Junky Fashion

I have been loving all of the refashions I have seen all over blog land (check out Ruffles and Stuff).  Decided I need to try my hand at it.  I started with a $1.50 thrift store sweater (am I cheap if I usually wait until 1/2 price day to buy stuff at thrift store?).  I bought an XXL so I'd have extra fabric.  I pinned the sides (my pins went with my son on the tomato pin cushion, so I had 8 to work with.

 I sewed down the sides.  I trimmed the sides.  I cut a hole in the sweater.  I sewed down the sides again.  I CAREFULLY trimmed the sides.  (Incentive to lose that final 10 pounds now that the sweater is slimmer than planned.)  I cut strips from the side pieces and sewed a basting stitch down the middle.

I gathered the strips and pinned them on the sweater and sewed them.

And there you have it.  I am happy with my first refashion attempt.  (Scary, end of the day, ready for jammies, self portrait photo)

I also spied this denim bracelet in Lucky Magazine.  See the $118 price tag?

Here is my version, easy peasy!  Rip some strips from old jeans, hot glue around a thrift store bangle, and then hot glue a thrift store or in my case, broken necklace around the bangle.  My bangle cost $1.

Find more fun ideas at:
2nd Time Around Tuesday

Valentines, Check

Got the valentines done--all 40 of them (20 for my preschoolers, 20 for my daughter).  I used this adorable idea from How Does She.  I used M-n-M's instead of the hearts--chocolate makes everything better. 

I learned a few things.  Use a freezer ziploc bag--I could get 6 plastic pieces from 1 gallon bag--sandwich bags were too thin.  It would have been better to have the printing up higher on the card, so you could see the name better.  I didn't discover this until after printing them all, so oh well.  When sewing the maze part, just move your machine to the different places rather than cutting the thread after each line sewn, it is faster.

Also, my daughter turned 8 this past weekend.  She got new ice skates. I love this picture of her skating--so free. 

Candle Holder or Something Else?

Thanks for linking--keep 'em coming!  And don't forget to visit the links and leave a kind word.  Let's face it, a "wow that's fabulous" really can go a long way.

I had so much fun coming up with different ideas for the step ladder that I thought I'd try it again with a different object for project #13.  I started with a $1 candle holder from the thrift store (ignore the dust on it please).

How about have a little fun in the bathroom and use it to make the lowly extra roll of tp look special?

 

I know you have all seen the dessert stands made from a plate and candlestick.  This is a temporary one.  Use some scotch double stick tape on the top of the candle holder and one of your plates--it holds well.

Works great on a desk, helps keep flat surfaces clutter free by elevating your supplies.

And it makes a bottle of wine on a buffet stand out.

 

I added a dowel (secured with the double stick tape or glue for a permanent fix) and it becomes a ribbon holder (remove the cardboard circles on the ribbon, secure ribbon with a piece of tape)

or to hold bracelets.

What fun ideas to you have for a candle holder?

Find more fun ideas:
Poppies at Play
Finding Fabulous

Just Link It!

Thanks so much for making this new adventure in linky parties wonderful and exciting.  I thoroughly enjoy seeing everyone's creative projects and ideas (there were a couple links I couldn't get to work, so remember to check your link after you post it).  Some things that caught my eye this past week included:
A ceiling medallion mirror by Calamity Anne

A lesson from Karla in the best way to line a cabinet,

I love this adorable pillow at The Sweet Life
And some clever bookshelves that would entice the most reluctant readers at Frugal Home.

Thanks for getting me almost to my goal of 50 links (we had 49).  Please invite your friends to join us--I can't wait to see what you all have this week!

Under $100 Linky Rules:
1. Please include a description in your link post.
2. Only post an idea that cost $100 or less--it would be great if you tell us the cost of your project, but not a must.
3. Please link to the specific post, not to your blog.
4. Please grab my 100 ideas under $100 button on the side bar and include it in your post so people can find us.
5. Check and make sure your link works--I often click on people's links and they don't work. If it doesn't, try again--you can let me know and I can delete the one that doesn't work.
 

Leftovers

My son needed a pin cushion for 7th grade home ec.  He didn't want to go to the fabric store after church on Sunday and asked if I could make him one.  I used a scrap of the red wool sweater (see here and here) and made a quick tomato pin cushion.  Simply cut a circle, sew around the circumference and fill with stuffing.  Draw up the thread tight and then tack on the green felt top.  Son was surprised, said it looked like a "real pin cushion".

Find more ideas at Blue Cricket Design.

Cherry Kisses

Here is a yummy and easy recipe that I usually only make around Valentine's Day (it would be dangerous for me if I made them more often).

Cherry Kisses
Cream together :
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 Tbs. maraschino cherry juice
Add:
2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries
Sample some of the yummy dough :)
Roll into 1" balls
Bake 8-10 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
Press a kiss into each cookie after removing from the oven. I buy the kisses on clearance after Christmas and keep them in the freezer, hidden from the kids and myself.


MMM--enjoy!
Find more DIY ideas here:
Blue Cricket Design

Fundraiser Table

Here is the table I painted up for the fundraiser for my son's classmate who was paralyzed in wrestling warm-ups. I love being part of a small community that pulls together when one of their members is in need. Should be a great event--dinner, auction, carnival, music. Please say a prayer for the young man, Wyatt, as he and his family continue to struggle with this tragedy and a life very different than they had planned. He is currently in Colorado for 6 months of intensive therapy/treatment. We continue to pray for a miracle as the spinal cord was crushed, but not severed.
There is both a cream and light colored blue paint under the brown paint and the swirls are cream and light blue.
Find more ideas here: