Procrastinator's Party: the after

19 October 2009


So, you know that my drawers needed help and I gave myself 2 weeks to finish.(before pics here)
In reality, it only took 2 hours, but it always seems overwhelming before you start, doesn't it?

First, I said buh-bye to the 70's floral contact paper in the drawers:



and hello to a new roll of contact paper they were clearancing out at Lowes for $1 a roll.
 
Already much better :)
 I was inspired by my cousin's wife, Amber. She attended an organizing class and shared the ideas from it on her blog. One of the ideas was using some thin wood and hot glue to create your own custom drawer dividers. I didn't want to hassle with cutting wood, so I used heavy duty foam board from the craft store (Hobby Lobby) A whole board on sale is about $3. I measured the sizes I wanted in the drawer,

then cut them out with a box cutter. Use the outside edge so when you put it in the drawer the clean edge can be the ones you see. Who cares if the bottom is a little jagged~you won't see it.
Then, just fit them in the drawer standing up. For the middle ones, use some hot glue on the edges and they stay together beautifully. Be sure to measure so the foam board will be snug and won't budge. Again, use a little hot glue on the edges if you want to make sure they'll stay.

For the middle drawer, I used some organizers I had and hot-glued them to the bottom of the drawer so they wouldn't slide around everywhere:

Once I started, it was a bit addicting:

I was out of edges by the time I got to this one, so they're a little ragged, but they do the trick:

This last drawer was the worst. Guess how many bibs I had crammed in there??
20.
Who needs 20 bibs? Holy moly! The first step is admitting you have a problem....

I chose 5 of our favorites, and the rest went to the Goodwill.
Another tip from Amber was storing your dishcloths and towels standing up so you can see them. Love it!
I feel like they can all breathe now. And for less than $5 :)

I love it when my kids ask me where the tape is:
here, here let me show you!
you need a rubberband, or some fingernail clippers?
Or how about a glasses repair kit?

No, just tape mom.

*sigh* o-kay.

My blogiversary giveaway goes until Friday!

I'm also linking up to Kimba's DIY day~

DIY Day @ ASPTL


51 comments

  1. Hey, Melissa, very clever! I love how you can see all the dishtowels and don't have to mess them all up to find just the one you want!

    Great job!! :-)

    Thanks for linking!!!

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  2. I've used foam core for dividers several times - they've even survived a couple moves! Love it!

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  3. And now you have a nice an organized drawer. I should do this to all of mine. I have two junk drawers and two cabinets that match. Yuck. Great job finishing the procrastination party.

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  4. I love the dish towel idea! Though my drawers aren't very deep, so I don't think it would work for my drawers.

    I think I have that same 1970s floral contact paper (only in blue/pink flowers) in my husband's dresser drawers! The dresser was mine as a baby, and my mom put that paper in way back then. ;)

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  5. The foam board dividers!!!! What a wonderful idea. We all have several of "those drawers" you know : ))

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  6. It looks so great. Love the foam board dividers. Very good idea!

    XOOX
    Jen

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  7. I love it - what a great idea to use the foam core board. I think I have some hiding around here. I may be up all night now. :)

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  8. DIVIDERS!!! From foam core! I KNEW you'd come through for me!!

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  9. Ohh I really need to do this in every room with a drawer! I have too many bibs, too. The problem is that they are ages 5 and 3 now and I am not sure why they are still there except for the occasional messy ice cream! I guess the divider project would help me to clean out while cleaning up! Have a great day!

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  10. The horror that is my kitchen drawers will be transformed with this post. Seriously. I just need another procrastinator's party to do it. :o)

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  11. Wow, I'm impressed. And feeling guilty about the state of my drawers, thank you very much. :)
    I love the dish towel idea!

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  12. WOW you did a great job!! I have some drawers that could use some work like that!!

    ~TidyMom

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  13. Very nice! Useful, easy, cheap - it doesn't get any better than that!

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  14. Excellent work! Thank you so much for sharing the custom drawer dividers. I could do that! I could most certainly do that! And look what a difference it makes. Good for you!!

    Wish I could come over and borrow your tape. Or maybe your eyeglass repair kit. :)

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  15. What a great idea. Being organized makes me happy and this is organized.

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  16. Good job! Isn't it crazy how good a neat drawaer makes us feel?

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  17. Love it! Now if only my kids would ask for the tape and or put it back in its spot!

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  18. I'll be giving this one a try, I've lost so much drawer space in my kitchen, either because of baby bottle nipples and rings or junk drawers and silverware (not all together lol) I need space in my kitchen, its very small and I only have 5 drawers... ugh poor me.

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  19. WOW what a great idea!
    I am in the process of setting up our kitchen and this would be a great thing for me!
    Thanks so much

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  20. All of my drawer organizers are from rummage and estate sales - very inexpensive and so helpful. I run them through the dishwasher every so often.

    I have washable drawer liners that I got at Wal*mart and K*mart. They were a little more expensive, but so worth it. I try not to do anything permanent to drawers - like apply adhesive backs.

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  21. NICE! i'll have to copy you when i get around to putting stuff in drawers in our new kitchen- i would love to be that organized! (and i have had that same bib problem... solution: baby eats naked! i'm not kidding. i'm that lazy! ha!)
    happy tuesday,
    rachel

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  22. Great job organizing those drawers!! I love that part about the kids asking for tape. So funny. I reorganized my cupboards so I can totally relate to that being able to breathe feeling. Oh, and I love that idea for standing the dish towels up so you can see them. Thanks for sharing!!

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  23. Great ideas here. Nice job and thanks for the link.

    :)
    ButterYum

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  24. NICE! I think I could use this idea in a COUPLE drawers!! Thanks for the idea!

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  25. What a great idea! I'll have to keep this in mind.

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  26. What a great project! I love how you can create the spaces to fit your exact needs.

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  27. Wonderful post. Love the dish towel idea. My house is screaming for some help in the organization area!!

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  28. Love the organized drawers! That is definitely something I need to do around here.

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  29. What a great idea thank you so much for sharing. I need to do this. hugs, Cherry

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  30. Oooo---the bibs hit a nerve. I do NOT want to go upstairs and count all of ours. In my defense, my little one used to spit up all the time. We probably have 53 burp cloths too. :s

    Love your improvised drawer organizers, but I can't imagine why you'd want to get rid of that fabulous yellow paper? ;) ;)

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  31. I never would have thought to use foam board! Your drawers look awesome!

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  32. I so need to do this to my drawers. I hate that I can't find anything. And foam core, who would have ever thought? Obviously you!!! Thanks for the cheap, I mean frugal tip.

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  33. Great organizing tips. Love suggestion of storing the tea towels standing up. Thanks.

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  34. great ideas, I had never thought to organize the dish towels like that

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  35. Like everyone, I like the dish towel idea, but I think my favorite is hot glueing the trays in place! I'm going to do that in a couple of drawers where everything wants to slide to the back!
    Great accomplishments!
    Jayne at mysongwithin

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  36. Foam core.....genius!!!!!! Just a thought.....if the jagged edges bother you... You could cover them with ribbon, jute or you could cover the the divider with the drawer liner. Thanks for always sharing your ideas with us!
    Renee

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  37. Renee~that is a great suggestion~thank you!

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  38. Oh, I love this. I am going to add this to my list of to-do's!!

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  39. Hello Melissa - thank you so much for sharing this great idea for our drawers! I love organization, so I have a feeling I will be trying this out in our kitchen. I have as many pot holders as you had bibs, so I guess it's time to go through them.

    Blessings,
    Marie
    http://emmacallsmemama.com

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  40. This is a great tip! This will solve several problem areas in my kitchen drawers. I can't wait to get some foamcore. Thanks for sharing this.
    Mary Lou

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  41. I got many a drawer I need to be organizing... I will be using your tips!

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  42. Fantastic idea! I might have to steal that idea...I'm having trouble with stuff sliding around in my drawer. Thanks for sharing!

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  43. Fantastic idea! I might have to steal that idea...I'm having trouble with stuff sliding around in my drawer. Thanks for sharing!

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  44. I totally copied you (kinda :)) and just posted about it :) thanks again for the idea!

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  45. Great tips, very useful.
    Sandy

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  46. Ha, ha! Bibs are my addiction. I could say WERE seeing as my "baby" is 5, but no, IS , because I still purchase them obsessively for friends and family with little ones.

    Anyways, you drawers look great!

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  47. OMG! Mom has that exact same 70's contact paper in her bathroom cabinets. Had this strange otherwordly flashback when I saw this post. heehee! Think she'll let me redo the cabinets?

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