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Do you know about this simple recycle idea?

I like to call it re-purpose because it really is going to a new fun purpose. Recycle sometimes has a negative connotation to me..like stinky garbage. Well, this is no stinky garbage. It is cuteness, and any old envelope will work. I use greeting card envelopes because they are usually colorful.  But I use just ordinary envelopes, those that come enclosed with bills for easy return are fun because they have nice lines to write a message   (Mom, don't fret I pay my bills, I just do it on-line) canceled stamps add a fun flair.  Cut the corner of the envelope into a heart shape. I made a template so I can do it quickly. Tiny envelopes all ready for secret love note giving...or to containing tiny treasures.  Also make great book marks slipped over the corner of the page. Now start opening those letters at the bottom and keep those fun canceled stamp corners for a new purpose.

Re-purposing

Use it up

Wear it out

Make it do

Or do without.

I was raised on this maxim. As mentioned my family was a - Homesteaders Family. When you Homestead...you learn to make do and use it up. I feel that why about so many things. Waste/wasting  makes me have a stomach ache.

When I heard about this project I was immediately interested. Not only interesting to see what could be made from 'waste' but to think about the creative energy that would put it all together. What fun. I just don't understand why is was ''temporary" that seems counter-productive.

What do you have - what waste do you create that you could reuse or re-purpose?

I think the personal challenge to use every bit of fabric available in these great old sacks is so invigorating. It is leaking over into other areas of my life as I look around with new eyes. Now, what could I do with that?

Is Christmas this year going to be - something you can't buy in a store? Hummm....sounds intriguing, doesn't it?

Listening to my heart...

Logically, as in listening to my head, I would paint the new unfinished mantel a nice goldish color to match the brick and wall I want to hang it on. So..I did just that - painted it a nice muted gold. Matches perfectly my walls and sofa. But my heart was saying...something else.

Soooo I debated. For resale, always for resale (like I am even going to sale this home, most likely it will be our children putting up the "For Sale" sign when I am checked into a nursing home), but you know you need to be practical - keep things neutral and universally acceptable. My heart just couldn't go there. And I do think red IS a neutral color. So...to the garage for a new paint job. First I painted the mantel RED. Looks a little bright, huh? But I do have something in mind. After the red, I put down the crackle layer and waited - walking from room to room and checking checking checking. Finally it seems tacky enough to apply the top layer. So on the the top layer goes - the original nice neutral goldish. Now, to stand back and watch the nice peely paint crackle start. WAHOO...it looks nice and old.

I then took a green scrubby and did a little roughing up to make it look - well, to make it look like we had found it in a nice old farm house instead of at Home Depot in the unfinished mantle department. Better but still not quite right. So I sprayed with a matte acrylic sealer and then a buffing of antiquing glaze. Now that is 'the look' my heart was talking about. Exciting. When we get ready to resale we can sand and paint the nice neutral safe gold....but in the mean time....my heart can sing every time it looks at this nice new/old peely paint mantel. It now sits in my living room waiting for Mr  "I-don't-think-we-can-drill-a-hole-in-that-brick" to hang it. Thankfully, our son is bold with a drill and saws-all and will tutor the hanging. -

Once hung, there will be an ever changing arrangement of 'clutter' sitting atop it. I am sooooooooo excited.

Itchy

So I am sitting at work and feel this 'itchyness' on my back and so I rub back and forth in my chair, you know the rub - like a cow against a wooden fence post, and it just keeps feeling itchy. When I get home I look to see what the heck-a-roonie is going on and there are a ma-nillion bug bites on my back. I guess some critter got in there and had breakfast lunch and dinner. Kind of gave me the willies, I mean what was that? So I strip down and get in the shower tossing EVERY article of clothing in the wash. Also took all the bedding off my bed and washed the sheets, shook all the blankets. What do you think it was? Creepy.

Last night, we went to see Sam's new backyard fire pit and it felt itchy again. WHAT! Another creepy crawly. I strip in the back yard and make Rick and Sam look for critters, I mean do I have fleas or bedbugs or WHAT? I get home - into the shower and all clothes in the wash. Rick doesn't really want to sleep with me. I dream of itchy bugs in my hair - in my ears. YUCK. Today I have no new itchy guys. I feel creepy....What to come stay with me? Mom, said she heard bedbugs are back in town, does that mean 'office' bugs also. Does reading this make you feel kind of itchy in your head, like right behind your ear? It does me....................