Mason Jar Solar Lights

Don't you just love all of the things you can do with a Mason jar? My favorite is the old aqua jars with the zinc lids. They look so pretty sitting in a window sill with the sunlight coming through them.  Did you know that first Mason jar was invented in 1858? I am also amazed at the popularity of the Mason jar, if you get on Pinterest or most home decorating/craft blogs you are more than likely to see an image of a Mason jar. 

Well, I have been wanting to make Mason jar solar lights since I saw them in a catalog three years ago. I can't remember where I saw them first but they were around $40 for the solar light lid and jar. I am a very thrifty girl and $40 was just a little too much money for me to spend on a pretty Mason jar. Last week while I was at the Dollar Tree I spotted  some solar lights. I knew for a $1.00 each that this was a sign for me to make my Mason jar light. I have seriously been swooning over for these lights for the past three years. Here is a tutorial for all of those that might have been swooning over them too.

SUPPLIES

Mason Jars

Dollar Tree Solar Lights (Or any solar light)

Duct Tape

Lids for the Jars

Spray Paint (Optional)

Painter's Tape (If you decide to spray paint)

TUTORIAL

First Step: Screw off the top of the light 

Prep your lids and the lights for spray paint. I used Duct Brand clean release painter's tape to cover the solar panels on the lights. 

Spray paint the lids and lights. I used a few light coats of Krylon's flat black spray paint.

Since, the lights are smaller than what the size of the hole is for the jar I needed a way to keep the light in place. I though duct tape would work well and it's weather proof. I cut the duct tape into 7 inch strips and folded the duct tape in half to make it double sided. 

I then wrapped the tape around the light after the spray paint had dried. Note: You don't want to put too much tape around the very top because it will stick out when you put the lid on.

I then placed the light inside of the jar. I wouldn't put too much pressure on getting the lid in. I just kind of pushed it in until it felt snug, adding the lid will make it even more secure. 

 Can't see the duct tape can you? 

Aww, my three year obsession is now over! It's still a little cold here to sit on the patio, but in another month or so I am sure I will be outside enjoying my new lights. 

I am linking to:

Debbie Doos

Fox Hollow Cottage

Savvy Southern Style

Coastal Charm

Tatertots and Jello

DIY Showoff

Home Stories A to Z

Serenity Now

House of Hepworths

Shabby Creek Cottage

Beyond The Picket Fence

Under the Table and Dreaming

Pink When Monthly Craft Showcase

Jojo and Eloise: Knock Our Socks Off Party!

Rain On a Tin Roof

Thrifty Decor Chick

What I Wore Wednesday!

Sorry, this post is a little late getting up this week! By the way, where has this week gone? It seems like it was just Sunday. I don't really have an exciting outfit to share this week. I am pretty proud of myself for mixing polka dots and stripes. I would have never done that in the past, I am such a risk taker. Haha!!!

Here is what I wore this week!

Cardigan: Old Navy

Polka Dot Tank Top: Old Navy

Jeans: Silver (carsons)

 Shoes: Payless 

I am linking to:

The Pleated Poppy

Organizing a Toddler's Closet

It's been an organizing whirlwind here at my house.  Last week I showed you what the floor of our utility closet looked like. It wasn't pretty, in fact it was a little scary. Well, I couldn't stop at the utility closet no, I had another thorn in my side that needed to be organized. My daughter's closet has been in chaos since the day we brought her home almost two years ago. I had it all organized and pretty before I was ready to have her but I didn't factor in all of the crap stuff you get after the baby is born. We really didn't have a lot of clothes for her because we didn't know if we were having a boy or girl. We had all of the basics covered, but like I said after we brought her home the stuff in the closet grew and grew. This past weekend, I decided it was time to get back to organized. I couldn't find anything in it anymore and it was starting to get ridiculous.     Is it just me or don't you feel out of control when all of your stuff is out of control? I just always feel so much better to open up a door and see everything in its place. I hope this post can offer some helpful tips to those of you who might be feeling your organization or lack of organization is getting out of control. 

Here is what the closet looked like BEFORE (you might want to sit down for the before shots.) 

Yikes, what happened here?

The first thing I did was take everything out of the shelves and threw it in a big pile on the floor. I then sorted out the stuff that needed to stay and the stuff that needed to go. I then created smaller piles for more specific things like shoes, blankets, hats and so on.

I bought some totes at the Dollar Tree that matched the room and then labeled them. I was able to find some free faux customizable chalkboard labels and printed them out on my ink jet printer. I cut out the labels and glued them to card stock to make them a little heavier. I then punched a hole in the top and placed ribbon in it and tied it to the totes.

I had bought these baskets from my local Dollar General before my daughter was born. I think they were around $5.00 at the time and they have really held up well. My husband made the chalkboard labels with some left over scrap wood that we had. I saved the green gingham ribbon from a baby present we received and tied it to the label.

I really wanted to utilize the shoe shelf a little better. I found these white stackable wire shelves at Dollar Tree as well. I like how I am able to slide her shoes underneath the shelves and then use the top shelves for something else. I found the green baskets sitting on the top of the stackable shelves at the Dollar Tree as well. I placed all of her headbands, barrettes, clips and bows in those baskets.

This little paint can came from Lowes. I cut out the vinyl letters on my Cricut and put them on the bucket for all of the travel sized bottles and little diaper bag stuff. 

I think the most important thing to remember when organizing is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to make it look pretty! 

Can I say what a relief it is to have this closet organized! 

I am linking to:

Debbiedoos

Fox Hollow Cottage

Savvy Southern Style

Coastal Charm

Tater Tots and Jello

House of Hepworths

Rain on a Tin Roof

Thrifty Decor Chick: It's the little things!

Serenity Now

DIY Showoff

Under the Table and Dreaming

Home Stories A to Z

Mom 4 Real

Upcycled Yardstick

 Have you ever seen the episode on Friends where Chandler finds Monica's secret closet? Monica was a clean freak and every thing had a place, but she had this one closet that nobody knew about. Well, you could say I might have a few closets like that. I am not proud of this and it drives me absolutely insane every time I open a closet door I am attacked by all of the crap stuffed in the closet. Sometimes I think I could probably qualify for the show Hoarders. My living spaces are usually clean minus the toddler finger prints and toys.  I have really tried hard to work on my hoarding, I have even purged a few things which to a hoarder can be the hardest decision they ever have to make.

One of the closets that I am working on is our utility closet. Um, I must confess you can't even see the floor.  I have lunch bags, shopping bags and aprons just thrown on the floor. The first thing I need to do is get the floor picked up. I am really into using the resources I already have because I don't think I should be spending my child's college fund on pretty baskets and hooks. So, I looked around my house and came up with the idea of using clothes pins (as hooks) glued to a yard stick.

Please note that all of the bags are empty and do not have anything in them. I don't know how well the clothespin will hold a bag filled with stuff. I just wanted to add that disclaimer. 

I think the clothespins hooks would also be cute to use in a kitchen command center or to display child's art work. Or lost socks in the laundry room.

I know you are all jealous of my Wonder Woman apron. :)

Let's take a look at what the floor looked before shall we?

Holy, HOT MESS Batman! I told you it was bad! It was such a relief to get that stuff off of the floor and get rid of the things I didn't need. I think it already looks a lot better in there.

Here is how I made the rack using the yardstick and clothespins.

I got these clothespins at the Dollar Tree awhile back. I painted (5) of them white just to make them a look a little prettier as hooks. 

I then printed out some blue and white striped paper from this blog. (On a side note: Did you know you can get almost any color of scrapbook paper you want on the internet? You just need a printer.) After I printed out the design on the paper I then cut out strips to lay on the clothespins and used Mod Podge to finish off the look of the clothespins. 

I then laid all of the clothes pins out on the yardstick so I could figure out where they would be glued

I used a little Gorilla Glue and glued the back of the clothespin onto the yardstick. I placed a rock on the clothespins to add some pressure when drying.  Once you have let it dry then you are ready to hang the yardstick. This was such an easy project. You can get yardsticks or rulers just about anywhere. I found this one for .69 cents at Lowes. Hopefully, I haven't scared you all away with my messy unorganized closet. I hope you all have a great weekend! 

I am linking to:
Debbie Doos
Fox Hollow Cottage
Coastal Charm
Under The Table and Dreaming
Savvy Southern Style

What I Wore Wednesday

I think it is safe to say spring is finally here! Woo hoo!!! It might not be as warm as I would like it to be but the snow is all gone. I don't want to see or hear about snow until December when I am putting up my Christmas tree and watching Clark Griswald. Sorry, not sure how I got on that tangent! Anyway, here is what I wore on Easter Sunday.

Cardi: Gap (similar to this)

Black and White Striped Shirt: Old Navy

Jeans: Thrifted 

P.S. Doesn't that little girl look ornery? I couldn't get one good picture of just her in her Easter dress. :) 

Sunnies: Oakley (similar to these) 

Necklace:Kohl's

(pic taken a few weeks back)

Shoes: Unlisted by Kenneth Cole (Carson's)

Thanks for stopping by!

I am linking to: 

The Pleated Poppy

Style Elixir

March in Review!

I am going to try something new this month by doing a monthly review of my projects from March. I sometimes feel as a blogger you have to keep cranking out the projects and I always have a bazillion ideas in my head that I think I need to create and blog about. This is a nice way for me to reflect and see what things I have accomplished in the past month. I also wanted to say thank you to all of my new followers via, InstaGram, Facebook, Pinterest, Hometalk and almost retired Google reader :(. I recently just signed up for Bloglovin, it really isn't that bad and it imported all of my current Google friends. I know Google Reader will be missed, but sometimes change is good, right? Anyway, I would love it if you would want to follow me on Bloglovin. Just click on any of the social media icons to the right > sidebar to follow me. Also, wanted to mention that Bloglovin has an iPhone app, which can also be downloaded on your iPad. I am not sure if there is one available for Androids.

Here are my projects from the month of March.

In the beginning of the month I created this spring wreath made from cherry sours candy! I was so excited to see it featured on Tatertots and Jello, Coastal Charm, Under The Table and Dreaming by Stephanie Lynn , DIY Showoff and Craft Gossip. You should really go check these blogs out if you haven't done so already.



I got my spring mantel done even though spring decided to stay on vacation a little bit longer. I was very grateful to see that it was featured on the CSI Project.



I was able to get an Easter craft done for my daughter's room. I wanted to do a fake animal head project forever and thought the framed bunny would be fun to make.

Last on the project list this month was my shampoo and conditioner soap dispensers. I think this was my favorite project this past month. I love looking in my shower and seeing my pretty soap dispensers. It really is a great way to start out the day. I know I am dorky like that! ;) I also wanted to give a shout out to Hometalk for featuring my soap dispensers last week on their Facebook page.

I am looking forward to the month of April and meeting more new people! There are so many wonderful peeps in blogland and loads of inspiration. I do have a few big projects on deck for April. My daughter has a birthday coming up next month and we are trying to get all of our current projects done before then. Oh, the life of a DIY family! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a lovely week!