Repurposing Dust Bunnies

Not really... But, please! please! please! let me be the one to come up with THAT idea.  

I have a friend who includes dust bunnies on her list of family pets.  

I myself use them as a “protective coating” on almost any surface in the house, but

I'm sure they have some other hidden potential.

Otherwise, why would God make them so plentiful?

Even if I can't yet repurpose dust bunnies I can repurposed these vintage light covers...

    
Repurposed Vintage Light Cover Tutorial

I've made hanging lanterns out of them for my fence.

You will need:

1. Discarded light cover with a lip.  I think it would be cute to use a mason jar as well.
2. Flexible heavy gauge wire
3. Wire cutters
4. Small solar light (purchased from Walmart's garden department for $2.50)
5. Clear silicon 
6. Hook for hanging

 Cut a length of wired about 10" longer than the circumference of the mouth of the light cover.

Twist the wire around the mouth of the cover forming two equal sized loops on each side. 

Snip off the extra stuff.

Cut a piece of wire for the handle.  Mine was about 22".  Using wire pliers, bend and curl the

ends, threading through each loop like you see in the picture.

Now, disassemble the solar light.  Just twist it's little tail right off.

You have to pull the little orange strip you see in the picture out to activate the light.

 It's hard to see but there is a little screw up in the open end of the light.  I put a little glob of 

silicon over the screw to block any moisture from getting into the light.

I just dropped the light down into the glob, making sure the light cell was 

facing up and open to the sun so it could do it's thing.  One of the globes was too large 

for the light to stand up in on its own so I used a large glob of glue 

in the bottom of it to hold the light upright.

The lights look great at night and really brighten up this little corner of my yard.

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ALERT!!!
   There's no fire or anything but I did just find this really cute, 
easy solar light project at Bobbypins Boardwalk 
 -- another super way to use the solar lights we found at 
Walmart for $2.50.  Check!  it!  out!

*To see the parties I link to and to join in the fun, CLICK HERE!

Linked to: DIY SHOW OFF

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Suite Little Guest Bedroom

I love a pretty little guest room.  

I decorated this one with a couple of my favorite 

little guests in mind...

Grand Twins Aubrey and Chloe!

The furniture was a hideous shade of mustard gold.  

That would explain why I paid only $250 for all 4 pieces!

 I made the tie backs out of flattened coke cans --  promise!

Just cut the shapes out, scored the details, spray painted red, gold leafed and antiqued.  

Sounds like a future tutorial ...

I found this pair of oil paintings for $50.  

They're old (the patina's real) and in less than perfect 

condition but I love them any ol' way.

Ask these two to do something they really don't want to do?

Chloe immediately holds up her finger to show you 

she can't (she has a hang nail) and 

Aubrey states flatly, "I can't want to, honey"!

Silly girls...

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I'm Linking up with 
Beverly's Pink Saturday!!!

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Please *click here* and take a look around 
my Etsy Store...

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Small Practice Paintings

A while back, I committed to painting "100 small practice paintings".  Not one a day like some very dedicated painters do (and I can only hope I might one day be a very dedicated painter) but just 100 of these tiny paintings, in all, ever.  This is a good approach for me -- not too much pressure,  keeping it open ended and the like.  Suits my personality because, really, I'm not a serious painter.

I paint for the fun of it.  And, sometimes, I paint fun things.  I'm on number 21 (and, yes, I'm counting) so I thought I'd post a few every once in a while starting with my first....

No. 1

8x6 - Oil on Canvas

No. 2

8x6 - Oil on Masonite

No. 3

6x9 - Oil on Masonite

No. 4

10x4 - Oil on Masonite

One day, when I get my online shop up and running, I plan to sell some of my paintings there.

I'm partying at the following Link Up parties:

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Dirty Little Secret....

I have a dirty little secret. These simple little covered night tables with their very clean lines started out life as one of these...

Nasty, I know.  But true.  I cleaned, sanded, and spray painted them using the last drop in more than one can and color of paint.  Waste not, want not.  It wasn't going to show anyway and wouldn't really bother anyone I know -- except maybe my mother.

I expanded the size of the top just a smidge because I wanted a little more space on top and because I needed the cover to drop down freely over the sides.   I glued a 1/2" piece of plywood the dimensions I wanted to the top using liquid nail and a small child to sit on it for a couple of hours while the glue dried.  Not really,  I used heavy books but I like the "small child" idea.

The topper was simple -- just four flaps cut to fit the four sides and 4 smaller flaps (mine are about 10" wide) cut to cover the corners.  I added the tiny bows to "cute" it up a little and to keep everything in place. 

All the extra storage comes in really handy.

So what's your secret?

*To see the parties I link to and to join in the fun, CLICK HERE!

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Elegant (plywood) Headboard

What can you make with a sheet of plywood, a can of black spray paint, a few scraps of pine, and a jigsaw?   Just about anything ...But, I've made a headboard for my master.  I've lugged this one around with me for years and I've loved it almost to death.  I may be changing it soon so I thought I'd post some pictures before I do something different.  I love it, really, what's not to love, just ready for a change...

1. Draw the pattern out on a large piece of paper by folding it in half and cutting a little away at the time until you get the shape you want.  I used a good piece of 3/4'' plywood that was finished on one side and turned long ways. 
2. Spray paint it black. 
3. Hand paint your design.  

Can't paint?  No problem.  Why not use a framed print you like, cut it out in a similar shape as mine, and decoupage it onto the headboard?

    4.  Cut the scrolls out of pine with a jigsaw, paint them red, and apply gold leaf.
    5.  Antique the entire headboard with a brown glaze.
    6.  Hang the headboard on the wall using a cleat made out of a 2x4.

Easier than you thought -- yes?

*To see the parties I link to and to join in the fun, CLICK HERE!

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