New Stuff

Edited to link up to this linky party.

While Plumber Mike was here installing our new toilet, we also got a new kitchen faucet set-up. Yeah, evidently the 70s called and wanted their old one back. For the linky party, let me just add my sink area needs to be pretty utilitarian since the CatMan is the one that does the dishes and  he tends to be a little splashy with the water. One of the things you can not see in this picture is a little vintage towel drying rack that hangs up under the scalloped edging. I use this rack to dry plastic bags for reuse (just like my Mom does and Grammie did). I'm sad we do not have a window over the sink (one of the must-haves for when we own our own home), so that's why the picture hangs there. For more about making my kitchen sink area less scary, you can go to this post. Thanks for dropping by!

May I introduce you to Jac, our new Jacuzzi toilet. The base of this toilet is the most perfect thing I've ever seen. Notice there are no nooks and crannies on the base to clean? That, my friends, trumps white bread any day.

Getting creative with free stuff

This post is all about the free crafty stuff I created this week. The first item was a metal "J" hook I found in a parking lot as I was walking to get coffee. I actually saw the hook on Wednesday, but didn't claim it until Friday, just in case it was inadvertently misplaced by its owner. I toyed with the idea of painting it bright pink, but decided I would use it more if it was a little more neutral (I can always go back and spray paint it later.) A few twists of twine and I have a free, stylin' hook.

One day at work I was surfing some craft blogs and came across this site. Since I live on a lake, my access to driftwood is almost limitless. Our new toilet's tank cover is smaller than the old one which means the tray I had on top of the tank is too large. A coupla minutes and glue sticks later, I had a new rustic tray that blends with my other beachy bath bits.

I'm now inspired to try my hand a few more free craft tricks.

Otters bring the happy

The best-laid plans

I was really looking forward to having a few days off this month to accomplish my big to-do project: wallpapering our hall. I had the supplies and the manpower all lined up, unfortunately my 150 year-old walls had a different idea. *sigh* Not to worry - the walls will be recovered eventually in MDF paneling - I'm just not sure when that is going to happen.

However, I was able to finish another Christmas project: this is for my Bingo-crazy sister. Angela at Junk and Disorderly came through on the vintage Bingo game. I used spray adhesive to attach the cards to a stretched canvas, then used glue dots to attach the wooden game pieces. I painted the edges with a rust-toned red (to match the game pieces) and then Mod-Podged the whole kit and kaboodle. Total cost for the project: $12.00 (the game was $8.00 and I have tons of cards and game pieces left, the canvas was $4.00. Everything else was from my craft stash.)

Also from Junk and Disorderly is this great Viking Artline chair. My plan is to strip the wood and stain it a deep reddish brown, then recover the upholstery in a grey men's suiting fabric. What makes this chair a steal is the $12.00 price tag. Uh huh. Heck, I'll leave it covered in green vinyl for that price!

Decisions, decisions

I'm finally wallpapering my apartment's main hallway this weekend. I'm using the blog sensation - bead board wallpaper - which I am then going to paint. And because I'm crazy, I'm thinking about painting the ceiling a contrasting shade.


Oh it's so easy to plan, so hard to execute!

Getting creative - the 'more than one way to skin a cat' edition

So I haven't been able to post from home - Blogger hasn't been willing to load my photos. I finally had the chance this weekend to finish off a few things, so I sent all my finished object shots to my email and am uploading them here at work. Take that Blogger!

FO (finished object) #1 is a set of homemade Swiffer pads for a friend's birthday this week. I only had 'sticky' Velcro and I'm here to tell you that is NOT something Martha (my sewing machine) liked. At. All. Total cost: $8.00 - $2.00 for the towel upcycled from Goodwill, and $6.00 for the non-sticky Velcro. I only needed the 'non-picky' side of the Velcro, so if you have any projects utilizing the 'picky' side, let me know. I've got lots of it left.

FO #2 are hotpads based on this crazy coaster pattern. I made two sets - one for me and one for friends who just bought a house...a year ago. Yep, I know. I'm right on top of it. Total cost: $14.00 - $2.00 for the jean skirt upcycled from Goodwill, $5.50 for the thread (Coats and Clark Rayon Twist multicolored), $6.50 for the Insulbright lining. The hanging loop ribbons are from my stash.

FO #3: this little bottle has been beckoning me to buy her for several months. So this past weekend, I did. Then I gussied her up with a beaded necklace and a little gold piece from my grandmother's jewelry box. Total cost: $2.40 for the bottle. The cork and beads were from my stash.

FO #4 was a totally free project: the cardboard box was salvaged from work, the paper, ribbon, and upholstery brads are all from my stash. Right now, the box is housing all that &@#* Velcro!

FO #5 is proof that sometimes, upcycling isn't quite as thrifty as I hope. I've loved the "picture frame to tray" transformations I've seen around the innernets and thought it was high time to try it for myself. Total cost:$22.50 - $6.50 for the hardware (the handles and the screws/bracing bars on the back of the tray), $2.00 for the solid wood frame, $14.00 for the acrylic tray top, $0.00 for the Pellegrino foil lids, scrapbook paper, and the plywood for the back of the tray.