Hi everyone, thank you for waiting patiently while I was on hiatus for 19 months on YouTube and roughly two and a half years here on my blog. If you have been following me closely on my YouTube channel, you would have seen my community posts explaining why I was inactive for that long. You see, I became my husband Patrick's caregiver while he was battling with stage 4 RCC (Renal Cell Carcinoma or kidney cancer). Sadly, he did not survive! He passed away, peacefully, on May 31, 2022, after 13 months of fiercely battling through chemo, immunotherapy...you name it. I have decided to take a break to mend my broken heart. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you, especially to those who reached out to me, asking how I was doing. Thanks for checking up on me and commenting on my old videos to send your love and support. My daughter, Jessica, and I truly appreciate the kind words, gestures, and prayers. We thank you from the bottom of our hears!
Left- me (Josie), Top Middle - Jessica, and Right- Patrick
Hi friends, this post is long overdue but the great thing about evergreen contents, they never grow old! I know that I have done a ton of DIY Dollar Tree organizers for years; however, they were made of plastic organizers that is why I was so excited when Dollar Tree started carrying wooden signs and plaques that I could use to create organizers that are not just sturdier but prettier to look at!
These multipurpose organizers are amazing. I used these to organize my spices, k-cups, drinking cups, plates, and craft items such as rolls of vinyl. They are also great as plant stands!
Assorted ways to use these wooden items.
Top photo- I used 6 solid wooden signs and 2 8"x8" wooden plaques to create this crate. I painted it in teal for that pop of color! Bottom photo - I used 6 wooden signs and 4 smaller wooden boxes to assemble them together and painted it white!
Both of these make great plant stands for fresh herbs.
The crate can be positioned sideways or upright. If your space is limited, you can use this to organize items on top of your desk or kitchen countertop.
I love this spice rack!
To watch the compilation video, please click on the YouTube thumbnail below:
It has been over two weeks since the first day of the New Year and I have been so busy on my YouTube channel. This year, I am creating a lot of Dollar Tree organizers and home decor, with focus on practicality by making my projects functional and pretty! I am also delving into more upcycling and thrifting aside from my usual pure Dollar Tree DIYs. I would like to make sure that I also do my part in helping our environment in my own small way.
Speaking of helping the environment, K-cups or coffee pods are now coming in containers that are fully recyclable, so there shouldn't be so much guilt in indulging in pod drinks! For the past couple of years, my family and I stayed away from k-cups because they were not recyclable back then, but now they are also being recycled and reused. I have used them also to germinate my seeds! In addition, there are reusable pods that you can use to lessen the carbon footprint. Now, since my family went back to drinking k-cups, I thought of creating organizers for them!
Dollar Tree is the best place to find inexpensive organizers. The wide array of options that you can use as they are or you can build to create something different like the wire and metal organizers.
This is an easy, no frill DIY. I used 1 large Dollar Tree shallow rectangular basket and 2 medium size deep baskets in gold finish. I assembled them to make a multipurpose organizer that can hang up on the wall to save some counterspace or can free-stand on the countertop! No tools needed except scissors to cut the zip ties!
Here's the side view of the finished project!
Hanging organizer.
Hanging k-cup holder.
I used 4 metal napkin holders and 1 metal paper towel holder to make this amazing k-cup tower!
It can fit up to 48 k-cups!
So compact!
Click below YouTube video to watch the full tutorial! If you are new to my blog, please don't forget to follow me here and also subscribe to my YouTube channel. Thanks for your support in the previous years, this year, and in the coming years! I love you all! Hugs~ Josie
For some time now, I have been making upcycling or trash to treasure projects on my YouTube channel. I have been enjoying transforming ordinary things that would've been thrown away and making them into something beautiful and functional. So, aside from making "decorganizers" that combine home decor and organizer into one giving a dual purpose for practicality, I am also beefing up with upcycling projects as part of what my channel will offer in the coming New Year!
This is my last upload for year 2020 but will be spearheading the year 2021 uploads for my upcycling projects.
For this DIY, I am using the new 3.5" x 5" wooden photo frames from Dollar Tree to upgrade my brother-in-law's empty shoebox and make an organizer for my growing number of pens! I have Infusible Ink pens for my Cricut machine, I also have Cra-Z-Art washable pens, chalk markers, and calligraphy pens. I need to put them where I can easily reach out for them when I need them.
I love journaling, coloring books, and writing in general. So, this DIY has been long overdue!
Top photo - I used a total of 4 pieces 3.5"x5" picture frames. Bottom photo - a man's empty shoebox measuring 8.5"14"x5"
All of my pens in one place. Four cubbies to hold each type of pens. I love the built-in iron label holder where I placed the printed labels.
I kept the organizer neutral so that the colored pens will pop!
The cubbies can also fit blank cards or greeting cards. Other items that I can store in this organizer are ephemeras, journaling cards, small sticker books, recipe cards, stationery, etc. By the way, the green wooden cube drawer with faux flowers on top is an example of a decorganizer I made.
Here is a picture where I used it as pen holder. The drawer contained several rolls of small washi tapes!
To watch the full process video, please click on the video thumbnail below. Enjoy!
It's that time of the year when we love to drink hot beverages whether they may be hot coffee, hot chocolate, or hot tea! Here are three money saving ideas to create your own hot drinks stations!
DIY1: HOT DRINKS BAR
Set up the hot drinks bar using a microwave stand or baker's rack like this one showing below.
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
I love this microwave stand. It's wooden and metal combo finishes add warmth to our kitchen. The wood matches the our dining tabletop, too!
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
This 2-tier wooden tray from Hearth and Hand, which are sold at Target is an excellent way to organize cups, creamers, and sugar!
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
I made the sign using Dollar Tree 11"x14" picture frame and "It's Good to be Home" vinyl placemat. I added three plastic adhesive hooks from Dollar Tree at the bottom back part of the frame that I adorned with winter faux greenery.
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
My favorite part of this hot drinks station is my DIY mini apothecary storage chest where I kept my hot tea bags of different flavors.
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
I used eight pieces of wooden drawer cubes from Dollar Tree and added iron label pulls from Amazon. I used Apple Barrel's acrylic paint in Nutmeg Brown to paint the boxes inside and out!
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
Watch this video for the full tutorial on how I made the apothecary chest.
DIY2: KITCHEN NOOK HOT DRINKS STATION
This is our current set-up! By using a small corner of our kitchen next to our refrigerator,
I took advantage of the cabinets above and below to hold supplies!
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
I also organized the coffee pods and hot cocoa sachets on this DIY caddy that I made using Dollar Tree materials. I also hung this vintage green and white 8-tilt-out-door compartments that I got at Michaels' three years ago using a discount coupon. I paid only $6.99 for this craft organizer turned tea bag organizer. I love that each compartment has a clear tilt-out-door so that my family and I can easily identify the flavors.
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
DIY3: HOT BEVERAGES CART
If you live in a small space and you don't have an extra space for a baker's rack or kitchen counter top nook for your hot drinks, you can use a utility cart and turn it into your hot beverages bar. I love that this is mobile, so you can pretty much place it anywhere in your home!
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
This cart is packed with goodies to keep you warm during the cold winter season! Here, I added a roll of paper towel using Dollar Tree wire tray and dowel.
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
Here's the side view of the accessories I added to the side. It can hold the kitchen towel if you don't like to use the roll of paper towel.
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
The top shelf has enough room for the single cup coffee pod dispenser and containers for sugar, creamer, and stirrers.
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
The middle shelf can hold cups, coffee pods, tea bags, hot cocoa sachets, and mini marshmallow bags.
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
The bottom shelf holds the paper cups and lids. The two containers hold the extra supplies!
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
Watch the full video on how I set up these three hot drinks stations by clicking on the thumbnail below:
I hope you have fun creating your own hot cocoa, hot coffee, and hot tea drinks in your own hot beverages station!
It's that time for holiday gift-giving! Here are some holiday gift ideas that you can make on your own using inexpensive mostly items from Dollar Tree. Below are photos of each project. Scroll at the very bottom for the YouTube video.
DIY1: Wooden Box Sign
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
DIY2: Decorganizer
Using 2 Dollar Tree wooden cubes with drawers attached together and painted in Apple barrel Limeade green acrylic paint.
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
Use as a pen or pencil holder or...
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
Use as a silk flower arrangement vase. The drawer can contain small items like paper clips, washis, erasers, or any small items.
DIY3: Recycled Jars with Candies
Here, I used two small empty jars used for jams. I cleaned them up to contain mini candy canes from Dollar Tree.
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
I used labels and chalk marker from Arteza.
DIY4: Edible Gifts
I used small lidded jars that I bought years ago from Michaels. Originally, they were $1.50 each but I got them on sale for 25 cents. I added assorted candies in holiday colors for a festive look.
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
I also used Dollar Tree labels and embellishments to decorate them.
DIY5: Wooden Coasters
Here, I used four pine wood slices from Arteza. I decorated each using Dollar Tree butterfly stickers.
Photo copyright: LifeAt50&Beyond
They are perfect as gifts all year-round!
Watch my video to learn how to make each project! See you there!
Hello everyone!!! Josie here from LifeAt50&Beyond. Ever since hitting 100K+ subscribers I have been thinking of doing a "Top 10 List" of all the DIYs I have made. For all of the people who have supported me I cannot thank you enough for all your support. The success of the channel has been because of all you. Hopefully this list that I am about to make will help both new and old subscribers of the channel. I will also link this list to Pinterest.
For this list I will be focusing on DIYs that would help crafters such as myself. We do not want clutter in our work areas so these DIYs will be a lot of help to all of you who have the same passion for crafting like me. This will also be helpful to those who are thinking about getting into crafting. It will inspire who further when you see your work area or workstation free of clutter.
So let's get unto the list. Take note these DIYs are not arranged in any order. These are the 10 DIYs that I have deemed best for crafters to avoid any clutter in their workspace. If you have any suggestions or comments just send me a message or leave a comment. So let's get started!!!
For this project I used stackable bins that I bought from Dollar Tree. This is perfect for your work space. But not only there. This will be a perfect organizer under your sink as well. Depending on how you setup the bin, it will be possible to store your spray paint cans or tall bottles in this bin. On the video I used it for our stuff to store under the sink and also showed how to use it for my dog's stuff.
For many years I have been wrapping gifts that I would give my relatives and friends. So I have a lot of gift wrapping paper. Because of a request from a subscriber I was able to make an organizer for the said gift wrapping papers. It can hold 12 rolls of gift wrapping paper and it only costs $1. This solved my storage issue with the wrapping papers.
Here is a quick DIY that you can do so you would have a stand for your glue gun. For just less than $3 I was able to make a glue stand with a container for glue sticks. It solved the problem I was having with burning my work table. Since the material I used is glass it will not melt nor burn. It's very simple to make and it will help out all crafters who use hot glue guns.
Next one is another request from a subscriber. He requested it for his daughter. He wanted to give hs daughter a nightstand. For this project I used 2 interlocking crates that I bought from Wal-Mart and stacked them. If you want to make this sturdier you can use hot glue or E6000. In this video I showed how to setup the nightstand with different types of bins. You can also use decorated shoeboxes as an alternative to the bins if you do not have bins.
Truth be told this is one of the DIYs I am very proud of. Believe it or not until today I find myself using this project for all of my crafting needs. It is a mobile organizer. I can easily move it into any place in my crafting room. Most of the things I use are all in this mobile organizer. And the good thing about it is you can make this DIY on the cheap. You do not need to spend a lot of money on creating good projects. Always go for the "bang for the buck" mentality when going into these projects. Check the video out and see what you think of this specific project.
No matter how we try to control it we always run out of space in our work area. We try everything from rearranging furniture to getting bigger bins. The thing with rooms is that we do not always use a majority of the space it has. With this DIY we will be able to use the door as a place to organize our materials. It will help a lot with clearing clutter and making space in the work area. Check it out.
Doing multipurpose organizers can be a blast. On one hand you create something out of nothing and on the other hand you can use that something for different purposes. These projects shows you that these organizers can be used for both your crafts and for makeup. It will be a great addition to any room. In this video I revamped one organizer that I made for the purposes of a buffet. I revamped it to be used for my paint bottles. The other one is a new project for the same multipurpose function. Great with stamps and of course great with makeup kits.
This project came about when I was running out of space for my scrapbooks. I wanted to organize my small collection of scrapbooks. The project was a success since it helped me with organizing my scrapbooks and of course it will be expandable which will help a lot especially once my collection grows in number. Very simple to make and great for your craft room.
Another simple project that has multipurpose uses. Using a baking tray and some magnetic materials I was able to make a multipurpose organizer that you can use for your crafting and even use it in your kitchen. A very quick and fast DIY. I also gave a couple of suggestions on how to use this project on other things. Check the video out and tell me what you think about it.
On this project I used materials I bought from Dollar Tree. It's another organizer. I call it a caddy. The stuff that you can put into this caddy may be limited but it will really be a big help for you with your crafting. You can also use this in your kitchen and even in your small office. The uses for this caddy is endless.
So there it is folks. Our first instalment of Top 10 Projects. Tell me what did you think about the list? Do you have any requests for future Top 10s? You can message me at my YouTube channel or leave a comment on this blog. Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much for the support. This keeps me inspired with what I do on my channel.
