Upcycled Wooden Pepsi Crate

I have converted my wooden Pepsi Crate into a wall shelf where I display my watering cans.

Click here for more wooden crate ideas.

Have a great week, and remember to:

Recycle, Reimagine, Repurpose, Reuse.

Until Next Time......

Nora

Upcycled Vintage Wooden Crates

I just love vintage wooden crates and can rarely resist adding another to my collection. I have found a great way to display an utilize the crates by converting them into wall shelves.

Since my walls are wallpaper over paneling I was able to just use drywall screws to secure my crates. I used some small screw hooks so I could display my tea cups.

I really like the rustic look. One of my crates is unique and has compartments that are perfect for displaying my little finds.

So... next time you come across one of those old wooden crates snatch it up for future display. Stay tuned next week when I'll show you my vintage converted Pepsi crate.

Have a great week, and remember to:

Recycle, Reimagine, Repurpose, Reuse.

Until Next Time......
Nora

Bread Box Makeover

I love vintage wooden bread boxes and the upcycling possibilities are endless. This box was a yard sale find that was in good shape, but needed a cosmetic makeover.

I decided to try some decoupage on the box. Since I knew the finished project was for my teenage daughter I wanted to try something upbeat. Somehow from that I got the idea to cover the box completely in words from magazines. I clipped and clipped and clipped finding a combination of fonts, colors and size.

I carefully layered the clippings trying to cover all the bare wood that would show when the door was closed. It was time-consuming, but very rewarding. I used watered down Elmer's glue for my decoupage medium. Once the piece was completely dry I used a water based sealer. I really love the way it turned out and more importantly my daughter loved it as well. She uses the recycled bread box to store her video games. Not only are the games a perfect fit, but the finished piece fits her teenage room decor nicely.

Have a great week, and remember to:
Recycle, Reimagine, Repurpose, Reuse.
Until Next Time......
Nora

For The Love Of Old Suitcases

I just love old suitcases. Every time I come across one I have a hard time refusing. They have so much character and come in so many different styles, colors, textures and sizes. These vintage finds are so versatile and have so many uses. My favorite way is to stack, stack and stack....

I often store my finds inside. The only problem with this is that after few months I forget what I have hidden away in the cases. I find myself pulling them down and searching each case to find my forgotten treasures. It's like Christmas Day or a great pick me up in the middle of winter when there are no Garage Sales to be found.

I know there are several ways to revamp old suitcases for new use. Maybe someday I'll give one these techniques a try. Until then I will continue to grab up every new case I find and stack away....

Have a great week, and remember to:
Recycle, Reimagine, Repurpose, Reuse.
Until Next Time......
Nora

My Return

Well.... it has been almost a year since my last post so I decided it was time start posting again.

My latest and greatest project was to collage up a vintage plate.

I have so many pretty yet plain vintage plates. This is a great way to display them. I really enjoyed this project and I can't wait to get started on another.

Have a great week, and remember to:
Recycle, Reimagine, Repurpose, Reuse.

Until Next Time......
Nora

Meet Aunt Agnus

Happy Monday Everyone. Today we have a special guest with us. I am happy to introduce Aunt Agnus to you. It is amazing what you can do with an old pair of panty hose. To make Aunt Agnus was a challenge. I started by hunting down clothing for her. I wanted the perfect suit, gloves, purse and hat.


Next she needed the perfect shoes.


Once I had all my supplies I started on her head. Using an old pair of nylons I stuffed away until I had something similar to the shape of a head. Next was the hardest part, her face. I had to keep starting over, but with practice I finally made a face. The hairdo was fun, I laid stuffing out on cardboard and spray painted it silver. Then I attached it to her head for hair and added some to her face for eyebrows.


The hands were not hard at all. I just stuffed an old pair of gloves.



I posed her hands around her purse. Aunt Agnus always has her purse on her lap. I wonder what she has it there that is so important??? It certainly isn't money.


Her legs and ankles were a bit difficult, but I just kept playing with them until I finally had a pair I liked. I wanted her ankles to be swollen and puffy for an authentic look.


The kids think she is creepy, but I like her. Since her torso is just pillows I can put her in a box when I am sick of her. When I get lonely I bring her back out and set her up for another visit. I sometimes forget she is visiting and am startled to walk in the living room and find her sitting in her chair. I have to go now, Aunt Agnus is calling. If she keeps this up I will be cutting her visit short.



Have a great week.

Recycle, Reimagine, Repurpose, Reuse.......................

Keep On Junking

Nora

Repurposed Gloves, Wreath & Metal Tray

Happy Monday Everyone. Today I am sharing a couple of quick projects. Let's start off with a thrift store pair of gloves. I lightly stuffed the inside of each glove and posed one on top of the other to my liking. I stitched here and there making sure they would keep the pose when hung upright. Next using my trusty hot glue gun I added tulle, ribbon and flowers. I added a heavy coat of tea stain and a wire hanger. I love the way they look displayed next to my vintage plate.

For my second quick project I wired a decorative metal tray to a thrift store wreath. Place the wreath face down on you work surface. Place the tray face down on top of the wreath. Hook your wire to the top back of the wreath. Run the wire down the back of the tray and connect to the bottom back of the wreath. Repeat one more time attaching at the sides. What could be easier?





Recycle, Reimagine, Repurpose, Reuse...............

Have a great week...

Keep On Junking
Nora

Thrift Store Tins

Happy Monday Everyone. I have a small collection of some unique tins and have been looking for a way to reuse them. I don't like to store items inside as I need my junk visible. These tins are widely available at my local thrift store and very inexpensive. Imagine my surprise when I found this upcycled treasure at Good Will. What a great way to repurpose your favorite or vintage tin and showcase some of your delicate keepsakes. I immediately purchased the tin and have been studying and examining in hopes to eventually craft my own version. I wish I knew who the original creator of this project was, whoever you are wonderful job.

For starters, wadded up paper (like a brown grocery bag) was placed inside the tin and then covered with a heavy weight fabric. The lid was attached and supported with the help of the sturdy paper and heavy weight fabric.



Trim was attached around the outer edge of the tin.



Finally, keepsakes were added such as a ceramic boot, small lace doily, tatting thread, embroidery floss, pocket watch, vintage perfume bottle, buttons and glass beads, lace, tea stained glove and some floral accents.





I hope this gives you the jest of the project and has inspired you to create your own....

Recycle, Reimagine, Repurpose, Reuse...............

Keep On Junking
Nora

Organization Helpers

If you are in need of some quick shelves to display or hold supplies think about using some old discarded drawers. I always snatch up mismatched ones from garage sales and thrift stores. I love the way they display my Hodge Podge collections. I seem to be drawn to the little animal figurines lately. I can't quite put my finger why... Do you ever wonder why you are intrigued with some of the things you hoard and collect?? I know my buttons are not very handy stored in the glass containers, but I think they look so pretty. I have learned to deal with the slight inconvenience.....

Recycle, Reimagine, Repurpose, Reuse...............

Have a wonderful weekend.

Keep On Junking
Nora

Organization

This morning I decided to inventory some of my junk. I started looking in my favorite stash places around the house. What an adventure. I very soon discovered I have shoved junk in every little nook and cranny my house has. My barn and garage are both at their maximum capacity. I have boxes under my bed. My closets are overflowing. I even have stuff hidden behind my couch. My poor son will probably never be able to use his top bunk again since I have it loaded up with boxes. In my despair I started to wonder, "what is it about repurposing and recycling that intrigues me the most"? Is it taking some poor unwanted discarded item and giving it new life for someone else to love? While I do find this transformation rewarding I know there is more to this madness. After pondering the subject awhile, it occurred to me it is the thrill of the hunt. Yep, I am so addicted to the hunt and the collecting I sometimes forget what this is all about. I have enough dishes to host a dinner party for at least one-hundred people. Zippers, I don't know what it is about zippers, but I have a drawer stuffed full of them. I collect windows, scales, coffee pots, lamps, jewelry, fabric, books, magazines, bottles, neckties, hardware, baskets, purses, ladders, furniture and the list goes on and on. I get a thrill out of hunting down and collecting all of this stuff. Before this craziness began I was so organized. Now, well by the time I find what I was looking for I forget why I wanted it. Yet, I know there is no possible way out. I am doomed to a life of hauling home every thrift store, garage sale and curbside cast-off I can find. I could never give it all up. I have come to the conclusion that organization is overrated.

Keep On Junking
Nora

Thrift Store Finds

My favorite place to shop in the winter is my local thrift store. Here are my latest finds. We all know I am addicted to bling. My latest craze seems to be watches. I want to use some of my watches to try making some steampunk jewelry. I just love the vintage little story books. The illustrations are wonderful. They remind me of my childhood days, so very long ago.....

Keep On Junking
Nora