Freezer List, With or Without a Silhouette

I cleaned out my freezer the other day, nearly crying as I threw away countless things that I’d forgotten were in there.  Freezer-burned steaks, ice cream well past it’s expiration date, the rice to make mango sticky rice that I’d brought back from Thailand (ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO!).  It was a bloodbath, and I felt so wasteful.  I lamented the loss over FaceTime to my mom, who has the exact same problem.  “I should really keep a list on the fridge of everything that’s in the freezer, so I don’t forget about it,” I said.  Wait a second.  “I should really KEEP A FREEZER LIST!” Lightbulb over my head, cartoon-style.  My mom validated that this was a great idea (of course she did, isn’t that what are moms are for?) and said she would like a version of whatever I came up with to use for herself.

Now, I certainly can’t just stick a post-it on the fridge; that would be too boring.  I’ve provided two options for you guys, if this idea interests you.  If you have a Silhouette, you can download the file and create a vinyl one to stick on your fridge.  You can write on it with dry erase markers and keep reusing the same one. If you don’t have a Silhouette, you can print copies of the template, cut them out by hand (if you like), and stick it on the refrigerator with a magnet.

Let’s save our frozen foods!  As my dad said when he overheard our conversation, “just because it’s out of sight doesn’t mean it has to be out of mind!”  If this experiment works, he’ll be very happy.  I only have a tiny freezer in which to create my food purgatory, but my parents have a large one in the kitchen AND an additional full-sized freezer in their basement.  This could save them a lot of money!

We take our refrigerator real estate very seriously in my family.  The fronts of the doors are reserved specifically for photos, Christmas cards, birth announcements, special notes and drawings from our younger family members.  When I told my husband about my idea, his first question was, “but you didn’t move any of the pictures or drawings, did you??” Of course not! We have access to one side of our fridge, so I hung it there.  It’s not front and center, but it’s visible enough that I will (hopefully) see it often and be reminded of all of the hidden treasures in the freezer.

P.S. Please excuse my terrible handwriting.  I blame it on being left-handed.  Even a calligraphy class from this amazing woman couldn’t cure me of my sad handwriting.

Silhouette Version

What you’ll need:
This file for your computer (warning! you have to get the file through GoogleDrive, it’s the only way I know to share .studio3 files.)
a Silhouette Cameo, cutting mat and cutting blade
a piece of 8.5 x 11″ vinyl
pen holder for the Cameo
permanent marker that fits into the pen holder
dry erase marker

What to do:

1. Download the file and set the border to “no cut.” Set the material type for the text to “Silhouette sketch pen” and make sure the letters are set to “cut edge.”
2. Place your vinyl on the cutting mat and put your permanent marker in the pen holder.  Put the penholder in the Cameo and load the cutting mat.
3. Send the text to the Cameo so the permanent marker draws the letters onto your vinyl.  DO NOT REMOVE THE MAT.
4. Set the border of the list to “cut edge” and select whatever material you’re using as the material type.  Replace the pen holder with the blade, making sure the blade is set to the appropriate number based on the material that you’re using.
5. Send the border to the Cameo to cut the vinyl.
6. Peel the list from the mat and adhere to your refrigerator.  Use the dry erase market to keep track of the items in your freezer.

(Yes,that’s light blue paper.  Terrible choice, in hindsight.  It really just looks like the white balance is all out of whack.)

Non-Silhouette Version

What you’ll need:
This file for your computer
a printer
whatever paper you’d like to use (8.5 x 11″ size)
scissors (if you want to cut out the shape)
a pen to write on the paper

What to do:

1. Download the file.
2. Place your paper in the printer and print the file out.
3. If you want, cut around the border to create a scalloped edge.
4. Write your freezer items on the paper with the pen. Use a magnet to keep it on your fridge.

 

One year ago: Sweet potato and miso dumplings.  YOU GUYS, I forgot about these.  They’re so, so amazing and I’m going to make some this weekend.