Go Green Western Theme Centerpieces

We had a Live and Silent Auction Dinner at the kid's school last Saturday.  It was so fun!

Beer bottles, old shirts, patterned paper, and twines

I helped out in creating vases for the centerpieces.  I used various recycling materials for this project and sent a few samples out.  The school staff loved the samples and varieties.

Cans, brown bag paper and patterned paper

I had a few retired stamp sets that are Western theme.  I used them along with old shirts, cans, bottles, brown bags, burlap rice bags, jeans and kid's toys.

Snapple and Starbucks bottles, old shirts, patterned paper, etc.

I had some Western theme patterned paper given to me by a friend.  Thanks, Eloisa!  Of course, I never forget to use the punches for a little cowboy punch art.

Pickle and coffee jars with burlap bag, old shirt and jeans.

Frog Magnetic Bookmarks

Yesterday, I've shown you Ryan's gifts for his classmates and teachers and the instruction for the bookmarks here.  Today, I am showing Jake's choice.  He decides that he wants frogs on his bookmarks since his class theme this year is Fully Responsible, Organized, and Growing (F.R.O.G.).

He wants to do it all!  So he stamps, punches, and colors all the images.  I just have to re-stamp some of the images with shadows.  Since it's more of a Spring theme, I decide to use {friend to friend} for his friends and "thank you" for his favorite school staffs.  Yes, he is very considerate with this!  All the stamp sentiments are from Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set which fit perfectly into my little projects.  The frog was from the Turtle & Co. (retired) stamp set.

The bookmark snaps closed around the page with the magnets.

When you give a 5-year old a chance to do what he wants, things won't be perfect and he will make himself unique!  I am OK with this as it sure speeds up the process with little helping hands!

The kids are on Spring Break starting tomorrow so have a very happy Easter this coming weekend!  Yeah!

Danee

Everybunny Chick Bookmarks

I can't hardly believe it has been a 100 days since my Dad passed away and I miss him so much!  My Mother-In-Law has also become ill recently.  Please say a little prayer for them for me.  Thank you!  My youngest son, Jake, is so thoughtful and reminds me that Grandpa loves rosemary and tangerines.  So he picks the tiniest tangerine from our garden to bring it to the cemetery.  How cute is that?

Let's get start with today's project.  I told the boys that we have to start making gifts for their friends for Easter.  This year, I am making magnetic bookmarks that I got the idea from Julie here because every Spring break, the kids have a Read-A-Thon from school.  I like the idea that these bookmarks snap close around the page.  The boys get to choose a stamp based on Easter or Spring theme. 

Ryan selects the chick from Everybunny stamp set.  He has done a great job at stamping, punching, and coloring.  After coloring a few images, he said that he got too many classmates and asked me to finish it up for him. :)

I get to reuse and recycle expired calendar and advertised refrigerator magnets that I no longer need.  My brother also gave me a whole sheet of advertised magnet he got at his auto shop, too.  So there were plenty for both Ryan and Jake's classes!  Each magnet is cut into 1" square and made sure that they are place on the right polarity by turning the top magnet around until it's stuck hard to the bottom magnet.  You really need to do this step right, trust me. :)  I also use the Coloring Coach for these great dynamic dual colors:  Rose Red/Regal Rose and Baja Breeze/Not Quite Navy along with the Daffodil Delight.

I cut my card stock into 5-1/2"  x 8-1/2" and score at 2-3/4" on the short side.  Then I trim it down to 2-1/8" before I run it through the Big Shot with the Two Tags Die.  Line up the fold in the middle line along with the large tag to cut.  You get 8 bookmarks per sheet.

Have a great day!

Danee

Upcycled Glass Jars: Homemade XO Sauce

My husband loves XO Sauce!  We used to buy it, but it was a little bit too pricey and we stopped.   A few weeks ago, my friend Angela brought over some and my husband sure enjoyed it so much again!  So we decide to make them.

I clean out these containers and reuse them.  We soak the dried squid, dried shrimps, and dried scallops. We put them and the Chinese pickled radish through the Magics Bullet to grind them up. We then add dried pepper flakes and garlic and stir-fried all the ingredients together.

 
I love the Hoop La La stamp set as it reminded me of my Home Economic teacher, Mrs. Lin Crow, from 7th grade.  I learned how to cross stitch with her.  She was very kind and caring for me and my younger sisters as we were getting adjusted to the new country.  I am not sure if these kind of classes are being offered any more!  Anyhow, I decide to use the cross-stitched heart with XOXO image for the sauce.

I generate the "Homemade Sauce" labels using MDS, print them out and stamp the image in the center.

Have a lovely day!

Danee

Upcycled Glass Jars: Butterfly Oasis

These wide-mouth glass jars were Almond Butter and Salsa jars!

I got this idea from Crafts Unleashed.  After pruning our trees, I got a couple of sticks and hot glued them down on a traced (around the jar) cardboard and glued down some mosses to cover the cardboard.

I cut the butterfly (using DSP) with the Beautiful Butterflies Die, wrap a piece of colored wire around the butterfly, and add either pearls or colored rhinestones to the body of the butterflies.  I also wrap the wire around a wooden skewer for the butterfly antennas.

I sent these Butterfly Oasis to the kid's school for the WCEA team members to enjoy as one of their centerpieces.  Aren't they beautiful?

Have a beautiful day!

Danee

Upcycled Baby Food Jars

I got a few baby food jars that I saved.

I clean them thoroughly before proceeding to the next step.

I add baking soda to the baby food containers.  I cut out a piece of fabric with the largest Scallop Circle Die, add a rubber band to hold it in place and then tie a nice ribbon around it.  Now I can place it in my freezer or fridge to take care of the odor and still look nice! After a couple of weeks, I will refill them with a fresh batch and use the old baking soda to clean my sink and drain.  There are hundred ways to use baking soda.

Let me know what you think.  Have a nice day!

Danee

Upcycled Disinfecting Wipe Containers

I will be posting some different upcycled and DIY projects to use at home.  I found the idea to organize the grocery bags on Pinterest.  They come in really handy as we no longer get them from our grocery stores any more this year

I re-use the Chlorox and Lysol Disinfecting Wipe containers and remove the labels.  I prefer the Chlorox containers as I don't have to do the extra step of cutting the inside out so it would not rip the bags.

I cut 2 pieces of DSP for each container:  7" x 12" and 7" x 2-1/2".  Glue the paper into the containers using Modge Podge. 

I also create a couple of stamped labels and seal the DSP and labels with 3 coats of MO.  It will be clear when it's dried.

I folded the bags in half and line up the handle on top of the bottom of another bag and roll (the bag on top).  The last bag's handle is folded to the side for the pull out.  I get more than 20 bags in one container.  I put one in each bathroom to line up our trash can and one in the car.  Lately, I found myself using them when I go to the grocery stores because I forget to bring my re-usable bags!

Can you "Imagine the possibilities to make it better?"   "It" is being our world. 

Have a great day!

Danee