Showing posts with label repurposing/reusing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label repurposing/reusing. Show all posts

Friday, February 15, 2013

Blinged Out Contact Case

Just got finished blinging out a couple of contact cases and just wanted to share them. Did you know contact cases can be used to store seed beads and other small craft supplies in? You don't have to use them just for contacts! Honestly, give me some bling and I'll cover anything :)








 I loved doing the first one so much... I just had to do another.


Have a few extra contact cases around the house? Blinging a contact case is super easy... just get some rhinestones and a good glue, something like E6000 and start gluing them on.  If you are interested in a more detailed tutorial plus more ideas about ways you can use a contact case, see my tutorial HERE.

Thanks so much for dropping by!
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Saturday, November 10, 2012

Easy Fabric Flowers from Old T-shirts

Fabric flowers from old t-shirts


 Do you have any pieces of old clothing that you need to get rid of but they really aren't even fit for Goodwill?  Here's what you do: Cut them up and make some of these gorgeous fabric flowers with them... I did this with a few t-shirts recently and I'm HOOKED!  I wish I had some more old clothes.. I would love to try to make these out of all kinds of different materials.. because I'm sure each flower would look different when you use different types of material. 

Here is a few different things you can use to make these.. old or damaged:
  • shirts
  •  jeans
  • slacks
  •  dress shirts
  • sheets or pillowcases
  • towels
  • handkerchiefs
  • fabric remnants
  • curtains
  • shower curtains
  • fabric remnants

  The technique to make each one is the same but there are things you can do to vary the look of them. These particular ones were made with just a regular straight edged strip of material that was about 1.5 inches wide by about a yard (my t-shirts are large). I did a running stitch down one edge, gathered the strip and and then rolled them together,  just like if you were making cinnamon rolls.  Once rolled, I glued each one to a felt circle and viola!

rolled fabric flowers from old t-shirts

The width and length of each strip will determine the size. I wouldn't recommend using a strip that is over 2 inches wide because then it just looks kind of floppy..The length of the strip will determine the size. The longer, the larger your flower will be. You can use multiple shorter strips to make one longer strip.

 Here is another photo of some more made the same way.......





These were made the exact same way but I cut a scalloped edge on each one, sewed, gathered and rolled.





If you take the strip and instead of on one edge cutting scallops, cut horizontal strips all the way down, and then stitch and roll....you will come out with something like this:




I like this one because it kind of looks like a  little pom pom.. to make it even more realistic you can do the same thing but cut pointed edges on each strip.  I think it would come out looking sort of like a dahlia or other flowers that look similar to that.

So you can definitely come up with all kinds of different looks depending on how you decide to do one edge of the strip before doing the stitch.  I love playing around and seeing what I can come up with.

Of course, the best thing I love about these is that they were virtually free to make.. so next time you get ready to throw out that old ripped shirt, keep it and make some pretty flowers!!


I hope you enjoyed this post.. if you are interested in a more detailed tutorial along with lots of ideas about what you can do with your finished flowers, see my tutorial here

Thank you so much for dropping by!




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Saturday, March 24, 2012

Crafts Using Rocks Rock!

I was browsing Martha Stewart's craft site and these cute rocks caught my eye... How cute are these rocks below?! I have to admit, I've never really thought of rocks as being cute but these definitely are and how expensive is a rock??? I think they are pretty impressive so I wanted to share them on my blog today.   It also made me curious about what other decorated rocks out there... and I found LOTS of very cute rocks! Here are a few of my favorites......................



@Martha Stewart.Com
I love how they spelled out the title of the article with the rocks.. too cute! Be sure to check out Martha's link for even more cute rocks.



@Fab Mums


Check out these cute lady bugs.. wouldn't they be cute placed in your flower beds or even in the pots of your inside plants? Go to the link for the how-to.



@Deep Into the Darkness Peering
I had to share these beautiful rocks...I am amazed at the detailed painting on these rocks.  I wish I could paint like that.....click on the link to see more.




@red bird crafts
Look at these cute fabric hearts mod podged onto rocks! This would make a fun craft for kids! Be sure to check out the link to see the other love message rocks and she shares how they were made too!




@http://www.kidscraftactivities.net
I can not help but fall in love with these cute painted bird rocks.. they are so cheery and cute! They are called 'Pet Rocks' and these too are great for kids! Go to the link for the how-to.



I hope you have enjoyed my post today.... I think these rocks are great for a budget craft choice.

Happy Rock Crafting!!!
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Friday, March 2, 2012

Cute TP Butterflies and Chalkboard Project

Photo Belongs to sunbun143@HubPages

Photo Belongs to sunbun143@HubPages

My friend Sunny sent me these cute toilet paper tube butterflies!  Aren't they sooo cute?!  She also made the chalkboard in the background. Notice the cute matching butterfly cutout in the top pic.  Can you guess how she made this chalkboard?  Chalkboard Contact Paper!!!!   Yes, that's right... contact paper and no messy paint :)  I'm not opposed to the chalkboard paint.. I think it's really neat but I can hardly wait to make some chalkboard crafts of my own with this chalkboard contact paper.  I will update this post with the tutorial for the TP butterflies as soon as she posts it.

Thanks for stopping by and thank you, Sunny for sharing your cute crafts!

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Friday, February 17, 2012

DIY Coasters!


Here is a small round-up of DIY drink coaster tutorials.  I saw this first set and couldn't help myself from seeing what other ones were out there..



curling ribbon coasters@ChicaandJo
I happened upon Chica and Jo today and found these super cute coasters! I love the bright colors and they are so easy to make.. or at least they look easy but best of all they don't cost a ton to make.. Curly ribbon comes in tons of bright beautiful colors and they do not cost a lot either.





re-purposed coasters @ Evie S.
I love these DIY re-purposed coasters that I found at Evie S. These were made by covering an old set of coasters and they turned out great!   If you don't have any old coasters to re-purpose, you could always use some of those round coasters from Chilis or other restaurants. I don't see why those couldn't work as well.  Of course, you could always get some thin cork board and cut it in whatever shape you like or maybe glue a couple layers of it together and cover it with pretty paper like these were. 






DIY coasters @ Craft Envy

Take a look at this pretty set of coasters I found at Craft Envy!  You will not believe how easy these are to make.. it's almost mind blowing. Go have a look and be amazed..  I already have everything needed except 4 blank tiles... hope I remember these next time in Lowe's.





duct tape coasters@ Natalie's Creations
 Look what you can make with some cardboard circles and decorative duct tape! The more things I see made with decorative duct tape, the more I want some... it comes in all different colors and designs, too.  I found this clever DIY coaster idea at Natalie's Creations!  P.S. Be sure to see the cute bulletin board she made, too.






DIY Coaster Tiles @ Purplest Pecalin
I found these gorgeous DIY coaster tiles at Purplest Pecalin along with another fabulous pair....   As I sat looking at these tiles, I quickly determined that they would look just as pretty hanging on a wall as they wood laying on a table.   They turned out amazing.... love them!





travertine coaster tiles@Hey, Let's Rock!
Look at these pretty tile coasters I found at Hey, Let's Rock! These are a little different than the other tiles in that they are made with the travertine tiles. I LOVE the rustic look of them.  It's interesting too that even though the designs look painted on, they were actually stenciled and then colored in with a black Sharpie.  That's pretty cool!

I hope you have enjoyed this coaster small coaster round-up  as much as I loved gathering them.   Happy Coaster Making!!
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Thursday, February 9, 2012

♥Valentine's Day Crafts♥


Valentine's Day is just around the corner... I am excited to gather a few more cute Valentine's projects.  These are not only great for adults but kids would have fun making them too.
♥♥♥

I ran across this very cute project today at Karla M Curry. These cute heart shapes are simple to make and guess what they are made out of?  Toilet paper tubes!  I ♥ it.
heart shapes out of toilet paper rolls@Karla M Curry
hanging heart strings@Karla M Curry


 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥  

These pretty hearts that I found at martha stewart are made using crayons
 
crayon hearts @ martha stewart


♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥


This heart garland was made by grace and light  using a punch and some paint sample cards. How easy is that and oh so pretty!  Visit to see a photo illustrated tutorial showing exactly how she made it.
heart garland@ grace and light





I hope you ♥ these projects as much as I do! 
Happy Valentine's Day

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Thursday, February 2, 2012

Antique Button Crafts and Decor

antique button heart wall hanging

antique button bouquet


I made both of these with some antique buttons that were in a jar that I acquired after my grandmother on my dad's side passed away.  The buttons are so pretty..  many of them were more fancy rather than just ordinary buttons.  Some were glass and metal, too.

Photo #1--The top one was made by cutting a heart shape out of card board and then I hot glued the buttons to the cardboard. On the back side of the cardboard I hot glued a piece of wire to it for a hanger.  The frame was just a dollar store frame that I took the back and glass out of. I then connected the wire to the top of the frame for a hanger and tied a raffia bow and stuck a button in the middle of the bow.   I first hung the button heart, and then hung the frame around it.

Photo #2-- I threaded wire up and back through layers of buttons and then twisted the wire together to make the stems.  It's very easy to do and they turn out so cute!


Hope you have enjoyed these button crafts/decor projects.... Happy Button Crafting :0)
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Monday, January 30, 2012

Using Tin Cans for Storing Craft Supplies

I figured since I did a post on using jars as storage, I should do one about using tin cans, too.   I love the idea of using tin cans because they are readily available (or at least after dinner) and you can paint them and decorate them any way you want. Plus you are helping out the environment by "upcycling" something that would have otherwise been recycled which is okay but many of them just end up in the garbage.   

So, look at these great ideas!



cute covered tin cans @ iHanna's Blog

I love the look of these tin cans that were covered with wall paper!




tin can storage @ HGTV.com


This is a really nifty idea! The cans have magnets glued on the back...  this one is very simple but of course you could decorate your own as fancy as you want.



cute covered cans @ iHeart Organizing
I like these cute cans! This site has lots of amazing storage ideas.





jute covered cans @ Brown Paper Packages
How adorable are these? I love the labels.... too cute!!  These are actually made using powdered baby formula cans. Formula cans are made from card board rather than tin but they are so cute I couldn't resist sharing them!  These are bit easier to cover because they don't have the ridges on them like most tin cans do.  



Start saving your cans and remember they come in different sizes, too.  Tuna cans can be used to store small things like buttons and spaghetti sauce cans can store longer things like rulers and such.  Thank you for stopping by and please feel free to comment.  I love comments!

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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Cute, Clever Crafts from Empty Toilet Paper Rolls!

@ Crissy's Crafts


 Look at these party favors made from empty toilet paper tubes.  These are so cute and wouldn't cost hardly a penny to make.  I am so grateful to have stumbled upon these toilet paper roll crafts. You could use empty paper towel rolls and gift wrapping tubes, too. To see the tutorial for the favors above plus LOTS more go to:

 Clever Crafts From Toilet Paper Rolls
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Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Make a Domino Pendant


Domino pendants are easy to make and they do not cost a lot if you look around and find them on sale or clearance. I found these on clearance for like $6 for the whole set.  To see the simple tutorial go to:

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Saturday, January 7, 2012

Paint Sample Bookmarks

paint chip bookmarks @ bellacarta
I LOVE paint sample crafts so I couldn't resist sharing this one today I found at the beautiful blog that belongs to Bella Carta
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Friday, December 23, 2011

Learn to Make Fabric Yo-Yo Flowers- Super Easy Tutorial!





Yo Yo flowers are so cute and simple to make.  It's a perfect way to use up scrap material, too.  You can use these flowers to embellish scarves, hats, headbands, hair clips, etc.  They can be made a few different ways but the way I make them is very easy compared to the other ways I've seen.  To see the tutorial click below.

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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Bottle Cap Pendant #2 - Image Mounted on Top

This my second tutorial and a different version of the bottle cap pendant.  This is with the image mounted on the top of the cap instead of inside.  I think I may like them better than the other version.  So cute!!  


Thank you for stopping by!
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Bottle Cap Pendants


Bottle Cap Pendants are easy to make and they come out so darned cute. I love making these because:

  • They are easy and cute
  • They are inexpensive to make
  • These make nice gifts
  • It's a way to recycle bottle caps
  • Did I mention they are so darned cute? 

    These can be made into magnets and can be used as embellishments for hair bows or other crafts.   You can buy brand new caps if you want. They are fairly inexpensive but if you do opt to use used bottle caps here is a guide on preparing used bottle caps to be made into pendants

    Then go to:


    How to make a Bottle Cap Pendant

    Would you rather make the pendant with the image mounted on the top of the cap instead of the  inside? Go here:

    Bottle Cap Pendant with Image Mounted on Top


    Hope you enjoy!!
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    Monday, December 19, 2011

    Frugal Handmade Gift Ideas: Gifts in a Jar

    Food gifts in a jar make great handmade gifts and they are very inexpensive to make! You can use mason jars or even old food jars that you have saved.  Just put the ingredients in, add the recipe and a bow and that's it! I love these cute gift jars by Bakerella.   


    Photo Belongs to Bakerella

    For the tutorial on how to make these cowgirl cookies in a jar above plus tons more ideas, click below: 

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    Saturday, December 17, 2011

    Make a Tile Pendant



    What do you think about these pendants? Aren't they cute!  I picked up a square of small bathroom tiles at Lowe's and made them into pendants.  I'm really proud of how they turned out.  I was scared they may feel heavy for a pendant so I wore one for a day and I completely forgot I was wearing it.  I have more ideas for these tiles so stay tuned...Click below for the tutorial :)


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    Easy Decorative Clothespins Tutorial

    Look at these super cute decorative clothespins! You can purchase clothespins at the Dollar Store or WalMart for a couple bucks.  Then all you need is some pretty paper and glue.. paint is optional but it is fairly cheap to purchase and I think it is a nice touch. I use apple barrel or plaid acrylic paints- they cost any where from   You  to 2.50 for a small bottle. You can even use spray paint if you want.  Get creative and decorate them however you like.


    Here is the link to the tutorial: How to Make Embellished Clothespins

    I hope that you enjoy making these as much as I did!
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    Thursday, December 15, 2011

    Super Cute Paint Sample Crafts!

    I'm kicking off this blog with some great budget paper crafts! Did you know that you can make some super cutie crafts out of those paint sample cards you can get from home improvement stores for free?  Some call them paint swatches or paint chips but whatever you call them, you can make some pretty darned cute stuff with them!  
    Here are three different tutorials using paint sample cards:





    Tutorial #1 
    Paint Swatch Notecards and Matching Envelopes
    This is an easy tutorial complete with printable envelope template :)



    Tutorial #2 
    Easter Egg Paint Swatch Garland

    Paint sample cards worked out perfectly to make this very cute Easter garland! The tutorial is very easy to understand with great photos.  Learn how to make this DIY Paint Chip Easter Garland



    Tutorial #3
    Paint Swatch Chandelier 
     Hey Gorgeous has the tutorial for this DIY Paint Swatch Chandelier


    I hope you enjoy these budget friends craft tutorials!


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