Resisting Batman-related Joke Title Here

I have been thanking the fashion gods for the retro phase which has been filling the stores of late. I love my Cath Kidston bags bought in Japan and England. Modcloth and Anthropologie entrance me to such an extent that I must stay away from their websites, lest I fear for my budget. Those are a few of my favorite fashions, but my style is quite varied; suddenly, amidst all the retro frill, the Dark Knight rises. 

That’s right. I made a Batman purse. 

On a trip to Michael’s, a sign loomed above me which said “FUN Finds.” My relentless imagination pulled me in. I found a mini Batman lunchbox and was instantly inspired.

I know, I set to buy as few new materials for my projects as possible, but I did not get too far off course. The Batman mini lunchbox was one dollar. I found a shade of ribbon from the dollar section which was a near perfect match to the box. Then, another color for contrast from the same bin. 

1. Cut ribbon to desired length. (Using wired ribbon for at least one of the strands makes a stronger strap).
2. Braid.
3. Tie onto small openings on handle. 

Holy handbag, Batman. Just 3 steps to an awesomely kitchy, fun purse. (Sorry, but getting through this without a bad Batman-related joke was seriously unlikely...) 

A closer look at the strap

Off the Wall

Ever since living in Japan, I am all about vertical storage. As much as possible, things should be neatly arranged on walls, in cabinet doors and so forth. It is an excellent way to maximize space while keeping things tidy.

In the last several months, I've seen some beautiful boards for organizing makeup. Laura's Thoughts' one is amazing. I would love to claim this as my own idea, but cannot, so thank you Laura's Thoughts for your enviable board.

I kept trying to make mine, but continually hit a wall with budget. Finally, I fell into some luck at a trip to Meijer. As the school supplies filtered in, so did metallic dry-erase boards. It all fell into place after that.

One aisle over were inexpensive, metallic, mesh bins in a contrasting color. I affixed magnets with double-stick adhesive. I had one container per each category of makeup/tool.

The most convenient part of this board is the flexibility. Because of the magnets, I can easily remove and replace each bin as needed.

Oh, organized version of me, you may be far off still, but I can at least see you in the distance.

This One is Really, Really, Really Ridiculously Simple

Before

After

I have a picture frame which was a nice gift, but differing from my current taste.

Enter washi tape. The versatile paper tape is a must for those of us who wish to revamp our older items, yet remain within budget. I found my little roll by K and Company at Target. It is adorable with a dotted Swiss pattern. Despite being less than four dollars, it has already lasted for 3 projects, with more than half a roll remaining. 

With the washi tape, the rest is easy: 

1. Cover the frame with the washi tape, smoothing out any edges with a bone folder.
2.For any edges which stick out, add a bit of Modge Podge underneath, then smooth down again. 
3.After it sets, cover the entirety with Modge Podge, using a foam brush for a more finished look. 

Start!

I love hats. A few months after returning to the US from life in Japan, a box of my favorites arrived. I stared down at them and wondered “Just what am I going to do with these?” 

Organization has never been my bag. I have long wished to be one of those “disgustingly organized people,” as I used to say. Despite periodically becoming engrossed in products designed to order one’s life, it was clear the habit would never pass the window shopping phase. 

Now, this is where the hats come in... They sat in their home of several months, looking worn out from their voyage at sea. 

I lacked storage space and realized half the hats would be forgotten if tucked away on some shelf in a closet.  A hat rack was the perfect solution. Unfotunately, stores tended to prefer money over my eternal gratitude as a form of payment. I wondered if it were at all possible for me to make one.  

And so began my new-found DIY habit. Guided by my less than voluminous budget, I have been creatively upcycling items–revamping them, while buying as few new materials as possible. 

So far, most of my projects have been for function. Little by little, my dream of becoming an organized person is being realized. 

Occasionally, I make a less useful project; but what is life without whimsy?

I hope you’ll enjoy my adventures in stylish self-sufficiency. 

Hat rack:

Thank you to EnKoreMakeup for the amazing tutorial. Take a look at his brilliant hat organizer. 

I did not have nylon straps. I substituted an old yardstick instead. It conveniently laid flat against the wall, did not require sewing, and had a great zakka look.

Per EnKoreMakeup’s instructions, I glued binder clips every three inches. The yardstick was quite useful here as the measurements were already marked.  

After letting the glue dry overnight, I used several double-sided no-damage adhesive stickers to affix it to the wall. 

That was all. I had somewhere to hang my hat(s). 

I was thrilled my first big DIY/upcycle project worked out.