Travel Diary

Thanks for stopping by today!

If you've been tuning in, the blah we're turning into a TADA! this week, are old maps. Today, I'm using them to prettify a few notebooks.

These pocket notebooks were 50 cents for a pack of two. What a steal, right? But I think the covers look quite blah. And you know what comes after that...

TADA! Notebooks that are ready to travel the world! 

Simply cut the map to fit the cover and 

adhere with a glue stick.

They're just the right size to fit a camera bag or jacket pocket. It's a handy tool to make lists, jot down expenses, or scribble mundane observations. 

They make a nice gift too.

Make it for yourself, share it with a friend and may you have many memorable vacations!

Map Notes

Thanks to vehicle navigation systems and smart phones, we feel more confident getting to a location without the need for a map. Are maps turning obsolete? 

No matter, they're definitely a good item to 

turn from blah to TADA!

Today, we'll turn an old map into stationery.

Here's how:

You might have maps that are large enough to cover your entire upper body. Cut this up into a manageable size. 

Cut some more and attach this to one side of folded card stock or construction paper with a glue stick. TADA!, your map has assumed the identity of a note card!

Time to make the envelopes: use an old envelope as a pattern {open it up} and trace this on the map. Cut around it, fold the edges, and add some glue where necessary.

TADA! Easy envelopes!

Pair off the cards with the envelopes and use 
them immediately.

Or slip them inside a berry box, add some pens and 

garnish with a ribbon. Now, who would say no 

to a gift like this?

Marvelous Maps

I hope your weekend was fabulous!

This week, it's all about maps on my blog.

I admit to still using maps, especially when visiting a new city. They're very useful to find your way or discover a new landmark. But when you're done with them, what do you do? Turn them from blah to TADA! of course!

Here are a few talented folks who did just that and are selling them on Etsy:

A matchbook wrapped in an old map and the matchsticks 

are trimmed to mimic a city skyline!

Old maps crafted into romantic roses.

Vintage map inspired throw pillows

If you love a city, I don't see why you can't wear it

as a belt buckle.

Or you can wear them as cuff links, too!

A map can also be laminated and 

sewn into a bag.

Aren't these ideas terrific? Stop by this week and let's see what else we can do with maps. Have a nice day!

Hooray for Mama Earth

Let 'em Dangle

Yippee yay, it's Friday!

Today's jewelry rack idea is made of these blah materials: cardboard and paint stirrers {free from the hardware store}.

We'll need these too: ruler, pencil, paint brush, scissors, hole punch, paint and hot glue

Cut the cardboard into thin strips {about 1 inch for the width and 10 inches for the length}. We'll need three to five pieces of these.

Glue at least two paint stirrers together to 

form a sturdy foundation.

Here's what the jewelry rack looks like after painting the pieces individually and gluing them together on a wooden base. The paint stirrer is at the center and the cardboard strips intersect it.

Make pairs of holes across the cardboard strip with a hole punch {do this after painting the strip}. Avoid making holes at the mid-point of the cardboard strip because this area will be glued to the base. 

 Use the holes to attach stud earrings or 

hang ones that dangle.

TADA! A display rack for earrings for your dressing table at home, or for your booth at the craft fair or tag sale. Have a sparkly weekend my lovelies!

High Five

Several kind people have been "pinning" some of my blah to TADA! ideas on Pinterest. Holy smokes, my projects are worthy of a pin?! Thanks guys! And for you who found me through Pinterest, welcome to my blog!

One of my most popular "pins" is the necklace and bracelet rack I made using paper towel rolls. This is the reason I have a new batch of jewelry organizing ideas this week, whether you'll use it at home or if you're participating in a craft fair. 

Today, I'm making a TADA! ring display using these blah materials: cardboard, wood base, a pencil, scissors and hot glue. 

I trace my hand on the piece of cardboard.

Then cut around it.

Oh, we'll need paint and a brush, too.

Paint the hand and wood base {I bought this at the craft store for less than $1.00}. Make several coats.

Attach the bottom of the hand to the wooden base with hot glue. Allow to dry. Then add your rings! TADA!

Remember this when cutting out the hand: make some parts of the fingers skinny to fit different-size rings.

You can make a bigger version with a larger piece of wood and more hands.

Sending high fives your way!

Hanging Tough

Happy Wednesday! Before we get to today's project, let me share with you what I picked up from the news stand yesterday:

It's a special edition of Domino magazine! Domino was a shelter magazine that was shut down a few years ago, leaving a lot of fans like myself devastated. The pages were full of ideas on how to have a beautiful home by celebrating the lived-in look, finding beauty in the mismatched collection of high and low or brand new and thrift store finds (unlike those perfect homes you see in many magazines). Even if they came out with a book, and the editorial staff moved on to launch on-line magazines, I can't help but miss receiving a copy of Domino in my mailbox. This issue definitely turned my week from blah to TADA! 

Now on to today's blah to TADA! make-over. It's another jewelry rack idea.

Blah: Two hotplates {it protects the dining table from a hot-bottomed pot or serving dish} that I rescued from the trash. They're made of wood. One side is covered in a sheet of photographic paper. 

 The other side is covered in cork.

After a thorough cleaning, I gave both sides a new outfit using this Toile-inspired sheet of scrapbook paper and a slathering of white glue. I let the glue dry and smoothed out the bumps.

On one of the hotplates, I added a few nails in both front and back side.

Using a hammer/nails or wood glue, attach the two pieces to form an inverted capital letter "T". Folks, this is now a jewelry rack! TADA!

Remember Monday's project where we made some cardboard backing for handmade/vintage jewelry? All we need to do is add a hole on top of the cardboard using a hole punch.

 Insert the cardboard into the nails.

What did I tell ya? Jewelry rack!

Use longer nails to hold more items. 

Both sides of the rack can hold jewelry. When one side is running low on inventory, just flip the rack. One side {facing customers} is fully stocked and the other side {facing seller} can be replenished.

You can make something like this with excess wood from another project or brand new wood from the hobby shop or hardware store.

Hey craft fair, we're ready for you!