Bargain Hunting - ReLoved Boot Fair Finds.

Time for a mini recap to show why I love boot fairs.


So after a few mornings at boot fairs, these lovely finds and a winter of rain and frost, I have a few pictures of how my purchases are being put to use in our university house. There are also little tutorials for one or two of them in previous posts; linked of course.

I picked up some chalk in a home bargains for 69p especially for these babies (two packs of white, two of pretty colours AND a mini chalkboard eraser that makes me want to now get a chalkboard for the kitchen too!) The boyfriend got at a jar I had nothing for yet...These are chalkboard stickers but a bit of chalkboard paint in a nice shape on any jar would work!

These candle holders are for outside as the wax will get very messy. They were rusting somewhat so I took them apart, sanded off the rust and got spray paint happy with silver paint. I used spray paint that is for cars... Mainly because it was in the shed, free from dads work and also it helps that it will be weather proof!

These 'Victorian' lampshades are now garden tea light holders thanks to some garden wire, pliers and simple when doing but complicated sounding instructions. TUTORIAL

And I used the fruit bowl as a planter for a miniature garden in our concrete jungle yard, in hindsight I wish I have drilled holes into it as it now has pond life...

I am looking forward to a few more boot fairs this season.

Happy Summer!

Hello Autumn!

September is my favourite month of the year. Mostly because it is my birthday month but Autumn definitely has the prettiest colours of all seasons. It officially began in the UK on my birthday this year! That's Friday just gone.


As a little celebration of Autumn, my birthday and all things crafty here is some inspiration. QUICK BEFORE IT SNOWS!

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Best. Season. Ever.

Inspired?

Re-Loved Jars - Hanging Tealight Holder Tutorial

A while ago I bought some beautiful glass 'Victorian' lampshades (50 pence each, read here), so typically meant for candles just missing their stands. Moving into my new house our garden desperately needs some accessories to brighten it up. (Still needs some serious paint on the ugly walls but the landlord needs to okay it first!) Inspired of course by other crafty garden upcyclers ideas.


So I grabbed the old lamps, a pair of pliers, a pair of wire cutters and some garden wire (that wont rust!).

Now read carefully; following these instructions is MUCH easier if you do it as you go.

1. Wrap the garden wire 2 times around jar. Some wire will be lost in the tidying up so this makes sure you use enough!

2. Cut the wrapped wire with wire cutters to size from the bulk and unravel it from the jar.

3. With the pliers, twist one end of the wire to a small loop around them that the wire will eventually fit through. Then remove from pliers.

4. Hold the loop next to but pointing away from the jar (so the wire goes across it in a straight line.

5. Tightly wrap the wire around the jar, half way (opposite the loop) twist the wire once to form another 'pointing away' loop in the structure and continue around to the first. 

Second (inner structure) loop: 

Wire through the loop(9)

6. Wrap the wire around the outside of the first loop (NOT through) to secure the end. Trim off excess wire with wire cutters.

First loop with wire end wrapped and trimmed: 

Wire wrapped in the loop (9)

7. Double check the loops are evenly spaced, adjust the second by simply untwisting it, and twisting it again further in the right direction.

8. Finally using however much wire you wish (less means a higher hang, more; a lower hang) cut to size using the wire cutters, using your eyes to judge.

9. Push one end of the wire about 2cm through one loop, twist it up and together to secure, repeat this on the other side with the other end of wire.

DONE! 

Reading and understanding this without doing it at the same time will be confusing but I digress. Its so simple once you have done one and the real garden wire (unlike shop bought tea light holders doesn't rust, BONUS!). Now to make many more:

Important note: - 

Put some sand or soil in the bottom followed by the lit tea light to stop them getting too hot and breaking, then hang them up!

These can be made out of ANY jar or glass that has a rim bigger than the part below it including mason jars, jugs, beer glasses etc etc, just adjust the wire amount. 

Hang them on trees with ribbon, in sturdy bushes, on walls and fences, on bench ends, even big sticks stuck in the flower beds. This list, like the glass/jar list is pretty much endless and the outcome is completely up to your own imagination.

Loo Roll, Bunting and a Party

Finally found some time to share my upcycling venture with loo rolls! I was making decorations for my Mummy's surprise party for her 50th birthday and decided to make hanging decorations.
First I collected lots of the cardboard toilet rolls (because I am a hoarder and hate waste) and then set to work. I squashed them slightly and cut them in half, half again and again, ending with 8 pieces per roll that already had a petal shape.

I then got some pva glue and using a small brush applied glue at and slightly around one of the points of each of four 'petals' and stuck them together in a flower shape holding them tightly for about a minute. As a little insurance I also used nail varnish (and later on extra strong glue) to dab in the centre and hold the four petals together.

Whilst the glue dried I made the flower stigmas (centres). I used old birthday cards and cut shapes out testing my crafty scissors that are curved, brushed pva glue on the card and covered in sequins. I then put a thick layer of glue on each piece and repeated until there was no card visible. This took some patience!

Finally, I sprayed the flowers silver and glued the stigma to the centre of each with extra strong glue, finishing by sticking the flowers back to back so they were double sided, eight petal flowers.

This was the one we put on the wrapping of her champagne but I also tied wrapping ribbon to the rest and hung them around the hall for the party with bunting I also made.

I made 50 metres of bunting (foil wrapping paper, concertinered like a fan, glued in the middle then taped to wrapping foil string. The pictures were doubles from a 'this is your life' 50th gift from my sister) and flower decorations all for about £7! An added bonus was Mummy never cottoned on to the plans and was so surprised she was teary from happiness/shock. Budget, upcycle and party success!

Candle Recycling!

I had two candles in my room in big glass jars that I could no longer get my hand in to light, rather than throw them out I decided to make new ones.I didnt want to smash the jars as they have posh lids and are good quality so I think I can use for something else.


First I got new containers for the candle wax to be poured into, I chose a wide rimmed tumbler I had and a cute flower pot I got for 99p in a charity shop. Then I put the jars into a pans, filled the pans and heated on an electric hob.

Once the wax had melted I simply used a fork to pull out the wicks and attached them to the bottom of the new containers, held the wicks upright with the same forks and poured in the melted wax, leaving to harden.

A few small tips I found online/was given but didn't generally follow (tut tut): 

•  Trim the burnt wicks before melting to stop the wax going a horrible colour (which I could reach to do but it didn't happen to my wax, luckily).
• Gently heat the new containers to prevent cracking (Good quality containers and those built for heat resistance shouldn't crack though)
• DO NOT MICROWAVE WAX (this one I definitely followed)
• Make sure the pots are glazed if ceramic or else will soak up the wax and become flammable!!

I can't believe how easy it was. I just have to trim the wicks before I light them.

Next time Tea cup and saucer candles!