Ribbon organizer

This little project has been on my list for quite a while. My ribbons are out of control and I need help controlling them.

Out in the garage I found some scrap wood and went to work. I cut a 1x4 long enough to fit under my cabinet that holds all my craft supplies. It was about 35 inches. From another scrap piece I cut two ends and rounded one side using a can to make the curve.

After I cut the rounded ends there were these triangular pieces left over. So I thought I would use them for the pieces that will support the dowel.
I used a 3/8" drill bit to make the half circle notches in the supports. (That is what the dowel will sit down into.)
After gluing and nailing the ends on, I just used glue to put the triangle supports on. Then I used screws to attach it under the cabinet.
I did have to purchase a 3/8" dowel. I Slid the rolls of ribbon on and look what I have...

Now, I haven't painted it because I am still holding out for a laundry room makeover. I didn't know what color to paint it. I left it unfinished but hopefully soon I will be doing a makeover on that room. I can paint it then.
What do you do with your ribbon?

A prettied up lampshade

I looked everywhere. This lampshade was driving me crazy.
I wanted it to be red or have some kind of cuteness. I did look alot of places and could not find what I needed. I was a little irritated. Then one fine day I had a thought. Why not use some left over fabric and do some embellishing? I got right on it. Took the shade off, isn't it pretty...
Got out the fabic and ribbon I wanted to use...
Cut the fabric into 1 inch strips...
Okay, right here I have to start appologizing for the nasty quality of my pictures. I didn't realize they were blurry until I put them on the computer. Please, please be nice. I know they are bad.
Next, you fold the strip over and start rolling. (Have you ever made ribbon flowers? That is what you are doing, but with fabric.)


Keep rolling and twisting it so it looks like a sweet roll. Then when it is the size you want, you can cut the end off...
Take out the trusty glue gun and smother the bottom of the fabric, that you have rolled into a flower, with glue and stick it on the shade.


Now, just to warn you, I wish I would have planned things out a little. But, I just started sticking roses on and making this cluster of flowers. Now that I look at it, I wish that maybe I would have just done the same thing on top that I did on the bottom.
Now for the leaves, I just cut a green ribbon, that I already had from another project, about 2" long.
Fold it over on itself and glue with glue gun. Then it will look like this...
This is what I used for leaves. I just stuck them wherever I thought I needed them.
For the bottom, I ran the ribbon all the way around the bottom edge.
Then on the spines running down the shade I put a fabric flower and leaves...

I really like how it turned out. Here it is now...

Again I have to apologize for the photo's.
Have a great day.
Brooke

Antique key project

Okay, so I am going to start the antique key project. It's all in my head, you know, I can see it perfectly. So I grab my keys and a old board...
Out to the garage I go. Cut the board to the size of the keys...
It turned out like this after I cut the board to size with my trusty miter saw...
With the leftover board I started trimming pieces I could use as a frame...
We have to stop here and pay tribute to my trusty table saw. He was given to me years ago by a nice old neighbor of mine. He isn't pretty or petite but he cuts through wood like "butta". Not really he is usually pretty testy and sputs and sputters, but we eventually get a cut made. So pay your respects to Mr. Big...
Bet you want one.... Hu? Okay, back to the keys. (I need to confess I had to scrap up another piece of wood when I decided to make a frame around them. That is where the painted red piece of wood with letters came from.) About this time I ran out of wood on the last piece for the frames.
A slight panic stuck me, but I rummaged through the garage and found this piece that I thought would work with a lot of cutting and measuring...
Thank goodness for Mr. Big he just cut and trimmed until we got the right piece.

Aahh, I love you Mr. Big. Now this is what I have so far...
This post is getting way to long, so I will finish it tomorrow. I'm off to do some sanding, panting and antiquing.
See you tomorrow.

Cedar Post Candles

My dad brought me these, so I thought I would share them with you.
He had an old fence in the back of his property that he resently replaced. It was made from cedar posts. Of course, they were very old and grey from the weather. He cut them in sections and sanded. He went to Walmart and bought a box of a dozen votive cups with candles. Very inexpensive. They were 2 inches in diameter so he drilled holes in the top of each with a large 2 inch bit.
Then he sanded and sanded and put several coats of clear, Minwax semi-gloss sealer on them with a paint brush. And Wala!
I think they are so pretty. But I love wood and the colors and shapes.
Also, for me, its kinda fun to know they came from my old home, where I grew up.
But, I was thinking, you could do this with so many different things. Like, if your decor is more contemporary, you could use new 4x4 posts. They would have very straight lines. Or, you could use a pine tree post with bark or birch tree with bark. Anyway, just thought I would share my dad's new creation.


Linking to: Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design
They have a great giveaway, go check it out!