A Midyear Pep Talk

Hello Everyone!

How is it that it's already the middle of the year?

I hope you are slowly crossing off the list that you made at the start of 2022. Are you feeling accomplished, frustrated or defeated? Wherever you're at, celebrate your little victories and don't be too hard on yourself if the task isn't done. Sometimes there are things that we can't control. And that's okay.

I came across this message on social media. It didn't give credit to writer but I hope he/she doesn't mind that I'm sharing it with you. It resonated with me and maybe it'll encourage you, too: 

In this time where "likes," "hearts," "views," and "followers" are the indicators of success, don't let this dictate what you create. Keep making things that are authentically your own because you'll never know who you're inspiring.

If you're in the mood to turn "blah to TADA!" here are a few easy crafts from the archives:

Make a pendant out of an empty perfume vial...TADA!

Create your own packaging or gift wrapping using rubber stamps...TADA!

Dabble in hand lettering with words that inspire...TADA!

Practice your calligraphy using quotes that hold meaning to you...TADA!

Embroider a plain pouch with your favorite phrase...TADA!

Don't stop creating and keep turning "blah to TADA!"

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Treasures from the Trash: A Round Table

How was your weekend guys? I hope it was both exciting and restful!

I found this in the trash/recycling room of our apartment building:

It's a round end table with heavy legs in brushed nickel.

Except for its dusty surface, it was in good shape.

If only I had room in our apartment, I would have called this piece "mine."

Had I taken it home, here are some ways I would transform this table from "blah to TADA!":

via Pinterest

I would paint the legs black and stain the tabletop in a dark shade of brown (and maybe even distress the surface) giving it an industrial vibe.

via Pinterest

For a more glamorous look, the legs can be spray-painted gold and the surface can be given a marble look with either paint or removable wallpaper.

via Pinterest

Another option is to paint the legs a matte gold or bronze and a mahogany stain on the tabletop. 

Just like in this photo, an end table is just the right size for a small bedroom to hold a lamp and bedside essentials like a glass of water, a book, and a mobile phone.

via A Burst of Beautiful

An end table is ideal in a reading nook -- for all the books you are currently reading.

via Pinterest

And finally, an end table can showcase a pretty floral arrangement...TADA!

How about you? How would you change the look of this end table to match your home? 

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Flowers: Pressed and Framed

Nice to be with you today!

I love flowers! They have always been a muse for my work. From card making, wreath assembly, floral arranging, embroidery, block printing, and gift wrapping, there's usually some kind of floral element present. 

That is why when the springtime months come around, I'm out in the park gathering fresh flowers. One of my favorites is this fragrant lilac bush.

I keep them in a plastic container to maintain their shape until I get home.

Then I position them between sheets of scrap paper and cardboard then place them in a flower press (an old book works just as well but you may need to weigh this down with a heavier book).

After two weeks, I check on my flowers to see if all moisture has evaporated... 

...and that they are flat.

There are certainly many applications for these pressed flowers like cards and jewelry. Today, I am going to frame them. I want to use the different flowers that I collected.

Lay them out on dark colored paper and once satisfied, apply a small amount of acid-free glue at the back of each flower with a small paintbrush.  Lightly press the flowers onto the paper.

Allow the glue to dry for several hours.

Then I put this in an old frame...TADA! This is a nice way to remember a season that has passed.  It also makes a beautiful gift allowing these pressed flowers to last for years to come.

Instead of just letting the flowers wither, I turned them from "blah to TADA!" 

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New Life for an Old Doormat

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

We have a throw-away culture. It's easy and it's convenient. I'm training myself to be thoughtful about my purchases so that they can be reused a million times. And if these items are teetering on the end of its purpose, maybe there's a way to give it new life? This is what I call "blah to TADA!"

Take this doormat for example. I got it on clearance and I use it on the balcony doorstep. We only really use the balcony in warmer months so this doesn't get a lot of foot traffic. It's a washable doormat so the color (vibrant green stripes) has faded over time. 

Here are the materials I used: paint brush, fabric paint, tape (I used packing tape because I didn't have painter's tape), and newspaper.

I wanted to re-do the stripes, this time in black and the existing white. Here I am taping some sections. Apply the tape from top to bottom and rub it on the fabric. That way the paint won't seep in.

I painted the stripes using about three to four coats of paint. This really depends on how dark you want the shade to be. 

Let it dry for a few days.

Then peel off the tape. There are some flaws, I know, but I'm pretty pleased that my tired doormat has been given a face lift.

It remains utilitarian for the years to come. 

That's how I turned an old doormat from blah to TADA! 

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A Homemade Gift Bag

Hey there! 

When wrapping presents, I rely heavily on gift bags because it's time-saving. Just put the gift inside, top with colorful tissue, seal the opening with tape, and attach a gift tag with handwritten wishes. The gift bag is also very forgiving no matter the shape of the gift. If the gift bag remains in good condition after it's opened, it can be used to wrap a new present...TADA! 

I used to buy these gift bags...you know, the ones with the cute designs? But now I make them using recycled wrapping paper, empty shopping bags, plastic bags or brown paper bags, and empty food boxes or tissue boxes. Why buy, when we can D.I.Y.? 

I have a "how can I repurpose this?" mentality. Take this for example: once all the chocolate chip cookies were consumed, I didn't have the heart to throw away the packaging. Instead, I turned it from "blah" to "TADA!"

All I did was cover up the branding with paint. I chose a shade closest to the existing vibrant green of the original packaging. It only took me two coats of paint (with some drying time in between).

I made some balloons out of a paper punch and scrap paper.

Then I glued the balloons to the bag. Some balloons were raised for added dimension -- I used foam adhesive circles to achieve that.

Then I drew some string using a black pen.

I added a little tag with a fun salutation.

I should really celebrate because I instantly made a gift bag with materials that I already had on hand...TADA!

Just add a gift and personalize with a card. We didn't even need tape because of the built-in wire closure mechanism of the bag. 

It is my greatest hope that this gift bag will be used over and over again!

Thank you for your visit and please celebrate the simple joys that come your way this week. If you'd like more of these crafty blog posts sent directly to your inbox, please subscribe here.

Wreaths from Oatmeal Lids

I am so glad you're here!

Do you like oatmeal? It's a staple in our pantry and we like to eat it for breakfast in the form of overnight oats. I also like it as an ingredient in baked goods -- as a topping for homemade bread, an oat crumble for cobbler, or as oatmeal cookies.

The recipe on the back of the lid is an old reliable. 

I try to buy the oatmeal in bulk (from the warehouse club) and decant it an empty oatmeal container. For a time, I've had several empty oatmeal containers so I challenged myself to turn them from blah to TADA! 

In the past, I made the empty oatmeal container into a gift box... 

And even as a headband organizer.

Here is another idea:

This is the oatmeal lid. I cut out the paper portion leaving this plastic ring.

I wrapped some green yarn all around the ring. I knotted the yarn ends and tucked the tails for a neat finish.   

And just like that, I made a basic wreath from an oatmeal lid...TADA!

But what is a wreath without the flowers? Let me present a few options:

Option Number One: flowers that I made with watercolor.

Once dry, I cut around the flowers...

And attached them to the wreath using a glue gun...TADA!

This can easily be hung on a nail or hook to add some bright garden vibes in your space.  

Option Number Two: crochet flowers. 

I made a few crochet leaves, too.

Then I attached the crochet flowers and crochet leaves onto my wreath, also with a glue gun. It does have a shabby chic vibe, don't you think? 

Here's what it looks like hanging on a door...TADA!

By using different craft techniques, we were able transform something meant for the trash into something we'll treasure for a long time. And since Mother's Day is on May 8, maybe you can make something similar for your Mom or a special mother-figure in your life. Your thoughtfulness will turn her day from "blah to TADA!"

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