Upcycle, upcyle

I love the first of the year. We can look at the old and start fresh. I must have been in that mood, because during January, I was attacking my jean stack making the old new.

I found a great tutorial, through pinterest, for the cutest apron. http://kimboscrafts.blogspot.com/2010/02/levi-apron.html

I followed her tutorial for the most part, but at the neck, I wanted a button, I wanted it to fit, but not pull on my neck (plus I really hate things tied around my neck, always makes me feel clausterphobic!)

And then I left the bottom with the original hem from the jeans.

My girls all want their own and so now I have a stack of their old jeans awaiting their aprons.

February, a new month, already!

I can't quite believe that February has snuck up on me. January just flew by. I think the entire month was spent with one person after another in our family being sick, but everyone is finally back to 100%, and as the mama, boy am I glad!

I did get several projects done in January. I had been given a very old, handmade table/cabinet. That had definetly seen better days. The doors were falling off, the back was missing. I spent a couple days putting it back together. I added a strip of wood, from our deck in San Antonio to the back that was missing. Totally got rid of one door. Sanded, stripped, primed, painted and added some turquoise knobs that I just love.

I also painted the inside white and added contact paper, for a little pop.

And, of course, I distressed, because that is always my favorite part. I really love this little piece and if fits so nicely next to my bed. I really should sell it, but not sure if I can part with it!.

Christmas 2012

This is the only picture I have of decorating our Christmas tree, because I was trying my hand at making a digital photobook and somehow managed to delete all my pictures of my kids hanging ornaments. I feel pretty sick about the whole thing, but hopefully I have learned and next time I 'create' a photobook I will be able to do it without losing my pictures.

The entire month of December was filled with the Christmas spirit. It was truly one of the best Christmas's that I can remember. We had secret santas come different nights and leave treats and presents

It was soooo exciting for K4 that he was a little bit scary! We got sweet notes, treats and so much more. He got a tent and tunnel this night and we set it up in his room and everyone has played with it for the entire month (I had to put it up when company came just before Christmas) but he has already asked for it to be put back up.


K4 is my first kid to go see Santa without running away screaming or in tears, so I want to just celebrate that here.

He is such a fun kid

Steve's birthday was quiet, but the kids love his tradition of giving them gifts on his birthday (he hates gifts, all gifts and almost always returns them!) and so they were pretty excited.

There is Mr. handsome himself. He even insisted he didn't want me to make a cake (he went and bought a cheesecake, just so I didn't have to cook) the kids loved that too!

K4 doesn't even wait for a fork! And he got that blue and black dinosaur and it has gone everywhere with him.

Steve managed to actually coral the kids before church one day and get their pictures (little hams!)

The biggest event we really had, was Dec. 22, 2012 at 6:30 pm, Steve decided the time had come for Mark to baptize him. On Saturday, two of my sisters and their families and my parents drove in and stayed the night, for the start of our grand adventures.

upcycled storage table

Did you ever have a piece of furniture that you inherited and just didn't know what to do with, but can't quite get rid of either?

Well, this is our piece, inherited from dearly departed Gramma Vic. She gave it to my husband years ago and it has moved everywhere with us; while fitting no where. This piece of furniture is heavy and was dark and the hardware had come off somewhere along the way.

It got booted to my craft room, when we laid new flooring last fall and sat there, in my way, for months. I finally decided I was going to do something with it. I  move it to the furniture, upcycle store (my backyard) and eventually got around to sanding it.

After that, I painted a coat of primer on it and once again, it sat waiting a final decision.



It took awhile, but I finally decided on a trendy turquoise...not because it's trendy, but because turquoise is my favorite color. With some distressing and new hardware, I finally fell in love.

Now my husband wants me to sell it, but I am really thinking it might need to go on my side of the bed as a nightstand.

upcycled tire planters

UPDATED VERSIONS:

 Sparkly Pink- cuz we all need a little glitter,even in the garden

 The Ladybug, this planter is so big, it dwarfs most of my little plants

 Purple Pansy

I just love the shape of this copper one!

 

A couple of weeks ago, someone dumped a lot of tires in the empty lot across from our home.

My wonderful hubby asked if there wasn't something I could do with them, because they were such an eye sore and he thought maybe I could use them as a planter and a ladder (because our children and the kids next door love to scale the brick wall and talk to each other.

Of course, once an idea is in my head I can't let it go and I never go simple. So I decided they needed to be cut and turned inside out. Just that easy right. When I looked on line there are not that many people who post about projects with tires. (if You do and I didn't see it I am sorry! I only have the patience of a 2 year old for researching something!) But the one post I found to be helpful is found here

http://www.wuvie.net/tireplanter.htm from Karen Manasco of Wuv'n Acres Gardens

I decided to use an old steak knife that we have had for years, drew a pattern with a red dixie cup for the petaled ones and just a straight cut for the others. I have not as of yet made a stepping planter for the kids to climb and us to plant in, but am having fun with these. Apparently they are the best thing to grow potatoes and tomatoes in this area. Lots of people have used tire planters before and a few people had grandparents who even cut there's like flowers, but no one here has seen them painted.

As for turning them inside out, Steve (wonderful hubby who groans when I get in project mode, but often is the reason I have a project - l this one is a perfect example) and I played twister for 20-30 minutes for each of these plus one more. I have now found out that most tire shops have a machine that will do this for you- you just have to ask! So when I decide to build my staircase planter, that is what I will do!

maxi dress

I am on a maxi dress kick right now. My girls have tons of t shirts that have stains on the belly or side, but the tops in great condition. I just can't bear to part with things that can be used- Take the red polkadot material above, probably from the late 70"s. I used it to make this maxi dress and have 2 more almost complete. I made cute little rosettes to pin on. The dresses are super light weight and have been a hit for church, since we have had blistering high 90s an 100s for the last few weeks and church is in the afternoon.! Maybe if I actually get the hang of this blogging thing I will put up a tutorial. As it is just getting a pic of the finished product and writing a blip seems to take so much time and I feel like I am using project time to post. Why can't I be superwoman and do it all??? Oh well, time to play with my kiddos.

Headboard from a bed

Here's our latest project- I saw an bed frame that had been abandoned and had been in my friends garage for the last 5 or 6 years and I just knew I could make a seat for our large flagstone patio. I brought it home and my poor husband just groaned and complained as it sat on our back porch for the last month. I really wanted his help- I can come up with ideas all day long and I can always picture the finished product, but he is the fundamental designer. He can see my construction flaws and can make anything work, if I tell him what I want, so my big projects are always a 2 man team.

He could not see my vision and was really dragging his feet, but I finally just dragged him out on Tuesday and put it together like a puzzle, so he coud see what I wanted. Between the two of us, we designed a system of interlocking wood using dowels, screws and brackets. So far this project has cost us.... Ready.... nothing. The bed was free and the 2 x6 were on a sidewalk covered in concrete from laying a foundation. I have 2 different sanders and have brought it all together- Even my 5 year old has been helping as she loves to feel the holes with wood putty and smooth them out. I will finish sanding, primer and some distressed paint and I am gonna have a winner! My hubby is so much happier with this project that I think he is willing to make some more with me! Yippeeeeee me!