Tips for Home Office Organization

Working in the office may look a little different this year since many of us are working from home. I don’t know about you, but I am ​so​ easily distracted. My daughter’s toys and artwork can get cluttered with my work, making it difficult to find what I need for work. That’s why it’s so important that my home office is as productive, organized, and efficient as possible. Luckily, Deflecto offers amazing storage solutions to help me focus on what’s really important for me- working on growing my small business. Here are my tips to help you keep your home office organized with Deflecto, so you can knock out your work projects instead of making it a project to find that spreadsheet for a meeting.

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Featured Storage Containers:

• Tilt Bin® Interlocking Storage Organizer
• Interlocking Stacking Organizer
• Interlocking Marker Organizer
  

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1. See Clearly, Think Clearly

   When organizing my space, I like to look for clear, acrylic containers like the T​ilt Bin® Interlocking Storage Organizers, so that I can see everything I need right away. Visualizing all my office supplies really helps me save my mental bandwidth for project management instead of trying to recall where I placed my laptop charger. Everything from Post-it notes, measuring tapes, chargers, and cords fits so well into the clear tilt bins. The lift and lock feature makes it super simple to stack and store for more storage space- a must for my small home office.

2. Think Outside the Box  

   I’m always thinking about innovative ways to bring creativity into my client’s products. This also translates into my home office! I love these Interlocking Stacking Organizers and the vertical space options they provide, however, I like to use them for other needs as well. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your Deflecto storage solutions to make it work for your needs! I turned my interlocking stacking organizer into a business card holder- and it works fabulously. What storage container can you use in a different way that works for your needs? 

3. Add and Subtract

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Working from home this year doesn’t have to be a chaotic, unorganized mess. Let me know which of these tips you used to maintain order so you can keep organized and productive.

Share your projects and ideas with us using: #DeflectoAtHome

Buffalo Plaid Wood Slice Pumpkin

How to Make a Buffalo Plaid Wood Slice Pumpkin

Nothing says "Warm and Cozy Fall" like Buffalo Plaid and Pumpkins.  

Add them together for a cute Fall Home Décor project.

Featured Storage:

• Deflecto Stackable Caddy Organizer
• Interlocking Marker Organizer

Materials Used:

• 7″-8″ Unfinished Round Wood Tree Slice
• Acrylic Paint:  Orange Twist, Off White, Light Gray
• 1″ Removable Painters Tape 
• Paintbrush
• Fine Grit Sandpaper or Extra Fine Grit Sanding Sponge
• Hot Glue Gun
• Small “Home” Wood Word
• Raffia, Ribbon, Button, and Twine

Directions:

• Paint the inside of the wood slice with orange acrylic paint. Leave the outer bark showing.

• Add strips of painter’s tape onto the wood slice to make stripes.  Rub your finger over the tape to make sure that the tape is securely on the wood and has no gaps.
• Paint inside the stripes with a thin coat of off white acrylic paint.  Be careful not to apply the paint too thick.   Only one thin coat of paint is needed.
• Remove painter’s tape.
• Allow paint to fully dry before continuing to the next step.

• Rotate the frame 180° and apply the tape in the opposite direction. Make sure the tape is securely down.
• Paint additional stripes with a light coat of light gray acrylic paint.

• Remove the painter’s tape. Allow the paint to dry.
• Lightly sand the wood slice. Sanding brings out the wood-grain and helps to hide any little imperfections.
• Wipe with a clean cloth.

• Cut a small 2″ piece from a tree branch to use for the stem.
• I also used a “home” wood word picked up at the craft store for my pumpkin.
• Hot glue the stem onto the top of the pumpkin.  Hot glue the word “Home” on the front of the pumpkin.

• To give the Pumpkin a little extra support, I hot glued a small wood piece (cut from an old scrabble tray) to the back of the pumpkin.  Because the wood slice is not perfectly round, you may have to offset it a bit.
• Tie raffia around the stem and hot glue a small button bow with faux fall berries onto the pumpkin

The Buffalo Plaid Wood Slice Pumpkin was created by Design Team Member Sue Eldred.

For more fun projects visit her Sue's blog here.

Share your projects and ideas with us using #DeflectoAtHome #DeflectoCrafts.

DIY Beach Inspired Windchime

A Beach Inspired Windchime for those of us that LOVE the beach.

Here is a simple project to make that you can hang on the back porch to remind you of trips to the ocean.  It's a great way to use some of those shells you collected.

HOW TO MAKE A BEACH INSPIRED WIND CHIME.

Materials Used:  

• Beach Seashells
• Driftwood Stick or Stick from your yard
• Wood Beads
• Twine and Scissors
• Acrylic Paint:  White, Light Blue, Aqua
• Paint Brush
• Fine Grit Sandpaper
• Removable Painter’s Tape
• DAP Rapid Fuse Adhesive 

Featured Storage:

• Deflecto Caddy Storage Tray 
• Deflecto Stackable Caddy Organizer 
• Deflecto Interlocking Marker Organizer 

Gather Your Supplies…

The Deflecto Caddy Storage Tray is so handy to use. It’s perfect for sorting the various sizes of wood beads used to make the windchime. And it fits perfectly into the large container of the Deflecto Stackable Caddy Organizer.  You can use the Deflecto Interlocking Marker Organizer in the caddy to hold paintbrushes.  You can put all your supplies in the caddy and take it outside and dream of being on the beach.

Faux Driftwood…

If you don't have an actual driftwood stick from the beach.  You can use a stick found in the yard and break it down to size.

• Scrape the bark off the stick.  
• Paint the stick with white acrylic paint and a couple of stripes of pale blue and aqua.
• Give the stick a light sanding with fine-grit sandpaper to rough it up and make it look more natural.

• Cut five pieces of twine approximately 24″ long.
• Tie a knot on one end of the twine.
• Wrap a small piece of blue removable painters tape on the other end of the twine to keep the twine from fraying.
• String Wood Beads onto the twine.

• Use a super-fast grab adhesive to glue the shells onto the end of the knots.

• Tie beaded twine to the painted stick.
• On the center of the stick, I glued a medium-sized Starfish purchased at a Beach Gift Shop.
• Add a couple of beads to a piece of twine. Tie twine to each end of the stick to use as a hanger.
• Stick the loose ends of the twine through the beads to hide.

The Beach Inspired Windchime was created by Design Team Member Sue Eldred,

for more fun projects from Sue you can visit Sue's Blog Here.

Share your projects and ideas with us using #DeflectoAtHome #DeflectoCrafts

Creative Doodling with Kids

Designed by Erin Reed  

Doodling with kids is a simple way to keep them busy and release a little stress.

Material Needed:

• White Paper
• Art Markers

Featured Storage:  Interlocking Marker Organizer

Creating doodles or small bits of art is easier if done one small space at a time.

Directions:

• Take a sheet of paper and fold it into quarters, making 4 panels. 
• Doodle on one panel at a time.  
• On the second panel, create a different doodle.
• Create a different doodle in each panel.  
• Having a smaller space makes it easier to be creative.  
  

For more fun projects from Erin you can visit her blog here.

Share your projects and ideas with us using #DeflectoAtHome #DeflectoCrafts

Coloring a Rainbow

Is rainbow your favorite color?  

Learn how to draw, doodle and color a bright and cheery rainbow with Design team member Beth Watson.   

Featured Storage Container:  Interlocking Marker Organizer

Materials:

• Dual Tip Brush Art Markers
• Fine Tip Permanent Marker
  
• Pencil
• Marker Paper
• Light Box
• Downloadable Version below↓

RAINBOW OF FEELINGS OUTLINE VERSIONDownload

Step #1

Always start out with a sketch.  I have a spiral-bound book that I draw rough outlines of all my doodles and printable ideas.  This is a great way to save all those quotes I randomly come across.  

Step #2 

The Cricut BrightPad is one of my favorite tools when it comes to creating printable files, doodles and drawings.  By layering the rough sketch under the smooth printer paper I can quickly and easily create different versions of the same quote.  Ink in the image with a medium grey pen.  

Step #3

• Next, take the shadow quote and layer a new piece of smooth printer paper on top.  
• Trace around the quote with a fine tip permanent marker.

Step #4

• Color the background in the lightest of blue markers.
• Letter the darker words with the brush tip of the black marker.
• Outline the block letters using the bullet tip of the marker.

Step # 5

• Start out with a sample color palette to make sure the final piece will have the perfect combination.
• Add the rainbow perspective to the word FEELS at the bottom of the quote. 
• Outline the colors and the quote with the bullet tip of the black marker.

For more information on Beth's project and the free downloadable printable.

Visit Beth's blog here.  

Create Store, Create More or #Cr8StoreCr8More for storage

Hello Cards

Just because we can't see our friends and loved ones right now doesn't mean we can't send them a hello.

These bright and cheerful cards were made using alcohol based markers and silver foiled paper.

Materials:

• Alcohol Markers
• Foiled Paper:  Silver and Ebony
• Embossing Folder
• Word Die Cuts
• Cardstock
• Adhesive

The Deflecto Stackable Caddy Organizer with the added Interlocking Marker Organizers is the perfect companion for card makers.

Project Instructions:

• Emboss the silver foiled paper using an embossing folder.
• Color the embossed parts of the silver foiled paper using the alcohol markers in a variety of colors.
• Adhere onto a black cardstock base.
• Adhere die-cut words onto the foiled paper.

For more details on Nadine's cards you can see the full post here.

Create Store, Create More or #Cr8StoreCr8More for storage

Tips and Benefits of Working at Home

Now that more and more people are working from home, Design Team Member Sue Eldred shares a few tips for getting organized, creating a neat desktop and benefits of working at home.

One of the first steps in creating a good working environment is your workspace.

It doesn’t have to be fancy or stylish. Sue's desk/work surface is an old Sunday School table purchased at a church rummage sale.

Start with a clean desktop. It’s the one thing you can do to help control the chaos in life.

Find useful items to keep you organized.

Sue uses a variety of new and vintage items to organize her craft/office space. On her desk, she likes to keep it as clutter-free as she can. The Deflecto 12″ x 12″ Stackable Storage Trays are a great way to corral paper clutter. Sue uses the first tier to hold the items she references most often.  

As a paper crafter, she uses the second tier to hold scrapbook paper and future projects. Sue used the Deflecto Interlocking Marker Organizer to hold everyday items. Of course, it’s also perfect for holding your markers and other crafty items.

Best yet, it fits inside the Deflecto Stackable Caddy Organizer.

Check out Deflecto's Website for more great products to help you create your perfect space.

Make it Personal.

It doesn’t matter if your space is temporary or permanent, make sure it reflects your personal style. If you have room, place a favorite family photo on your desk. It will remind you why you’re doing what you’re doing in the first place.

Choose Good Lighting.

To help your eyes from getting tired, choose a light fixture to brighten up your space.

One of Sue's favorite benefits of working from home is Cute Co-Workers.  

Sue says, "Don’t let the cuteness of this scruffy co-worker throw you. He’ll steal your supplies the moment you turn your back (sometimes right in front of your face)."

For more fun projects from Sue you can check out her blog here.

Create Store, Create More or #Cr8StoreCr8More for storage