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Showing posts with label re-purposed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label re-purposed. Show all posts

6.23.2022

county fair centerpiece

summer,entertaining,party,just for fun,trash to treasure,dollar store crafts,junking,thrifted,up-cycling,re-purposed,Fourth of July,DIY,street party fun,block party fun,backyard decor party decor,flowers,floral centerpiece,vintage milk can, tutorial
when planning for our recent campout with our Lemon Drop Divas group,
i knew i would incorporate the 'county fair' theme in our trailer decor
along with lemons and yellow - it's a thing with us ;) 

so i did what i always do - looked around my studio
and house and garage and backyard
to see what i already had that i could incorporate into the decor.
it wasn't hard to find useful items,
especially considering that i have an entire studio filled with yellow stuff i've made!

continue reading to see how it all came together...

6.16.2022

easy-peasy county fair bunting

summer,entertaining,party,just for fun,trash to treasure,dollar store crafts,junking,thrifted,up-cycling,re-purposed,Fourth of July,DIY,street party fun,block party fun,backyard decor,party decor,bunting,banners,diy bunting, diy banners, tutorial
it's not a party without some fun decor,
and this easy-peasy bunting project is perfect for summer fun!

whether you're hosting a backyard bbq, a block party, or a birthday party,
making cute pennant bunting banners doesn't have to be hard.
i hate hard. i love easy.
so i'm always trying to find the easy way to decorate!

i recently made these bunting banners and they came together really quickly -
without sewing!

continue reading, and i'll show you how...

6.09.2022

county fair award ribbons

summer,entertaining,party,just for fun,trash to treasure,dollar store crafts,junking,thrifted,up-cycling,re-purposed,Fourth of July,DIY,street party fun,block party fun,backyard games,county fair award ribbons,award ribbons,county fair summer decor, tutorial
these fancy 'county fair'-style ribbons appeared in my last post,
as accents on the 'Dime Toss' game sign and the end of the game table.

they were pretty easy to create  - and are MUCH larger than anything i could find
in stores or online. plus, they had to be yellow!
so in typical Deb fashion, i made my own
using the fabric, ribbons, and other detritus stashed in my creative studio.

do you have plans for games at a Fourth of July or summer birthday party?
these could be the perfect decor accents -
or use them as actual prize ribbons!

continue reading to see my easy tutorial...

6.03.2022

county fair dime toss game!

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it's SUMMER and time to party!
and quite by accident, i just created a HIT of a party game...
when our fabulous girl camping group the Lemon Drop Divas plan an event,
we go ALL OUT. WAY over the limit. everything is themed, with coordinated decor.

a campout in May was themed 'Lemon Drop Divas County Fair'
and it was packed with references to old time fairs. 
including a midway. yep!
we were all given the opportunity to create a 'carnival games' booth
as part of our own fair midway, to enjoy with our friends.

i was stumped... until i was sorting through a bunch of stuff we had here at home
and realized 'we have a LOT of wine glasses that we don't use!'
and when that thought combined with the carnival game concept,
i had a light bulb moment.

continue reading to see how easy it is to set something like this up!

4.28.2022

happy May Day flowers

spring,May Day,flowers,garden,garden art,garden style,paper crafts,re-purposed,up-cycling,DIY,diy decorating,decorating,tutorial,trash to treasure,dollar store crafts,on the porch,outdoors,crafting,crafting with kids,flower baskets,MayDay flower baskets,gift wrapping paper, flower gifts.
May Day is just a few days away,
and i'm ready to add some happy spring vibes with some small flower baskets.

first created back in 2013, i'm sharing them again this spring,
and i think you'll LOVE how easy my tutorial is.
and you might just laugh when you see what they are made of!

continue reading for my easy tutorial...

4.21.2022

a new sweet sweater 'shroom for spring!

spring,flowers,sweaters,Sweet Sweater Originals,Sweet Sweater 'Shrooms,DIY,diy decorating,decorating,trash to treasure,re-purposed,up-cycling,tutorial,seasonal,boho style,sweater mushroom,mushrooms,spring florals,spring home decor,home decor.
last fall, i created some Sweet Sweater 'Shrooms,
using ceramic bowls and vases covered with sweater scraps.

then i found something that caused me to create a new 'take' on the 'shroom idea,
with a nod to spring...
i am really happy with the results, and the process isn't hard at all.
I hope it inspires you to give it a try!


continue reading to see how it started, and how it ends up!

3.17.2022

repurposed bottle brush carrots

crafting, decorating, diy decorating, diy, re-purposed, up-cycled, junk makeover, Dollar Store crafts, Dollar Tree dupes, seasonal home decor, seasonal decor, spring, spring home decor, diy spring decor, spring decorating, Easter, Easter decorating.
i was out running errands this morning when inspiration hit me...
an item at the store i was in reminded me of something i had used before,
still had in my stash, and could use again to replicate the thing i saw - but in MY style.
(which is what my approach to decorating is all about!)

when i arrived home, i dug out the components in excitement, 
ready to 'hop to it' (see what i did there?!) and get this project done.
it took me all of ten minutes to make these cute lil' veggies!

continue reading to see what inspired me - and what i used to create my own version!

3.01.2022

my sweet sweater birthday cake!

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hello, friends!
i've been enjoying my sabbatical over the past month and a half,
and have made a MAJOR dent in my very long and very overlooked 'To Do' list!
(such as: get my truck running again  get some appliance repairs done   
get some yard work done  buy a new mattress to help my back pain )

since it's March 1st, the beginning of my birthday month,
it seems a perfect time to return to the blog and share a recent project with you!

* this post was created in mid-February and scheduled for March 1.
given the world events that transpired in the last week of February,
 i actually thought very seriously about not publishing it, 
 seeming too frivolous a subject to focus on in light of reality.

 i have decided to publish it, in the hope that anyone who sees it
will be reminded that there are still things to celebrate in this world
even in the midst of darkness and conflict. *

as much as i love to bake (and eat) sweet things,
i decided that my birthday cake this year needed to be a bit different...
you know it wouldn't be a birthday cake for ME unless it was made of sweaters, right?!
(my waistline and thighs appreciate the total lack of calories in this one ;) ) 

continue reading to find out the unusual way this fun decor came to be...

12.27.2021

NEW! Sweet Sweater Sips!

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oh, did you think i was DONE??? LOL. never!
i'll never run out of ideas for turning sweaters into decor...
and this one, well, it's just the perfect whimsical accent for winter!

this one actually isn't made from sweaters... it's something else.
but you certainly COULD use sweaters to create something similar.
(and don't miss the 'links to previous related content' below this post for even MORE ideas!)

so, grab a cuppa' something sippable, and
continue reading to see my newest original Sweet Sweater creations!

12.20.2021

sweater-wrapped gifts

holiday,winter,sweaters,gift wrapping,paper,DIY,diy decorating,Christmas,Christmas Decor,Christmas tree,boho style,color,color palettes,colorful home,Pantone color of the year,re-purposed,thrifted,gift wrap inspo,gift wrap with sweaters,sweater print gift wrap paper,gifts,Christmas gift wrap.
when i choose a theme, my mind runs rampant with ideas
to incorporate that theme in every possible part of my decor.
case in point: the presents shown above.

it's not enough for me to deck the halls and mantels and doors and tree
in my preferred colors and materials...
i have to make the gift wrap match, too! LOL

this year i found three different ways to incorporate sweaters into my gift wrapping,
to coordinate with my Sweet Sweater Season theme...

continue reading for more inspo & info!

12.10.2021

sweater-wrapped vases

Christmas,Christmas Decor,Christmas Decor Themes,holiday,winter,DIY,diy decorating,sweaters,thrifted,re-purposed,up-cycling,colorful home,ornaments,sweater vases,holiday home decor.
on a cold rainy fall day waaaaaay back in 2007,
i visited designer Danny Seo's blog...
and when i saw a photograph of something Danny had created, i was smitten.
the guy took old sweater sleeves and put them on clear glass vases!

i jumped up and grabbed an ivory cashmere sweater of mine
that had recently become to small for me to wear.
(i did not become too big to wear the sweater - that's my story and i'm stickin' to it!)
i cut the sleeves off of the sweater, popped them into some clear vases
then added candles and bare branches to them...
the result was a cozy grouping that warmed up my dining table.

(when i added some small pumpkins to the grouping and looked at them side by side,
 i thought up the very first Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins!)

i've made a few different versions of sweater-wrapped vases over the years,
and this year i had fun combining a few ideas.

continue reading to see how vases and ornaments and sweaters are a perfect match...

12.06.2021

a forest of Sweet Sweater Trees

holiday,Christmas,Christmas tree,Christmas Decor Themes,Christmas Decor,winter,sweaters,Sweet Sweater Originals,Sweet Sweater Trees,DIY,diy decorating,thrifted,re-purposed,Sweet Sweater Season,home decor made from sweaters,sweater crafts,cozy winter decor.
grab a cuppa' something, friends, because this post is LONG!
i'm sharing three different types of sweater trees with you today...
each one easy as pie to make from simple everyday materials.
(hmmmmnnn... pie's not a bad idea, come to think of it...)

you'll see previous versions of the items i used
along with their fresh new look for this year's cozy theme.

got your tea? coffee? cocoa? wine? LOL...
continue reading to see all the details of this project!

12.03.2021

Sweet Sweater & Scarf wreath

holiday,Christmas,Christmas Decor,Christmas Decor Themes,wreaths,wall art,sweaters,Sweet Sweater Originals,Sweet Sweater Wreath,DIY,diy decorating,re-purposed,thrifted,winter,holiday wreath,winter wreath,sweater wreath,crafting with sweaters,holiday decor,holiday wreaths.
let's start off with a warm, welcoming touch for winter at the front door...
today, i'm re-visiting a past project: the scarf-wrapped wreath!
for this version, i've turned the scarf into the bow and covered the wreath with a sweater.

it's a easy and inexpensive way to create a wreath
that will work well wherever you place it - 
on the door, a wall, a mantel, or even lying flat with a glass-encased candle in the middle!

the bonus is that there are no needles falling off of this wreath!

continue reading for the easy details...

11.29.2021

Scarf Christmas Card Holder - 3 ways!

sweaters,Christmas,wreaths,Christmas Decor Themes,Sweet Sweater Wreath,thrifted,winter,holiday,Christmas Decor,diy decorating,DIY,wall art,Sweet Sweater Originals,re-purposed,diy holiday decor,Christmas card holders,Christmas card displays.
confession: i'm really awful at sending out Christmas cards. sigh.

in 'the old days', our annual family card was a huge production:
from selecting matching outfits (and then wrangling everyone INTO them),
arranging and decorating the perfect 'set', posing four rambunctious kids
(did i say four? let's be honest... the husband was as uncooperative as the kids),
snapping the photos, and then taking the film to be developed
and praying that at least ONE shot would work.

there usually was at least one.
except the year that my pre-teen son crossed his eyes in EVERY SINGLE PHOTO.
i chose one anyway and had it made into cards - with 'Bah Humbug' as the sentiment.
and now that my kids are grown and have their own families, they don't do photo cards...
apparently they are smarter than i was!

anyway, i still love GETTING cards. and finding fun ways to display them...
this year i've come up with three ways to do that using scarves.

continue reading to see my easy solutions!
(to displaying cards - not creating the photos for them. you're on your own, friends.)

11.26.2021

Sweet Sweater Santa hat tutorial

Sweet Sweater Originals, Sweet Sweater Santa Hats,sweaters,winter,holiday,DIY,diy decorating,Christmas,Christmas Decor,Christmas Decor Themes,Christmas tree,wreaths,wall art,tutorial,re-purposed, Christmas home decor,holiday home decor,holiday decor,Santa hat,thrifted,sweater crafts.
along with our homes, i think WE deserve some 'decorative' touches for the holiday season!

my original Sweet Sweater Santa hats have been my go-to December accessory for a decade now,
and wherever i wear them they garner smiles.
so i thought i'd share my SUPER easy method for making them!

continue reading for my easy NO SEW tutorial - 
PLUS some ideas for using them in other ways!

11.22.2021

Sweet Sweater Nativity

Christmas,Christmas Decor,Christmas Decor Themes,holiday,What Matters,sweaters,Sweet Sweater Originals,DIY,diy decorating,re-purposed,dollar store crafts,ornaments,nativity,nativity scenes,diy creche,diy nativity,Dollar Tree crafts,Jesus Is the Reason for the Season.
i've made a lot of things this year,
and this project ended up being my very favorite one.

i've selected it as my very first 'official' holiday decor post
because for me, this is the 'reason for the season' -
observing and celebrating the birth of Jesus.
it is at the foundation of my faith, and fills my soul with joy.

this project began with the beautiful blown glass art of artist Helle Mardahl...
i was so inspired by the luminous colors and soft forms of her art in photos on Instagram
and they immediately made me think of human forms.
i turned a few small ceramic vessels and some tiny tree ornaments
into a charmingly sweet and simple nativity scene that reflects her art.

after i added sweater scraps to the mix, i HAD to call this a 'Sweet Sweater Nativity'!

continue reading for the very easy details...

11.12.2021

fall paper leaf arrangement

seasonal,colorful home,Thanksgiving,diy decorating,up-cycling,trash to treasure,paper,fall,paper crafts,DIY, junk makeover,crafting,wall art,tutorial,re-purposed,fall florals,fall home decor,fall centerpieces.
i've had to get creative to bring a fall feel into my home
(there's not a fall leaf in sight outside and it's still in the 90's... sigh)
but i've managed to find a way! it's PAPER!

some of the leaves from the wreath in my last post joined with new ones
along with faux florals + leaves and a branch from my backyard tree
to create this lovely fall arrangement.
it's easy-peasy AND it won't fall apart! (hah. pun not intended)

continue reading for more details...

11.08.2021

honeycomb paper mushrooms!

fall,Thanksgiving,paper,paper crafts,DIY,diy decorating,crafting,dollar store crafts,re-purposed,party,colorful home,Pantone color of the year,up-cycling,mushrooms,paper mushrooms,mushroom party decor,mushroom crafts,paper mushrooms.
surprise!
this project and post wasn't planned -
 i was recently inspired by a cute creation on Insta, and had to try it for myself.
it worked so well that i wanted to share it here...
so i'm popping it into my late fall content before i switch to holiday!

continue reading to see what inspired me and how EASY this project is!

11.05.2021

fall wreath with scrap paper leaves

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here in Southern California, we don't get 'fall leaves'. 
not at my elevation, anyway. up in the mountains it's a bit different.
the leaves down here in the flat desert turn from green to brown in July when the heat hits.
if they aren't blown off of the trees by the Santa Ana winds in September,
they hang on until January when the new leaf buds push them off.

it's harder yet when you've lived somewhere else that actually has a fall season.
i really miss being able to forage the forest for glowing red, orange, and yellow leaves.
since that possibility no longer exists for me,
i had to find another way to express a fall feeling in my home this time of year...
and i found the solution in my recycling bin!

continue reading for a quick tutorial on turning scrap paper into fall leaves - and more!

11.01.2021

NEW! Sweet Sweater 'Shrooms!

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happy November, friends!
no, i am not done with fall yet!
there are so many beautiful things in nature in fall that inspire me...
and when i saw mushrooms of all types and materials going crazy online,
 i came up with my newest Sweet Sweater creation:

 Sweet Sweater 'Shrooms!

these are a fast, fun, easy craft / diy decor project perfect for fall and Thanksgiving
that i had a lot of fun making - i hope you will, too!

continue reading for my newest no-sew sweater decor tutorial...