Fast Project Friday!

What is better than starting a project? Finishing one!!  So I introduce to you Fast Project Friday!!  This is the time to tackle a project that you can finish quickly- like in 15-20 minutes. So my project today is this drawer that I keep receipts in. I probably keep way more than I need to, but I like having them incase of needing to do a return or exchange. I also like to keep my grocery receipts for the week- so I can refer back to them if needed. 

So here is my drawer... pretty embarrassing- right? Its amazing how once you start shoving things into a drawer, it just gets out of hand!!  So first I took everything out of the drawer, threw away old receipts and ones that I did not need anymore. Anything that wasn't a receipt, I put where it goes. 

Next I decided to make 2 envelopes for my receipts. Here is the first one...

Here is how I made them- I just used a 12x12 piece of scrapbook paper

Flipped it over

Folded the edges in

Folded the bottom up a little more than half way

I glued the middle edges- you can see where I put the glue because it's purple!

Then I folded it back and pressed it down, put some clothes pins on for just a bit to dry

Then I cut off the side flaps on the top

Then I put my receipts in and labeled them with some scrapbook stickers

 And here are is the drawer after!!  What a difference!! Now I have a place to simply place my receipts in. One for grocery receipts and one for everything else!  I think I like Fast Project Friday!!

So what are you working on this weekend? Any quick projects that you'll be doing? And does anyone else like to keep their receipts - or is it really just me- like my husband thinks?

Have a super awesome weekend!!! Thanks for stopping by :)

Organizing all that paper- part 2

I am amazed at the amount of paper that comes into our home! Between the mail, the kids homework, schedules, things that need to be signed, etc, etc. it seems endless!! I have finally found a paper filing system that works for our household. As I showed you yesterday I use binders to organize most all of the household paperwork. But I was running into issues with papers that required action. If I put a paper from school that needed to be filled out and turned back in at a later date, I was forgetting to look back in the binder and finish it. I came upon an article (while I was organizing my idea binder) that I had clipped out of a BHG magazine that talks about getting organized with an action file! TADA!!!!! I was so excited because this is just what I was looking for!!!!

So this is what I made!!

The first folder is labeled To Do Now- these are for papers that need action within the week-invitations that require an RSVP, permission slips, a list of something you need to do that week

Example- in mine is a form that needs to be signed and mailed in & a list of painters that I called that are coming over this week

The middle folder is labeled To Do Later- this is for papers that need action in the next couple of months- a flyer about something you want to look into, an order form for something in the future

Example- in mine is PTO order form for next month and information about my son's picnic for the end of the year that the school needs donations for

The top folder is labeled Pending- something that you are awaiting a response on- like a rebate that you mailed in, something that you have ordered on line that you haven't received yet

Example- in mine is information about a phone rebate that I am waiting on from Verizon

The key to this system is follow up- look through the To Do Now folder every day or two, the Do Later every week, and the Pending every week or 2 until what ever action your waiting for has happened. Once the action has taken place on any of the items in the file either file it in long term files or throw away or recycle.

I am so very happy that I came upon this information and I hope there is something here that you can use as well!! Let me know what kind of system you have and what works for you!

Organizing all that paper- part 1

Today it has been 2 years since we moved into our home!! Happy Anniversary to us!! Sooo it is only fitting that I blog about our home. One of my favorite things about the kitchen is the built in desk, I have always wanted one of those :) I didn't anticipate what a clutter magnet it would become though. It has been a work in progress to find a system that works for our family, I have tried several things & think I finally found "the one" maybe it will work for yours too!!

The first thing I really wanted to do is to paint the wall above the desk with magnetic paint, I love to be able to put things right where we can see it but... it does accumulate lots of visual clutter, which makes me a little crazy!

BEFORE.....

I also had my file cabinet full to the brim with the kids information,schedules, ideas from magazines, plans for house projects, etc, etc. I found the way that I had everything even though it was "organized" in their own file folder- it just wasn't working!! I found several ideas about putting all these papers in binders, so I thought I would try that. I loved it! I could easily access it, everything got it's own tab but the standard white binders were... boring. So I changed it up a

bit!!!!

Piles of papers

Lots of magazine ideas

Binders and office supplies

I cut out my scrapbook paper to size on the front, back and spine of the binder. I alternated the red and teal- my favorite colors right now to decorate with! I have 5 binders- HOUSE PROJECTS (all things going on with the house. I have a tab for each room and what we are planning on doing to it & the cost break down, also when I see an idea in a magazine that I love for that room I cut it out and put it in there too), IDEAS (this has all my craft ideas, vacation ideas, sewing ideas, etc), RECIPES (anything food related that I find in magazines that I would like to try), DAY-TO-DAY (all the kids info- sports, schools, music, meal planning, anything schedule related), ANDY'S (which includes projects that I work on for my husband's company. Then I found the magazine holders at Target and used those for my cookbooks and cooking magazines. I absolutely LOVE to be able to have such easy access to all this information, have it be super organized and have it look nice as well!

On the desk I put a couple the binders that I use everyday a long with this tabletop file holder with my new system for incoming papers. I will tell you all about it in detail tomorrow!!! By the end of the week you will be able to see the finished product of my desk!! I can't wait to show it to you!!!