Wooden Sunset

Wooden Sunset

A couple of years ago, my husband and I bought and old house. One of the things we wanted to address was the wooden lattice that was under the front porch (to keep small animals out). Trust me, it was ugly! My husband used some old scrap wood to make some new lattice. It turned out great! It reminds me of a sunset. It was easy and best of all practically free! Plus,we found yet another way to recycle.

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Family Calendar

Family Calendar

Every year, I struggle to come up with Christmas gift Ideas for my family. A couple of years ago, I came up with the perfect Gift, A family Calendar.


Now in December I send out 10 custom calendars, complete with holidays and Birthdays for every family member.


The first year, I made the theme "comics", Since then, the calendars have become more personal. All year I collect the pictures everyone sends me (Holiday, Vacation, Birthday, etc.) and about 6 weeks before Christmas I began making my yearly masterpiece.


This is a great way to give the gift that everyone will use 365 days of the year.

This is My page for December 2008. My theme this year was Poems.

Buttons Aren't Just For Shirts Anymore

Buttons aren't just for shirts anymore

If you're anything like me, then you have a plastic container full of stray buttons. I find them all over the house, not knowing where they belong, I can't seem to throw them out.

I have so many spare buttons, that I had to think of something to do with them.

This bracelet is one of the Ideas I came up with. The Dragonflies are buttons. It was really easy to make. I used buttons, wire and some pearl beads. Try making one for yourself or as a gift.

Blue Ice

BLUE ICE

When it comes to crafting and recycling, skys the limit. You have to keep your eyes open for re-usable items. I find things every where. One day my husband and I were shopping thrift stores, looking for treasures, when I stumbled on an old necklace. I fell in love with the beads and quickly bought it (I believe I spent $1.35). My mind was racing on the way home. What could I do with these wonderful beads, I wondered.

Finally, I sat down and began to create. When I was finished (many hours later) I had before me a new; one of a kind pair of earrings, bracelet, and necklace.

I call the set Blue Ice. I hope you like it.

walkabout: Make It From Scratch, January 15th Edition

walkabout: Make It From Scratch, January 15th Edition
If you're looking for a great resource page, visit this one.

Carousel on the Round Table

Carousel on the Round Table

My Mother-in-Law gave my husband and I an old round coffee table. We used the table for a couple of years before finally getting a new one. The problem was, there was nothing wrong with the table. Sure there were scratches and it looked like it came out of a Disco Club, but structurally, there were no issues.

I have a passion for Carousel Horses (Duh...Carouselshell). I look for reasons to have them around me. It was a no brainer when it came to what I was going to do to that old table.

My Husband removed the legs, and I drew a giant Carousel Horse. We glued the picture to the table top and began to Mosaic the picture with old plates and tiles. We hung the finished product on our workshop door, that's where it remains today. I Love it.

We've Gone Off the Rails

We've Gone Off the Rails

This really great plant stand was the perfect addition to our back yard. Believe it or not, it used to be a porch railing. My husband used to work for an awning company in south Florida, the job they were doing required them to remove a porch railing. Rather than throw away the old railing, my husband turned it into this great stand. This stand was original made to hold 3 fish tanks, One in the middle and one on each side. A few years ago, we moved to Illinois and no longer had a need for such a big fish stand.

In 2004 my husband and I bought a house. In our yard, we have a mature Honeysuckle vine, it was a mess! Now it has a home, and so does the stand. I guess you could say that we re-recycled that old railing. I Love this stuff!

*By the way... The 3 Bird housed hanging in the picture were also made with recycled material.

A "Barrel" of Wishes

A "Barrel" of Wishes

This wishing well was made from a recycled welding wire barrel. The wood used to skin the well was reclaimed lumber. The bucket hanging inside is an old ice bucket we discovered at Goodwill. Use your imagination, you can pretty much make anything from recycled materials. "Think outside of the box".