Washi Tape Holder for Scrapbooking and Crafting

So... we all go through several changes over time as we look to see what will work best for our crafting/scrapbooking area.  I just made a change that I love, truly!!!!  I knew that I wanted something to hold my tapes where I could get to them.  I didn't wanna put them on a spring rod and not be able to have it in my hand, I didn't want to toss them in a drawer or have to rummage through a basket any more either.

I knew that I wanted something like a gutter that I could just attach to the shelf and let it hang down.  I had seen that done for ribbons (though my ribbons are all in a book now, but that should be another blog posting! lol).  I knew that the guttering I had seen was too large, but I also knew that there had to be a solution out there somewhere.  So, off to HomeDepot I went, they should know me by name by now.

This is what I ended up purchasing.  Bottom Door Seal.... 36" long.. perfect!  Light weight, about seven dollars easy to install and I didn't have to paint or do anything to it.

This also comes in different lengths and colors.  My area was 36", so this was perfect.  You can see in the top picture that there is a back area that goes up the back of the door, that is what I screwed into the front of the shelf.  There are the little rubbery parts hanging down, and I was going to cut those off, but they really don't bother me... so I got lazy and left them.  Then, on the very front is the little rubber tube, and I knew that would hold the rolls on like the curve of the guttering.  I thought about using a couple yardsticks to make the "L" shape and then just glue straws across the front, but this was already done and just so easy.  Let's move on.

The above picture has the info on the packaging so that you will know what you are looking for if you decide to do this little project.   Please post in the comments if you do this project and would love to see a photo of it... did you find it easy?

Took everything off the shelf and put it down on the floor... marked where the holds would go.  I have plastic covered my table and shelves, so it does mean that the holes had to made in the plastic and fabric before I could screw the thing together.  IF I don't, the screw bites into the fabrics and twists it and just tears it up... I have experienced this first hand.

I didn't wanna drag out the drill and bits, so I just hammered in a large nail and then pulled it out.  Hole made and ready to move on.  There are five holes and screws that come for attaching, I only did every other one.  It is so lightweight that I knew that three would be plenty.

Wow... just realized how dusty that shelf is.  Here it is attached... very fast and easy!

This is just to show you looking from the back, part of the thingy sticks up over the top of the shelf.  I knew that it was a bit wider than what I needed, but I also knew that with what went on that shelf that it was gonna be ok.  You know how you can just expect something to go wrong on a project, no matter how simple?  Well, it didn't.... this went just like clock work, very easy!

This is the shelf put back up with the "bits container" and tv back up on it.

This is just a close up.  I was so glad that they sent little "white" screws that blended in so well.

Here is the shelf with the holder and the washi tape all in place.  You can see that I had to put the glittery washi over to the side, yes... I have too much washi.  Yet, I did notice that I need the reds and oranges!  Also, in the "bits" container right behind the tape, Those four drawers that are pulled out have my small clear decorative rolls of tapes that I got from China off AliExpress.  They are just cheap stuff that don't get used often and they fit there just fine. 

Here is a close up of how well the tapes fit in the Door Seal... perfect!  Also, you can see that there is a paper and ring there to the right top of the photo...  These are cut down index cards that have samples all my washi, where I got it or who made it... all hole punched and ready to look at if I need to.  I had made it when the tape was all in a basket as a reference.  I see no reason to just toss it out... it does include those rolls from China, so it is still useful even though I can see all the good stuff!

So, hope you enjoyed this little run through, maybe you could leave comments below of what you use or how you organize your washi or other supplies!  I like hearing from my readers!

-Pam

Wool Balls for the Dryer

So... did ya miss me?  Lol... Yes, it has been a long Long LONG time.  I had typed out a long paragraph on what all had taken place, but that really isn't what the blog is about.  Let's just jump into what this one is gonna highlight...

Wool Balls for your Dryer.  I dunno how many of you have ever even heard of wool balls, but they are out there or you can make your own and they work wonderfully!  I am that picture person, so there will be lots of photos coming up.  What is a Wool Ball?  It is yarn, specifically WOOL yard, that is wound into a ball, put through a process and used in the dryer.  Why use a Wool Ball?  It puts space in the dryer as it tumbles around to dry clothes faster, the wool will absorb some of the moisture from the clothes and dry clothes faster, and it has helped take out the static cling.  Some folks even put oils in the balls to make the laundry smell better.  So... let's get started...

Just get some wool yarn and the craft store.  Here I will remind you, use the online coupons from the craft stores and never pay full price.  If it is already on sale for 30% off, wait til next week and use that 40% off coupon!  That little 10% will add up over time with your different purchases.  The larger percent of wood that is in the yarn, the better.  I got some that was 53% wool and was a lot of work in the end.  Go for the gold, find that 100% or even better yet... go to the thrift store and get an old wool sweater that says dry clean only... Be SURE it is 100% Wool... more on this later.   (oh, in the photo below... do you see that flat purplish grey stuff under the scissors?  That is what "felted" wool looks like.  I will talk about it in a bit.)

Another reason I went ahead with this wool, NOT 100% was the price.  I ended up finding some that was on clearance, and there was a sale with coupons... yeppers, only paid $1.49 a skein.  That was a steal and I bought out that Hancocks!  You can see in the picture above that it isn't quite "wooly" enough to felt very easily.  But, I have done felting before and knew that.

Here is where I failed you!  Photos!!!  Oh dear me...  ok, you got all the balls rolled, one skein per ball.  Slide it into pantyhose or knee highs and tie it off, put in the next one, tie it off,... keep going till you get them all done. IF you get a really good wool, it will be very "fibery" as if it were coming undone before you even put it in hose, that is why you need the hose... to keep it all together through the wash and dry. I toss four in my dryer at a time, so I did four of these at one time.  Run them through HOT water with a couple of large towels, no soap, just the wash and spin cycle is needed.  Then, toss it all in the dryer on HOT heat.  What you are trying to do is to get the fibers to start fusing together, almost like a melting.  This process is called "felting".  I had to wash and dry my Not Quite Wool Balls in the washer and dryer about four times to get them to start felting.  Then, I just left them in the hose the first couple times I used them to be sure they were done.  IF you use real 100% wool, you won't have that problem.  But, who wants to open the dryer to a ball of unwound yarn!  I figured better safe than sorry.   These don't last forever, as a while... dunno how long, over a year anyway... they will eventually turn into a sold ball and just not absorb like they did in the first.  Next time, I am springing for the Real 100% Wool!

I have also still had some static cling, another case of the "not so wool wool".  All in all, I like having the wool balls.  I do see my dryer on for a shorter period of time.  Now, IF I could just find a way to speed up that dang washer.... but, it is one of the economic ones, so it will just have to take a while.

I will be back sooner that later.  Planning to blog at least once a month this year.  Yep, already a month behind!  But, things are going better around here and I will be back soon!  Be sure to let me know if make any felt balls and how you like them.  Don't be too frugal... get that 100% wool!

-Pam