package arrived safe & sound

today I received a big package in the mail.....

(oh - and I've been testing out that instagram app on my iphone today also!! I like it so far.)

inside this package are two saloon doors from the lovely Sally and Steve at Us+House=Home - which I hope to convert into a message centre near our family room. (doors can be seen in this post)

in other news - we survived the in-law visit over the weekend (and the speaker is all fixed from my cleaning mishap which I posted about last week - love having such a handy husband!) - trying to get back into the swing of things once more.
exam time starting on Thursday for goob (year 10) - and finishing up of assignments for eky also this week.
the year is winding down - and I'm very happy for that.

hope things are well in your world today.
hugz,
cheryl xox.

goob's room - upcycled jar love

and just to keep the upcycled jar theme going - look what i made on the weekend.....

cute hey?!?!?!?!
super super simple to make.

here's some more pics - 'cuz i can.....

i added a couple of jars with photos also - i first saw these done in a retail store here in canberra a couple of months ago - i guess it's what sparked the thoughts to this project idea.....

and here's how you can make your own........

supplies needed:
clean recycled glass jars (i think plain jars work best for this project) - personal preference!
computer with microsoft word or similar
printer
paper
pen or pencil - and ruler - and scissors
the letters - scroll on down for the ones i've used (if you want the same as mine)

i've made these letters into jpeg files - so if you want your own super version of this little creative number (!!?) - you just have to right click to copy and paste the pics onto a word document.

below is FFF Tusj Font - you can download the entire font suite from here if you want to add it to your computer.....(i likey this font - alot!!).......

below is a graphic i found on the web - you can download it here if you wish to grab from the source.....

below is a font in microsoft word - AR DARLING.....

below is another font in microsoft word - Baskerville Old

making method:
copy and paste the above jpeg files onto your own word document - or pick other fonts/letters from elsewhere if you wish.
place and centre a letter per line - i chose to have only two letters per page (portrait setting for the paper) - then print it out. it looked like this......

then, setting down the jar on it's side - roughly work out where you should cut - and use a ruler and pen to mark out a line.....(make for a wider paper insert rather than thinner - you can always cut it down later).....

then cut along the lines to have a rectangle of paper with the letter centred.....

gently roll up the piece of paper with the letter on the outside of the roll.....

then insert it into the jar.....

and let the paper go to fill the inside of the jar.
pull out and trim if needed.....a little at a time.....

and then you're done.....(no tape - no glue - it just sits inside the jar).....

and that's how they're done.

these are sitting up high behind some molding on the bookcase......(where the bases are hidden from view).....

i'm not going to bother with doing anything more to these.....but you could wrap some twine or ribbon around the bases if you wished to.....i'm thinking.

you could also put different letters in jars to make up names........or to spell out 'halloween' or 'merry christmas'.......the list is endless really.

let me know if you make your own letter jars.......i'd love to see your versions.

i really need to stop with the making and posting frenzy and get some uni assignments done!!!

hope this week is being kind where ever you are.

cheryl xox.

linking this up to some fabulous linky parties - do pop by and show some love.....

goob's room - upcycled jar hair station

may i present - the upcycled jar hair station.....

goob wears hair ties, ribbons and hair clips almost every day.
she needed a place to try to keep them contained and under control.
with all the examples of re-used glass jars floating around pinterest - i came up with this.

here's a little of the process involved with getting to this finished product - i haven't got pics of everything (there was also a little trial and error with finishes etc) - but hopefully you'll get the idea.

supplies needed:

various shaped clean glass jars
off cut of wood (cut to the size you wish to fit your amount of jars)
various cabinet door knobs (most of mine we already had - the crystal look knobs i picked up recently from a gift store)
ruler and pencil
electric drill
fabric to cover your wood (with overhang on all sides)
mod podge (either the real stuff or make your own - recipe here)
small paint brush
sharp craft knife
wire
pliers
hooks to attach to the rear of the board
hooks to hang on the wall
ribbons, hair ties and clips

 method:

above: position your jars to work out placement - measure and drill holes.

above: check your holes with the knobs and countersink at rear if needed.

above: two of our knobs required countersinking as they had little nuts at the end to secure - the others had a flat screw that lay flat. (my husband had a counter-sinking gadget for his drill)

note:  we also had to saw off a couple of the screws to make the right length - check this during this step. thankfully handy-dandy mr w. was on hand to help with all of this - i just wanted to get on with things - thank goodness he's a patient and uber helpful man!!!

above: grab your mod podge or glue - paint it on - then smooth out the fabric over the glue (make sure you leave an overhang on each side to cover sides of board).

above - using more mod podge/glue - cover sides of board - gently stretching fabric and gluing as you go.

above: once board is all covered - wait to dry - then mod podge over the top of the fabric. (i ended up doing two coats).

note: if i did this again - i'd be more careful how i placed the fabric - as the patterned fabric i used got a little twisted and pulled out of alignment. luckily i don't have to see this much as it's in goob's room - but it would be something that would drive me nuts if i had to see it everyday!!!

note 2: i might also pre-paint the board underneath (white?) as this fabric was not very thick - and the finish wasn't as crisp as i would have liked. hindsight and all!!!!!

above: once all glue is dry - press along board with your finger to find the pre-drilled holes - then use your craft knife to make a small hole in the fabric.
then ease through the knob hardware and screw the knobs into place.

above: is the finished board - although we ended up taking the brass-look knobs off again - and spray painted them with two coats of silver. it was something goob requested as she didn't like the brass look in her room.

here you would also add on your hanging hardware to the rear of the board - and add your hooks to the wall. (i didn't take photos of that part!!)

above: next you wire up your jars.
i spent quite some time working out what was best for us. above - this wire worked out to be too thick for this job (i've now used that jar for hanging flowers in my kitchen!) - it was hard to twist - and the ends could have been a scratching hazard for goob as they were hard to bend in. it's a personal choice.

here's a great picture tutorial for adding wire to jars that i found - do what feels right for you.

i've also seen jars on boards which are more fixed - see here - however i thought that being able to take the jars off to empty them or dig around in them was more useful for this application. fixed jars would perhaps be something i'd use in a bathroom - where hard tiled floors could be a problem with smashing glass jars if an accident were to happen.

it's all a personal preference!

below and following are pics of the finished hair station - showing the thinner wire i ended up using. nice and lightweight for this application - and the wires aren't too dangerous for the kids.

we're really happy with the end result - and already the hair things seem to find their way back from around the house to here a little better than previously!!!

here's the wide shot of goob's dressing table once more.......

and below is a list of items in this pic i've already blogged about......

1. simple turquoise bunting
2. tissue paper flowers
3. upcycled door to mirror
4. upgraded lamp

hope you've liked this latest addition......

loads more to come.....hopefully soon!! (it takes time to take and upload all the pics - but i hope it helps to explain the process a little better - i'm a visual girl - so it's what works for me!!!)

have a great day.
cheryl xox.

linking up here............