ReadyMade MacGyver Challenge

ReadyMade Magazine is one clever manual bursting at the seams with D-I-Y projects and brilliant ideas. Even craft-shy folks will discover a thing or two after soaking in pages dispensing tidbits about technology, books, food, photography or interior design. Once you put it down, you'll say to yourself, "I want to make something!"

One of my favorite sections has got to be the back page called the MacGyver. For those who are too young to remember, it's named in honor of the lead character in the TV show MacGyver popular in the 80's. Angus Macgyver (played by Richard Dean Anderson) was this hunky secret agent whose greatest strength was his resourcefulness. He got out of intense situations (ex. trapped inside a locked truck that's about to explode) using found objects like a paperclip or stopped the bad guys using a bomb made out of chewing gum. So if people call you "MacGyver", take it as a compliment because it means you can make something out of nothing!

In every issue of ReadyMade, there's a MacGyver challenge where readers are given an everyday item or what we call in this blog a BLAH (ex. pots & pans) to transform into a totally new object, or what we call a TADA! (ex. chandelier).

The next challenge is to find new uses for the NAMETAG (clip-on plastic sleeves or IDs with lanyards) and I'm putting my gameface on!

Everyday this week, I'll show you how I turn this blah (nametag) into a Tada!.

By simply printing out a name badge and trimming the cord...

...the ID tag is now a luggage tag!

The plastic sleeve protects the info sheet from getting wet and whatever turns & tumbles that happen on the baggage carousel. Personalize as you wish -- colored paper & a bright ribbon (instead of a cord) so you can spot your suitcase from miles away.

Here's another version of the ID tag. Once a blah...

...now a Tada!

The travel expects recommend putting a label inside your bag in case the luggage tag gets lost. This nifty ID tag rises to occasion with its safety pin-back & sturdy plastic. Just add a neat print out of your information (include your contact details), attach and you're on your way!

Have a great week ahead & see you all tomorrow!

Vita-MINTS!

It's finally the weekend and if you're planning a little getaway, don't forget to take tiny mint containers with you. Pack one with mints (your fellow travelers will appreciate fresh breath) and save an empty one for a few days worth of vitamins.

Mark the tin accordingly to avoid confusion.
Make a label in an instant using sticker paper & a black pen.

Fill the tin with vitamins you take on a daily basis & keep it in your carry-on bag.
No need to pack bulky bottles & you'll remain healthy during the trip.

Here's wishing you a fun, festive & Tada! weekend!

Secret Stash

How can we re-use this empty peppermint tin?

Once a blah, now a TADA!:

Simply attach a sheet with a fun print to the face of the tin using adhesive then fill it with anything & everything you want:

This decorated mint tin is a perfect place to stash a collection of costume jewelry.

Whether at home, work or on vacations, a sewing kit always comes in handy especially for tears and loose buttons.

Corral hair accessories like clips & elastics in your jazzed-up mint tin.

Use it to keep lipstick, blush & cologne. It's small enough to fit your evening purse.

Finally, the mint tin can house a small first aid kit for travel or an office drawer.

Pocketful of Spices

I really like these Wrigley's Doublemint Mints. They're tiny white capsules that heroically bid bye-bye to bad breath & the mint flavor is not too strong to make one wince. Sadly, I can't find this brand anymore. What a BLAH. I'm left with their casings that I've turned into a Tada!:

S is for Salt and P is for Pepper...what a dynamic duo they make together!

Keep these little shakers in the office drawer so you can take them out when lunch needs some seasoning. They come in handy, too for packed lunches & picnics.

C is for Chili...chili flakes or chili powder, it's totally up to you.
Just a little dash to spice up a cafeteria or airplane meal.

Tictac Tricks

What happens when mint containers no longer hold mints?

Well, they're still containers! Use them to hold small crafting supplies like beads, sequins, buttons & glitter.

For the D-I-Y fellas, use them in your tool box to keep nails & screws organized.
For the office, use them to keep paperclips & tacks in place.
How's that for micro-management?

Got Mint?

Which do you prefer: mints or gum? I would choose the former because it does the job of keeping your breath fresh (or keeping you awake at a long meeting) and you can do it oh-so subtly. Just let the mint glide around your mouth as it releases its minty-fresh action and then it melts into oblivion. Gum is less discreet with all the chewing involved and the ceremony required to get rid of it -- wrap it in paper and toss it in the trash. Well, that's how I would do it but there are certainly many folks who just leave their gum on the sidewalk. What a major BLAH especially if it ends up on your shoes! Okay, so I got that off my chest.

I love mints and I always have some in my bag. I'm an equal-opportunity mint enthusiast, willing to try the many brands available so I've amassed quite a few mint containers. And while we treat an empty mint tin like this as a blah:

It can actually be transformed into a Tada!...

By covering the mint tin in polka-dot print sticker paper, it's now a cute dispenser for coffee sweetener that you can take wherever you travel. How sweet is that?

Light in a Jar

We're ending the week with another crafty idea to give old jam jars new life...and maybe new light, too. Today, we're making candles! I'd really like to try my hand making candles in different shapes and scents, but let's do it the easy way:

I got this Jelly Candle at an A.C. Moore craft store. It's available in many colors and scents. I chose a bright red with a strawberry scent because it reminds me of jams & preserves, perfect for our jars.

The kit comes with a tube of gel, 4 wicks and easy-to-follow instructions.

Use a clean and dry jam jar and position the wick at the center, attach in place with a bead of glue. Allow the glue to dry.

At this point, you can add little things like shells, sand & marbles for an added dimension. Then squeeze in the gel. After 20 to 30 minutes (the surface needs to settle)...

Tada! We made our very own candle!

There will be bubbles (which I quite like) but the instructions say they'll disappear after 24 hours. The fragrance is comforting & yummy but a word of caution -- it can be mistaken for jam or jello. And if the candle police are reading this, I have to include this warning: keep out of the reach of children & do not leave a burning candle unattended.

Have a great & totally TADA! weekend!