Southwestern Quillow

Southwestern Quillow

Check out this great item, it's available at
www.hoffmanstreasures.com
If you collect Southwestern Decor', Don't miss out on this one.

Hanging Candle Holder

Hanging Candle Holder

Have you got some extra fabric laying around the house that you really like? Well this project was designed to use up some of that fabric. My husband and I have tried our hand at doing craft shows in the past (It's not for me). This candle holder is one of the craft items that we came up with for one of those shows.

My husband cut a curly-cue out of a piece of wood, for the hanger. The bottom is blocks of wood cut at different sizes and the base (under the fabric) is just a frame made from scraps of wood. The ball at the bottom was just a wooden ball I had in my collection of crafting supplies. Once the fabric was glued on, I took a small piece of trim to hide the edges. My husband and I made two of these candle holders and a shelf to go with them, that I will write about in a future post.

By the way, as you may have guessed, this project is made from recycled materials.

Cardboard Lampstand

Cardboard Lampstand

Here's a great recycle idea. This one of a kind lampstand is made from a recycled welding barrel. All my husband and I did was make the platforms on the top and bottom of the barrel out of scrap wood. Next put a dowel rod inside the middle and wrapped it with clear christmas lights. (the sides of the barrel had holes in it) Over the holes in the barrel we glued a thin fabric so the lights shine through. Finally we covered the whole thing with contact paper.

This project can be made in less than a day and when you're done, you have a great piece of furniture and a new memory. I love these stands, and use them all the time.

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!!!

Let Me Be "Blunt"

Let Me Be "Blunt"

My boss loves to smoke those huge Blunts (he prefers the Grape ones). Every time he opens one of the plastic containers, he looks at me and says "There has to be something you can do with these containers". I took that as a challenge!

In honor of the great amount of snow we have received here in the Mid-West, I came up with this great project.

I call this "Three Happy Snowmen". The snow men were made from the plastic containers that the Blunt Cigars come in, the feet, under the bottom, is the caps off the containers. The hats and scarves are made from scrap material.

The only thing you have to remember is that the containers are plastic, it's very hard to paint plastic. Heres what I did...

I lightly sanded the container, to allow it to accept the paint, then I used primer to coat the whole thing, including the caps. It will take several coats of primer before the whole thing is coated. Paint it any way you like from this point.

If you make one, I would like to see it, please leave a comment with a link to your project.

Framed Fabric

Framed Fabric

I have a unique way to create a great wall hanging while using up that scrap fabric that you love but don't know what to do with it.

This fabric was originally designed as a three panel. My husband stretched the fabric onto some canvus and framed it like you would any other picture.

This wall hanging is so easy you could make it in less than an hour (minus the frame). Not to mention, with all the great fabric out there skies the limit when it comes to pattern and color.