Did you think I wasn't doing any projects?

My house is on the market, but it doesn't mean that I'm not sprinkling my creativity where ever I can.

I'm just having to limit it.  Because you don't want to make big changes when your house is on the market. (Or so "they" say.)  Plus you can't really make big changes when you've committed to spending a lot less and changing your entire lifestyle, which is why you have your house on the market in the first place, and are now living on a cash-only budget, that truly means actual green stuff in a wallet.  (Or not. Depending upon the day's proximity to payday.)

Assuming that downsizing our home to a smaller more affordable home (if that day ever comes) will actually mean losing space, as in probable classroom space, I've committed to finding a way to create a compact homeschooling space.  I plan to convert this console table into "two desks" for my children.  That way, homeschooling at the kitchen table becomes a snap.  No additional classroom space needed.  (Well, I mean a closet for additional manuals and supplies might be handy, but I'll cross that bridge when I buy a different house.)

And when I said "two desks" I didn't actually mean that I was going to chop up the table and make desks out of it.  In case you were wondering.  Which you may have been, if you've been reading my blog for any length of time.  Then again, you might also remember that I'm not allowed to touch Adrain's power tools, so perhaps you weren't wondering that.  I found two of the sweetest baskets you have ever seen but they were $30.00 each.  They had liners and chalkboard labels and they would have made Pottery Barn proud.  But I can't afford to spend $60.00, considering that I'm hoping to sell my children's actual desks for a grand total of $30.00. (Also assuming that someone will ever buy them from me.)

I found these two wooden crates at JoAnn's Fabrics for $9.99 each and used a teacher's discount to drop that price even more.  Then I brought them home and slapped some creamy white paint on them.  This just needs to be said. Painting crates is not fun.  All these little grooves and spaces to cover with paint. Ech!

While I was at the craft store, I saw these darling little chalkboards for $1.99 each.  I grabbed two of them.  The only problem was that the chalkboard frame was pine, and the chalkboard was an ugly greenish-gray.  I hit them with chalkboard spray paint in black (one coat) and some more creamy paint on the frame.

Then I seasoned them, once dry, by rubbing a piece of chalk sideways, across them.

And now I have ready made labels for my crates.  Have I ever mentioned that I love chalkboards?  I might require an intervention, but honestly they make perfect sense to my organizational-loving brain.  I hot glued them onto the crates. 

Done!  Now I just have to order curriculum.  And put school supplies into the drawers for next year.  And sell my house.  Oh yeah... and find myself another house.  

This week I'm only posting about easy crafty ideas, with minimal money spent!
Because it's fun.  And right about now, I'm needing a little fun.  How about you?  I'm linking up here for other projects!!