Creative Options Gives You Lots of Creative Options

For the serious DIY-er, it’s the season when your workspace expands to a craft room! With gift wrapping, card crafting and your craft projects, you’ll need plenty of space to keep the Yuletide from spilling into the rest of the house. This season, let Creative Options help you contain the chaos.

In my case my craft room needs a lot more help in the way of organizing!  I have projects in bags hanging on the wall, projects in boxes on my desk, projects just laying on my desk....and projects in the living room as I don't have enough room in my craft room to work in there!

Below is a list of the Creative Options products that are featured in the Craft Room image above:

1. Craft Project Box with Handle 

2. Small Rack System 

3. Medium Deep Utility Box

4. Large Utility Box

5. Two-Tray Box

6. Medium Rack System 

7. Knitting Needle Case 

8. Knitting Needle Case with Zipper 

9. Round Utility Box

10.Pocket Size Utility Box

11.Small Utility Box

12.Signature 5 Pocket Tote  

13.Mini Sideways Utility Box

I received 4 of the Project Boxes w/ Handles.  It didn't take me long to fill the 4 boxes!!

The top box that is opened contains drawstring backpacks that I am making for Christmas gifts.

The other 3 boxes contain a lockerhook rug that I have started, string quilt blocks that I am making, and a quilt that I am working called Arkansas Crossroads.

Prior to receiving the boxes, the gifts were in a plastic grocery sack.  The string quilt blocks were noe of the projects laying on my desk.  The Arkansas Crossroads quilt was in a cardboard box.  And, the lockerhook rug was hanging on my wall in a re-usable grocery sack.

It's so nice to have at least these projects in the easy to carry and organize Project Boxes w/ Handles.

I love these boxes!  They are sturdy and dependable and just what I needed for projects.  

I attend local quilt retreats and can't wait to be super organized now by taking the projects that I want to work on for the weekend in these boxes.

I have to include another Creative Options item that is now on my wishlist:

I have another Creative Options item that I've owned for a few years now that I also want to share with you.  It's the Double Sided Thread & Parts box.  It has 46 fixed compartments.  As you can see, I do have it full of thread on both sides.  It's been great to be able to pick up the box and take it wherever I am working on projects and have all of my colors of thread readily available.

Check out all of the Creative Options storage options at their website HERE.

They offer storage solutions for needle arts, sewing & quilting, jewelry making, fine arts, kids crafts and general crafts.

You can find Creative Options at Hobby Lobby, WalMart, Jo-Ann, and Michaels as well as Amazon has a nice selection as well!

Disclosure:  I rec'd a set of boxes in exchange for this blog post.  I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions are my own.  Post does contain affiliate links.

Frugal Friday With Marsha -- Handmade Christmas Gifts

Everyone knows that I make gifts every year, and even more so for the past 7 years or so since joining a sewing group at my church and joining the quilt guild.  I've learned to make so many more things.

One year everyone got simple hotpads.  Another year everyone got a set of coasters.  Another year everyone got pillowcases.  Another year everyone got a lined fabric bag made with Christmas fabric and filled with little goodies.  Last year I gave everyone a microwave hotpad.

This year I am making everyone a drawstring backpack.  This is thanks to the community service project that my quilt guild is doing.  We are making the bags and giving them to First Call for Help where they will be filled with personal hygiene items and given to those in need.

Once I made the 2 bags that I signed up to make, I seen how cute they are.  I showed them to several family members who all wanted one.  You don't go anywhere these days without seeing people carrying the drawstring backpacks.

I already had a fabric drawer full, and another stack of fabrics that I had set aside just for making bags.  Much of my fabric has been given to me when a person cleans out their sewing room.  I always appreciate that they think of me!

I have a lot of bags to get done, and as usual, I am starting so late that all other projects really must be put to the side until I finish the gifts.

I have 3 out of about 25 or so done:

I have some other things that I wanted to make as gifts, but doubt that I get to those.  I wonder if next year might finally be the year that I actually work on gifts ALL year instead of waiting until weeks before Christmas to actually get started on them.

WIP Wednesday -- Time To Get Busy For Christmas

Actually it's past time to be working on Christmas gifts, but at least I do have a start.  After putting together a couple of drawstring backpacks for charity with my quilt guild, I decided making them for gifts was a great idea.
When I showed the bags, not only the children, but the adults said they wanted one.  I already had 2 stacks of fabrics put aside just for making bags.

Here is what I have cut and prepared so far, mostly working on cutting fabrics that will make bags for the guys.

Quilt guild put out the challenge kits.  They are encouraging us to do paper pieced stars.  I chose one from a book I own and just to remind myself of how to do paperpiecing, I made one of the 16 pieces I need to make the wall hanging that I want to make.

Then, I started working on the toothbrush rug made of nothing but selvage.  I probably will only work on this at the bowling alley while we bowl on our league, at least for now.  I plan to enter it in the fair next year, so I have until August to finish it.

I did finish all of the sets of microwave hotpads that I was working on, but haven't gotten any of them listed in my etsy shop yet.
My days are so full and I sure don't see that ending any time soon at all.  All I can do is do what I can each day and be happy about it.

UFO's:

Rectangle quilt
challenge wall hanging
Hexagon quilt
Emerald Island Fusique table runner
Five and Dime quilt
Brown half square triangle table runner
2 sets of doll blanket, pillows, bed and rug
Wall hanging for quilt guild
yo-yo's that need to be made into projects
black and white rail fence quilt
Arkansas Crossroads scrap quilt
T-shirt latchhook rug
Charming Stars quilt
Special crocheted prayer shawl
Fall Squares table topper
Crazy colored quilt with the five and dime blocks
Rainbow colored string quilt
St. Patricks yo-yo table topper/runner
Lexington quilt
? Fabric boxes for Christmas gifts
? microwave hotpads
? drawsting backpacks for gifts and for sale


I link up with the following blogs:

Let FamilyFun Magazine Help Make Your Thanksgiving Fun

FamilyFun Magazine is always full of awesome family activities each and every month.
So many fun ideas for Thanksgiving.  I have chosen 2 of them to share with my readers.

Festive & Funky!

Watch your kids transform your dining room into a bright woodsy wonderland with crafts to keep— and share.

mod garlands

String these cheerful strands from cabinets, the buffet, the walls, or even down the table.

What you’ll need

• Leaf templates (find them at familyfunmag.com/printables)

• Kraft paper or paper shopping bags

• Craft paint

• Wooden beads (we used 20mm ones)

• Pinecones (about 20 per garland)

• Brightly colored twine

• Clear tape

What to do

1. Print leaf templates; cut out. Trace onto folded kraft paper as indicated and cut out,

then open. You’ll need about 12 leaves.

2. Paint stripes onto the leaves and wooden beads, allowing some of the natural wood

and paper to show. Paint the scales of the pinecones (rolling them works too). Let dry.

3. Cut an 8-foot length of twine. Tie on your first pinecone, looping the twine around the

top few scales. String on one or two beads, then tie on your next pinecone. Continue this

way, spacing the pinecones 3 to 5 inches apart.

4. To add the leaves: Fold the leaf stem down over the string in between the pinecones

and beads, and secure in the back with tape.

Tip: Paint a few extra pinecones and beads to scatter along your runner for easy table decorations.

Let’s Get Cookin’

From scooping and seasoning to spreading and rolling, these recipes have tons of steps that kids can really do all on their own. (Just be sure to adjust and supervise based on age and ability!)

Tip: Remind your guests to bring their reusable containers from home to fill up after dinner!

Send Some To-Go!

Have kids make leftover bags ahead of time: Paint colorful, nature-inspired designs onto kraft-paper gift bags, and then stamp or paint on each guest’s name for an extra personal touch!

Twice-Baked Sweet Potato Bar

Prep these spuds with the kids and then let everyone top their own!

ACTIVE TIME 25 MIN.

TOTAL TIME 13/4 HOURS

MAKES 10 SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS

5 sweet potatoes, halved lengthwise

2 Tbs. olive oil

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 ½ Tbs. light brown sugar

Kosher salt and ground pepper

Toppings: maple syrup, candied walnuts, marshmallows, sliced green onions, crumbled cheese, bacon, sour cream, fresh herbs

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Prick cut sides of spuds with a fork. Rub all over with oil. Place cut-side down on a sheet pan.

2. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until just tender. Let sit 15 minutes.

3. Carefully scoop flesh from potatoes, leaving shells intact. Mash potato pulp, cream cheese, and sugar with a potato masher until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon or pipe mixture into shells. (To make ahead, cover and chill for up to 2 days. Let stand for 15 minutes before baking.)

4. Bake potatoes 25 to 30 minutes more or until golden and thoroughly heated. Serve with bowls of desired toppings.

PER SERVING (WITHOUT TOPPINGS): 169

CALORIES; 2g PROTEIN; 7g FAT (3g SAT. FAT); 26g

CARBS; 3g FIBER; 7g SUGAR; 148mg SODIUM