Cute Containers

Well hello there! Thank you for stopping by today. This week, I'm giving old jar lids a make-over.

With a little magic, this blah...

...becomes a TADA!

First, I made sure the lids were cleaned and dried thoroughly. Then I wrapped a ribbon around the rim (secured with hot glue) and personalized with a bow & button. I also lined the inside of the lid with scrapbook paper cut to size. Now, I've got myself a multipurpose caddy!

I use it as a container for beads whenever I'm making jewelry. It holds same color beads together and keeps them from rolling off my desk.

I can also use it to hold small office supplies like clips,
tacks & rubber bands.

Put a ring on it! Use it to corral jewelry and hair accessories, too.

See you again tomorrow!

Lovely Luminaries

Layla over at Eco Experiment challenged me to transform these old jar lids from blah to Tada! Game on Layla! I've already created fridge magnets and a kiddie mobile.

Today, I'll be using two identical jar lids for our blah to Tada! project.

With a magic wand...or rather, a hammer & nail, I made four holes on each lid.

Then I inserted a chain to connect both lids. I used pieces of wire (connected to the end of each chain) knotted around a plastic bead at the bottom lid. This serves both as a stopper and decorative detail. Then I connected the four chains at the top and attached them to a hook made from more wire.

Add a votive candle and Tada!... a luminary that can be hung on a tree branch. Make several of these for a magical dinner outdoors. Candles can be replaced with small vases containing flowers, wheat stalks or ferns. This can work as bird feeder, too!

Have a bright, shiny day everyone!

Merry Mobile

This week, we're helping out Layla find new uses for her old jar lids.

Thoroughly clean the jar lid and add four holes
using a nail & hammer.

Cover the lid with colorful paper (I used printed tissue)
using glue or Mod Podge.

Reinforce the holes through the paper with a needle and
insert a piece of ribbon in each hole.

Create happy little pillows using felt & fiberfill.

Attach these to the ribbons.

Tada! A magnificent mobile fit for a child's room.

I hope you can do something creative today!

Blah to Tada! Challenge: Jar Lids

Happy Monday Everyone! I hope the weekend was kind to you. This week, we have another blah to Tada! challenge. I'm helping out the Lovely Layla who sent me this e-mail:

Can you tell me what to do with old metal lids from glass jars? I have tons of them! (Okay, a big box at least! Mum says they're unusable for jams or such, so...??) They're partly covered with plastic (inside) so I hear they're not recyclable...? Help!

This week's blah -- old jar lids.

For today's project, I'm using these Bonne Maman lids.
They come in handy when you want to save these...

...doodles made by your kids.

Just trace around the paper (use the lid as a guide) and cut.

Slip the page of doodles inside the lid (secure with tape) and TADA! it's now a framed piece of art! By attaching a magnet at the back of the lid (use a glue gun), these jar lids-turned-frames can also be fridge magnets! Don't you love things that are double duty & earth-friendly?

Have a really nice day!

Thanksgiving Friday

I think it's important to count life's daily blessings and here in the US, Thanksgiving is just days away. That's why for the entire month of November, Fridays on my blog will be "Thanksgiving Friday"!

I want to thank Anna Lindsey over at All Things Creative
for giving me this awesome award!

Thank you also to Lauren who featured me on her blog today.

Today, I am also thankful for...

The scent of freshly washed laundry

Buttery scones served with strawberry jam

Puddles after the rain

The first snow of winter

Rainbows!

When the circus comes to town

Starry, starry nights


What are you thankful for?
Have a wonderful weekend!

A Touch of Asia

Apart from plastic utensils, I have a collection of chopsticks from many nights of ordering in.

These can be saved for an Asian-themed dinner party.

Or turn it from blah to TADA! by adding it to a beautifully wrapped present!

Wrapping gifts using handkerchiefs and silk scarves means the recipient gets two presents -- the carefully selected gift inside and the packaging! No tape needed, just tie the ends together to make an instant bow.

Add a pair of chopsticks, slip in a card and you're ready to give a gift that looks like it traveled all the way from Asia!

Happiness on a Fork

What to do? What to do with excess plastic forks from a party or take-away meal?

Turn them from blah to TADA! of course!

Melt some chocolate pieces in a double boiler &
spear a marshmallow on each fork.

Once the chocolate has melted, dip the marshmallow in!

Half dip it.

Dip it in entirely.

Roll it in sprinkles or nuts.

Package it nicely.

Now, they are ready to be given away!
Save some for yourself and feel like a kid again.

Chocolate Spoons

On my blog this week, it's all about finding uses for plastic utensils left-over from a party or delivery.

We'll turn these spoons from blah to TADA!

We'll need to melt some chocolate.
Then we'll coat each spoon.

Let the chocolate harden.
Wrap & decorate.

For a thoughtful gift, assemble as a bouquet
or put some on your dessert buffet.

Use it as a stirrer for coffee, milk or hot chocolate.
As the chocolate melts, it flavors your beverage!

Use it to eat ice cream,
that way you can lick the spoon clean.

See you again tomorrow for another gift-giving idea!

Plastic Utensils

Hello there everyone! When I host a get-together I try to use real cutlery. However, I still have these plastic utensils that I've accumulated from parties of long ago, take-out and delivery meals:

Once a blah...

...now a TADA!

Even if these are mismatched, I unified the look with stripped napkins. Guests can easily pick them up at a buffet or can easily be taken along for a packed lunch or picnic.

And since we're talking about plastic utensils, let me show you a display at Anthropologie in New York City's Rockefeller Center:

A fish sculpture made of paper mache
accented with plastic spoons & forks.

An peacock made out of paper...

...chopsticks and spoons!

Very creative don't you think?
Have a good week!