Chalk Boarding Old Canisters

Sometimes the simplest things bring the most pleasure. I had some tables at a parking lot yard sale the other week. As the day grew longer and hotter, I kept seeing my neighbors adding their own yard sale items to their FREE pile. A set of very out of date, blue, floral canisters were set out. I couldn't resist walking over and taking a look. 

Mrs. Rational Mind, "No! Do NOT take home more junk!" 

"But it's FREE!" Mrs. Collector reminded me.

"But it's UGLY and OLD." Mrs. Rational replied.

I thought Mrs. Rational  had won and was turning away when Mrs.Collector quickly pulled out her Repurpose face. "Chalkboard Paint." She whispered.

I turned with a warm smile, "You know, I just had an inspiration! I think I'll take these after all." and I nearly grabbed those old ugly canisters into my arms.

Yesterday, I needed something fun to do while the spring rain fell.

I pulled out my chalkboard paint and paint brush and set to work.

I used brush on paint instead of spray paint since...yep! It was less expensive, and I am awful at going overkill with the spray can and leaving drips and runs. It worked great for this project!

Of course I forgot to take a total 'before picture' of the ugly blue flowers...but here they are, part way through:)

The canisters themselves are very sturdy and in great condition. Happy me! After about 5 coats and overnight drying and one more coat in the morning, I called them DONE. ( I didn't even use the whole paint container and I even did a few other little projects!)

 I LOVE the way they turned out and am so happy to have canisters for my kitchen that are easily accessible and large enough that I don't need to refill them every week! Not to mention FREE :)

Now, to paint the lids? Or to leave them that rather ugly brown? Any suggestions? 

Step Ladder Bookshelf

I was looking for a bookshelf that didn't take up too much room in our small apartment. Driving down the road, the other day, I saw this old step ladder, on a heap of junk waiting for the trash guy.

It works perfect propped against the wall, even if the back leg is broken. 

I am so thrilled! ;)

Come sit, have a spring lemonade and rest awhile!

And if it's still raining April Showers, there's a spot for your umbrella to drip as well ;)

Vintage Music Vase

Spring has come with it's lovely breathe of brand new life and dreams and whispers of music. Music that giggles over the stream, flirts with the daffodil, and wafts in my window. The music of robins and raspy stretching throats in small round nests.

I wanted to bring a touch of music into our apartment, so when I stopped at a second hand bookstore one rainy day, I checked out their music section and found the perfect thing....yellowed, mellowed, sheet music.

An empty maple syrup jar, Modge Podge, and a small paint brush, completed my project. You can either use real Modge Podge or make your own by mixing one part Elmer's glue with one part water. The homemade stuff tends to be slightly inferior to the real stuff, but it does work.

You are ready to start! Tear your sheet music into pieces, and brush the back side of each piece with Modge Podge.

I like rather long narrow strips best, where you can actually read some words. Small pieces are nice also, if you have no words.

Cover the entire surface of your jar with music pieces, overlapping their edges.

Super simple. Super fun.

Tie a bit or burlap string, ribbon or lace around the neck. I put a flower in mine to add some color, but since you won't want to wash this vase, branches or artificial flowers would work best.

                        Dreaming of summer

                           Happy crafting! 

 

Crackle Painting With Elmer's Glue

    I heard it could be done. This thing of using Elmer's glue to crackle paint. I was very skeptical. But what's the harm in trying such a simple, cheap little project?
    I had a lovely 16x20 photo of our favorite hunting ground in Dillion, Montana that I was aching to frame. By the way, I got if FREE! :) (Shutterfly does nice things like for their customers once a year.)  I wanted a special frame that went with this photo and since Montana is full of unique, country, original goodness, I couldn't bring myself to buying a brand spanking new frame off the shelf at the craft store. I poked around in the frame section at Goodwill and found this old brown frame still in good shape for about 3 bucks. It was truly ugly. 

   You know those 'not antique but plain old' frames, tinted by years of hanging  that have merged them into a muddy 'something color ' between orange and brown.
   I brushed on a generous coat of thick white glue. A thick coat of glue, like you see below will cause wider, bigger crackles. A thin coat will cause smaller, finer crackles. The staples in the back of the frame kept it from laying on the newspaper 'dropcloth' :)

I Allowed it to dry until the glue was tacky to the touch. My finger left a bit of a print on it instead of coming away dripping wet.

 It doesn't take real long. This took about 10 minutes I am guessing. 

    Now you're ready to apply your top coat of paint. I used regular acrylic craft paint. Use smooth brush strokes in one direction if possible. You don't want to brush over it more then necessary since it smudges the strokes and looks muddied and rough. I put on a medium layer of paint . Not super thin and not globbing thick.

 The fun part is watching the transformation! It continues to crackle by itself over the next half hour. Of course you want it to dry completely before handling it. But it is seriously SO MUCH FUN to watch it develop!

I usually use spray- on clear acrylic sealer to preserve the paint .

The next step was to polish the glass and pop the picture on the frame.

My husband came home from work, took one look at it, and said,                 

"I know EXACTLY where that is! 

This is where we camp. 

This is where the trail runs..." 

Good memories! It's about an 8 mile hike from where we park our truck to where we set up camp. Way back in the bowels of the uncivilized Montana Nature. Back where the elk's bugle and squirrels chatter and whoosh of bird wings are the silence breakers.

I will stop before I bore you with more details :) because if I keep on, you may see a trail of dust and my wave in the rear view mirror. 

If only life would be that uncomplicated! :)

So now finally...Here's the result....

    And a closer shot for a bit more detail.

This is another project I did with the Elmer's School Glue as a crackler. I got  better results with the glue then I did with crackle medium I tried that is 'the real thing' :) 

I'm so excited about this technique! I even used it on our salvaged microwave stand. It turned out quite rusticly lovely!

Happy crackling.

Crib Springs Repurposed

When our two year old was a baby, we had a crib donated to us, since his big sister was still in her crib.We moved it across country and into two or three different bedrooms, and you guessed it, it got a lot of wear.

The other day, I heard him calling "I broked it!" from his bedroom. Sure enough, the side rail had popped out and the whole bed was wigglier then ever.

We decided it was high time that white crib retired. My husband tore it apart and hauled it out piece by piece. 

Then I saw it. The metal spring "matress box" leaning against the wall. I knew exactly where that thing needed to go next. It hadn't breathed its last after all.

Our apartment dates back to the 1700s. There are no closets, but plenty of 'hat racks' on the walls. 

                                    

That metal frame would be PERFECT for hanging clothing on! So I popped it on the hat rack hooks in Kobe's room and I did a happy dance!

                                     

                                       

                                     

                                      

It works perfectly! I'm considering spray painting it yet....but for now, it is living its second life very well!

I'm thinking of all kinds of fun things I could use it for! A craft caddy hanger, a greenery support suspended from the ceiling, a scarf rack, even a pot n pan rack in the kitchen. 

                                                                      Any other ideas? :)

Dryer Sheet Substitute

You know how those fluffy dryer sheets are constantly floating around on wash day? I'm usually in a hurry when I grab clothes out of the dryer. By the end of the week, my laundry floor has old dryer sheets hiding in all kinds of unlikely places. 

      But I just can't do without them.  I hate static even worse then old dryer sheets. Not to mention that electrical shock that follows you everywhere. It is plain misery.

       Oh! And the cost.... Cheap brands and I don't get along too well when it comes to these little scraps of magic. I shell out the big bucks when it comes to fabric sheets.

I stumbled across this idea one day and I have been thrilled ever since!

                                

        All you need is smallish sponges, fabric softener, water, and an air tight container.

These are the sponges I use. 

                               

Bright. Inexpensive. Great size.

Mix together your favorite fabric softener with tap water. To be honest, I don't have an exact measurement for you here. I started with about half fabric softener and half water, but have cut way back on my fabric softener with great results. Depending on what size cap and brand of softener you have , you may need to experiment a bit. I usually use approximately one cap full of fabric softener to 4-6 cups of water. Often, it's more like a pour of fabric softener into my little pail of water :)

Throw in your sponges.

                               

Congrats! You have dryer sheets.  Just give them a bit of squeeze after they are nice and soaky wet, toss them into your dryer, and you're  good to go. They come out looking like prunes, but hey...throw them back in your bucket and their transformation will begin. Ready for round two :)

Be sure you've got a good tight lid for your container. I use a little empty ice cream bucket from our favorite local creamery.

                               

Enjoy your dryer sheet free laundry floor :) 

Coffee Pod Makeover

My husband let me pick out my own birthday gift last year. Since I always like to save a penny when I can in this over priced world, I scoured the clearance racks in JCP. Sure enough, there it sat. A beautiful, sleek, red CBTL espresso, coffee, tea, hot water machine.  I was more then a little excited! It even had a nice selection of pods to go with it for only $2.99 A BOX!

If I had known then what I know now, I would have wiped the shelves clean and clear and stashed up enough of these dirt cheap pods for a whole year...or two! :)

Like any new thing, we used our CBTL hot and heavy for the first couple of weeks. Then I noticed my pod supply dwindling. This was not a good thing! So I hurried to Amazon (and countless other sights) trying to find the best deal for replenishing our stock. The pods were ..ahem... a bit pricier then I had anticipated.

 The other thing I discovered is that while the more famous  Kerug had lots of options for refilling pods, this CBTL was  more in a class by itself.

That's when I stumbled across an article for refilling your own pods. It works great for me. The good thing? You can use any coffee you prefer. From Starbucks Espresso Roast to the Dark Roasted Beans from the mountains in central America.
            (Just a peak of authentic coffee for you globe trotters and dreamers:)

Ever since I visited the amazing country of Honduras with it's mountains sides of coffee and weathered natives that scratch a living from the vibrant, glossy plants, I have appreciated coffee more then ever!

So without more ado...we will delve into the wonderful Repurposing Pod World.  

1. Pop off the foil of your pod, and empty all the used coffee. 

You will find a small white disc on the top and bottom of the pod. Be sure to save these. My pods all have these sieve like discs. I haven't done this to any other brand of pod besides CBTL, but aren't they all constructed similarly? :)

2. Wash out and completely dry the pods and little discs. 

3. Choose your favorite coffee to refill it.

4. Reconstruct the pod by placing the smaller disc in the bottom of the pod. 

The little poker in the middle should point up.

5. Now you are ready to fill with coffee grounds. Fill them comfortably full.

6.Place the larger disc on top. Poker pointed down.

7. Cut small squares of tin foil to cover the top of the pod.

8. Fold smoothly over the top and tuck around the edges securely. 

If you care to, you can trim the edges of the foil a bit after it is tucked down around the edge. I usually don't bother since appearance is not my main goal here :)

Congratulations! You are finished!  :) 

A little tip:

When inserting it into the coffee machine's slot, you may need to wiggle it into place a bit. I have never had one get stuck for me or clog my machine at all, but they do push down in just a tiny bit harder.

Here's wishing you a splendid cup o' coffee!

(and some extra $$ for your rainy day stash :)