repurpose.remake.reuse.reclaim

As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.  ~Proverbs 25:25 I've always wanted to make something out of these drink pouches I've been saving from my kids' past parties...until I had the time, or at least the energy, to create something out of them.  Well, the day has come.  They finally came out of their hiding place. It's a super easy project.  Like any other, it just requires time and energy. Let's get started. First I lined 3 of them up and secure them with masking tape to fit my found-zipper.  Trim the top portion for uniform size.  Remember, all of these materials, I have already have at hand.  Feel free to use any similar material to create this. Stitch together with the zigzag stitch leaving masking tape until you get to it then gently pull it off.  Just make sure you use a machine needle fit for this type of material.  Otherwise, it will break.   For extra strength, I duct taped the inside after s...

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.   ~Albert Einstein From this plain ol' tee...   (an Inneract Project photo shoot)   to this still plain ol' fun AD tee...   (check out Inneract Project's site  and sign-up your middle schooler) to this fun ruffled refashioned tee! (coupled with a new "do" and a black cardigan from a thrift shop) Check out  Tea Rose Home  for this ruffled shirt tutorial.

"You Shall NOT Pass..." ~Gandalf, the Grey Mr. Philpot, Taylor's & Diego's 3rd grade teacher, is one of most frugal and economical, eco-friendly teacher I know. He takes the bus to school, doesn't own a car, always brought his lunch, and he never waste anything. And one thing he didn't have was a hall pass that could stand the children's rough handling.  He always replacing them. I've been meaning to make him two hall passes from the beginning of school as a Christmas gift, birthday gift, teacher appreciation but never got around it until the last day of school. I'm such a procrastinator!  I worked on it on the last day of school, literally! So, here's what I did: - Think of a theme - Gather all materials  Materials I used (most of these things you find around the house): - old Star Wars Valentine's cards - stickers: Star Wars, Toy Story, alphabet  - cardstock & different shades of scrap paper - teacher...

Leadership is based on a spiritual quality; the power to inspire, the power to inspire others to follow.  ~Vince Lombardi So yeah, I haven't posted any projects lately.  I've been yearning to do so but I've been busy doing our church's Kids Camp , driving the kids to and from their fun activities while trying to clean up a big mess in our home. It's like the major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico--can't seem to control it! Paperwork all over -- I'm re-organizing! Anyway, one of Taylor's mentor/youth leader's birthday was coming up and we almost always miss it because we're always out of town.  So just before Taylor left for the East Coast and we to Kids Camp, we put together a crafty gift for her.  Taylor did most of the work.  I just learned how to crochet last May at the Maker Faire so I'm still learning. She crochet these little doilies (is that what you call them?) with Ms. Dana's favorite colors (based on observing her.) I had th...

“Creativity is a natural extension of our enthusiasm.” ~Earl Nightingale Here's a real flouncy addition using wild scraps from my daughter's 2 year-old (now 11) Jungle Party.  This pair is a hit at her school.  She wears it practically every other day. The fabric scraps from the pillow covers (see behind pants) and to cover another sofa did just fine for this pair of jeans. My eldest daughter embroidered this when she was 10 years old, but she outgrew the jeans.  Solution: cut it off and sew it in as an extension to another pair.  Works great! I'll post more later.   For now, have fun extending your creativity...

He's the cool senior pastor of New Heart Community Church in La Mirada, Southern California, since the mid-90s.  A wonderful husband to Abby of 17 years. (She once told me she started praying for her future husband at 12 years old age.  Never too early to start praying for the perfect mate.) A fun father to four ultra-talented children (3 boys-16,14,12, & an 8-yo princess).  An awesome photographer since his youth (using film, not digital, folks).  Do you know that he does both when requested? Facilitate a wedding and take photographs right there at the altar!  Oh, and he's a graphic designer by trade, and a board member of My Refuge House ,  a ministry established for the purpose of providing a safe home to young women and children who have been rescued from sex trafficking.  He also speaks powerful messages to youth in rallies and camps.   And lastly, I just discovered that he's a crafter, too. Check out his first attempt of re-fa...

You have chosen the Evening, but my love is given to the Morning. And my heart forebodes that soon it will pass away for ever. ~Lord of the Rings Tailored capes suited for young Elvish(es) I've used and abused an old pattern (McCall's #3307) over the years. It's the same pattern I've used for a Super Hero, an Eagle, Ponchos, Queen Amidala (of Star Wars), and of course, Arwen, and more. It's a one-size-fits-all with little or no adjustment needed! The only thing that would be different are the fabric and the clasps--which give any cape such character. See how tattered this pattern is. It's been re-used many gazillion times. Go get it. It's super easy to make even if you're not a savvy seamstress. Yet.