Ideas for Halloween

Hello! Halloween is just around the corner

and this week, I have some ideas to

get you into the Halloween spirit!

Remember this garden light that

I made from a milk carton?

I'm making something similar today.

Blah: an empty {cleaned-out} milk container.

Tada! A spooky light you can use inside

or outside the house!

These battery-operated tea lights are a safe

alternative to real candles {they flicker too!}.

You can find them at the candle section of

the department store.

They set the mood and are safe for everyone.

Hope to see you tomorrow!

Stylishly Stretchy

Thanks so much for checking out my recycling projects!

This week, I featured blahs from a bag of scrap

that I found at a New York City flea market:

After sorting through the "scraps", I've

made a number of accessories that

can jazz up the plainest outfits.

Today, I'm finding some practical use for

these scalloped metal adornments.

Tada! I made a belt!

It's made of black elastic & a metal closure

that I bought at a sewing store.

The gold "buttons" were attached

with hot glue.

It reminds me of art deco design that

can still be modern to this day.

Have a fun weekend!

Silver Darlings

As they say, "One man's trash is another man's treasure."

That saying best encapsulates these bags of scrap

that I found at a flea market.

Unwanted odds & ends, wanted by me.

Here are some of the "scraps" I found inside: metal

hardware for clip-on earrings & silver-colored beads.

How lucky am I that I found a pair!

From blah, they are now Tada!

I made them into a cool set of earrings!

The silver-colored beads made a few friends with beads that I

already own. I attached these to a piece of felt and

the felt was attached to the hardware with hot glue.

Aren't they pretty?

For Thy Waist or Neck

I love treasure hunting at flea markets!

During one of my trips, I found this bag of scrap

and this week, I've been transforming the "scrap"

from blah to Tada!

Blah: These metallic embellishments with a gold &

copper finish.

Tada! A statement belt!

It also doubles as a fashionable necklace!

A two-in-one accessory perfect for travel.

Tada!

Simply CHARMing

Happy Tuesday!

All this week on my blog, I'm turning odd items

from a bag of scrap from blah to Tada!

Today's pick: gold charms & a faux diamond bracelet.

Individually, they're quite blah.

But if you put them together, they're Tada!

I really like the weathered look &

how each charm tells a story.

Have a charming day!

The Bag of Scrap [Part Deux]

It's a fresh week and I've got new ideas

to turn blah stuff into Tada! objects.

Last year, I made this, this and this

all from a bag of scrap.

I got the bag of scrap from this

New York City flea market.

I had to go back to pick-up a few more!

I choose these three bags.

Then sorted & grouped the contents using

an empty egg carton.

Today's blah: a gold buckle with floral details.

Here's what the back looks like.

Tada! A nautical-inspired belt!

The stripped gross-grain ribbon, left over from

this project, keeps the overall look casual.

I hand-stitched the ribbon to the buckle and added

a jewelry clasp to keep the buckle in place.

Tada! I think this will look good with

a white shirt & chinos.

Have a good day everyone!

Inspiration is Key

Here's a final fortune cookie "fortune" idea:

Blah -- a collection of "fortunes" that could be gathering dust.

Tada! Turn it into a key chain!

It's mounted on a small piece of wood

decorated with gift wrapper scraps.

Everything is sealed off with Mod Podge.

I made a small hole with a nail & hammer,

then inserted a small jump ring that attaches

to the bigger ring that holds the keys.

It's a gentle reminder of

which fortunes really matter.

Have a sweet weekend!

On the Write Track

Whether or not you believe the "fortune" that you get

inside a fortune cookie, opening it is such a fun

way to end a Chinese meal.

I've accumulated quite a collection, and while

this doesn't make me rich in monetary terms, it has

sparked a few ideas to share my unique "fortune".

Tada! The plainest of pencils go from blah to Tada!

Simply attach the "fortune" onto the pencil with Mod Podge

{white glue works, too}.

Share the pencils with a child or co-worker.

It may just hold the answers he or she is looking for!

Framed Fortune

Do you like fortune cookies?

I certainly do! I've been collecting the "fortunes" and

have incorporated them into my crafts & correspondence.

Here's my favorite:

The blah is really a Tada!

I'm keeping this for myself but I want to see it everyday.

Tada! I framed my fortune!

I got the frame from the $1 section of the craft store,

found a cute image from a magazine for a backdrop,

then mounted my "fortune" in a 3-D effect with glue.

It's my daily reminder to never lose faith.

And with that note -- here's to the continued safe rescue

of all the brave Chilean miners. I love happy reunions!

Little Letter

Lovely to see you today!

At the Martha Stewart Craft Fair last December,

I bought myself this cute little note set:

And when I say little, I really mean little!

The envelopes are so tiny that you can only fit a

coin the size of a quarter dollar.

I guess this is the SMS/text version of a handwritten letter.

You'll only be able to write "I luv u" instead of "I love You"

or "C ya l8r" instead of "See you later".

I thought of these fortune cookie fortunes that I've

been collecting every time we go for a Dim Sum lunch

or order Chinese take-out .

They can fit inside the tiny envelope!

Well, if you fold the piece of paper.

It's a quirky way to share your fortune!

See your tomorrow.

Fortune Cookie Fortunes

Happy Monday Lovelies!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

It's no shame that I'm a fan of Chinese take-out.

At the bottom of the bag, you'll find packets of sauce

{need to turn these from blah to Tada!}

and the popular fortune cookie.

I always keep these strips of paper with the "fortune"

and I've even shared my good fortune to other folks.

Well, I have a few more "fortunes" to share

because just hiding them in a drawer is blah.

Tada! Make cake decorations out of them

by attaching them to a toothpick.

The birthday boy or girl gets to blow

the candles and everyone gets to

eat cake with fortunes to match!

Double Tada!

Memories of Asia

On my blog this week, it's all about travel souvenirs.

Souvenirs that you can wear but don't call out

the city where it's from.

They're souvenir necklaces that I made myself!

Blah: necklaces from a market in Thailand that

I bought almost a decade ago.

Tada! I gave them a new dimension by

joining them together with a silver chain.

These remind me of Thailand's gorgeous

beaches and fabulous shopping!

Have a great weekend and if you're

travelling, don't forget to pick up

a little souvenir!