BEAUTY IS A LIFESTYLE THING

  One Finished Upcycle necklace My motto is is "When at first you don't see, just make it!" When I was a little girl I was an up-cycler and didn't know it. Who hasn't made Barbie clothes from other Barbie clothes, or used a mug for a small plant or given a gift that was a received gift with "enhancements" added. I also love to embellish things. Today, feeling in the doldrums because it's too hot to be outside, I decided to up-cycle a couple necklaces. I love it when I make something and I'm out somewhere and someone approaches and says wow, where did you get that necklace? Most likely I have up-cycled onto it or used parts of other jewelry to make this one-of-a-kind piece. I get to say, "I made this!". That feeling is exhilarating. (I think this is how most mom entrepreneurs start.) At any rate, if I am making a piece of jewelry for someone I might sketch the idea on paper, or if I am making something for someone special I may go and bu...

A craft you can make! Although I usually don't decorate for Valentine's Day, I thought I'd join in and present a very easy peasy craft for your home decor. I like easy. I also like to upcycle things that I already have on hand. When I make things to sell or to give as gifts, I make them permanent with permanent glues and fixatives. For this little project, I went shopping in my house and as you may already know, nothing is ever permanent here! I did purchase a bag of the scrabble letters from Target in the dollar section, the whole bag spelled out "You Complete Me" and it was $3.00. I purchased these because I have some mixed media art that I will be using them for, but for today, five of them will be for the little shelf sitter above. When I shopped my house, I found a ton of usable frames, but most are so old that the frames hinge on being ugly, or in need of some repair. The one used in this project is little, it is 3x5" and was an old 1970's ...

Home...It is simply defined in the dictionary as a noun that is a place where one lives presently, especially as a member of a family or household. The place where one lives is also a place where one experiences events, and seeks and finds comfort within its walls. Home truly is where your heart is. A family member of mine was experiencing some problems recently and was going through transitions that were emotional on every level. The final healing move for her was to find herself a new home. She went looking and saw this and that and still after months of looking had not found the one. She was just about to give up looking for a while when she walked into this last one and felt a sense of calm and peace. She knew nearly immediately that this would be the house for her! When I spoke with her she told me "I knew I was home"! It radiated off her face, her smile was her heart smiling, she felt relieved and happy. This made me extremely happy too. She had a gather...

A Crafty Welcome! Nothing says welcome to my home more than a sign saying it! Here’s a D. I. Y. welcome sign that I started after attending so many craft shows and upcycle fairs, and saying to myself, “Gosh, I really could make this!”  I have a severe case of procrastination at times, but on this occasion, I stuck to my guns and said I’d do this project. My original intent was to just white-wash some kind of found board and then stencil the word welcome on it and stick it out on my porch. But this project felt so flat and it seems that everyone had this sign. As I thought about the project my new desire for mixed media arts reared its head. I wanted a three-dimensional image. So I started to look around for things that would form the letters. I went to Home Depot with my husband one day. On an end-cap to one of the aisles was an open flooring carton. It contained grey wash slat boards for flooring and some were already missing. I took just one (I should’ve taken more) up...

ReImagining Things I used to own several mass-produced Easter trees. Well, over the years and many kids later, needless to say, they broke. So Today I'm reimagining these trees. (I had saved the hanging little Easter ornaments) I shopped at my home, and in my study, I found two (very) old white-painted metal urns! They are so cute and perfect for these mini-trees. They are super heavy so they actually can hold up some weight. I went out with the dogs and found a few branches. (I pulled some dead ones, they are quite brittle though). I figured I'd give them a coverage of white spray paint, but ultimately I liked their natural state, so I left them with no paint. Assemble I added dry floral foam cut to fit into the little urn. Then stuck the sharp edge of the branch directly into the foam. I added a bit of white glue surrounding just the foam and branch for extra added strength. I didn't want to use fake Easter grass, so I added green natural moss (the g...

Is this you?  Can you relate?  Does your family roll their eyes the minute you see an old piece of furniture and you say... Can I paint that?  Or make shelves out of it?  Or can I make a bench or a closet organizer out of it?  If you're me, your (my)family is a bit wary of you (me) wanting to go to junk sales or antique markets. But those places are heavenly!  I think my superpower is being able to see something beautiful in an old piece, that might just be loved but cast away. I also think that in some small way, we might be helping our world by recycling and upcycling one piece of furniture at a time! You are a visionary remember that! Photo Credit: Pinterest

Spring is in the air and I promise this modge podge of mess will become great and beautiful spring crafts that anyone would love to put in their house!  And in fact you can easy peasy by using things from around your home and refashioning it into something else (some people call it upcycling), I save thing like ribbons, broken frames, candlesticks, and I buy grapevine wreaths by the bulk. I use my dining room to stage most things, it is a bright and uncluttered room that if I don't finish my projects no really has to walk directly through it!   I do use things from nature like leaves and sticks. I use things like old wooden box, covered boxes, candy dishes and even margarita glasses to make nests for bunnies and birdies! I'll post finished pieces soon. Have fun and Happy Spring! *Not                 pictured here are all of my bunnies & Easter stuff. Also things needed are patience & glue gun.