I’ve been in a crafty, re-do, clean, and pitch mode lately. Working on our daughter’s first house, I’ve realized my own house could use a face lift on more than one face.
In the month of June, I discovered I love to caulk. Who knew. I love sealing cracks and holes and craters and anything else a spider can weasel through. I get a little obsessed actually and spend more time on attaining a perfect line than is probably healthy.
But, looky here. Is this a nice line, or what?
I’ve enjoyed caulking so much, my husband bought me my own caulk gun. How sweet was that. It cuts the hole in the tip of the caulk tube, which our old guns don’t do. It’s amazing how little it takes to make me happy.
I’ve also been covering tin cans with decorative duct tape, an idea I saw on Pinterest. I’ve realized that food cans can be used to store various items. (It’s best to cut the lid off the can with the kind of opener that leaves no sharp edges.) This might be an old idea to everyone but me. I don’t get out much.
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I’ve started saving cans and dish soap bottles and Lysol wipes bottles and prescription bottles and yogurt cups to makeover the garage. There are many ways to attach these containers to the wall to hold all kinds of manly odds and ends. My husband’s a little leery about me going into his man cave to organize, but he’s willing to see what I have planned. I promise to respect the testosterone that dominates the garage.
Another project I tackled this week was figuring out how to contain my two pairs of glasses, a few pens, and the remote control when I’m working/vegging in our den.
I was forever asking my family if anyone had seen my glasses, or did they have a pen, or where is the darned remote?
I wanted something to hang over the Lazy-boy recliner arm that could also be reached if I was on the couch. (Once I’m plopped in the den, I don’t like to move.) I had just cut off the legs of my dad’s jeans to convert them into shorts, and I kept imagining I could use a jean leg somehow.
Our daughter rolled up the end of one leg to make a long cuff and suggested we tuck things in the cuff. I took the idea a bit further and came up with this arm chair caddy.
I sewed two vertical lines, dividing the cuff into pockets that could hold all my paraphernalia. (To keep the panel from slipping, I left the denim leg long enough to tuck into the seat cushion on the other side of the chair arm.)
I love that I didn’t spend a penny on this caddy, and I love that it’s washable. I’ve not lost my glasses since I made it.
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I get a kick out of upcycling and repurposing. I’ve said it before, it makes me feel smart and resourceful. I have an extra jean leg, if anyone would like to make an arm chair caddy of her/his own. Answer this question correctly, and I’ll mail you the jean leg. Yessiree, I will.
What is this?
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Be the first to answer correctly by Friday at midnight, EST, and the jean leg is yours. Really. You won’t find a giveaway like that just anywhere. (UPDATE: jean leg was mailed to a reader in 2013.)
Would that be the caulk gun your husband bought you? I've always wanted a spare jean leg! You're so funny. But seriously, I love your jean caddy, what a great idea.
Darnit – I was so going with caulk gun, but I've been beat. LOVE the decorated cans & I've never been able to caulk worth diddley. Impressive!
That is the most original, wonderful giveaway I've ever seen. 🙂 Go you, being all productive. My house could use a whole mess of caulking. You are welcome anytime!
You are so crafty – love it! And who would have thought to use a jean leg in such a wonderful way? 🙂
I've never seen the caulk gun that cuts the tip off. Very cool. I need to caulk the outside of my house. Maybe in the fall when it's cooler. LOL
Such clever and cute ideas!! 🙂 This post made me smile.
I'm guessing your mystery item is your new caulk gun.
I like the jeans caddy you crafted. My son could use this for his dorm bed to store his glasses and his phone while it's charging, not to mention tissues (allergies!).
You are an excellent caulker. I get the same satisfaction from filling in the holes and dents in walls before I do that dreaded painting.
I like that caddy idea, in fact I would like a caddy like that for my armchair……….
Damn it! everyone beat me to it! Now can you come here and caulk my bedroom walls and trim? It's on the to do list…
Oh, aren't you clever? The jean cuff organizer is totally cool, and yes ma'am, your caulk line is beautiful.
I hate to caulk…so it rarely gets done. I love your jean leg idea!
HI Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a nice comment. I am your newest follower now and I must say I love your fun blog! We are baseball fans at our house so I love your blog theme. Goes with your name too 😉 I love the re-purposed items. How clever you are! Also, from the last post, so glad your daughter is OK. Looking forward now to more of your interesting posts.
I love the jean caddy and I especially love the duck tape cans. I never thought of that before.
You inspire me! Those cans are great and would be a wonderful project to do with the kids.
That's a pretty awesome caulk line! 🙂
Happy Tuesday.
Caulk gun was my gess. The jean caddy is really dandy. And am uber impressed with your precise caulk line
You have been very creative, and sounds like you've had quite a bit of fun doing it. love the pictures!
girl–you amaze me–great stuff 🙂
These are great ideas! More so, they won't look cluttered all over the place and they are accessible too 🙂 Thanks for sharing these ideas!
Brenda, you lucky girl~ you won the jean leg! It's in the mail as of 7/25. Thanks to everyone for visiting the ballpark! I appreciate your time. 🙂
Some great ideas there! So much needs doing in my house, I tend to hide behind a book, laptop or notebook. You've inspired me to at least look up at the problems before I run away screaming 🙂
I'm thinking that caulk gun is entirely too clean to have much mileage on it yet!! 😀 Ornery's gun looks like it met up with PigPen!
I am a bit of a goop-a-phobe so caulking or filling has never been my idea of a good time. Good on you that you find you like it, and yes, you did a darn good job!
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Well it's after Friday but it looks like a tea light candelabra? Love your upcycling ideas. I've been seeing the decorative duct tapes and have been wanting an excuse to need a roll. The leopard on is cool.
You sound like my husband with the caulking! He's a little obsessed too. 🙂 I really like the can idea. I may have to try that one.
You have been busy. I like the duct tape idea. I may have too try that.