Well, back to the present year when I found baby formula can on my desk...so I was wondering why would my mom suddenly give me a formula to eat so randomly...and I felt so stupid that I didn't even tried opening it first cuz it had walnuts in there, which I bought and asked mom to leave me some...my mom just repurposed the can...(so funny how those memories can be triggered back to life so easily and so unconsciously...and so fast)

So I decided that I should do something about the can so I would not get confused again (Yes, I'm that simple!).

These are the things I used. A craft paper, Mod Podge, Brush, and scissors. I forgot to add on to the picture but I also used craft paper cutter since it's easier to cut straight lines easy and fast and also compass to draw easy circle for the round top lid. I chose this paper because I thought it would just blend nicely with the lid color.

(I go to JoAnn Fabrics once in a while and if I'm lucky enough, they have craft paper sales going on and I just stock up on them. I love how they have so many different styles.)

First, I cut out the label from the can carefully so I can get the exact length and height of the can. And I realized that my paper wasn't long enough to cover the can at once. *sigh*

***Before you cut anything PLAN AHEAD. Think what will be good for where first. This will be very important step especially if you have only one copy of that paper.***

I didn't want to patch just one side and make it look too patched up last minute. If you can see the design on the paper it's not repeating pattern either. So I decided to cut them in strips and mix them to kinda create some pattern by alternating strips. One side had borderlike decoration on the side so I cut that part and the middle part had some different designs with some unifying element there as well. Now I have two strips.

I folded them (back and front) to have uniform width strips and cut them.

Now simply use ModPodge and paste strips alternating. Just make sure you put glue on both sides: on to the can and the paper..that made paper stick nicely with out any wrinkles (As you can see from the picture...I found out later...). I overlapped them just little for good coverage.

Then I used compass to get a nice circle and cut out the "compass" design of the paper for my lid. Make sure you brush extra coat of ModPodge on top of the paper as well to give a finished look and a protective layer.

Now, I can enjoy my walnuts (or can put other snacks there too) in style!

I love craft paper! Yay!

I spent:
Craft paper less than $1 ( I bought it during a big sale)

ModPodge Free (Leftover from countless paper crafts/I already got my money's worth)

Baby Formula Can Free (my nephew's can left here)

Total for this project Less than $1 or even Free since I had the paper for the longest time ever.

With my new snack can...I am already excited what I should get for my next snack...or should I make another one? Whew...and here I'm trying to watch my weight...*sigh*

I had an old desk I bought years ago at a thrift store. But hey..I'm not a professional...still experimenting and some come out good some ...not so well.

For example this desk was my eye sore. I ruined the first time I painted it so I 'pasted' craft paper to cover them. It actually looked ok, but started to chip away LOL. Moreover, no leg room as you can see.

I really wanted a new desk..but didn't wanna spend much money at all. So my dad suggested going to this furniture store on Rt.1 which sold used Hotel furniture. We've never visited that place before so we checked out the place. Actually stuff were very inexpensive (but some were really dirty), especially good deals on picture frames and mirrors.

After browsing for sometime I finally found $30 wide and sturdy desk.
I planned to paint them anyways so I didn't mind little bruises or the color of the wood stain and just looked for the framework. It was simple and cheap. Yay.

But after purchasing I realized I needed drawers...so I asked my dad to cut my old desk so I can use it again.

We don't have any fancy modern tools to just cut in seconds (I wish we could get some). So my SENIOR 'hulk' dad had to cut it old fashioned way. Thanks Dad!

When it was all ready to go, I just roughly sanded corners and rough spots and cleaned with paper towels. Then with Ivory or antique white paint I just started to paint (3 coats total). I let them dry and then applied Polyurethane. I bought clear semi-gloss so even with one coat they turned out okay so stopped with only one coat.

Here is the result. (It's little too dark...I'll try to get another picture during the day.) The drawers on the left is my re-purposed old desk. My new desk has a nice black top and gives a nice contrast. Oh and I covered a mini drawer in the middle with leftover fabric to pull my dresser (which mom had already refinished with a fabric and some paint months before) and desk together.

Instead of craft glue I used Pul (remember? we used this in Kimchi Recipe) that my mom was using for her wallpaper project and stapler. Yes, Pul was/is used in Korea as a paste for wallpaper and edible too. My mom also used this Pul to refinish the big old dresser in the first picture.

I spent:
Desk $30
Polyurethane $15 (can buy smaller one for cheaper price but I bought big one for future use)
Paint Free (Leftover)
Drawer Free (Repurposed Desk)
Fabric Free (Leftover)

Total for this project $45
With this price I got more than enough leg room and drawers. I'm happy.

Look around your house...who knows...you may be able to make something new with just a bucket of paint (maybe a saw too). Have some fun!

Desks on eBay

EXCEPTIONAL TWO-TONE OVAL COMPUTER OFFICE DESK FURNITURE SALE US $999.00

EXECUTIVE OFFICE DESK CREDENZA HUTCH FILE CABINET OFFICE FURNITURE SET SALE US $2,499.00

Dollhouse Famous Maker Furniture Walnut finish Wooten Desk & Chair US $91.00

BLACK METAL FULL LOFT YOUTH BUNK BED & DESK WORKSTATION BEDROOM FURNITURE SALE US $549.00

Chopsticks Stand on eBay

2 Pier 1 Pottery Asian Bowls and Chopstick Stand Rest US $9.99

4x Mr.P Kitchen Chopsticks Stand Chopsticks Rest New US $4.30

NEW Japanese Chinese Oriental Wood Bamboo Chopsticks SET w/Stands/Rest Gift US $3.99

...but Korean restaurants rarely have one ready for you. One I took a picture of here was not provided by the restaurant. I made it with chopsticks wrapper and I'll teach you how to make one too!

Ok. Take chopsticks out. You have one long wrapper. Fold in thirds. Folding in the sides in so the middle part will be showing like the bottom part. Nice and clean.

Once you folded one thirds, fold in half like so. Some stop there for quick functional stand. But I would like to go further and make it look little more finished. (By this time I get so into it.)

Now, let's make sides. Pinch each corner into triangular shape like so.

Now the other sides too. Fold both ends into triangular shape.

Now close it firmly with two fingers to make it nice and neat. Repeat for the other end too.

Little more to go, Ha ha ha....having fun yet? Now we need to make a place to rest chopstick so it won't roll off. Just like the corner, you pinch the middle. But this time you are making a diamond shape. Push with one finger in the middle, hold each side with each hand (hold the top half folded area) and push/fold in.

Now you have a place to rest your chopstick!

There you go. Your own chopstick stand!

Just one thing... I also realized that I would make one before I eat and once the food is served, I always forget there's a chopstick stand... since I really don't need to rest it anymore...

Still I unconsciously reach out for the chopsticks wrapper everytime, take out chopsticks, and start folding my chopstick stand. I guess I try to forget my hunger till the food is served.

Hope this helps SOMEONE out there...or if it doesn't...you can kill some time till banchan comes...

Chopsticks on eBay

Tibetan Silver chopsticks set with Lóng and Phoenix New US $9.99

Chopsticks Teakwood quality woods teak inlaid modern art design US $21.25

DISNEY CAST CREW FEATURE ANIMATION MULAN wax stamp FIGURINE Statue & chopsticks US $9.99

Restaurant Reviews:
Jong Kak Korean BBQ Restaurant in Baltimore, MD
Allgreen Market Food Court-Poongnyun , MD
Sushi King Japanese Restaurant , MD
Niko Japanese Restaurant, MD
VietGoel/LightHouse Tofu House Korean Restaurant , MD
Tian Korean-Chinese Restaurant, MD

Kimchi Recipes:
Traditional Whole Napa Cabbage Kimchi
Quick 'n Easy version Kimchi