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Archive for the ‘bright ideas’ Category

Ask the organiser – 7 ideas to organise art projects

Wednesday, August 1st, 2007

I received a question from someone who says.

I need help!!! How can I organize my 5 year old daughter’s art projects?!?!

Start by teaching your child valuable organising skills from an early age that will stand them in good stead later in life. A two-year-old can do basic organising like throwing all their dolls into a basket (categorising).

It’s important to realise that quantity does not equal quality! Sit with her, go through the projects and let her decide on her favourites. This helps the child to prioritise and learn.

A word of caution – make it easy for your child. There is no point in setting up a complicated system that will be difficult to use and maintain.

Actual organising of the projects

Have a folder for each year of school. Your child can choose what she wants to keep and the rest can go.

Scan the projects and burn to CD.

Take a picture of your child with the projects.

Use artwork to wrap gifts for family and friends. WIth children going to parties all the time, you’ll be sure to get through all that extra artwork in no time.

Fold into an envelope and post to distant relatives. They will love getting mail and your child will love the idea of sending a letter.

Laminate favourites and use them as placemats.

Have a treasure/ memory box. When the box is full, it’s time to go through it and declutter.

Anybody else have some bright ideas?

Posted in Ask the organiser, bright ideas, children, organising children's artwork | Comments Off

Organise your magazine clippings

Tuesday, July 31st, 2007

I’m a bit of an information junkie so I often find myself buying a magazine because one or two headlines caught my eye.

Sound familiar?

I don’t like keeping magazines because all you need are about 5 pages (if that) from each magazine and it’s a waste of space! Not to mention a waste of time when you have to look through that whole magazine for that article

So this is how I organise all my clippings:

1. I have a flipfile (can someone please tell me what you call it in other parts of the world?) for each broad category subject, like

Organising/ storage ideas
Health
Fitness
Creativity
Financial
Christmas ideas
Passion (largely due to my work at the church)
Recipes to try

I like the 20-page ones although most of these are of the 10-page variety. Just because they’re more readily available.

2. As I read (and this is key, otherwise you spend MORE time going through the magazine a second time), I pull out the pages I want to keep.

3. I then throw them in my in-tray in my study and when want to organise, I take my flipfiles, scissors and pages with me to do in front of the TV.

4. I then neatly trim the edges of the pages and simply slip them into the plastic sleeves.

5. Every 6 – 12 months, depending on how many magazines I’ve been reading, I’ll quickly flip through the flipfile to see if I can throw anything away. Sometimes our tastes change and you now know without a shadow of doubt that you’ll not be doing mosaic art anytime soon

(I’m just saying!).

This maintenance stage is critical otherwise you’ll just keep hoarding more and more stuff. Sometimes the mere idea of having to prepare another file helps me to get ruthless with the clippings. I know it’s not a big deal to write out a label but I actually like the idea of containing my info-addiction.

So how do you organise your magazine clippings?

Don’t forget to check my main blog page for the discount on the Household Organising File.

Posted in bright ideas, favourite organising tools, flipfiles, magazines, Office paper computer | Comments Off

Quick tip #1 – storing jewellery

Friday, June 29th, 2007

Look at this great tip I found in my MissusSmartyPants newsletter this week.

Dear MSP,

I was just reading my Flylady e-mails, and saw the bit about organizing our accessories. I thought I’d share one of my favorite ways: a martini glass!

I dangle my earrings along the brim, and inside the glass I put rings, some of my post-earrings, etc. It looks cute and really helps me find the earrings I want to wear.

Shanon

I like this idea for a couple of reasons:

The stem of the glass means it doesn’t take up much space.
It’s cute
It’s see-through so you know exactly which rings are in there.
It uses the item in a very different way.

Do you have some interesting ideas to store jewellery?

(BTW, I’m still looking for a great way to store watches)

Posted in bright ideas, jewellery | Comments Off

WFMW – remembering pills

Tuesday, June 26th, 2007

When I’m trying to get into a new habit I link it to something I already do (like eat breakfast), so that’s when I generally take all my vitamins. But it’s such a habit that I’m on auto-pilot so I can’t remember what I’ve taken and what I haven’t.

I measure out enough of my normal vitamins for the week in a special box so I know that if it’s Friday, there should only be 3 of each if I haven’t taken them yet.

I’ve had to start taking some extra tablets recently and had to keep counting “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc” to check whether I’d taken them already.

To help me remember, this is what I did.

I wrote the days of the week in permanent marker on the plastic side of the blister pack.

So far, it’s working for me For more great tips, visit Shannon

Posted in bright ideas, Works for me Wednesday | Comments Off

Other uses for candle holders

Monday, March 12th, 2007

I like to use things around the house items for other, lesser-known purposes.

So today I thought I’d tell you how I use candle holders, for reasons other than candles, that is.

I use them on my bedside table to store my rings when I go to sleep. In the photo, you can see my wedding ring and the other one I wear on my right hand.
I also use it to keep some vinegar when it’s summer. My grandmother taught me a little bit of vinegar near your bed keeps mosquitoes away. By the way, this also works for flies in the kitchen when you’re preparing meat.
I also use another one for loose change.
You can also use for paper clips on a desk.

What else can you think of?