Modge Podge Shoes!

When I get serious about an evening refocus (from preoccupied, tired house-pick-up to BaBoom Craft Rejuvenation!) I don't waste much time. :-D

I saw modge podged SHOES here at Modge Podge Rocks, and dashed to my closet to find a suitable pair for experimentation. Flats might have worked better, but these were all I could come up with, on short notice.
Once upon a time, I wore these pumps with my navy sailor-type dress. As you can see, though, the toes were wearing out.


I simply grabbed some material, cut it slightly larger than I needed (semi-followed these steps at Make It & Love It, except that I had to cut separate pieces for the toes and heels) and thickly modge podged it on.

The shoes are a bit stiffer than I expected, but should wear in fairly soon (actually, in these pictures, the outside wasn't even completely dry-- should've waited just a bit longer, and I need to take my exacto knife around the edges, for a smoother finish.)


Best of all, I used OUTDOOR modge podge, so they'll be suitable for things like this...




Well, kinda suitable.

I do almost anything in a skirt and heels... remember the horseback riding pictures? ;-)



Yay! I feel the juices flowing again. Quick, hand me some paints! Send me some links, share some ideas! Get your craft on!

Playing Lampapalooza!

"It's time for us to share our lighting adventures with each other!" -Nester
I found a cheap-y white 50's lamp at a yard sale a few weeks ago.
Nothing in my house stays white for long.
Here's an "artistic shot" that Nature Man took while I was doin' my thing!

Like the polka dots? They make me happy.
(And, yes, I did the little table while I was at it.)
For the dots, I used my trusty 2 5/16" hole punch with scrapbook paper.
I let the kids do the designing, and I helped them do the decoupaging.

Gotta add some fun details, too, even if we're the only ones who notice.
Dash chose blue dots for the inside of the shade.

Random decorating happiness

Sometimes I just need to do something crafty for fast therapy. You know, those days when everything kinda goes wrong, and you just need a pick-me-up in the evening, instead of doing the pile of laundry. So, I decided to recover all of my light switches and outlet plates, starting in the kitchen and living room.

Before (plain, blah... the wall color is off too.)

After (happy swirliness)

Kitchen covers

The polka dot, below, was my first attempt at fabric covering, and I think it turned out pretty nice... and the coating on top makes it wipe-able.

What do you think? It's not perfect by any means. And, yes, I realize that my switch plates probably need a good scrubbin'... but the point is that it makes me smile. And I like things that make me smile. :-)

desk makeover

I'm cheap. I can admit that. I do not like to buy things new. I L-O-V-E deals.

And free is even better.

During fall clean-up week, the kids and I were out walking and we came across this discarded kid's desk. Sure, it doesn't look like much....but I saw potential: sturdy, real wood, flip-top, compartments on top...

The kids walked home, and I brought this baby back in the red wagon.

BEFORE

Nothing a little paint and decoupage can't cure.

AFTER

Yeah, I found this in the fall and just got around to pretty-ing it up. Too many projects, too much to do and so little time. I'd love to tell you about my "secret laundry ingredient," but it will have to wait. I'm being kicked off the computer.

(This post can also be found here on Family Crafts)

The decorating bug!

Okay, come on. You can tell me. What have you been up to?? I know I'm not alone in the household jitteries. Christmas was barely over when I started packing all the stuff away. It's so beautiful and fun to decorate...but then it seems to suffocate me and my house. Just too much STUFF. So away it went, back to the attic and shed to await another crisp November day.

And then it happened. I was bit by the decorating bug. "Things must change," the little critter whispered. "Do this." and then "what about that?"

And before I know it I'm painting and modge podging, and the kids are finger-painting and doing block creations, side walk chalk, and sculptures.

I received some beautiful papers for Christmas.

Remember my philosophies regarding my home? "It doesn't have to be perfect to be Beautiful" (from the Nester, of course,) and "Why NOT?" Anything is fair game if I enjoy it. As long as it makes me smile (and my husband can live with it,) then it passes the test. What freedom and fun!!

This is a pic of the counter side, in progress. See all those scuff marks and doodly drawings? Away they went, under cover of whimsy paper.

And here is the finished project. Something sweet, colorful, cheerful...

I modge podge my stuff on, and then spray it with this wonderful stuff:

Spray it on a nice day, so you can open the windows. This stuff is smelly!

Next I went after the kitchen/schoolroom door. The new color plus Nature Man's rocket picture made it perfect!

Then the sewing table at the end of the hall. It was plain white before. Wish I had thought to take "before photos."

Isn't this fun paper?! Ahhhh.... refreshing.

When I ran out of obvious stuff to glue paper to, I began rearranging, and bringing nature treasures in. I love these wild sticks. Mrs. Smiley and I gathered them on a hike the other day. (I still have yours, by the way.)

Some here, some there, some everywhere, even on the lights. :-) That is definitely a smile-inducer for me. I love nature, sunshine, and God's creation is certainly better than anything I could create to go up there!

Oh, and here's a plate I moved. See the new wire birdie that my sis gave me? I know, it's not a great picture. Trust me, the bird is precious.

So, what have you been up to?
Give me some more ideas! :-)

Dick and Jane

At our house, we love Dick and Jane books. Not just for the cute pictures, sweet kids that get along and help each other. But also for the clothes. Can't help but adore those lovely retro clothes. Pin It

My kids have been wanting a block puzzle for awhile now. We saw one months ago at an Amish restaurant. Loved it, but couldn't afford it.

So I made one for the kids the other day. Simple, simple. Lay block on picture. Trace block shapes. Cut out. Glue on blocks. Polyurethane for durability. Viola.

I've only done one side of the blocks so far, because I haven't found fitting pictures yet for the other sides.

I want to do photo ones next...

more projects...decoupage!

I'm just having soooo much fun with this.
As you can see, I've been neglecting housework time, to do fun craft time with the kids, after school.

We all sit at the table, cutting, gluing and generally just having a merry time. This is during afternoon-baby-naptime, if the school stuff is done. Oliver almost always takes a 2-hour afternoon nap, so even if we still have work to do, we can usually get it done for some kind of craft!!

I decoupaged my knife block. Fun, fun.

Then my living room platter.

And then a cutting board to display in my kitchen.

What a neat way to showcase my favorite art. I'm so glad I rediscovered the thrill of the scissors and glue! YEA !

Ohhhh..and speaking of art. Check out God's handiwork. Aren't these birds just beautiful? I'm so glad that they discovered the kids' birdhouses. They've been coming every day.