Zipping it up with Z

It's Monday again, the last day of April and this is my last installment of the A to Z Challenge for 2018! I'm so excited that I made it and that you have followed along! Today we're talking DIY Zipper Crafts to close out the month.

That's right zippers aren't just for jeans anymore. They make seriously cute jewelry! Broaches and Bracelets and pendants too! Check out these ideas and see what else you can think of to reuse those connectors for!

Let's start with something for the guys, or girls ties aren't just a man's domain anymore, thanks to the 80's I wore my fair share. This zipper Bow Tie tutorial breaks it all down step by step so you can create one of your own in just a zip!

Via Artz Creations-  Super simple- Super Cute and they come in a wide range of colors

Here's another Bow .. for your hair this time. 

Simona Tela added a few beads and created a work of art

These bracelets are totally wearable Art and can include all parts of  jeans and tees.

Downloadable Tutorial at Cloth Paper Scissors

How about a these flowers done by Pretty Little Somethings that could be added to a pin, hair piece or any other type of craft as an embelishment

Maya Road created these trees as well as a wreath more info is available on her blog

And since it is spring let's zip up the A to Z Challenge with this dragonfly tutorial that would be great to do as a craft with little ones

via Help me Rhonda

Well it's surely been fun on my side! I hope that everyone reading picked up at least one new idea about upcycling and that it keeps a couple of items from clogging up the dump! I've visited blogs and ready stories, learned about new places and ideas and generally had a great time! Be sure to check out the master list and the daily letter lists to find something new to you. You might just find your new favorite blogs, hopefully one of those could be mine. 

If you are new to my blog I normally talk about Crafting, Upcycling, Farm life and Books, you are more than welcome to stop by anytime. Thanks for visiting with me this month and have a Crafty Year!

Y? Because the A to Z Challenge is Almost Over

Yardsticks were once a very popular type of advertising. It was a simple product, something everyone had in their home, easy to brand and an item in demand. My Grandmother had a couple I remember one from the feed store, another from the fabric store of course and a few others. Along with the folding ones, carpenter rulers I think they are called, that my grandfather kept in the barn. Now you see them at Lowes and other hardware type stores, Most fabric stores have closed and no one is giving them away any more. But if you run across any vintage ones be sure to jump on them. The prices are climbing and there is a limited supply of the antiques after all.

So once you have these sturdy everyday items what in the world do you do with them?

Why decorate of course!

I've seen these Stars and Trees at Christmas time, (also made from Tobacco sticks)

Find this easy to follow how to at Organized Clutter 

They are wood so it only stands to reason that they would make a interesting veneer for table tops.

via Blue Star Antiques

Mandi at Save it for a Rainy Day gives us the details on how to create this yardstick Coat rack

 

And my favorite is using them on stair risers. I'm totally in love with this idea!

Doesn't just scream farm house?

If all you run across is pieces, never fear there are ideas for those too! Key chains and drawer pulls or even jewelry. Everything that is old will be new again or so they say.. I'm closing out this week and looking forward to Monday and Z! Besure to join me as I zip up the 2018 A to Z Challenge in style

What to do with old Windows

We recently replaced our old single pane windows with new energy efficient double hung wonders and I couldn't be happier. Full screens and no more storm windows , YES! But now what to do with those old but beautiful chippy windows? I'd like to share with you some ideas for those windows, I've been hoarding  out in the barn.

We'll start inside, depending on the shape your windows are in this might be the best bet.

 Pam at Our Adventures in Home Improvement shows howto turn an old window into a Display piece

If all your left with is a frame, then that works too. How about a blackboard organizer.

via The Shabby Creek Cottage

Using them to create a special frame, insert mirrors in one that has a different shape, create a cabinet door or a back drop for another framed item or display is another couple of great ideas.

If they are in good shape here are a couple of plans for your garden.

Very simple DIY cold frames are a good use for old windows.

Easy to Follow Tutorial at Grow Garden Tomatoes. This is a very simple and easy to construct cold frame but you could also use bails of hay and just top with a window for a less permanent option.

Create a "Window Box" on your garage or shed by adding a box to an old window and hanging it on the wall. Then it can be moved easily or changed out to maximize the seasonality of the plants.

Or ago all out and build yourself a greenhouse! 

From a small version by Picket Fence Cottage

To the extravagant 

Wow.. This is The Pineapple Rooms' Glass House

Depending on your needs there is something in the middle that will work for you.

This is just a very small list of ideas for upcycling windows. There are so many ideas out there, like additions to fences or railings. faux stained glass projects, table tops and the list goes on and on. 

At one point you would see these old windows sitting out in front of old barns and along road sides but now people have realized their value. Check with your neighbors, they could have some in their barn or your local habitat restore, I see they have them often at a cheaper price than what they are going for at the local antique stores. But before to get some before they are all gone, I think you'll be happy you did.

Thanks for stopping by and playing along with the A to Z Challenge. Just a couple of days left!

Extra Vases and What to do with them

Vases, old, new, clear, colored, we all have a few hanging around. Mine are under my kitchen sink and laundry room sink and it's quite possible that there are a few in the barn. It's not that I have gotten so many flowers in my life time but but I've inherited some and some were left over from other projects and some have been filled with flowers. But what to do with them other than let them take up much needed space? I've done the research and I'm ready to share it with you, so pull them out and get ready to repurpose.

Most vases have a lot in common, they are glass and they are clear, they don't a have lot of personality going for them so they end up hidden away. One easy fix is to give them a little notoriety with some paint and some embellishments. Then you can group them and different sizes and styles work together because they have something in common, color!

I love everything about this idea from Vera Morae

Can you believe these were once just clear glass from the thrift store?

Madigan Made tells you exactly how she got this cobalt color 

Are your vases a little on the plain side? No worry you can add some interested with Twine.

  Teach Craft Love used A bit of twine and some hot glue for a interesting display 

Here's an interesting tutorial on decoupaging with Lace by Urban Comfort, that would be great for adding a bit of Shabby Chic to a plain vase

Not looking to add more items to your counter top, how about using those vases in your garden? 

Add a bowl and you've got instant whimsy for your garden. 

If these mushrooms aren't enough for you how about slipping a vase over those not so pretty solar lights to turn them real decor like they did at My Frugal Home. How pretty would this be at night?! And if you have different types or shapes all the better/

No matter what you do with them, there are lots of ideas out there that will fit your style and budget. I hope this helps to get those gears turning to help clear out some of that cabinet space that those old vases are taking up.

I can't believe we are in the home stretch of the A to Z Challenge and I'm going to finish this year. I hope you all have had as much fun as I have and if you've learned something along the way so much the better. W is for Windows and I've been collecting these ideas for a while, so be sure to come back tomorrow and see what all the fuss is about!

T is not just for Tea Time

I don't know how many of us still have a dedicated tea time but many China sets still come with them. Sometimes dainty but always decorative, tea cups and their saucers can have a new life outside of just the dinner table.

As a rule Tea Cups don't survive as well as other dishes to be passed down in families, or they end up in shops or auctions as singles. While bad for a proper Tea Time it's good for crafters. 

Let's start with a simple but elegant idea, which is only proper for a tea cup. Other candle companies can't compare to ones that you make at home in a pretty cup. 

Here's a step by step process from My Kitchen Antics that will help you create these at home. What a great idea for wedding, holidays or shower gifts!

Now for those who prefer their tea Alfresco how about ideas for the garden? Bird feeders, planters or just garden decor are just some of the things you can use tea cups for.

                                                       Stand feeders Via StoneGable           \

   or a Hanging version via My So Called Crafty Life      

        

Tea Cups in the garden aren't just for the birds how about bringing a little garden inside with planters.

via Life with little ones                                       

via The Spruce

Or how about a Fairy garden for your little ones (or yourself). I think fairies love tea cups personally!

Lauren at Camp Makery has lots of great ideas on miniature gardens.

Add a bit of Whimsy to your garden.. You never know when you might be visited by a white rabbit who is always running a bit late..

Details and picture by Kylnnnn on Gardenweb

You never know when you might be visited by a white rabbit who is always running a bit late..so it's best to be prepared with tea cup towers and tiers for your garden party!

via ideas.partyandeventguide.com

or as tiered desert stands

via Aquaseventy6

Parties always need decorations so check out these wreaths made with Tea Cups. I'm in awe..

tutorial by giggly girl at Craftster

As for crafting with Tea Cups I think the ideas are only limited by your imagination! Their delicate shape, wide range of patterns and availability turn them into a crafter's dream. 

We're on the last week of the challenge! If you've had it this far give yourself a big hand! The end is in sight but we still have so many more fun ideas to go yet, so stay in touch! I'll see "U" tomorrow!

Suitcase decor

Recently at a local flea market I picked up an older suitcase, I loved the color but wasn't sure what I would do with it. Before I could decide, I also found a old travel makeup case at good will, so I scooped that one up too! I hadn't thought about upcycling suitcases until I ran across the one I had and now I seem to see them on lots of blogs, unfortunately not so much in person...

So I've decided that I'll be using the smaller case as a craft container. It is a good size for keeping smaller projects together and it looks super cute in my living room.


It's not that I don't want to do something with the larger case, it's that I want to do too many thing with it and i just can't seem to decide on one project!

At first I thought that I would make it into a stand or a vanity or a table... see what I mean way too many ideas. Here is some of the inspiration that is keeping me from making a decision.

Via Suite Revival

Or I could hunt around and find a few more and do this..


Photo by Cupcakes and Cashmere 

These are all such great ideas I'm not sure which way to go.. I guess time will tell. I'm looking for a great base or some cute spindle legs but if a couple of more happen to wander home with me...

While I'm not in the market for any of these ideas, you might be, not everyone needs storage and hey it's good to think outside of the suitcase, er box I mean..

via Red Hen Home- for all of the details
Shelving out of suitcases, This would be a great idea for ones that are damaged!

A rolling bar for those smaller spaces.. Dane Holweger has a how to on Hometalk

Or a medicine Cabinet? I wouldn't have thought of this..

via Remodelaholic Great information on how to redo the interior also

umm, if I ever get another vacation I might need this..

Tutorial by Inspireco

The princess is a bit big for this but may be a great Christmas idea for the grandcats..

Tutorial by Megan on Cafemom can be found here

Needless to say I now how more ideas than suit cases so I'll end this week heading out to the thrift stores in search of the next great project and I hope you do the same. Stop back by on Monday for "T' and maybe a crumpet or two. Have a crafty weekend!

Crafting with old quilts

My grandmother and I'd say all of the women in the family before her were avid quilters. Yes quilting is fun but they did it out of necessity. There wasn't a Target on every corner, but even if there had been my grandmother still wouldn't have gone.

People still quilt, quilts are still passed down but maybe they don't have the same meaning sewn into them as they once did. Like everything else a well loved quilt will get worn in spots or or worse become soiled and unable to be safely cleaned. That doesn't mean they still don't have a lot of use left in them. I personally have a chest of quilts made by my great grandmother and maybe even from before, that never see the light of day. My Grandmother, Elizabeth would be horrified, quilts are made to be used, they were after all mostly made from scraps from other sewing endeavors. So to honor those quilts beyond repair, personal or ones picked up at sales let's imagine ways to give them new lives.

We'll start with family quilts, the ones who have seen a bit too much of rough housing or who belonged to Children and were used a tug toys, camp forts or for naps in the grass. They are a part of their childhood and are often passed from kid to kid. Now they aren't in fit for the next generation, but not quite ready for the trash heap. How about making ornaments for each kid that loved that blanket? Something to talk about with the next generation and so the quilt doesn't really go away it gains a new following.

Jan  from JanMade used an old quilt to make Angels for her tree

How pretty is this and what a story it could tell. you could do other shapes as well, stars, barns, trees, hearts or any shape that fits your style. They make wonderful gifts for Christmas or any special occasion and everyone gets to take a tangible reminder of their special quilt.

If you have a larger quilt or one that you don't mind cutting into, stuffed animals are another option for gifting a quilt to numerous people. Bears, rabbits and even dolls can be made from old quilts.

via Stitch This

My personal favorite idea is one we saw while shopping in the North Carolina Mountains.

Aren't these the cutest sheep? I would think you could cut the shape out of wood and then wrap the quilt pieces and extra battling around it. The would make great decorations or even a foot stool. This idea has been hanging around for a while. I think it's time to get busy making some!

Thanks for visiting with me and my quilt ideas as I blog my way through the Alphabet with Blogging from A to Z. There are still  10 days left to go and I'm hoping you'll enjoy them as much as I am creating them. Thanks for stopping by and I'll see  you tomorrow with my R for Rags post.