Happy Earth Day! Recycled Project Roundup

Happy Earth Day! For us it's also the birthday of our best friend Kristine who we lost far too young. She was a teacher, loved kids, and LOVED Earth Day. So in her honor, here are some projects from my Repurposed Ideas Pinterest board that are perfect for Earth Day and use things we all likely have laying around the house. 

Paper Crafts:

We all have magazines laying around so these projects from DIY Sweet Home is a way to use them to make some pretty things: 

More magazine ideas here from Picky Stitch: 

Got jeans? Who among us doesn't have some too big / too small / too holey jeans? 

How about this jean pocket phone charger holder from DIY & Home ? 

Who can't use an extra totebag? This one comes from a roundup of "21 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Old Jeans" at Tip Hero.

Boxes and Tubes: 

Keep your pencils and your thoughts together while re-using cereal boxes. Turn them inside out , leave them plain, paint, add paper, doodle, or use the fronts with these ideas from One Good Thing By Jillee. 

Use toilet paper tubes and Washi tape to make a pretty phone holder. Details at Easy Peasy Creative. 

One too many Amazon boxes ? Make a pretty storage basket. Elizabeth Joan Designs will show you how. 

Got Milk (jugs)? 

LOVE these Votives from Bliss Bloom Blog !

Now that I'm living in the desert, I'm going to have to get creative about snow this Winter so making some from repurposed milk jugs is on my list! From Eve of Reduction. 

Water and Soda Bottles: 

101 Days of Organization has a great roundup on what to do with these that seem to multiply like Tribbles. 

Think of all those little things ( paper clips, binder clips, rubber bands, pushpins) you could store in a pretty little bowl made from a water bottle? From Dishfunctional Designs. 

Jars: 

Here's a two-fer idea. Repurpose empty jars ( or you can buy a matched set of mason jars) and embellishe with pine cone flowers, perhaps from a nature walk. From Uncommon Designs . 

I recognize these jars because they are from my husband's favorite jam. So will definitely have some of these to play with ! From Make Calm Lovely. 

I hope I've given you some inspiration! 

BFF Open House Link Party

Happy Friday Eve once again. I know that Spring has gotten lost on its way to several parts of the country so hopefully some of these Spring inspired features will tide you over until it gets there. 

Freshvintagebylisas has a fun way to combine kitchenware and gardening by re-purposing kitchen pieces as planters. Fun indoors or out! 

Similarly, Simple Nature Decor shared what she did with some fabulous old dairy containers by using them as planters. I love their vintage chippy rustiness! 

With Mother's Day fast approaching, From Playdates to Parties has a wonderful garden themed brunch idea that is perfect for indoor or outdoor entertaining. 

Finally, being a desert dweller now, I couldn't resist this adorable Crocheted Cactus Garden from Sew Crafty Crochet. 

Now, let's see what everyone's been up to this week! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party

Happy Friday Eve all! Settling into desert life and still trying to process the reality that it hit 100 degrees in APRIL while other places in the country are still getting snow. 

Here are some features from last week's party! 

Let's start with these DIY Moss Pots from Sew Historically. I love how these add pops of nature and color to any decor. 

With outdoor entertaining season coming ( sooner for some of us) using the power of the Sun to light your outdoor decor is easy with this idea from Chas's Crazy Creations.  She has a step by step tutorial and you just need a few items. 

As much as I love tech, and I do, there is still something about a written note. This free and downloadable stationery from The Handmade Home makes it fast and easy to do! You can print out a set for yourself or add to a girlfriend gift etc. 

Finally, you know this caught my eye! Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake from Marilyn's Treats. Oh my! 

Now, let's see what you've all been up to this week! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party 1st One From the Desert

Happy Friday eve and welcome to my weekly party from it's new location. Well the virtual location remains the same but you understand :) 

Let's start with some features from last week's party. 

Once we find a place, I think I will have to make this Heat Transfer Vinyl Pillow from Hazel and Gold Designs. 

Spring is the perfect time for a new wreath. This first one is from Domestic Deadline is perfect in its simplicity of using the same silk flower throughout. 

Vintage Paint and More has not only another pretty Spring wreath, but a whole mantle idea that's so pretty in blue and yellow. 

While I'm not a Vegan, I have enjoyed some wonderful Vegan treats and this gorgeous Mounds Cake from Vegan Dollhouse looks AMAZING and combines two of my absolute favorites, chocolate and coconut. 

So now let's see what everyone's been up to this week! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Yes, I Remember I Have A Blog...Why I've Been MIA

After a lifetime spent in the Pacific Northwest, I am now a desert dweller in the Phoenix AZ area! Needless to say, with getting ready to do a massive interstate move, I have not had a lot of creative time and not sure when that is going to resume. 

Like a lot of people, we're part of the generation seeing our parents get older . My mom aka "The Mumster" moved here several years ago and we've loved visiting her each year and for several of those years she came up for holidays etc.  And while she's in good health overall, we will all reach an age where some health concerns come up and she's had a couple of ER trips that I would really rather have been here for. Mr. Chocolate has had itchy feet for a while so it took no convincing on his part to move, and work, while crazy, is portable so that's good. While we figure out where we want to ultimately settle, and while we get some things settled for The Mumster, we're going to stay with her. I brought my InstaPot and she's excited to see why I love it so much. 

Space is limited right now so I don't have a dedicated craft room but did bring some core supplies with me. I know I'll be focusing on lettering and jewelry since those don't require lots of space! 

Looking forward to finding some new creative places. I already have some favorite bead stores from our visits here and can't wait to visit them. And I haven't set foot in Michaels or JoAnns in more than a month so even if I don't buy anything I can't wait to explore some new stores. 

I'm excited as well because I know a lot of shows and conferences come this way...moreso I think than the Seattle area, so I have lots of ways to keep the creative inspiration flowing. I know Tim Holtz lives in AZ so he may find me stalking him lol. Just kidding. Mostly. 

If you're a Phoenix area creative, let me know! 

Onward, 

Carol

Wishing You A

May all your bunnies be chocolate! 

BFF Open House Link Party

Happy end of March which seems insane. Then again, this week has been insane and it's not even because of work. In the middle of an inter state move so have had NO time to look at features and even less than no time to make ANYTHING. Will share more soon but for now, I at least want my bloggy creative friends to share what they've been making. This week will be all party, no features. Enjoy! 

   

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

   

BFF Open House Link Party

Hi all and Happy Spring!  A much calmer week for me workwise so this week's party is on time and with features! Hope you all have had a wonderful start to Spring and those of you in the Northeast aren't dealing with too much snow. 

My name twin Carol from The Red Painted Cottage shared how to bring some Spring inside with her gorgeous tiered tray. 

Crystal, from Surviving a Teacher's Salary ( hear hear ) shared this natural planter using a found tree branch,  moss, and air plants. 

Artsy VaVa is back with a gorgeous Easter Egg bouquet showing off her painting talents once again because she hand painted those eggs! Wouldn't these be fun to put with your Easter dinner table settings ? 

Sugar Spice and Family Life shared these Peanut Butter Cup STUFFED Chocolate Cookies ( drooling...not gonna lie). With Reeses PB Eggs everywhere right now thinking you could even use those to stuff these cookies! Not that I go overboard or anything. 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

BFF Open House Link Party

Yikes! Late for my own party. Does that tell you what kind of week it's been? So so sorry and no features this week. Hope everyone has a Happy St. Patrick's Day! We're all Irish on the 17th right?

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Blast From The Past: Spring Eggstravaganza

I haven't eggsactly been on a creative roll lately. I'll share why in a future post. But I thought I'd do a roundup of some past egg projects as we approach Easter and Spring!

Still one of my favorite projects is this one "Eggshells Under Glass" which used real eggshells that I painted to coordinate with the base of a cheese dome I picked up at Goodwill. 

In a similar color palette, are these Tissue Paper and Twine Eggs that are easily made using a combination of plastic eggs from the craft store, tissue paper, Mod Podge, paint, twine and misc. embellishments. 

Of course you know I love chocolate and what goes together this time of year but chocolate and eggs?! 

This Vintage inspired egg also uses a plastic egg, tissue paper, paint and misc. embellishments. 

This "Faux Oeuf en Chocolat" aka "Fake Chocolate Egg" is a different type of egg from the craft store , painted in chocolate brown, then speckled with gold and covered in a chocolate label graphic. 

Hope you've found some inspiration! 

BFF Open House Link Party

Let's just say my week has been "how is it Thus already?" . Hope your week has been less hectic. 

Some features from last week's party!

I love hats. I don't wear them often and truth be told, I probably decorate with them more than I actually wear them. I am loving this "Mad Hatter Tea Party" hat from Artsy Va Va which would be so much fun for so many Spring events. 

Speaking of Spring, how about this beautiful embroidery hoop wreath from Our Hopeful Home? Gorgeous!

With Easter and Spring just around the corner, it's prime time for bunnies! Love this fun wire pendant from Howling At The Moon! 

Finally, how cute is this Toy Chest dresser makeover from Repurpose and Upcycle complete with the colorful side painted drawers and chalkboard vinyl sides? I think I could use something for my grownup toys aka craft supplies! 

Now let's see what everyone's been up to this week. 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up