The Right Way to Reverse Applique

I was going to demonstrate the reverse applique I did on my garage-sale hoodie this time around but a couple of minor emergencies set me back a bit. So, that particular post will have to wait for at least a couple of days.
Meanwhile, if you're looking to do a reverse applique project, you will get the right (and super) instructions at the Craftzine site

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A Hoodie Make Over Plan

I got a nice hoodie for Christmas last year ... but it's plain. I thought I'd like to spice it up with a reverse applique but ... since I've never done this kind of thing before, I decided to experiment.

My neighbor was holding a garage sale and she had an old, faded hoodie on the line. At a quarter it was the perfect bargain for my trial run, so I bought it.

Now, as I said, I never did this kind of thing before but I jumped in and tried. (It's finished and in a later post I'll show how I did it but for now ...) The whole process was a mess. I made mistakes from the get-go but with luckily I was able to work around them and get the job done. (Next time I'll know how to do it right.)

I bought some bonding material and some contrasting thread. I already had the applique material that I picked up at another garage sale so I was ready to dig into it.
Next post I'll demonstrate the "wrong way" and how I worked around it.

Mo' Better Stuff on Paper Mache

My last post that showed that pitiful paper mache fish makes me cringe. I tried but in the end, the fish looked like something out of a really bad horror movie.
So off I went on a search for help.

There are a lot of places on the web that cover paper mache. A quick google search brings up a zillion or so sites. I've visited a lot of them, believe me, and I found one that's really nice.

It's called Gourmet Paper Mache.
If you want to know a better way to get started in this craft, check it out!

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When Life is Too Busy

Blogging takes a back seat ... and that's okay if blogging is simply a diary to be shared and not to be monetized.  This one is the former.

Surprisingly, even retirement has its busy times... The usual day -to-day activities such as household chores, bill paying, shopping, etc. all steal away blogging minutes ... add the appearance of out-of-town company and requests for help from friends and even creating and crafting have to settle for "later."

So if anyone is reading this for new entries, be patient. They will come as interference abates.

Finished Fish: Papier Mache

I gotta get some more paints. The ones I have are old and drying out, but they were salvaged from thrifts shops and garage sales so I didn't expect them to last forever. Still, having crappy paint makes a good excuse for how this project turned out.

Remember that little Aleve bottle from the previous post? This is what it looked like after I slathered my home made papier mache all over it. Of course it has some bumps and stuff, partly because the shreded paper I used had some plastic in it, from envelopes, I guess. But, it works.

Here's where the paints come into the picture. I don't have many colors anymore so I went with what I had and here's the (more or less) finished project.

Now, I'm not an artist and I don't expect this is going to win any prizes. But it's a good way to show how you can take salvage some things from the land fil and make something playful out of them. I was going to use a big shampoo bottle but luckily I started small. It gave me plenty of latitude for mistakes and saved me from messing up a better final product. I'll eventually get back to this kind of craft but right now I'm working on what to do with all the empty soda cans in my garage. I have a really clever idea but I think it's going to take a very long time to finish. 

(I gotta do something about that eye... it's kind of frightening.)

Making Papier Mache

You can buy premixed papier mache or you can make your own. Of course, the thrifty crafter chooses the latter. There are a lot of recipes for mixing your own gooey mess and you can find some really good books on the subject.(One of my favorites is Craft Workshop: Papier Mache.)

I know how to make a mixture according to the instructions but this time around I decided to give my own method a try. I started out with the strips of paper from my shredder. Until now, this waste went into my compost pile but since it's the heat of the summer and temperatures are so high even the desert dwellers are hiding under rocks, I don't do much yard and garden work.

The picture at the end of this post shows how few materials I needed.

I gathered a handful of paper, put it in the bowl and slowly added water, enough to soak the paper completely. Don't worry if you get too much water in the bowl, just make sure the paper is completely wet.

Next I squeezed out the excess water and poured it into a container and tossed it out on the grass. (Waste not the water.) Now the damp paper needed to be decreased in size so I just started rolling it around in my hands, the way you might do if you're mixing up a meat loaf. This will crumble the paper and make it more manageable.

Once the paper was the proper consistency, I added two tablespoons of glue. (I use Aileen's Tacky Glue because there was a big sale on it so I have plenty around.)

Now it gets a little messy because you've got to use your hands to get that glue into your wet paper. More rolling and pulling and compacting and rolling. Add a little water if it gets too dry. You want it to stick together like a meat ball.

And that's it! You're ready to use your papier mache. (I don't know how it stores. I used it immediately, on that little empty Aleve bottle. But that's for the next post.

Another Snake Project

I don’t remember where I got this little beauty but like the blacksnake that was getting dumpy looking, this one had seen better days.

Some of my craft paints were not completely dried up so I decided to spiff this little fellow up and transform him with his own coat of many colors (or at least three colors).

The steps were the same as the ones in my previous post except I didn’t use the white paint as a base.

The one thing I neglected to mention before is that eventually I will put a protective coat of polyurethane on both snakes, as soon as I find a cheap source.

Now another thing I neglected to mention is that I haven't put these snakes out in the open air as yet. See, I have this neighbor who is terrified of snakes and I've got to warn her that she'll be seeing these before I scare the daylights out of her.

Black Snake to Rattlesnake

So a few years back I picked up this rubber black snake at a garage sale for a mere twenty-five sense. (Unlike most people, I’m not afraid of snakes, and this beauty was a steal for just a quarter.) I knew just where I was going to put this beauty – coiled up behind my statue of Buddha in the serenity spot that greets me every time I pull into my carport. You see, the snake (naga) has always been a friend and protector to Buddha so naturally he should have one close by in my little plot of tribute.

Now sadly, over the years, having sat in the desert sun for far too long, the snake began to look shabby. His once shiny black coating became dull and he looked far too sad to be on display. My solution was to give him a new wardrobe. But this is the desert after all and as far as I know, we don’t have black snakes among us. We do have rattlesnakes, however, so I decided to transform the little gem by painting him a coat of many colors – well, at least four colors, using half-empty, almost-dry indoor One Stroke craft paints I picked up at one of my local thrift stores for a mere pittance.

First I coated his entire body with a coat of white enamel paint that has been sitting in my garage since I bought my place. (That’s almost seven years ago.) I opted for this because it was the only white I could find at the time.

Next, I began slathering on the different colors on hand. At first I was cautions, trying to get the patterns exactly as they would be on a rattlesnake but I soon realized I wasn’t up to the task of total duplication so I just winged it – and here is what it looks like now. (Okay, so my rattlesnake is missing his rattle but this is arts and crafts, not reality.)

The nice thing about the whole project is that it took just two days to complete.

Ta-da It's A Bench, Sort Of

What incredible luck. I didn't have to leave the yard to find the final piece for my garden bench. I found a piece right in my own workshop ... and trust me, it must have been cosmic karma because so much stuff got tossed in there over the winter that it's hard to wade through it. (I sometimes think my workshop is the dumping grounds for all the stuff the Hoarders TV show tosses out.)

I also found these hand-painted flower pots in there. I did these about six years ago and used them for a couple of years. They look kind of sad, don't they? That's okay though because I'll spruce them up sometime soon.

Meanwhile, I'm heading off to Lowes to see what kind of desert friendly potted plants will look good on my mistresspiece (That's the female version of masterpiece, in case you missed it.)

The Garden Bench Takes Shape

Remember what it looked like? That old art board? And those bits and pieces from a discarded garden bench found waiting for trash pickup?

Well, they are kind of pathetic looking still but any day now, they'll be recycled and reused in the garden areas outside my home.

After removing as much of the grit and grime and pieces of wallpaper covering as possible, I used some left-over Christmas project red paint to cover the drawing board another friend was discarding.

Unfortunately, the screws and bolts didn't quite fit in all the right places, probably because the original bench was made with slats of wood and the way the armatures are set up, they didn't like one big piece of flat board. But I worked around it, using wood screws in places where the original bolt-type screws didn't work.

They are refurbishing a place just a short block away from me so I'm off to see if I can find a piece of wood to use as a back for my new garden bench. As soon as I do, I will attach it and put the project to use.

Wish me luck.

Close to the Finish Line

Most people panic when their job ends. That's not unreasonable. Not only do people identify themselves with their jobs (I'm a bookkeeper; I'm a teacher) and losing that causes an identity crises, but also, most people need jobs to keep food on the table. Plenty of reason to get anxious!

I'm happy to say, being unemployed on my part, is a totally welcome situation. It's not like I have a ton of money but I do have enough to pay the bills, eat, and occasionally do something special for myself.

However, the best part of being without a job (some people call this being "retired" but that sounds too much like you're getting tired again...) is finally, finally having enough time to finish a half-dozen projects.

First up will be using those bits and pieces of the old garden bench salvaged from the landfill by my former co-worker and friend, Mike.

Look for a photo of the progress later today.

Promises unkept ... but ...

Okay, so I thought I'd be making more progress on this bench I'm creating but work got in the way ... or rather work got OUT of the way as I retired from the 9 to 5 and had to take some time to reorient myself to life.

I'm temporarily suspending all woodworking and other craft projects in favor of some spring cleaning. That should take about a week. I've got a ton of stuff to take to the local Goodwill store, some things to put up for auction, lots to give away and an equal amount to think about.

I have a huge list of projects in my notebook that I've been hoping to find time to do and now I'll be able to do them!

Anyhow, I'm opting to get more active here as in a week or so ...

Good New Pending

Checked the board for the bench project this a.m. Looks like the wallpaper removal stuff worked its magic. Will scrape off the excess tonight after work. Next comes sanding and staining and a first coat of poly.

That's just part of the good news. If all things happen as I'm hoping the universe has in store, I should have more free time to work on fun stuff. Most people fear losing their jobs or retiring. Not me.

Stay tuned or ... gee, I don't have any "or" to put here.

Progress upended spells project suspended -- sort of

My sister called to complain. I haven't posted any reports on the latest project. I defended myself the best I could. After all, I work full time, volunteer to help friends who can't quite get their lives together, worry a lot, try to write at least an hour a day (although sometimes I'm still up at three in the morning because I can't stop), read a magazine or two and pick up some new audio books, and do some eating, sleeping and housework in my spare time.

No excuse, she says, and then she laughs because she knows my problem all too well.

So this message is just to report in that even though there's no post, there is progress.

I discovered I would have to forage around for a couple of longer screws because of the way I'm constructiong this bench (that's what I'm calling it for now--a bench). Found some at a garage sale and actually got them for free!

Also, the former drawing board I'm using for the seat part of the bench was covered with wallpaper and that stuff is a bear to remove. I don't know what kind of paste was used to put it down but I think maybe it was Gorilla Glue!

Anyhow, I'm about ready to sand and stain the board in anticipation of finishing up within a week.

My sister says she's not holding her breath.

Found Part Two of the New Old Bench Parts

Phase two of the bench pieces is taking shape.

The picture here is fairly scarey, I know, but it is what it is, and that's an old portable drafting board. This was part of a friend's artist equipment. It had a bunch of tools attached to it and he used it forever ... until he discovered things like Photoshop and Illustrator and CAD programs.


He set this aside and one day one of his kids broke some of the attachments and cut himself ... not badly but enough to send him crying for half an hour. His mama soothed the boo-boo, gave him some ice cream and gave him instructions on how to avoid his daddy's disorganized studio.

The board went into a closet for a while until mama came up with an idea for it. She covered it with some leftover wallpaper and used it as part of her rubber stamp workshop but eventually she lost interest in this hobby and the littel board once again was relegated to a closet.

Recently, the couple moved out of state. I was hired (more or less) to clean up the house so it could be sold and one of the things I found was this board.

It's in awful shape. I'm having trouble getting all the wallpaper off of it and it is scratched, dented, and generally a mess. But that makes it perfect for my project.

I'll start working on it this week and post the next phase soon.

Getting Ready to Start Something New

Have a couple of pieces my esteemed co-worker Mike found on the sidewalk on trash day. They're part of one of those outdoor benches you can buy at home improvement stores. Except, the bench part was missing and only the odds and ends were outside.


Most of the screws and nuts and bolts were still attached to the wood which was under these two items, and being the thorough individual he is, Mike took the time to remove all of them and put them in a baggie!

(I'm not sure I know anyone else who carries extra baggies in his van.)

I'm going to scrounge around for a couple of other items in the house to help with the idea about how to recycle these great parts. Next post, if I haven't started, I'll post pictures of those items.

Wish me luck!

Don't Trash Your Useless Electronics

Got an old PC gathering dust? One that has maybe 512k memory? A CRT? A first-released IPhone you traded in for something snazzier?

I heard about this outfit on my local National Public Radio station ... maybe you heard it on yours. If not, take a look at yourenew.com.

This little company has as its mission, " ... to make it easier to renew your old electronic devices than to throw them in the trash."

They pay for some stuff and just accept other stuff that has no real value but can be reused somehow.

I personally don't have any used electronics that I want to part with but when I do decide to buy a new camera or phone, I'll be sending the old one to these guys.

Visit This Site, Please

No, I don't mean this site, the one you're already looking at. I mean my favorite place, the Habitat for Humanity Restores. This is the epitome of recycling because everything you find there is donated and every donation goes toward helping mankind.

When you visit the site, you'll get two links, one to Restores in the U.S. and another to Restores in Canada.

Most of what you find at the Restore is in the home improvement category but ... oh, the possibilities for the crafter and, of course, the recycler. I introduced the place to a friend who creates original artwork on porcelain tiles. At Restore, she can get new tiles for a huge fraction of the retail price. I've purchased a lot of paint that I used to spruce up some of the decorative borders in my yard. My buddy, Kat, bought all her kitchen cabinets there. She's a teacher and needs to save whenever she can and boy, did she ever save a ton on those cabinets.

You never know what you will find there. One time I went in looking for a lamp; I found one. But I also found a drop-dead storage bench, a pallet of patio bricks and a new security screen door that I saw at my local improvement store for $149. (It was a mere $29 at Restore)

Everybody knows the the work Habitat for Humanity does; few people, however, are aware of these Restores. Let's spread the word!

Plugging A Better Way

Nothing new on the recycling, reusing, creating new from old ... too much holiday, workload and now a touch of winter malaise, otherwise known as a head cold!

But if you do nothing else, get over to Refused Reused and see what REAL recycling people do to help save this planet.

They got their hands on a couple of tons (yes, tons) of usable leather. See if you can help them with it!