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Hot Summer Nights: Paradise By The Back Porch Light

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This past memorial day weekend, my husband and I were determined to get the yard ready for summer.  My daughter received an Easy Set Intex Pool from her Uncle and Aunt for Christmas and we could not wait to get the pool setup and operational.  My daughter’s 4th birthday this year will have a pool party theme, and the date for the party is quickly approaching.  My husband and I leveled out the ground in the area the pool would be placed.  We laid down a tarp and spread the pool out.  These inflatable Easy Set’s are great starter pools, and in our case the simpler the better since this is our first attempt at putting up a pool.

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We inflated the ring with a pump, and from the inside smoothed out the lining.  It took all day to fill.  The next day, we hooked up the filter, placed chlorine tabs in the floater, and assembled the ladder.  The water was very cold, so I hopped in to the pool for a test run.  For the most part everything went great and the set up was easy.  I was disappointed to find some parts in the lining that were not as smooth as we had wanted.  I can’t stress enough the importance of making sure the ground is clear of any debris and level.  Even after all our careful work, what seemed smooth at the surface was not always the case.  Once the weight of the water pressed the ground flat, some rocks and roots underground seemed to appear out of nowhere through the lining.  That being said the only way to remedy this would be to drain the pool and remove the debris from the area to smooth it out.  Until it is necessary to do so, we are going to take our chances.  I would feel guilty wasting all that water!  Luckily the pool came with plenty of patches if needed.

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We purchased a few fun summer signs from Dollar Tree and lined the fence with them for added decoration.

I  also accomplished a few smaller projects.  I had a decorative metal star that I picked up at Christmas Tree Shop.  It was on clearance and I was never happy with the tan color.  I surmised that this was most likely the reason why it was on clearance.

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Since it was Memorial day and the house was decorated in Americana….

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I had some extra Rust-Oleum red spray paint, and I sprayed on a quick coat.  I like the star better now that it is red and I purchased it for half the price!

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The other area I wanted to address was the corner of the yard by the pool. There is a rather large tree stump in this area.  Some time ago, I blogged about ideas here.

I struggled with what to do with this stump for some time.  This weekend that changed.  I decided to make it a fun project for my daughter and I to do together.  I had an old broken wooden TV tray.  I removed the table top from the legs and screwed it on to the tree stump surface.  My neighbor had given me some decorative, shells, glass pebbles and decorative rock. I thought it would be fun for us to create a mosaic table top for it.  I used some old tile grout and glue in one and spread it onto the table surface evenly.  The toddler apprentice and I then applied the rocks and glass pebbles.  We wiped off any excess grout and allowed it to dry overnight.  I used the unused legs of the TV tray as a garden trellis, another great re-purpose!  My goal was to use as much of the table as possible. Mission accomplished!

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I placed the shells around for decoration.   Now Mommy has a place to put “her” sippy cup and relax by the pool, while my daughter has fun exploring and playing with the various sea shells.

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Since this spring has been a bit sparse in the rain department, our grass took a hit and much of it died.  Once all the yard work was done, we raked the yard and spread out grass seed in the hopes of bringing our lawn back to life!  Once the grass grows under our feet, our little backyard oasis will be complete!

What do you have planned for your backyard oasis?  Do you have any summer projects you are eager to complete?  How do you like to kick off summer?

Sultans of Swap: Flea Market Fun In The Sun

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This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to participate in my first ever Flea Market.  The sale of spaces benefited my daughter’s school, so of course I jumped at the chance to get involved.  I was a bit nervous.  It was the first time I have attempted to sell my projects.  I also had some additional spring cleaning items to sell as well and anything I can do to create additional space in my overloaded craft room is a definite plus.

Let me start off by saying, I have been to a lot of swap meets, yard sales and flea markets as a buyer, but never as a seller.  It is hard work preparing, pricing and hauling your goods to the sale location.  I have a new respect for those who can make a living at it and participate in sales on a regular basis.

I am in no way an expert at this, but I thought I would share with you all what I learned from this experience.

So, How did the modern flea market get its name?

The first flea markets were in Paris and they were called marché aux puces which translates to ‘market with fleas’. Flea market first appeared in English in 1922 as a translation of the French market’s name.

When Preparing, Take Care of as much as you can the night before

Since most flea markets start bright and early, and I am a night owl by nature,  I loaded the car and any other items needed for my sale the previous night.  This allowed me to get a good night sleep and wake up and leave the next day without scrambling at the last-minute.

Show up on time or early for set up

This was the fun part.  Setting it all up so it is pleasing to the eye.  Leave yourself enough time so as to not feel rushed.

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Mark all prices clearly and have a backup plan

I devised a color coding system.  Also when marking your prices, keep a mental note of how low you are willing to go with price.  I marked my prices a little higher so that I had some “wiggle” room.

Plan for a long day in the hot sun

If you have a canopy or beach umbrella, it is a good idea to bring it.  Make sure to bring plenty of sun block, dress accordingly (avoid dark colors that attract the sun) Wear a hat and sunglasses and bring plenty of fluids and a snack.

Bring tables or other items to properly display your merchandise

I found that items more visible, and that didn’t require a lot of effort to look through sold better.  A clothes rack, table or even a sheet or mat placed on the ground is essential when displaying your items.  If people have too put a lot of effort in they will move on quickly to a competitor’s table.

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Don’t Just Sit There… Get up and Sell!!

I found I gained more interest in my items when I talked to people and said “Hi”  Sitting their idle watching people come and go doesn’t sell stuff, but being a social butterfly DOES even when the turn out is low.

Talk about what you do and PROMOTE

I created plenty of business cards, and even sign explaining what Upcycling is.  People’s curiosity would get the better of them and they would stop to read the sign.  It was a great conversation starter!

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Bring Singles and 5 dollar bills to make change and wear a fanny pack!

I brought about $40 dollars in cash.  I used 25 singles and four 5 dollar bills and found this to be enough to make change.  It is better to wear a fanny pack or apron to keep change, pens and tape in.  Leaving money unsupervised in a box even for a minute, creates a potential for theft.

Make Friends and Connections!

Even though the turn out was less than spectacular, I still managed to socialize with other vendors and make personal connections.  I met a really nice woman who runs a local consignment shop, and my flea market neighbor and I helped each other when the other had to take a bathroom break.  The nice lady next to me even helped complete a sale while I walked away for a moment!

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Oh and Don’t Forget to take a Flea Market Selfie!

What are you doing to prepare for this Flea Market Season? Do you have any tips for sellers not mentioned here?  Do you have willpower when it comes to buying things at a flea market when you are there to sell?

Two Years, One Sale- On The Upcycle

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This April 27th 2015 marks the two-year anniversary of this blog and my creative mission to reuse, re-purpose and restyle.

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For me, Upcycling is all about having fun and being creative with items that would otherwise be discarded.  The biggest challenge for me has been the writing. I love to craft, but I struggle with writer’s block from time to time.  The ideas for projects often come but the words to adequately describe them do not. Although I am not blogging with quite the same frequency as I once was, I am still happy that I was able to continue and complete a few larger and more challenging projects this past year, like my Lane Cedar Hope Chest. After two years of creating I am inevitably left with too many items and not enough room to keep them all. I was excited to hear that my daughter’s school is sponsoring a flea market in early May.  This seemed like a great oppurtunity to have my first “flea market experience.” I have never tried to sell my projects before, so this is a huge first step for me.  What better way to re-energize and make room for new projects?

It’s spring cleaning time for On The Upcycle. That being said, it’s also a fun time to squeeze in a few smaller projects in the days leading up to the sale.

I love wooden boxes and picked this one up for 99 cents at Goodwill.  I didn’t care for the boxes original design, but the box itself was in great shape.

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I used a spray on white primer to properly cover the previous design on the box.

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I had a nice celestial print.  I have been in a colorful mood lately and wanted to utilize a design with a lot of color

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I applied Mod Podge with a brush, and placed the print on the box top and front.

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I painted the box blue and pink to match colors contained within the print

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This whimsical celestial themed box is one of the items crafted specifically for the sale.

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Here are a few photo’s of previous projects I have agreed to part with for the upcoming sale:

Peacock Table
peacock table before and after

Star Wars Kid Chair:

Star Wars Themed Fabric Decoupage Chair

Strawberry Shortcake Kids Chair:

Upcycled Strawberry Shortcake Kids Record Chair

Kids School Desk:
Upcycled Kids School Desk

Happy Earth day to all of my friends!! How are you celebrating today? Do any of you have experience with Flea Market sales? I would love to hear from you! Any tricks of the trade or friendly advice?

A Pre-Christmas Miracle: Altered Upcycling’s Holiday Giveaway!

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I couldn’t wait to share the news with all of you! The very talented Mahe Zehra Husain (MZ) from Altered Upcycling fame is at it again!  This year she is organizing the biggest holiday giveaway EVER! From the 15th of November to the 25th of December.  Altered Upcycling is giving away different e-books and products weekly.  All you have to do is visit: http://www.alteredupcycling.com/christmas-giveaway join Altered Upcycling’s Facebook Page and sign up on the right to have the links sent to your inbox.  It’s that simple!

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The Green Craft Lifestyle Christmas Addition available November 15th through the 21st of November features an “On The Upcycle” Project Pickled Lamp: “On The Upcycle” Christmas Craft

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Other Freebies include:

ALICE IN WONDERLAND DIGITAL DIORAMA KIT
THE MIXED MEDIA COOKBOOK
PAPER DOLL BONANZA
PLANNERS

Be sure and check it out!  I can’t think of a better way to treat yourself for the holidays!

Watching The Paint Dry: 50 Questions With “On The Upcycle”

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It has been hectic to say the least behind the scenes.  I have several projects to share, but this week, I have been working on a family table re-finish.  It has been extremely humid in my area, and it is taking forever and a day for the oil based paint to dry.  Not to mention, I added a little too much stain, which made the table a nice dark color, but only added to the length of time it took for the piece to dry!  In the meantime, I have been catching up in between projects,  and an increasingly busy schedule on my WordPress reading.   

Last year, I was invited by Elise at  Cheeky Geeks  to take part in her blog’s annual Geek month.

In the spirit of Throw Back Thursday, and for those who missed the original post you may want to check it out (especially if you are an “1980’s geek” like I am.)  I upcycled an old kid’s chair using an old Strawberry Shortcake record.

Upcycled Strawberry Shortcake Kids Record Chair

Be sure and stop by Elise’s blog for this year’s geek month.  If you are anything like me and have a “Geeky” side you will enjoy following Elise on her Geek Month journey.

Cheeky Geeks : Geek Month Celebration

Elise also had a challenge for me if I was willing to accept:  Answer 50 questions about myself.   It would seem that she is interested to know a bit more about the women behind the Upcycle.  Seemed like a great time to accept this challenge, while I quite literally wait for the paint to dry….

  1. What are you wearing?-Yoga pants and a rock tee. I am all about comfort!
  2. Ever been in love? Yes, and I love, love!
  3. Ever had a terrible breakup? I went through a divorce, what do you think?
  4. How tall are you? 5 feet 4 inches
  5. How much do you weigh? It’s never polite to ask a lady her weight!
  6. Any tattoos? Two black animal paw prints on the top of my foot
  7. Any piercings? 3 piercings in one ear, two on the other
  8. OTP (one true pair, favorite fictional couple)? Kristoff and Anna from Frozen.  My daughter is into Disney at the moment!
  9. Favorite show? Game of Thrones
  10. Favorite bands? Too many to list, but Rock N Roll is my first love
  11. Something you miss?- My Grandfather Vincent
  12. Favorite song? Right now? “I Got A Name” Jim Croce
  13. How old are you? 39 and holding on for dear life!
  14. Zodiac sign? Aries
  15. Quality you look for in a partner? No question sense of humor!
  16. Favorite Quote? “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans” John Lennon
  17. Favorite actor? Peter Dinklage I love, love him!
  18. Favorite color? Purple
  19. Loud music or soft? Loud
  20. Where do you go when you’re sad? Unfortunately, inside my head.
  21. How long does it take you to shower? 10 minutes I have to be quick I have a toddler!
  22. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? 30 minutes
  23. Ever been in a physical fight? yes, but I was forced
  24. Turn on? Kindness
  25. Turn off? Elitism
  26. The reason I started blogging? I wanted to share my thriftiness with others, and I love to write!
  27. Fears? Not being able to see my daughter grow up
  28. Last thing that made you cry? My daughter
  29. Last time you said you loved someone? Today
  30. Meaning behind the name of your blog?It popped in my head one day. I kept thinking of the song “Little Suzi’s on the Up” by the band PhD.
  31. Last book you read? OMG embarrassing, All my reading is on the computer!
  32. The book you’re currently reading? Ummm refer to # 31
  33. Last show you watched? Big Bang Theory
  34. Last person you talked to?-My husband
  35. The relationship between you and the person you last texted? My sister
  36. Favorite food? Eggplant parm and Spaghetti
  37. Place you want to visit? Ireland
  38. Last place you were? At Work
  39. Do you have a crush? Do girl crushes count? Check out this awesome blog: AussaLorens.com
  40. Last time you kissed someone? Today
  41. Last time you were insulted? LOL probably every day, but most likely I don’t know about it!
  42. Favorite flavor of sweet? Sour Patch Kids
  43. What instruments do you play? I tried guitar, but could never catch on, I played the clarinet in elementary school
  44. Favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding ring
  45. Last song you sang? Heart “Magic Man”
  46. Favorite chat up line? I don’t have one! It’s whatever pops into my head at any given time.
  47. Have you ever used it? N/A
  48. Last time you hung out with anyone? Last weekend.
  49. Who should answer these questions next? I wanna know more about Daniela Joe If she’s willing to give it a go!
  50. LOL 50 Questions?  I think I am missing something here…

What it means to be a Good Neighbor: A nomination and Aqua Corps.

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It has been a hectic week of travel  with not much time for crafting.  Yesterday, I was so pleased to find out my blog “On The Upcycle” was nominated for a Good Neighbor award.  The Good Neighbor Award is for someone you’ve met in the blogging world you wish could be your real-life neighbor.   Thanks to Katherine from Pillows Ala Mode for sponsoring such an award.  I was truly honored and touched that someone took the time out of their day to say something nice about something I care so much about!  I wish Katherine a very happy 2nd blogging anniversary and thank her for all the support she has shown to someone new to this world!  Talk about an amazing neighbor! Congratulations to Crafty Staci who won the award and grand prize!  Check out all the nominees here!

It made me think that being a good neighbor also means helping the less fortunate people around you.  My friend told me about a local group in the area that helps the less fortunate of Camden, NJ called Aqua Corps. 

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Aqua Corps feed the homeless, host Thanksgiving day dinners for the homeless, and perform community outreach for the less fortunate people in Camden.  They are trying to raise money to purchase a permanent location for their cause at The Hero Network.  Be sure and support them if you can.  To learn more about Aqua Corps and what they do to help the homeless  Click Here.

Thanks again to all my WordPress neighbors who have taken the time to stop by my home online and be so kind.  Means the world to have the support of such an incredibly talented bunch!

The Versatile Blogger Award.

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I wanted to say a big “Thank You!” to Diana, at Ray’s Sew Crafty  For Nominating “On The Upcycle” for a VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD!!   It is nice to be recognized in such a way, and it is also great to know that others enjoy reading my little blog.  Such things encourage me to keep exploring new ideas and The Word Press Community is such a supportive environment in which to do it.  For those of you I nominate, If you are not already aware, Here are the rules for “officially” excepting the nomination, being a bit of a newbie myself, this was helpful for me:

1. Display the Award Certificate on your blog.

2. Announce your win with a post and thank the blogger who nominated you.

3. Present 15 deserving bloggers with the award.

4. Link your nominees in the post and let them know of their nomination with a comment.

5. Post 7 interesting things about yourself.

So, here it goes.  Seven things you may not know about me

1. During most of my 20’s I worked as a Veterinary Technician at an Animal Hospital. I am a huge animal lover and advocate.

2.  I have one tattoo on the top of my foot, two black paw prints. I got in Las Vegas in 2009, my only trip there.

3.  I love all music in particular,  Heavy Metal and 80’s hard rock, back in the day they would call me a ” head banger”

4. I started this blog in April of this year. (2013)  This will be my 108th blog post!

(The first Mod Podge project I tried was in March 2013.  I always loved the arts, and being creative, but had no idea I would enjoy crafting so much!  I also, initially had no plans to start a blog. )

5.  I am a HUGE Game of Thrones fan, and have a major crush on Peter Dinklage.

6. I studied Art in college, but decided to drop out and attend Veterinary Assistant school instead.

7.  I played softball in High school (My position was catcher), and was a member of the bowling team.

Here are my versatile blogger nominations.  There are so many great blogs out here, I wish I could nominate you all.  Here is a list of “Versatile” bloggers.  Be sure and check out their blog’s.  Each one of them is great and I read them almost every day.

1. Michelle At Play

2. A Curious Girl

3. Upshabby

4. Crafts and Coffee

5. Cheeky Geeks

6. The Clutter Removing Erythrocyte

7. Row’s Pottery Shed

8. Love Library

9. Little Fingers Big Art

10. Living With My Ancestors

11. Mod Flowers

12. Anna Cull Illustration and design

13. South Jersey Explorer

14. The Laughing Nanny

15. Roof Top Creations

Growing Pains: 7 Mistakes I Have Made “On The Upcycle”

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Tonight I thought I would, share with you all a few things I have learned the hard way through crafting, decoupaging, upcycling, and blogging.  It is certainly not as easy as it looks and I have acquired quite a few bumps and bruises along the way!

1. High Temperature hot glue guns are as advertised: 

For many years, I used a small low temperature glue gun.  As many of you already know these do not adhere as well as the high temp guns.  I thought I would treat myself, to a newer glue gun.  When I used it for the first time, I inadvertently stuck my hand into the hot  gooiness and boy did I regret it.  It didn’t just burn a little it burned A LOT, and  I adhered two of my fingers together!

High Temp Hot Glue Gun by Ad Tech

2. Mod Podge + Mod Podge =DISASTER:  Mod Podge is a magical substance, but at the end of the day it is simply a glue and adhesive.  When storing furniture made with Mod Podge it is important to not allow two pieces of furniture to be stored in such a way that they “lean” up against each other.  I once had a TV tray that was stuck to a chair, and rip!  Thanks goodness I was able to re-paint and repair the damaged tv tray! Lesson learned!

3. Decoupage over Decoupage = DISASTER:  When decoupaging, always make sure you are adhering to the “flat” original surface of a project and that the material you are using, fabric, paper, ect does not overlap with the same. This creates a uneven surface prone to wrinkles and air bubbles.  If you are decoupaging a material like paper onto a brightly colored surface be sure the material is think enough to prevent the color from “bleeding through.”

4. Treat your paint brushes as you would want to be treated:  There is nothing worse than projects ruined or further complicated by poorly cared for paint brushes with loose bristles that find their way forever embedded in a project, Or the poorly rinsed brush that streaks the wrong color across the face of a project.  Be sure and keep these clean and inspect occasionally for loose bristles. I use the method to clean my brushes illustrated here on Wiki How.

Paint Brush Cleaning

5. Have a “Crafting Happy Place”:  If possible, I have found it best to have a separate crafting space or at the very least a piece of furniture for crafting you wouldn’t mind getting a few globules of paint on.  No matter how many drop cloths, wipes and sponges you have handy accidents happen and you may not always see a paint splatter or glue glob right away.  I single-handedly over time ruined the surface of our kitchen table.  The bright side you ask? I am planning to cover it with fabric can you say a project? Stay tuned! Ok my craft room looks nothing like these, but a Upcycling Mom can have a dream right?

6.  Thinking about taking the easy way out?  Don’t do it!  Crafting may appear fun, but much of it is hard work:  sawing, cleaning, sanding, priming.  For me this is all preparation and no reward.  I want to see the finished item I envisioned; However these things are important steps often times when creating a quality project that lasts.  Not all items will require the same preparation, but one of the most important and simple steps before painting or decoupage is removing dust and dirt.

7. If at first you don’t succeed: Keep trying!  As much as the cyber blogging world is filled with wonderful people, there are also haters out there that are cruel instead of encouraging.  Always stay true to yourself and believe in what you are doing even if others don’t necessarily approve. Stay positive and don’t let a project fail stop you in your tracks! Don’t be too hard on yourself (So far this has been the toughest lesson of all, but like I said keep trying right?)

One Lucky Little Upcycle Blog…

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I would like to say a long overdue “Thank you” to Crafty Madre who has a wonderful craft blog by the same name. Be sure and stop by and visit her idea filled blog. A true crafting artist!  She nominated “On The Upcycle” for the Liebster award, Which is given to blogs who have reached the 100 plus readership mark, A goal this blog recently reached.  The word Liebster means ” dearest” in German. Awwe *Shucks*

I have to be honest I am a bit of a “newbie”  When it comes to this or any similar blogger awards.  I did a bit of research on the award rules and am a bit unsure of what the official rules are, I am sure of one thing: I wanted to thank Crafty Madre for taking the time to send some encouragement to your humble blog author and Mod Podge maniac.  Most of the blogs I follow are way beyond the 100 readership mark so I am unsure as far as nominations, but I follow so many great blogs and wish I could recognize each and every one of you!  All of you are “dearest” blogs in my eyes!

A Friendly Following: DIY Blog Promotion

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I was at the fabric store today buying fabric for a chair I am currently working on, and I struck up a conversation with two very nice ladies buying fabric at the counter.  I was telling them what I planned on doing with the fabric I was buying, and we started talking about Mod Podge and all the great things you can make with it.  Sometimes it is easier for others to visualize what you are trying to explain, so  I showed them a picture on my phone of one of my upcycled chairs.  They were interested in seeing more of what I do. I scrambled for a piece of paper and managed to write my website info on the back of a n old coupon.   I am interested in reaching as many creative people as I can.  It is not unusual for people to come up and start talking to me.  I am generally a friendly person and I guess I have a friendly face because it happens a lot!  I am always happy to share ideas with like-minded people.   It made me think, I needed something a bit more professional to spread the word about “On The Upcycle.” I used Microsoft Word Starter Software to make these cards. I was able to download a business card template and insert the “On The Upcycle” logo and text.  I printed the cards out on my printer, and the result is what you see above.  What do you think?  Does anyone have business cards that spread the word when it comes to your blog?

Lastly, I want to shout a big “Thank you!” to all 101 of you who have chosen to follow me on my humble little blog. It means so much and inspires me to keep creating. Nothing beats the WordPress Community!