May 29, 2013

Vertical gardens




If you think you don't have enough place for gardening, you are wrong. There are very creative ideas how to make your own vertical gardens. There are, of course, industrial products and design, but I prefer home made projects.

Tutorial for this  project I found on DesingSponge – it looks very easy to try. I planned to do it couple of month ago but didn’t have time and haven’t found the pallet or something similar until recently. I will post steps and updates of growing plants soon.





Another great tutorial for similar project, using picture frame.






This project I found on Community gardening. Although Lenny Librizzi who run project, declared this experiment unsuccessfull, I found it very interesting.  At least, it seems to me as a very good idea, may be some improvement needed. But it is good to learn something new even if it didn’t turned out as we expected.




This is example and a great tut how to make something completely different if you are creative - this garden was made using shoe store and some hangers.





That is my favourite one - ugly wall turned into picture. This project is made by  the crew behind Calanthe Artisian Loft, a homestay in Melaka, Malaysia… 






Recycle plastic bottles and make a garden.








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May 27, 2013

From toolbox to mail box





Old wooden toolbox was lying in our garage for years, hubby didn't use it but also didn't want to get rid of it. But when I decided to upcycle it, he didn't have a choice but to agree. In my country elelctronic invoice is still not so popular and implemented and I am getting number of envelopes each month from utility companies, banks, telcos. Needed something usefull to sort them.


'Before'






Toolbox was rather shattered, but I liked the size and the partitions. 


Tutorial how I upcycled the toolbox


Material and tools:

- acrylic paint black
- acrylic magnetic board paint
- sanding paper and orbital sander
- three new hinges
- brushes
- decoupage paper and glue










First step was, as usual, to dissemble pieces - this time just the cover from the box. After that i sanded the box and the cover to clean the old paint.







Minor damages I repaired with acrylic filler and sanded again.






After two coats of black acrylic paint I used magnetic board paint for the inner side of the cover. Frankly, I expected a better magnetic effect after three coats of the paint. Flat magnet (used the one for fridge, in the right corner on the photo) was adhered rather well, some other didn't. Nailed new hinges to fasten cover tot the box and project was finished. Nothing difficult, but I am happy I have mail box now to sort my mail.






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May 19, 2013

Side tables makeover





Once upon a time they were ugly twins and then decided to take facelifting and continue to live separately. I got these two pieces our acquaintances decided to get rid of and recognized the opportunity at once. it was just the small table I needed for my printer and another one for my son's room.


Tutorial how to makeover side tables






This is how tables looked like 'before'.





And this is their look after makeover.


How to do makeover


Material and tools:




- usual suspects (sander and sanding paper, filler, primer, acrylic paint, roller and brushes, transparent varnish for the protection) plus some additional things for decorations (decoupage and rice papers, thin brushes and acrylic paints)




As usual, sanding is the first step. I am using orbital sander, it is great help. Started sanding with sanding paper grade 40 and continued with paper grade 80.







Tables were in rather good shape and just minimal corrections were necessary to be applied (using filler). After that, I applied one coat of primer. 


Drawer 'before'




Drawers inside are usually hidden, but I like to refresh hidden parts as well, so I applied primer and paint for the complete drawer.





After primer, applied three thin coats of white acrylic paint using roller. This was the process same for the both tables. After that, additional decoration was, of course, different.






For the 'printer' table, I used rice paper for the legs. First, made pattern to be used for legs,  then cut the pieces from rice paper and glued them using decoupage glue. For the drawer, I used tape and stencil and decorative acrylic paint.





This is my 'office' corner with the printer table.









To decorate drawer I used tape to protect tne white part and colored the stripes using colors - blue, red and green as used for the legs.





For the surface, I used decoupage paper and glue.



When finished, I put two coats of transparent varnish (satin) for the protection.


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May 13, 2013

Wooden pallets - endless ideas

  It is amazing to me how rubbish could be turned into treasure. Wooden pallets are certainly the (hidden) source of a thousands creative ideas and projects - to acomplish some of them you need a little bit more practice and tools, but some are so simple yet astonished.  Here are some projects I found the most interesting. 

Source and tutorial for this sofa is scraphacker.com .





 DesignSponge is one of my favourite sites - I found there tut for this beautiful vertical garden.





Source for this interesting pallet fence is Camelot art creation.



You need to be more experienced crafter to make this chair   from pallet, but consider it as a challenge. I have to confess, usually ask my hubby to make more demanding carpentry work for me.


 This awesome shelf is certainly for beginners, just need to get the pallet. The source is fuckyeahbookarts.tumblr.com .



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Apr 22, 2013

Vinegar - the King of the green cleaning



 It's the Day of the Earth today which reminds me on the cleaning and all those chemical we are using instead of the natural, inexpensive (and biodegradable) distilled vinegar and soda (sodium bicarbonate). It is amazing how those product could help us  - and I don't have issues with eyes, nose and breathing any more when cleaning the bathroom.
So, for our beautiful planet, think about suggestions below.





Windows




Make a mix of half water, half vinegar and few drops of biodegradable dishwasher detergent, put it in sprayer (optional). Spray the window, wash it with cotton rug and dry with old newspapers. Believe me, and I tried everything, this works.









Tap scale



Put a small amount of vinegar in a plastic bag and   fasten it with rubber band on the tap - the base of the tap should be completely covered with vinegar. Leave few hours (or less if there are not so much tap) -  vinegar will dissolve the scale that will fall to the bottom of the bag.




Drain cleaning



 Once a month put the soda in the drain, pour vinegar and leave few hours then rinse thoroughly with water. Repeat if necessary.





Oven cleaning



This is my favorite tip. For years I used intensive chemicals and struggled to wash them well and get rid off nasty smell always feraing that the food will be poisoned. Nowdays, I am using soda nad vinegar. Mix soda with water to make a pasta and coat the oven with it. Leave this for a few hours, then spray it with vinegar and leave it for a while. Afterwards clean and wash with warm watter and kitchen sponge.
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Apr 17, 2013

Furoshiki - multipurpose cloth



Saturday mornings I am  usually spending in the city center visiting  shops  and going to the green market. This is time just for myself.
Bookstores are at my focus, I love reviewing new books, particularly crafts and art related. So, one Saturday I came across the book about furoshiki. First second: What's this? Next (and all others) second: I looooove it! And I still do. It is so simple yet so multipurpose, not to mention that I love scarfs.

What is Furoshiki?

Furoshiki (originated from japan) is wrapping cloth used for carry things or wrap gifts. It is easy to wrap anything of all shapes and sizes, make purse or use it as a  scarf. And if you don't need it at the moment, just fold it and put it  in pocket. As we are approaching the Earth day (April, 22nd) it is good to notice that furoshiki is enviromental and excellent way to avoid plastic bags.

So see some photos and visit original site where you can find a lot of tutorials how to wrap the cloth.



Photo comes from this site



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Apr 10, 2013

From jeans skirt to the bag tutorial





Finally I found some time to finish the tutorial for this bag. I really love it, which is not always the case with my projects. 






Jeans skirt I came across during wardrobe clean-up was perfect for this  project. First, I made some decisions about basic bag design and size - decided to use the overall upper part of the skirt as it is - with pockets and zip,  determined the lenght of the bag, taking into account the bottom width and chose not to sew the lining. This was the easy part. 






Afterwards was the time to think about patches patterns and decorations. My cats helped - they are always around, together with the dog (when I am doing something) 'assisting' - steeling cloth or lying on the fabric. 






Two cats -   and the main theme was chosen. Found cat figure on the internet, print it, cut it and draw it on the fabric. 






Fantom (vanishing) pen I found very usefull in a number of my projects - on the photo above the smaller one. I used it on this project as well. The beauty of this pen is that you can use it as any other pen, but the ink vanishes after few hours or if you apply acrylic paint or water.






Sometime ago, spotted this colorfull fabric in the shop and bought it - it gives me various opportunities in my projects as  different parts/colors could be used. For this bag chose mostly green color, it is spring, isn't it.







To fix pattern on the bag I use two-sided fusible web  (meaning adhesive is on the both sides). First, copy the pattern on the paper side of the fusible web and cut it off.  As I ironed it first on the fabric chosen for the pattern, had to take care how to (in what direction) draw it on the fusible web.





Finally, ironed the pattern on the skirt to fix it to be easier to sew it with the zig-zag stich.



For the filled cat head, draw a pattern on the fabric - cca 1 cm bigger  than on the main pattern and cut two pieces  off as well as the eyes.






Fot the eyes used the same process - ironed it on the two-sided fusible web and then on the fabric.






Sewed the eyes with the zig-zag stich and whiskers using regular stich.









Sewed two parts leaving a small hole at the bottom - this helped me to turn over the fabric on the right side and to fill the head with the sinthetic filling. Drew the eyeballs with the pen for the fabric. Sewed the opening at the bottom and fixed the head on the skirt. 



Made as well another head. 





Similary made a filled paw.

Used metallic pen for fabric for the additional decorations - whiskers and dots.




Now it was time to sew the bottom fo the bag and to achieve the bag width, made this triangles.






For the bag handles I cut off strip 10 cm wide, used one-sided fusible web and sew it.







Add the belt found in the market for cca 5 $ and the bag was ready.

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