14 November 2021

Salt Dough Pendants

Hey guys!

Last year, I made these little pendants out of salt dough:


I added one-word greetings using alphabet stamps and an ink pad.


They found their purpose as embellishments for gifts...TADA!


I made a few more pendants. But instead of using tinted salt dough, I painted them with several coats of acrylic paint.  


The stark black reminds me of a chalkboard, a blank slate, ready to be written on.


Here's how I turned them from blah...

...to TADA!

They are now keychains that I can give as tokens for the coming holidays.


I wrote the names with acrylic paint and a fine brush and let it dry for several minutes. 




I added jump rings to each pendant and attached the findings with the help of some pliers:






I am proud of my handmade and personalized presents, ready to be given away...TADA!

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07 November 2021

Earrings Crafted from Paper Bag Handles

Crafty recycling is what I love to do on this blog. We can find materials everywhere and instead of chucking them in the bin, why not find a creative way to use them?

Let's take for example these paper bag handles made from cord:


I removed them from the bag and just by cutting, sewing, and dressing them up, they have new life as earrings:





Experiment with thread, findings, beads and baubles to create different looks as I've detailed in a previous post. What was "blah" is now "TADA!"


I rescued this white cord and here is how I transformed it...


I already had all the materials in my sewing and jewelry-making kit...TADA!


I hope this inspires you to make jewelry out of the most random objects. 

Happy crafting! If you'd like more "blah to TADA!" ideas delivered straight to your inbox, you may subscribe here.

31 October 2021

Treasures from the Trash: A Side Table

Thanks for stopping by today!

I don't know if it happens to you, too, but I stumble upon free furniture all the time -- on the sidewalk, in the compactor room of our apartment building, and sometimes even on Facebook.

Here is my most recent find:


It's a cute side table.


I didn't take it home with me because there's really no room for it. But if I did, I would cover the glass in painter's tape and paint the legs in a matte gold. I would let the paint dry, take off the tape, and it would look something like this:

1stdibs Side Table - 1970S Brass Square Top French Mid-Century Modern Glass
via first dibs

St. Germain Side Table - Tables | Serena and Lily
via Serena and Lily

2-Tier Square Bamboo Side Table with Glass Tops – Gold Leaf
via Scenario Home


Just a coat of paint will instantly turn this little table from blah to TADA!

It can be a nice update for the bedroom:

via Pinterest
Scandinavian Glam Bedroom / Minimalist Interior, Gold Side Table - RG Daily Blog
via RG Daily
14 Contemporary Bedroom Ideas That Will Induce Sweet Dreams | Hunker
via Hunker

Just enough space to hold essentials like a lamp, books, a glass of water, and some decorative treasures.

It'll also be useful in the living room...

This timeless blue and white porcelain lamp is a beautiful addition on your table or desk.The subtly intricate pattern pops, and the classic shape with luxe, modern hardware make this a versatile piece fit for any space. | Caitlin Wilson
via Caitlin Wilson
Living Room Photo - A brown couch and a gold side table atop a patterned rug
via Lonny
7 Coffee Table Alternatives for Small Living Rooms
via The Spruce
See how easy it is to change out throw pillows and create a new look when you have neutral furniture pieces. It is fun to rearrange side tables too. This fabulous stone top table from HomeGoods looks amazing as a side table or small coffee table! Being able to rearrange furniture keeps your home looking fresh and interesting. Sponsored by HomeGoods #smallLivingRoomFurniture
via 2 Ladies and a Chair
Working as a side or coffee table.

And it can be a welcome addition for the balcony or patio:

Une décoration à la fraîcheur méditerranéenne pour une maison près de la mer - PLANETE DECO a homes world
via Pinterest

 I would use the side table in place of the wicker stool to park magazines.

NgLp Designs shares Things We Love: easy going weekends lounging in the backyard patio | seating and pillows | white and tartan decor | home decor | outdoor lifestyle | things to do on the weekend | White | #whitedecor #outdoorliving #rattanfurniture
via Pinterest

In this set-up, the side table can hold candles and drinks. 

Aménagement déco terrasse, jardin, balcon - Terrace, garden, balcony decorating ideas // Hëllø Blogzine blog deco & lifestyle www.hello-hello.fr #jardin #terrasse #balcon
via Hello Blogzine

The side table can also find a home in this cozy outdoor hang-out.

I hope you liked these ideas! And if you come across some old furniture, instead of tossing them, find ways to turn them from blah to TADA!

24 October 2021

Halloween Stickers

Hey guys! 

In a previous post, I made my own stickers:


Adhesive paper, rubber stamps, and ink are all I needed to create them.


I had some adhesive paper left over and I thought seasonal stickers sounded like a good idea.


And because Halloween is just around the corner, I brought out the creepy rubber stamps. 


I took out the watercolors, too, because the adhesive paper was looking very blah.


I randomly painted the adhesive paper, let it dry for several minutes, and this is what it looks like now...TADA!


Apply some ink to the rubber stamp, find a spot on the paper, and stamp away! 


Hmmm...I don't have a lot of Halloween-themed rubber stamps. 


Just a few spiders:



And here is an autumn stamp:


It's a pumpkin but you can, with a marker, add triangle eyes and a jagged mouth to make a Jack O' Lantern. 


Now, it's time to cut the stickers.



Trim the edges for an even square.


I like the two-toned colors in the background.


Here are my handmade stickers ready to be given away...TADA!  This would be a fun activity for a play date, too.

That is how I turned some plain sticker paper from blah to TADA!

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17 October 2021

Uses for a Cast Iron Skillet

Hi there! 

I was rummaging through my kitchen cupboards and found this: 


It's a tiny cast iron skillet. It was a holiday gift, a set that included a bag of cookie mix. I find it so cute! I can use it to serve "dessert for two" or a "dish for one" like a small pizza.  


In many families, cast iron skillets are treasured and passed down from generation to generation. They only get better with age and are a very good investment. These can easily be purchased in home stores and flea markets. For them to last many lifetimes, they have to be cared for: they have to be seasoned to achieve a non-stick surface and cleaned properly to avoid rust. 

I want to use my mini cast iron skillet as often as I can to maintain its condition. Here are some of the things I made:


Chocolate chip cookie a la mode - when I make cookies, I scoop them into balls. Half I bake and the other half I freeze. That way we don't eat too many cookies in one sitting, and if I need something sweet later on, I know there's some in the freezer. All I do is take what I need (in this case, one cookie), thaw it and bake it directly on the cast iron skillet. Then I serve it in the same skillet still warm (placed on a trivet so it doesn't burn the dining table) with a scoop of ice cream. And maybe sprinkles. And chocolate sauce. TADA! 


Dutch Baby Pancake - A Dutch Baby is crepe/pancake baked in the oven so that it puffs up into a cloud but deflates when it reaches room temperature. It makes a delightful breakfast and I like eating it with a squeeze of lemon and maple syrup. TADA!


Pumpkin Pie - the recipe I used yielded extra pie filling which allowed me to make this personal pie...TADA!


Corn Bread
- this recipe for corny corn bread are baked in muffin pans. There was some extra batter left so I baked the rest in this skillet.



It's a perfect side to a bowl of chili that we love to make during the winter months. 

These are just some of the ways I turn a forgotten cast iron skillet from blah to TADA!

Please share more suggestions on what I can make with this cast iron skillet and if you'd like to be part of my mailing list, please subscribe here

10 October 2021

Leaf Embroidery

Thank you for dropping by!

Today I am inspired by leaves. I stumbled upon the work of Hillary Waters Fayle, an artist who uses leaves as her canvas that she then embroiders to make "Botanical Stitchwork." Here are samples of her creations:

leaves, leaf embroidery, Hillary Waters Fayle, nature crafts, sewing crafts,  DMC thread, needle and thread, blah to TADA
via Colossal

leaves, leaf embroidery, Hillary Waters Fayle, nature crafts, sewing crafts,  DMC thread, needle and thread, blah to TADA
via Colossal

leaves, leaf embroidery, Hillary Waters Fayle, nature crafts, sewing crafts,  DMC thread, needle and thread, blah to TADA, Colossal
via Colossal

I am fascinated by how she makes beautiful things out of very simple materials and how delicate her process is. You can see more of Hillary's work on Instagram.

*****

Suddenly I am reminded of my "leaf stash." In the spring and summer, I collect flowers, press them, and use them for crafts. In the fall, I collect leaves:

autumn leaves, leaves, leaf embroidery, nature crafts, sewing crafts, old book, DMC thread, needle and thread, blah to TADA

I can't help but pick these up from the ground. I am attracted to their deep colors and graceful shapes.

autumn leaves, leaves, leaf embroidery, nature crafts, sewing crafts, old book, DMC thread, needle and thread, blah to TADA

I put them inside an old book to press them flat.

autumn leaves, leaves, leaf embroidery, nature crafts, sewing crafts, old book, DMC thread, needle and thread, blah to TADA

I keep them with no project in mind, just as a souvenir of the fleeting seasons and the passage of time. But Hillary Waters Fayle has changed that. It's time to try my hand at leaf embroidery:

pressed leaves, autumn leaves, leaves, leaf embroidery, nature crafts, sewing crafts, old book, DMC thread, needle and thread, blah to TADA

pressed leaves, autumn leaves, leaves, leaf embroidery, nature crafts, sewing crafts, old book, DMC thread, needle and thread, blah to TADA

pressed leaves, autumn leaves, leaves, leaf embroidery, nature crafts, sewing crafts, old book, DMC thread, needle and thread, blah to TADA

pressed leaves, autumn leaves, leaves, leaf embroidery, nature crafts, sewing crafts, old book, DMC thread, needle and thread, blah to TADA

This was a fun way to use my found leaves and thread remnants from previous embroidery projects. The leaves that were extra dry were challenging to sew because they would crack when the needle went through. But I liked the graphic element that the embroidery added.

pressed leaves, autumn leaves, leaves, leaf embroidery, nature crafts, sewing crafts, old book, DMC thread, needle and thread, blah to TADA, inexpensive art, framed art, framed leaves

The embroidered leaves can be framed and be turned into inexpensive art work...TADA! It's also a memorable keepsake when using leaves collected from travels.

That is how I turned some plain leaves from "blah to TADA!"

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