CasaSugar

Casa Quickie: Skip the Spices, Keep the Containers

CasaSugar — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:00:32 -0800

If you're more of a crafter than a cook, you'd still be smart to wander the kitchen aisle at your favorite retailer now and then.

Why? Small containers, such as this magnetic spice rack, are perfect for housing crafting or sewing supplies. You can even make your own. Since this spice rack can also be wall-mounted, you can preserve precious table space for your creative projects - not your supplies.

Etsy Find: Magnetic Blackboard Coasters

CasaSugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:00:10 -0700

Talk about multitasking. When you're not resting your Long Island on one of these magnetic blackboard coasters ($15 for a set of four), you can keep them on your fridge, and even jot your grocery notes down on them. This is a great solution for keeping your coffee table tidy, and I think the black circles add a fun design element to your fridge as well. The coasters are covered with UV-coated vinyl that can be drawn on with regular chalk and then wiped clean with a damp cloth.

DIY: Magnetic Spice Strips

CasaSugar — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 -0800

Good-looking, counter space-saving spice racks are hard to find. So, why not hang your spices on the wall? My Aim Is True has a great DIY that'll help you both to see and store your spices out in the open. You'll no longer have three half-empty containers of cinnamon hiding in the back of your cabinet, or four different brands and shapes of spice jars sitting uncoordinated in your cabinet. To learn the how to make this spice rack, read more

Supplies:

Watchmaker's Tin Cases
Super strong magnets
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Magnetic strips (or here and here)
White paint pen
Spices

Here's how:

Heat up your glue gun.
Glue the super strong magnets to the back of the tin cases.
Let dry.
Collect your spices. Pour them into the tins.
Jot the name of each spice on either the front (if you have good hand-writing) or back of the tin using the paint pen.
Install the magnetic strips on your wall. Don't put them too close to the heat source; it may damage the spices.
Make sure your tins are screwed closed tightly. Then, hang them on the strip! Voilà!

If you're really lazy, you can just buy The Container Store 5-Canister Magnetic Spice Rack ($14.99), but the DIY is more economical. Also, if you have a magnetic fridge, you can ditch the strips all together and just attach the tins to your refrigerator door.

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DIY: Magnetic Frames Inspiration Board

CasaSugar — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 05:37:54 -0700

Looking through the flickr group, Inspiration Boards, I was inspired by kitty80's board, which she created by painting her walls with magnetic paint and covering them with a beautiful wallpaper that is printed with ornate frame outlines. The magnetic paint allows her to hang her inspirations with magnets without damaging the wallpaper.

To no avail, I searched high and low for her wallpaper. I did find a similar paper by Graham & Brown called Frames ($40/double roll), designed by artists Taylor and Wood, and also The Family ($230/roll) by Lisa Bengtsson. These wallpapers are very interactive, allowing you to paint directly on them, or hang up inspirations or your own artwork. They also very much resemble the Deborah Bowness wallpapers I posted about recently.

For additional info. on this project, read more

I also found a great thread on Apartment Therapy about magnetic paint, that answered many of my questions. I learned that you can magnetize your walls with about three coats of magnetic paint or magnetic primer (which are not actually magnetic, but just metallic), which will do the trick to hold up your inspirations with whatever magnets you choose. I suggest using Mighties, ultra strong Neodymium magnets that are tiny and nondescript.

If you're going to wallpaper your walls with a frames printed wallpaper or another, you can just use the magnetic primer. If not, and you want charcoal/black walls, you can use the magnetic paint. Otherwise, use the primer and then paint with your regular paint color. The paint leaves a textured finish, so if are not covering up your walls with wallpaper, you should sand the walls after the paint dries and before you paint a color.

If you don't want or can't afford the Frames wallpaper, you can paint your walls white, or any other color, and then stencil or stamp on an ornate frame pattern.

Whether or not you choose to create a frame outlined inspiration board, magnetic paint is a great product and I encourage you all to try it!

Do You Use Magnetic Wipe Boards?

CasaSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:00:22 -0700

Magnetic wipe boards are a dorm room staple, even for fashionista Gossip Girl characters Blair Waldorf and Georgina Sparks. I rarely see them in postgrad homes, but they are handy if you have roommates or housemates that you need to leave notes for. Do you have one?

Photo courtesy of The CW

DIY: Glass Découpage Magnets

CasaSugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 06:15:00 -0800

Découpage is the art of cutting and pasting. Some projects are more complicated, like my découpage glass bowls. But, others, like these glass magnets, are straightforward and quick. I've been making these magnets for years. I love this project because it's so affordable, and it allows you to personalize your refrigerator, or wherever you plan to use them. To learn the steps, check out this slideshow.

View Slideshow ›

Steal of the Day: Cute, Recycled Kitchen Magnets

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 08:10:39 -0700

I love these magnets ($18 for a set of six) from Etsy seller Maiasauramade. Each magnet in this set of six features a one-of-a-kind, handmade collage. For durability, each paper collage is sealed with several layers of mod podge, then sprayed with an acrylic sealer. On the site, Maiasauramade writes, "when my second son started going through jars of baby food like gangbusters, I looked at all the lids and thought there must be something I could do with them. Magnets seemed like the perfect solution." I have to agree.

Crave Worthy: Patina Style Magnetic Vase

CasaSugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 08:42:36 -0700

This set of five Patina Style Magnetic Vases ($39.95) are as graceful as a group of ballerinas standing en pointe, but unlike dancers, these seemingly gravity-defying vessels get a helping hand from magnets.

The aluminum set comes with a metal base, which you place under a tablecloth, and each vase has a strong magnet on the bottom to keep it standing tall. This would be a stunning way to display single-stem flowers, and it's also very affordable.

Cool Idea: Good Grips MagTacks

CasaSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:00:49 -0700

Corkboards are helpful for displaying things that aren't "keepers," but using pushpins on your child's artwork or a memorable invitation can really ding it up. The obvious solution would be to use a magnet, but what if you don't have a magnetic refrigerator or other surface? If that's the case, then Good Grips MagTacks ($3.49, reduced from $6.99) are for you. These helpful objects are a pushpin and a magnet in one, which allow you to slip your precious photos or artwork between the top magnet and its pushpin base to avoid ruining them with holes. You can also store the tack head in the magnet base, if you are using a refrigerator or some type of steel message board. Pretty clever, eh?

Casa Quickie: Security Bar Makeover

CasaSugar — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:00:50 -0700

If you live in a city rental with security bars on your windows, I don't blame you for wanting to tear them off. But that wouldn't be safe, would it? You can kick the penitentiary look and perk up those windows by hanging photos and souvenirs on them with some cute, decorative magnets or super strong and tiny Mighties magnets. Don't try to fight them; embrace them! You'll never be happier behind bars.
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