The Bullet List {Disney from Ruffles and Stuff}

I am a little hesitant to introduce you to the author of today’s bullet list.  I fear you’ll never come back. So before I go any further just promise you will.  Now pinky swear.  Thank you, feeling better now.

Have you met Disney?  Most of you probably have but just in case there are a few of you who only read us daily *ahem* let me enlighten you.  She is the lovely behind Ruffles and Stuff, and she is my new crush.  I found her about a month ago by way of this project then went through her entire list of tutorials, thinking she must have ideas coming out of her ears.  She could look at anything that would normally be tossed and tell you exactly what you could do with it to make it pretty.  To top it off she has amazing images, a humble writing voice, and she seems to be about one of the nicest gals you could ever share a cup of coffee with.  Now you know why I am worried.  She’ll be on Martha one day, I just know it.

She has a great list for us today…enjoy!

Disney from Ruffles and Stuff

Destri, thank you so much for inviting me to “The Bullet List”! I’m so excited!!

I love to recycle and reinvent things in my home. In fact, it practically takes a miracle for me to buy something new! So, I thought it only natural that I should do my bullet list on just that subject!  So, I give you:

Unintended Purposes;
12 ways to repurpose everyday items!

• Turn your picture frames into table trays. They’re great on a dresser, or coffee table, and you can add pictures, fabric, or pretty papers to make them fun! My favorite one is a little 4×6 frame in my kitchen that I use for my sugar and coffee spoon!

• Use book pages as framed art. I especially love this in children’s rooms. I think older, classic books are the cutest, but you can also use pages from a book with your child’s favorite cartoon character!

• Fill salt and pepper shakers with glitter, to keep kids from dumping too much! (make sure that your glitter will fit through the holes!) Kids love the idea of “peppering” they’re artwork.

• Use pretty necklaces as curtain tie-backs. I use faux-pearl necklaces from the dollar store on my bedroom curtains, and they are my favorite part of the room!

• Try a clear plastic shoe-organizer to keep all your small arts and crafts supplies in. Then you can see what you have, and tuck it neatly away inside a closet door!

• I love my white beaded ceramic tissue box holder, but I never use tissues, so I keep it in my kitchen as a plastic bag holder!

• Turn a copy of your favorite book into a clock! (here’s a tutorial)

• I love to use curtains in my closets instead of those horrible sliding doors. That way you can open both sides at once! The doors should come off easily, and you can either install a curtain rod, or use heavy-duty rope to hang the curtains (just be sure the rope hides nicely behind the door frame)

• Try refashioning some of your little one’s clothing, to make them fit longer, or to cover stains! It is easier than you think, and there are tons of tutorials out there! And-hey-if you mess up, it’s too small anyway!

• If you ever see those dirt cheap little carpet samples, snatch up a couple to use in the back seat of your car. I scored pink ones for mine! And you can even stencil on your kids initials for their special assigned seats!

• Keep your baby’s changing table around for a while. They make great book/toy shelves in a toddler’s room! And you can save the top section for special things that you don’t want them to reach. Have a garage-sale changing table? Give it a couple of coats of spray paint in a super fun color, and it will be even better!

• Instead of putting them in the yard sale, save your mismatched bed sheets as free fabric! They’re so great for projects that use a lot of yardage. I once made a gorgeous Anthropologie-inspired ruffly shower curtain for my bathroom, and no one ever knew that it came from a white sheet!

A big thank you to Disney for such a great list, I love every single one of these ideas, all original.  Now go check out her site, afterwords I am sure you’ll think twice before getting rid of anything.  Oh I almost forgot!  Our Bullet List authors favorite part…your input!

What ways have you creatively repurposed an item that would have other wise been tossed?

Did you check out the book?  For the love of all things good check out the book.