An Old Bike RePurposed

This was a cute little bike we got for our oldest son many years ago. 

It was used and worn when we purchased it ..., then it got more love and use and has been kicking around (not used) for the past too many years. 


I have been wanting to do something with it for awhile and decided it would be the perfect addition to our party décor since we had used this quote in our daughters graduation announcements.

FYI -  The "LIFE IS LIKE RIDING A BICYCLE" quote has been used in a previous post (HERE) ..., and something similar or complementary to it (HERE).


So after a can of spray paint this became it's new look.

Everything got sprayed except the handles.  It was a quick spray job since we were out of time, and we ran out of paint too soon too so there are places that could have used a little more.  Luckily it's a vintage look we are going for, so the look fits just fine.  

The paint we used was Valspar, Gloss Exotic Sea. 

For our party it's home was atop a shelf at the front entrance of our party tent.  It's new home will be ... somewhere in our yard ... when I find just the right place. 

Old Books RePurposed

I found this look on Etsy a while ago and loved the look. 

So when I was thinking about graduation decorations this came to the front of my mind and I wanted to create this look.

A good friend helped me shop for the books from thrift stores (because I have been somewhat homebound the last few weeks due to my husbands poor health), purchasing old hard bound books with ruffle-y edged papers.

I ripped off the covers and wrapped them with twine similar to what we see in the Etsy picture, but with my own touch of creativity, using what I had in my craft supplies.  I didn't worry about the bottom side of the books because they wouldn't be seen, but tried to make the sides and tops look the best.

You can see that a few of the books had some colored inside pages and we left those if they matched the colors we were using, but we only have a few because I really like the natural colors. 

I wrapped single books and stacks of two or three books together. 

I piled them as I thought looked best, sat a tea cup and saucer on the top of the stack and they became centerpieces for our tables.

We added some flowers and colored vases, bottles, and little heart ring dishes to complete the look on each table.

These items set atop a table cover made from vintage sheets (HERE).  I was really pleased with the look we created.

We used some on our food/buffet table too.

Now the books are boxed away in storage, but if I want I can pull them out and use them in my home décor somewhere.

The outside covers are stored away as well ..., just in case I need them for something later.   Oh Bother!  I have a hard time getting rid of things. 

Reusable Shopping Bag Cover Up

I purchased a couple reusable bags a few years ago when we stayed in Seattle for my husbands first stem cell transplant.  I used them many times, but usually only at the Safeway store.

We're back in Seattle and I'm using them again, but I have to take them everywhere I go unless I want to purchase shopping bags from every store I go in to.  It's the law!  It's so funny when the cashier asks if you want to purchase a bag, when you've just purchased clothing or food and need a way to get it to your car. The grocery store asks before they ring up your food, so they know how to bag it. They thank the past mayor.

I don't like advertising for other stores and I have a hard time using a bag that says Safeway in Target or Bed Bath and Beyond, or any other store.  I decided to do something to fix that.  I didn't have a sewing machine, but I did bring a little sewing kit, so I sewed it by hand.  Not perfect in size of stitch, but perfect in covering up.

Below the checkered fabric is a red printed SAFEWAY logo.  No one can see that now.

I like the look! 

Now I have one reusable Walmart bag that I'll have to fix too, but all I have is the black and white check fabric and I think I want something different on this one.

Fabric has been added to my shopping list, and covering this bag remains on my To Do list.

Thumb Tack Magnets

This idea is a great idea for a few fun things on the wall, especially if you want to change them with the seasons.

Thumb tacks as magnet attracters.

(not sure where I found this)



Maybe you have several thumbtacks you need to do something with.

Maybe you don't want to cover them all.

Maybe you just wanna say something.

Maybe you would choose this look (pinned here).

So many fun and creative ideas.

Way to repurpose a thumb tack.

Ironing Board Cupboards

How do you like your ironing board?  Do you keep it in a cupboard?

Is it your cupboard? Check these boards from Montgomery Ward

 

 

 

 

Clever!

This is surely the next DIY project. Somebody can repurpose a dresser, shelf unit, or cart into an ironing board.

 

 

Booking It!

I like the idea of homemade books and I have seen a few (online) that are awesome.

Here is a cook book / scrapbook from Furloughed Time

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And another style from Wedding Chicks - sew this one up.
I really like this look.

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And if you don't want to make your own, but love the homemade look, how about this one from Etsy - you'll find so many great looks there.

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Lastly, the book itself isn't home made, but the message on each page is definitely original.  I love this idea from The Twinery 



Blue Jean Pumpkin

awesome jeans ... or, I mean awesome pumpkin

 

denim pumpkin from Denim Do Over

 

 

 

If pumpkins aren't your thing, but jeans are, then check out Denim Do Over for more ways to repurpose your jeans.

 

 

A Bloomin' Truck Load

I think this is so adorable.  I love this look.

This look comes from This Old House

 

 

 

Doesn't it make you smile?  I am almost giddy at how cute it is.

 

I have a few old toys I am waiting to use ..., somehow, somewhere, sometime.  They are a little more worse for wear, but I love them for the memories they help bring to my heart and soul.

 

 

 

I'll keep this dump truck flower pot look in mind!

 

You'll find several other fun ideas for using "junk" in the garden on that site too.

 

A Tonka Truck and Some Spray Paint

I Love Tonka Trucks!

 

 

 

Our boys pushed these big trucks around during a lot of their play time when they were younger. They don't look so great anymore, but I can't get rid of them.

 

Maybe someday I'll figure out a great place for them, but for now they wait patiently.
 

I wanted to give our granddaughter a dump truck this year, and really wanted a pink Tonka truck for her, but Tonka doesn't make a pink one.


Years ago they made this pink Tonka truck that now rests above the window in our office, having once belonged to someone in our family when he was a young child many, many years ago.  This is definitely Vintage!  ;)

 

 

I think this is a cool truck, but I wanted a big pink dump truck.
So ...,

 

I repurposed a yellow truck -

this


 

became this

 

 

pink, with a bit of purple!

 

Now hers won't get confused with her brothers.

 

The trickiest part was deciding where and how to paint it. It's pretty tricky to get around all those tight places.

 

My mind thought I could paint the bottom of the bucket purple and the inside pink.  Then I looked at the truck.

I couldn't find a good start and finish point for the two colors to meet up.

 

So ...,

 

I did the next best ..., easiest thing!

 

Spray paint worked fast and easy and this truck is ready for our little sweetie to push it around. 

 

Maybe we'll find jewels, food, or a doll getting a ride in it someday. 

Maybe my granddaughter will even get a ride in it!

 

It can happen!

It has many times before with gramma's dump truck.

Now, just as a side note - I googled pink Tonka dump trucks and found a bit of info - somebody out their might paint one for you.  


And another side note - I just saw this and had to come back and post about it  here, since this is about dump trucks -

image found on amazon

I saw this in the window of the John Deere equipment store in a nearby town (Quincy) and decided that's what I want for Christmas! (The truck I saw in the window looked less plastic than this one, and really cool.)

I didn't go into the store, but I did tell Santa when he came out of the store.  Ya, but I don't think I'm gonna get it. 
 
And it has nothing to do with whether I've been bad or good!

 

Oh the things people Think ..., and Do ..., and Create ...





image from A Curious Mind

There was some thinking going on with
these next projects -

The Gathering Place Design

wire waste basket + tier + knob =

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And from This Was A What?!

 This

becomes this



or this



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I'll never look at a rug the same way again -
Striped Rug Pillows from Martha Stewart
I think they look great on the patio furniture or on the lawn for a picnic! How about on a bale of hay or straw?



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Here is a great outdoor bench from BHG to put them on.



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Beads are not just for stringing - didn't know that until now!
This comes from The Artful Parent



They are for melting too!

An Old Door ...

I love this old door from here
It's all a great look!
 

 

 

  

 

Re-Purpose Cupboard Doors

Several great ideas for re-purposing cupboard doors can be found at  2 Crafty 4 My Skirt