DIY Cork Matt

Wine Lovers!
You can use this as a matt, a pin board, black splash, wall art?... ANYTHING!
I am using this one as a matt for my kitchen. ( Therefore I water proofed it...)
Needed:
A TONNE OF CORKS!... Call restaurants/ bars or even online... or have a lot of wine with friends? :)
Glue Gun
Some king of base board, I've used melamine and thick illustration board, depends on tools you have for trimming... (Pre lay corks to make sure you can fill size nicely before you apply glue...)
Rug Matt ( Available at Dollar stores, provides anti slip function.)
Mod Podge as a seal
Acrylic Finish Varnish * ( Water proofing... Wall art does not need! Mod Podge will suffice!)

Note! Try to cut as evenly as possible! down the top (upright) works best.

(1)Mod Podge (2) Seal if needed for floor

Grow your own Green Onions!

So, you went to the store... Bought some green onion...chopped it up and had a stub. Toss it? Or.. Grow again on your kitchen counter?
Takes a couple days but you can "recycle" your green onion as long as you want just remember to change the water every day or two! I know it's cheap but its convenient? Cool? Fun for kids?

Needed:
Green onion stalk, preferably with roots.
Small cup or glass.
Water.

Whenever I need I just take my scissors and cut a piece :)

Enjoy!

Clean stainless steel naturally!

Use a lemon! Halves are probably easier but I had wedges already cut... This will remove water spots and tarnish, then just wipe dry with paper towel and watch your sinks sparkle! Dont worry about pulp it wipes clean. No chemicals necessary and a lovely clean scent!

Clean your votives!

Place dirty votives with wax build up on bottoms and place in microwave for a minute or so depending on amount of wax. Use oven mitts to remove! I then poured the melted wax into a coffee cup I wasn't using any more and took a piece of paper towel and wiped it clear! Super easy! :)
Here is a before and after :)

Mod Podge Mani

So...Mod Podge makes a great top coat for nails! Alone or on top of your favorite color! Found this out by mistake doing a craft but have been using it ever since! I believe it is gentler on my nails :) if you don't have Mod Podge you can make your own using white glue and water; some add flour! Google it :)... When it comes to removal soak and scrub, way better than acetone! :)

Easy "to do list" idea!

Take a picture frame...I used 5x7. Cut out a piece of lined paper (by tracing the picture that was initially in frame) and put in as you would a picture. I used the top left corner of lined sheet to create the idea of scholarly lines. Use wet dry/dry eraser marker pens and write your lists, etc. of things to do on the glass in frame. I used crayons and doodled on my frame ha! But decorate the way you like :) extremely green and very personalized :)

Decorate your plates :)

So...My boyfriend and I moved in together a while ago and he had these plain white plates that for some reason we use all the time even though we have gorgeous dark purple ones (fave!) Anyway, I am always working on 100+ crafts at a time I had some doilies lying around... Grabbed a plain white plate and some tape ..sized it and it fit. Cool!- A stencil! ...I suck at drawing. Taped it on outer corners and in the middle, grabbed a sharpie and started filling in the holes!... Bake at 350F for 30 minutes! Personalized plates! Free hand if you can...I can't... :) ** Hand wash, not Dishwasher safe.

Pumpkin carving tip!

A much easier way to clean out the guts and then also much easier at lighting time. Cut around the top like you normally would starting in the front but stop before you complete the circle and then extend down the back 3 or 4 inches and make a door! Metal serving spoons work the best for scraping! Happy carvings!

Shower Shrieking!

To all those people out there who can't stand the "shriek" of the shower curtain scraping along that metal rod? Take a piece of waxed paper and run it over the top of the rod to soften that nasty noise!
Quick and easy!

Easy as Pie!

So there is one thing I'd like to get clear...I HATE BAKING!...But as a celiac, if I want pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving without spending a fortune I've gotta do it myself. The part I hate most about baking, other than the science of it all is the mess! Rolling pins and floured surfaces? No thanks! Especially as the gluten free flour is expensive already!

My simple solution only involved the pastry mix of your choice, empty wine bottle and a couple long pieces of waxed paper.

First I put the ball of dough on one piece of waxed paper and the placed the other sheet on top. Then I rolled with my wine bottle ( if your dough hasn't been chilled in fridge you could use a chilled vodka bottle?)

After it was all flat I peeled half of the wax paper off. I then placed my pie pan on top of the pastry dough so when I flipped the entire pie surface would be covered. Once covered I pushed all the dough into all the crevices with the waxed paper still on... I still have no mess!!!!

Once everything was pushed in I slowly peeled back the waxed paper and voila! Any parts that didn't come off nicely and smoothly you can merely use scrapings and do patch work but really you shouldn't need to do much if you push in all your dough with no air bubbles! :) Then like ordinary pie crust take a knife and trim your edges :)

Mess Free Pastry*

pantry organization tip!

So here is all I did was-
Dollarstore mason jar, or for cost effectiveness use a left over mason jar like pasta or salsa, etc. ( I fit to size the amount I had)...
A "Wet-Dry Eraser"... This kind won't rub off on your fingers once it has dried vs "Dry Eraser". They are available at all home/office supply stores or dollar stores and a must have in the house for re-usable and easy labelling.
On the front I labelled the product, and then on the back I wrote quick directions in jot form to keep simple, stock and store. Way easier than having a bunch of half packages! :)

Ribbon organizer

Easy way to organize your ribbon collection.... I broke a plastic hanger on the corner and put my ribbon wheels through the base...as it gets fuller it will look better obv but I just used a lot for other crafts recently but you get the picture! :) simply tape up the broken end if needed and pull away as you please for your crafting needs!

Tin can fun!

Quick way to up cycle tin cans, jars or containers. You can paint, and add jewels and such but for this little craft I used scrap book paper I purchased at the dollar store. Cut to size, apply glue to decorative paper of choice and roll tin onto glued surface. Smooth out air bubbles and voila!

Things you will need:
Scrapbook paper--size to jar or tin but usually half the size works.
Scissors
Glue stick
Can or jar

I am planning to use mine for my craft room but just showing the possibilities, i.s--flower and decorative use.

Jade Jackleen

Personalizing with Yarn

Using regular white glue and any colour yarn you can make a personalized vase for any room in your house. Use liquor bottles, (ha!), tin cans, really any thing that can be found around the house! This took me 3 mins to do plus dry time. Glue dries clear so don't worry and make sure you wrap yarn closely.

Playing with Pastels

Used pastels to dye my puppy's Mohawk! blended blue turquoise and green, it washes out :) as my best friend Megan said "pint sized punk". Works best on wet hair but is much easier to run water over the pastel crayon itself, or have a little cup to dip in to. I've done it in my own hair as well! *Note: Red may not wash out in one wash on blonde/ light hair! 

Sea Shell Wreath

I did this in less than ten mins. Bought the wreath at Walmart for 5$ and used seashells that I've collected from trips and a glue gun. If you don't have seashells you can buy them for cheap at most crafting stores. Would look perfect at a beach house but I dont have one :(. It tells a story of all my vacations :).

Hang Dry Flowers

Using ribbon or twine hang to dry for ten days until no moisture. Then use high shine hairspray after totally dry to give a nice sheer shine.  Makes a nice decoration as it dries :).

Buttoned Mirror

Using an old Ikea mirror (1.99$) I had lying around, some white glue and a bag of mismatched buttons purchased from the dollar store I created a functional and unique piece of art. Will now do other colour themes with the other mirror I have! :) Looks great on the wall!

Nail polish your keys!

Nail polish your keys to create an inexpensive personalized set!

Frozen watermelon cubes!

Freeze these and let your kids ( or yourself) enjoy as a 100% natural Popsicles! Or for the grown ups? Use as decorative ice cubes in any of your favorite summer cocktails! White Zin sangria? :) Cheers!

Easy DIY lantern indoor/outdoor

Old mason jar, tea light and beans or sand... I used black beans as that's what I had, but coffee beans I bet would give a nice scent? :) indoor or outdoor I plan to put on my patio :)

Patio party!

Made this using cocktail umbrellas purchased from dollar store and a foam wreath purchased from michaels-Will be hanging on my patio door (inside as is the paper will ruin if wet). The picks of the umbrella may need to be cut as to not stick out of back and sides :) could also string Christmas lights behind ! Happy patioing!

First Entry

This is my first blog and to be honest, I'm not sure if I'm doing it right? But this seems like a lot of fun. I would love to use multi media to show off some of my ideas and maybe alterations to others. The internet has become one of the biggest sources of expression in the last few years, with reference to Justin Bieber, Sophia Grace & Rosie, and many others. I plan to use pinterest as a guide and source for many ideas but any that are my own I promise to show as my own style. Pinterest; you must admit (well, I feel...) is the most amazing way of outsourcing creativity. Thank you Pinterest, I would love to shake hands.
Feel free to comment, contribute or even suggest to my ideas as I go along and although I do accept criticism please be tasteful so I can really appreciate your suggestions :)

Jade Jackleen
05.23.2012