Hot Stuff

Hi there Everyone!

Our blah to TADA! make-over candidate this week
is this blue & white shirt.

I cut up part of the sleeve and...

TADA! -- it's still a sleeve but this one's for a to-go cup. It will keep your fingers safe from the hot coffee that seems to be seeping through the paper.

I made it using several layers: cloth at the bottom, foam in the middle and the blue & white stripe fabric on top. The more layers, the more protected your fingers will be! I stitched the layers together and the edges can be linked with elastic tape, Velcro tape or a button.

Keep it in your bag to be used over & over again
for your daily coffee rituals.

Take Me Away

We've reached the end of the week and I've got
more ideas to turn scrap paper into bookmarks.

Blah: reminders of a trip taken long ago.

TADA!: make your old ticket more useful!

TADA!: a souvenir napkin to mark a page.

TADA!: a museum badge to remind you
where you left off.

TADA!: an old boarding pass to tell you
where you are in the story.

TADA!: let your books take a whiff of
your favorite bakery.

{This bookmark was created by trimming the paper
bag and inserting it into a plastic ID sleeve}

Books can take you to new places.
Travel bookmarks can bring you back
to places you've been to.

Have a great weekend!

Lucky Labels

Do you get these labels/tags when you buy yourself
a new pair of jeans, shirt or bag?

Keep them useful and turn them from
blah to TADA!

Jazz them up with punched out paper
or abstract embroidery.

Tada! You've got yourself a set of bookmarks!

Mail Make-Over

Digital books are the rage these days. I think they're a genius idea but I still prefer leafing through paper and sniffing a brand new book. It's a simple joy of mine. I'm proud to say I take care of my books. No dog ears -- just bookmarks. And all this week, I'm making them myself!

I'm using these catalogs I got in the mail.

TADA! I get to save these inviting images by turning
the pages into bookmarks.

I think this mailer has a fabulous print.

Just cut a section and TADA! -- instant bookmark!

I love the floral prints on this perfume insert (the ones
you get in a magazine; just open & sample a perfume).

Fold it up, cut the unnecessary ends and TADA!,
another one to add to your collection.

Aren't you drawn to the modern
elements of this catalog cover?

I was and by now, you know what it did to it!
Bookmark!

D-I-Y Bookmarks

This week on my blog, I'm turning excess paper
from blah to TADA!

I'm using this bag again today.

Yesterday, I cut out the spoon graphic and
turned it into a bookmark.

Today, I'm using the back side (blank) of the bag, together with
these subscription inserts tumbling out from magazines.

I folded the subscription cards & wrapped the brown paper
around it. Then I added a sticker, punched a hole and
finished it off with some yarn.

TADA! I've got some blank bookmarks.

Use these for a kiddie party activity.
With some pens & stickers, it serves as a
canvas for creative little hands and it
doubles as a party favor, too.

Bookmark Bonanza

Sometimes, I feel like there is so much paper in my life -- paper bags, catalogs, junk mail and ticket stubs. And you know that throwing them out is not my first option. To turn them from blah to TADA!, my go-to idea is to turn them into bookmarks.

This has got to be one of the cutest
paper bags out there.

So I took my favorite graphic from the
bag (the spoon!) and made it into a bookmark.

I cut it out and mounted it on cardboard.

TADA! It does a great job marking pages in
my favorite cookbooks!

Bag in Bloom

It's finally Friday! Please tell me you all had a wonderful week?

I hope you're excited to see the final look
on this blah bag.

{cue drum roll}

TADA! This bag is blooming!

I simply sewed on black rose petals (got them from Tinsel Trading Company in New York City) for added drama.

I can't wait to use it for my next formal event.

But why wait when I can use my blooming clutch
to dress up an everyday dress like this one?
(image from Old Navy)

Have a weekend worth celebrating!

Naughty or Nice?

I'm experimenting with different looks to update
this old, blah evening bag:

It just didn't seem to look current.

Add a black chain, pink tulle & accent with a
black ribbon...TADA! It's a brand new bag!

Does it remind you of playful lingerie or a graceful ballerina?

Add a sleek wrap-dress (image from Banana Republic)
and you've got a perfect match!

A Touch of Silver

Inspired by the glitzy evening purses seen on Oscar night,
I'm turning this blah bag....

...into a TADA! clutch!

I picked silver-gray accents -- feathers, felt, tulle & crystals.

It's an instant face lift that didn't cost a fortune!

Won't it look pretty when worn with
this frock by Robert Rodriguez?

Day to Night Dressing

This week on my blog, I'm turning this blah bag into a TADA!

I liked the size, shape and the kiss closure.
But the decorations were far too busy.

So I covered it up and added these massive beads
in a light shade of mocha.

I think it will look good with a tailored outfit
like this one I found in Banana Republic;
especially when it's time to hit happy hour!

Evening Bags

Happy new week dear friends! Did you catch the Oscars last night? I love it because it's a night when dreams come true. I also love it for the gorgeous dresses, lovely jewelry and the tiniest evening bags!

With this in mind, I'll show you ways to glamour up this blah bag:

I bought it several years ago but never used it.

I think it suffered a little identity crisis. The shape says "formal" but the brown thread & gold embellishments -- it certainly needed some updating.

But behind every ugly duckling is a beautiful swan!

This is what the bag looks like after I removed
the unnecessary extras.

I took out these gold buttons that I was saving.

Then attached the buttons to the bag.

I added a gold chain for a strap and Tada! -- a whole new look!

Don't you think it will sparkle
when paired with this dress
from Anthropologie?

See you tomorrow!

Fresh Scents

Let me say that I've got a little crush.
On a bottle.

I love it for its wholesome curves.

I love how it makes me feel grown up

and nostalgic at the same time.

And I love it for the many ways I can turn it
from blah to...

TADA! -- today, it's a fragrance diffuser that
can sit in the powder room and
make it smell like the beach.

I transferred some reeds (sticks) and
fragrance oil from an existing diffuser.
Didn't mother tell us to share?

Have a fun & fabulous weekend!