Functional and Fabulous with Aby + giveaway!

I’m beyond over the moon excited today to have Professional Organizer, Aby Garvey guest posting.  Keep reading and you’ll quickly see why!

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Hi Org Junkie blog readers! I’m Aby from Simplify 101 and I’m so excited to be guest blogging today! I’m happy to share with you a little taste of simplify 101 and the idea of creative organizing-something I hold near and dear to my heart.

We all know how great an organized space can feel, right? But with a small dose of creativity you can take an organized space from functional to fabulous! Infusing your organizing projects with creativity ensures you’ll love the results even more, which means you’re much more likely to keep your organized space organized. And best of all-adding creativity to your projects is super simple to do and lots of fun, too!

Speaking of fun, that’s something else we believe in at simplify 101. Getting organized is fun in and of itself, but it’s even more fun to get organized in the company of friends. I’ve created a series of online workshops with these ideas in mind…creative organizing solutions, having fun, getting things done, all while sharing the journey with a supportive and inspiring community. Sound fun to you, too? You can learn more about my workshops here.

Today I’m going to share a simple project that will help you organize some paper clutter using a few basic craft supplies. Organizing paper clutter happens to be the topic of my upcoming online workshop, by the way, and in each workshop I share ideas for organizing your space so it is functional and works well for you, but also so you love how it looks. This decoupage technique is one I’ve used to add a splash of creativity to all sorts of organizing projects in my home-from clipboards to drawers to the magnets I’m sharing today. So once you master the technique, you can add a creative touch to all sorts of organizing projects around your home.

Here’s the project:

The initial magnets on these chalk boards started out as plain wooden letters from Michael’s. Using a few basic craft supplies, I’ve dressed them up and turned them into a functional message board for my family. Each family member has their own magnet board, denoted by their initial. This new addition to our family command center is designed to make it easier (and more fun!) to keep track of household chores and to-dos.

Here’s how to make your own…

1. Collect your supplies. For this project you need a magnetic chalk board, wooden letters, craft glue stick, patterned scrapbook paper, a craft knife and cutting mat, a foam sanding block or an Emory board, magnets, a strong adhesive, a clamp, decoupage and a foam brush.

2. Glue patterned paper to wooden letters. Using the craft glue stick, adhere your patterned scrapbook paper to your wooden letters. Make sure to completely cover the tops of the wooden letters, and then, rub firmly with your hands to ensure adequate adhesion.

3. Cut letters out using craft knife. Turn the letters face down onto your cutting mat, and trim the excess patterned paper away the edges of your wooden letters.

4. Sand edges for a worn look. Using your sanding block and / or Emory board, sand the edges of the patterned paper on your letters. This will give the edges of your letters a weathered look, and will also help smooth out any rough edges caused while cutting with your craft knife. (If you have some tight spots in your letters, such as the center, cut your Emory board into skinnier sections using scissors.)

5. Glue magnets to your letters. Next, glue a magnet (or two) to the back of your wooden letters using your strong adhesive. I used some super-strong magnets, which require super-strong glue (so the magnet doesn’t fall off the letter when you remove it from the magnet board.) Follow your glue manufacturer’s instructions, and once your glue is dry move onto step 6.

6. Apply decoupage to the top of your patterned paper. I like the matte finish decoupage-it protects the surface of your paper and gives it a nice but not too glossy finish. Now, the trick with decoupage is to use super thin coats. If you use too much decoupage your paper can get too wet and may wrinkle or bubble-up. Trust me this isn’t the look you’re going for. ;) So go really, really thin with the decoupage, like such a thin coat you can barely see it. Then, let the decoupage dry for 15 to 20 minutes and then add a second coat.

7. Set up and use your magnet board. All that’s left to do now is hang up your magnet board and start using your family message center!

I hope you enjoyed this creative organizing project!

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Now time for the giveaway!  Aby is offering a free seat in her upcoming Organize Your Paper Clutter workshop that begins on July 14th and ends September 1st.  You’ll receive class materials in all sorts of formats (including audio), ongoing support from Aby herself as well as worksheets and projects to inspire you into action.  For a sneak peek into how Aby’s workshops run, please watch this quick video.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY