newsworthy: Haute Handbags

I love this magazine and am always thrilled when they find one of my little re-purposed goodies worth sharing! This issue of Haute Handbags hits the stands on April 1st, but here is a little peek of what is to come - enjoy!

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!

Halloween: $1 Halloween Mirror

what you need:

*$1 mirrors & frame from dollar store
*themed paper napkins
*mod podge, scissors, paper trimmer, paint brush
*scrap paper, fabric scraps, ribbons ( I used Martha Stewart sticky backed ribbon I had left over from last year)