Mason Jar Upcycle

What's up with the popularity of Mason Jars?  

You can't help but love them.  

These jars are so beautiful in their own quirky way.  

It was high time to put one to the test to help me get organized.

I started my project with this vintage notepad board 

that I picked up at the flea market.  

I painted both the board and a pint-size Mason jar with ASCP Old White, 

then lightly distressed both pieces.

Using a plumber's clamp, I attached the jar to the wood.  

I've seen this done a lot on Pinterest, and it was so easy.

I painted the jar lid red for a pop of color 

(and because Valentine's Day is soon).  

Then added rub-on transfers and attached a mini red photo holder.

The most difficult part of this project is where to hang it!

In the laundry room?

In the kitchen?

Or in my craft room?

No matter where it ends up, it will come in handy for office supplies.

I might just also use it for fresh flowers come spring.

Yesterday, I purchased several more plumber's clamps, 

and I have a few more ideas brewing 

with the other Mason jars just waiting to be upcycled.

For recent projects and more creative inspiration,
please visit me at 

https://alteredartworks.wordpress.com 

or just click 

AlteredArtworks 

to see new altered artwork projects and tutorials on a brand new web site.  

Of course, you can still visit this blog anytime to catch up on 

all my previous projects and tutorials

You might like these posts:

Grow Your Own Place Cards & Table Centerpieces

You might find me at these parties

as well as
Vintage Charm
Funky Junk Interiors
Answer is Chocolate
My Repurposed Life

A Red Hot DIY Valentine's Centerpiece

Today I'm guest blogging at

The Ivy Cottage Blog

where I'm going to show you how to create this

RED HOT

Valentine's Centerpiece. 

With a quick trip to the dollar $tore

and to your craft stash,

you can make a few of these fun candy dishes

 in no time at all.

 

Follow the trail of

RED HOTS

and you'll find the E-Z steps

on The Ivy Cottage Blog.

See you there!

 

 **********************

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Crafting with a View of the Pacific Ocean Blue

Ahhhh--vacation!  We work so diligently immediately before and right after

a getaway, but it's all worth it for the change of scenery, relaxation and...

uninterrupted craft time! 

We spent one glorious week, with family friends, enjoying Laguna Beach. 

If you've been there, you know how beautiful the Pacific Ocean water 

shimmers under the bright hot sun. 

We hoped for some nice, cool ocean breezes,

given the relentless heatwave Southern California has been experiencing.

It was a "mild" 90', which was, at least, cooler than the 108' at home.

We enjoyed early morning walks at low tide,



beautiful views while sipping on a chocolate banana shake

overlooking Crystal Cove,

The Shake Shack

simmering sunsets

and crafting with friends!  

That's right. No vacation is complete without a trunk full of craft supplies.

Hey, if he gets to bring his boogie board, I get to bring my crafts.

One day, we moms got together on the large patio.

We altered shadowbox photo frames with, of course,  

a BEACH theme!

 

It was so much fun sharing my crafting obsession with the girls. 

Here's my finished shadowbox frame:

 

I love how the contrasting sepia photo with the brightly-colored photo frame

and the coordinating banner tucked underneath the glass.

Additionally, my husband encouraged me to take a collage class

with a well-known Laguna artist. 

She taught us technique, color and composition.

Here is my first-ever genuine collage:



It was a fun week.  Of course, the days flew by.

We're already looking forward to next year's beach vacation.

 

You may like this summer project:

Fun in the Sun Embellished Photo Frame

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Coffee Notes [Altered Chalkboard]

                          



You can never have too much of a good thing.  Like good friends.  Good coffee.  And a good place for notes.  Combine these three, and you get a Coffee Notes Chalkboard! 

While casually strolling the clearance bins at "T" last week, I spotted large chalkboards at 70% off the regular price of $2.50.  A quick calculation told me that is only 75 cents each!  At that price, I quickly pounced on picked up the seven that were left in the bin, and raced made my way to the checkout line.

Since I wasn't planning to use this as a scoreboard, I gathered crafting goodness from my stash with a coffee theme including chipboard letters, stickers, scrapbook paper, ribbon, ric rac, buttons and twine.

With Mod Podge [don't leave home without it], I adhered paper and ribbon to the top of the chalkboard and added two coffee stickers to the board as well.

Since this is, after all, a chalkboard, I needed a place to hold chalk.  This mint tin container was the perfect size.

I Mod Podged the tin container with paper, ribbon and ric rac. Typed out the word "chalk" using my handy label maker [which I've owned since the 3rd grade].  Using the chipboard, spelled out "notes" and, just for fun, placed the "s" onto the altered tin container.  Using adhesive squares, I adhered the container to the chalkboard.  And, of course, included a few pieces of chalk.

I tied twine around the chalkboard, finishing it into a bow, and added two buttons (a coffee pot and a cup) to complete the altered project.

So, where do "good friends" come into this project? 

[Good] friends don't let friends drink decaf!

Partying with my blogging friends:
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Passover Planter Placecards

This weekend brings many families and friends together.  My family celebrates Passover, where we retell the story of the Exodus with blessings, songs and specially-prepared foods.  When we were kids, my parents invited many friends and relatives to join us for the seder.  Because we had about 30 people, we moved our living room furniture into the dining room, and turned our living room into a large dining hall.  We also used place cards to assign everyone a seat.  That was always my responsibility...which I took very seriously. 

This year, I decided to rekindle my job and make place markers using small terra cotta pots.  You can see from this photo with the ruler, the biggest pot only measures 4" tall. 

I painted the three pots in different combinations of blue and white paint, and added pictures and text that I printed out on clear sticker paper.  After coating each pot with modge podge, I wrapped blue and white baker's twine around two of the pots. 

I printed names on white cardstock, then mod podged the cards onto wooden plant markers painted blue. 

 
A green herb (such as parsley or cilantro) is used on the Passover table to symbolize spring.  So I decided to plant herbs in each pot.

I'm going to use the largest pot as a centerpiece, so I made a label that reads "Kosher for Passover". 

I decided the smallest pot was just too tiny to hold a plant, so I used the medium sized pots for the place markers.  These festive pots and plant markers should add a nice touch to my parents' seder table. 

Whatever you celebrate this weekend, have a wonderful time with family and friends. 

May be sharing here:

and

 summer scraps the-creative-exchange-linky-party

Being a Wordsmith Traffic Jam Weekend Party