Wall Art Made From Old T-Shirt

Do you have any old shirts that you just can't get rid of? I'm in the middle of a t-shirt quilt, but this shirt was too gorgeous to just throw it in with the other ones. So I decided to wrap it around an old canvas. And then I made a mistake. Let's take a look.


Isn't it pretty?


The glue leaked through the shirt, and there's nothing that I could do to fix it! I am so frustrated.

I'm trying to figure out what to put on top of it. On the plus side, it'll have some texture now. On the other hand, I liked the simple look of just the phoenix.

I'm not sure how many of my eight (8!) followers are actually reading along, but if you are, I'd love some advice as to what to put over it!

Sneak Peak of Decoupaged Vintage Trunk

So this trunk project is taking up a bit more time than I expected. I've finished decoupaging the top, and am almost done putting new contact paper on the inside, but now I'm left with the dilemma of replacing the handles. I'm probably going to end up using rope, but I'll leave that for another day! For now, here's a sneak peak of the top.



I just want to sit and stare at it for hours.

Recycled Credit Cards Mosaic

Since I have clearly been slacking with my upcycling, I thought I'd show you guys a great project that I saw over at Finecraftguild.com.



Isn't this great? It's made out of old credit cards and empty gift cards. I know I'm going to start scouring my house for old plastic cards!

Click the link below to be forwarded to the free tutorial at Fine Craft Guild!

Salvation Army Find and Thrifty Ways to Save

So about a month ago I was going through my local GoodWill looking for clothes to wear to work (going from working at a daycare to an office requires a big wardrobe adjustment!) when I came upon this great old trunk.

It needs a LOT of fixing...the top has writing on it, the handles are broken, and the inside is, for lack of better word, GROSS.

Yeesh. I am currently in the process of putting contact paper inside, but am having trouble working around the hinge. I'd rather not have to take out the screws completely, but it looks like I'll have to.


And now some thrifty options!

Swagbucks:

Swagbucks.com is a site that rewards you 'points' just for using their search engine. I have it downloaded in my toolbar, so my computer uses it automatically. I just joined about a month ago and already earned enough points for a $5 Amazon giftcard!

Swaptree:

Swaptree is a nifty little website that allows you to trade books, DVDs, CDs, videogames, and other types of media with people from around the country. All you do it enter the ISBN number above the bar code of any items you have laying around that you no longer want. This creates your 'Have list.' Then you type in the names of any books, CDs, etc. that you want. Any time what your have and want list corresponds with someone else, you receive an e-mail telling you how to make the trade. All that you have to pay for is the shipping of your package. I traded away one of my books in exchange for Chuck Palahnuik's Invisible Monsters.

I am a terrible blogger

Seriously, the absolute worst! However, in four days I'll be home from college for the summer, and I just have so many ideas in my head and projects bookmarked on my computer, and I CAN'T WAIT! I always feel so unproductive while I'm at school, because really, I can't exactly take all my craft supplies with me. And I'm pretty sure I'd get some odd looks if I started sewing something in the dorm...thus my craftiness remains a secret, haha. Can't wait to get home and start blogging again!

A little more about my little dinosaur!

I added a little bow to my burlap giraffe to cover up the heinous sewing job! A little more about the teal giraffe- the fabric for the belly was from an old pair of velvet pants, and the teal was from a pocketbook I made in 5th grade! The whole thing is so fuzzy and precious. So far I've finished three stuffed animals without having to buy a thing! Repurposing is perfect for the broke college student. =)

One of these things is not like the other one!

So I've finished my teal giraffe and I daresay, it looks more than a bit out of place. (I'm a little in love with giraffes-those are just a small sampling of my collection) But hey, it was a request! And my friend can't complain that it looks like a dinosaur, because she asked for teal!
One of the four pieces that are going on that blank wall in my bedroom. The bird is made from magazine cutouts, the wire was just laying around somewhere, and the ribbon is left over from the project below! I got 4 frames on sale at Michaels for $4.99 each!
I know, I know. This is not upcycling. When I began my room re-do ohh about two years ago, my mom bought a second duvet cover to make curtains for my windows...needless to say I have a ton of extra fabric, so I covered an old corkboard that I had.


I'm linking this to

A Question for my Fellow Crafters

How do you organize your list of crafts to do in the future? As of right now, I'm just using bookmarks, but it takes so long to find the right link I need! Also, I can never remember what I labeled something. I was thinking of creating a word document with a link and picture of the project, but I wouldn't want to have to update that every time I find a new craft I want to try. So- how do you keep track of things?

One Success, One Failure!

So, last night, around 6 AM (yes, I know 6 AM is technically morning, but since I hadn't gone to sleep yet I still consider it night!) I got an urge to clean my room. And look at this great find! It's an old shoe bag, made out of this great brown fuzzy material, perfect for my stuffed animal project. I'm going to try to make all of them without buying any materials, and only using things that I have. I'm almost done with the second animal, another giraffe, but this one is teal, and to be frank, looks slightly like a dinosaur. Oh well.

Now on to the fail!
Me trying to take a new profile picture...didn't work out so well! Be glad I put that slash over my face because I look like a major creep! But I'd also like to bring attention to the huge blank wall behind me! It's the largest wall in my room, and I'm hopefully going to be decorating it a little tonight!

I have so many great things to put in my room, but unfortunately, most of them are not upcycled. Perhaps when it's completed I'll post pictures anyway, and you can laugh at me for being so un-environmentally friendly!

New Project

So, while I was at school I was a little over-ambitious, and promised all of my friends that I'd make them stuffed animals! This is 1 out of 7 completed. I made this for my friend Lizzy. I still need to add some horns and then put a little bow over the ear I messed up but was too lazy to fix


(See the ear? This darn fabric frayed) Speaking of fabric, the burlap fabric is from an old scarecrow costume, the felt is recycled from a giraffe costume that I made for myself in 10th grade, and the flower fabric is from my grandma's stash. Cost? Free!

Mini-Wreath

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted! I've had a really bad sinus infection that I just can't seem to shake, including a cough I've had since I've been home for break!


Luckily, I managed to get a little crafting done during my illness! I bought the wreath at AC Moore on clearance for a dollar, the button is from one of my mom's old jackets, and the fabric and lace was donated from my grandma. The little hearts are even stuffed with a used plastic bag! We needed a little Valentine's Day cheer in the house, and only for a dollar!

Crafthope

All proceeds of the Craft Hope Etsy shop will benefit Doctors Without Borders in Haiti. Certainly a great cause. Button is a link to visit the shop, to donate an item visit http://crafthope.com/

Cards out of Wrapping Paper

So, even though Christmas was three weeks ago, I only got around to doing something with the paper tonight. My aunt, who is an avid scrap-booker and very crafty person wrapped everything with the most adorable paper, and I of course ran around making sure that no one crumpled it up so I could use it later!



The bases of these cards are actually old envelopes that I received birthday cards in (mind you, my birthday is in June. I save almost EVERYTHING, it drives my mother crazy). I just cut off the flaps and folded the face of the envelope in half. This craft was completely free and made out of things that would otherwise had been thrown away. I'm going to add a little note on the back requesting that the recipients recycle the cards too :)


Of course, this can be used for any holiday! But you knew that already.

I made this birthday card for my friend who's turning 18 tomorrow. After seeing that I am obviously not good at freehand lettering I decided that I am going to have to stamp the messages on the Christmas cards, teehee. Hope he doesn't get the wrong impression with all those hearts.

Modge-Podge Plate

Don't judge me on the teeny plate stand...I know it's much too small! So this project was made from a Lillian Vernon plate I got for 2 bucks at a thrift store. I just cut out the bird image in a black fabric and modge-podged it on...very simple! I think it looks really cute and will fit in great with my room.

Introductory Post:

Yes, I am doing this whole blogging thing entirely out of order.
This is me! Hi everyone, I'm Kim! I'm a freshman in college, and as I mentioned before, I have a goal in life to be as eco-friendly as possible. This means being one of those hippie do-gooders who lug around reusable shopping bags and give everyone who'll listen lectures about the use of plastic water bottles. I've successfully converted 2/3 of my immediate family to stainless steel bottles! The picture here is one of the first taken of me at around 12:10 on January 1st. So, to everyone, a very belated happy new year! I hope you haven't given up on your resolutions yet...and if you have, it's not too late to create more practical ones!
Some of mine include:
1. Becoming more physically fit-I've started taking hot yoga with my friend Coral, and once I get back to school I'll finally have a free gym again!
2. Eat healthier- Being a vegetarian at college is hard. I feel like all I eat is starch!
3. Actually follow through with this blogging business.
4. FINALLY finish renovating my room. Promise I'll post pictures when I'm done!
5. Start working on decorations for my apartment that I'm moving into in September.

That's about it for now...I hope you enjoy my crafts thus far, and subscribe to see more!

So....about being a good blogger =P

Instead of giving a sorry speech about how much of a failure I am at blogging, I'm just going to post some crafts I've been working on! I have off from college until February 8th, which you may know, is exceptionally long for a winter recess. So after my friends go back to school, which many of them already have, I am going to have ample time for shopping through thrift stores, crafting and blogging! (Gosh I love commas!)



This is gorgeous. I WISH I could take credit for this. This picture frame is made from upcycled magazines, and was a gift from my mom!


Okay, how gross is this? Who decided that painting a faux aged silver finish would look good? And just WHAT is that grey gunk?


Tada! Scrubbed off the gunk and gave it a fresh coat of paint. I can't get over how adorable this frame is now that it's monotone.


Gathered all the supplies I needed for this project...check in over the next few days to see what it becomes!


Gosh this is tacky. I think I just turned crap into more crap. Made entirely from things I had just laying around. This is what happens when I craft while watching movies. I'm sure I can find something to do with it though!