Another Quick Jute Project, from Portugal!

As I gear up to post another boatload of projects, I wanted to share a quick one similar to my $5 IKEA upgrade:

I found this small ceramic cache pot type thingie, made of terracotta at the local thrift this past weekend.  It was marked $2, but it was half off day, so I paid $1.  It was stamped on the bottom "Made in Portugal"

 

 

I liked the shape, and even thought once I did something with it, that it would look great as part of the shelf display I posted about yesterday.

So, again, with this project (like with the vase)- not a lot of effort, but totally awesome results!  I just love the texture of this stuff- $5/roll at Michael's, and with a 40% coupon, it's just $3.  :) 

The supplies again:
Jute/Twine
Glue Gun
Object to cover

Yep, that's it.

I started from the bottom, and actually turned the pot over until about halfway covered.  Turned it back over, and worked up the remaining half, and up the small neck of the pot.  I only glued every 3rd row or so, but more around the neck of the bottle.

 

 

I thought for a minute that I'd leave part of the terracotta showing, with the jute only wrapped at the bottom, but decided against that, and decided to continue covering the whole thing.

 

 

For now, it's sitting on the top shelf of my leaning shelf, next to my reed diffuser and the ceramic plate from Spain that my Nana gave me.

If you haven't tried this technique yet, you totally should.  Here's the IKEA vase I did a few weeks back.  You can find the link to the project here:

More NEW projects coming soon, but enjoy the ease of this one until then!  :)

Take a $5 IKEA vase, and... Wrap it!

This was a quick and easy texture-rich project I tried one rainy afternoon.  We've had a lot of those.  Rainy afternoons that is.  So, I've been forced enjoying trying crafts I couldn't quite take the leap into before.

After seeing some very similar posts [here, here and here],  that little blond light bulb went off, and I found my before version in the garage.  I bought this ceramic vase, if you can call it a vase, at IKEA for $5 (maybe $4?)  Either way, flower stems barely fit in it, and the color was too blah.  So it sat.  And sat.  and collected dirt, dust and grim, in the garage.  But it was reborn recently, and I'm loving it!

 

This is 3-ply jute twine from Michaels.  40% off coupon, but it was only $5 to begin with.  I didn't use the whole roll either.

Really, grab your glue gun, vase, and some 3 ply jute and wrap as much or as little as you want.  That's it.

I basically glued a dot every 3rd or 4th row.  The initial row I glued around the entire circumference.  And, the bottleneck was tricky, and did take more glue too.  But all in all, a very quick and painless process.

 

 

 

And, since I had one key leftover from the framed key art project, I thought I'd try a form of display by hanging it on the neck of the bottle.

 

 

 

Did you notice this vase in the office?  :)  Make sure to check that post of for a list of upcoming posts.

So, there you have it.  Check another one off the list!  That's another project from my new office/craft room!  Don't you just love that texture?  Yum!  And, did you realize this is the same jute I used for my Valentine's Banner?  Check that out here. 

Toodaloo folks, until next time...

Milk Jug Musings

If you've been reading over the last few days (thank you to ALL MY FOLLOWERS!), you'll recall a lamp I posted about.  I believe, now, that the shape is that of an antique milk jug or a tea canister.  The difference is mine is ceramic, not tin/metal, and has a stoneware and floral pattern on it (plus a hideous pleated shade, that was so gross I couldn't even bring it in the garage, and just want to toss it...)

But, I paid $10 for it, it works, and it has potential.

While I still haven't found the exact project again that I had found prior, I have gotten some inspiration online over the last few days with lamp bases that look like mine, and what I could do to re-vamp the lamp.  (again, a note to self: bookmark your favorite project links!)

Let's get real.  Mine currently looks like this: 

 

 

 

But, there's hope!
Here's what I initially thought I would do:

 

Pottery Barn, $189, doesn't seem to be available online anymore.  Anyone know the name of this one?

But I found all these inspirations and got confused:

I just love this blue distressed vintage and lettering... plus, aren't those birds charming?  :)

 

I LOVE the shade on this one.  I think I have some fabric I could use to cover a drum shade when I find one.

(the above 2 from Shades of Light, but I can't seem to find their prices...)

I like the painted versions, and stenciled ones too!

So, this is where you come in!  Give me a heads up- what works, what doesn't?  Any of you painted a lamp before?  Share your projects!  Give me some advice!  I think this will go in our new office...

(via DecorPad I could do without the oval in the middle of the pattern)

Not quite a milk jug, but hey, it's my blog and it caught my eye :)

Here's a real milk jug project, again, from the girls over at Shanty 2 Chic!  :)

From Shades of Light, this one is $345!  I actually don't like this one, but it's the right shape, and it was still available online, for a price reference!

 (again, I don't like this one, but the shape is right, and it's good to look at different options)

Here's another REAL antique Milk Jug!  Rust and All! (from the Chattanooga Auction House)

($299, yes $299, the Madras Wrapped Lamp from Ethan Allen)

Oh, and Don't forget about our new feature TOMORROW, and every Friday:

Victory Of The Week

Link up with that project you finally tackled, or an inspiring story, or anything you feel victorious over.  See you then!

So, what'll it be?!

Valentine Heart String Banner

I'm totally ahead.of.the.game.  For once!

Did my teaser work?  Are you here to see the awesome project I taunted you with?  :)

Even though Valentines day is a whole month and a half away, and my birthday falls before the holiday (*ahem, February 5th, if you're sending presents*), you have to get prepped before the actual day right?

RIGHT?  So, here's what I made:

This project came to me yesterday during my trips to Michael's and Joann's.  All because of an impulse buy at the cash register.  I'm so glad to have and give into impulses every once in a while!


It's the crafting TRIFECTA:  Jute Twine.  Check.  Scrapbook paper and chipboard shapes.  Check.  Mod Podge.  check.  Why, this, this is the crafter's dream!



This was totally simple.  I followed the instructions I have read just about everywhere online for mod podging wooden picture frames.  In fact, I followed these instructions on the project posted at Just Something YOU made (closed now, but you can still see Cathe's main blog here)  for making valentines frames.

I had purchased some scrapbook paper yesterday, to update my collection, which sadly was over 10 years old.  (I hadn't been into crafts much in the last 10 years, so my material collections need updating...)  I picked out 8 different patterns from the two packs, and cut a small square the size that would cover the hearts.

Oh, the hearts!  I purchased two 4-packs, that were $0.90 each (had a 10% off coupon.  So, that's 8 hearts for $1.80) of chipboard hearts.  They had patterns on the front, but it didn't matter since I was covering them with paper.  I spread a thin layer of shimmer mod podge on the wooden hearts, and placed the papers on top.  I used a credit card to smooth out the surface to it'd be completely flat.

(can you see the shimmer mod podge?  It's really thin, and I was having a hard time photographing it!)

I let them dry for about an hour (I was patient!  BUT, I also grabbed another project to do while these dried...  :)  )  Then grabbed a medium grit sanding block that now will be housed with my craft box, and sanded the paper down.  This had sounded weird to me when I first read about it, but really, it's easy, and works like a charm to make super smooth, and finished looking edges.

 

Once all eight were done, I grabbed the distress ink pad, and bit my nails.  I've never used this before!  It worked like a charm though!  Because the pad is raised, you can rub it right in the area you need.  I rubbed on, then wiped off with a tissue.   The neat thing is it's a light color- almost like a tea stain.  They have many colors though, and I may go back for more later.  :) 

(before...)

 

(after!)

I didn't bother to mod podge over the top, since I only had the shimmer kind.  Although, now I'm thinking it may be a neat juxtaposition with the vintage looking distress ink, and a shimmer coat.  Hmm... the gears are turning.

Then, I cut a piece of the thick jute twine I purchased at Michael's in a length about 82" in length.  I had planned to hang this banner in the kitchen above the sink window, and also wanted to leave some overhang on the end for bows.  Aww.  How Sweet.

I added a line of hot glue to the back of the heart and pushed onto the twine.  This wasn't hard- it's like hot glue and twine have a love affair.  They stick together.  Really.  Together.  I glued each heart about 3" apart.  I didn't actually measure, just eyeballed it.

 

I love this banner!  So subtle.  I love the modern prints, but kind of looks country too.  I love the distressing.  I guess it's good karma to LOVE a LOVE banner!

 

(oh, and a sneak peak in this photo to another project I have yet to post.  Gosh, you're just in for a real treat!  Try not to peak too much though.)

So, take that!  First valentines project is done, and it's a success!  Now, I want to see yours!