Reuse & Renew

I rarely ever spend full price for something, and Christmas is no different.  This year I bought most of my kids gifts second hand.  I know some people like that, and some would be repulsed, but honestly... I would not buy my son a $250 ipod touch, when I could get a almost new one on kijiji (second hand selling site), for $80!  He didn't care, and it does everything a new one would, so where's the problem.  I am GOING GREEN!  ...as they say.

So, my daughter was asking for a handheld game, and I found one second hand, and when I brought it home, it was in rougher shape than I thought.  Still didn't stop me from fixing it up!

Here is the before:

Ya, I told you it was pretty rough!  I scrubbed that sticker spot off, and here is what I did with the rest if it:

I used:

-nail polish

-permanent marker

-rub on stickers

The nail polish is my daughter's and the rub on stickers were from the dollar store that I already had in my scrapbook kit.

Here is what I did with them:

The "P" and the "star" are the rub ons, and the rest are just doodles.

I even did the side:

My daughter actually thought it was super cool that it was so funky!  

And, can I just say that after 5 months, all of the polish and stickers have not been damaged, scratched or worn off any bit.

So next time it's present time, think Reuse and Renew!!

A Thrift Store Quick Fix

So again, thrift store hunting (now it may seem like I go a lot, but in fact I just go occasionally and buy a few things each time) and I came across this.  I knew right away what I wanted to do with it.  Give it a chic finish and eventually put some geraniums in it (when I find some for a good price).

Here is the before:

I added some gold craft paint that I had on hand, then added black once the gold was dry.  While adding the black I had a wet rag that I would wipe certain areas with to allow the gold to show through.  I was happy with the result.  I also had some semi-gloss varnish that I applied, but wasn't too happy about using it.  I had to put it on with a brush which wiped more of the black off, and let even more gold show through.  Some unexpected added bubbles to the finish (oh well),  next time I will just use a spray varnish.  

But it all worked out in the end.

It looks great on my fireplace mantle in my bedroom.

Notice the colour of the wall in the background.  That's a sneak peek of my husbands and my effort this weekend towards our bedroom makeover.  More to come later.  We have lots to do to it still.

A peaceful resting spot.  Thanks to my thrift store for providing a new feature in my house, and for $2.49!

New Life (times 2)

I got this candle/vase for a wedding gift (almost 10 years years now).  I have had it in random places, but was mostly growing tired of it.  It never had a great spot to shine.

So I was getting all excited about moving things, and recycling old things, and I considered this candle an old thing ready for Good Will, until...  I found some rocks that I have used in various projects around the house, and decided to dump a few in.

Ahhh, new life!  What a change, and it really did look great in my bathroom.  Notice how I used the word DID.  My 22 month old little girl had climbed onto my bathroom countertop, and had (I like to think accidentally) knocked it off the counter, where it came crashing down into my bathtub, and made the loudest noise I've ever heard!!!  (okay that was dramatic, but it was extremely loud!)  With all that glass, and all those rocks, you can imagine.  I ran into the bathroom and saw it's fate.  Hmmm.  While I was tidying up the mess I ended up getting a piece of glass stuck in my foot, that I didn't noticed and walked on it all day, until later that night it was throbbing.  More hmmm.

Sad though all this is, finally at peace with this candle only to have it fall to it's death, I was able to save the candle and give it new life.  Isn't she a beauty in my new lantern??  

Finally a place for her to shine.