Jewelry Tray: Repurposed Cup and Saucer!!

Repurposed Coffee Cup

This cute little cup and saucer I found in a thrift store has found new life as a ring and jewelry holder! Love the polka dots! Great on anyone's vanity or dresser as a unique accent piece...

 To keep it secure, I glued the cup to the saucer using clear glue that specifies it can be used on china....

Not bad for $1!! 

TRIVETS: REPURPOSED FROM SOLID SURFACE QUARTZ

TRIVETS

REPURPOSED FROM SOLID SURFACE QUARTZ COUNTERTOP MATERIALS....

I decided to repurpose these squares of solid surface quartz.

These were discontinued color samples, which are a perfect size for trivets...

Solid surface quartz (such as Silestone) is a composite material that is heat and microbial resistant.

The backs of the squares were rough and unpolished, so I decided to paint them, giving them a textured look, with colors to match the front. I just used a standard acrylic craft paint.

This trivet was painted with a copper acrylic paint, and I used self-stick felt pads on the corners, available at any craft or big box store....

The trivet below was painted silver, with self-stick heavy duty clear rubber bumper pads for the feet. These pads are normally used on the insides of cabinet doors.

A new use for something that was probably going to be thrown away, and that will last a very long time!!

VINTAGE MEXICAN HAT PIN!

This adorable wood pin came from my mother-in-law's collection of jewelry. I acquired it when my sister-in-law was downsizing some of her things...
They said it was probably bought in Mexico sometime in the 1940's or maybe '50's, but thought my father-in-law got it when he was in the service during WWII.

VINTAGE MEXICAN HAT PIN!!

Notice how bright and vibrant the colors are!
I seriously doubt this piece was ever worn because it is in such excellent condition. The back pin clasp was broken, but I managed to secure an older pin and replace it to maintain the vintage look....
and it looks adorable on my red wool coat!!

BACK OF BROOCH WITH PIN REPLACED

I only wish I had thought to make something as cute as this, but I am glad it survived the years so someone else can enjoy it!
This is not really a crafting post, but I wanted to share my find because I was amazed by the workmanship. Whoever made this was a true crafter because this piece is very unique!

 

MORE CHRISTMAS DECORATING WITH NATURAL ELEMENTS

DECORATING WITH NATURAL ELEMENTS

Here are a few more simple ideas for decorating that use more natural looking and simple greenery.....
Unfortunately, I am allergic to REAL evergreens, so I tend to use the artificial. You could use either...

GRAPEVINE WREATH

 Here I took a grapevine wreath and filled it in with some pine cone picks, poinsettias and grape leaves. Since there are gold touches in the decorations I used a little gold glitter paint and brushed some on the grape leaves, then added a gold sheer ribbon to complete the look! You can use thin wire or hot glue to attach your decorations to the wreath. Very easy and simple to do...

CHRISTMAS DECOR BASKET

 Here I took a plain basket I had lying around, filled it with sprigs of greenery, Christmas picks, then added a glittery Christmas ribbon to complete this easy, simple look! The basket could be used as a centerpiece on your coffee table or dining table.....

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.... may all your craft dreams come true!!

IT'S CHRISTMASTIME!! DECORATING WITH NATURAL ELEMENTS....

CHRISTMAS 2014 DECORATING IDEAS!!

 Sorry for the long hiatus, very busy with work, vacation and finishing my Master's degree!

Now I can get back to my crafting, holiday decorating and having more fun!!

My theme this year is simple, using more natural materials and plain greenery. But I also love snowmen and they are part of the same "outdoorsy" theme. 

Take a look.......

I have a lovely antique cherry dining room set that I normally keep covered, but this year wanted to show off the lovely finish. I found a simple, inexpensive plaid runner (only cost $1.80, part of a Thanksgiving decor 70% off sale) that has gold, greens and reds. Then I placed a few bottle brush trees as my centerpiece. Simple yet elegant!!

Another one of my decorating pieces is made from pine cones. I have to admit I did not make this, my creative sister did.

I placed the pine cone tree on a gold chaser plate and voila! Instant au naturale decorating!

Here's a few more things I've used this year...

 Now, my tree this year is very tall and I wanted to showcase some of the more natural elements in the ornaments. Most are made of wood, wire, metal, pine cones, cloth and wicker. 

For the tree topper I used a star made from pine cones!!!

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

And happy crafting all year long......

 

CHRISTMAS CORK DECORATIONS

DECORATING WITH CORKS!


CONTINUING MY SEARCH FOR CRAFTY WAYS TO USE CORKS, I SAW THIS GREAT PICTURE OF SOME CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS!
THESE CUTE LITTLE TREES WOULD LOOK PERFECT ON ONE OF MY TWO CHRISTMAS TREES THIS YEAR!

WHAT DO YOU THINK? LOOKS PRETTY SIMPLE...

 

IT LOOKS AS IF THE CORKS HAVE BEEN CUT IN HALF, THEN GLUED TOGETHER TO MAKE THE TREE SHAPE. THEN A SMALLER PIECE OF CORK IS ATTACHED TO MAKE THE BASE OF THE TREE.

I LIKE THE TWINE USED TO MAKE THE HANGER BUT I THINK YOU COULD USE ALMOST ANYTHING, MAYBE COLORED TWINE, STRING OR EVEN RAFFIA. IF I END UP MAKING SOME OF THESE I WILL SHOWCASE THEM IN MY BLOG CLOSER TO CHRISTMASTIME. I MAY EVEN TRY SEVERAL VARIATIONS FOR THE HANGER TO HELP ME DECIDE WHAT LOOKS BEST!

FUN WITH CORKS!!

CRAFTY THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH CORKS!

Over the years I have collected many, many wine corks, both from drinking and from friends and family. I put them in glass jars, etc. until I could figure out clever ways to use them.
Here are a few ideas I came up with to try to use wine corks...you've already seen my cork letters in a previous blog but I've been trying to use up my corks for awhile!!

WINE CORK KEYCHAINS

I have made and sold many of these and the possibilities are endless!! You can personalize the keychain with any type of charm. I've even made seasonal keychains with Christmas charms (those I sold very quickly)! The butterfly keychain was a sort of experiment. I used brass fittings to match the gold tone butterfly and painted a plain cork with gold craft paint...but I mostly like to use the silver tone charms because they are more readily available and less expensive!

CORK PLANT MARKERS using Sharpie marker

Another use for wine corks, plant markers! I have many plants in pots on my patio and have trouble keeping track of what they are! So, I wrote on a cork with a Sharpie, stuck two toothpicks on the underside of the cork and voila, instant markers! So far the weather has not affected the writing on my markers, likely thanks to the durability of the Sharpie ink!

WINE CORK TRIVET with Biltmore wine corks

Since I love going to the Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina we have collected many corks from their famous wines! So, I made a large trivet using only Biltmore wine corks! This trivet was made from a "kit" I purchased, but you could make one of your own. I tried using picture frames, but they are not the right size if you want to keep the corks intact and refrain from having to cut them. 

As you can see, apparently the possibilities are endless! Be creative and have fun with corks!!