on the worktable: crocheted baskets

As part of my yearly goal to decorate on a dime I am trying to shop my home and create things that I would normally buy. I loved these pretty crocheted baskets but had to stick to budget on my bedroom makeover so I decided to google a pattern instead.

I feel I should mention I am not a seasoned crocheter! I am self taught and I can tell you practice makes perfect. This was a very simple to follow pattern and at no point frustrating. I haven't added the fabric stiffener yet per the instructions, but I still might. I really wanted this basket to remain soft looking and I am worried the stiffener will change that look. We'll see. Anyway- I love it and I think I will make a few more and cluster them together on a nightstand or desk to keep things clutter free!

tutorials: recycled coupon organizer

I love coupon organizers. They are the lap dog of file storage and you can never have enough of them. I have been on a kick to organize my collage papers as of late and lo and behold all of my coupon orgaizers were being used for something already - what? I didn't have any extras on hand, but what I did have on hand was a stack of lunch bags. School will be out (YEAAAA) in a few weeks so I could afford to swipe a few for this project. Plus I could recycle some old papers too!

You also will need some pretty cardstock or paper- I used some vintage wallpaper I had in my stash, a piece of chipboard, a ruler, bone folder, paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive or hot glue, an eyelet and a barbed elastic loop or rubber band.

Step 1. Fold lunch bags into thirds, accordion style. Flatten each crease with bone folder for nice edges.

Step 2. Measure width of your folded bag and cut one thickness of bag to that width. Fold and crease, accordion style, until you have created enough "ditches" for each fold of your bag. This will be for the bottom of your coupon organizer. Measure the height of your bag and repeat, creating two folded pieces- one for each side of your coupon organizer.

Step 3. Apply a line of adhesive in crease of each "ditch" and carefully place each fold of your bag in the ditch.

Step 4. Repeat step three for each side of your organizer.

Step 5. Measure and cut your chipboard to make a cover for your coupon organizer. Allow a 1/4" on either side. You will want your cover to fold over the top of your organizer, covering it completely.

Step 6. Cut pretty papers to cover both sides of chipboard. Attach them using adhesive or you can stitch them on like I did.

Step 7. Add paper to the front facing bag of your organizer to pretty it up. You can stamp a word or add a small embellishment if you like.

Step 8. Adhere back facing bag of your organizer to the lower portion of your inside cover. Use a strong adhesive or hot glue.

Step 9. Fold cover over and position mark near bottom center of front cover flap. Punch hole, add an eyelet and your elastic loop or rubber band. Add embellishment to front cover if desired.

 

I think I will have fun filing my collage papers in this pretty and portable, recycled organizer!

live the repurposed life: lemon frogs

We already know I am of the nature to re-purpose anthing I can. Glass jars are by far my favorite recyclable though. I use them for just about everything, in every room in my house as you will see here, here,  here and here. So rather than buy a vase - grab an empty candle jar and some fruit!

Once I have my stems inserted into the slits, fill a jar with water and gently place your new lemon frog in the bottom. Add a bit more water to cover top of lemon if needed. Try this in the Fall with a miniature pumpkin or squash!

Pretty - Functional - Recycled. Enjoy!

tutorial: valentine banner

Here is a super easy, last minute Valentine tutorial, that you can do in under 15!

These are lovely as big banners hangng from your favorite artwork or slateboard and just as sweet in a miniature version on notecards!

1. Cut duck cloth into pendant shapes 2. Cut hearts out of felt or wool and stitch to center of each pendant 3. Stitch pendants to long strip of muslin. EASY PEASY!

tutorials: Valentine Canvas Magnet

This year for Valentine's Day I was looking for a new twist on the old. I LOVE making and sending Valentine's, but wanted something a little different. I decided that a cute magnet might be a sweet and REUSABLE solution!

Gather Supplies:

You can find miniature sized canvases at your local craft store. I bought a bulk package of 6 at Michael's Craft Store. Chances are you have most of the other items somewhere in your creative area - if not, you can find all of these at your local craft and hobby store as well. I had a few old refrigerator magnets laying around that I cut up and used!

When it comes to making more than one of anything, I like to do it in assembly line fashion, so first I globbed some gesso on each canvas and smeared it around with an old gift card, leaving some lines and texture. I ripped a small piece of book paper and placed it in the corner of the canvas and gessoed over it.I let these sit until the surface was dry to the touch.

Next I dipped a small paint brush in red and pink paint and dabbed it in random areas on each canvas. Once again I smeared it around with the gift card, moving both the paint and some of the still damp gesso around. Once this was completely dry I added a little more gesso to the top because I like all my art stuff to be chunky.

Next I took a sheet of book paper and folded it several times creating some thickness. I drew small hearts on it with a pink pencil and then stitched around the lines with red thread and cut them out.

Next I cut small circles out of scraps of white muslin. I did not measure these and made them shabby on the edges by pulling loose threads from around the edges. I stacked two of these and stitched the center.

Print out a cute saying and adhere it to your canvas, adding more gesso to disguise the edges as needed. Let dry. Stack and layer your hearts, flowers, bling and any other embellishments! Now just glue your magnet to the back and there you have it! Super SWEET and super cheap!

I loved the STUCK ON YOU saying since these little beauties were magnets!

Scarves

Loved making these scarves as gifts for my nieces.

Christmas Decor: Thirty Second Project

THIRTY SECOND PROJECT - for real!

Make this adorable vase in thirty seconds - ! Easy to change when the mood strikes you!

I love Goodwill! I love perusing the isles -  Looking at old discarded items makes me see them in a new light. I often leave the store with an armload, asking myself - now how am I going to re-purpose this?

This is not the first time I have picked up a belt and carried it home with little known purpose. They just always seem to come in handy. This pretty striped one was a great find because it was BRAND NEW! Yep - the $14.99 tag was still on her when I paid .69 cents at the counter! I love it when that happens.

As I have mentioned about a thousand times, I have a truckload of glass jars saved up. I have willed myself to start using them and this pretty little belt gave me a great idea. I just wrapped it around the jar a few times and cinched it up tight. Drop in a few twigs of holly and DONE! Now I have a pretty piece to dress up my laundry room for the Holidays and I can change it up when I get the urge! Super cheap - Super easy - AND RE-PURPOSED too! I love it!

Christmas Decor: Simple Wrapped Candles

I love these little $1 candles from Wal-Mart. They burn nicely and have a pretty hardy scent so in my book that makes a great "party" candle. Something I can set out and let burn the entire night or hand out as a parting gift! Plus I love that when these candles have burned themselves out I can re-purpose them! They make wonderful storage containers. I use them in my studio for all sorts of bits and pieces.

For the Holidays this year, I knew I wanted to dress up the jars a bit and use them for little gifts.In keeping with my goal for the year -  to re-purpose as much as I can and spend as little as I can - I started brainstorming. I had tons of scrapbook paper that I could use up - and I love the little wraps that I have made in the past for jars, but I had been there, done that. I finally decided on TWINE! I love twine. I love, love, love it - for all things! So I dug out my jute twine.I had even picked up a roll that looked like baker's twine at IKEA recently for gift wrapping...so I dug that out too!

THIS IS WHAT I GATHERED FOR SUPPLIES:

• $1 jar candles (you could use any size for this project)
• strips of torn natural colored muslin
• jute twine from the hardware store
• baker's style twine from IKEA
• hot glue/glue gun
• ribbon
• holly twigs/berries
• assorted embellishments

THIS IS WHAT I DID:

• cut a length of twine or muslin ( I used apprx. 4 yards for each jar).
• removed jar lid and set aside.
• starting at the mouth of the jar place a bead of glue and start twine here.
• wrap two or three times, keeping a tight fit.
• add a thin line of glue and wrap a few more times.
• repeat until you reach the bottom of the jar.
• trim excess twine and glue end well.
• repeat on jar lid, starting at base of lid and working your way up.
• repeat with other jars.
• add ribbon, holly, jewels, flowers and more!

These make great party favors, as well as gifts for family and friends! Have fun!

Home Made: Clipboard calendar

I needed a calendar to keep track of upcoming projects, submissions, deadlines and blog posts.  Elise Blaha's post on blog content organization was great inspiration.

A calendar that was flexible in design was perfect for me. Here's how I made it:

Perhaps this is just what you need to organize your month!

tutorial: vintage look alike cakestand

                { I  L O V E  T H E S E  V I N T A G E  C A K E  S T A N D S }

...so I made my own.  F O R  $ 2 ! I went to my local Dollar Store and picked

up a glass dinner plate for $1 and a glass candlestick for $1. I already had

some great adhesive in the drawer so in just 3 minutes I had my beautiful

         {  V I N T A G E     L O O K     A L I K E     C A K E S T A N D  }

Make your own Vintage Look Alike Cakestand HERE!