Christmas Craft Challenge

This past Christmas my husband and I went home to VA where my dad and two sisters still live. We took our RV and camped in Newport News Park and had everyone over (at one point there were 17 people!) to celebrate and hang out around the camp fire. My two sisters are wicked funny and love to gang up on me. (I am the baby….) They love my crafty stuff and decided to give me a craft challenge. I’ve never seen the food show Chopped, but the premise is that you are given certain ingredients and have to prepare a meal using all of them and any items from the pantry. Well….. my sisters gave me a gift box with several strange items in it and challenged me to create something using each item plus what I have in my own stash. I have had a blast putting this together. I like to think I am getting the last laugh on this one, though. I was able to make TWO pieces from everything so each sister is getting an original tacky art work by yours truly!! I will be terribly hurt if they don’t hang them up in a prominent spot in their homes. *cue wicked laugh*

Coat Hangers (or anything else you want to hang on them!)

I had some left over wood knobs from a previous project that I just couldn’t bring myself to toss out.  I had taken an old dresser (see earlier post) and recycled it into a bar for my husband.  I replaced the existing knobs for something more suitable.  I pulled the knobs out the other day and came up with a quick and easy project.  I took scrap wood from old pallets – cause I ALWAYS have pallets laying around, painted them and added the knobs!  Instant coat hanging for inside your front door or the garage, or even outside to hang garden tools from.

I painted the knobs different colors

the knobs were brown wood

here are all three all done

this one is a black/brown distressed finish

this one is a red white and blue beachy look

Hang ON and put your stuff here!!

the detail of the book pages

I used some Mod Podge to put some pages from an old Edger Allen Poe book on the scrap wood.

Seashell Lamp

I would see all these beautiful glass containers with shells in them at high-end stores and figured I could do my own version of one.  I found a lamp with a glass bottom and filled it with sand, at an angle, and then some crushed shells.  Next I selected some favorite shells from years of collecting on our Florida beaches.  I love the way it turned out.  I am thinking about changing the boring shade or at least painting/decorating it.  Not a big fan of white.

Bistro Bar Table

This is probably one of my husband’s (Joe) favorite projects of mine.  We have had this bistro table and chairs for over 15 years.  The table top has a slight lip on it so I found a round glass piece that fit it perfectly and then added a layer of shells from my huge stash of collecting.  It fits in perfectly with our beach theme bar and looking at the shells reminds us of all the great times we have had on our many beach visits.

Ottoman for our small den

We have a small den that used to have a huge coffee table in front of the couch,  you had to walk around it and it didn’t leave much room for our dog to hang out.  I love working with old pallets so I figured I could make the top with one and then add some legs, padding and fabric – wa la….. an ottoman!!  My corners look a little rough and it’s not perfect – but it’s perfect for us!!

I found a 27 X 27″ pallet for the ottoman base

I took apart another pallet to fill in the slats on the top and to put an edge around the sides

here is the finished base

I found a pillow that was the exact same size as the pallet. I took it out of it’s case and stapled it in the corners and then tacked down the batting all around and stapled on the bottom of the pallet.

found the legs at Home Depot and did a 3 step process to age them. I started with brown paint and then did a black dry brush, sanded it in various places and then applied a stain. And there you have it, aged legs!

There’s my husband all comfy on the new ottoma! I love the fabric and can’t wait to cover my old pillows with it and some contrasting colors.

Not perfect, but perfect for us!!! Sometimes that is all that matters!

Pet Bed

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I was on Face Book and saw a picture posted of a pet bed made from a TV set.  (not sure who to give the original credit to)  I just happened to have one up in a closet so I thought I would give it a try!  It’s not done yet, but I thought I would share what I have so far.

Planting Bed

Mason Jars and Vases

There’s no end to what you can do with Mason jars and old vases you have around the house.  I wrapped them in string, rubber bands and even tape – put about 3 thin coats of spray paint, remove the wrappings and TA DA!  On the vases I used two different colors that blended well together.  I love how they turned out.  I stuck some candles in them and they look beautiful!  The Mason jars go with us camping – just the right touch for the great outdoors.

Joe’s Bar

I wanted to build my husband a bar, but when I saw this great old wood dresser I decided to ‘reinvent’ it as the bar.  I painted it black and took out the two side drawers to add more space for larger itmes.  I used the door fronts to make a false door.  Then came a top coat of white and a crackle finish.  I love how it turned out and the hardware was the perfect finish.  Drinks anyone?!

Ladder Plant Stand

I had my husband take this from my neighbors trash knowing I would make something out of it!

This is the after! I screwed the pots to the rungs and planted them with a variety of Sweet Potato vines. See, Somethin’ from Nothin’!!