Our family is growing in many ways... Growing in numbers, knowledge, parenting skills, growing in love, in our faith, growing our culinary skills (if you can call it that), growing without gluten (some of us), growing green...........

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

FREE Project: Dry-Erase "Board"

Who likes free stuff? Um, yeah. I do, too. This project is pretty cute, easy, and functional, and odds are you might already have everything needed to make it.

Have any frames that you're not using? I do. But I happened to find the one I used for this at Goodwill. I think it would have cost maybe $1.50. But my mama was with me and she had cash, while I didn't, so she bought it for me. (Thanks, mom!) So, this wasn't necessarily free, I guess. But even at $1.50...it's pretty close.

I love the little owl in the corner. Adds some character and makes it a
bit friendlier, since to-do lists aren't usually all that fun in the first place...
Most folks I know probably have some scrapbooking paper or something like that lying around. Maybe I just know a lot of crafty people. If you don't have any, you'll just need one sheet to fit in the frame. You can get it at any craft store. Most have 40% off coupons in the paper or online each week, so you'll pay next to nothing if you buy just that one sheet. I already had a book of printed cardstock from a project before. I've used pages from this book for all kinds of things (including the magazine files I mentioned in the hutch post). I flipped through and found a sheet that was just perfect for my frame, cut it to size, and put it in the frame instead of a picture. The frame I used is 8x10, but you could use whatever size you want. If you use a larger one and can't just put in some pretty paper under the glass, you could always use some fabric or burlap. Tons of options!

And then I had an old dry-erase marker that I never really use.

Put it all together, and...ta-da! You've got yourself a nice little dry-erase "board." I have mine on my desk because I am ALWAYS forgetting what I need to do, usually because I have so much to do that once I get time to stop and think about it, I get overwhelmed and my mind goes blank...hence the need for a good to-do list. I make lots of to-do lists on paper, but those always seem to get lost in the other stuff on my desk. Or on the counter. Or wherever. So, this puts it right in my face and doesn't get lost. And looks way cuter than a piece of scrap paper with scribbles on it.

Here's another idea! IHeart Organizing just posted a freebie Weekly To-Do/Calendar sheet. Print it up, pop it in a frame, and voila! An easy way to get organized and it's right in front of you and can be wiped off at the end of the week. (And it's free!) Just use an extra fine tip marker so you can get all your notes on it easily.

You could also use this to write out your menu. Notes to others in the home. Dates coming up. Possibilities are endless. It's just a dry-erase board but even nicer and can be set up on a flat surface or hung. So many uses!


6 comments:

Kelly Mefford {Sweet Intuitions} said...

Daisy, this is so cute and very creative!! I'm definitely going to have to make one myself! :-)

Daisy @ Our Growing Family said...

I hope you do make it! It's just so easy - a frame and some pretty paper! So versatile with how you can make it and then how you can use it. :)

Sonia said...

Hmmm...great Christmas presents for boss and coworkers! Thanks for the idea. In fact, I could make one for my office and change the background seasonally for a little fun and creativity. VERY good idea!

Daisy @ Our Growing Family said...

Great idea, Sonia! :) If you don't have frames already, you can either buy some...or head to Goodwill for some really cheap ones, pick up some spray paint, and go to town on some old frames that just need a new coat of paint. :) We did that with frames in our bathroom (still need to get that post up!!), and they look great!

Daisy @ Our Growing Family said...

Here's another idea, too... I updated the post to include it, but wanted to be sure you all saw it, in case you wanted to do it.

IHeart Organizing just posted a freebie Weekly To-Do/Calendar sheet. Print it up, pop it in a frame, and voila! An easy way to get organized and it's right in front of you and can be wiped off at the end of the week. (And it's free!) Just use an extra fine tip marker so you can get all your notes on it easily. Here's the link: http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2011/10/freebie-time-peek-at-week.html If it doesn't fit right into the frame you're using, you could just use printed card stock or some other paper background to create a mat around it. :)

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