My DIY Idea on glo.msn.com

Dip It on glo.msn.com

I was notified last week that one of my DIY projects from a post, July of 2011 is featured in a 10 easiest DIY ideas of all times.  This was a project using Plasti Dip, a rubberizing agent.     I'm thrilled to be included in this posting of 10 DIY projects.  You can view all 10 by clicking here and see my entire post by clicking here.  

Save Memories: Digitalize Slides

In the not so distant past, using film was the way to capture images!  Remember that?

Yesterday I mentioned that I was now using my old film cameras as bookends.  I've got two digital cameras and more often than not, I use the camera on my iPhone.

As young parents, hubby and I took copious amounts of photos and we used a film that could be developed as slides or prints.  I have 4 boxes or carefully edited and noted slides of our family.  It has been at least a decade since anyone in our family has view the slides projected onto a screen.

I did some research and realized I could have slides digitalized for a very reasonable fee.  I decided this would make wonderful anniversary gift for hubby, who was the primary photo taker and therefor absent in most of the captured images.

I edited our accumulated slides to 320.  I chose a company, FotoBridge, to digitalized the slides. I requested a directory of numbered thumbnail images to correspond with the DVD of the digitalized images.  This makes finding the image you want very easy.  The turn around from door to door was about two weeks and they returned the slides in the same order that they were mailed to the lab.

Now I can print photos from the slides and create albums and do all the things you normally do with digitalized photos on your computer.  

If you or anyone in your family has a plethora of slides gathering dust, consider digitalizing the slides so that you can remember all the occasions that called for a photo way back when.  

Recycle Ideas

Earth Day was Sunday, a good reminder to recycle whenever possible.  I found some clever ideas to share.  

                               Source: Uploaded by user via Raffaella on Pinterest

Recycle those light bulbs we aren't supposed to be using anymore.

                                          Source: img3.etsystatic.com via One on Pinterest

Chenille bedspreads made into sea creature shapes.

Egg carton sewing kit  Country Living

Mason jar soap dispenser  Country Living

Reuse shirts and buttons.  Country Living

Teacup candles  Martha Stewart

Recycled shutters headboard  

           Source: bit.ly via Katherine on Pinterest

Recycled ladder bookshelf.  "As is" or paint a bright color.

DIY Jewelry Display and Storage

I found these DIY jewelry displays on the blog, Mr. Kate.  

Start with a frame...

...add lace,

or those corks you've been saving,

or simply wire.

For a more earthy, rustic look, try burlap or chicken wire.

DIY Sun Prints on Fabric

I remember as a kid, making sun prints on specially treated paper.  I'd put a leaf or other object on the paper and let the sun print the image onto the paper.  In a photography class I used the same process but with a film negative and printed the image in values of blue.  

I purchased treated fabrics online from blueprintsonfabric.com .  This is a silk scarf.  

I chose to use clear acetate for printing a design.  Underneath is a piece of kraft paper cut to the size of the scarf.  I chose a spiral rubber stamp and used black acrylic paint.  Since the printing process is imprecise, I was not too worried about a perfect layout.

Here the printed acetate is over the chemically treated scarf and positioned in the sun.  I wanted a medium blue so I timed the exposure for 6 1/2 minutes.  After being rinsed in water the color was set with hydrogen peroxide, rinsed clear and allowed to dry.  Except for the time in the sun, all work with the fabric must be done in a dimly (almost dark) room.  Click here to read detailed instructions.

I would say the most difficult part of the process was coming up with a design.  If you need ideas, Google cyanotype prints images for lots of ideas. 

This is an example of a sun print on cotton fabric exposed for 10 minutes.  It is much bolder in color.

What do you think?  Would you give it a try?

DIY: Plasti Dip Projects

I first became aware of Plasti Dip from a House Beautiful article featuring Hardware Store Design Products. Plasti Dip is a synthetic rubber product that can be sprayed, brushed or used as a dip.  

This product can be used as a protective and decorative coating for all sorts of household item.  I tried using it in a decorative way for some simple projects.

I purchased the Create Your Own Color Kit.  I received a 22 oz can of clear Plasti Dip along with the vials of tint in the primary colors as well as black and white.

After watching a tutorial, I mixed a batch of turquoise Plasti Dip in a Mason jar using a chop stick for a mixer.

I brushed the mixture onto the bottom of a basket.  I wanted to coat the basket fiber to make it impervious to water and to prevent the basket from scratching furniture.  I applied two coats, waiting 1/2 hour between coats and allowing the Plasti Dip to fully dry for four hours.  

Next, I mixed a batch of yellow Plasti Dip and brushed it onto the bottom of a straw bag to waterproof the bottom and make it extra durable.

With the leftover colored mixtures, I decided to dip a key to color code it for easy recognition.  I also brushed it onto terra cotta pots to prevent the pots from scratching surfaces and to help prevent moisture from seeping through the bottom of the pots.  

I found Plasti Dip to be an easy product to work with.  Drips easily peeled off my hands.  I can think of other uses for Plasti Dip such as a protective coating for the bottom of  canvas "boat totes" and "mending" worn areas on my garden gloves.  Let your imagination run wild or click here for more ideas.

Butler Tray Bar

I've been looking for a butler's tray to use as a bar for quite a while.   I posted an example of what I was looking for here.  

This is my solution

I found a pair of butler's tray stands at the Ann Arbor Antique Market last month.  After a workout with steel wool and denatured alcohol, I gave the already distressed finish a coat of stain in a walnut color.  This darkened the finish just a bit.  I replaced the cheap, lawn chair-type straps with leather.  A purchased tray from West Elm tops the stand.           

The latest edition of Lonny Magazine features a tray table similar to mine.  I was interested to see what was on the tray.  On my tray I have my favorite summer drink mixers on a silver tray along with an ice bucket, linen napkins and a bowl for nuts or olives.  I'm sure I'll be changing the "scene" with my mood and needs.  

Chevron: The Alternative Stripe

I am a big fan of stripes and the combination of straight stripes and chevron stripes is about perfect, in my estimation, for a big WOW!

Source: decorpad.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Source: decorpad.com via Deborah on Pinterest

I could definitely live with the bold use of color and only pattern of chevron rug as in this room.

Source: madelineweinrib.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Maybe a pillow would be a good place to start.

Source: etsy.com via Deborah on Pinterest

I love the work of jillrosenwald

Source: google.com via Deborah on Pinterest

If you want to try making a chevron wall art, click here for a tutorial.

Source: shop.nordstrom.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Missoni has been doing chevron patterns for more than 50 years.

Source: designsponge.com via Deborah on Pinterest

How charming is this table?

Easter Egg Centerpiece

I put together an Easter centerpiece.

I started with a glass dish, river rocks and a flat of ground cover plants from the nursery.

I lined the edges of the dish with river rocks and filled the interior of the dish with the plants.

Dyed eggs top the living centerpiece.

The plants can be moved to the garden after the holiday.

A "Green" Vertical Garden

Here's a great idea for a space-challenged gardener.

This garden is made from a pallet.

View the instructions from the blog, Life on the balcony

This is a fun blog for gardeners living in apartments and condo or anyone wishing to do container gardening.

Ready for "le week-end"

I'm ready for the weekend.  There is still snow on the ground and plenty of nasty weather in store.  I have been doing some knitting.

I finished this scarf last weekend and I've been wearing it this week while walking the dog, going to the gym and just running errands.  It is nice and warm.

I like the idea of "hand work" as my grandmother used to call knitting, crochet, embroidery.  A scarf is so easy to pick up whenever you have a minute.  Not an involved pattern as for a sweater. 

I like this stitch.  It has a textured ribbed effect.  

Yarn is on sale right now so stock up if you knit and begin a project.  

I don't have big weekend plans.  How about you?

See  you Monday.