My parents traveled the world & all I got was this T-shirt

"I love New York"
"What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"
"Sunny California"
"Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go to Amsterdam"
"Czech Me Out"

Destination T-shirts...you must have at least one in your possession. I've got quite a few. Wore them once or twice -- hey, I don't like looking like an over-enthusiastic tourist! And while these shirts aren't part of my wardrobe staples, I don't have the heart to give them away. They're souvenirs I purchased myself or were given by globe-trotting family members. So what's a girl to do?

This soft, comfy shirt...

...is now a soft, chubby pillow!

Use it to accent a dorm room or line them up on a couch to show guests where in the world you've been. See ya tomorrow!

T-Shirts

Hello Everyone! I hope you had a really nice weekend! This week on blah to Tada!, we're giving a bunch of T-shirts a make-over. I did a little spring cleaning recently and found some shirts that I haven't worn in ages but can't seem to give away. Does this ever happen to you? Sigh. So I came up with this idea because goodbye is not an option.

A favorite shirt tattered with tiny holes (beats me how that happened!).

Tada! My shirt is now a shoe bag!

I cut the shirt into two rectangles, sewed up the sides, attached a string (handle of a paper bag) on the open end and jazzed-up the front using trim from the sleeves. The owls & the tree branch are made from the collar. I even used the buttons for the owls' eyes!

Instead of sitting at the back of my closet, the "shoe bag formerly known as shirt" can join me whenever I travel!

Bottled Up Emotions

We're ending a week of Handmade Hellos with another idea using an old bottle. If yesterday, the message was INSIDE the bottle, today it's going to be OUTSIDE.

Who says writing letters involves paper?
If you're feeling extra generous, put a gift inside the bottle.
Let the gift hang loose by taping it to the cover.

Decorate the cap & get ready to give!

I hope I've inspired you to keep in touch with family & friends without the use of technology. It leaves you with an energized satisfaction and the person on the receiving end will always feel extra-special.

May you have a nice weekend!

Secret Message

An old bottle.

A magazine ready to be thrown away.

Tear a page from the magazine.
Use it as exotic notepaper.

Slip the letter into a non-traditional envelope.

Tada! Message in a bottle!

Hand it to a friend or ship it in a box (wrapped in bubble wrap).
Old fashioned instant messaging!
Whoopee!

Lost & Found

A ticket stub. A seashell. A penny. The daily horoscope. These are everyday items that can easily go from blah to Tada!.

I'm incorporating them into this greeting card I made -- it's all about Handmade Hellos in my blog this week.

When you open the card, you'll find these mini-envelopes.
You can make the envelopes or buy them ready-made at
the craft store (scrapbooking section).

Add a purpose to an old ticket stub to make it special.

Put some sentimental value to a vacation souvenir.

Discovered something a friend will like?
Read something that made you feel good?
Pass it on!

Picked up a penny on the sidewalk?
Share your wealth!

It takes very little to keep in touch & tell someone that you're thinking about him/her. If you can't find the words, let your little treasures do the talking.

Creative Crossword

We're putting the Tada! in letter writing this week and I'm giving a shout-out to all the crossword puzzle lovers out there. You know who you are: your heart beats faster as you skim the headlines, the op-eds, the comics...until you see the page with squares within a square. Then you scramble for a pen so you can fill those spaces with both mind boggling and lovely words.

But if you're not into crossword puzzles, this page of the newspaper is but a blah...

Here's how we can make it into a Tada!:

Turn it into stationery!

This is an envelope crafted from the crossword section & a sheet of paper.

Here's the greeting card made from a smaller crossword puzzle mounted on bright-colored construction paper.

To add to the fun, have the recipient fill in some boxes to spell out a message (ex. You are such a great & awesome buddy).

A few words + a personal touch = a happy friend.

Handmade Hellos

Isn't that a heart-warming title? It's not only the theme for this week's posts but the title of an actual book. Handmade Hellos is a collection of do-it-yourself greeting cards for life's exciting occasions. I have yet to grab a copy of this book but I certainly like the concept. In a world bombarded with texting, twittering and e-mailing, it's rare to receive a greeting card, let alone a handmade one. That's what makes it special.

Everyday this week I will attempt to to turn the fading art of letter writing from blah to Tada!

Today's inspiration comes from a spool of ribbon. After using up the ribbon, how can we re-purpose the spool? Why not make it into a letter?! I can see that quizzical look on your face. Here, let me explain:

We'll turn a piece of paper into a ribbon. Ruled notebook paper works well so we can easily cut along the lines .Then glue the ends together to form a long strip. To write the letter, you can either compose the letter on the computer first, then print it on notebook paper before cutting, or...

...Write the letter directly on the paper strip.

Roll the letter strip around the spool & secure both ends with tape.
Decorate the spool with stickers.

Make an envelope using a sheet of scrapbook paper.

Tuck in your letter and send it on its way!

Curious as to what I'll be making tomorrow?
You have to stop by to find out.
Happy Monday!