Anybody fans of Tetris, that classically addictive puzzle game. How about bringing that love out in your decor. Abigailscraftshowto.com has a tutorial for a Tetris style organizer, perfect for craft supplies or cosmetics. It’s made from one of my favorite craft materials, cardboard. And just think of the possibilities, you can arrange the pieces in so many ways so no two organizers would look alike, plus you can make one for just about any size space. That is the point of the game after all, to squeeze as many of the blocks into that tiny little space. Most have of us have already been doing that with our stuff, only not so effectively.
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Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Bedroom: Check
You can see that I made the curtains the same way as the the ones in the bathroom (see Bathroom: Check). I think the view from the outside of the house looks better when all the curtains match. I will show you what I mean when I finish the other rooms, or at least a couple more.
I used this bluish gray scrapbook paper for the walls, I thought it would look good with the blanket and rug. I cut a small, long strip and flipped it over for the border at the ceiling, it’s actually there to hide some mistakes I made with the paper. You can see I decided to used the small free standing art pieces instead of some of the larger pieces I made, it keeps the look simple yet pleasant.
On this side you can see I hung another piece on the wall next to the wardrobe. I thought it was too bare without something, plus the running children are adorable. I should also mention that the floor is painted instead of covered like the bathroom was, I used brown painted mixed with white to hopefully give it the look of hard wood flooring. I love wooden floors, I just wish we had some here.
Here’s the complete room in all it’s splendor, it does look lovely and very tidy. Just wait until it gets used, it probably won’t stay so clean. :)
Here’s the updated list:
hangersbedmirrordresserskirtpocketlampnight standwardroberugframed artcurtains
Saturday, May 29, 2010
For the Love of Thrift
My title says it all. I found a fabulous site, TheThriftShopper.Com, for those involved with thrift stores, either by owning them or by shopping at them. I’m a shopper for now, but I think it would be so cool to run a thrift store, that is if I could manage to spend that much time in one without wanting to buy something. Anyway, this site let’s you search for thrift stores in your area using their national directory, and you can post in the Shopper Forum about your experiences and post photos of your finds in the gallery. Thrift store owners and operators can advertise and post in the Thrift Industry forum and learn more about running their stores. Either way, there’s plenty of fun to be had if you just take a look.
Friday, May 28, 2010
The Walls are Covered
These are simply pictures cut out from various magazines and glued onto cardboard from a notepad, then Mod Podge was applied to seal them. The two smaller ones were made to stand on their own, perfect for side tables and dressers. I love the cut little Cat Women poster, I wonder if it will match the decor? Actually I haven’t yet decided which ones will be used for the little bedroom, I could always save some for the other rooms or for current ones. I think the heart clock would look cute in the bathroom. I will have to decide on that later. For now, I can enjoy how cute they all are.
Here’s the updated list:
hangersbedmirrordresserskirtpocketlampnight standwardroberugframed art- curtains
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Snug as a Bug
Here’s the updated list:
hangersbedmirrordresserskirtpocketlampnight standwardroberug- framed art
- curtains
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The Lion, the Witch and the…..
Here you can see the roomy interior. Yep, I can definitely fill this up with tons of little clothes. Can’t wait for that. I used a bamboo skewer for the clothing rod. I just jabbed it through and applied a dab of glue to keep it in place. Of course the skewer had to be cut down to size to fit, and now I have to figure out want to do with the rest of it. Don’t want to waste it, I know I can use a bit for the curtains on my list, but what else? Hmmm.
Here’s the updated list:
hangersbedmirrordresserskirtpocketlampnight standwardrobe- rug
- framed art
- curtains
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Night Necessities
I made the night stand in a similar manner to the dresser, cardboard pieces glued together then painted and sealed, etc. Again the drawer is fake, it is extremely difficult to make a working drawer that small. The lamp is something I am quite proud of. The base is made from a piece of cardboard and three different beads glued together. I mixed some blue and brown paint for the color and painted and sealed it before gluing on the shade. The shade is made from a piece of recycled paper from a note pad I won in a drawing at the library. The paper was just the right color and weight for this purpose. Just think, with these the bedroom is more than halfway finished. Can’t wait to see it finally all done.
Here’s the updated list:
hangersbedmirrordresserskirtpocketlampnight stand- wardrobe
- rug
- framed art
- curtains
Sunday, May 23, 2010
There’s Something in My Pocket
So here’s the solution. I cut off the back pockets from a pair of jeans and decorated them with trim from a shirt I got years ago from a nearby discount store. The shirt was only 50 cents and cuter without the trim, so no loss.
Here’s what makes them removable. I sewed on a pinback to each pocket. I can pin them on to just about anything I want, then remove or move them around whenever and however I want. Pretty nifty right?
While I was at it, I made this mini one with one of the front pockets. I trimmed it with some lace instead for a subtle touch. I think this one is more versatile because of it’s smaller size. I may even wear it as a pin or brooch just for the fun of it.
Here’s the updated list:
hangersbedmirrordresserskirtpocket- lamp
- night stand
- wardrobe
- rug
- framed art
- curtains
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Shirt to …..
As promised in my shirt to dress post (See Talk About a Shirt-Dress), here’s something that can also be made from a shirt, a skirt. I found the tutorial here at instructables, although in the tutorial they used a flannel shirt for warmth. I think here in Arizona I would have no trouble staying warm. I used a cotton men’s shirt that I salvaged a few months ago. It wasn’t too hard to make, although I found the fitting part in Step 3 to be awkward. When I finished it, it was fairly long on me and I could have left it as is, but I decided to cut it down to a mini and hem it. Now I have a cute little skirt that works great in most weather conditions, what’s not to love.
Here’s the updated list:
hangersbedmirrordresserskirt- lamp
- night stand
- wardrobe
- rug
- framed art
- curtains
Friday, May 21, 2010
History Lesson: Root Beer
I don’t actually drink carbonated beverages, they burn my throat. Still, I have been rather curious about the history of them, especially for root beer. I did a little rooting around (get it, “rooting”).
Apparently, it was introduced during American Colonial times along with some other interesting beverages including Birch Beer. The root beer managed to stick around for a while, there are even historical documents which show 18th century farmers brewing an alcoholic version of root beer for family get-togethers and other events.
In 1870, an unknown pharmacist came up with a recipe for root beer using juniper, wintergreen, spikenard, pipsissewa, sarsaparilla, vanilla beans, hops, dog grass, birch bark and licorice. Even though the pharmacist offered the drink to the public as a cure-all, it was never marketed or well-received for that matter.
Around the same time, Charles Hires, another pharmacist, was on his honeymoon when he discovered an herbal tea he was apparently fond of. He took the recipe home to Philadelphia with him and he started selling mixes for it to the public. He later developed a liquid concentrate blended together from over 25 herbs, berries and roots. The public loved it, and thus commercial root beer was introduced to the public in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. By 1893, the Hires family sold bottled root beer, sealing their place in the drink’s history.
The key ingredient to root beer is sassafras root. In 1960, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the use of sassafras oil, labeling it a carcinogen. Not long after the ban, inventors discovered that sassafras could be used if treated to remove the oil. The industry was saved.
Today, root beer is made from a mixture of flavorings, sweeteners, carbonation and a large number of herbs and oils depending on the brew, bottler and manufacturer.
My Source: http://www.essortment.com/all/historyrootbeer_rhnc.htm
Update: My original source of information left the face of the internet. :( Luckily this wikipedia article on root beer is alive and well and very informative.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
A Mirror to Check, A Drawer to Fill
I finished the dresser and mirror just now. I said I would have it done by Wednesday and I just barely made it. I used pieces of cardboard glued together and painted them a lovely dark brown. I used the same color as the bed too, nothing like matching wood furniture. I do like how the streaks from my paintbrush give it a “woody” look. I whipped up the matching mirror with cardboard and aluminum foil, the foil is a little rough though. I finished them both with a coat of sealer and some small beads for drawer pulls. The drawers aren’t real, I cut pieces of cardboard and glued them on to look like drawers. Maybe someday I’ll make working drawers, if I work on a house in a larger scale than this one.
Here’s the updated list:
hangersbedmirrordresser- skirt
- lamp
- night stand
- wardrobe
- rug
- framed art
- curtains
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Talk About a Shirt-Dress
Ever on the search for new craft projects to try, I’ve noticed a new classic project emerge. The shirt to dress conversion, usually made with a men’s button down shirt.
I’ve listed some of my favorite versions of it here:
- Cubic Dreams—This one is a cute strappy one made from an extremely large men’s shirt, good for those who are very tiny or have huge husbands or boyfriends.
- Just Chic—This one is more on the whimsical side, I think it is so adorable, I’m not sure I could pull it off though.
- FaveCrafts—This one is really simple and girly at the same time.
- Ruffles and Stuff—This one is for you’re little girl, it is quite sweet.
Don’t forget to check back this weekend when I show you something else that can be made with a men’s shirt. Look forward to it.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sweet Dreams
I finished the little bed for my dollhouse, so at least they can get some sleep in there. Actually this is the second one I made. The first one looks exactly like this one except larger. Too large in fact, that one was around “standard” doll house size, my house is considerably smaller than “standard”. I gave that one to my Mom and quickly made this one. Of course it is made of corrugated cardboard like all the other furniture. I cut the pieces, glued them, then painted with a lovely dark brown paint and coated with sealer. The mattress is made from another piece of cardboard that I covered with fabric. Finished up with a couple of pillows and a quick little blanket. It looks great in the room, still have a few more pieces to make though.
Here’s the updated list:
hangersbed- mirror
- dresser
- skirt
- lamp
- night stand
- wardrobe
- rug
- framed art
- curtains
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Quite a Day and Something to Hang On To
Anyway, I managed to whip up a few hangers using ornament hooks. It is remarkable how many uses I have found for those little bits of wire, they are cut just the right size for so many projects from jewelry to miniatures. All I had to do was twist the ends together just right, then shape the rest of it to look like a hanger. They are just the right size for my doll house, but I think it would be great to make some fashion doll sized ones too. I would need larger hooks though.
Here’s the updated list:
hangers- bed
- mirror
- dresser
- skirt
- lamp
- night stand
- wardrobe
- rug
- framed art
- curtains
Friday, May 14, 2010
More Goodwill Friends
Today I had an interview for my externship, at a great little animal clinic in Gilbert, AZ. I think it went fairly OK, except for the fact that I was almost 30 minutes late. After I got off the bus, I accidently went the wrong way. I had to call and tell them I was lost, what a great first impression.
On the bright side, the place is conveniently located across from a Goodwill location I hadn’t checked out before. Oh the goodies I did find.
Each of these baggies hold two Bratz dolls in near perfect condition. Priced at 2.99 each, they were quite a deal. You’d pay almost that much for the shoes alone, especially considering how hard it is to find the shoes. I am only keeping two of them, my mom wanted the rest. She still hasn’t mentioned what her plans are yet, I think either she wants to sell them or give them to her grandchildren as gifts. It’s funny, the one with the green shirt and short plaid skirt looks like the girl on NCIS. That is one of my mom’s favorite shows. Maybe she will keep that one.
I also grabbed a bag with various ribbons in it. It was half-off at only a dollar. I love the printed blue trim with the lacy edge, I think it would be great for making more headbands. I’m not sure what I am going to do with the big blue wire-edged ribbon. I am bound to think of something eventually.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
New Start and Some Shout Outs
I had some trouble coming up with the new list. But thanks to the help I got from a few individuals, here it is.
Craft Project List #7
- hangers
- bed
- mirror
- dresser
- skirt
- lamp
- night stand
- wardrobe
- rug
- framed art
- curtains
A special thanks to Tess, Grace, Bethany, and Julie for their help. Please show some love to their blogs.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Help Wanted
I still haven’t finished making my new project list. As a possible project, I was thinking of finishing up another room on my cardboard dollhouse (see Home Sweet Home and Maybe a Campout). I’ve already finished the bathroom (see Bathroom: Check), I just can’t decide which room to do next. How about some help deciding? The choices are:
- The Living Room
- The Dining Room
- The Kitchen
- The Entry Hall
- The Hallways
- The Garden
- The Master Bedroom
- The Attic/Storage Room
- The Extra Room
Which do you think I should do? By the way, the “extra” room is a room that I haven’t yet decided what it should be. I’ve thought of making it a nursery or sewing room, maybe a library or den. Think of it as an other.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Dressed to a Tee
But back to the important stuff, I finished the list.
I used an old polo shirt from high school and a some fabric from a rummage sale for the skirt part. I didn’t listen to the advice from the tutorial about using fusible interfacing, I’m paying for it now.
Beyond that, I think it came out okay. It has a loose fit to it that I find very comfortable, and it’s sleeveless making it perfect for warmer weather.
While I was at it, I decided to make another one using an old long sleeved shirt I got as a gift when I was about 12 years old. It strangely still fits me, I haven’t grown much in the past decade.
Anyway, I cut off the sleeves and neckline using pinking shears and left them like that because I thought it looked pretty. I used this fabric I got at Goodwill more than a year ago. I have more in a darker shade of blue. Again on this one I forgot about using fusible interfacing so it looks weird where the shirt meets the skirt. Still, it does look pretty and didn’t cost me a dime to boot. That’s the best part.
Here’s the updated list:
Nine done, and all is well. Can’t wait to start my next list.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Signs of Amusement #2
Anyway I saw this while walking to class this week.
It’s a delivery for a local store, and as I’ve always thought they are packing stores with use-less stuff to try to get us to buy them. Actually in this case it’s “un-usable” stuff. Hey, it made me crack a smile.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Cardboard Decor
I carefully cut and glued together multiple layers of corrugated cardboard to form the frame, then painted it with blue acrylic paint and applied a sealant to make it look finished. I carved a little slot in the back to use to hang it on the wall.
Of course a frame isn’t complete with out something to frame, right? I got the idea for a silhouette with glitter from this tutorial on Naughty Secretary Club. I made it on this cute piece of scrapbook paper and outlined the butterfly with fabric paint. Simply done and it really makes a statement. Does it send the right message though?
Here’s the updated list:
Pillowcard braceletcharm necklacenetbook sleevedoll swimsuitbum bagsleep maskpicture frames- dress
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Organizing with Cardboard
On that note, I have found a few ideas for organizing your craft space and possibly the rest of your house using one of my favorite materials, cardboard. It’s cheap, readily available, and easy to work with and mold.
So here are links for your convenience:
- Cardboard Scissors Holder—Paper artists rejoice.
Cardboard Small Parts Organizers—Good in small drawers.- Cardboard Cubbies—They’d be handy everywhere, I could use some for my closet.
- Paper Storage Cube from Boxes—Obviously for paper, but also for kits and stuff.
- A Simple Cardboard Drawer Organizer—Could be for sorting fabrics and remnants or for your socks.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Moms Need Sleep Too
This wonderful yet simple sleep mask is perfect for my mother. She tends to get people bugging her with stuff while she is trying to sleep, what mother doesn’t?
I used scraps of purple fuzzy felt and a soft white t-shirt to make it both fun and comfortable. I decorated it with sparkly fabric paints. I guess I could have written something else on it instead of “Do Not Disturb”, but it does fit her to a tee. It’s the closest thing to putting a “don’t bug me” sign around her neck, and I know she will love it. Oh and don’t worry, she doesn’t read my blog so the secret isn’t out yet.
Here’s the updated list:
Pillowcard braceletcharm necklacenetbook sleevedoll swimsuitbum bagsleep mask- picture frames
- dress
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Fresh Baked Goodness
I had been breathing in the glorious smells of baked goods from that place for months and only just recently decided to go in to check it out, I should have gone a long time ago.
They have a decent selection of natural breads and other bakery items at comparable prices, but they frequently discount them to 2 for $1. Granted these are items close to their sell-by date, but they are pretty soft and fresh tasting despite that. And these are normal sized loaves and some of your fancier breads too, they have this kind of cheese bread that I love. I tried it once and went back the next day for two more loaves, luckily they were still 50 cents each.
Also the people working there are pleasant and the other shoppers are nice too. The only drawback is that the place closes by 2:30 pm, but something nice tends to happen about 1:00pm on Wednesdays. It may happen on other days of the week, but I have only witness it on a Wednesday so I’m not sure. I’m not telling what it is, you will have to see for yourself. Surprises await.
1/27/2016 Update:
Since originally posting this, Alpine Bakery has moved down the street from its original location. It is now on Southern Ave. just a little east of Country Club Dr. on the North side of the street next to an appliance outlet. The place is much nicer and the bread is still just as heavenly and affordable.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Draw! A School Update
He’s name is Sysco and I drew blood into a syringe from his cephalic vein, without passing out! I wasn’t even nauseous, well maybe a little. I guess forcing myself to watch it being done all these months really paid off.
In case it isn’t obvious to those who haven’t been following, I’ve always had a thing about needles and getting shots. The thought of being at the other end of the needle seemed so far off, until now.
Just think, if I can handle this maybe I can handle other scary things, like giving blood. Whoa! One thing at a time. For now I’m glad, maybe I really am ready for anything.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Another Crafty Question
My sewing machine in only about 3 years old, still a baby. It is a pretty basic model. I’ve used, or shall I say borrowed, older machines in the past, and the only difference I’ve seen is the older ones have more stitch variations and accessories, at least among the ones I tried.
I was wondering if anyone else has had a different experience when comparing older versus newer machines. I’ve heard a lot about the durability of older machines, not to mention the aesthetic appeal. But I guess whether your machine is older or newer isn’t as important as how well it works for you and for what purpose you use it. And I know mine is working just fine for me.
1/27/2016 Update:
Six years since originally posting this and I'm still using the same sewing machine which is now almost 10 years old. I'm afraid it's showing some wear and tear and working oddly. I've found ways to work around the oddness to still sew, but I think it will need to be serviced eventually.
The problem is that is will likely cost more to service than it cost to purchase my machine. I originally bought it on Overstock.com for about $60 including the shipping. I've actually seen many machines from the same brand with slightly better features for the same price. Do I upgrade or not? And if I upgrade what do I do with my old sewing machine?
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Speaking of Uses for Jeans
I decided to make a decent sized one because I have a tendency to carry a ton of stuff wherever I go. Frankly, my jeans aren’t large enough to accommodate my needs, so I used a pair of my Mom’s. Don’t worry, she gave them to me, she wore them out completely.
Here’s the updated list:
Pillowcard braceletcharm necklacenetbook sleevedoll swimsuitbum bag- sleep mask
- picture frames
- dress