Recipe Card Holder Valentine Gift

 

The $ Tree currently has some super cute Valentines Day items, like these stickers.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to use them for, but I knew I really needed to think of something.

I tested and found they stick quite well to metal washers (I like the ones just slightly larger than the sticker), and metal washers stick quite well to magnets.  Voila!  Cute Valentine magnets.

I also checked to see if magnets would stick to the fake metal trays at the $ Tree, and they do!  This is great, because I am in need of something to hold a recipe while I'm baking.  With the not-so-pretty conduit running under the kitchen cabinets of my 1929 home, I can cover some ugly and create function by attaching the tray to it with magnets.  

I plan to paint mine antique white, but I wanted to share it this way in case anyone needs an inexpensive idea for a Sunday School or Daycare project.  With several kids sharing one sheet of stickers, plus the cost of a washer, magnet, and tray - the holders could be made for about $1.25 each.  I think some mommies and grammies would think this was a sweet gift to hold a recipe or picture. 

Don't you think these are darling stickers?

What ideas do you have for them.....I'd love to hear.

Coffee Table for Outdoor Space - Fast, Fun, & Fabulous

I found this coffee table base at the CSPU 

(curb side pick up).

I'm pretty sure that is where I found this window, also.

Together they make quite a lovely pair!  

A perfect coffee table for this old swing.
 

Fast, Fun, and Fabulous!

Spray Painted Monograms - Fast, Fun, & Fabulous

Sometimes I want to add a little WOW to my space without all the fuss - are you with me?  I mean, I like to sew and craft properly, but sometimes I just want to make a statement without getting out my sewing machine........cutting the fabric straight.......shopping for all the right materials........     So, when I needed a little focal interest for my outdoor spaces this summer, I just decided to spray paint some.

 

I cut out monograms with my cutting machine - and spray painted on the pillows I already had.  You wouldn't have to have a cutting machine - just freehand cut any design out of paper, or use a ready-made stencil.

I carefully pinned the stencil to my pillows, and spray painted.

Lavender Tub Tip:  Prop the pillow so that you are spraying directly on the stencil.  You do not want to spray at an angle at all.  Do light coats and stay about 15 inches from the pillow surface.  Also, tape newspaper around the edges of the stencil to prevent overspray on your pillow.  Should you end up with a little overspray - let it dry completely, then lightly sand with sandpaper (depending on the fabric), or rub with alcohol on a Q-tip (test fabric first).

What a difference!  I call that Fast, Fun, & Fabulous!

Thanks for stopping by the Tub!

Ellie

Fast, Fun, & Fabulous - St. Patty's Day Plates

I've been pondering ways to use the vintage postcards I've been posting.  To see all of them, look under the Label on the right side of my blog called Postcards.

One idea I had was to make some holiday plates to decorate with.  St. Patty's day has some decor out there, but I'm always interested in something that looks a little more vintage-y and a little less cute-sy.  This postcard is not one of mine, but uploaded from the Graphics Fairy.

If you follow my tutorial here, you can see how to crop any picture into a circle.  The problem with a postcard, however, is the rectangular shape doesn't really lend itself to a nicely cropped circle.  (Below, I cropped into a square first and then rounded the corners.)

With a little extra editing, though, a postcard can become this!  If anyone wants details on how to do this - I can write a tutorial.  Otherwise, I've provided some already edited and cropped options for you, below.

And here are how my plates turned out!

I don't know that I'm fully satisfied with the set, but I have some other ideas in mind that I will probably try later.

Just right click and save to your computer, insert them into a Word document and adjust the size to what you need.  For my plates, I used 6.75".

After Thought:  I wanted to just stick the paper on the plates in a way I could remove easily so that I could change them out.  I tried some repositionable glue for scrapbooking, but you could see it on the picture.  I think a regular glue stick would work well, but mine was purple that dries clear......only it stayed purple on the paper.  I also tried candle stick, but it showed too much.  I finally touched a little Elmer's just on the edges, but am not totally pleased with that either because it is also visible.  I'm going to try the clear glue stick first,  and then clear furniture wax to see what results I get.  I know I could Mod Podge, but I really do not want them that permanent.  I'll update this when I do.  

Thanks for stopping by the Tub!

Ellie

Fast, Fun, & Fabulous Lampshade

If you've followed my blog for a while you might remember this cute cloche lampshade I made.  You can see more on that post here:

I crafted it from one of those fabulous little wire trash baskets you can pick up now and then at the $ Tree.  I love these little things and purchase about 10 every time they have them in stock.

 Which is a good thing because they are a great go-to craft material for all kinds of - "Hmmm, what could I use to make a _______?".  Most recently I, again, found myself in need of a lampshade.  The one that came on this brass and marble antique lamp (garage sale $2) was too large to fit my table, but the lamp just wouldn't be ignored - it had to have its place with the cherubs and other Valentines-y things.

The lampshade really took no time at all, because nothing was altered from its original state.  I simply draped a large doily over the wire trash basket, strung red tulle through the doily, and then fussed it a bit.  Fast, Fun, & Fabulous, and perfect for Valentine's Day!  It think this would be super cute hanging as a chandelier, too - Don't you?

Thanks for visiting the tub!

 Ellie