3.27.2009

Magnetic Spice Rack Project & a Giveaway!!

Anyone else have the problem of finding just the right ingredient in a jumbled mess of spices in a drawer? No? Well, I did.

I mean, I had a nice rotating spice rack we got for our wedding, but the labels on it didn't represent the spices I actually used, so the rest of the bottles got thrown in a drawer, where I could never find anything. The disorganization combined with the unused spice rack taking up space on my counter got me thinking. Ideas posted on other blogs got me thinking even more. I can do better!

Inspired by ideas around the internet, I took the plunge. First, we bought Rustoleum "magnetic primer" and painted it above the stove:

And painted. And painted. Seriously, it took like 10 coats of the stuff to get it sufficiently magnetic-y. I tested it with a magnetic timer, the heaviest magnet I have. Upon further research, it sounds like there are better brands that don't require so many coats to get a good magnetism. Alas.

After the magnetic paint was on the wall, we painted it back the kitchen's yellow color. Surprisingly, this only took 2 coats to cover the black. That was a relief! In the meantime, my spice tins came! I was super-excited.



I ordered the tins from Custom Magnetic Spice Rack. After shopping around various online stores, these were the least expensive for exactly what I needed. Conveniently, they not only included food-grade tins with tight-fitting lids, they ship magnets along with them! I ordered a set of 22 2.5 oz containers with no labels- I picked up labels at Bed Bath & Beyond but opted not to buy the tins there. The tins with magnets at BB&B are $3 each, and tins from Custom Magnetic Spice Rack online, with shipping, were just $1.75.

The store's website also had lots of great alternative ideas for magnetic spice racks, besides using magnetic paint. They have ideas to attach to the wall, to a cabinet or pantry door, or, the simplest of all, to your fridge!

I put the tins up on the wall, and everything worked out perfectly! Custom Magnetic Spice Rack sent me a few other sizes of tins to check out (see picture above) and I was able to put the smaller ones on the wall, and the larger ones on top of my stove, which is also magnetic, apparently. I particularly like the Bravada square tins- I could see these working efficiently in a small space.



(And, in case you noticed, yes, they're alphabetized. I'm a librarian, after all.)
----------------------------------------------------
And now for the giveaway!! Want your very own magnetic spice rack? Custom Magnetic Spice Rack is offering one of my readers a choice of prizes (because everyone's needs are different!)

  • Twelve (12) 6 oz. Applause with Precut Rounds (these would work well on a fridge)
  • Eight (8) 8 oz. Applause with Strip (With a magnetic strip, this is a ready-made rack!)
  • Four (4) Pique Tea Tins (Mini-Canister which comes with precut rounds for stacking security) Not for mounting vertically (These would be good for storing larger amounts of ingredients)
  • Twelve 4 oz. Bravada squares (choice of precuts or strips) (I like the practicality of the squares)
To enter: 
- Leave a comment with what you would do to make your magnetic spice rack! See all the ideas.
- For an extra entry, blog or twitter about this contest, and leave a comment with a link.
- For another entry, subscribe (see the RSS button above) or follow me on Twitter (@keepingfeet) and leave me a comment saying you did (or already do)

I look forward to seeing what you come up with!
The deadline for entries is April 5th, and I'll announce a winner Monday April 6th.

60 comments:

Toni said...

Actually, my spices are fine :) But, i would like to use this in an art studio to hold beads and all of the other little goodies that tend to get lost in the mix of things.
Thanks!!!

Matt Moberly said...

I'd use these to hold board game bits, dice, etc. Some of my favorite games have great little pieces that could catch visitors' eyes and lure them into a game. :-)

Anonymous said...

So very clever! If you had left the paint black could you have written on it like chalkboard paint, I wonder? I might like that for a completely different purpose than spices - magnets hanging recipes and meal plans written on the chalkboard....


PS: Don't enter me in the contest, I don't need the prizes and I'm sure you'll have plenty of folks who do.

Joanna said...

Kathie- Our back-up plan, if the yellow paint didn't cover the black, was to get chalkboard paint and do just as you described!

Anonymous said...

Whoa - this is probably the coolest thing I've seen in awhile. Ok, call me impressed! I'd probably use this for either craft work or to hold mineral makeup.

fencinggal(at)hotmail(dot)com

Alisse Goldsmith said...

Well, I would probably either do the in-drawer thing, which I sort of already do but everything is hard to find. OR I would mount something on the wall so we can take it with us when we leave!

Alisse Goldsmith said...

and i tweeted it! great giveaway! http://twitter.com/alissewissman

Alisse Goldsmith said...

and i follow you on twitter! can you tell i want some metal tins?

affectioknit said...

I love that idea - we are actually in the process of trying to organize our spices as well. I think I would use the 2.5 oz size the most.

affectioknit said...

I already subscribe...

Beth @ The Natural Mommy said...

I do need help with my spices... But I don't want to spend the time/money to paint like you did since we don't own this place, and we don't have the extra drawer space for that particular option... so I think I'd go with the precut strip option. I assume when you say "ready made rack" that I can just stick the strip above my stove and then store the containers up there? I'm still confused how this works! But I also like the option of Twelve (12) (hehe) round ones b/c, well, that's more and I have a LOT of spices. I could maybe buy my own strip?

Anyway, enter me, please!

Beth @ The Natural Mommy said...

And I subscribe to your blog AND follow you on twitter, but it seems that's just qualification for one extra entry... :-P

Anonymous said...

I would have my husband make something that would hang on the back of my pantry door for my spices or maybe I'll keep it for my self and use it for my scrapbook supplies. THanks
vickers at comcast dot net

Carolyn G said...

I would use this in my office. I would use part of it as a chalkboard so I can write messages and notes to myself or hubby and then I would use it to put supplies int he canisters like paper clips, thumb tacks and other stuff we use in the office and for crafts.

Carolyn G said...

I follow on twitter: carogonza

Anonymous said...

i would like this becuz i have a lot of spices and not much room! :)

Unknown said...

My old house has limited cupboards and all my spices are clogging up valuable cupboard space. We have a small kitchen island that I bought at Walmart and it would be great to dress up the side of it with these magnetic spice tins. I usually use the island when I'm baking so having the spices at hand would be a huge bonus.

The sides of the island are recessed. I'd use the magnetic paint on that area and then I'd love to paint over it to match my yellow kitchen walls and use a stencil design to dress it up a bit.

shel704 at aol dot com

Unknown said...

I'm following you on twitter (username:auntiethesis)

shel704 at aol dot com

Unknown said...

I'm subscribed to your feed via google reader

shel704 at aol dot com

Unknown said...

Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/auntiethesis/status/1405987324

shel704 at aol dot com

3boyzmom said...

I really like the stackable spices...but the magnetic ones would also work great on the side of the fridge..and would save so much space!

3boyzmom said...

I'm now following you on Twitter!
@3boyzmom

Carolyn G said...

I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/carogonza/status/1407163311

Andrea Moberly said...

I'm not entering in the contest, but I thought I'd share for fun that I found this shop on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5043307 that will sell you 15 magnetic tins INCLUDING spices for under $30! I was excited when I found this after reading your post... maybe its a sign ;)

Janelle said...

I would put up a piece of flat metal behind my range (I have plenty of room for it) and have my spices right there - I LOVE the idea!!!!! Thanks for the chance!

Janelle said...

I tweeted: http://twitter.com/JanelleKC/status/1410299572

jac. said...

Your project turned out so great! Thanks for sharing tutorial style!

Katie said...

I would keep craft supplies in these!

katie_kitty@msn.com

Jackie said...

These look flat enough to use on the inside of the cabinet door that holds the lazy susan. It currently is so full with spices that it's about to tip over! And I'd fill them in small quantities from the loose spice bins to keep them fresh. Thanks for the tip.
loveyhowel@aol.com

Anonymous said...

I don't even have a spice rack, just a shelf on one of my cabinets - I constantly have to fish for what I want being that they're all the same height and I have to pick each one up to read what it is. These would be perfect on the side of my refrigerator! (It is right up against my counter)

Thanks!!
- Ashley

ashley.604@hotmail.com

Audra said...

How cool! I think I would put them on the inside of the cupboard door that's next to my stove. Thanks for the awesome give-oh-way!

Angel S. said...

Love it! I'd use it for my scrapbook embellishments. Perfect!

Kimberly said...

I would use it for crafts! I need an organizational overhaul on my supplies!

dolphin lady said...

I like how Alton Brown from Good Eats has his on the inside of the cabinet doors. That way, you are using space that otherwise is unused. That is what I would like to do!

Lisa said...

Ooh! I love this idea. My old rotating tower spice rack drives me crazy, not to mention using up a lot of counter space.

What brand do you suggest for the magnetic paint? I now want to do this on the wall behind my stove AND another wall where I can use magnets to hold recipes right in front of me!

Subscribed just now.


ps: I just finished reading some of gardening posts. I didn't know you could freeze cilantro! This will be my first time doing a full garden and I am very nervous. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Ellen C. said...

I would keep the spices on my refrigerator since we don't have much storage space in our kitchen. Thanks for the chance.

sweetascandy579 at yahoo dot com

Margaret's Ramblings said...

Yes I would use it as a spice rack. Like you, my spices are all over the place. It would be great to get them organised.

Margaret

Anonymous said...

My spices are fine. I use a tiered spice rack in my kitchen cabinet. I would give the tins to Matt to use in the garage to organize nails, screws and such. I too like all of the different choices.
-Heather

Shasty said...

I love this idea. I would put them on my fridge and some low enough to keep my daughters occupied as they are always wanting to be involved. So these would be awesome!

Shasty said...

And I'm subscribing right now :)

thehastys at sbcglobal dot net

Anonymous said...

I would use a piece of wood mounted on my wall above my stove for a spice rack. we rent so I wouldnt want to do anything permanent. I LOVE the idea of a magnetic rack.

misbehavincgl@yahoo.com

Lindsay said...

I'd love to win the Eight (8) 8 oz. Applause with Strip (With a magnetic strip, this is a ready-made rack!)

I'd put office supplies (paper clips etc) in them :) SOO CUTE!

Great giveaway! THANKS!

one frugal lady said...

Wow! How cool is that?! I love the idea of the cabinet spice rack!

Meghan said...

We really need a new system for a spices that are overflowing out of one of our cabinets. I actually love the idea of sticking them to your wall like you did. Or perhaps on the side of our fridge. Cool giveaway!

couponmeg (at) yahoo (dot) com

cheapsk8mom said...

I blogged your giveaway here.

cheapsk8mom said...

OK - now what would I do with this - if I won...

I can't put this on my wall, I have a built-in microwave there, but I do have wallspace to do it...

But your magnetic paint idea's got my mind a-racing... How did I never know about this stuff?

My idea: Paint a strip around teenagers room approx 10 inches from ceiling. Let hang posters from that strip, instead of poking 5.8 million holes in my poor wall. Or - heaven forbid - from using TAPE.

Monica said...

I love this idea. I would love to have my spices on the side of my fridge within easy reach. Right now I'm digging through my cabinet. I have seen this idea before and showed it to my husband, who for some reason doesn't like the idea and doesn't want me to waste the money on the jars. But if I won them...what could he say!

Kristen said...

oh my goodness!! what a great idea! I would have loved this in the DR and am sure I could find a use for it wherever I end up. My solution in the DR was a basket that held most of my spices and the tops had sharpie labels. So I would take out the basket when I needed a spice and find the right label. But this is so much better! Enjoy it!

Kristen said...

and i think you know i subscribe to your blog using google reader :)

rebecca said...

I would love to put these on the side of my fridge. There's a little recess and it would be perfect! Our kitchen is tiny and storage space is scarce. Thanks for the opportunity and idea! I like the 4 oz square ones.

gitrecca at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

We are in the process of buying a house. There is a prep area in the kitchen that would be perfect for the strip and square canisters.

dorothy_gillespie_621(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I just subscribed to your feed. Thank you!


dorothy_gillespie_621(at)hotmail(dot)com

Tiffani said...

I would love to display my spices in such a neat way! It would up in the kitchen.
tifg45@excite.com

Charissa said...

I was just trying to decide what to do with my spices today! I'd love the 6 oz. tins and I would use them inside my cabinet. Very nice!

Unknown said...

I love this idea!! It is the perfect solution. I have all my spices on one shelf in the pantry, they are a mess. I will use this on the one wall of the pantry that I haven't been able to use - until now. Thanks!!!

Unknown said...

How cool! I'd use this on my cabinet doors and pantry door to hold spices, but I can also use them for needles, nails, etc.

Jes said...

I love this! although I have to admit, I wouldn't use it for spices. (I've read a lot of things that say you're not supposed to keep your spices in the light, or above the stove where they are near heat and moisture) I'd use it for little craft things like beads and needles. :) Thanks for the chance to win.

by the way, yours looks awesome!

Jes said...

I twittered about it! and forgot to leave my email address in the other comment.

Jes (at) beautyfromchaos (dot) com

Joelle said...

Hi...Any hints or tips on how to make opening the square tins not so difficult? I cannot use powder, because they are virtually stuck, and when I do get it open, my spice splatters everywhere. And even the ones that are not powdered are slightly difficutl.

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