1.10.2011

{create} organizing labels

I think everyone agrees that it's much easier to cook in an organized kitchen. I'm much happier when I don't have to dig for an ingredient, or better yet, GUESS if this is what I think it is. That's always scary! I've been slowly working on our kitchen organization for about ... the last year. These things take time :). It started when I organized and labeled our spices. Loved the result. So I started thinking about ways I could better organize our dry goods. See, being a gluten free household is a little high maintenance. We have all sorts of different flours and starches hanging around ... most of which we buy in bulk. So they're in those unsightly plastic baggies with twist ties (which I always manage to lose). Last summer I bought glass jars and transferred all our flour, seeds, rice, oatmeal, etc. to the jars.

Instantly, we had more space and it was so much more organized. I slapped sticky notes on the jars until I could find time to apply the labels I made ... back in August. Friends, tapioca starch looks an awful lot like brown rice flour. And it's really hard to tell the difference a when a sticky notes flies out of the cabinet and wedges itself under the stove. Just sayin'.

So last week I took the time (all 30 minutes of it) to cut out and apply labels. I made labels for the tops of all the jars, and for the sides.

Some sides have special ingredient directions.

Some are just simple labels that are easy to see in the cabinets.

So now our fridge look more organized.

And pulling flours out of the cabinet is is easy! This really makes finding a certain ingredient a breeze. And while doing this I was also cleaning (of course. More to come on that later), and found five more ingredients need new jar homes! So, I'll be making more labels stat.

So, how can you make your own? 
  • First, design a template, or download the one I made up here: jars.jpg. You can easily download the template into Microsoft Word and then type your ingredients over the .jpg.
  • Next, print. I chose to print mine onto sticky paper (such as this). Everything I labeled is in jars that I won't be washing often and this just made sense for us. If you're going to be labeling something that'll be washed a lot or you're just worried about man-handling, simply print your labels, laminate (or cover with clear contact paper!), and cut out. Apply with double sided tape, or even velcro.
  • Last, stick to your jars!  And, say goodbye to unsightly plastic bulk baggies :)
I LOVE easy upgrades that make a HUGE difference! 

How do you all organize your kitchen cabinets? I'd love to hear all your great ideas for keeping things clean and uncluttered!

17 comments:

  1. Gah. I'm not nearly as organized. Sigh.

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  2. great blog! excited to follow along :)

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  3. So organized! I recycle old jars from salsas and sauces so I have a mishmash of like 30 different shapes and sizes... its a little eclectic - but boy it beats the pants off of cardboard boxes all over the place! <3

    Happy Monday love! <3

    xoXOxo
    Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

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  4. This is funny, since spice jar labeling (with downloads from Martha) is on the to-do list this week. I was just waiting for the sticky paper to arrive, but it's here and now I'm raring to go.

    Perhaps this is some sort of organizational procrastination, since there are much larger fish to fry around my place...but so be it. I'm looking forward to the labeling.

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  5. I love the labels. Do you have pictures? I'd love to see!!

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  6. Ashly, besides the pictures I posted? Are they not showing up?

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  7. What a great idea! It looks so pretty and so clean.

    I haven't been following your blog long, so if you have covered this in another post I apologize but do you have some gluten free recipes or links to some other blogs that might have some? We are having some friends over for dinner in a few weeks and she cannot have any gluten. I've never cooked anything gluten free before and want to make sure she can eat everything we make! :)

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  8. you are a girl after my own heart! love this idea and how wonderful everything looks displayed afterwards. you've been so busy with all the renos, redos and cleanups. can i borrow like a smidge of your energy....got any left to spare?! xo ♥

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  9. I just love those cute labels and your fridge looks amazing!!!

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  10. I am in love with your labeling expertise. So pretty, so fun, so ORGANIZED!! I am thrilled that I am not the only person who labels their pantry, and I may have to steal your idea of including directions since I am always looking those type of things up.

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  11. Um. Can you come adorn my jars next?!?

    Happy New Year!

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  12. you have inspired me to get more organized! i LOVE the labels. thanks for sharing!

    also, i hope you check out my very first GIVEAWAY! :)

    xoxo
    your newest follower

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  13. Thank you for the inspiration, I'm going to do that this weekend!

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  14. Can I just live in your kitchen?

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  15. Look the labels!I am looking forward to doing this with our jars. Thanks. I really like your blog.

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  16. Thanks as always for the inspiration! I did something similar with my kitchen pantry and love the results:

    http://ktrefinishingschool.blogspot.com/2011/05/organize-kitchen-pantry.html

    Hope you are having fun on your business trip :)

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Your comments make my day! Thanks for stopping by and sharing! :)