Lamp Shade Makeover

Lamp Shade Makeover

Lamp shades cost a fortune these days. I don't know about any of you, but I have to spend my extra money on gas and food. For this reason, my husband and I came up with a great way to change the look of our lamp shades without spending any money at all.

We are avid crafters, so there is always crafting supplies laying around our house. However, if you're new to the art, or you only work with one medium you may need to buy some plastic sheets.

All you have to do is draw or print out a great picture onto the plastic sheet. (you can buy the plastic sheets at any office supply store- it's just like a piece of paper except it's made of clear plastic) Once you have the perfect picture, simply tape it to the inside of your lamp shade, make sure the tape you use can handle the heat from the light. When the lamp is off, you can't see the picture, but when you turn it on, the image shows through beautifully.

This project is fun and easy, so easy anyone can do it!

Tile Trivet

Tile Trivet

One day I was visiting my mom, while there, I noticed that she had a large piece of tile on her counter. I asked her about it. She told me that the tile made a great cutting board and trivet. I knew that I had some tile at home and decided to try it myself.

I took a single 12x12 tile and added felt circles on each corner. The tile makes a great cutting board, mainly because it doesn't absorb jerms like wood does, it can also be washed and it works great for hot pans.

This project can be done in less tha 1 minute. Plus with all the different tile colors out there, you can have just the right one for your decor.

Cash Wreath

Cash Wreath

Many years ago, while I was on vacation in Michigan, We were exchanging gifts around my Grandmas christmas tree. My aunt Pat gave her daughter a great gift that I've never forgotten.

Aunt Pat gave her daughter a wreath made of cash. I thought it was a great way to give money without just out putting it in a envelope.

Basically what she did was take fifty one dollar bills and folded them in half. She took a wooden wreath (one that looks like it's made from wood chips, like mulch I'm sure you've seen them) With a philips screwdriver, she carefully pushed the cash into the wreath, making it look like a flower. Once all the money is in the wreath, then you can fill in the spaces with fabric squares. This project is easy, fun and makes a great gift. The person you give it to will always remember how much you care and know that the gift was made just for them.

Coffee Drinker Craft Project

Coffee Drinker Craft Project

If you're like me, then you enjoy a cup or two of coffee in the morning. I personally like to put some non-dairy creamer in mine. The problem is... I am always going through the containers of creamer, wondering what to do with the empty plastic. Heres an Idea I tried a couple of years ago for Christmas.

Take the lable off the container and prime it. You may need to rough up the surface to get the paint to stick. Once the primer is dry, paint it again, this time use white paint and then add some glitter to give it alittle shine. Add some eyes, a carrot nose, and a mouth. Wrap a piece of material around the "Neck" for a scarf, add a couple of scraps for patches. You now have a great snowman. I glued mine to a plate and added candy. It was a big hit!!!

Wolf Bench

Wolf Bench

If you're looking for a great project, made from recycled material, you should consider making a bench for your entry way. This great bench was made from a glass pallet. We just painted it and added the drawers and fabric. This bench is great for shoes or blankets. You can personalize it to fit your style and colors. The best part is that you made it yourself and recycled in the process.

Clay Ideas

Clay Ideas

Sometimes I like to work with clay. If you like to craft and use clay, then you know how much the suppilies cost. I personally am not an artist (meaning that I cant draw or sculpt), but I can make just about anything I want with clay. The secret is to use something you already have as a mold.

For example: I have a passion for carousel horses, and one day I wanted to make a carousel charm for a bracelet I've been working on. I cannot make a horse, much less a carousel horse, however, I do have a small music box with carousel horses on it. All I did was take a small round piece of clay and molded the horse. After the mold is hardened, the I used it to make the charms that I needed. This technique works great, But you may have to try it a couple of times to get just the right look you're after. The clay is moldable until you bake it, so keep trying till you get it just right.

Once you have your mold, you can make as many charms as you want.

*if you use some scrap clay to make the mold, then you won't have to waste your good clay. Try it, it's fun!!