I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend.  It was beautiful here in PA.  Absolutely gorgeous and I wanted to be outside as much as possible to enjoy the weather, so I  didn’t get around to any work or blogging.   Now that Labor Day has officially come and gone and the Summer of 2010 is officially over,  I can get into full fall mode  YEAH!!!!!!! without anyone giving me a hard time, like I am trying to rush the season.    I am looking forward to oranges, brown, reds and all the lovely warm fall colors and putting some fall touches throughout the house.  The project I created for today’s post is for beyond Fall —– It is a Christmas project that takes some time to make so I wanted to post it now to give you ample time to gather all the materials  and create your own. 

 I also wanted to remind you that if and when you complete your holiday projects you can link them here, at my On-Going Holiday Link- up Party.  There is also a button and a link over there on my sidebar.  You can link old an new projects.

I have been saving all the Christmas cards I have received for many years and have quite a collection.  I love to find ways to re-use them. I have been working on this Friends and Family Christmas Tree Garlandfor a while now and happy to say, it is done.  My plan was to make use of all the photo cards I have gotten since I am not a scrapbooker.  I thought how nice it would be to wrap my tree  with all the friends and family who live far away and that we won’t see during the holidays.  Decoratively displaying the garland will bring them a little bit closer at least in spirit.

The garland is quite easy to make.   First you need to figure out how long a garland you want.  Estimate how many cards, sequins, beads, and jump rings you will need, then begin creating it in stages.  1.  Cut the cards.  2.  Punch holes in sequins and put on jump rings.  3.  Make wire loops for the beads   4. Assembling it. 

Material Needed:

Gather your Christmas Cards

1.  Cut greetings and images from the front of cards until you have enough to make a garland for the size you need.  Cut the images out in all different shapes for more interest.  I chose to make my garland red, green, and white and only used cards in those colors.

Punch a hole in each side of every cut-out.

2.  Cut a variety of greetings from the front of cards and keep in a separate pile.

Since I wanted all white greetings, I used the inside message for my garland, but you can use the front greetings as pictured above also.

I used a deckle edge ruler to give my cut out greetings a decorative edge.  You could also use pinking or scalloped scissors.  Punch a hole in each side of the cut-out.

Cut out the photos of your friends and family from all the photo cards you receive.

and punch a hole in each side.

Sequins

This step is optional, but I wanted to add a little glitz. I layered a green sequin onto a red one and used  Fast Grab Tacky Glue to adhere quickly.

Then I used a hole punch to make the center hole bigger for a jump ring to go through.

Add a large jump ring to each sequin.

Beads

Create the beads with wire loops to connect the cards.  Thread wire through bead -

and then make a wrapped loop.  For more detailed directions on how to do this, go here

Repeat on other side so that when you are done your bead looks like this.  Repeat on all your beads.

Assemble

Attach the beads to the jump rings and close with needle-nose pliers.

I used pearls, and a variety of different styles of red and green beads. 

Display

Over doors, windows, mantels-

Mirrors

and your Christmas Tree.

I am linking this post to:

Today’s Creative Blog

Blue Cricket Design

C.R.A.F.T.

Someday Crafts

All Things Related

The Girl Creative Party Blog

Sugar Bee

Hi Everybody-

Can’t believe it is Thursday - this week is speeding by and I can’t seem to get caught up as I was too busy entering all the Silhouette giveaways.  Of course, I didn’t win, but it was worth trying.  I work in display and I use these  ”vinyls” or “VATS” as we call them in the display trade - every day.   No fun projects, only brand and product names - which got me to thinking of  ”logos”.  If you know me by now, you know I like to find creative ways to re-use stuff we normally throw away – which brings me to what I just finished making.    It is my version of subway art for those of us who do not own a Silhouette, don’t stamp, or have any letter stencils.     For my creation, I used shopping bags – you know the ones you get at the mall when you buy a shirt from the Gap or candles at Pottery Barn.  I save these bags, as some of them are so pretty. For the most part I use them to carry my lunch to work in style, but I had quite a few in my stash and played around with all the logos printed on the bags.   I am calling it – LogoArt.  

This post is a two-fer.  There is a second idea on reusing shopping bags at the end.

Gather:

Shopping bags with store or product logos

Scissors, spray glue, a protective spray matte sealer, staple gun and staples, straight edge/T-Square

Thick Fom-Cor or a plywood board cut to desired size

Ribbon about 1/4″ – 1/2″ wide.  You will need ribbon about as wide as the thickness of your board

Picture hanging hardware

Before

1.  Gather your shopping bags.

2.  Cut foam or plywood board to size desired.   I used a Fom-Cor board that I rescued from the compactor at work.

3.  Cut out all the logos on the bags.  I initially cut each logo out on all sides, I should have kept them long on the sides.  This way as you add the logos to the board you can cut them to the length needed to fit the width of the board.

4. Work outdoors if you are going to use spray glue.  I made this out on my deck.   Arrange the logos on the board, playing with the colors and sizes to create visual balance.   I placed the larger logos on the bottom and the smaller ones on top.  Leave about a 1/2″ on the sides, top and bottom to overlap the edges of the board.  Once you like the layout, start from the bottom and begin spraying the back of each logo with spray glue.  Let the glue get tacky before placing on the board.  Smooth each piece with your hand. 

5.  Using a staple gun, staple the excess of each piece to the edge of the board.

6.   To protect your logos, evenly spray a few light coats of a protective finish.  I used this sealer.  I didn’t want a shiny look.  Let it dry thoroughly.   

7.  Measure the perimeter of the board and cut ribbon a few inches longer than that measurement. 

 Decorative tacks

8.  Starting at the top, fold one end of the ribbon over about an inch.  Press a tack into this starting place.  Wrap ribbon along edge of the board and place a tack into the board at even intervals until you get back to the starting point.  You can remove the first tack and place the opposite end under the starting end, then press the tack back in. This will give you a finished look. 

9.  Place picture hanging hardware on the back and hang.

After

“Be kind to the earth recycle, reuse.  Be creative with your stuff”

This Logo Art board is just one way to re-use shopping  bags. I had so much fun with this project, I did another  – just in time for back to school.

Instead of buying boring covers to cover your kid’s text books, use shopping bags . What kid wouldn’t love carrying one of these around in their backpack?

There are many ways to cover a book.  This is the way I do it.

1.  Cut the bag on one side and then unfold the bottom to flatten the bag. 

2.  Carefully remove the handles.

3. Determine where the logo will fall on the book. Each book size and bag will vary.    Wrap the bag around the book to determine fit and size.  

4.  Once the bag is sized to the book.   Close it to see the fit and run your fingers over the books edges to make creases.  When you take the book off you will see the creases (book size) and you can then make the cuts.  See next two photos.

5.   Your cover should look like this.   Fold the binding tabs and tape them down. 

6.  Place book on bag and the fold over top of one corner tab and side.  Tape.  Repeat on bottom corner.  Place one side of book in.  Repeat on other side.   

 Now your kids can study in style! 

I am linking this post to:

Thrifty Decor Chick

C.R.A.F.T.

Somewhat Simple

The ShabbyChic Cottage

Finding Fabulous

Funky Junk Interiors

Tatertots & Jello

Perfectly Imperfect

Tidy Mom

Frugal and Fabulous Design

It’s a Blog Party

Chic on A Shoestring

The Shabby Nest

Frou Frou Decor

Under the Table and Dreaming

I am collector of throw-away” stuff”.  Not junk, but honest to goodness – discards.  My friends and family know to give me  their throw-aways, which are different than cast-offs. Cast-offs are unwanted items like furniture and lamps.  Throw-aways are bits and pieces of packaging, parts of items – stuff that seems useless once it’s original purpose is complete.  Throw-aways are what I can’t seem to say “no” to.  I love the challenge of coming up with some new use for these discards that will be Ohhh… la la worthy. 

Recently, when I saw a bag filled with film canisters at a local camera store being thrown away – I had to speak up.  I couldn’t bear to see it tossed and asked the salesman, if I could please have them.  He handed the bag right over to me and asked what I was going to do with them.  I told him, I didn’t have a clue, but I will come up with something sooner or later. 

These plastic film canisters are becoming obsolete, but can still be found at camera stores and where film is processed.  Here are my rescued throw-aways.

Before

After

 Prest-O Change-O !  Add some decorative paper, buttons, an earring, tulle, some sheet music, along with some hot glue and you have-

 Pretty mini- gift containers. 

They make giving something little-extra special. 

Gifts that will fit:

Anything small – earrings, rings, and other jewelry (if the jewelry is on a hanging card, discard the card and place the jewelry into a piece of tissue paper), rolled up dollar bills,  a key to something big, like a car.   

Top: Vintage clip-on earring with the clip removed.   Canister Cover: A piece of a Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog cover.

 Top:  A gold and pearl button on top of a larger black button.  Canister Cover:  Scrapbook paper

 Top:  Mother of pearl button with a tulle rosette and rhinestone button glued on.  Canister Cover:  Gift-wrap

Top:  Vintage button  Canister Cover:  Sheet music

Top: Square button with a silver pearl button glued on top.  Canister cover:  Wallpaper scrap.

Aren’t they pretty?  They were practically free – only the cost of the materials I used to decorate them with – most of which were throw-aways, too. 

 How would you add your style to a  film canister and what would you put in it?   I would love to hear your ideas?

I am linking this post to:

The Blackberry Vine

Tatertots & Jello

Funky Junk Interiors

Southern Hospitality

Sumos Sweet Stuff

The Girl Creative

Making The World Cuter

Today’s Creative Blog

Crafts Keep Me Sane

Tools Are For Women Too

C.R.A.F.T.

Reinvented

All Thingz Related

Blue Cricket Design

On another note:  It is time to show-off your holiday style.

I am starting Christmas in July here at IMOS.  Click on the link below or up in my nav bar to link up your Chirstmas decorating and craft project and ideas. They can be old or new posts.  If you don’t have a blog, leave a comment or e-mail me a photo and I will add it to the page.  It will be on-going to use as a reference when you need some creative inspiration in the upcoming months – as the 2010 holiday season will be here before we know it. 

I am one of those people who is not afraid to stop my car on the side of the road to pick up other peoples cast-offs.   I find it very adventuresome and love transforming my finds into functional pieces.  Best of all – it doesn’t cost me a thing.  I found this hollowed out dresser in a field on the way to the supermarket.   Lovely, isn’t she?  She has nice lines.  I saw potential.

Before

The transformation begins with a trip to the dollar store for 17 white plastic baskets.  I would have loved wicker baskets, but 17 of them would be a bit pricey for my budget.

Also needed:   my computer, printer, and card-stock to make some labels.  I  chose a font size that would fit in the label holders I found years ago.  I cut out a piece of acetate from a transparency sheet to use as my see-thru cutting template.

Vintage looking label holders and labels I made.  If you don’t have any label holders you can see my post on how-to make wipe-off labels.

I used a pair of pliers to attach a label holder to the front of each basket.

I cut plywood to fit into the hollow dresser to create shelves.  There were 8 sections and a small lip where the drawers used to be that I screwed each piece of plywood into.  I then gave it a coat of white paint.  This is a rough piece.  Even after sanding and buffing the front edges still looked raw with the plywood and screws showing.

I cleaned it up as best I could and figured it is going to go in my mudroom so it doesn’t have to look perfect, just functional.  Lots of sanding needed.

After

I also bought white thumb tacks at the Dollar Store and used two different colors of ribbon from my stash to hide the  ugly front edge of the dresser.   I measured the ribbon and placed the purple on top of a wider white grosgrain.  I attached the ribbon to the dresser with the thumb tacks.  I think I am going to add more tacks, so it looks like nail-head trim, but I ran out.  I will need to take another trip to the Dollar Store to get more. 

This dresser sees a lot of action as it is right in the door from our garage where we enter the house.   It is where we place keys, mail, library books, handbags, backpacks, etc.  I have the baskets labeled – Sunglasses, Goggles, Sunscreen, Mittens, Hats…the things we use on a daily basis that I want easily accessible, but I don’t want to see laying around.

I love how it came out.  Not too bad for something I found on the side of the road.

I am linking this post to:

This is a fun trash turned into treasure something useful project.  I call my creation “Jewelry for the Garden”.  I came up with this idea after my hubby asked me if I could make something to mark the veggies and herbs that he recently planted in our garden.  I could have used a number of things as markers – the stamped spoon idea is so cute, but I don’t have any extra spoons.    Tongue depressors or Popsicle sticks – they break a part.  I could have went to a garden shop and bought some, but I don’t want to spend money on something I knew I could make.   So I looked around the house and found these 3 items.

Wire hangers from the dry cleaner, orange juice can tops and bottoms, and a few beads from my collection.

Before

After

Cost:  Nothing     Time to Complete: 15 minutes =  A Happy Hubby   He would have been fine with just the OJ lids on the hanger, but I had to add a little style to them.

They are very easy to make.  The hardest part is waiting until you have collected enough OJ cans to make enough markers for all the plants you want to mark in your garden.

1.  Pull the wire part of the hanger from the cardboard tube.  One on each side.  This will be the hook on the top of the stake.

2. Untwist the hook part of the hanger.

3. Open up the hook, by spreading the two wires apart.

4.  Cut in the center with wire cutters.  You have just created 2 stakes to hang the OJ lids on.

5.  Press the smaller hook end back a bit with your fingers so that it is closer to the wire behind it.

6.  Mold the bigger hook end with your hands so it resembles the ones shown in the photo below.  This end will go into the ground, so it does not have to be perfect.  It will give the stake support.

7.  Optional:  Spray paint silver to match the OJ lid.

8.  If you have a Dremel drill - drill 2 holes in an OJ lid – one at the top and another at the bottom.  Make sure the bottom hole is close to the edge of the lid so you will be able to thread a jump ring through it.  I placed mine right in the lid’s groove.  If you don’t have a drill, an awl and a hammer will also make a hole.

9.  Add some pretty beads to a jump ring and attach to the lid. I was going for an all green look so the markers would look nice, but would blend in with the garden at the same time.

10.  I tried using a stamping set to mark each lid, but the metal is too soft, so I used permanent markers.  If you want to stamp the names on each marker – use tin can lids that are opened with a can opener that doesn’t leave the edges sharp.  Most tin can lids are bigger and have ridges in them.  I like the OJ lids - they are smooth.

11.  Push the larger hook end into the dirt and never again forget what you planted.  The beads and the lids move in the breeze and jangle a bit- it might scare the birds and other animals who may decide to make a feast out of your garden. 

 Have you made anything out of trash lately that you would like to share?  I always love to see clever ways to repurpose items that we would normally toss in the trash. 

I am linking this post to:

Funky Junk Interiors

Today’s Creative Blog

The Girl Creative

Reinvented

Tools Are For Women too

C.R.A.F.T.

This project is one of my favorite types -  one that re-purposes, recycles, and reuses odds and ends we have sitting around our homes taking up space in their boring original states.   I tried to take what I learned at summer camp a long, long, time ago and make the basic project a bit more stylish, worthy enough to sit on my desk.  I made the letter organizer by using 3 video tape sleeves and the pencil holder from, you guessed it – an orange juice can.  No Popsicle sticks, crayons, or construction paper were used to complete the rest of this desk set. 

If you can still find any of these video sleeves laying around your house or perhaps at your local thrift store  you will need at least 3.  You can use more, depending on how many sections you want your organizer to have.  You want to use the same type of sleeves as they have different notches along the edge. 

Gather:

Video Sleeves

Tacky Glue and sponge brush to apply it evenly

Decorative Gift-wrap

Self-laminating sheets

Ribbon, enough to weave through the top edge and to tie into a bow

4 Large beads

Hot Glue

1. Simply line up the notches on the video tape sleeves and glue them together with tacky glue.  Let dry.

If you have followed my blog for awhile you know I am a big fan of clear self-laminating sheets.  It not only protects the paper, but gives the project a more finished look. 

2.  Measure a piece of gift-wrap, wallpaper, or decorative paper large enough to wrap around the glued together video sleeves.  Laminate the paper with a sheet of clear self lamination.

3.  Brush tacky glue all over outside surface of the video sleeves.  Wrap paper around as you would a gift.  Trim along top edge. 

4.  Using a hole punch, punch a hole around top edge every inch.  Start in the front and work to each side around to one of the back corners.  This way if the holes are not evenly spaced when they meet it will be in a corner and less obvious.

5. Find the center of your length of ribbon.  Starting from a back hole weave the ends around top edge in and out thorough the holes, one end going to the left the other to the right until they meet in the center front.    Bring the ribbon to front through the same hole and tie ends in bow.

6.  Hot glue 4 decorative beads onto the bottom.

The finished desk organizer.

For the pencil holder.  Follow the above steps to cover an orange juice can.  Punch the holes and weave the ribbon in the same way.  If you don’t want a bow, just bring the ends into the inside of the can and tie into a knot.  Cut excess.

Hot glue the beads to the bottom of the can and your done.

I am linking this project to:

Under The Table and Dreaming

My Romantic Home

It’s a HodgePodge Life

Finding Fabulous

Funky Junk Interiors

Poppies at Play

Life As Lori

Somewhat Simple

Blue Cricket Design

Beyond The Picket Fence

The Shabby Chic Cottage

The House of Hepworth”s

Simply Designing

Were you beginning to wonder what I was up to?    Thanks for being so patient with me, but I knew I was close to coming up with a hip and trendy idea that stemmed from an old time craft.  I couldn’t give up.  I just ran out of time.  Today, I finally got the necklace I was working on to come out right.

   I simply wanted to re-purpose a few pairs of eyeglasses.  I wanted to re-live a craft I did when I was a kid in Girl Scouts.  I remember when my troop made our mothers pins for Mother’s Day out of old eyeglasses, scraps of decorative paper, glue, and a pin back.   Prest-O Change-O  a pretty pin for our moms.  Total time to complete was half an hour, so when I decided to make a necklace using the same technique, I thought it wouldn’t take too long. 

I was wrong!!! 

 The problem all stemmed from the glue.  It just wasn’t making a permanent bond, I tried 6 glues and Mod Podge too.  I was perplexed to say the least until it dawned on me as I was standing over the sink washing my 8th failure off the lens - that I realized what was wrong.    When I was a kid, eyeglasses were made of glass.   Today they are  made of lightweight plastic with a variety of coatings.  I needed to get some plastic glue which I found at Lowe’s.   Today I had success. Patience and Persistence = Success.   I love how they turned out. 

  If you don’t have any glasses you can buy a pair of  readers at the Dollar Store.  The less curve/concave to the lens the better.

Gather:

A pair of Eyeglasses

Loctite Stik n’ Seal Ultra Glue (Lowes)

Printed out Monogram or Letter printed on regular printer paper

Nail or tiny scissors

Dremel drill and fine bit

Jump ring, Necklace chain or Leather, Pearl and or Beads, End pin

I used my computer to make a monogram in a size that would fit the lens I had.
 

But you can use a book with decorative letters for a unique look.

Snap the lens out of the glasses.  One pair was easy to get out, the other I had to use scissors to snip the frame to get the lens out.

Cut out monogram a little bit larger than the lens.

This is the glue that finally worked for me, but do a test first on your paper and printer ink to make sure the glue doesn’t bleed through the paper.  Also make sure that once the paper is dry that it is bonded to the lens.

Place a generous dab of glue on to the side of the lens that would be closet to your face and then rub it over the entire area .  Make sure you don’t miss any spots.

 Center the monogram face down onto the glue and gently burnish the back with your finger to smooth and removing all air bubbles.   Be careful not to pull the paper.  Let dry for a few hours.

Using a dremel drill, drill a hole in the center top of the lens.  Trim the excess paper using a pair of small scissors. 

 The letter on this lens was one of my failures.  When it dried the paper came off when I picked it up..
 

Thread a jump ring through the hole and then hang on a few strands of leather.

 To seal the back , the best way I found was to spray a light coat of spray adhesive on a piece of felt.  Attach to the back and then trim.  I tried using self-laminiating paper but that was too stiff and didn’t follow the curve of the lens.

Or, you can add the jump ring and add a pearl dangle and then string onto a silver ball chain.   See  my post about making dangles, here.

For a trip down memory lane, I had to make a pin.  To update the look, I photocopied a vintage hankie and used that behind the lens.  I then drilled 3 holes along the bottom to hang 3 decorative dangles.  Hot glue a pin back to the back.

I am linking this post to:

A Soft Place to Land

Today’s Creative Blog

Tip Junkie

Reinvented

Skip To My Lou

The Girl Creative

The Shabby Chic Cottage

I have been working on a re-purposing project over the weekend that I wanted to post tonight.  I thought I had it all figured out, but I keep running into small glitches.    
I was about to throw it all into the trash and just forget about it, but couldn’t because I feel so close to getting it right. In my frustration I was reminded of the words of  Thomas Edison - inventor extraordinarie.  I am not trying to invent anything earth shattering like inventing the lightbulb, just a pretty necklace for you to make, but it is an idea all the same.   I am going to keep at it until I get it right. I think a trip to the craft store is in order where I will find what I need and eventually SUCCESS . 

 
At work today ( I am a display designer in a department store) I put up Mother’s Day decor.   One of my co-workers asked-

“ Why are you putting all that up so early, Mother’s Day is a long way off”.  

My answer was because I got a directive from corporate to do it today, April 7,  almost one month away from Mother’s Day this year.  In the retail world Christmas starts in September, so why should anybody be surprised that they are promoting Mother’s Day 4 weeks before Sunday May 9th.

 It got me thinking about what I was going to give my mom for Mother’s Day.  4 weeks in my crazy busy life will be here before I know it and I don’t want to rush around right before buying her anything so I have something to give her.  If I start the creative process now I will be able to give her something with a lot more meaning than just something ordinary that I picked up at the mall.  4 weeks to gather supplies, create, wrap , make card, write note… might take some effort,  I better get going. 

The materials I used for this frame came from old junk. An old photo frame that had lost its luster, pearls I found for a few dollars at a flea market and hot glue were all I needed.  I used a pearl necklace since it is very feminine.  This frame would also be great as a bridal gift or to use as place card holders for an elegant dinner party.  Try other styles of beaded necklaces to create truly unique frames to give - a colorful necklace into a child’s frame, a crystal necklace for a trendy modern look.  Your options are wide open.

Gather:

Any frame – I used a 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ frame

Hot-glue gun and glue sticks

18″ vintage pearl necklace or 2 shorter ones, for larger frames more necklaces will be needed

1.  Remove glass and back of frame.

2.  Put a thick line of hot glue on the front of the frame.  Lay one opened end of necklace on the hot glue.  Press gently. Continue gluing necklace onto front of frame, then sides, then back of frame.  If second necklace is needed, start where first one ends.

3.  After frame has been covered, start overlapping necklace by putting hot glue on top of the first layer of pearls until desired thickness is achieved. Make sure clasps of necklace are covered ot cut them off once necklace is securely glued to frame.  Trim excess.

4.  In random spots or a space, hot glue individual beads to cover or as accents.

 5. Reassemble frame and add photo.  I found an old snapshot of my mother holding my twin sister, Carol and I when we were infants.  My brother was also in the picture, but he didn’t quite fit, so I cut him off, sorry  Greg.  

What are you giving your mom this year?  We all need ideas, so please share any creative ideas you are going to do this year or have done in the past to help your Mom celebrate Mother’s Day.

I am linking this post to:

DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land

Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous

Strut Your Stuff  at Somewhat Simple

The Inspired Room

Funky Junk Interiors

Open Your Windows