Monday, April 29, 2013

ANOTHER GREAT DECOR AND DIY WEBSITE: YOU REALLY NEED TO CHECK OUT SWEET PICKINS FURNITURE!!


For decor bloggers and DIYers, Sweet Pickins is a great site!
They show you how to repurpose, decorate and update
all kinds of fantastic furniture.
I've posted a link showing how to paint furniture 
using spackling paste. They are so creative!

Click on the link below the picture to see how and lots of 
other great ideas! They turn this old chest into a very 
cool rustic looking piece!


Sweet Pickins Furniture - Layering Paint with spackling paste technique

Painting furniture



Tuesday, April 23, 2013

NEW GLITTER AND BLING HAIR BOWS!!



Check out my newest styles and colors!
I make these as accessories for show horse riders, it adds a little style and color to the rider's outfit and completes the look.
The top picture shows how riders wear them. This is a beautifully shaped hair bun with a great looking bow in place!

Check out my previous blog post and read how I got started making and selling these fabulous bows!

Monday, April 22, 2013

Favorite blogs and websites!! Check out DIY Home Sweet Home

Every so often I'll post links to some of my favorite blogs and websites.
There are so many great people posting wonderful ideas!!
Want to share!!




                             This is one of my favorite crafty blogs, DIY Home Sweet Home.
                     They post amazing ways to reuse, upcycle, recycle and just have great ideas!
                     Check them out, they had a great post on "16 Uses for Recycled Pallets"
                                                          http://diyhshp.blogspot.com






Wednesday, April 10, 2013

BOTTLE CAP CRAFTS

BOTTLE CAP EARRINGS


BOTTLE CAP MAGNETS


One year, when I was on vacation, I was at a local arts and crafts fair, and I saw a clever idea. An artist was selling earrings made from pop bottle caps, like Nehi Orange, Grape, etc. When I returned home I decided to expand on the idea. It's hard to find soft drinks in bottles anymore, but beer bottles are easy! I started out making earrings from my favorite beer bottle caps like Blue Moon, Bud Lite, Michelob, etc. They were very popular with many of my co-workers and I gave them away as gifts.
Then I saw the possibility of making earrings with different logos such as my favorite college team, the University of Louisville Cardinals. I was able to find a variety of stickers and logos to glue on to the bottle caps, as well as painting my own.  I then expanded to magnets, which was so much easier! I painted the bottle caps with regular acrylic craft paint, attached a sticker or painted on a logo, then applied a coat or two of clear varnish or polyurethane.
I found small round magnets at Michaels. I cut a round piece of foam to put inside the bottle cap, glued it and then the magnet. I wanted the magnet to sit out a bit from the back, so the edges of the bottle cap wouldn't scratch your fridge or wherever you placed your magnet. You don't even really have to glue the magnets on, since they already stick to the metal bottle cap!! Easy and fun!!
The possibilities are endless, you can make pendants for necklaces  or hook them together to make cool bracelets! Love to hear any other ideas you crafters come up with for using bottle caps!!!!!!!



Friday, April 5, 2013

LET'S GO CARDS!! WIN FOR WARE!!


JUST WANT A QUICK POST TO CHEER ON THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS MENS BASKETBALL TEAM FOR REACHING THE FINAL FOUR!!

For those of you who might not know, Louisville player Kevin Ware was seriously injured in the win against Duke. He suffered a horrible compound fracture of his lower right leg.
So, the team is dedicating their efforts to #5, Kevin Ware!!!

LET'S GO CARDS, PLAY HARD AND BRING HOME THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP !!!

DRY, CHAPPED CRAFTER'S HANDS?? HERE'S A SOLUTION!

EASY, QUICK, INEXPENSIVE SOLUTION FOR THOSE 
                  CHAPPED CRAFTERS HANDS!!!

Sorry I haven't been keeping up with my blog lately, but I'm very busy in graduate school, working towards my Master's in Nursing. Also, a friend and former co-worker was killed in a tragic car accident and it's been difficult to deal with....

Chapped, dry hands are always a hazard for crafters, especially with the glue, paint, stains, etc. we deal with.
Years ago a hair stylist gave me a terrific tip, which I have expanded on. I was complaining about how my hands get so dry in the winter, which was compounded by my crafting and washing my hands so much.
She told me to use hair conditioner or creme rinse as lotion for my dry skin!
Ever since then, I've been hooked! You can use any type of conditioner such as the example above, Suave, White Rain, etc.
I also use the little packets of conditioner that come with my hair color (yes, I color my gray hairs, don't tell!). Those are great to tuck in your purse or suitcase when travelling.
The best part is you can find these and other name brands at your local dollar store!!
Believe me, the conditioner works just as well as any lotion, and you can get them in a nice variety of scents. I generally use the ones for dry hair. Dry skin, dry hair, they work on both!!

Another tip from hair salons:  Many use their line of shampoo in their restrooms for hand soap!
So, when you're at the dollar store buying conditioner, pick up a bottle of shampoo and put it in your kitchen and bathroom soap dispensers.
Again, you can find shampoos in a variety of scents and colors to match your mood and decor!
Note: Some people believe you need to use antibacterial soap, but I will tell you that as a Registered Nurse I know that studies show antibacterial soap is no more effective than regular soap. The key is the physical act of washing your hands thoroughly.
Antibacterial soaps are also more drying to the skin.

SO, CRAFTERS, NO MORE DRY HANDS!!
IF YOU TRY THIS, LET ME KNOW, AND GIVE ME YOUR TIPS ON WHAT WORKS FOR YOUR CRAFTERS HANDS!!