Welcome

Welcome! I'm so glad you stopped by today! If you're inspired by what you see, I invite you to follow along via one (or more) of the options on the side bar below.


Showing posts with label up cycling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label up cycling. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Inspired by... YOU

 

Have you been enjoying the "best of" posts popping up all over blogland this last week? I've enjoyed the opportunity to catch some posts I previously missed.

After reviewing the top ten blog posts (based on your page views) on Inspired by... I noticed that many of the post dates were early on and since so many of you are new followers I thought you might enjoy a recap in case you missed some of the favorites!

Here's the inspired countdown...

 

#Ten

The Hoots!

Family_Close

#Nine

Inspired Noel #3

Loved_Pendant

 

#Eight

Noel

Snowman_Box

 

#Seven

Before and After Projects

Before_After_Ferns

 

#Six

Inspired Noel #1

Double_Lace

 

#Five

Tote Makeover

Beach_ToteII

 

#Four

Free Printable

Bee_Anxious

 

#Three

Fabric Pumpkins

Pumpkin_CloseUp

 

#Two

Flaws Turned Fabulous

Finished_Frame

And the most viewed post

of 2011

Inspired Noel #4

Tree_Pair_From_Above

I hope you saw something new and inspiring today!  Thank you all for following, commenting, pinning, Facebook-ing and just plain viewing Inspired by...

 

I hope to continue to inspire you in 1012!

 

Blessings on your New Year,

Blog_Signature

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Inspired by... creativity

 

Solomon said, "What has been will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

 

An appropriate quote, I think, for today's topic of Sunburst Mirrors. "Ugh!" you say? "Another sunburst mirror. They're all over blog land." Well, yes, and truth be told I hadn't planned on making one, but...

 

I was inspired.  I'll share my inspiration in a minute, but first a little history.

 

The first recorded sunburst mirror in history (sources say) belonged to King Louis XIV of France, who reigned from 1658-1715.  He delighted in looking into it, seeing his face in the center and the suns rays expanding out from his face! (Solomon has a few things to say about this type of vanity as well.)

 

Honestly, I never thought these mirrors were my style (I'm not big into sun and moon motifs), until I saw Shelley's version over at Crazy Wonderful.

IMG_1918-edited

Wow! Big and chunky and I just love the texture the wood slats bring to her creation! I thought this would look great above our fireplace. (her tutorial is crazy wonderful!) But, alas, the hubby did not agree and so my (brief) romance with the sunburst mirror was ended.

 

However, as we've already mentioned, these mirrors keep showing up all around blog land. And I can understand why. With prices ranging from $70 at Target to over $6000 at some antique shops, these are a DIYer's dream! And while the price is a good incentive to DIY, the open door to creativity just begs to be walked through!

 

Here are just a few examples:

DSC_0543-550x670

I love this one made with poster board! by The Nester.

P1011159

Bev's creativity, over at Flamingo Toes, is astounding!

Crafts-2011-214-1024x768

This one you might have seen recently. It's made from a candleholder. By Leanne over at Organize & Decorate Everything.  I love the way she used little mirrors at the end of the rays!

Quill_519

I just had to show you this one (for you, mom!) It's made with porcupine quills! Not a DIY model. This baby sells for over $500! (sorry, mom) But isn't it fabulous!

100_9480-1

Okay, this creation by Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming, is getting us closer to my version of the sunburst mirror. Stephanie's mirror is made out of cereal boxes!!! Love.

 

There are a lot more I could show you. The creativity in blog land is inspiring! But I do want to share MY mirror with you, so let's get on with it, already.

 

As I mentioned, I hadn't planned on making one.  However, I had an over abundance of...

Straws ...these straws in a drawer (someone keeps bringing them home from that mermaid (or is is a siren?) shop) and I just hated throwing them away. I was determined to make something with them, but I wasn't sure what... until I opened my cosmetics drawer and saw...

Sunburst_Mirror_Right

Yup, that is the top of a cosmetics container. Perfect, I thought!  I cut the straws at an angle and glued them to a cardboard circle, painted them and then glued the mirror on.

Sunburst_Mirror_Left

Sunburst_Mirror_Straight

I think it came out kinda cute.

 

What do you think?

Have you re purposed or up cycled anything recently? I'd love to hear!

 

Blessings,

Blog_Signature

 

 

 

Sharing inspiration here:

Tip Junkie handmade projects

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Inspired by... serendipity

 

Welcome to another...

Serendipity_Logo

Here are some of the unexpected and wonderful things I found this week:

 

It was a little unexpected (though not necessarily wonderful) to realize another month had past.  However, that did mean...

It's time for another...

BTB_FanBlinkie

Which is very wonderful!

Did you know that over 100 designers contribute to the Blog Train!? and all their downloads are free!

Yup – free!

Here are my favorites so far (I've only had time to download the first 20!):

(previews are linked to the Designer's blog)

LetMeScrapbook_MyTime_Preview

Sherwood_folder

ja_refuge_btb8

Oh, yeah, it was hard to pick only three! If you download, be sure to leave them some love!

 

Found... A Blogging Secret at:

Sweet Briana over at Sweet Peas & Bumblebees shared all about Windows Live Writer! for those not so inspired with the formatting options in Blogger.  I had just been grumbling to myself about said options when I came across Briana's unexpected and wonderful blog!

Windows 7 users can get the download link from Sweet Peas & Bumblebees.

XP users, click HERE

Thanks, Briana!!

 

Found... Inspiration at:

homework

I just love this "cranberry glass" Carolyn made!

Cranberry Glass 3

She has inspired me with a few ideas of my own.  If they work out, I'll be posting about them soon!

Beautiful job, Carolyn!

 

So tell me...

I really wanna know...

what serendipitous finds did you have this week?

 

Blessings,

Blog_Signature 

If you've been featured on Serendipity Sunday, don't forget to Grab A Button!

Photobucket

Friday, August 5, 2011

Inspired by... up cycling

 

Hi everyone!  Sorry to be so late posting this.  I had a few finishing touches to make this morning.

 

I'm so excited to introduce to you... (insert drum roll here)

 

The Hoots!

Family_Close

Are they not seriously cute??

I saw this tutorial on Factory Direct Craft and just knew I had to make them!

Mom_Dad

Mom and dad...

The_Twins

The twins and...

Junior

Junior!

(isn't he sweet?)

Family_CloseUP

Side_Shot

I followed the tutorial for the most part.  Their beaks are just a small square folded diagonally.  To make them stable, I hot-glued them to a circle cut out of a cardboard box, which had first been spray painted green, then hot glued Spanish moss on top of the circle and in between the "family."

You might have noticed their little "friend" on the left?

Butterfly

To add a bit of dimension, I cut a styrofoam ball in half, spray painted it green and glued it to the cardboard circle, then covered it with moss.  The butterfly is perched on some green florist wire, stuck into the ball.

I'll be posting more about butterflies (and sharing a freebie pattern) soon!

 

I hope you've enjoyed meeting the Hoots!

Family_Distant

Right now they're nestled on my hearth.  But they would be fun to make for a themed birthday (or other) party, don't you think?

 

Blessings,

 

Blog_Signature

Sharing inspiration here:

Tidy Mom Photobucket