I made this beautiful bathroom mirror with shells I collected from a beach in Florida and a mirror that I picked up in a dollar store. I used a glue gun to attach the shells. It was so easy and came out so pretty.
Garden: Photos from Elaine's Garden
My pictures are of a butterfly attracted to my cone flowers, a robin nest in my dogwood tree, my friends grapevine and the tree pots I utilized to decorate the large maple tree in my backyard.
Decorating: Ceiling Fan Facelift
Giving Your Ceiling Fan a "Facelift" with Paint. My family is currently working on a house to get it ready for sale. We have gone room to room cleaning and doing updates as we go. We had a ceiling fan in one room that was totally out of place.
Create your own ribbon holder for less than $2 using leftover materials: Use an old wire basket (it is OK If some of the slats are broken and several 12 inch long dowel rods (or pant hanger cardboard or hanger wires, cut to length-anything you may have on hand)
I want to share a photo of one of my projects from several years ago. I found a great wicker basket with a fluted edge and it had a handle on it. I kept looking at this basket and flipped it over and decided to cut off the handles and make it into a lampshade for a lamp I had.
I created this mini man from some recycled soup and coffee cans, soda tabs, funnel, bolts, screws, candy tins for feet, coat hangers, swivel, spray paint and tin snips. I used and awl and hammer to make the holes I needed.
Craft: Rag Rug from Recycled Fleece Clothing
Updated With Instructions: I have just joined the site and thought you might like to see a rug made from recycled fleece jackets. They are very cheap to buy in the charity shops, there are some brilliant colors and make a super rug.
Craft: Drapery Rod for a Changeable Headboard
I used a wooden drapery rod to make a holder for fabric or a quilt or bedspread to use as a headboard. It is cheap, fast, and can be changed quickly. Just be sure to use lightweight fabrics, or put a support in the center of the pole for heavy items.
Cutting PVC: What Would Susan Do?
Recently, I needed some white plastic shelves put back together in a closet. However, I had a gap that didn't reach the top, but the full height of the shelf was too high. So, I decided to use my trusty dusty little 3.97 hacksaw and cut the PVC like supports down. But, without a vise, it's hard to hold them.
Here is a great tradition that our family has been doing for years now. It all started about 50 years ago when I decide to make a gingerbread house for Christmas. My first ones were fairly simple but over the years have gotten more complicated and quite intricate. Now, as was bound to happen, the kids and grandkids and even my great grandson have taken over.
We love to use "things to make things"! My daughter (9) and I made this bird from 2 pine cones. We made his wings from some wide cloth ribbon, eyes from broken necklace beads, beak from scrap ribbon and the tail from braided jute.
This is a Christmas tote bag made of quilting scraps. I made this tote bag from two squares of 30 by 30 inch material with batting in the middle. You then quilt them together and put a binding around the raw edges.
Craft: Organizer from CD Cases
Recycle your old CD cases and make an organizer. We made a Father's Day organizer for my husband. I placed photos of the kids on each side and let them decorate their own page.
Craft: Recycled Camping Lanterns
Our Cub Scout Pack is involved in Fall Camping. We made lanterns out of recycled plastic peanut butter jars. We used modge podge and affixed the Scout Promise to the outside. We used glow sticks to light their way. Loads of fun in the tent or outside after dark.
This is Jade's Mending jar. Jade is my niece who has just left school, aged 16 and is now commuting to college everyday. She is studying to become a veterinary surgeon.
Use Dried Greenery In Your Fall/Winter Displays
Although the outdoor flowers are dying, you can still use lots of garden items for decoration, inside and out! I like to make fall and winter arrangements in antique milk jugs that I got from auctions of relatives. In one, I have just filled with corkscrew willow.
Scenery: Autumn Driving In Virginia
In October when the trees have turned, my husband and I take a day trip to the mountains to get some mountain apples and see the leaves. It's a 4 hour drive to the mountains from where we live so we pack a picnic lunch and snacks. It's a beautiful country drive all the way so we take our time and enjoy the view.
Framed Cosmetic Mirrors as Bathroom Art
Save or collect cosmetic mirrors (pick them up at sales or thrift stores) and hot glue them to an acrylic or glass frame. Some are upside down. You can mat the background with a coordinating fabric of your choice (under the glass).
Gizmo is 7 years old. She is a domestic short hair. I found my wonderful Gizmo on August 31, 2001 when my mare gave birth to one of my fillies. Gizmo was standing underneath my mare between her legs trying to stay dry in the rain that day. Gizmo was about 3-4 weeks old and nothing except bone.
Glamorous Bathroom Wall Treatment
The walls in my bathroom were not in super good shape when I bought my 100 year old house, they had the old bumpy type plaster. After several attempts at painting, I finally came upon a solution.
Gooding and Ducklings (Muscovy Duck)
Gooding is 1 year old and a Muscovy Duck. My husband and I found Gooding and her siblings, Berry and Lawrence, at a flea market last fall. All three for the very thrifty price of $10! We had always wanted to have Muscovy ducks, and found these three to be so pleasant and interesting that we have gotten two more since then.
Bella and Her Babies (Boston Terrier)
This is Bella. She was 4-years-old this past April. My girl is a Boston Terrier and can scale a 4-foot-fence without a lick of effort. My daughter bought this girl for me a month after the loss of my Boston Terrier Bubba.
This was made out of downed trees using recycled vintage furniture, old stained glass for windows, antique hanging chandelier surround with plants outside and a copper weathervane on top.
Showing Articles 101 - 123
<img src="/images/articles/winner.jpg" width="72" height="77" align="left">I want to share a photo of one of my projects from several years ago. I found a great wicker basket with a fluted edge and it had a handle on it. I kept looking at this basket and flipped it over and decided to cut off the handles and make it into a lampshade for a lamp I had.
Craft: Rag Rug from Recycled Fleece Clothing
<img src="/images/articles/winner.jpg" width="72" height="77" align="left">Updated With Instructions: I have just joined the site and thought you might like to see a rug made from recycled fleece jackets. They are very cheap to buy in the charity shops, there are some brilliant colors and make a super rug.
Cutting PVC: What Would Susan Do?
<img src="/images/articles/winner.jpg" width="72" height="77" align="left">Recently, I needed some white plastic shelves put back together in a closet. However, I had a gap that didn't reach the top, but the full height of the shelf was too high. So, I decided to use my trusty dusty little 3.97 hacksaw and cut the PVC like supports down. But, without a vise, it's hard to hold them.
<img src="/images/articles/winner.jpg" width="72" height="77" align="left">Here is a great tradition that our family has been doing for years now. It all started about 50 years ago when I decide to make a gingerbread house for Christmas. My first ones were fairly simple but over the years have gotten more complicated and quite intricate. Now, as was bound to happen, the kids and grandkids and even my great grandson have taken over.
