The Shirt That Didn’t Fit: Clothing Repurpose

March 14, 2016ontheupcyclemom 4 Comments

I was up late shopping one night when I came across a lovely shirt on Ebay. I usually don’t purchase clothes unless I can try them on first, but I had recently ordered something and it worked out perfectly, so I was feeling braver than usual.

I received the item, and to my dismay it did not fit. The seller had a no refund policy, so I attempted to relist the item for sale. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any luck reselling the item, so I decided to utilize the shirt in a different way. I loved the pattern and material, so I decided to re-purpose the item and use the fabric for decoupage.

I carefully cut out the gold star pattern, and used a little Mod Podge to apply these to my kitchen back splash. This added a much needed “pop” of color, and matched the kitchen decor perfectly.

Before:

After:

I had some fabric left over, so I decided to use it to make an accent lamp for my office. I had an empty spaghetti jar which would work perfectly for this project. I applied Mod Podge to the exterior of the jar and used some twine to add a decorative quality to the base. I applied the twine with hot glue.

For more details on how to create a decoupage jar lamp, check out some previous On The Upcycle decorative lighting projects…

Spaghetti Jar Lamp

Pickle Jar Lamp

A Blizzard of Ideas: Basket Makeover

January 26, 2016ontheupcyclemom 8 Comments

Getting snowed in has its privileges. The family and I had a great weekend, despite being completely snowed in, during the East Coast blizzard of 2016. When mother nature gives you lemons, what else can you do but make some lemonade? It was a perfect time for cooking, baking, and crafting, and the toddler apprentice and I did just that!

I picked up a lovely wooden basket at Goodwill about two weeks ago. When I made my purchase, I was unsure on what I was going to do with it. Some items I pick up are best left alone, while others benefit from a bit of “sprucing up.”

I decided to find a middle ground. The lid needed quite a bit of TLC, but the inter woven wood on the basket looked great, so I did not want to alter this part in anyway, only try and compliment it.

I decided to decoupage the lid, and accent the handles with black paint. I struggled a bit with choosing a fabric that I thought would go well with the caramel colored wood. I finally decided on a swatch of fabric that I purchased some time ago at a thrift shop. It had earthy tones that I felt would mesh well with the original design elements on the basket.

I turned the basket upside down and used a black, fine tipped market to trace the lid on to the back of the fabric. I then cut fabric tracing out with a pair of scissors. I painted the lid with white paint. Once dry, I generously applied the Mod Podge to the lid surface with a paint brush. I applied the fabric, and smoothed it out with both hands. This helps minimize wrinkles and air bubbles. Once dry, I applied three more layers of Mod Podge on the top of the piece, and allowed it to dry between coats.

Once the lid was dry, I lightly sanded the areas I planned on painting.

I took a narrow bristled paint brush and painted the handles, and some of the detailing with black acrylic paint. I applied three coats of paint total. Once the paint was dry, I applied a layer of Mod Podge to the painted areas to seal it.

In the winter, this basket will be a perfect place to store hats, scarves and gloves, and in summer it will be the perfect picinic basket or an accent piece with storage.

Materials:

Wooden Basket

White and Black Acrylic Paint

Mod Podge

Fabric of choice

Scissors/Sharpie marker/Paint Brushes (various)

The Opposite Of Spring: Halloween And The Day Of The Dead- My Fascination With Sugar Skulls

October 21, 2015ontheupcyclemom 4 Comments

Autumn has always been one of my favorite times of year. Although you may not agree, In my world everything tastes better when mixed with pumpkin. There is nothing more refreshing than a cool breeze after months of summer heat and most of all it is host to one of my favorite holidays: Halloween. As much as I hate to admit it I have a macabre side. (Many of us do or holidays like Halloween wouldn’t exist) Halloween hosts many ghouls and goblins and makes fantasy come to life for a day. It’s a fun time but an even more interesting cultural tradition that coincides with Halloween is The Day of The Dead. For those of you who may not be familiar it is a Mexican Holiday celebrated all across the world. It was originally celebrated in Summer but was moved to Autumn in more modern times and coincides with the Roman Catholic triduum festival of Allhallowtide: All Saints’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day. A three-day celebration beginning on October 31st, It is celebrated as a tribute to departed souls and to show respect and remembrance for deceased family and loved ones. According to Frances Ann Day, Latina and Latino Voices in Literature author

” On October 31, All Hallows Eve, the children make a children’s altar to invite the angelitos (spirits of dead children) to come back for a visit. November 1 is All Saints Day, and the adult spirits will come to visit. November 2 is All Souls Day, when families go to the cemetery to decorate the graves and tombs of their relatives. The three-day fiesta filled with marigolds, the flowers of the dead; muertos (the bread of the dead); sugar skulls; cardboard skeletons; tissue paper decorations; fruit and nuts; incense, and other traditional foods and decorations”

Representations of Catrina, one of the most popular figures of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico

© Tomas Castelazo,www.tomascastelazo.com / Wikimedia Commons

One such decoration placed on these alters are called Sugar Skulls. I have always been fascinated with the sugar skull image. Each are unique much like the soul itself. An image of a skull adorned with colorful flowers and hypnotic eyes instantly fascinated me.

In the spirit of Fall and the Halloween/Day Of The Dead tradition. Here are three fun sugar skull decoupage projects:

Sugar Skull Mini jewelry Tray

I picked up this miniature wood jewelry tray (unfinished ) at AC Moore. I hand painted the piece with acrylics and matched the primary color to the greenish-blue color on the print. (yellow, pink or black would work also) It looks great for Halloween or keep it out all year-long on your dresser. Great for holding various jewelry, rings or change. Cut print to size, apply Mod Podge and then the print. Carefully smooth out with your hands. Once dry seal with a few layers of Mod Podge allowing to dry between coats.

Day Of The Dead Miniature Wooden Suitcase Trinket Box

This adorable wooden mini suitcase also purchased unfinished at AC Moore follows the same decoupage process as above. I used the suitcase to trace the image on both sides of the piece to assure it was cut to proper size and shape. Hand painted inside and out, this would sit beautifully on a day of the dead alter filled with flowers or trinkets. The bright color captures the spirit of both Halloween and The Day Of The Dead.

Sugar Skulls Light Switch Cover

I am a firm believer in the fun a decorated light switch cover can bring to a room. I like to think of them as “little canvases” It can be fun switching them to reflect the holidays as well. Decoupage light switch covers are both easy and fun to create. First ,you trace the cover with a pencil, including the area that the switch passes through.(You can use prints, scrapbook paper, napkins, old gift bags just to name a few) Using an X-Acto knife carefully follow the tracing. Apply Mod Podge to the plain light switch cover carefully smooth out the image you want to use. Apply multiple layers of mod Podge and allow to dry thoroughly between layers.

Decorative, and full of color Sugar Skulls are full of life certainly Ironic considering it is a celebration of the dead.

Stay Safe and Have a Happy Halloween!

Gone But Hopefully Not Forgotten: On The Upcycle on brief hiatus

September 25, 2015ontheupcyclemom 4 Comments

You may or may have not noticed that I have been on hiatus. I suffered a serious shoulder injury about a month ago which had sidelined me from crafting and blogging for a while. I had several bigger projects lined up (Stay Tuned) that have been delayed for the moment while I recover. That being said, even an injured crafting hand cannot remain dormant for long! That means I have been concentrating on smaller projects to keep busy, and aid me in my therapy. The injury afforded me the opportunity to focus on my new On the Upcycle Etsy shop. I created several new trinket boxes, and decorative decoupage light switch covers. Be sure to stop in to my Etsy Shop and check out these reasonably priced handmade items!

Click below to visit my page on Etsy

New Items Added:

Whimsical Celestial Trinket Box

Bichon Frise Decorative Outlet Cover

And Much More….

Thank you for your continued support and readership!

What’s Old Is New Again: Decoupage TV Trays Are Back!!!

August 13, 2015ontheupcyclemom 7 Comments

The wooden TV tray. A functional piece of furniture. Although I think we can all agree these tables are useful, but they lack the design qualities seen in other pieces of furniture.

Way back in 2013, I came up with an idea to turn these boring tables into something fun. My first tutorial Decoupage Team Sports Trays explored the option of decoupaging these trays with Mod Podge. It was a huge success and since then, It remains one of my most requested items.

They also make wonderful gifts for the sports fan in your life! Recently I made two new tables. Both were gifts, one for a friend’s birthday, and the other was presented as a Christmas present. Nothing new here, but thought I would share the new additions so you know what I have been up too!

Philadelphia Flyers TV Tray

New York Giants TV Tray

Want to See more? Check out these past blog entries on Decoupage TV Trays!

Have a special someone on your gift list that is a sports fan? Then this is the table for you…

Sports Trays…Revisited!

Want to show off your school pride? TV trays are great for doing homework too!

Smells Like Team Spirit!

Not a sports fan? No school spirit? No Problem! There are many other themes you can use to create a personalized tray table. LP liner notes make great decoupage and are unique!

Rescued Vinyl TV Tray Decoupage

On The Upcycle Shop- Now Open On Etsy!

July 13, 2015ontheupcyclemom 9 Comments

This Month, “On The Upcycle” has launched a small shop on Etsy!

On The Upcycle Shop will feature small decoupage items with additional items coming soon! Each item is handmade and priced to sell! Be sure and check us out and check back often! Items will be featured as they become available. This month I am featuring various stained and painted wooden trinket boxes.

These lovely boxes have metal hinges and magnetic enclosures. Sizes and styles vary.

Stay tuned: On The Upcycle has a few interesting projects on the horizon. I have picked up a couple of really nice chairs, and a beautiful early century window with multi colored glass I am eager to start. Hope everyone is enjoying there summer so far!

To visit the OntheUpcycleShop on Etsy—-Click Here!

Where is Summer? The Birds Are Angry: Decoupage Kids Craft Bird House

June 2, 2015ontheupcyclemom 10 Comments

It hasn’t felt much like summer over here. The pool is up, the flowers are planted and beginning to blossom, but it is 52 degrees and the rain is cold! I am left to ponder the question, where is summer?

The good news: Rainy days are a great time for kids crafts. All the more reason to plan a project the toddler apprentice and I could accomplish together. The little one loves to watch The Disney Collector on You Tube. The DC Collector has become a bit of an internet phenomenon among the five and under crowd, and my daughter is no exception. She enjoys watching those carefully manicured hands opening and revealing various toys and treasures. It was while watching these videos my daughter discovered her love of Angry Birds. The birds must be angry that the weather has not been cooperating! They could sure use a house I thought to myself!

I also thought decorating a bird house would be fun project to do together. I purchased an unfinished, wooden bird house at Joann Fabric. They were on sale for .99 cents.

I then went online and downloaded some Angry Bird images. You can use character stickers if a printer is not available.

I cut the images out with a pair of scissors and placed them aside.

We painted the bird house together using red and blue acrylic paint. It required two coats. We then placed the painted bird house aside to dry.

Once it was dry, I used Outdoor Mod Podge to apply the images to the bird house. I then added a layer of Mod Podge over top of the image. Although Outdoor Mod Podge provides added protection from the elements, if left out it will eventually weather. I added a coat of polyurethane to provide additional protection and prolong the life of the bird house.

Once the bird house was dry we used a “C” Shaped hook like this one to hang it. Lets hope that now that our little backyard friends have a place to call home, they won’t be such “Angry” little birds anymore….

Materials Needed:

Unfinished Wooden Bird House

Angry Birds, images or stickers

Outdoor Mod Podge

Red and Blue Acrylic Paint

Clear Polyurethane (optional)

Paint Brushes/Scissors

C Shaped Hook (For Hanging)

Hot Summer Nights: Paradise By The Back Porch Light

May 26, 2015ontheupcyclemom 2 Comments

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 4^th 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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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!

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.

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

May 8, 2015ontheupcyclemom 5 Comments

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.

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.

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!

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!

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

April 22, 2015ontheupcyclemom 10 Comments

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Peacock Table

Star Wars Kid Chair:

Strawberry Shortcake Kids Chair:

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?

On The Upcycle~

Reuse, Repurpose, Restyle

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Crafts

The Shirt That Didn’t Fit: Clothing Repurpose

A Blizzard of Ideas: Basket Makeover

The Opposite Of Spring: Halloween And The Day Of The Dead- My Fascination With Sugar Skulls

Gone But Hopefully Not Forgotten: On The Upcycle on brief hiatus

What’s Old Is New Again: Decoupage TV Trays Are Back!!!

On The Upcycle Shop- Now Open On Etsy!

Where is Summer? The Birds Are Angry: Decoupage Kids Craft Bird House

Hot Summer Nights: Paradise By The Back Porch Light

Sultans of Swap: Flea Market Fun In The Sun

Two Years, One Sale- On The Upcycle

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