Cardboard organizer
The most creative approach is to make it yourself from thick cardboard from start to finish. The first step is to come up with a visual appearance for the future craft.
Execution order:
- Glue together boxes of the required shapes and sizes.
- Secure them with glue or a stapler on any solid base, this can be an old cutting board, previously treated
- For strength, it is possible to tighten the structure with tape.
- Decorate with paint, stickers and decorations to suit your taste.
Making an office organizer out of cardboard with your own hands is an excellent educational exercise for children, and this activity will pleasantly distract adults from the everyday hustle and bustle.
Ideas for a picnic or How to think through everything and not forget anything?
A picnic is a fun, country walk. We would like to add that this is not only a walk, but also eating all sorts of goodies together in the fresh air. This type of recreation appeared a long time ago and remains especially popular in our time. After all, sometimes you want to escape from the bustling city in the company of loved ones and enjoy pleasant communication in the vastness of untouched nature. But in order for your picnic to truly bring a lot of pleasure, consider some nuances and take with you everything for a comfortable stay.
How to turn an ordinary suitcase into an original picnic basket
In the spring, as soon as the first grass turns green, we already want to relax in nature and have our first picnic of the year.
But as soon as you think about how much you need to take with you, the spring mood immediately disappears... What is the best way to take everything you need into nature, but at the same time carry a minimum of things? Read in this article!
And an ordinary suitcase will help us in solving this issue. Today, when traveling, especially for traveling, the old suitcase is no longer so relevant, and there are many similar “roomy items” with a new design and many compartments.
But don’t throw away such a strong and “made to last” thing. Let's turn it into a picnic basket! Thick walls will prevent the dishes from getting wrinkled or breaking, and everything will be in one place. I took the suitcase, came to the clearing, and there was everything in it. Moreover, there will be something to sit on.
So, for such an unusual transformation you will need:
- suitcase;
- grout or fine sandpaper;
- fabric: for the inner lining and soft for treating the surface of the suitcase;
- stationery knife;
- masking tape;
- water-soluble paint of the desired color;
- paint wax;
- thin plywood;
- glue: wood, super glue and decoupage glue (or regular PVA);
- decorative tape to match the color of the main fabric;
- a wide elastic band and a large stapler (preferably a construction stapler).
First you need to clean the outside of the suitcase from dust and dirt. If necessary, sand the area with sandpaper and wash the most contaminated areas thoroughly. Then wipe the entire surface dry.
All inner lining and cardboard must be removed using a knife. Even if the fabric is in good condition, it needs to be changed for hygiene purposes. After all, we will have dishes and food inside.
Since we plan to paint the outer surface of the suitcase, all metal parts, handles, locks and other decor must be sealed with masking tape. This way, even if you accidentally get paint on them, the jewelry will not get dirty.
Water-based paint is an ideal coating for a suitcase. It lies flat on the surface, while all the antique decor and texture stands out. And when the paint dries, it turns out to be a matte finish.
Use any color you want to paint the outside of the suitcase.
To prevent the paint from quickly washing off and to give our future picnic basket a special shine with scuffs, apply a layer of wax to the dried paint. Then immediately remove the residue with a soft cloth and leave until completely dry.
Now we need to strengthen the lid of the suitcase - the dishes will be placed on it with clamps. To do this, cut a piece from a sheet of thin plywood to the size of the top of the lid. Glue it with special glue for wooden products.
While the lid is drying, let's work on the bottom of the suitcase. We will put it in order using fabric. Cut out the pattern to the required size. Generously coat the entire inside surface with glue (decoupage glue works well). Place the central part of the pattern on the bottom of the suitcase, and straighten it well so that there are no wrinkles. Then glue the walls of the lower part as well.
Tuck the edges of the material and secure with super glue.
Repeat all the steps with the top of the suitcase, but only after the plywood is completely glued to it.
Decorative tape will help us hide the glued edge of the material. We also attach it with glue.
Now you need to make clamps for the dishes. First, measure the diameter of the dishes you plan to take on a picnic. Then divide by 2 and cut a wide elastic band to this size. Fold it over both edges and secure the edges with a stapler.
In the same way we make a clamp for glasses with spoons and forks. That's all!
Important! It is best to use plastic dishes in such a picnic basket - they are much lighter and will not break upon impact.
In this way, in just an hour and a half you can make such an unusual and very spacious basket for yourself and your loved ones for outdoor recreation!
What to take on a picnic?
Bag (basket) or picnic set . Of course, you can put all the food and dishes in bags, but it will still be more aesthetically pleasing and convenient to use a large basket. This way, the food will remain intact (not wrinkled), and the dishes will not break, and everything will be at hand.
By the way, having a basket with compartments and pockets, you will never forget all sorts of “needs” - just make sure that all the pockets are filled (an empty compartment will immediately lead you to think about a forgotten item).
In the store you can buy a plastic basket or thermal bag for a picnic and even special picnic sets of various configurations - this is a convenient bag with items already folded in it: cutlery for several people, napkins, a tablecloth, a cutting board and a knife for cutting meat, glasses, an opener and jars for spices. Everything is provided for your comfort.
Picnic mat . Usually the rug is a home blanket. But on sale you can find special handle-clips that will make your bedspread convenient to transport (it will not constantly unfold) or sew them yourself. Stores sell a mat-briefcase, a mat-bag, which fold conveniently and do not take up much space. These rugs are made from moisture-resistant material. Convenient and practical.
You can also take with you transformable chairs or seat cushions (if you sew them yourself, then everyone in the family can have a personal pillow).
Placemats for dishes. Everyone has probably encountered such a problem at a picnic as drinks spilled on a blanket. The problem can be solved with the help of special stands for glasses, bottles or cans of drinks. Such stands can be spiral-shaped metal for one glass or wooden in the form of a mini-tabletop. They are easily strengthened in the ground.
You can make cup holders yourself from stiff wire.
Picnic spot: where to have a picnic?
Of course, you want to choose a place for a picnic that is cozy, clean, away from the highway, noise and bustle of the city.
. If possible, go out of town first to find such a place if you don't have anything in mind. You can ask your friends and acquaintances where they usually relax.
Sometimes within the city there are special places in parks and near lakes
, where you can have barbecue and relax, but usually such places attract large crowds of people, and the noisy fun of neighbors can irritate.
The best option would be to find your own secluded place outside the city limits
, where you could come more than once.
Residents of large cities often complain that all the good picnic spots have long been known.
, so many people strive to get there. Then you will have to reserve a seat in advance (for example, arrive early in the morning).
You can have a picnic even within the city on the roof of your high-rise building
! If you can't get out of town, why not go up to the roof? By the way, some beach lovers even sunbathe on the roofs.
Choosing a place
Summer is, of course, the most anticipated and most suitable time of year for outdoor recreation. But don’t be upset if summer has passed and you still haven’t left the city. A picnic can be organized on a clear autumn day, on a sunny winter day or with the first rays of the spring sun.
A place to relax can be a clearing near a river or lake, a forest, a grove or a city garden, even the roof of a house and a balcony (but we still recommend getting out into nature). Make sure that your picnic area is protected from drafts and located away from anthills, beehives and thickets of burning grass. It is desirable to be able to choose where to sit: in the sun or in the shade.
For lovers of romance, the roof of the house is also suitable for a picnic. A picnic for two in a boat on the lake will be unforgettable and romantic. Extreme lovers can find a place in the mountains. Just don't forget about safety!
Having decided on a place for a picnic, you should make a list of everything you need for a comfortable holiday in accordance with the time of year and your preferences. Fold your bag by crossing off items on your list so you won't forget anything.
Adviсe:
- If you are going on a picnic for the whole day, take with you sunscreen, mosquito and tick repellent, a mini first aid kit, sun hats
- the camera will complement and capture your vacation
- take plenty of drinking and technical water for washing your hands, and garbage bags are also useful to clean up trash after yourself
- It is better to take non-perishable products (sandwiches, canned food, cookies, fruits, meat for barbecue and vegetables for grilling)
- It is better to store food in separate containers; use foil for thermal insulation
- Freeze the juice and water in advance so they will keep the temperature in the grocery basket
- To organize the lamp, pour vegetable oil into a tin of drinks. Place an improvised wick there from a piece of cloth soaked in the same oil and set it on fire. This torch will solve the lighting problem for several hours.
- If you are going on an overnight picnic, do not forget warm clothes, as it can be cool in the evening, especially near the pond.
Picnic tableware
An important detail for a picnic is dishes
, in which products will be transported.
They should not get wrinkled along the way, keep a fresh look and smell
. It is better to place each product in a separate small container - sausage, cheese, vegetables.
You can cook some of the dishes at home
, and then take them with you if outdoor barbecues are not in your plans.
To keep the product, on the contrary, warm, you can use regular foil or special containers made of thick foil
.
If it’s very hot outside and the drive to the picnic site is quite far, you can build a homemade cooler bag
, rearranging food containers with bottles of pre-frozen water.
Sandwiches with butter, sausage and cheese can easily spoil in the heat. You should wrap them not in plastic bags, but in parchment paper and then in foil
. In the supermarket you can even find special paper that does not tend to become saturated with grease.
Picnic utensils are usually selected to ensure that they do not break and are easy to transport. An ingenious invention - disposable tableware made of plastic or cardboard
, which does not need to be washed, does not break and does not take up much space.
As it turned out, not everyone likes such dishes, since they are quite fragile, break quickly in the hand, bend easily and do not allow you to keep a lot of things on the plate
. Moreover, it can even melt if you hold something hot in it. Therefore, you can use hard plastic or even iron plates.
Picnic furniture
Picnic furniture is a very optional thing
. You can sit right on the grass or sand on a blanket and don’t have to take chairs and a table with you. Of course, it is much more convenient to sit at a small table.
Folding furniture comes to mind first.
.
When choosing one, you should remember three important things: it should be durable, easy to fold and unfold, and easy to use. To do this, when purchasing, you should carefully check all the fastenings
, lay out the chairs, and determine whether it is comfortable for you to sit on them. Here are some examples of picnic furniture:
An original set of picnic furniture: chairs and a table in one suitcase:
Regular folding chairs with an iron base and cloth seats.
By the way, such folding chairs can be found with additional pockets for bottles and personal items:
If you're lucky, you can find a chair like this without legs, but with a comfortable back:
An original idea - a table-suitcase built into a bicycle:
Instead of a chair, for example, you can use a hammock, strengthening it between the trees:
