Day 140: Ribbon Storage (success).

Pinterest pin and website link.

This was so easy to make using a swinging pant hanger.  I have a closest in my office, but no hanging clothing rack inside, so I just hang this over the closet doorknob and my ribbon is ready to go!  The only thing that is kind of annoying is that ribbon spools are oftentimes too big to stack the ribbon on top of each other (thus, the staggered ribbon placement).  As a bonus, I also included tape on here, so I always know where that is while wrapping presents.

Verdict:: SUCCESS!

Day 131: Favor Baskets from Scrapbook Paper (success).

Pinterest pin and website link.

These turned out so cute and only required a 12x12 piece of scrapbook paper, ruler, hole punch and ribbon.  After I finished the first one, I kept making them even though I don't have anything to go in them yet!  I'd better start baking and then distributing as friend / neighbor gifts!

I followed the blogger's tutorial exactly, and felt that she described the steps concisely -- go check them out and make your own baskets!  The only tip I would contribute is that it works better to use sturdy, double-sided scrapbook paper.  The folds are a little more difficult to do with the double-sided paper, but in the end, you'll have a much sturdier basket that will hold  more items and is pretty on both the inside and out!

Verdict: SUCCESS!

Day 108: Removing Price Sticker Residue (success).

Pinterest pin and website link.

This worked just as described!  First, peel off as much of the price sticker as you are able to with your fingers.  Then, using non-acetone nail polish remover (it must be NON-acetone) on a cotton ball, rub the remaining sticker until the residue is removed.  I had to rub pretty hard (plus use my fingernails at times) to get it all to come off.

Price sticker residue on plastic:

Removed!

Price sticker residue on hardcover and board books:

Removed from hardcover book!

Removed from board book!

(Although, just as she warned, some of the board book color came off with the sticker -- there was no way to get that sticky residue off without me pressing hard enough to take off some of the color too).

Verdict: SUCCESS!

Day 94: Kool-Aid Lip Gloss (success).

Pinterest pin and website link.

I always lose my chapstick / lip gloss, so I thought this would be a good pin to try -- if it worked, I could make a bunch and put them in various areas in my house, car, purse, bags, etc. 

Ingredients:
Vaseline (I used the generic kind below, and the Kool-Aid crystals melted / combined with the petroleum jelly as intended, something that didn't happen with many readers of the original pin.  It sounds like the trick is to NOT mix in the Kool-Aid crystals until the petroleum jelly has had a chance to cool to a lukewarm temperature.)

Unsweetened, caffeine-free Kool-Aid drink crystals.

Lip gloss containers.

Instructions:

1. Put petroleum jelly in a microwave-safe bowl (I didn't measure the jelly, but just scooped out a spoonful and did a few batches).

2. Heat the Vaseline in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between each heating.  Since I was doing a small amount at a time, it took me 2-3 minutes to melt each batch of Vaseline.  It will be liquid when fully melted and is very hot!

3. Take out of the microwave, let sit until lukewarm, and then stir in Kool-Aid drink crystals until desired color / flavor is reached.  Stir until the crystals are completely dissolved.

4. Pour into lip gloss containers and leave for a few hours to solidify.

These turned out just as described, however, I've decided I don't love the taste of Vaseline or Kool-Aid :(  Luckily, there were LOTS of comments / ideas on the original blogger's site.  First, I tried mixing honey and Emergen-C crystals with Vaseline, but could still taste the distinct petroleum jelly taste.  Then, I tried coconut oil mixed with Kool-Aid crystals, but the crystals never dissolved despite multiple attempts at heating, re-heating, stirring, etc. 

Finally, I tried Aquafor mixed with Agave Nectar.  This was my favorite attempt (I use Aquafor all the time as chapstick), but I need to do a few more attempts to hopefully figure out how to get the two ingredients to mix a little better than they did -- the agave sunk to the bottom when the mixture solidified.

Overall, the pin came together as described and I would recommend trying petroleum jelly and Kool-Aid first to see if you like the taste -- these two ingredients combined together the best out of all my options tried!

Verdict: SUCCESS!