Just a Blink » diy

The Chair is Blue

Jessica — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:53:21 +0000

5 minutes of sanding, 1 coat of primer and 2 coats of spray enamel later…

DIYers, Did you know you can sand off loose rust with a sanding block? Who knew?

I Been A-Junkin’

Jessica — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:02:54 +0000

Bliss = an hour in the my “studio” with super glue, paint and my new paper cutter. Dreaming up ideas for respurposing discarded items is a lot of fun.

I had a dream last night that Leonardo DiCaprio was yelling at me for cluttering up the garage. So. Wierd. I guess, if just plain old anybody is going to yell at me, it might as well be Leo. I digress.

Okay, I said I’d include some before and after photos!

Here is a before photo of a paned window that was missing one piece of glass.

Here is the after.

Here is a before of a ledged window piece of wall decor.

Here is the after.

Tonight’s project…

To paint it bright red or powder blue that is the question!!??

Love,

Jess

Tiered Plates

Jessica — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 04:03:40 +0000

The Junk Market is only a few days away!

Tiered cake plates are ready to sell.

Wanna do it to?

Gather or purchase plates, vases and candle sticks.

Glue them together with E6000 industrial strength glue.

And there you go!

Add brownie bites and appetizers or seasonal home decor…like a bunch of red Christmas bulbs or Easter eggs.

Love,
Jess

Tied Knot Heart Hanger

Jessica — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:20:46 +0000

Re-purposed Clothing

This week I was inspired by a craft club blog called, Crafts in Bloom. The author gave out the project assignment to use old clothing to create something beautiful and new. (click here to see the club’s results)

I chose to make one last Valentine’s project. I used Ryan’s old shirt (he wore in his first school photo) and Molly’s old sweater (no special meaning, just had a hole in it).

What a fun way to keep the memory of Ry’s shirt without having to hold onto it in the attic!

Love,

Jess

Jump Ring Necklace

Jessica — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 06:37:56 +0000

Valentine-ish Pendant

This week I was inspired by a blog called Craft-Werk (Sonja from Dublin, Ireland). She posted a tutorial about using recycled earrings (the lonely single earrings from all the lost pairs) to create pendants. I so happened to have some lonely broken bead type “junk” laying around.

Feeling justified here for keeping every single piece of old or broken jewelry item dating back to 1997.

Here is my version of Craft-Werk’s jump ring necklace.

Lovely, isn’t it? I like the part where it’s free. Free, of course, when you already bought a few bead making supplies, earrings (in the first place) and/or a silver chain. Those things were on-hand for me this go round.

Anyway, loop stray sparkling beauties hiding in the bottom of your jewelry box onto your favorite chain! They will thank you for showing them off!

Love,

JEss

Nursery Wall Decor – part 1

Jessica — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:02:14 +0000

I had so much fun with thrifty decor in the kids’ new room. All 4 kids in ONE room…twas a challenge. The room looks a lot like summer camp meets a tea party (lots of beds and lots of cuteness).

I plan to leak out bits and pieces of their room over the next week or so.

Diaper Table Wall

The white shelf was a rescue from a friend. She was in her car on the way to the donation center when I spotted the shelf. I literally reached through the passenger side window of her car (while standing in the street & chatting after MOPS) to snatch it for my own.

Since I am not a “fabric arts” gal, I don’t have stock piles of beautiful fabric lining my craft shelves in neat, colorful rows. But, I did have an old pink washcloth that I was willing to sacrifice for my cause.

Ahhh, gotta love the Dollar Store. I lined scrapbook paper in these cute little $1 frames, then added a 3D sticker to the outside of the glass. I embellished the hanger with a red ribbon and viola! Cuteness.

I stole these BABY blocks from the toy box. Free. Easy. More cuteness.

Changing 15-20 diapers a day goes a lot more nicely with such sweet little things to look at by the diaper table!

Love,

Jess

Ice Sun Catchers for Winter

Jessica — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:37:09 +0000

Outdoor Decor on the Cheap

How To:

Arrange citrus slices, cranberries, evergreen sprigs in a brownie pan or muffin tin
Add warm water (enough to cover the items in the pan)
Plop some twine in the warm water (creates hanger)
Freeze pan of water outside or in your freezer
Place pan in a bit of warm water to loosen the ice block
Hang outdoors and Enjoy!

Love,

Jess

Joy Sign Tutorial

Jessica — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:33:00 +0000

I *Heart* empty frames. The transformation power is limitless.

Here is what I did with a pitiful oak 8X10…

Staple a sturdy ribbon to the back of the frame. (this will become the hanger)

Hang and enJOY!

Love,

Jess

Merry Days & Silent Nights Tutorial

Jessica — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:14:41 +0000

So many good things start with the phrase, “So, I had this old sign from a thrift store”, don’t they?

Here is a good example…

I also clipped the huge raffia bow and wire hanger off of the sign.

Just as I was feeling proud that I was showing Molly about the alphabet…she stole sips of my pop because I was too busy taking blog tutorial photos. Opps!

Add the sign as a backdrop for a Christmas vignette. It adds a lot of color and a festive message without spending a fortune!

Wishing you Merry Days & Silent Nights!

Love,

Jess

P.S. My nights are a bit more silent as the twins (Claire and Leah, 2 months) are starting to sleep through the night more often! Yeh!

Picture Frame Wreath Tutorial

Jessica — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:34:03 +0000

Season’s Greetings

I made a new wreath for my front door using an old picture frame, old ice skates and old garland. Using items from around the house, attic and garage to create new decor has been a necessity for me because I have a tight non-existent budget for projects. I use my blow money (Dave Ramsey envelope) on craft junk…which I usually spend at the thrift store. I am a bit obsessed with collecting “trash” to play with for homemaking. Someday, I may actually spend my blow money on coffee, c.d.s or makeup but for now I just love, love, love shopping a thrift stores.

I digress, you want to see the wreath now, I’m sure.

Now, just picture this “wreath” on a red door. Delicious. (I have to stick with white due to my association)

Tutorial

Find an ugly, tired frame and tell it to come home with you. Sooth its worries by explaining you will make it into something beautiful.

Do a little surgery to remove all the old hardware.

Give it a facelift with some spray paint. I had Krylon Ivory on hand. I didn't really bother doing primer because most of the frame will be covered with garland (and I didn't have any on hand).

Staple a garland onto the frame with a staple gun. Tug on the garland occasionally to make sure it is on securely. If not stable, add more staples.

Add wintery accents to at least two edges/corners of the frame. You can go "all out" on trimming, faux greens, feathers, berries, pinecones, etc. I kept this wreath's accents pretty basic and simple.

Tie the ice skate's laces to one another. Hang them from the top of the frame. I popped in a red Christmas floral pick ($1) for a little color.

So there you have it…go on…I know you are already thinking about raiding your Mom’s garage or the nearest thrift store for an ugly, tired old frame.

Love,

Jess