26 October 2020

Gift Clips

I hope ya'll are doing well today!

You may have seen these mesh sacks before. They are bags used as packaging for garlic, onions, and lemons. Not wanting to throw them away, I turned them from blah to TADA!

I made them into gift clips...TADA!

Let me show you how:

I cut off the ends where they were pinched together.

I folded the mesh in half.

Then I cut them into two.

I stacked them together.

Next, I gathered the mesh at the center and sewed it in place. After a few stitches, I made a tight knot to keep the thread from unraveling.

I fluffed up the ends to make it look like a flower in bloom.

 
I painted some wooden clothespins (paint it in any color you want or don't paint them at all).

Then I attached the mesh flower to the clothespin with hot glue and let it dry for a few minutes.

Then I added some color in the form of pompoms (also attached with hot glue).

You can also stick on some small toys.

Or buttons.

Or a crochet heart.

Even wooden beads!

Today, we recycled some mesh, rescued some odds and ends, and made charming gift clips that instantly transform a brown paper package from blah to TADA!

And I hope that whoever receives these gifts will keep recycling the gift clips in the future.


19 October 2020

Another Pouch with Iron-on Patches

Thank you for visiting me today! Several years ago, I turned a plain pouch from blah to TADA!

hot air balloon, orchid, Margarita, Par Avion, Cappuccino
It's a linen bag that I decorated with iron-on patches purchased from my travels. I kept adding patches on both sides, I already ran out of space.

So here I am with a new pouch.

And a lot of patches that I've collected for new crafting projects.

puppy, monogram C, heart, sailor
I chose these patches and decided where to position them.

puppy, monogram C, heart, sailor patch
Then I secured them in place with a hot iron.

puppy, monogram C, heart, sailor patch
It's a sassy storage solution for crafting materials. Or make-up. Or tech gear like phone chargers and ear phones.

puppy, monogram C, heart, sailor patch
Just to dial up the cuteness, I added a zipper pull...TADA!

puppy, monogram C, heart, sailor patch
Maybe you have neglected bags at home? Why not give them new life with patches like these.

puppy, monogram C, heart, sailor patch
Wishing you a great day!

12 October 2020

Cards for Baby

We all have relatives and friends expecting babies at some point in their lives. And to celebrate such a blessed occasion, I thought I'd make some greeting cards.  

Greeting Cards for baby's arrival
The idea came from these plastic safety pins that I found in my craft stash. They were decorations used at a baby shower I attended. 

Greeting cards for a new baby
I gathered some supplies like cardstock, scrapbook paper remnants, scissors and glue to create this:

Greeting cards for new parents
A friendly rubber ducky to welcome baby's arrival! 

Greeting cards for new parents
I used the safety pin to enhance a cute flag. These are all held together with hot glue.

Greeting Cards for a new baby
On to another card. Same materials with felt, needle and thread added.

Greeting cards for a new arrival
I made this onesie and diaper out of the white felt. Notice the safety pin as an accent?

greeting cards,plastic safety pins,rubber ducky,handmade cards,watercolor,paper crafts,baby shower,uses for scrapbook paper,baby,blah to TADA,felt diaper,felt onesie,
A thoughtful note and a sweet gift are all that's needed...TADA!

05 October 2020

Trying My Hand at Jewelry Stamping

Many times, I see something at the store that I really want to buy but I decide to wait until it goes on sale. That's my overall attitude with things that I like but don't need. 

I had my eye on this craft kit and every time I was at that store, I would check if the price went down. Well, after a year, it finally did!

Here's what's inside:

Pendants and chains, metal alphabet stamps, a stamping hammer, a stamping block, vinyl tape, pliers, and a practice blank.

The very first time I tried the kit, I made a key chain:

Brit & Co metal stamp a necklace kit, jewelry craft kit, crafts
I practiced on a metal circle from an old piece of jewelry. I taped it to the stamping block using washi tape. This kept the metal ring in place and acted as a guide so that my letters were straight. 

Brit & Co metal stamp a necklace kit, jewelry craft kit, crafts
I chose the word "Grace". It's a powerful word that means, "elegance of form" and "the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God." 

Brit & Co metal stamp a necklace kit, jewelry craft kit, crafts
I attached it to a metal key ring recycled from an old key chain...TADA!

On my second try, this is what I made:

"Love" on a flower charm.

This time, I used a trivet made of cork to minimize the noise when hammering. 

I used they vinyl tape to keep the charm from moving around.

I started spelling the word from the center outwards instead of the traditional way of first letter to the last.

This method helps space out the letters evenly. 

I used a light hand when hammering and the letters still came out.

I then attached the charm to a hook clasp...TADA!

On my third attempt, I used these: 

They are stamp blanks reminiscent of military dog tags. 

I stamped on "Be not afraid" that can be a reminder in challenging times.

I'll keep practicing and tell you about my new creations in a future post...TADA!

28 September 2020

Trash to Treasure: A Door

How are you guys today? In my neighborhood, there's always some kind of construction going on. It's quite blah because the old houses are being destroyed in favor of two-family homes. They are taller (three to four stories high) and more modern. They look sleek but lack a bit of soul.

That's also the reason the trash bins will contain this:

Old doors! With a little bit of sprucing up, this door can still be used. If only I had storage space, I would take it home and re-purpose it. 

Here are a few ideas:

VintageDoorUpcycle5
via The Cottage Market
Turn it into a shelf for books and collections.

via Architecture Art Design
Use it as a bed frame (the built-in lamp is a pretty detail).

If you are looking for an entryway table for your home, click over to check out this easy tutorial on how to DIY a repurposed entryway table from an old door.
via My Creative Days
Transform it into a hardworking shelf for the entry way.

via Pinterest
Or a potting shed for the backyard!

Need a desk ASAP, or looking for a way to squeeze another workspace into your home? Most of these desks are so simple to assemble, the inspiration image alone is all the how-to you'll need. First, pick a base—wood or metal sawhorses, storage cabinets, and trestle legs will all do the trick—then select a work surface, such as plywood or plexiglass. (Just be sure your base is sturdy enough to support the weight of whatever top you choose). Put the two together, and you have a desk you can assem...
via Apartment Therapy
Add legs or trestles and the door can become a desk or dining table.

Just like that, an old door can turn from blah to TADA!

21 September 2020

A Decorated Gift Box

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

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Feminist Gladiator - The Atlantic
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!