Classic Tees

Giving old books a make-over...

that's the mission on my blog this week.

How many of your books are hanging out on a shelf {or worse,

sitting in a lonely box}, waiting for some attention?

Alright, I'm guilty, too.

I saw these awesome t-shirts.

They're sold at The Strand Bookstore:

The Classics as t-shirt designs.

What a great idea!

I'd like to turn my favorite books as a child into t-shirts like these. Or maybe make t-shirts for friends using their all-time favorite book! Maybe print them on iron-on transfer paper and apply them to a blank shirt with a hot iron. I haven't tried, though -- afraid of any intellectual property rights that I might step on.

Now, keeping your beloved tome close to you has a whole new meaning.

Fashion by the Book

While I was exploring one of Brooklyn's pretty neighborhoods,

I found these on somebody's stoop:

I wasn't quite sure if the owner left these books free for the picking. I browsed but didn't take any because I didn't know if there existed a book-taking etiquette.

Wherever you are, there are books that need new owners, and sometimes, new life. I'll show you how to turn your blah books into TADA! with a few ideas I found on-line.

Check out Academy-award winner Natalie Portman's bag:

image courtesy of the LA Times

It looks like she's carrying a book to

her Black Swan movie premiere.

It's actually a clutch!

image courtesy of Green Charm Press

Here's another title.

image courtesy of The Fashion Police.net

And two more.

All created by French designer,

Olympia Le-Tan.

image courtesy of Kate Spade.com

American designer Kate Spade

has some lovely versions, too.

If you want to turn your old, blah book into

a TADA! clutch, check out See Kate Sew's tutorial.

Old Books

Happy new week everyone!

I've been going through my bookshelf, putting aside the books that I'll forever keep and books that I'm ready to part with. I'm planning to donate these for others to enjoy. In this exercise, I've been thinking about books in general and how e-readers are slowly replacing books. Sigh. It makes me sad.

Books that are still in good shape need to be shared. Books that are missing some pages, well...that's a blah waiting to be a TADA!

This week, I'll be sharing some ideas on how to reuse books. They aren't my ideas but I assure you that by Friday, I'll do some crafty recycling, okay?

Today's idea came from the brilliant mind of {Oprah's} interior designer Nate Berkus:

image via The Nate Show

TADA! A coffee table made of books & a tray.

image via The Nate Show

TADA! A desk created from two stacks

of books and a piece of glass.

Talk about space saving & versatile.

Genius, right?

Your Very Own Printed Tape

It's been a week since the tragic earthquake

and tsunami in Japan.

Before I share a blah to TADA! craft today,

join me in a prayer?

A Prayer After the Earthquake in Japan

Lord, at times such as this,

when we realize that the ground beneath our feet

is not as solid as we had imagined,

we plead for Your mercy.

As the things we have built crumble about us,

we know too well how small we truly are

on this ever-changing, ever-moving,

fragile planet we call home.

Yet You have promised never to forget us.

Do not forget us now.

Comfort them, Lord, in this disaster.

Be their rock when the earth refuses to stand still,

and shelter them under Your wings when homes no longer exist.

Embrace in Your arms those who died so suddenly.

Console the hearts of those who mourn,

and ease the pain of those left behind.

For though the mountains leave their place

and the hills be tossed to the ground,

Your love shall never leave us,

and Your promise of peace will never be shaken.

Amen.

My printed tape collection is a result of trips

to craft stores, a little shop in Chinatown &

Japanese stationery stores.

Let's say you can't find any in your

favorite haunts or think they're too expensive,

it's not the end of the world.

I'll teach you how to make your own.

All you need are plain masking tape & colorful markers.

Cut the tape to size & go wild with your own patterns!

Let them dry for several minutes.

TADA! Your own artwork!

Use them as you would commercially-printed tape.

Have a delightful weekend!

Pretty Jars

Thanks for stopping by again today!

This week, it's all about printed tape and how

I use these to transform blah to TADA!

I got this cheerful set of Japanese Washi tape

or Happy Tape at West Elm.

Even better, I got it at 50% off the original price.

Woot! Woot!

blah: an empty jam jar

TADA!: a vase with character

This is a fun & easy way to make old bottles

come back to life.

You've Got Mail

Reusing is the trend on my blog and printed tape

is this week's theme.

I found this pack of bird-print tape at the

dollar bin of Michaels early this year.

Birds on a wire -- cute, eh?

I'm reusing a padded envelope - cut in half to remove

the address labels, glued together to make a new envelope

and then, embellished with the tape!

Just right for a gift & thoughtful note

to be mailed to a special birthday girl!

Can blah to TADA! be any easier?!

I've Got it Covered

Today, I have another blah to TADA! project

using printed tape:

I found this decorative packing tape at a Japanese goods store.

{There were many colors available and I controlled myself

by getting just this red one.}

blah: A generic notebook with a

sad, sad cover.

But nothing that tape cannot fix.

{I like that it can easily peel off if it wasn't

positioned correctly.}

TADA!: A useful notebook with a noteworthy cover!

Printed Tape

Hello & happy Monday!

In the past year or so, design & craft blogs have been raving

about printed tape. And how could I not join the fan club?

These stickies are adorable!

This week, I'll show you how I use these beauties.

Blah: empty mint tins

Step 1: Cover the top & bottom with blank sticker labels

{these disguise the words on the packaging}

Step 2: Cover the tin with tape, starting from the outside

going in. Fold edges & crease neatly.

Step 3: Tape both top & bottom sides.

TADA!: Printed tins that can be used for small items like

vitamins/prescriptions, jewelry or hair clips.

Have an awesome day!

Soft Blooms

Have you been inspired by the many things

you can do with pompoms?

It all began with an empty ribbon spool that I

turned into a pompom maker, plus a stash

of neglected yarn.

Well, now they're ready to paint the town red.

From blah, they're now TADA!

Don't they remind you of freshly-picked flowers

sitting in a vase?

Or more like pens in cup?

Dress up regular office pens with these fun pompoms!

{Attach them to the caps with hot glue.}

Just imagine if these were waiting at

the dentist's office right before

you filled out your forms.

Won't it make your day?

Thanks for visiting and please have

a joyful weekend!

It's a Wrap!

Happy Thursday!

What do you do with empty ribbon spools?

In the past, I turned them into a

handmade hello and a holiday card.

I have a few more and here's

what I used it for:

I made it into a pompom maker!

Today, I'll teach you how to make

multi-color pompoms.

Gather some yarn in your preferred shades and wind them tightly through the cardboard ring, a.k.a "pompom maker".

Distribute the yarn evenly in one row/layer to keep the length of the yarn uniform. Cover a little over half the pompom maker and tuck in the ends.

Insert a new piece of yarn through the yarn already on the pompom maker. Both ends should meet at the bottom.

Make a tight knot.

Then cut the yarn on the outer end.

Cut all the way through.

Your pompom should look like this.

Make the knot tighter. Secure with a second knot, then slip off the pompom from the cardboard, fluff it up and trim any excess yarn.

TADA! A wacky and wild pompom!

Use it as a finishing touch to a housewarming gift,

like this bottle of red wine.

TADA!

A Little Bit of Whimsy

If you've been tuning in, I'm making pompoms!

All from a blah, empty ribbon spool...

And some yarn scored at a yard sale.

TADA! Look at what I made.

Pretty pompoms all in a row.

They make playful accents to some

flea market-sourced accessories.

Indeed, somebody else's trash is my treasure!