Update Watering Can with Waterslide Decal

Hello and welcome to our Thrift Store Challenge for the month of July!  Here, a group of creative bloggers come together on the fourth Thursday of each month to share their lovely transformations of a thrift store item. Who doesn't love thrift store upcycle projects - whether it's actually creating one or admiring how an item from a thrift store was transformed!

The Rules:

• Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
• There's no monthly theme.
• There's no budget to stick to.

Meet the Hosts:

Angela | Simply Beautiful By Angela - Gail | Purple Hues and Me 

Carmen | Living Letter Home - Chas | Chas' Crazy Creations 

 Jenny | Cookies Coffee and Crafts - Pili | My Sweet Things 

Kathleen | Our Hopeful Home - Marie | DIY Adulation  
 Beverly | Across the Blvd  

 Michelle | Michelle James Designs  - Molly | Just a Little Creativity 

Make sure you follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!

Today, I'm sharing how I transformed this dainty looking watering can I found at the Goodwill for 99 cents! My kind of bargain! The watering can was originally a pale lavender color with rough, scraped splotches! I don't know if the previous owner had tried to give it an aged, rustic look by scraping the paint off in places or what. I just know that it was not very pretty despite the fact that I love most things in purple shades! I couldn't resist this one! Woo-hoo!

The first thing I did was to sponge on two coats of white chalk paint, letting it dry between coats! The interior was already a dark brown color that was in good shape, but I went over it anyway with an outdoor acrylic paint in a similar shade to freshen it up a bit.  

In case you've never heard of waterslide decals, it's an easy way to transfer images and text using a special paper that you place in water and then slide the image onto almost any type of smooth surface.   And the waterslide decal paper comes in clear or white backgrounds and is available to use in inkjet or laserjet printers, too! 

Next, I had to find an image that I liked on the pngtree image site and then added the "Grow with Love" wording and sized it in Word to fit the can! I printed out the image as is, and not a mirror image, on the glossy side of the decal paper. Then used the rim of a glass (so I could see the edges) to draw a circle around the image .  .  .

to cut out!

 Once the decal is cut out, place it in a bowl of water and leave in for 30 seconds (according to paper manufacture instructions.)

Next, wet the surface where you plan on placing the decal with a small amount of water - this will help move the image easily to find the perfect spot. Then take the decal out of the water. 

  Next, press the decal on the surface spot and gradually SLIDE the paper backing from the translucent layer. You can see that I originally did not center the image as seen in the photo. 

Luckily, I was able to "slide" it over to center under the open design.  

Use a paper towel to remove the excess water and any wrinkles, smoothing the image from the middle out!

And finally, let the decal dry naturally for 3-4 hours. There was nothing in the directions that mentioned sealing the Sunnyscopa decals. It just said the surface gets stronger with time and to hand wash only.

 What an easy and simple way to transform this thrift store watering can into a work of beauty with a hand-painted look using waterslide decal! 

Imagine the possibilities to customize and make your own designed items and gifts!

 I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This post also contains affiliate links.  I may receive a very small commission.  It does NOT result in additional charges to you or cost you anything extra.  The affiliate money I earn per month helps pay my crafting expenses. Thanks so much for your support!

And now for more thrifty goodness!

Check out what my fellow upcyclers created below!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Decorative Clothespin Container

 

Welcome to the July Pinterest Challenge Blog Hop hosted by Erlene @ My Pinterventures.  If you aren't familiar with the Pinterest Challenge, it's a monthly event that challenges us to not just be pin hoarders, but to make it happen! 

I have lots of clothespins left over from projects I've done before like here, here and here! Plus, there are lots of clothespin crafts on Pinterest for inspiration, too! One craft pin I have been meaning to do for quite a while now - is making a decorative container using clothespins. It's such an easy way to turn something like recycle cans (nut can) you're about to toss, into an item that's useful and decorative! And the best part, you can let your imagination run wild deciding how to decorate it!

Materials needed:

• Can
• Wood Clothespins (21+)
• DAP All Purpose Adhesive
• Ribbon/Cording
• Fabri-Tac Fabric Glue

Let's begin with the container! It's best to have one that's close to the height of the clothespins.  I didn't have one so I cut down an empty nut can from my stash. Then I placed a clothespin at the bottom of the can and marked on the can where the top of the clothespin hit. Wrapped painter's tape around the can at the mark .  .  .

to cut the can down. And don't forget to save the cut-off piece for another project!

I'm using matching ribbon and cording that I found at JoAnn for 70% off almost a year ago! I've been wanting to make something with them! 

Next, twist the clothespins apart to remove the metal springs and begin gluing on the flat sides using a quick grab glue like DAP multi-purpose glue or super glue.

I used 21 clothespins twisted apart for this size can giving a barrel effect look.

At this point, I had every intentions of painting the wood portion but got carried away with trying out how to add the ribbon and found myself gluing it on to see. Oh well!

So I then tied cording around where the larger wood indents are.

And decided to make a flower to help decorate the can.  By first, separating the cording and cut it into six 3.5" strips for the petals. Use Fabri-Tac glue to straighten the cords and glue them on the ribbon in a petal shape.

Once dry, cut out the petals.

Arrange petals like a flower and glue sides together towards center.

Add a bead to center and glue flower on container where cording is tied.

It's such a sweet container to hold your special knick-knacks and what-knots! 

 I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This post also contains affiliate links.  I may receive a very small commission.  It does NOT result in additional charges to you or cost you anything extra.  The affiliate money I earn per month helps pay my crafting expenses. Thanks so much for your support!

Let's meet this month's Pinterest Challenge hosts!

My Pinterventures •  Cookies Coffee and Crafts 

Sew Crafty Crochet •  Eye Love Knots 

My Sweet Things  •  Across the Boulevard 

Suzerspace •  Purple Hues and Me 

Decorate and More with Tip •  Mom Home Guide 

Our Unschooling Journey •  Intelligent Domestications 

Craftify My Love  •  Life Beyond the Kitchen 

K's Olympic Nest •   Teadoddles  

Farm Girl Reformed • Simple Nature Decor

  Stone Cottage Adventures

To join next month's #pinterestchallenge, click here to sign-up ⇒ August Pinterest Challenge

 Now, let's see what the other hosts have created ⇓⇓

An InLinkz Link-up

Summer Fun Link Party Features

We really enjoyed all of the summer fun projects, ideas, recipes and inspirations shared at our Summer Fun Link Party! Today the hosts are featuring some of our favorites from the party! 

I love making crafts so it's no wonder I'm drawn to unusual craft projects! Here are a few of my favorites that I want to highlight! 

              DIY Origami 3D Paper Stars

Cristina aka Bird @ Birds Party shares  a fun way to celebrate summer, patriotic, christmas and themed parties with this awesome DIY Origami 3-D Paper Stars! You won't believe how easy Cristina makes it seem folding paper stars - so stop by and try your hand!


               Coastal Piano Scape and Dough Ornaments

You can't get any more summery than beach themes and Kristie @ Love My Little Cottage shares how she makes Coastal Theme Dough Ornaments - perfect for her Coastal Piano Scape! You've got to stop by and get Kristie's step by step tutorial!

French Terracotta Coasters with Decor Transfers

                      
Marie @Interior Frugalista shares how she repurpose clay terracotta saucers for outdoors using decor transfers - a cool, easy process that adds a lovely French country charm! Be sure to stop by and see out how she does it!

Thanks again to everyone who linked up at the party!Be sure to stop by the co-hosts’ blogs to check out their featured posts, too!

Across the Blvd | Purple Hues and Me

Sew Crafty Crochet | This Autoimmune Life

Our Unschooling Journey | Coastal Bohemian

Two Chicks & a Mom | Domestic Deadline

Cookies, Coffee, & Crafts | My Pinterventures | Stone Cottage Adventures

Jingle Bells Mini Wreath Ornament

Hey y'all! It's Christmas in July and time to get a jump start on Christmas and avoid the rush and stress by starting your Christmas crafts right now! Plan ahead with making handcrafted ornaments to decorate a tree or give as gifts!  And I'm keeping it real simple with a project that looks impressive but super easy to make with just a few items - A Jingle Bells Mini Wreath Ornament!


 I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This post also contains affiliate links.  I may receive a very small commission.  It does NOT result in additional charges to you or cost you anything extra.  The affiliate money I earn per month helps pay my crafting expenses. Thanks so much for your support!

To make this ornament you only need: 

• Jingle bells - 
• Chenille pipe cleaners
• Ribbon and trim

Begin by threading the pipe cleaner through the top hole of the bell, leaving 1.5" on one end to twist when finish.  Fold end down to prevent bells from falling off. Continue adding bells and sliding them together as tight as possible.

One 12" pipe cleaner will hold 28 - 20mm or .75" jingle bells .  .  .

leaving enough pipe cleaner to twist close into a circle.

Next, make a bow with 2" loops - I used my Bowdabra and bow wire to make my bow .  .  . 

and used the bow wire to make a loop for hanging! But you can use twine or thin ribbon to make a loop, too! See, quick and easy! Have fun making lots for tree trimming, embellishing gifts and holiday decorating!

I'm sharing this ornament tutorial as part of the Creative Crafter's Group Craft Challenge on Facebook hosted by Janet @Try It, Like It, Create It, where we are challenged to create  themed projects on the 15th of each month.  

Take a moment to check out our craft tutorial posts and feel free to share your own Christmas in July posts by linking up below!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Christmas in July - Cork Pine Cone Bow Ornament

It's Christmas in July and time to get a head start on making handcrafted Christmas ornaments like this lovely Cork Pine Cone Bow Ornament! It's made from recycle wine corks and foam eggs from Easter-time and topped with a pretty Bowdabra bow! So avoid the stress and rushed feelings the Christmas season brings and actually enjoy creating ornaments and holiday items this time of year.

Please join me on Bowdabrablog where I'm sharing this easy to follow tutorial on making a Cork Pine Cone Bow Ornament for a Christmas in July advantage!

Thanks for stopping by

and take a little time to enjoy,

Happy "Christmas in July" Crafting!

Decorate A Dollar Store Vase

It’s time for our monthly blog hop challenge. This month’s theme is a Dollar Store Craft. The participants were challenged to create a project using mostly items from a dollar store.

Meet this month's Dollar Store Craft Challenge Participants

Across the Blvd

This Autoimmune Life

Stone Cottage Adventures

Cookies, Coffee, and Crafts

Purple Hues and Me

It's sometimes amazing the things you can do with a dollar store item! Take this plain pink metal vase. Truth be told, I think I've had it for at lease a couple of years. You know how you pick up things and haven't a clue as to what you might do with them. All I know is that it is a good size - bigger than most, in a great color and just a dollar! So I got two! Lol! And who can resist these cool napkins - Keep Life Simple! Amen to that! And the pink in the napkins matches the pink vase! So I won't need to paint! How about that! Of course you recognize the Mod Podge sampler size! In addition, I'm using white twine that I'll braid for this project's trim and also use faux flowers that were picked up at the dollar store, too! All, great stuff found at the dollar store! 

I guess you've figured out that I'm going to decoupage the napkin onto the vase 

by first, lightly applying a layer of mod podge onto the vase. Then cutting out an oval shape portion of the napkin and separating the printed layer from the plain white layer.

 Next, lay the printed side on top of the mod podge, smoothing out using a plastic baggy.

 And let dry!

 Next, cut eight strips of twine, 2 1/2 times the length around the napkin cut-out. Then group in two's and braid. 

 Measure the braided twine around the napkin and apply mod podge to the twine at the beginning and end so it won't unravel when cut. Glue on around napkin motif for border.

And finally, glue-on pretty faux flowers for a lovely effect!

And then add a bunch in the vase to brighten any room!

Keep Life Simple!

Be sure to check out these dollar store projects for ideas and inspirations!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter