Tool Time Tuesday...Credit Card Case

What does Home Depot and Vera Bradley have in common?...Crazy Karen at Sew Many Ways.

This is my credit card case and was inspired by...

this case that belongs to my daughter Courtney.

The only thing they have in common (because mine is far from a Vera) is this type of screw.

Here's my screw!

I found these "binding post" screws at Home Depot for 98 cents a bag. One screw set per bag.

The smooth part goes through your item and then the...

threaded part screws into the smooth tube and secures the item together.

Smooth middle with 2 flat screw ends to hold everything together. I used the 1/2 inch size.

Now, to put together the credit card case.

You'll need a package of name badge holders.

They come in vertical...(I used these)

or horizontal shape.

For the outer case, a plastic of some sort is more sturdy. These are plastic place mats, plastic note book covers or a plastic file folder.

Cut your plastic a little bit larger than your name badge holders and mark the center of the hole.

Punch with hole punch on both pieces.

Put together the front plastic, the name badges and then the plastic backing. Push the longer of the screw parts that is smooth through all parts.

 
Now screw in the threaded short piece until it's flat and all the way in.

That American Express card is one of the fake ones that come in the mail for advertising, so don't worry!!

If you are just using the plastic for the outer case, cut the corners so they are rounded.

Now, let's add some fabric.

You will need 4 pieces of fabric a little bit larger than your plastic pieces.

This piece of fabric is the one that will show on the front, so if there is a design center it on the plastic.

I hot glued all four sides.

Then I took another piece, that was cut to fit exactly, to cover the raw edges.

This side is the inside of the cards case, but glue down carefully, so it doesn't fray.

You can also use Mod Podge on the whole piece to seal and protect the fabric.

Mod Podge is a glue and sealer all in one.

Click here to go to an earlier post I did about other ideas for name badges...pictures, fabric swatches etc..

or click here for all name badge ideas I've done so far...

I love hardware stores...if you've been following Tool Time, I know you love hardware stores too!!!

Happy Tuesday,
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...What's In Your Medicine Cabinet?

Hello everyone...this Tool Time Tuesday has some organizing ideas and some sewing storage tips, but all the ideas are from your medicine cabinet.

Here's a picture of a closet in our back hallway off the kitchen. It's not visible from the kitchen, but the hallway is used a great deal. I removed the doors for easy access and used cute baskets to keep it clean looking. I am trying to buy a few baskets at a time of the oval shaped ones so they'll all match. Right now I'm just using baskets from around the house.

It's so much easier for everyone to find something in the medicine cabinet if things are labeled. I've shown this idea before, but I just use name badge holders and printed the name of what's in the basket.



Here are a few examples of the baskets in my medicine closet!!

And now to steal a few things out of this medicine closet for this week's Tool Time.

Do you have a daily pill case hanging around? If not they are available in any drug store.

How about using it as a travel case for your bobbins. Great to take it with you to a class or when you're going on a retreat.

Don't forget another Tool Time idea of using the mini hair scrunchies to wrap around each bobbin. They hold the thread in place so it won't unwind. Click here for that post.

All safe and sound in the case.

This is a big pill organizer case that was my mom's. It's a weekly box that has morning, noon, evening and bedtime spots.

A great case to hold ALL your bobbins.

Here's a rectangular pill case

with longer compartments.

Perfect to hold all your different sized needles.

Half could be machine and the other could be hand sewing needles.

Label it with the size number of each needle.

Save all your old empty pill bottles or the bottles from your prescription pills.

Label it clearly with "OLD NEEDLES" or "BROKEN NEEDLES"...much safer to store them all in a bottle and then just throw the whole bottle away once it's full.

Here's a another tip...go through your medicine and dispose all the expired medication. Not sure how your city or state disposes of old meds, but find out where...don't throw them down the drain into the water supply!

This medicine has expired , but the bottle is great. Dispose of the medication properly and wash out the bottle. When the soapy water is in the bottle, squirt it out of the sprayer to clean that out. Do this a few times until you test it on white fabric and it comes out clear.

Mod Podge some cute fabric over the label and you have the cutest travel water spray bottle for classes or retreats when you are ironing and want some extra steam!

and here is the measuring cup from Pepto Bismol...I'm seeing a little pin cushion in this little guys future. You can use this tutorial as a guide.

So my advice to you is clean out your medicine cabinet, organize it and save all the empty bottles and containers. Wash them out thoroughly. You never know what you can do with them.

Don't forget the Accuquilt Go Fabric Cutter give away ends tomorrow...Wednesday, September 1st at 6pm eastern time. I will pick a winner and announce it later on that evening. You can still enter HERE.

Have a super duper Tuesday,

~Karen~