License Plate Birdhouse

Paint to the rescue, old lampshade/new look

I cleaned this old lampshade as well as I could but some of the spots and stains just wouldn't come out.

I tried covering it with spray paint.

I started with liquid acrylic paints and a size 0 paintbrush.

A few basic brush strokes in red, yellow, blue and green combine to make this cheerful border.

I can't wait to see how it looks back on the lamp!

Recycled Catalog and Scrap Paper Greeting Card

Here's a look at the finished project:

I started with one of my old drawings but you could use a page from a kids color book or some clip art. Anything that's big enough to glue bits of catalog pages to.

I found it easiest to glue things is the right places and then cut my finished design out making any changes along the way that I needed to. I ended up changing the shape a bit in order to get the petals from the garden catalog pictures to fit.

Next, I looked for card stock and paper pieces big enough to make a card out of.

Painted Sewing Machine Cabinet, upcycled, recycled and new again

Her's a blast from the past. As I was sorting through things in the studio corner of my dining room I "found" this picture of a sewing machine cabinet that I did for a friend back in 2000. As far as I know she's still enjoying it and using it.
Aside from sanding and painting it I replaced all the knobs with wooden spools to go better with the sewing theme.
Yes, I grabbed some scrap paper and will be adding it to a note card for my friend. Who knows, someday it might matter who designed and painted it so this photo may come in handy and I sure don't need it here.
I seldom do furniture anymore and if I did I'm sure I'd move on to other themes and styles.
I'm glad I got a chance to share it with you too.
The other thing that's interesting about this is the fact that I've been decorating furniture since I was a little girl and got in trouble for it more than once. It may have slowed me down but it never stopped me.
I just love to make things better and brighter and I never stop trying...who knows, I just may give it another try someday...

Solving a problem and making people happy

Here's an update on that recent upcycle/recycle idea I had for a broken Christmas garland:

After I'd gathered all the materials together based on that catalog photo it occurred to me that each of the finished ornaments would have a hole in the bottom of it.

 For some people that would have been a problem but made them perfect for a friend of mine that had been making beaded Christmas tree and angel earrings.

 It will allow her to give ornaments to everyone in the family that doesn't wear earrings.

Now they'll all have a keepsake made by their Mom, Grandma or Great Grandma and I make a bit more progress sorting things out around here and finding useful things to do with them.

Here's the beginning picture again:

I'll ask her to shoot some photos of the finished products and let you know how many ornaments she was able to make from all of this.