Crocheted Denim Rag Bag

I love the idea of crocheting strips of denim, not only for this project, but for so many other projects.

Back in the day when I had a boutique, I would barter merchandise with my customers for their old jeans because of their versatility.  Being the pack rat that I am, I still have tubs and tubs of denim in my storage room waiting for me to be creative again.  So I am always looking for cool and unusual projects to keep in mind for the future when I finally get my craft room organized.

My idea would be to make the strips of denim crocheted into "fabric" so they are ready for future projects.

Several projects come to mind . . . rugs, pillows, applique for clothing, fabric for a jacket, blankets, hats . . . as well as purses . . . I could continue thinking and coming up with more and more projects!

Click here for the tutorial to make the purse or get the technique for how to crochet the denim strips together.

Dish towels that stay put!

Since The Captain and I have been in the process of reorganizing our kitchen, I've also been searching for some inspiration from Bloggerville.

This project for a dish towel

 that stays put is an awesome idea!

How about making some matching pot holders?

Click here for this project tutorial and yet more projects!

Be Colorful!

One of my favorite things is painting with bold colors!

I love this colorful cabinet . . . and the lamp is awesome :)

Think of what you could create with a thrift store find!

If painting and DIY is your thing, you will love Be Colorful, one of my recent blog discoveries.  It is one of those blogs that I spent way too much time going through, but the inspiration was so worth it!  I'm ready to go thrift store shopping :)  

You must check it out!

Click here for more colorful ideas from Be Colorful :)

Join in the linky party every Monday . . .

show off your new creation or be inspired!

Recycled sweater hats

Give those old sweaters a new life!

Love this idea since I love hats and

I'm imagining these cool hats embellished

with a flower made out of the same

sweater or coordinating color.

Click here for the tutorial.

Jar Lantern

How cool is this jar lantern?

You know me and the glass jar projects!

My mind is going crazy with more ideas for this

project, like adding decorative rocks, marbles or

shells instead of sand.  

Love the glitzy accent!

This project comes from one of my new favorite blogs:

Tasha's blog is full of awesome projects and linky parties where you can hook up with other crafty DIYers.  
It is where the cool girls hang out!
Have an awesome day!

Organize your spices

Do you love stocking lots of spices,

but lack the space to organize

all those little bottles?

We are in the process of reorganizing our kitchen and organizing all the spices has proven to be quite a challenge since we both love to cook and have collected quite a spice collection.  In the past, I have organized spices on little wire racks that attach to the inside of cabinet doors . . . but I have been looking for new ways to organize them.

I've featured many glass jar projects that would work perfectly with either one of these two spice storage solutions to color coordinate, ending up with an organization solution that also accessorizes the kitchen.

Click here for my glass jar project posts from the past.

I've seen different variations of the above storage solution, but I like that this one features a rack.  How cute is that?  Click here for the tutorial.

I love these little wall boxes . . . they serve as a storage solution as well as accessorize the kitchen.  Actually, this is a great storage solution for any room!

Click here for the tutorial.

Both of these projects come from the website Fresh Home Ideas . . . one of my favorites!

Vintage Inspired Dinner Roll Holder

I must admit . . . if I saw one of these in a store, I would not know what it was used for . . . but I do think this is an awesome idea for a dinner roll holder.

Looks like an easy sewing project . . . and how cool would it be to make napkins, placemats or tablecloth to match for a very festive tablescape?  Great idea for a special occasion or gift!

Click here for the tutorial :)

Hanging Jewelry Holder

One of the best purchases I ever made was a hanging jewelry holder like this one . . . except for the fact that you can make the pockets the exact size for your needs.  Not only do I use mine for jewelry, but it also holds my hair accessories.  

What I love about this jewelry holder is that it is stored behind my bedroom door and all my jewelry and hair accessories stay clean.  

I can't remember how much the one I bought cost, but it was not cheap.  You can easily make this out of fabric scraps in your stash!

Click here for the tutorial.

Lots of headband tutorials

Every time I need a hair accessory to match a particular outfit, it seems like I can search and search the stores and not find a thing . . . that is what I love about making my own accessories, as well as the satisfaction of creation.

Laurie at the Tip Junkie (one of my all time favorite blogs) has compiled a page of all types of headbands, complete with tutorials!

Click here for Laurie's page on headband tutorials :)

Thanks to Laurie for so much inspiration!

Beachy Shell Frame

A visit to the beach is not complete without collecting some shells.  Honestly, I have boxes and jars of shells collected through the years.  The favorite thing I do with shells is paint them with white pearl enamel and sprinkle with shimmery translucent glitter . . . finished off with sealer.  It is a very nice effect that is perfect for so many projects.  Leaving them in their natural state is also beautiful.  Nature is perfect in its beauty!

This shell frame is an awesome way to display shells from your beach visits :)

Click here for the tutorial.

Man Shirt Messenger Bag

It is about time that it has become fashionable for a man to have a bag to carry his stuff in.  I've never understood the concept of the poor guys having to stuff their stuff into their pockets.


Another reason for man bags . . . ladies in a hurry to do the laundry lead to mishaps!


I'm so guilty . . . and I'll never forget this . . . The Captain has a habit of leaving his wallet and stuff in his pockets.  When I'm in a hurry getting the laundry done, I run around the house gathering up clothes as I get the washer started.  You know where I'm going with this . . . when he went to look for his wallet, it was getting washed in his jeans!  Too funny now . . . but not so funny then, as he scrambled to get his wallet out of the wash and everything inside was soaked.  :) OK . . . I'll be honest and admit I thought it was funny at the time . . . he didn't!


The time has come for man bags, although your man may need some coaxing to agree!  I'd love the combination of a flannel shirt and jeans for the bag . . . the manlier (is that a word?) the better so he will actually use it.


Honestly, I love the design and would love to make one for myself as a tote bag or an organizer . . . very cool idea!  Thanks to Megan at The Crafty CPA for this awesome project!  Check out her blog for more clever ideas :)

Click here for the tutorial!

Recycled Newspaper Coasters

Who knew that folded and coiled newspaper could look so beautiful?

So many ideas are going through my crafty mind for all types of projects utilizing this technique.  Love the idea!  I'm sure they also look fabulous painted and sealed with Modge Podge.

Find this recycling project and many more innovative ideas at . . .

Click here for the coaster tutorial!

Want to show off your DIY and craft creations?  

Join in the Thrifty Thursday Blog Hop!

Have an awesome day!

Beautiful Decoupaged Jars

Kristen at Lesson Plans has featured these decoupaged

 jars made out of custom created tissue paper.

Another project for those like me who collect and

recycle glass jars . . . and for fans of Mod Podge.

Wouldn't this be an awesome project for the kids?

Click here for the post on her blog.

Mod Podge Pots

Mod Podge has to be one

 of the greatest inventions ever.

Amy at Mod Podge Rocks has one of the best craft

blogs around . . . one of my favorites!  I can get lost going

through her blog for hours at a time.

Many thanks to Amy for all you do!!

Check out her blog!

Amy recently featured this project on her blog . . . it comes

from Ashley at Under the Sycamore, who got the idea from

a tutorial on Christine Chitnis' blog.

I love this project . . . another use for fabric scraps!

How about buying a little extra fabric when making pillows or

similar home decorating items to make some cute matching

pots for your indoor plants?

Painted Floor Cloth

OMG . . . I adore this laundry room!

The floor cloth is hand painted on canvas . . . how cool is that?

This project comes from Peggy and Liz on their mother/daughter 

collaboration blog called Just About Home.

Click here for the tutorial.

Fabric Button Earrings

Fabric buttons have been around forever and make it possible to have earrings to match any outfit.  How cool is that?  They are perfect for those who love the vintage look.

This idea not only works for earrings . . . why not make bulletin board tacks to match your kitchen decor or even refrigerator magnets.  The fabric button forms come in a variety of sizes, so the possibilities are endless!

I'm always happy to find an awesome blog that is new to me . . . A Bit of Sunshine {When Skies Are Grey}, a blog by Rebekah, is a wonderful journey through creative domesticity.  The tutorial for these fabric button earrings comes from her blog . . . click here for the tutorial . . . and check out her beautiful blog while you are there!

Beaded Flip Flops

These are the most awesome

refashioned flip flops I've seen yet!

The embellishments are pieces of old jewelry . . . you know the ideas are running wild in my head with all the boxes of vintage jewelry I have sitting in my office.  The possibilities of matching outfits, jewelry, hair accessories . . . they are endless!  What an awesome discovery :)

The creative mind behind these gorgeous flip flops is Ashley from Make It and Love It.  These aren't the only cool flip flop refashions she's come up with.  You must check out her blog and be amazed!

Click here for the tutorial

Bandana Halter Tops

Bandanas are great for all kinds of crafts . . . they are inexpensive and available in a wide array of colors and patterns.  More posts to come on crafts using bandanas. 

Today's journey took me on a search for halter tops made of bandanas.  I have stacks of bandanas left from my retail days and the thought of making some halter tops came to me.  

These are not the design I was searching for, but they are a start.  I'm thinking of a top that ties in the front . . . guess I'll have to create my own pattern.

Click here for tutorial

Click here for tutorial

Click here for tutorial

Happy crafting and sewing!

Love DIY? Click here!

These days of  poor economy times are finding more and more of us looking for ways to do projects around the house ourselves.  For me, it started back before home and garden cable networks, in the early days of Martha Stewart's rise in popularity as my husband and I explored the adventure of living a one-income lifestyle.  The result was the discovery of my creative side as I had never experienced it before.

I'm always on a search for awesome websites and blogs for inspiration and instruction.

Click here for a blog post of Best DIY Sites . . . 

I can't wait to dig in and discover blogs and websites that are new to me!

Cute Tissue Pouches

My fabric stash is overflowing and I love finding new and useful ways to use them.

These tissue pouches are easy enough for a beginning sewer and so much prettier to carry around than those plain wrappers they come in.  They are so cute and would make a thoughtful gift.

Sachiko at Tea Rose Home recently featured this tutorial on her blog written by Christie from Lemon Squeezy.  Click here to go there.  

Both are awesome blogs . . . check them out for more creative projects.

 


Happy crafting!