Oh the things you can do with a staple gun (Part 1)

I love staple guns. They are one of the best tools for projects around the house. I was able to make the headboard in our guest room. I used some plywood, 1x2 boards, batting, fabric, and buttons. I cut the plywood board to the width of the bed. Then I screwed the 1x2 boards around the edge of the plywood to form a frame.

Next, I covered the front and edges of the headboard with batting. I used the staple gun to staple the batting onto the back frame. Then, I repeated the same process with the fabric. On the corners, fold the fabric like a present. Make sure to stretch the fabric taut. It is best to staple the middle first and then stretch it out towards the edges. I also used the staple gun to create the tufting effect with the buttons. I placed a staple where I wanted each button to go and then used the glue gun to glue them in place.

Article on new cleaning uses for common items

Check out this fun article on new uses for common items in your house. My favorite one I want to use is to put coasters in the pantry under sticky items like the honey jar or my bottle of oil. No more messy clean up! Love it!

Rit Color Remover

Pink towels next to a white towel before using Color Remover
Towels after using Color Remover

I saw this at the store the other day by Rit Color Dyes and the regular detergents. I thought I would give it a go since all of my dishtowels are pink (I washed a little tiny red handtowel with the dishtowels and it wasn't very forgiving). It worked great! You can either put it in your washing machine and let the fabric soak and agitate for 30-60 minutes or in a big stainless steel pot on the stove with hot water. I have a front loading washer so I didn't think the product would work as the water level is very low in these washing machines. I also didn't have a stainless steel pot (it said not to use aluminum or non-stick pots). I just filled my stainless steel kitchen sink with hot water and added a quart of boiling water to make it extra hot. Then I added the Rit Color Remover packet and the towels. I let them sit for about an hour, stirring it all around a couple of times. Then you rinse and wash as regular with detergent. For $1.66 at Walmart (it cost more at the regular grocery store), this is a great find to save clothing from washing accidents.

Weird things to save

I love saving the rubberbands that come on broccoli and celery. For some reason I think those are the best rubberbands ever! They come in handy all the time because they are so thick and stretchy and don't break. I keep them in a little container in the kitchen drawer (see article on baby food containers). Does anyone else do this or think they are great?

House Rules

Here is my version of the House Rules poem. I kind of mixed a few versions together.

If you sleep on it...make it up.
If you wear it...hang it up.
If you drop it...pick it up.
If you eat out of it...wash it up.
If you step on it...wipe it up.
If you open it...close it.
If you empty it...fill it up.
If you fill it up...empty it.
If you spill it...wipe it up.
If you turn it on...turn it off.
If you make it dirty...wash it.
If you have garbage...trash it.
If it whines...feed it.
If it cries...love it.