Everyone is born with creativity. But those people who appear to be super creative have a secret. They know that creativity has to be developed and exercised to come easily. I am on a quest to immerse myself in creativity of all kinds. I hope you will join me!

Last week, I left a big pile of trash on the stage at church. It is actually the current stage set, relating and hopefully adding to the summer sermon series. I did light it so it should seem to be deliberate and not just trash that did not get thrown away. Truthfully, it was kind of fun putting trash and fake trash in a pile on the stage.


The series is on Nehemiah. Nehemiah's claim to fame is his obedience in rebuilding Jerusalem. So, my stage theme is recycling, reusing, rebuilding. It has given me inner giggles to think about what some reactions might be to a big ugly pile of junk as a visual that is in the line of sight of everyone. I cannot be ignored. 


In a couple of weeks, I will recycle, reuse, and rebuild that pile of trash into something new. It will be fun anticipating reactions to that too.


Use your Vitamin C!

 Been doing a little painting this week. I have a stack of old chairs in the garage calling to me. I painted two in this black and white motif.  My inspiration came from the fabric, which I got at Jo-Ann's with a 50% off coupon!  It also came in turquoise which was so gorgeous...







I started these chairs a bit differently than I always do. I spray painted them white. It took three cans (bought with coupons!). I always paint the entire chair with craft acrylics because it is so inexpensive that way. But, this week, I was interested in not spending so much time working on them. I think the less time I work on a big project that I sell, the more money I make on it. And that is the point. 


I sprayed them flat because I knew I would spray a glossy sealer over all.  And, did you know that flat spray costs less than satin or gloss? That was a new one on me, and I like it.


Then I painted the details with craft acrylics as I normally do.


These go perfectly in my kitchen. However, there is not one square inch of open space in my kitchen, so I am taking them to The Loft in Bay City to see if she will sell them for me. 
If they don't sell, I might have to bring them back to the kitchen and replace the less exciting chairs that are there now.


Love a good restyling project.
Use your Vitamin C!

These are some pics from a very simple bit of journalling I did a couple years ago. I was on the road, in a hotel in Grapevine Texas, and working on a Bible study about which I wanted to journal or make a few notes. 


On the plane to Dallas, I challenged myself..... "Do not drive over to the the bookstore and buy a new journal. Use what you have on hand, nothing more."


The pages of this mini journal are those annoying cards that fall out of magazines. I found as many as I could possibly ever use while reading magazines in flight that day. My pages are not all the same size. I also ripped out magazine pages of pics or colors I liked, and took them with me. In my bag I had scissors (but I have done this by tearing everything because I had no scissors), a glue stick ( but have used a stapler), a hole punch, and a black permanent marker. Luckily, because I am a jewelry maker, I almost always travel with some basic supplies. I had some wire and beads too.


You can tell I used a glue stick. The pages do not look fabulous, but they are reflective of the study I wanted to remember and I think creating is always better than purchasing. Certainly, no one else has this journal. 


It also provides food for thought when I teach journaling. 


Tell me about your similar experiences when you used your journal-making Vitamin C??

 Do you think this will set off the metal detector at the airport? hahaha! I love all of these Blumenthal Lansing buttons, some metal and some rhinestone. All of them look vintage, but they are not! You can buy these at your fabric or craft store right now.


It was a fun project. Watching a movie while sewing buttons on was relaxing.


After a trip to the Salvation Army store, where I bought a jacket for $8, I stitched one lapel full of buttons, both antique gold and antique silver. I used shiny metallic embroidery floss (gold, black, and copper). I cannot tell a lie. That stuff made me say a few bad words inside my head. It is more prone to knotting than cotton floss. But, the little bit of shine it added was worth it. It makes me want to touch it every time I look at it. Texture and shine!


When you go to buy that shiny floss, take a coupon!


I added some french knots and some straight stitches to fill in some places.


Then, I added gathered brown tulle along the entire lapel/collar. The tulle was left over from lamp tutus. It is on a roll, 8" wide. I folded the width in half and made running stitches along the fold. After I pulled the thread to gather slightly, I tacked it to the underside of the lapel/collar. It is exactly the same process I show in my lamp post, except I stitched instead of glued.


Now, I love the buttons and am unsure about the lapel tutu. What do you think?


Love that Vitamin B(uttons)!!!
http://whipperberry.com/2012/02/friday-flair-link-party-12.html
http://simplydesigning.blogspot.com/2012/02/simply-link-party_10.html

 I started painting this chair about 23433 months ago, and finally sat down to finish it tonight. 


 It started out a dark wood finish.

 After some sanding, I covered the wood with gesso, and then painted.

 My inspiration was the zebra fabric. It is fuzzy....really soft. So, what else could I do on this chair, but Wild Thing? Since this was a junk-picked chair, it came with a filthy damask cover on the seat and the top finials were missing. Other than that, the structure of the chair is good, no repairs needed.  Just painting.


 It turned out kinda groovy. I am not sure if it is wild enough or not. Do you do that thing where you finish a piece and then let it sit for a day or two before you look at it again? I think that is what I will do here.


Use your Vitamin C to repurpose something. It's a good feeling.
http://housewivesofriverton.blogspot.com/2012/01/one-year-blogaversary-and-new-linky.htmlhttp://whipperberry.com/2012/01/whippercafe-friday-flair-link-party.html

 Here is another thrift store purchase. It was half price, so it cost $7.  I had all of the other components at home. 


 Here is how I made it:
1. Take the frame apart.  Spray paint the frame hot pink.

 2. Use the cardboard photo backing. Paint 2-3 coats of magnet paint to cover the board. letting each coat dry in between. On top of that, paint the acrylic color you want to show. Mine is lime green. Let that dry.


3.  Make a border of zebra print duct tape.


 4.  Put the board back into the frame. Hot glue it in place if it doesn't have little prongs that hold it in.



5.  Hot glue big silk daisies onto magnets.


My frame already had a sawtooth hanger on it, so it was ready to go.  Cute for $7!


Use your Vitamin C!

 Here is its original incarnation.

 And sad, oh sad, what has happened to the straps.

 I thought about it awhile. This piece of fabric was the answer.


1. Tear strips of the length of the fabric about 1 1/2" wide. 
2. Knot one end of a strip around the base of one handle/strap. Leave a 4-5" tail of fabric. Tightly wrap strip around handle. Put a piece of double stick tape on the handle every couple inches to help keep the fabric strips from shifting.
3. Knot the end of the fabric strip at the final end of the handle. Trim the tail to the same length as the first end.  Repeat for second handle.


 4.  Add some beads and charms! Crimp one end of beading wire. String beads. Wrap wire around base of handle. Crimp again, and trim excess wire.


 Make 3-5 bead dangles using beads and maybe some charms on the ends of the wires. I am loving my disco ball charm.

 How great is a project that turns out this cute and didn't cost a penny? I had all of the pieces in my stash, except for the main piece that I trash picked at Wendy's.  I admit it.


Here is what you need to make one:

• large french fry pocket 
• fabric or paper (or both) large enough to cover the pocket
• Mod Podge (I used gloss, but choose what you like)
• 1" wide grosgrain ribbon (about 9")
• a silk flower head
• 4 strong magnets
• flat paintbrush, scissors, hot glue gun and glue

 Oh yeah, sea salt!

 How I did it:

1. I opened the two side seams, they were just lightly glued.

 2. I wanted a bright color on the inside, so I decoupaged a piece of cardstock there. My paper was not long enough, so I pieced a smaller section of paper at the bottom. No problem, it is the inside.  Attach the paper with a coat of Mod Podge.  Let it dry, brush on another coat. Trim around the edges. Make sure to let it dry completely before moving on.

 3. I had a scrap of black and white polka dot fabric. Love it, so I decoupaged it to the outside.
TIP: Don't use light colored fabric, the color of the package will show through.

 5. Fold the flaps up.  Hot glue them together, re-assembling the pocket.

 6. Glue ribbon around pocket.  Glue flower head to right side.  Glue magnets to the back of pocket.

Mine is on my black fridge.  I love it there, holding some scissors and markers that I can never find.

• You could place it on your metal filing cabinet. 
• You could skip the magnets and pin it to a bulletin board.
• Kids can make these and they would be a great teacher gift.
• I am going back to the craft room to make more so I can have a row across the front of the fridge.