Arm Candy

How's it going everyone?

I hope your week has been great!

Today, I'm continuing my bottle cap transformation.

Why throw these away when you can

turn them from blah...

...to TADA!

The bottle caps are now bangles!

I made them by covering the bottle caps with fabric.

In fact, they're fabric scraps from an old project.

I strung the covered caps together with elastic string.

Festoon with a ribbon, a button or some beads.

Wear it alone.

Or wear both.

You can even layer it with your

other pieces of jewelry.

See how many people can tell that

your fashionable cuff is really made

out of bottle caps!

Denim & Chains

This week, I'm turning these bottle caps:

From blah...

...to TADA!

I used yesterday's technique of

covering bottle caps with scrap fabric.

Before inserting the bottle cap inside the fabric,

I sewed on silver beads (ex. butterfly & flowers)

to the fabric.

I also attached jump rings by sewing one end

to the top of the fabric & ending

the stitch with some knots.

I also added some silver pendants

for added interest & weight.

It adds some TADA! to a plain silver chain and

the needed TADA! to a simple outfit.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Marvelous Medallions

What's your drink of choice this summer?

Mine's root beer.

Thus the growing bottle cap collection:

But from blah...

I turned them into Tada!

Cute medallions that can be a fun activity

for a play date or a sweet party favor.

Want to make some?

I'll show you how!

Here are the things we'll need: scissors, needle, thread,

clean bottle caps, scrap fabric, felt remnants & hot glue.

Cut the fabric scraps into circles ( about 2 1/2 inches).

Make a running stitch around the fabric.

Gather the ends together by pulling the thread.

Insert the bottle cap inside the fabric before

fully pulling the thread to seal the edges.

Make several neat knots at the end

to keep the thread from unraveling.

Cut the excess thread.

Flip the bottle caps and Tada!,

they look like covered buttons!

Decorate further with designs made from felt remnants

and attach to bottle cap with hot glue.

Make a little loop at the top using

needle & thread.

Insert a piece of ribbon, lace, chain or leather string

through the loop.

Tada! An instant medallion to award to good girls & boys!

A Week of Bottle Caps

Did you have a lovely weekend ladies?

I must say I did. Beautiful, sunny weather

seems to equal a beautiful weekend!

Nothing major really.

A good book, a slice of pie & a root beer

are just the right ingredients.

Root beer has been a treat for me this summer,

leaving me with lots & lots of bottle caps.

I keep the caps in a little zipper bag &

brainstormed how I could turn these

from blah to TADA!

It's funny how the universe whispers

the answers.

A few Fridays ago, I visited the American Folk Art Museum

located in New York City.

What an eye opener -- the works on display

had so much love infused in them from

paintings, to tapestry and even sculpture!

It's a museum for the crafter.

Take a look at this piece:

It's called "Bottle Cap Snake" by Ron Rodriguez.

The plaque beside it says that the artist "combines the

woodcarving skills of his family lineage with a common

practice in folk art: recycling. Transforming material

from its original use to a new one distinguishes many

vernacular objects valued as folk art."

Gasp! I love to recycle! Does that mean

I'm a folk artist?! Hee hee, I can dream, can't I?

Anyway, back to my bottle caps:

So blah.

But now...TADA!

The images are magazine cut-outs and

attached to the inside of the bottle caps with glue.

Magnets are secured at the back end with a glue gun.

Use these for your fridge or a magnetic white board.

Another alternative is putting tacks instead of magnets,

to dress up your cork boards.

More ideas tomorrow!

Hang It Up

We made it! It's finally Friday!

I hope you all had a productive week.

These wire hangers had the pleasure of a

blah to Tada! transformation everyday this week.

Like yesterday's project, we'll re-shape the hanger

and keep its purpose of hanging stuff.

TADA! Turn it into a mood board.

Use clothespins to display magazine clippings

and other inspirational sheets of paper.

This particular one is for cooking ideas.

{I'm planning to bake a batch of butter cookies &

then frosting them for an upcoming picnic.}

Here's one for future brides -- a place to

pin up your favorite wedding details.

I'd make one, too, containing ideas for

everyday dressing...very helpful

on days when "I have nothing to wear!"

By bending one end, it can hold

artwork without the need for a frame.

A bunch of these on an empty wall is

a wonderful way to display your kids' doodles --

art gallery style!

Have a lovely weekend!

Belt Central

All this week, I'm creating a new look for this wire hanger:

Here's how we'll turn it from blah...

...to TADA!

A few bends on both ends --

it's now a nifty belt hanger.

You can hang up to 5 belts per hanger

without distorting the hanger's shape.

Organize your belts based on color,

style or frequency of use.

If you're not a big belt fan,

use this for your sashes,

scarves and shawls.

See you tomorrow!

Wire + Paper

I hope you're having a terrific week!

Today, I've got another wire hanger transformation.

Blah: wire hangers from professional cleaners

Tada!: A pretty paper chandelier!

I straightened the wire hanger,

cut it into two using a wire cutter;

one longer than the other.

Then shaped each piece into a circle.

Ends secured tightly with tape.

The handle and connectors are

made of invisible thread/fishing line.

These were decorated with paper flowers,

punched out from old envelopes

and scrap paper.

This can add a touch of whimsy

to any room or can be used as

a party decoration in lieu

of balloons & buntings.

Into the Garden

This week, I'm recycling these blah wire hangers:

And like yesterday's project,

they're going from the closet to the garden.

TADA! I turned the wire hanger into a

plant stake.

They act as a support to keep my tomato plants

from drooping as they grow.

I "tie" the body of the plant to the

stake with twisty ties -- you know, those

wire thingies that keep cords {electronics}

bundled up.

See you tomorrow!

Wire Hangers

Happy New Week Lovelies!

Do you have wire hangers around your house?

We've got quite a few, and while they are useful

for some clothes, for others, they leave

little corners on the shoulder areas.

They also don't hold clothes very

well -- dresses easily slip off.

What a blah.

So this week, I've concocted

some ideas to turn them

from blah to TADA!

Straighten the hangers and cut them

into pieces using a wire cutter.

You'll also need a piece of Styrofoam

{from supermarket/on-line packaging},

scissors and a glue gun.

Cut the Styrofoam into the desired size,

write the name of your garden plants

and puncture the bottom of the

Styrofoam with the wire stick.

Secure in place with hot glue.

Tada! Instant plant labels!

They're not only decorative,

they also politely introduce themselves

to visitors to your garden.

Have a wonderful day!

Gift Enclosed

This week, I told you about the Benevolent Postcard Society. Even if you aren't a member, I hope it inspires you to write a postcard on your next holiday or make one for a friend's birthday.

Next week, it will be August and I'll be mailing another postcard. I wonder who it'll be for? But I'm not wondering what postcard I'll be sending out. Wanna see?

Remember this box I made a few weeks ago?

I'm putting my postcard inside!

"What postcard requires a box?", you say?

Well, this one's three-dimensional!

Blah: an empty decorative tin that

used to hold a jar of the most luscious

dulce de leche from Argentina.

It's so cute, I had to find a new use for it!

You can open it two ways.

I printed out a blank vintage postcard.

Then removed the original label from the can

and replaced it with the postcard.

{I'll attach the real one with a more personal

message once I get my pen pal's name}

And I just had to tuck a gift inside:

Tada!: A set of jacks!

Enclosed also are the instructions on

how to play jacks... to refresh her memory

or to teach her how to play if it wasn't

a childhood game for her.

My postcard fits perfectly inside the box.

Who says postcards need to be flat?

I can't wait to mail it!

Please do something fun this weekend.

Enjoy everyone!