Posted in crafts, Journal, tagged Cara L Johnson, easy crafts, easy recycling, homemade crafts, recycled crafts, recycling crafts, recycling ideas, upcycling on April 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
It’s fall here in Brazil, we’re getting colder at night and still I just can’t accept it. With Easter just a week or so ago I can’t seem to reconcile myself to this side of the Equator. So in my home it’s spring and we’re making little pastel houses and decorating eggs with vintage trim.
The little houses are upcycled cardboard with vintage lace. I’m still at work on the birds who will live in these sweet little homes.
Posted in Ideas, tagged cheap crafts, children clothing, easy crafts, penny-pinching, recycling ideas, reuse, reuse ideas, thrift store, upcycle, used clothing on September 22, 2008 | 2 Comments »
I’ve been evaluating my daughters clothing, we bought her some things to grow into back when we were in the states and Thrift Stores were plentiful. So I thought that I could do some repairs and improvements and give her little wardrobe more of a boutique feel.
Posted in Journal, tagged easy crafts, recycled art, recycled crafts, recycled plastic, recycling boxes, recycling crafts, recycling packaging on September 4, 2008 | 2 Comments »
I’m working on a new banner, it’s my favorite theme right now. This banner is made up of stars and a little bit of free-form poetry. Over a year ago my daughter got a Piggy bank in a really nice clear plastic box, up until last week I was storing quilt blocks in it. They have a new home and the box was too nice to waste. So I cut some star shapes, sanded the front and back to help the paint adhere, and had a lot of fun with some of my toys.
Ah, the vindication of a pack-rat.
Posted in Ideas, tagged birthday party, brazilian decorating, brazilian party, easy crafts, easy decorating, easy recycling crafts, recycling, upcycled crafts, upcycling on August 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
upcycled fabric banner
Here in Brasilia there are lots of parties, fireworks break the silence most weekend nights, and sometimes even during the week. The parties are loud and they go on until dawn begins to break. It’s amazing how long and often these Brazilians party.
A past weekend our neighbors began preparing their home for another all-night fest, and while I was dreading the noise until the wee hours I was envious of the decorations. Along the front fence and then into their yard were meters and meters of banners. The banners consisted of little pastel and fluorescent colored squares on a thin string. They were all colors and when night fell the addition of just a little light made them really pretty. The best part was that then they took them down and used them for a party on the following weekend.
We’re going to get ourself settled enough to have a party at the end of October, so I’ve been upcycling some of my thrift store clothes into cloth banners to do up our yard. I can’t wait!
Posted in Journal, tagged ATC, easy crafts, flash cards, recycled craft, recycling crafts, travel crafts, upcycling on May 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
So I’ve been writing about what I’ve been doing to keep my hands out of trouble as we travel and here is the first little collection of my Flash Card art. Read the Tips for more info.
Posted in Ideas, tagged crafts for kids, easy crafts, recycling craft, recycling crafts, recycling ideas, traveling crafts, upcycle crafts on May 12, 2008 | 1 Comment »
I wanted to share some of the things of learned as a ‘traveling crafter’. I’ve been vacationing and my crafts have been limited to one duffle bag. I struggle with this as I really like to spread out and I’m afraid I’ve been spoiled to have a whole room in the last 2 years.
Necessity being the mother of invention, I wanted to share some of the things I’ve learned:
Posted in Everything, Ideas, tagged book review, easy crafts, recycled craft projects, recycling craft, thrift store shopping, upcycle, upcycle crafts on April 10, 2008 | 1 Comment »
I bought 49 Sensational Skirts last week after two weeks of ‘thinking’ about it. I do a lot of thinking on Amazon… it’s good they have that feature that let’s you review the purchase about 4 times before any sales are final. I don’t know how many times I’ve gone to step 3 and then decided that I just wasn’t ready.
I love it, I think the author is my kinda gal. She does some amazing things with thrift store clothing and has some great and fun ideas for making your own kind of skirt out of a ‘find’. Her ideas are really fun, some very sophisticated some that are very costume-y
The pictures are wonderful, I am so drawn to a book with great pics. Inspiration happens as you thumb through this one. She has great ideas with found items, fabric strips, some basic stitching. It’s wonderful. There is a simple pattern included in the back envelope as well.
Posted in Journal, tagged cutting down a tshirt, cutting tshirts, easy crafts, recycled tshirt, recycling crafts, recycling ideas, recycling tshirt on March 31, 2008 | 3 Comments »
This is me in my birthday suit… ha! did you really think this was that kind of blog?… yeah, it just isn’t. My birthday suit featured a new hat, courtesy of a recycled pink t-shirt. I cut the shirt down to 2″ wide ribbons and then ran a stitch up the tiers to make a hat cylinder. I closed it up and ta-dah it’s a hat. I think the little upholstery badge is very fetching.
In case you were wondering, yes… I am turning 25, again *wink*
Posted in Ideas, Journal, tagged easy crafts, recycling craft, thrift store shopping, upcycling, upcycling crafts on March 31, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Ok, if you haven’t visited yet, please go check out Etsy this morning. Etsy is a marketplace for handmade crafts, so it’s much better than the other E-named marketplace. Many cool people, many cool things. Besides the listing fees are a bargain compared to that other E-named site. I am so impressed with the sweater purse I saw in this morning’s featured Treasury.
Etsians (I think I’m using that right) log in and make their own treasury submissions and the Etsy team selects treasury collections to display on the main page.
I love sweaters repurposed as purses, new clothing, or birds. I thought that this cute little grey sweater made for a soft sweet bird. Anyone have a cool sweater item? Send me some e-mail and I’ll post your cool photo here!
Posted in Ideas, tagged antique trim, charms, easy crafts, hand made charms, recycled projects, recycled upholstery, recycling crafts on January 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
I’m trying something new, things here on the blog are suffering a bit – I’m so sorry about that 
My big excuse – I am getting ready for a craft show here in the DC area 
I’m really excited, it is a Valentines theme show and I am totally into making hearts and birds for the show. I’m taking pictures of everything I can’t wait to feel like it’s all ready for display. More to come!
