Photo Prop

I love this old bike.
But I love it even more since I sprayed it blue!!

We used it in a family portrait and it now lives perched by one of our old apple trees by the garden.

Pop Bottle Crafts

During the summer we seem to acquire pop bottles.
We don't usually have these around but with friends, family and neighbours coming over for dinners, BBQ's, bon fires and summer evening visits we always are left with many.
So instead of recycling, we craft.
Terrariums and bubble blowers this time.

Nightstand Re-do

K wanted, and needed, a night stand for her new room.
Since she has a white theme going on, the table had to be white.
This was actually harder to find than I thought.
Especially under $100.

I ended up taking her to the thrift store.
For $5.99 we found this amazing table, it was brown and ugly, but I could see it's potential.

SO out came the paint box from the shop.
I taught K how to prep (although I ended up prepping it) and together we painted it.
She did most of the work and was so proud of herself.

Now she has her ideal white nightstand, made to perfection.
She is one happy pre-tween.

Pop Can Earrings

 Here's a recycling craft that anybody can do, if they so wanted to.
Take an empty pop/beer can and rinse it out.
Cut it open and press flat.
It is a really pliable metal and cuts with regular scissors super easy.
Cut out the desired shape, I folded it in two to get the both sides to match.
I then took a ball point pen and drew designs on them.
Once I spray painted them and let them sit over night i poked holes in the tops and finished them up with earring findings.

They are so light weight.
The girls each love theirs and want to make them for everyone they know.

Our New Project

Meet Fergus!!
Hubby came home with old boy the other day and it rubs like a charm.

It needs a lot of work but the fact that the engine is sound is huge.

Were just waiting for the insurances to get worked out and then off I go, cruising the strip with my babe.

Think it'll be awesome for a photo shoot too!!

J took the girls for a spin in the yard and they loved it too.

Not sure who was prouder of burning out, him or the kids!~

Yup, Here's to a new project.
Years of restoring this will prove to be a wonderful thing and one day it will get passed onto our girls for them and their hubby's to enjoy with the kids.
I've always wanted to restore an old vehicle.
I'm super excited, but we have to decide if we are going to go for an authentic look or turn it into a hot rod!!

Bathroom Shelf/Table Re-Do

 I love  decorating with white and silver.
I have seen some incredible mirrored tables and shelves made with white and mirrored or mercury glass.
I figured I could get the look without spending over $200.
I think I accomplished it.

I bought silver, chrome and white spray paints.
I looked everywhere for the mirrored stuff from Krylon but they do not sell in Canada and will not ship it too me.
GRRR!! Very frustrating I must say.

 I found this gem of a tacky piece on craigslist for $10.
Perfect because even if I screw up its not a huge investment.

I started with the glass first.

I sprayed 2 even coats of the chrome paint first.

While it was wet a threw splashes of water onto it and it pulled the paint away.

It worked like a charm.

Once dried it look like real mercury glass should.

Then I painted coat after coat of white to ensure full even coverage.
I'm feeling pretty smart.
Under $40 for a one of a kind retro style piece for my bathroom.

More Tire Tube Creations

I am always carrying my cellphone, key and debit card around.
I made a small tote with a key holder in the back and a little card pocket inside as well.
This is a perfect solution for me.
Can't wait to use it.

Then I tried my hand at a wallet.
It was a bit tricky but I figured it out.
This is the prototype, I think the ideas going to work.

Re-Cycling Bike Tubes.... to Make Purses!!

I am so excited to show you this.

I saw someones messenger bag... made from bike tubes.
                                         I freaked at the potentials!!

Lucky for me old friend of mine owns a bike store.
He willingly gave me a huge box of blown tubes destined for the trash.

I see a whole lot of rubber projects in my future!!

First I cut them open and cut out the valve stem.

I washed and rinsed a few to get the white smelly powder off, 

Then hung them on the line to dry off.

(The smell is almost all gone.)

                       I took a tube and cut it into 3 pieces and just started sewing.

I had no real plan but knew that something would take shape once I started sewing.
After a couple broken needles testing out how thick I could go, I got a good grasp on it.

                                               I decided I would sew a simple clutch first.
                     Something I could use right away and a project to showcase the potentials!!

                                             I am so happy and bursting with ideas!! 
                                       This is the start of a long love affair with re-using rubber.

 This clutch has a simple pocket inside for little extras that I always seem to tote around.

                                    This proves that recycling can definitely be feminine too!!

Re-cycling Crafts-Beer/Soda Can Bracelets

 This idea comes courtesy of of Pinterest.......again!!
http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/11/cool-at-home-project-soda-pop-can-bracelets/


 I feel kinda awkward but the only cans I found in our recycling were cider/beer cans.
But the colours are pretty for a bracelet.

Pop cans might be more sturdy, not too sure, but these worked quite well anyways.
I cut the top and bottom off and split it up the centre to start.

 Then I shaped it into the fashion of cuff I wanted and left 2 centimetres on each side to allow for folding over.

                                              Its not as sharp as you think it would be.
I easily bent the edges over with my finger tips then crimped down with pliers for a tight edge.

 I bent the edges over once more which made the cuff a bit more rigid and again this was quite easy to do.
The tin is very pliable, forgiving and easy to work with.
Crimp one more time for crisp edging.
Mine is not sharp in any way.

I think I will try to embroider on some beads and bling but for today this is a good enough start.
This might be a difficult  craft for kids to do unattended.

Re-purposed Trays into Chalkboards

 A cheap, quick and really effective way to spruce up dull, old school/craft trays.
A can of black spray chalkboard paint and fresh, bright cans of spray Rustoleum paint.

Spray even coats, I did 3 for good measure.
Then let the sun cured them in a few hours.

Loving the results.

A pretty chalkboard for schooling.
And 2 colourful trays for everything from beans, beads and magnetic things for learning.
Makes teaching fun!!

Enjoying the Heatwave

What would summer be without the sun?

Even though we are melting, and in no way am I complaining after our crazy long ugly winter.

We have found some great ways to cool off and stay sane.

And I must admit the pool is a big bonus we have all benefited from.

Dare I say I am so happy to have it, even though I was so incredibly scared and nervous to own one.

I dare say..yes I am.

Refurbishment of the week:

Do you rememeber the great bed I found for free a couple weeks ago?

Here it is if you don't.

Now look at it!!!

AAHHH!!!My summer haven. My tranquil place.

The view from my day bed.

I ordered some outdoor foam and it will be here this week.

I bought some great outdoor fabric today and I will cover it up to enjoy for years to come.

To wrap it up for the day:

Here is cutie cupcake Bella, a shortened version of the original Jezebell, and thankfully has seemed to have stuck.

Puddles and Stuff

I found an old storage ottoman at a garage sale last weekend for 2 bucks and knew I could do something with it.
Yesterday I managed to match up some fabrics from my ever growing collection and recovered the old thing.
I love the new breathe of life in an otherwise garaged item.
Mind you I may never be asked or paid to do any upholstering, but for me it is good enough and the kids love it.
It has a corner in our living room and has been a hiding spot, a dog pen and a trampoline all just this afternoon.

A simple pleasure.

This is my Molly. She is a real treasure. Sweet girl.

Playing in puddles when I was a kid was something I fondly remember.

The splashing, the muck, the bliss of getting dirty and it somehow being alright.

After that incredible thunder storm last night and the rain that come with it, our yard is a paradise for puddle jumpers.

E took advantage of that this afternoon in a way that brings out the kid in me all over.

She had hours of fun mucking around in the dirt and puddles.

I love that it is warm out. Doing this sort of thing in the winter is not quite so tolerable in the freezing temperatures.

I am not sure why, and not that I need a reason but E had more fun with her boots than wearing her boots.

That's our girl!!