DollarStore Key Holder Makeover

Here's a quick little makeover. . . .
I found this key holder at the Dollar Tree

 

and turned it into this. . . .

 

A little Mod Podge and paper dressed it right up :)

Freezer Paper Stencils. . . Fun Stuff!!

Have you seen these yet?
Stencils you can iron on made from freezer paper?
I have seen a lot of people doing them lately and had to give it a try.

 

I printed out an image and then traced it onto the 'paper' side of the freezer paper, cut it out, and ironed it on to a tank top for my little Magoo. (The tank was on sale at WallyWorld for a buck. Score!)
I used the 'synthetic' setting on my iron which is a medium heat with no steam. Then I litterally squirted some paint into the middle of the stencil and smeared it around with my finger. I waited a minute or so and then pealed off the paper.

 

I was impressed that even with a ribbed tank, the paint didn't bleed at all and the paper was super easy to pull off of the shirt!
I added some little spots and what-not to the frog and Magoo LOVED IT!!

 

This was really fun and easy to do. . . I think I'll have to start stocking up on blank shirts and do some for gifts.

 

The top looked a little naked so I added a dots around the neckline to finish it off.

You could use this idea for just about anything. . .
I saw a couple of people do it on canvas tote bags with spray paint, too.
Cute Cute Cute. . .

DollarTree Makeover - Bird Tealights

 

The glass tealight holders were glued in these puppies and they were in there GOOooOOOooD. I didn't want to risk breaking these while trying to pry them out so I just stuffed them with paper and used painters tape to cover all the exposed glass.

 

I gave them a couple of coats of Ivory spray paint and hit them with some sand paper to rough them up a bit.


Lucky for me, I had the little tan candles from a gift set someone gave me a long time ago and they went perfectly in the candle holder.
My little birds have a happy new home amongst my crazy "Bowl-O-Balls" :D

 

Confession: I absoulutely HATE birds. . . ask anyone who knows me. . .I can't stand them and I'm scared to death of the real ones. I honestly don't know why I thought these were so cute the other day. Hmmm. . . Maybe I'm having a change of heart about those horrid creatures. . . Maybe not.

Upcycled Soda Tabs

I saw these bracelets made from soda tabs the other day and wanted to give it a try.
They are easy and kind of fun to make. . .

 

You can make a belts too. My daughter was trying to count how many tabs were in my belt until I stopped her. . . I didn't want to know how many tabs WIDE I was. Hahaha

 

I used some pink ribbon for Magoo's and threw on a flower for good measure.

 

She loves to be my little model. :)

 

The tutorial I used can be found HERE.

Or. . . you could even make a purse like this!

 

The tutorial for that is found HERE.

Martha Stewart inspired Window Greenhouse

I am linking this to The CSI Project this week:)

As well as The County Chic Cottage's Window Party :D


I was totally inspired by Martha Stewart's GreenHouse window project.
Heres a picture:

 

I have a window in my kitchen that always grows the best plants but my silly dinning table is there. The table is usually full of whatever I'm trying to sprout at the moment so there isn't much room for everyone to sit for dinner. What a great idea to put some shelves in and stack the plants right in the window. (I use my sill now but there isn't much room. . . only enough for a couple of pots at a time)

Check out Martha's Greenhouse idea and tutorial here.

I really liked the clean look of the glass but didn't really want the headache and hastle of having the pieces cut and edges sanded. Plus, I didn't know if it was worth all the brackets mounted into the window frame or not. . .
Here's what I came up with as an alternative.

I used some old scrap wood that had been hanging out in my mom's backyard since last summer. (You can't complain about FREE. They were planning on hauling it away soon so I salvaged some just in time)
I measured the pieces to fit inside of my kitchen window. I was so proud of myself for actually getting the pieces cut right the first time and not losing any fingers in the process. . . . and WITHOUT any adult suprevision, I might add. hehehe.
This is the frame with a coat of primer on it.

 

It took a couple of coats of white paint to get the wood so it looked even and clean. . .even AFTER I had primed the sucker. (I also salvaged the paint from left overs my mom had from painting her house. Score!!)

 

. . . My neighbors probably thought I was a totally weirdo and taking pictures of them through my window. . .
They were standing on the deck and all I could do was giggle to myself imagining what must be going through their heads. It must have been about 11pm or so when I finally got the this up in the window and I was so excited it was done, I whipped out the camera to snap a few. . . in my fuzzy pink bathrobe and everything. . . hahaha

 

You can't really see it in the pictures, but the top of it is a little thicker and wider wood to make it like an awning. (a little decorative affect, I suppose)
I also added some 'rails' to give it more personality and to prevent the pots from tipping out. (I have cats and kids that like to knock things over so its better safe than sorry I suppose.)

 

 

Now all I have to do is wait for them to grow. . . thats the toughest part ;)

Here are is a close up on a couple of pots I painted and made the charms for.

 

This project barely cost me anything. . . the wood and paint were salvaged so all I was into it was a few nails and screws. . . plus a couple of planters to fill up the shelves.
Awww. . . . I love freebie projects . . . and Martha Stewart. . :)

Canisters. . . aka Boxes-O-Stink

Sweeeeet deal at the DI.
Set of 3 . . .Price $4.00

 

In my immense excitement, I failed to look closely. . .literally look closely and hold my face down by these. I got them home. . .snaped some pictures. . .started ripping them appart. . and then the SMELL hit me. . .

@#$&$%$#@$^%)^%^$#!!!!!!!!

 

These had some little plastic inserts and as soon as I pull them out, I figured out WHY they were at the DI and marked $4.

@&*#@^$%^%$!!!!

Seriously- The only thing I can think of is these were once used to store cat shi---. . . used kitty litter and vomit. Holy Smack!
I really considered trashing these stinky things but I knew they had potential.

Baking Soda. . . and time. . .

awww. . .much better.

The little glass pieces that were glued in the tops were el'gross-o too! I popped out those puppies out and tossed them right where they belonged.(the garbage dumpster)

After a little TLC (sanding and spray paint) on my fresher smelling little canisters, I added some chicken wire and they were complete. . . . almost. . .

 

 

 

I think these are going to need a little vinyl on the fronts to finish them off. . .


I found a sweet deal on etsy from The Artsy Nerd and knabbed some crazy cheap stars. (She was fantastic to work with. . . super quick shipping, too)

 

Saw-weeet. . . . :D

Chunky Wooden Magnets

These magnets are super easy, fun, and inexpensive to make.

Start with a chunk of wood and router out a place for a magnet.

 

I used a two inch wood circle, some small magnets I found at the dollarstore in a 10pk, and a 3/8" drill bit.
I didn't drill all the way through the wood. . .just enough to give the magnet a place to sit so it was even with the back of the wood.
I threw in a little locktite to make sure the magnet stayed put too.


Then comes the fun part. . . DECORATE IT!!

 

I painted the wood black and then Mod Podged some paper and embellishments on.

 

I think these fun little magnets are just what my little reminder board needed.

 

These are so entertaining to make that it won't be long until I'll need another board just to hold them all . . . hahaha.

WTH?

What the heck is this??

 

Besides a big, fat, rusted out mess??

 

Hmmmm. . . .
I don't know either.
It was in the bottom of a 'junk' box my mom ended up with at an auction. . . Blue Mule Auction of course :)

 

I still have no clue what this once was suppose to be but its a place to empty out my pockets and hold my keys now :)