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

xylophone for chickens

Since you guys have been such good sports, and hung in there for all of these posts, I thought I would use X for something fun! We have chickens and they are pretty smart when they want to be. So we've been working with them, trying to teach them new things. They are seriously food oriented..so they are enjoying the process too. I've seen some videos about keeping chickens entertained when they are "cooped" up. We try to let them free range as much as possible but we can't always supervise them so they do spend more time that they care for in the runs.

So I give you a short video for your entertainment of my chickens using their upcycled Xylophone..lol

Thanks for taking this crazy A to Z journey with me and I hope that you hang around after also!

You never know what will pop up..lol 

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!

umbrellas as door decor

You've heard about April showers bring May flowers but what do you do with the umbrella you had for those showers when it seen better days? Why you hang it on your door of course!

Is this a great idea or what?!  Via RandomThoughtsHome

Door Decor isn't the only way to use an outdated or damaged umbrella. Here are a couple of more ideas to check out before you sent it on it's way. If the frame is broken and past repair recycle that metal but keep the fabric and turn it into a pouch, it is water proof after all. Here is a great step by step video from Wonder How To that shows how to make the bag pictured below.

This is just your normal everyday umbrella but think how cute it would be using a kids or character umbrella and then think about all the ways you would use it! Win Win

If the fabric is has torn or come unattached, that's what normally happens to me, then you can reuse that frame. Patio umbrellas fall into this category too. They are generally very sturdy and one way to repurpose them is in your garden, as a trellis!

Jessica Walliser posted this to Hobby Farms. Simple and Fun

Or if your crafty or know someone who is you can turn your regular umbrella into a parasol for a little shade with an attitude. Isn't this beautiful! Swaktra turned this knitted Shawl into a parasol and we're all a bit jealous. For all of you yarn artist you can also find her and her patterns on Ravelry.

So say the whole thing went down hill and all you have is a really cute handle? Never fear that is worthy of reuse too. In it's new life it is now a Hook! 

It's it wonderful how we can reuse things in ways we have never thought of before? What do you have laying around that could be something else? Tomorrow I'll be talking about something that I know we all have that is taking up space under my kitchen sink! 

Thanks for stopping by on my reuse, recycle, repurpose journey with the A to Z Challenge!

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!

Week 43 in the Year of Projects

This week has really flown by, this is always the crazy week of the month for me at work and being the end of the quarter makes it worse. Having said that I don't have much umpf left for crafting by the time I get home. But I did squeeze in a few things this weekend.

I had blocked my squares for my Peach Blossom blanket last week and I did about 40 variations on the layout and after many changes I think I've decided on a random layout. I tried squares, lines, and ended up with this..

I think I'm happy with it..lol

Then I knew I wanted to do a lacy border and I then I ran across Cypress Textiles Celtic Lace Join. It looked so perfect so and would add a few inches so now my blocks will look like this..

So I'm going to be needing some more yarn and it will take a bit longer than I had originally planned. It really gives it the extra elements I was looking for. Hopefully it won't take me as long to work out a boarder. I'm still going for lacy but with the other colors too.

I did manage to finally get my veggie's completed and a picture taken so that I could get it posted to my Etsy  Shop. I.m hoping to do a bit better about getting things posted on there this year, For some reason the listing is really hard for me mentally..lol

I also managed to get a few rows in on the rainbow baby ripple. Just stating the next color block.

I said I wasn't going to start another project until one gets done, BUT my brain was fuzzy with all of the posting and pictures so I went with a simple I don't have to think about it project, of which consists of granny squares and stripes. I'll have an update next week on that.

The A to Z Challenge is almost over and I've actually managed to stay ahead and I'm hoping to have all of the posts completed be early in the week. Now if I could just finish craft projects as quickly I'd be great!

Have a very crafty week! Be sure to check out the other Year of Project posts too!