Playing dress-up with jars

Well, when I say I am back, I guess that means I am really back, I just can't wait to share more of the crafty fun I have been having in just the last few days....so without a ton of personal life stuff (I think I covered everything in my last post) here is my little project for this morning!  Yet another attempt at organizing my crafty room....but really I think the possibilities are endless with this one!

Really I would have to say this project took me about 10 min. and cost me nothing since I had everything sitting around....I really might be making more of these in different varieties today they were that simple!  I used the citra solv technique I explained wayyyy back in February click here to check it out.

I just used scraps of fabric I had around and transfered my wording, then attached the fabric with a glue gun and a pretty pin for extra security.  I liked the look of the finished top edge so I just folded the top fabric over knowing it would be covered with ribbon later.  But I just love the frayed look of the bottom so I left it.... sewing pros are probably gasping in horror but hey.....I am just a craft-a-ly imperfect girl here, right or wrong!

And finally just add ribbon.  Woo hooo you have jars of junk (or I mean odds and ends) that look cute and you can't even notice the "stuff" sitting around!

And I know I said the possibilities are endless with this idea....because I got to thinking.... wouldn't this be cute if you made a candle and decorated the outside like this with a cute quote?!?  Or what a bout table numbers for a wedding with flowers inside the jars?  What do you think?  Do you have any ideas?!

I would LOVE to hear from you!

I am linking up here.

I am back I am back I am back :o)

Hello blog world and blog friends I have missed you!  I have missed having my usually calm and normal life.  I have missed my somewhat organized life. And lets just face it I have missed not living out of boxes!!!!  But the internet is hooked up again and I am on the road to normalcy once again!  Overall our move went well it just felt like it took forrrreeeevvverrr!!!!  I remember moving to Michigan I hardly had a trailer full of belongings....ahhhhh but wow how times have changed....I didn't even notice until this move---my belonging have multiplied.  I like how my mother-in law refers to this little problem as the "stuff factor"  you know, the stuff that accumulates in closets and drawers.....yeah I am guessing we all have it, but wow does the "stuff factor" make moving to a different state difficult as ever!!!  But I am here, I am alive, I only had a few of my treasures break along the way (not bad if you ask me) and I am finally settling in.  As of yesterday the last big box was unpacked so that means that the fun part of moving is going to begin-----decorating (making a house into a home) and organizing (uggggghhhh I am not so good at this one)!  So as you can guess I will be sharing some of my ideas, tell you about my mess-ups and hopefully inspire you along the way!  

I should also maybe explain:  I am now enjoying my month in a half "off" before I start working (it takes that long for the state you want to practice in, to process your license), this means that I will have time on my hands while being on a tight budget.  My arts and crafts will be up-cycled finds and garage sale treasures, which I think are more fun than buying new anyways!  Also I must note that hubs and I are back under the same roof and are now living in a beautiful RENTAL home until we are ready to buy in the next few years.  I know most of you can understand that rental home living is different than home ownership living, and so of course I will be working with what I have (purple walls and all) to make this place my own (without tearing down walls or adding anything too permanent).  

And to start with I must show you my crafty room (or at least a tiny part of it I am attempting to organize)!!!!!!!!

First crafty project back in blog land is nice and simple:

All I did was find myself a bar from a garage sale....not sure what they were for but I liked them because they looked a bit vintage.  Find yourself some really inexpensive curtain rod hangers to hold the top bar and attach the second with ribbon.  I also found some super clearance fancy curtain holders from JCP for 2 dollars per pack.

That is about all for this project, then I just labeled the buckets---ahhhh crafty room I am loving you already!  I am sure I will be hanging projects or pictures or really anything that I am working on up here also but really anything that is super functional is great in my mind!!!! 

{not perfect, but like I always say, none of my crafty projects are}

I am linking up here

My mothers day project

I want to start this post by saying if you are my: mother, step-mother or mother-in-law and are reading this prior to Mother's day please don't read any further!  

And now that I have that out of the way I wanted to share my idea for Mother's day before the weekend just in case you wanted to do something similar for the wonderful mothers in you life.  

I also wanted to just say that I had a WONDERFUL weekend, I had a chance to spend time with two of my favorite friends, I spend a little time forgetting that I am moving and had fun bargain shopping and crafting---perfect combination if you ask me!!!

Here is what I came up with:

{little plant stakes with dictionary wording and pronunciation}

{I am so so so in love with lavender right now, did you know that the entire plant smells divine not just the flowers?  I am crazy about the look and the smell of these so my wonderful mothers will be getting lovely, heavenly lavender this year!}

Here is how I made the stakes:

I mod podge-ed small wood plaques I picked up at Michael's for .29 cents each, of course I used my encyclopedia paper as the background.  (It wouldn't be a project if I didn't use encyclopedia paper).

I just added the label holder with hot glue.

My favorite crafty friend Becks was over so she made a pile too!

And I wanted to share my second project I worked on last night, I found and refinished my first piece of furniture for the garage sale season!

Check out the chair I found for free on the side of the road, pre-clean up---I see nothing but potential!!!! 

Here she is all sanded up, the naked wood was so pretty I had to force myself to paint her.....and trust me there was a LOT of painters remorse going on while I was doing so!

So on to the finished products:

{a simple but cute project}

{The lavender I am obsessed with *heart*}

{okay I am asking for honest opinions on the chair----should I distress more or add a color?!?!? hummmmmm}

{oooh and before I forget here is Beck's version-----I would love to see yours!}

I am linking up here.

A meaningful map project

On a personal note:
Let me be honest, I am having a hard time dealing with my upcoming move....I love the lake house I am living in, I love the memories I have made here in Michigan, I love my friends that all live HERE.  At the same time I am also crazy excited to be living in the same state, same city and same house as my husband in just a short two weeks time...  So my thoughts and emotions are everywhere on this topic!

Anyways, on to my inspiration:
Those of you who have been around this blog for awhile know that I am totally head-over-heels in love with MAKING MEANINGFUL art and avoiding all things store bought...why buy something without meaning when you can make something that means the world to you?!?

So todays project was inspired by my wanting to reflect upon my time in Michigan while at the same time trying to remind myself to have good perspective when I am once again living with my husband.

I just started with a printed quote that I love on a page of my beloved encyclopedia paper.

I then I went to town with a heart puntch and a vintage Michigan map....

I picked all of the towns and cities that remind me of my time here----I have had sooo many great memories here and many of them were during road trips or antiquing adventures, some were on weekend getaways with hubs, and others an friends homes in other cities.

I taped all of my hearts to vellum so they would be a bit more noticeable than if they were right on the encyclopedia paper.

I then practiced my sewing-on-paper skills before trying it on the real deal! ------I LOVE sewing on paper, it will for sure be my new thing.....I love the detail it adds even if it is only noticeable to me...  Watch out I shall be sewing all of my new paper projects!!!

I sewed each heart individually right down the middle because I knew I wanted to fold them up a bit when I was done.  ***I didn't just do one sewn line down the middle of my hearts (like I had originally intended) because I realized I didn't make them perfectly straight when I taped them on....I think I like how they turned out this with this method any ways.

I then sewed my vellum onto the encyclopedia paper----has anyone else noticed that it is no easy to attach vellum to regular paper without having the double sided tape show through????

I must note I only sewed 3 sides of the vellum to the encyclopedia paper because I wanted the top open just in case I want to stick some memorabilia inside the pocked I made down the road.

Then I distressed my super cheap (we are talking six dollas here) shadow box because plain black just isn't my thing at the moment and because I am in love with distressing EVERYTHING. 

I added so burlap that I picked up this week at a garden shop for .75 cents a yard---is that good or bad, I don't even know?  But I love the stuff and knew I wanted to used it for some things so I just went for it.  At least my compulsive shopping only cost me .75 cents a yard right?!?  

And I added clips that I found at Hobby Lobby (pack of 16 for $2.99)

I just secured everything with pins because you never know with me....I might decide tomorrow that I would like to change everything....I have a hard time committing when it comes to crafts!

So this is my project as it is right now, what do you think?

I chose the quote because I wanted to remember each day how grateful I am to be living with my husband instead of 7 hours away.  I also want to remember that I am beyond grateful for my memories and moments in Michigan.  I want to remember specific places that brought me joy and the friends that were with me during those moments. 

I really like this project becasue,

I am REALLY GOING TO try to have a grateful heart each and every day for the journey that has been my life and is my life---for the blessing each and every day.

{Horrible photo I know---gotta love the flash, but I wanted to show you how it looks on my door!}

{By the way---I got sooo many compliments on my door from my last door post that I think it might stay around just like this....we shall see!  Buttt I must say how did no one tell me that I have the thing upside down?!?!  oopppss!  I didn't even notice and now I am feeling a bit lazy so I will not be taking new photos}

I am linking up here.

Playing dress-up with old candles

Is it just me or is this week going fast?  Imagine that I think the week goes fast when I have a break from school!

I was once again inspired last night to do some up-cycling to a few of the many many candles that I have around my house (most of which are from my wedding 3 years ago----that have been sitting in a plastic bin ever since).   I must admit that I am now an obsessive compulsive up-cycler, I therefore thought I should drag a few more out of their temporary retirement and get busy decorating!  

So I know I know I have done two projects with candles not that long ago, click here or here to see them, but todays is tweaked a touch so I thought I would once again share a wayyyy to long tutorial so you can do-it-yourself!

***This brings up a good point that I would like to bring up----if you are inclined to do your own version of projects and want to show me how they turn out I would like love to feature you on my "your creations" tab (you may have noticed the super empty sad tab I added earlier this week) just because it would be fun to see YOUR version!!!   :o)

Back to the topic at hand

Candle Dress-Up 

For the doily candle:

 I used the same technique as I used here just a couple of modifications that I want to mention:

1.  I taped my doilies down with double sided tape to make sure they stayed in place prior to heating the wax

2.  I did my heating of the wax then went back with a plastic knife and smoothed out imperfections 

For the jewel and flower embellished candles:

I decided to essentially make my own pins---think of the cork board possibilities!!!! 

I used the backs of earrings that I bought in a pack of about 60 for $3 at Michael's---I have a bunch of ideas for them!

Initially I intended on using the jewelry glue I used to make my magnets because it is super super strong to make my jewel pins but lets face it, I couldn't wait so I ended up veto-ing that idea and using hot glue instead.

{this picture was taken before I realized hot glue was way cooler I mean hotter---you know what I mean}

I was then inspired by my good friend Tabitha's blog to make some cute fabric flowers like she shows how to do so very well in her tutorial.

{click here to see this super sweet and simple tutorial}

{butttt me being me, I decided to take up-cycling to the next level and used some old shirt fabric (I just saved these from my goodwill pile---yikes my husband is going to kill me---but I don't think I can be considered a hoarder if I am using what I save right?!?!)}

{I attached my cute Tab's inspired flower to the a earring back so I could pin it right into my candle}

(on second thought maybe I will just wear them as earrings----hahahah)

(have I told you lately I am a big dork!?!?!?)

I am linking up here.

p.s. just in case you are worried I am crazy inspired by my latest kick----MEANINGFUL wall art, I will have at least two more projects finished today to share with you soon :o)

Another fun up-cycled cabinet door

I am beyond honored, today I am being featured as a guest post-er on my blogger friend Connie's blog Measured by the Heart.  She is by far one of the most wonderful people I have met via the blog world thus far.  I have always known I love crafts but I had no idea how much I have loved getting to know all of YOU the crafty people who are so very inspired!

Please check out her blog and my guest post, it is my attempt pretend I actually know what I am doing here in blog land when in reality I am sooo not a blog pro.  But I am motivated by my love for crafting and inspiring other crafty people.

{click here to go visit}

I did a little up-cycle project for the post that I want to share with all of you!

Here it is:  (as I posted this part on her blog)

I would love to share a little project with you today highlighting my love for up-cycled usable and meaningful crafts (sometimes even all at the same time)?!?!

I started with a steal of a deal cabinet door from a re-cycle home type thrift store.

Next

1.  I sanded (kind of because I am a bit lazy), painted the cabinet door and a scrabble game piece holder at the same time, I distressed both big time and then picked out some of my favorite scrapbook paper (I have many so this isn't as easy as it sounds).

2.  Since the cabinet door in-set was a strange shape I trimmed my scrapbook paper and then sanded the edges to make sure everything was sized just right and distressed looking.

3.  Ahhh and then just add mod podge to seal her on

4.  This is where I came to my dilemma point---my original plan was to embrace a menu type look of the board while using a scrabble holder to hold the menu/recipe card....... butttt then I had some other ideas:

Display for special pictures and sayings, recipe card holder, quote holder...you pick!

{I am linking up here}

Nautical Themed Mantle

Happy Monday blog friends!  I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend!  I had such a wonderful time with my husband even though our packing and moving is in full swing!  Today I must admit I took the day off to relax and try to really realize that I am DONE with school!  A day off from packing can only mean one thing----yep you guessed it I was crafting up a storm!  

Here is my first of a few projects and tonight's treasured up-cycle:

I know some of you have read some of my other posts where I have talked about how I am only decorating with meaningful home-made art work...so keeping with the meaningful idea I found these sand dollars while packing.  I love that Cal found them for me on one of our trips to Cancun---ahhh special memories and moments.  I was inspired to display them as a reminder of the wonderful times spent together.

And here is where I started:

I came across a load of cabinet doors for sale for a bundle price at a re-use home building store 

***I know I didn't pay more than a couple dollars each even thought this ticket price says seven dollars or something crazy like that*** 

I can't stop thinking about different ways to use them!  

*At least a couple of this weeks projects will feature these lovely doors so beware!*

{So I should note this was not the cabinet door I actually used for this project but was one of many I have been painting and up-cycling lately}

I also have a pile of these old wall art box-thing-ies and have been full of ideas of ways to up-cycle them...I am always excited to rescue and reuse things that have been laying around the house that are no longer my style!

So I don't have many in between pictures this time but I just printed my sea inspired pictures on my beloved encyclopedia paper (same directions as the last few posts on how to do the printing).  I found the coral at the graphic fairy and starfish at wbclipart.

Then I distressed the corners of the paper with sand paper while supporting the paper on piece of scrap wood.

For the cabinet door I just painted it white, distressed like crazy and added the label holders and sand dollars.  I used a glue gun to place the sand dollars because I like the idea of being able to change the items on my board----my style is constantly changing!

I also must note that I am still so so so in love with my encyclopedias and took time to find fun sea inspired words to put in the holders!

Ahhh now if only we could all take a week off and play in the ocean!

Bbbuutt back to reality,

*I will be back to moving and packing tomorrow!*

Ohhh and before I forget I must mention that:

Once again I was also slightly inspired by pottery barn's new love for nautical decorium as well----ahhhh I love that store!!!

{Pottery Barn}

I am linking up here.

A spring mantel from up-cycle garage sale finds!

There is nothing like a refreshing night of up-cycling, especially when you are happy with the final product.  

I have really discovered my love for garage sale treasures last year, I am SO anticipating this years garage sale season!  But the crazy thing is that I am still working on some projects from last years garage sale finds....  I found an oar and picked it up, because I am so so so in love with anything that reminds me of the lake....I love the water and the fun you can have in it, the calm and peaceful feeling, really, let me just be honest I love everything having to do with my little Hamburg Lake (I am so so so sad about leaving in a few weeks).  Anyways, back to my projects:

These were a thrift store find, I painted them and was enjoying them {see pictures here} but I couldn't stop thinking they weren't distressed enough for my taste.

So I decided to try out some glaze....I have have never glazed before and I am definitely NOT a pro, in-fact I am not sure if I even did it correctly, but I was happy with the results.  I just tinted the clear glaze with black paint, made sure it got in the all of the little distressed details of and then rubbed it off with the an old cloth...

I started with white paint and then discovered my new best friend the sandpaper holder....wow is distressing easier with that!!!

Finally I added my most favorite summertime quote using the technique I used here.

I am linking up here.