair comb (which is always a problem in a room of 3 girls) haha

4. A nail kit organizer made from an old pair of jeans. Our nail kit is just a box filled with all sorts of nail items (not to mention, empty bottles and ultra old, expired even, nail polish), and thank God I was finally able to dispose everything that is of no use.

I just used the bottom part and sewed (it's my first time!!) it to make dividers. Of course, it can't be seen in the pictures, but I did have several booboos in the process (like things I shouldn't have cut, or super ugly areas haha) but I'm so thrilled with the finished product. I used a container for the cotton (which was originally just hanging out with all the other bottles before) and corralled the useable nail polish in a DIY cardboard tray.

My heart is happy and I'm excited for more projects to come! :)