Earrings Made from Cord

Howdy! I'm on a mission to save these strips of cording:

These were the handles of a paper bag.

Roll them into a coil and sew them with a needle and matching thread to keep the coil from unraveling.

Add some bright handmade tassels and gold jewelry findings.

Attach them together with hand stitching and we have these fun and flirty tassel earrings...TADA!

Here's another version:

This is navy cord, also taken from a paper bag.

Wind it into itself and sew the rows to each other with needle and thread.

I looked through my collection to find some complimentary beads.

Then I sewed them on the cord coil.

Here's what my new pair of earrings looks like...TADA!

I also rescued some gold cord.

Here are the materials I used to turn blah to...

TADA! Another pair of dangling earrings that were created from materials I already had at home.

I hope this has inspired you to do some crafty recycling yourself. Thanks for your visit!

Hot Glue Alphabet

Hello and happy start of a new month!

Did you know that March is "National Craft Month"? Woohoo! But to anyone who loves to craft, every month is craft month!

As a crafter, I have a tendency to hoard materials. And sometimes I forget that I have them.

Take this silicone mold for example.  I bought it many years ago and haven't used it. Eeep!

Use it to shape clay, salt dough, and even fondant. But the instructions suggest using hot glue sticks. Yes, the ones we use for a glue gun!

I found these glitter glue sticks at the dollar store. I thought they would be perfect to try out the silicone mold. 

I used the glue gun that I already had.

Once the glue stick was melted, I generously filled in the letters and let the glue harden for a few minutes. 

Because the mold is made of silicone, it's heat-resistant and the letters are easy to pop out. 

Here are some of the words I spelled:

LOVE

 HI

YAY

And here are some of the crafty applications:

I'm using the letters to dress up an envelope crafted from an old map.

The letters and the twine embellish the envelope.

Instant gift wrapping...TADA!

This time, I'm making my own stationery using scrapbooking supplies.

Here's what the card looks like.

A darling little card that's ready to cross the oceans to cheer up a friend...TADA! 

We can also attach the letters to toothpicks using hot glue (apply the glue to the toothpick, then carefully place the letter on the glue and allow to dry). 

Use it to top cakes and cupcakes. Spell out names or greetings, too.

It instantly dresses up a homemade dessert...TADA!

I hope you enjoyed these ideas. Have a great day!

Crafty Tip: How to Revive an Ink Pad

Howdy everyone! I like crafting with rubber stamps and even block prints that I made myself. 

My problem is when the ink pads dry up. Sure, it's easy to buy a new one but imagine all the collected ink pads that will end up in the trash!  

When I was at the office supply store, I stumbled upon this product. It's ink in a bottle with a roll-on application. 

Instructions are easy to follow.

It's not messy at all! 

And I'm confident that I can use my existing ink pads for years to come. TADA!

Treasures from the Trash: A Rolling Cart

Well, hello everyone!

If you've visited my blog in the past, I have a recurring section called, "Treasures from the Trash". It's all about furniture that I see on the sidewalk, the ones that are still in great shape but the owners no longer have use for. So there they are, waiting for the dump truck to come and collect them. 

Such was the fate of this lonely rolling cart:

It has an industrial vibe.  

Made of wood, metal, and casters.

Using some photos from the web, here's how I would transform it from blah to TADA!:

I would add a table top using plywood and stain it to match the bottom shelf. Then I can use this cart for extra storage in the kitchen or dining room:

via World Market

via Pinterest

via Coco Lapine Design

Another idea is to add hardware to make it into a bar cart.

via Overstock

via House of Harper

via Emily Henderson

I could also add extra shelves to keep essentials tidy in the craft room or home office:

via Wayfair

via simplydesigningporch.com

via thecottagemarket.com

via whitehouseblackshutters.com

Or maybe even paint it in a bright color...TADA!

What about you? How would you update the look of this rolling cart?

Happy Day of Hearts

Instead of making Valentine's Day all about romantic love, let's celebrate all forms of love! Why not go out on a date with your parents or grandparents? Get in touch with a friend you haven't seen for a while and catch up over coffee and cake? Or spend some time with a nephew or niece, godson or goddaughter and take them out for pizza and ice cream. You'll make a new memory together and turn an ordinary day from blah to TADA!  

A Pretty Pink Heart

On occasion, we like to order some Chinese take-out -- fried rice, egg rolls, or stir-fried noodles. Ummmm, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

Most of the dishes come packaged in this box. I think it's well designed because it's eco-friendly, can easily be stacked, and transforms into a plate when opened up.

I discard the box but save the wire. Maybe I can turn it from blah to TADA! 

I play around with it and it easily forms into a heart.

I look through my ribbon stash and choose this pink pompom trim.

I attach it to the wire with hot glue.

The wire is now disguised in adorable pompoms.  I used it as an embellishment for gift wrapping:

And that is how I turned a takeout box handle from blah to TADA! Just in time for Valentine gift-giving.