Trash to Treasure......part 2!

(*edited - the original post had to be deleted as there was a problem with the HTML and was throwing off my entire blog template. If you did comment with a blog link you are more than welcome to add in the comments section again.)

Hopefully you found some great ideas last week in our first Trash to Treasure feature. And hopefully it got you thinking about how to look at things in a different light. Sometimes all it needs is a coat of paint! ;)

If you have a project to share POP your link into the comments section below!

IN the meantime..........Here are some ideas to inspire you as you hit some yard sales, and second hand stores this weekend. I found all these great ideas at my moms house! enjoy!

Mail organizer - A simple block of wood, paint, large spring and 2 screws. Stretch the spring across the wood and secure it on each end with a screw!

Paint can do WONDERS for lamps - the shades and the base! don't pass up an old lamp because the finish on it doesn't fit your style. A bit of green paint on this lampshade finished off with some vintage buttons in my Mom's sewing/craft room and now it's fun piece that adds character to the room!

A score for $3.00 gives this item new life! and she didn't even have to paint it! Now it holds all the utensils for roasting marshmellows and hot hogs!

A peeling red gate was salvaged and placed behind this chair in the living room. A great way to add color, interest and texture to the room!

And lastly, a quaint faded chair gets a whole new purpose sitting on the porch housing a potted plant.

Read More

coming Friday.....

Don't forget to post more of your fabulous "trash to treasure" finds, repurposing, recycling, remaking projects. Find a steal of deal and gave it new life? Have you taken an item from DRAB to FAB? Share it here with all of us on FRIDAY!

we love to see before and after photos or even a whole tutorial on how to make something great! Were you inspired by last weeks projects? FRIDAY post what you have been crafting up this week and then head out to hit some yard sales!

See you then.......

Read More

Trash to Treasure results!....framed pear tutorial

It's Challenge #3 reveal day in our Crafty Summer Series - Trash to Treasure!

Share how you have repurposed something, saw a diamond in the rough at a yard and sale scored it for cheap too! Spill and share how you transformed it to fit your need, personal style, etc. Pop your STATIC link into Mister Linky below and then be sure to leave a comment!

Ready for the next challenge? Part 2 of Trash to Treasure is.....well round 2. If you were inspired by what you saw someone else post or now have the "bug" to re-create something, hit the second hand stores and yard sales this weekend! Round 2 of Trash to Treasure REVEAL day will be next Friday to see how YOU got your craft on during the week!


Here's my Trash to Treasure project:
FRAMED PEAR tutorial

Supplies:

Frame

paper

printer/or stamp and ink

paint

glue

plastic pear

scissors

sandpaper

knife

STEP 1: Take and frame and paint it your color of choice. I rummaged my frame out of my Moms donation box. It was missing the cardboard backing but that's OK! Once the paint it dry I sanded a few of the edges with sandpaper to achieve that "worn/aged" look I love so much!

STEP 2: Create, stamp, print or photocopy what you would like in the background. Vintage sheet music, fancy writing, favorite design, use scrapbook paper or stamps, etc to get the design you would like! Then trace around the glass piece from the frame to get the correct size. Cut.

STEP 3: Layer your paper then glass and cardboard backing piece and place in the frame. I was missing the card piece in the back so I simply cut one from a box I had laying around.

STEP 4: Cut your artificial pear in half lengthwise with a knife. *A word of caution. I figured the pear would be full of styrofoam but mine had a small concrete weight in the center of it. I had to cut around that and peel the pear open.* Pick the side you like best and set aside. I kept the one with the stem on it.

STEP 5: Apply glue to the back of your pear and place in the center of your frame. I tried HOT glue and it melted the styrofoam so I used a regular clear glue and waited for it to dry.

Place your new decor in the perfect little spot and enjoy! Now aren't you so crafty!?!

No need to reinvent the wheel right? I saw this GREAT project on The Happy Homebody Blog. Thank you for sharing!!! Also check out what Thrifty Decor Chick did with a pear too! 2 great easy project for pennies!!

Read More

Summertime....

*sigh*....After a wonderful weekend away to the Oregon Coast and catching up with family I officially feel that Summer is fleeting by and will be ending ever too quickly!

Thank you for sharing your favorite kid activites for my upcoming speaking assignment. If you have a favorite to share please do! I will share my complete compiled list after it has been presented to the class at the end of this month.

Did you hit any great yard sales over the Holiday weekend? Find any treasures? Are you joining in our Crafty Summer Series challenge #3 - Trash to Treasure? You should be! Be sure to swing by here Friday and through the weekend to find lots of fun projects - posted by all of YOU!! Of course I will have a few transformations to share as well!...... until then........Meg

Read More

Crafty Summer Series - Challenge #3 Trash to Treasure

Hello hello crafty peeps! The Summer is flying by here, how is yours? Hopefully you have enjoyed these fun "challenges" and if you haven't jumped on the crafting bandwagon to share your own.......I hope you have gotten some great ideas along the way! Let's keep it rollin'.....

Challenge #3 - TRASH to Treasure! (part 1)

Keeping with these harder economic times and being earth friendly by reusing/repurposing I want to see how you can "transform" something second hand, a hand me down, a great yard sale find, etc. ANYTHING from clothing to furniture, accessories to home decor! It's all fair game! It's peek yard sale season and who doesn't love something free or a great bargain!?! It may not always be "exactly" what you were looking for, those that can see the "diamond in the rough" or are handy with a can of spray paint (tee hee hee) usually score a great TREASURE!

So show off your newest TREASURE!!!! It can be as simple as sharing before and after pictures of a new paint color or go all out with a full on tutorial with your transformation BUT don't forget the PICTURES!!

Deadline to show off: Friday July 10th, 2009

(This round will be part 1. Part 2 will be announced later!.......)

Read More

Crafty Summer Series - I SPY book! creativity for the car...

Hello hello! It's challenge #2 REVEAL day! Two weeks ago I challenged all of you to craft up something for the car. Whether you are on the go, road trippin' it, have a kids to entertain or simply running errands around town.

What could you create to make it easier, better, more organized, comfortable, etc.

My head was swimming with ideas but I only need to share one so HOPEFULLY everyone else got up and moving and will share some great inspiration with you too!

Add your link to the Mr. Linky box belowm, then please leave a comment and have fun blog hopping!

I SPY book tutorial.......(great for car trips, trips around town, waiting at the dr. office, etc)

1. Take photos of "piles" or groups of items. Ideas include childrens toys, junk drawer, pantry, bathroom drawer, what's in their back pack, books, toy box, closet, etc....The possibilities are endless!

2. Print them out or send them to the 1 hour photo.

3. Buy an inexpensive little photo album/flip book.

4. Type up some "I SPY" riddles or counting challenges, etc. Think of the different ways they phrase the rhymes and wording of those "I SPY" books. Use counting, colors, objects, finding words, and on and on. Choose the skill level that is best for your kids.

5. Slide the photos and coordinating "riddles" into the book and VIOLA! you have your own personalized "I SPY" book!

The great thing about these are the pictures or "riddle" cards can be changed out at any time! They are also small enough to easily slide into your purse, their back pack or even better? make them their own t-shirt pack!

I have 12 different photos in my I SPY book. Here are some of our I SPY pages and some of the "riddles" I typed up to go along with them. Enjoy!

I spy a Cow, an Owl and a Snowflake

Can you find 4 pencils & 4 pairs of scissors?

I spy an apple, a fish & 5 containers of glue

“FABRICSHACK”, “MARKS” and a pen that’s gray/blue

I spy a pirate, “FUR REAL” and a Rose

A red Ranger, a crown, & a little brown nose

How many balls do you see?

Can you Spy 4 tools?

I spy spaghetti, an elf ear & 3 hooves

Read More

Crafty Summer Series - challenge #2 Car Trippin.....

Ready to take on the next challenge? I am ready to dish it out! :)

Challenge #2 - CREATIVITY for the CAR

Whether you are road trippin' it this summer or simply running around town. Whether you have kids or it's just you! I want to see what you have crafted up to stay organized, stay entertained, be comfortable, stylish, etc all for riding around in the car!

Is your head buzzing with ideas? Get started!!! Are you drawing a blank? LOL ...that's OK to! Ideas can be simple or complex, quick to create or take a bit more time.

There are no limits! so GET YOUR CRAFT ON ......You have until June 24th - WED - to come back here and post your results!

snag a button and spread the word!

<a href="http://brassyapple.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/mycreations/Crafty%20Summer%20Series09/CSS09logoTINY.jpg" /></a>

Read More

Crafty T-shirt roundup!

A HUGE thank you to all those who "got their craft on" this past week and shared their creative ideas using T-shirts! I have a couple more ideas that I didn't post so maybe over the next couple of months I will share those sometime.....If I forget, give me alittle nudge of a reminder will you? :) 

Thanks to these crafty bloggers for sharing their ideas:

3 repurposed tshirts - Salinda

Tshirt Pillow - Inspire me Crafts

Tshirt monster - Handmade 3D

Refashioned Adult Tee - Christy

Double Tee - 30 days

Childs Tshirt Dress - Boasting in my Weakness

Slippers - Jus Shar Designs

Childs Art into custom Tee- Pigtails and PJ's

Adding Applique and Ruffles - Kindershop Online

No Sew Cape - the Adams Family

Sling shoulder bag - Brassy Apple

If you didn't get yours posted in time, that's OK! Please still share it on your blog and come back here and post the link in the comments section! 

SO I took all the comments left on the results/giveaway post and randomly chose a winner using the random number generator and..............................CONGRATS to ELLEN AULT! You have won a camera strap slipcover from *Shey*[B]. 

Ready for the next challenge? are you up for it!? are you game?.........................coming later on today...........

Read More

Crafty Summer Series - T-shirt tutorial (results!)

It is reveal day! Challenge #1 in the Brassy Apple and friends Crafty Summer Series is

T-shirts! What can do you with a t-shirt?

It's time to find out!

It seems that Mister Linky isn't working so we will forgot using it for this challenge. *You will need to add your static blog link in the comments section so everyone will know where to find the next great idea!* All comments will be entered into a drawing for a FREE camera strap slipcover from *Shey*[B] Be sure to peek into her shop and mention what your favorite is when you comment too! Be sure to link back to this post here so everyone can find all the other proejcts and get in on the fun too!

You can post your ideas from now (Wed June 3rd) until Sunday night (June 7th). Even if you are not posting a tutorial you can still comment about your favorite ideas, etc and be eligible to win the FREE camera strap slipcover.

Let's get started!

T-shirt sling bag (repurpose)

Supplies:

T-shirt - any size. Great to re-purpose or re-use a favorite shirt, outgrown, stained, etc.

Rotary Cutter and Mat (not necessary but nice)

Scissors

Sewing Machine

Thread

Pins

Material for a Bag Strap - can use fabric, or the by the yard materials at fabric store - 27 inches long for child sized

Shoestring/ribbon/string - something similar in width and strength for casing and closure

(and if you craft one up please share it in the Brassy Apple Flickr Group!)

STEP 1: Lay out your T-shirt (if your shirt has a direction image on it see directions below)

Step 2: Using your Rotary Cutter and Mat (or scissors) cut off both sleeves at an angle - leaving as much shirt as possible. Then cut off the neck hole as well.

Step 3: Flip your t-shirt inside out. Now let's attach your bag strap. In one of the corners pin the end of your strap through one layer of the t-shirt. Sew in place.

Step 4: Tuck the bag stap under and in between the t-shirt layers so it lays flat and comes out the top of the t-shirt. Pin.

Step 5: Pin the 3 sides you cut and sew together.

Step 6: Keeping your strap flat and un-twisted, place the other end of the strap in the opposite corner and pin through one layer of the t-shirt. Be sure to place, pin and sew under the finished hemline. Sew in place being careful to not sew through the finished hemline area. We need that area in the next step.

Step 7: Flip your "bag" right side out. Using the hemline as a premade casing, find the middle of the top and slightly roll the hemline between your two fingers to seperate the two layers. Cut two small slits side by side for your string to go through.

Step 8: Thread through 1 shoestring, ribbon, string, or whatever you would like to pull the top of your bag together. I found this pair of shoelaces on clearance for .90! Pull the top together, tie it off and strap it on!

These bags for great for your kids to be able to throw on their backs while bike riding or taking to the park. They can hold a water bottle or any of their "treasures" they find while out playing. Perfect for trips too to hold all of their cars/toys/crayons. Take it to the beach or the pool! And one of the great things about this bag? It's machine washable! Just throw the entire bag in the washer and the dryer when it gets dirty!

Second option: (directional graphic)

If your t-shirt has a directional image on it and can't be flipped upside down, cut and sewn up like pictured above and follow these alternate directions.

Step 1: Cut off the sleeves and neck hole. (same as instructions above)

Step 2: Turn your shirt inside out and lay flat. Place your strap inside the shirt between the 2 layers, lining up with the bottom of the shirt. Pin in one corner. Pin the entire bottom of the shirt and sew together sewing through and attaching the strap.

Step 3: Pin and sew the 2 angled sides where the sleeves where once located. Leave the top open. Be sure your bag strap is out of the way.

Step 4: Fold back the top edge about 3/4 an inch (or however wide you would like your casing to be) and pin. Sew. Turn your bag right side out and cut to slits in the casing (follow instructions above)

Step 5: Keeping your strap flat and untwisted pin and sew it under your casing on the "back" side of your bag. Thread your string through the casing. And you are done!

Now it's your turn! Add your link in the comments! Have fun looking around at all the other bloggers who took on the challenge!

Read More