Tuesday, April 28, 2015

19 An Organized Happy Drawer with Chic Shelf Paper & a GIVEAWAY!

Happy surprises come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  It could be the gift of coffee from the car ahead of you in the drive-thru.  Or a friend randomly stopping by just to say hello.  My personal favorite is when my kiddos pop up behind me and say, "Surprise hug!" while wrapping their arms around me.  Random life surprises are amazing.  But there are also ways you can create small happy surprises throughout your home.  Those special little moments that make you smile day after day.


When I am picking up our home or even just grabbing for a pen, opening a drawer lined with decorative paper is sure to perk up my cheeks.  Ditto for opening a painted or wallpapered closet.  That instant pop of pattern and color in those common mundane spaces is always a win.  I know it may not be that way for everyone, but on top of loving the prettiness of it, it really helps me maintain the spaces I organize.

I have lined our drawers with everything from gift wrap to contact paper to even wallpaper.  When it comes to the kitchen and bathroom, nothing really compares to true shelf liner.  In those spaces, it is ultra important to select papers that are durable and easy to wipe clean.

The folks at Chic Shelf Paper asked if I wanted to give their pretty patterned liners a try.  Knowing we have an entire kitchen to organize, I started browsing their endless selection of colors and options.

You may have noticed when I recently organized our pantry, I added a dash of pretty navy greek key paper...  Makes all the difference right?


Living in chaos of a renovation for months has been a little nerve wracking, so to bring a little normalcy back to life, I have been slowly unpacking and organizing our kitchen drawers.  Today, I organized our "essential" drawer and thought I would walk through the lining process a little more thoroughly.



First, most would call this type of drawer a junk drawer.  I decided it was more of an essential daily life drawer.  Our home office is located in our lower level, yet there are just some things we reach for on a very frequent basis.  Instead of running up and down the stairs every time we need a scissors, tape or a pencil, we toss office items into this drawer.  Although other random items may be tossed into this drawer throughout the years, for the most part we prefer to have it contain the following daily items:
  • Screwdrivers in various sizes (as well as a temporary spot to toss extra hardware)
  • Cutting tools; scissors and craft knife
  • Paper clips, paper pad, highlighter, pens & pencils
  • Sticky notes
  • Tape
  • Tape Measure
  • Disinfecting spray
  • Ruler
  • Kleenex
  • Shed key

To get started, I always clean out the drawer with a vacuum and a rag.  This prevents any bumps under the drawer liner.


I then lay out my tools; a large cutting mat, a straight edge (I just use a level), a slicer/craft knife and a tape measure.


Using the tape measure, I measure the bottom of the drawer for both length and width.


I then use the mat paired with my straight edge to slice the paper accordingly.  Cutting papers can be really frustrating, and this has been by far the easiest and quickest way to get a nice, accurate cut.


The shelf paper I was using for this project is super nice and thick (twice as thick as typical contact paper).  This also makes a world of difference in the ease of installation.  The flimsier the paper, the more you will struggle with it sticking to itself and running the risk of bubbling.


The paper came with a squeegee for installation, but I haven't had to use it.  It repositions beautifully so if I don't get it just right the first time, I can easily shift it and try again. 


Then I just press it smooth and done!


Typically, I find the paper too pretty to cover all the way up.  That is where the happy surprise comes in when I am grabbing for that ruler.  It is also why I generally use acrylic organizers/dividers.


We still have a room of boxes to unpack, but the addition of this single drawer is sure to be handy as we keep trucking along.

Having worked with so many types of papers, I am pretty sure that the Chic Shelf Paper has been some of the easiest, most durable to work with.  Plus, they have the largest selection I have seen.  They have a new number one fan!

Below are a few of my favorite patterns... You can probably guess that I am scheming to find a place for those pink ones.  At least a place where my boys won't give me the stink eye.

pink fruit | ikat | scallops | greek key | aqua dot | black & white tile


Because I want for you to be able to create those happy surprise moments around your home, I am partnering with Chic Shelf Paper to give you a $100 credit to their online store!


a Rafflecopter giveaway



From now through May 31st, you can receive 10% off your Chic Shelf Paper order of $50 or more with code ChicOrganizers.


Good luck all!  And I would love to know what is a must have for your "essential" drawer?

Must be 18 years old or older. Open to US and Canada residents only.  No purchase necessary to win. All rules and entries must be followed to be eligible to win. Winner will be selected at random using rafflecopter.com and will be announced on original blog post upon drawing. IHeart Organizing official giveaway entry rules can always be found here.

19 comments:

  1. So pretty! I need to get my drawers organized this spring!

    Laura
    www.24-7style.com

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  2. Thank you so much for the giveaway!! I love shelf liner! =)

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  3. Oh, how I wish this giveaway would be open to the rest of the world also. Happen to live in Finland, so no chance to win :( Glad we can get a discount though :).

    Jen - I love your pretty drawers and use of acrylic organizers!

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  4. Woohoo! I would love to be the winner of those fab papers! Beautiful drawer by the way. There isn't anything "junk" about it! :)

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  5. where did you get the tape measure? I used to have one for my purse and it broke so I'm stuck using a sewing one that doesn't retract. I'm always reaching for it when shopping for my home.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Nadine! I find them at JoAnn Fabric and on Amazon. I have a few of them floating around our home, funny how often I find myself reaching for them. :)

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    2. Thanks, I tried googling for them but couldn't find any.

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  6. I encourage clients to drop "junk drawer" and use the term "utility drawer." After all, why would you dedicate a whole drawer to junk, right?

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  7. Pretty! This is just what I need. I love that blue polka dot one.

    Kristi
    www.beloverly.com

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  8. Oh how I swoon over your simple yet beautiful organizing! I have been slowly changing out my dollar store drawer bins for acrylic ones. That paper makes it so pretty! Thanks for sharing. And by the way, LOVING your kitchen redo! Can't wait for the next post.

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  9. I went to their site and they have some lovely options. Great giveaway, we sure could use them in our bathroom vanity drawers. Fingers crossed! Thanks for sharing!
    ~Cystal

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  10. Oh, I love how crisp and clean your drawer looks!
    To answer your question, I think scissors (or a blade) and a ruler are essential in a utility drawer.

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  11. I never thought about it, but having something pretty on the bottom of the drawer really does make a huge difference! This is awesome!

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  12. I love clean drawers even though our junk drawer is atrocious! You always make organizing seem so fun. I would love to know where I could get your cute striped key holder.

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  13. Where did you find that cute scotch tape dispenser? Do you like how it works?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Caroline,

      I think I found it at Target. I like that it is easy to swap out tape rolls and it stores nicely, but flipping it open each time is a small extra step (which I don't find to be a big deal but some might). :)

      xo!

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  14. Could you tell me where your wooden measuring spoons are from?

    Love the drawer organization!!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Marsha!

      The spoons were found at a local kitchen store but the backs say they are by Talisman Designs. :)

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    2. Thank you so much for taking the time to look into that and reply. Found them on Amazon.

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