Easy Coffee Can Bird Feeders

This is one of the coolest homemade birdfeeders I've ever seen!

One of the best ways to observe nature close up is to put up a bird feeder, sit back and watch the birds in action.  They can be very entertaining!

Here is a recycle crafty project that will take something you usually toss away and use it for an awesome purpose.  Colorful birdfeeders hanging from the trees in the garden add so much color and great for the dormant season when there is a scarcity of color outdoors.

The birds will thank you!

Click here for the tutorial.

Fabulous No-Sew Pillows and Blankets

What an awesome and easy project with fabulous results!

This project is not just for the holidays and not just for new fabric.  

My mind is always on recycling every bit of clothing rather than tossing them away.

Great project for a non-sewer!

Click here to go to the tutorial.

DIY Painted Concrete Porch

For the longest time I've wanted to paint the concrete floors in the carport. The project keeps losing its place on the priority list, but after seeing this porch . . . that may change.

This porch was all done with paint and stencils.  How easy is that?  For me, the hardest part would be getting the floors clean since it is outside.

I'm totally impressed!

Click here to go to the tutorial.

DIY Mod Podge Paper Mache Lampshade

Yet another technique using Mod Podge!

I've loved the craft of paper mache since I was a little girl and still do!

My imagination is running wild with ideas for making jewelry components and all kinds of embellishments. The lampshade is very cool and opens up so many ideas for home decor.

Click here to go to the tutorial by Lakshmi!  Awesome tutorial and technique :)

Anthropologie Cenote Layered Necklace DIY Knockoff

Awesome inspiration!

If you make your own jewelry for personal use or professionally, you will love to make this awesome layered necklace.

You can make it out of components from vintage or used jewelry that is broken or just needs repurposing or purchase new components.

What I love about this design is that you can make a number of earring and bracelet combinations to match this necklace!  They would make a very cool jewelry collection . . . don't you think?

Click here for the tutorial from one of my favorite blogs, Flamingo Toes!

DIY Glitter Lips T-Shirt

Fabric paint can transform a plain t-shirt into a work of art even if you don't have the gift of painting freehand with the use of stencils.  

Simple fabric embellishment!

Anne of WobiSobi comes up with the coolest creations!  Her latest is fabric painting using a stencil and glitter paint.  Awesome technique!

Click here to go to Anne's tutorial which includes a template for the stencil.

DIY Printed Jeans

Fabric embellishment . . . one of my favorite things!

You would not believe how simple it is to create your own printed jeans.  

What awesome inspiration!  This method is not just for jeans . . . you can embellish t-shirts, fabric for purses, notebooks, canvas or tennis shoes . . . there are unlimited projects this technique can be used for.  

Click here for the tutorial.

No Sew Tie Dye Kimono

Look at what you can do with an XL t-shirt!

Of course you don't have to do the tie dye since the design of the shirt is so awesome :)  Love this design!!

Anne from WobiSobi.com shared her tutorial for this awesome Kimono on ILoveToCreate.com.

Check out her blog for more inspirational designs and techniques . . .

I have also included this button on my listing of favorite blogs for future reference!

Floral or Citrus Ice Bowl

If you are into unique food presentations, this one is for you!

I've never seen anything like this . . . very cool and unique.

The tutorial has a list of suggested uses for the ice bowls.

Click here for the tutorial!

Upcycled decorated storage bin

Look at what you can do with an old unused storage bin!

This is what it looked like before . . . 

It is amazing that with a little imagination, hardware, scrap cloth and trims or whatever else you come up with, you can turn something plain like an old storage bin into something like a piece of furniture.

See how Becca transformed her storage bin . . . click here.

Recycle old candles

Candle lovers out there know how expensive it can be to burn candles every day as we love to do.

This is a little trick that I had forgotten about since my candle making supplies are buried in my craft room, but I plan on digging them out soon!

Back in the day when my yard was my Paradise, I bought candle holders on sticks and lined them down the pathways and placed here and there for effect at night.  It took lots of candles to do this and I would recycle them regularly.

What I used were old juice glasses and custard dishes as well as my trusty decorated recycled glass jars.  They looked gorgeous out there at night!

The tutorial will show you how to do it and what supplies you will need from the craft store.  It is relatively inexpensive to recycle your old candles.  Safety is always first, don't go wandering around the house while melting candle wax . . . I use a dedicated pot just for melting candle wax.

You will look at glass items with different eyes when you go shopping as you can find some very interesting glass pieces that are appropriate for candles at yard sales, dollar stores and thrift stores.  Go through your collection of glass items at home . . . you never know what treasures you will come across that you forgot you even had!

Click here for the tutorial!

Denim Jeans Mini Purse

What a cute little mini purse or belt pouch made from denim jeans legs!

Click on the link at the end of this post to go to the tutorial, which can be used as a guide.  I love the techniques used in the construction of the purse. 

The purse itself can be made fancier by using fabric embellishments, jewelry and buttons.

Let your imagination be your guide :)

Click here to go to the tutorial!

Denim Flip Flops

How cute are these denim flip flops to wear around the house?

The construction of these flip flops do not use shoe soles as a base, but it should not be too difficult to use an old pair of flip flops as a base.  You can use some of the other tutorials I have listed on this blog to see how to use recycle old flip flops.

Love this idea!  It has given me inspiration for many designs :)

Click here to go to the tutorial.

DIY Button Pendant Light

Just when I had a small lampshade in the big bag headed for the trash, I saw this project.

Look at what you can do with buttons and a lampshade frame!  Of course you have to learn how to wire a lamp if you want to use it as a lamp, but I was also thinking it would make great bones for very fancy windchimes.

Whatever project you have in mind for this creative inspiration, it is an ingenious use of an old lampshade frame!

Click here for the tutorial and don't forget to check out the awesome website!

Paper clip & junk mail bracelet

This bracelet takes recycling to another level!

It is made with paper clips and junk mail. 

Of course you could use colorful gift wrapping paper,

 magazine pages, etc.

What an excellent project for little girls!!

Click here for the tutorial :)

Watch Face Rhinestone Pendant

Love this simple, yet elegant design!

The photo is for inspiration only . . . it was found on Pinterest which led to an Etsy store that is now closed. The piece sold as a necklace for $22.

What a great use for those old watches too worn for sale and an orphan earring . . . genius idea!

Wouldn't it look awesome as a closure for a purse?

Happy designing!

Summer Mason Jars

Here's more inspiration for decorating glass jars!

I love the theme . . . great idea and so cute for a summer picnic.

Click here for instructions on how Dee make them.

Thanks for the inspiration!

Awesome decorated glass jar

Love this jar which has given me so much inspiration!

This post is for inspiration only.  I found this photo on Pinterest that led to an Etsy page that no long exists, so there is no tutorial to go with the jar.  However, use your imagination with some old jewelry and the appropriate glue and you can create a jar just as pretty.

I'm still gathering up glass jars for future projects . . . I love recycling glass items!

Olive Oil for your Beauty Regiment

Did you know that olive oil has been used by women for their beauty regiments since ancient times?  I wonder how they knew that olive oil contains anti-aging antioxidants and hydrating qualities that make it perfect for hair, skin and nails.

Here are some uses for olive oil for your beauty regiment . . .

Preshampoo Hair Treatment

Yep, since ancient Egyptian times, olive oil has been used as a hair treatment. Warm the olive oil in the microwave or in hot water, apply it generously to the ends of hair and scalp, leave it in for up to 10 to 20 minutes, and shampoo it out.  How much do you pay for similar hair treatments from the department store?

Lip Scrub

Combine coarse sugar with a teaspoon of olive oil for chapped lips or the whole body.

Eye-Makeup Remover

No explanation needed!  It really works!

Cuticle Conditioner

Actually, I use olive oil on my nails and hands as I cook, especially when making bread.

This is a small list . . . do a search and you will be surprised at all of the recipes you will find using olive oil as the base ingredient.   Put it in a pretty decanter and proudly display it! 

Why spend so much money on department store items when you don't have to?

French Mood Purse

The fabric embellishment on this "French Mood" purse is so beautiful, I had to feature it for future inspiration for myself and other sewers who love to create new fabric from scraps and those who love to create unique purses.

The link to the original article does not include a tutorial, just lots of inspiration through photos.

Click here to go to the article!

How to Make Bead Dangle Embellishments

Fabric embellishment along with beading is one of the most therapeutic things that I have found to do.  A "Manic Monday" was always a good time to get behind the sewing machine and manipulate fabric or take that fabric and bead it.  Seems like the days that were the most stressful were the days I created my most beautiful pieces of fabric.

If you are not familiar with fabric embellishment, basically it is anything that adds design interest to a piece of fabric, done by sewing machine or by hand. There are so many techniques that I can't go into this one post.

The fabric pieces can be included in any type of sewing project, even a piece of artwork to hang in the living room.  

My favorite type of fabric embellishment is using denim, lace, rhinestones and beads.  Many of my designs were used as appliques for t-shirts, jeans jackets, purses, tote bags . . . yes, the possibilities are limited by your imagination!

Most of my creations were already sold, but I do have some left in the storage shed that has a big tree limb on it, so I can't get to them and don't know if they survived the accident . . . along with so many other treasures and supplies. Honestly, I'm afraid to know . . . but that is another blog post!  They were sold in my retail boutique and not online, so I unfortunately have no photos :(

Linda's blogs, starting with Love to Sew takes you into the world of fabric embellishment and manipulation.  Her work is exquisite!  It is an awesome place to discover the creative world that I love so much.

Click here to go to the tutorial on how to make beaded dangles for your creations.

DIY Rhinestone Statement Necklace

I'm back with another DIY jewelry project from Rebecca at My Girlish Whims.

Love her creations!

She made this gorgeous necklace with new jewelry components, but, as usual, you can use broken jewelry that needs new life which is what I love to do.  I have some beautiful new vintage stock cabochons that would look awesome mixed with some rhinestones.

Click here for the tutorial.

DIY Jeweled Clear Clutch

How cute is this blingy clutch??  I love it!!

When I first saw this jeweled beauty, I thought that it would make a very cute case for a laptop, notebook, Kindle, etc.  Seems like it would be easy to change the pattern in Naoko Asano's tutorial.

I love bling so much and especially love the jeweled piece!

Click here for the photo tutorial and lots more photos!

Hubcap Flowers Yard Art . . . Awesome DIY Recycle Project

Love this recycling yard art project!

I'd love to mix the pops of color in my garden from the different flower yard art DIY projects I have been finding online lately.

At first glance, you would never guess these are hubcaps.  I'm guessing they are easy to find relatively inexpensively.  You pull-em salvage car parts businesses come to mind.

Click here for the awesome tutorial to make these beautiful Hubcap Flowers.

Click here for another blog post featuring many examples of DIY Yard Art Flowers made from various materials with lots of ideas and inspiration.  Very interesting . . . love these type of blogs!