A Decorated Gift Box

Hello! Before I talk about today's craft, I thought I'd pay my respects to a resolute woman:

illustration by Bijou Karman for The Atlantic 

 

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was mighty even in her small frame. Challenges like gender discrimination or cancer did not faze her. I really admired her "tough as nails" attitude. Whenever it was reported on the news that she was in the hospital, I would get worried and say a prayer for her, like she was my relative. So when it was announced on Friday that she passed away, my heart ached. 

I pray that she rests in peace. She passed away on the eve of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and according to Nina Totenberg (NPR Reporter): "A Jewish teaching says those who die just before the Jewish New Year are the ones God has held back until the last moment because they were needed most and were the most righteous." I'm trying to find comfort in that.

*****

Now that I've gotten that off my chest, on to lighter things...

Crafty recycling is the cornerstone of my blog. Before I toss an item, I think of ways to give it new life and transform it from blah to TADA!

Take for example this box. It used to house note cards with matching envelopes. 

But now it's empty. 

Here's how I gave it a second life:

I found an old catalog with cute photos. 

I'm using these elements as stickers.

I'm going for a travel theme to decorate my empty box. Don't you miss travel?

Here are my cutouts. They'll serve as embellishments and cover the flaws of the box.

After laying them out, I secured them in place with all purpose glue.

It's coming along pretty well.

Then I added some stickers for more color and whimsy.

And a little bit of washi tape.

The surprise inside: luggage tags and a TSA-friendly lock, in line with the travel theme...TADA! 

Put on the lid...

And complete with baker's twine.

This gift is ready to "travel" to its recipient...TADA!

Felt Animals

Hi! Do you like crafting with felt? It's a material I've used several times -- for ornaments, a heart pin, flower embellishments, pin cushions, and a jewelry tray.

I saw these at a store. They are flat felt animals tucked inside an envelope. These can be mailed to a friend who's far away or as a surprise in a child's lunch box. 

Because I thought the idea was so adorable, I had to make some myself! Let me show you:

First, I chose these cool shades of blue felt.

Then I made a template out of cardboard. 

Trace and cut.  

There's one front piece (that I embroidered with a bear's cuddly face) and one back piece of felt.

I attached the front and back pieces together with hot glue for a sturdier bear.

And I made a small envelope pouch using gift wrap.

Then I put the bear inside...TADA!

Here's another version, this time a cute kitty cat.

Write a sweet note and it's ready to give away. I guarantee it'll turn your recipient's day from blah to TADA!

Salt Dough Earrings

Hi guys! Thank you for coming to hang out today.

A few weeks ago, I was playing around with salt dough to make jewelry like pendants and charms for beaded bracelets. I have some salt dough left over to make another project.

If you haven't worked with salt dough, it's like clay that you shape and bake in the oven for the pieces to harden. You'll find the recipe for salt dough here, as well as the step-by-step instructions.

I always keep salt dough in a tightly-sealed container so it doesn't dry out. When it's time to use it, just roll it out to a 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface to keep the dough from sticking.

I used a small cookie cutter to shape the dough. 

With a toothpick, I made holes where I would put the jewelry findings. 

Put these on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Bake for two hours in a 250 degree Fahrenheit oven.  

After baking, they look like this.

I added earring hooks and embellished with tassels.  

And here we have handmade earrings that you can wear or give away...TADA!

More Sidewalk Furniture

Hi there! In a previous post, I regaled you with stories about free furniture on the streets of New York City. 

Yes it's true! If only I had a truck and a warehouse, I would comb the streets for these finds and give them a totally new look. I'll probably be able to furnish an entire apartment with all that I collect! And with many folks moving out of the city as a result of the pandemic, there's a lot of free furniture on the streets. There's even a dedicated Instagram account called @stoopingnyc to alert followers of these treasures. 

Here are the ones I spotted in the West Village:

Piece Number 1: Tall and skinny shelf
Piece Number 2: Two-tier side table
Piece Number 3: Rattan end table
Piece Number 4: Four-tier etagere

Shelves and side tables in a neat row! And in good condition, too.  Had I taken them home with me, here's how I would transform them from blah to TADA!

For the tall and skinny shelf:

via Apartment Therapy

I would put it in a tight corner of my work-from-home space to store books and memorabilia.

via The Boo and the Boy 

Or position it horizontally and turn it into a storage bench...TADA!

For the two-tier side table:

via Emily Henderson

It will be useful as a bedside buddy (even if it doesn't have a matching pair).

via Cate St. Hill

I can also put it beside a favorite reading chair to hold books and a cup of tea...TADA!

Okay, two pieces down but there's still more:

Let's start with the rattan end table.

via Apartment Therapy

I would stain it in a richer brown and welcome it into a bedroom.

via Pinterest

Or paint it in a wild color as an accent piece for the balcony or a kid's room...TADA!

And finally, my ideas for the four-tier etagere (open shelves):

via Pinterest

I would paint it white -- perfect for a modern farmhouse.

via Pinterest

Or maybe in a sweet shade of sea foam or pale pink...TADA!

I hope you'll find some old furniture (in your own home or on the street) and turn them from blah to TADA!

Crafty Tip: The Secret to Sharp Scissors

Hi guys! We use scissors everywhere -- the kitchen, classroom, and in our work spaces. But how does one keep a pair of scissors sharp? 

Here's a quick crafty tip and all you need is aluminum foil.

Use your scissors to cut through the foil. Do this several times and do it every few months to keep them sharp...TADA!

Another tip that I got from Martha Stewart is to label all your pairs of scissors and use it for only one purpose (ex. paper, fabric, tape). 

And to protect your scissors, keep it secure in a case using felt or fabric. Here's how I made it: 

Start with a cardboard template and trace this on the felt (one for the front and one for the back).

Cut the felt.

Attach the front and back pieces together with hot glue and if you'd like, add a blanket stitch around for more reinforcement that also gives a pop of color...TADA! 

Do you have other ways to maintain the life of scissors? Please share!