A DIY family command center is a great way to get your whole family organized! Find out how to make one on a budget using items already in your home.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”Stop losing your forms, keys, important bills, and more with a DIY family command center!” username=”diyadulation”]

Note: We have updated our system. Find the new one here!

It is no secret that being organized save your family time and money. Of course, that’s easier said than done.

How many times have your kids lost field trip forms? Is your husband constantly asking where his keys are?

The worst is when you forget to pay a bill because it got buried in piles of mail.

A DIY family command center helps with all of those problems and more!

The larger (and older) our family gets the more difficult it is to keep track of all of our stuff. I needed to figure out a way organize the whole family in one place because I was tired of homework, coupons, and invitations getting lost.

That was exactly why we needed to get our family organized. I didn’t want to spend a ton of money on it but still wanted something both pretty and functional.

Turns out you can make a DIY family command center easily using items you already have.

Determine Your Family’s Needs

The components of your command center will vary based on your family’s needs and lifestyle. Take a minute before getting started to brainstorm ideas for what you need your DIY family command center to do. Then determine the items that will help you accomplish that. Here are some examples:

Cork Board for notes, invitations, and more.
Central Calendar to keep everyone on the same page.
Homework Folder for each kid.
Individual Kid’s Boards with chores, storage, and more.
Mail Organizer to keep you from ever missing another bill.
Office Supplies Holder

Find the Items Needed

Cork Board

I had a perfectly good cork board already. However, it was plain and kind of ugly so I covered it with fabric to brighten it up. Simply hot glue the fabric edges to the back of your board and voila!

Calendar

Don’t think this has to be anything expensive or fancy. An upcycled thrift store frame with a grid inside works perfectly.

Homework Folder

We didn’t really have anything I liked for this, so I made my own using cardboard, fabric, and a glue gun. You could also do this with file folders and binder clips.

Individual Kid’s Boards

We had picked up some of those metal, wire squares that you put together to make a cube organizer (at Goodwill for $1.50 I might add). The way that I put them together to organize kids’ craft supplies left me with extra squares. I decided I could use these to make my kid’s boards. The rest was made with just craft paper, cork, and zip ties.

Mail Organizer

This was also made out of cardboard. It is covered it with craft paper to decorate it. If you already have a mail organizer that works for you but maybe isn’t quite your style, give it a quick makeover with Mod Podge or spray paint.

Office Supplies Holder

Ours is made out of the bottom of an already decorative greeting card box. All I did was punch 2 holes in it and added some zip ties to hang it from. Super easy.

Getting Your Family On Board

The most difficult part of any system you put into place is getting your family on board. Your family needs to use the command center to make it effective. While I can’t promise that it will happen overnight, I do have some tips to make it easier:

First of all, make it convenient. Put your DIY family command center in a location that is convenient when walking in your home. This will increase the incentive to use it.
Secondly, be excited. Young kids will mimic your enthusiasm and your husband will love how excited you are. Talk about an easy way to make you happier.
Lastly, remember to be consistent. Kids especially will need reminding about the new system. Stick with it and it will eventually become second-nature.

This DIY family command center doesn’t cost a dime to make when you use items you already own in creative ways. You will always know where bills are located and if there are permission slips that need signed. Your husband will always locate his keys and wallet easily. No more late fees while you are paying off debt and no excuses for someone “not knowing” you had plans. This will free up your time an energy to do things you actually want to do.

See where I’m linking up!

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

More Ideas You’ll Love:

DIY Coffee Mug Organization Rack
Tips to Organize Personal Information Now
DIY Debt Payoff Chalkboard
Washi Tape Dry Erase Calendar – Made in a Day

We are back with the Movie Monday Challenge! This month I’m going full nerd with this DIY Harry Potter Golden Egg!

Guess what! It is made with simple materials that come together to create a gorgeous piece of covert nerd decor for your home. Even better, it is a fun way to inject your nerd style into your Easter decor.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”This #DIY #HarryPotter Golden Egg is the most fun egg project you will ever make!” username=”diyadulation”]

Materials

Plastic Easter Egg
Air Dry Clay
Gold Enamel Paint
Paint Brush
Black Acrylic Paint
Ultra Fine Point Marker
Paper Towel

Step 1

Start with a clean plastic egg. The color doesn’t matter because you will be covering it.

Step 2

Next, pull out a piece of air dry clay and roll into a ball as pictured.

Step 3

Then flatten your ball of clay and use it to cover your egg. It helps to roll the egg in your hands to evenly spread the clay. Be sure to pinch the seams and flatten them.

Step 4

Start carving your design with your ultra fine point marker. Carve lines down from a center point on the top of your egg.

Step 5

Next, carve the building in the picture above starting with the outline then moving onto the smaller details.

Tip:

Carefully rub off any pills that form from your carving.

Step 6

Continue carving the design as you see in the photo above. Again, start with the larger outlines and then move on to the smaller details.

Step 7

Lastly, add the design on the left of the first building you carved. Use the photo above for reference.

Step 8

Repeat carving steps 4 through 7 on the opposite side of your egg.

Step 9

Finally, carve cross hatched lines along the long vertical carved lines.

Step 10

Now pull out a small piece of clay and roll it slightly oblong.

Step 11

Split your small piece of clay in half.

Step 12

Next, roll out each half of clay into a rope and flatten. Use the picture above for reference.

Step 13

Place the flattened pieces criss-crossed on the top of your egg as pictured.

Step 14

Add a line down the center of each fourth of your criss-crossed clay pieces.

Step 15

Then add cross hatches as pictured above.

Step 16

Pull out a small piece of clay and roll it into a ball.

Step 17

Flatten the ball and attach it to the top of your egg.

Step 18

Finish off your egg with a tiny, flattened clay ball.

Step 19

Allow the clay to dry completely before moving on. Follow the directions on your packaging. For example, the Crayola clay that I used calls for 2-3 days dry time depending on thickness.

Tip:

Don’t worry too much if you get cracks like your see above. They will be covered with paint or you can wet them slightly to try and fix them.

Step 20

After your clay has dried completely, cover it in gold enamel paint. Let it dry completely.

Step 21 (Optional)

Touch up any areas with gold paint as needed. Mine did not so I skipped this step.

Step 22

Now cover one half of your egg with black acrylic paint. This is easiest if you put a dollop on your finger and spread it over the egg. Pay special attention to the carved areas.

Step 23

Immediately use a paper towel to wipe off the excess black acrylic paint.

Step 24

Repeat steps 22 and 23 on the remaining part of your egg.

Step 25

Allow your paint to dry to completely and you’re good to go!

This DIY Harry Potter Golden Egg is the most fun egg project I have ever made. It is the perfect new covert nerd decor for your home. Originally I was going to use it as Easter decor but I love it so much it is going to be out year-long.

Now it’s time to check out the other awesome projects my friends made for this month’s Movie Monday Challenge! See all of the creativity at work below.

See where I’m linking up!

On the last (or fourth) Monday of each month, a group of bloggers participate in a #MovieMondayChallenge, hosted by C’mon Get Crafty! We decide on a topic, genre, or specific movie to use for inspiration and everyone gets free reign to create something wonderful!

This month’s challenge was. . . . KIDS! Everyone was allowed to choose their own favorite film so long as it was inspired by the challenge word.

Now let’s see what everyone else was inspired to create for this month’s #MovieMondayChallenge!! If you’d like to join our Facebook group, you can request an invite here.

An InLinkz Link-up

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

Save money on basket fillers this year with these delicious mint and raspberry chocolate crosses. They’re easy to make and kiddos love them!

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”Control the candy level and your budget with these mint and raspberry chocolate crosses! #Easter #candy” username=”diyadulation”]

Baskets filled with candy are your nightmare on Easter. It leads to sugar-hyped kiddos and cupboards full of candy for months.

I believe we were still hoarding Easter candy come Christmas last year. That’s why we don’t load our Easter baskets up with candy.

Instead the kids get one plastic egg with candy inside, peeps (because they’re pretty), and a chocolate cross.

Years ago, I bought this chocolate mold and started making my own to save money and it has definitely paid for itself. This year, mix up the traditional chocolate with these mint and raspberry chocolate crosses.

Funny story… I hate white chocolate. I have no idea why, I have just never enjoyed the taste.

Unfortunately, white chocolate is the best for making the pretty colors and designs that I love. You simply can’t achieve that prettiness with cocoa chocolate.

Luckily, my kids have never met a candy they didn’t like so I get to enjoy the pretty colors and designs vicariously through them. That’s how these fun mint and raspberry chocolate crosses came to be.

Note: I used Duncan Hines Frosting Creations to flavor the candy melts which are no longer available. I’ve included links to my favorite candy flavoring for the same flavors. To achieve the same colors as my crosses, you will need to add some gel food coloring.

Mint and Raspberry Chocolate Crosses Ingredients

White Candy Melts
2 Tbsp. Shortening
Raspberry Flavoring
Mint Chocolate Chip Flavoring
Colorful Sprinkles

Step 1

Start by melting your chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second increments until melted.

Step 2

Next, stir your shortening into the melted chocolate. This will make it smoother and easier to pour.

Step 3

Divide your melted chocolate in half and add the second half to a separate bowl.

Step 4

Then add one flavoring to each bowl and stir to combine.

Step 5

Add sprinkles to the bottom of your cross molds and pour the melted chocolate into them.

Step 6

Let your chocolate set then pop your crosses out of the molds.

That’s all there is to these mint and raspberry chocolate crosses. They are so easy to make and a perfect treat for the kiddos’ Easter baskets. You can also control the level of chocolate. If you want your kids to have less, only fill the molds up halfway. They will still get a festive treat in their baskets without it being over-the-top.

Don’t forget to grab your cross mold. This is worth every penny and I love that I can make 2 at a time. When you have a bunch of rugrats to fill baskets for, anything that helps you save time while saving money is awesome!

Yield: 2 Chocolate Crosses

Mint and Raspberry Chocolate Crosses

Name: Mint and Raspberry Chocolate Crosses
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: White Candy Melts; 2 Tbsp. Shortening; Raspberry Flavoring; Mint Chocolate Chip Flavoring; Colorful Sprinkles

Cook Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

White Candy Melts
2 Tbsp. Shortening
Raspberry Flavoring
Mint Chocolate Chip Flavoring
Colorful Sprinkles

Instructions

Start by melting your chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second increments until melted.
Next, stir your shortening into the melted chocolate. This will make it smoother and easier to pour.
Divide your melted chocolate in half and add the second half to a separate bowl.
Then add one flavoring to each bowl and stir to combine.
Add sprinkles to the bottom of your cross molds and pour the melted chocolate into them.
Let your chocolate set then pop your crosses out of the molds.

See where I’m linking up!

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

More Ideas You’ll Love:

How to Fill and Easter Basket for Under $50
Beautiful Recycled Easter Napkin Rings
Easy DIY Golden Bunny Bank
Mini Easter Egg Topiary – Intelligent Domestications