Another Ridiculously Easy Photo Holder

Difficulty Level: RE,NK {Ridiculously Easy, No Kidding}



You may have some of these in your garage or left over from when you collected garden antiques.



You may have some of these ~ either your own ancestors, or some borrowed ancestors.



You'll need some wire. Here I am using 19 gauge dark annealed steel wire (available at your local hardware store).

You can use other wire. I just like this weight, and the fact that it is black.

You'll need wire cutters and a pen...I like Sharpies..they are just the right diameter.




Cut your wire into 9 inch lengths and wrap one end around your sharpie tightly 3 or 4 times.



Then wrap the rest of the wire around your hose nozzle from top to bottom, cut off excess.



Stick photo in the tightly coiled end.

Here comes the creative part.
What do you have that you want to display...
placecards, love notes, kids' photos, to do lists....

and what other heavy things do you have that you could wrap wire around....other garden tools, old printer's blocks, silverware.......???????

Have some fun with YOUR stuff!!!!! The stuff you already own.

Ridiculously Easy: Ruler becomes a Star

Project difficulty: VVE {Very, very easy}



Most of you probably don't have this many folding rulers, but it only takes one to become a STAR!



I only wish I had thought to share this project before the 4th of July. Always a day late and a dollar short (as my mom used to say).




Well, here it is. Fold out the ruler sections to form a 5 pointed star.

You'll have a few sections extra. You could cut the extra off... but why ruin a perfectly good ruler.

Just keep the extra folded. Wire or glue the last section together to finish.



I made about a dozen of these for the flea market last weekend. I hung them from a market umbrella in the center of my booth.



Wouldn't they be fun to decorate with during the Christmas holidays? Or for you Texas girls---everyday of the year!!!

The right words?

Last week I showed you how to make a cabinet door into a chalkboard.

Now I need your help!

I know there are many smart and savvy readers out! You will know the answer!



I am a flea market vendor, and I've started to made these blackboards to sell.



I came up with these items and phrases for my first batch of chalkboards.

Now I am stumped for other phrases to put on more blackboards.

My customers range mostly from their early 20's through their 40's. I need some young and fresh phrases that will appeal to them.


There's where you can help me. What cute and fun phrases would you buy on a chalkboard? I need your ideas!!!!!!!!

I will be endlessly grateful for your suggestions and comments, and I will show you what I pick in a later post. Thank you so much for your assistance!!!!!!

Updated July 13, 2009~ ~ Your response has been overwhelming! Keep making suggestions! I am reading everyone of them. You guys are so creative. And, If you want to vote for your favorites, please do. Also, if anyone is doing a project where you need phrases, read the comments, take any you like!!!!! Thank you! Thank you!

Hem measurers = photo holders.

In a previous post, I showed and talked about how to make a simple photo holder from vintage skirt hem measurer.

I am HOOKED on doing and making things the simple way.



I am taking this group of photo holders to the Grayslake (Illinois) market this weekend to sell....

.

But, I wanted to show you how interesting they look with old photos and displayed in a group.

Look around your home and see what you already have that you could use in a new way. And, have fun with your stuff!!!!!!

Updated July 13, 2009: These all sold at the Grayslake (Il.) Market last weekend. Just letting you know how this project worked out business-wise.

Cabinet Door to Chalkboard

Project difficulty level: CBE {couldn't Be Easier}



As a flea market vendor, I have seen many picture frame chalkboards. I think this is a very good upcycle use of vintage frames.

But, I always like to come up with something a bit different.




This spring I found a huge pile of discarded cabinet doors...very nice, already painted white and antique glazed!

I didn't know what I was going to do with them, but home they came...waiting for inspiration to hit.




A couple of days ago I bought my first can of blackboard paint and went to work on one of my stash. The knob was already gone, but I took off the hinges. I taped off everything except the raised center panel. I sprayed that with two thin coats of blackboard paint letting it dry in between each coat.

Tip: Tape off tightly because the blackboard paint can get through tiny gaps onto your outside frame. I know from experience.

Then per the paint directions, I broke-in the blackboard surface by rubbing it with the side of chalk, and wiping it off.




That still left me with the hole where the cabinet door handle had been. I thought about putting hooks along the bottom.

Then, I thought about lining the bottom edge with buttons (In fact, I had already glued one on) when I looked around my studio and spied a jar of dominoes. That was it!!! I love the dominoes color with the white paint of the cabinet doors.




Then all that was left to do was to add a hanger on the back. Or I could have used an easel for displaying it like the picture below..





I like to say, "Keep it simple, sister." Use what you have, make something from nothing, and have fun with your stuff!!

How to: A Picture Easel

PROJECT SKILL LEVEL: CBE {Couldn't be Easier}

Are you looking for a fun and casual new way to display your photos and pictures?

Today I will be showing you how make a picture/photo easel from an vintage hem measurer.



These "flashes from the past" often show up at garage and estate sales, or the thrifts. This one cost 50 cents at a local thrift shop.



That bottom part held a pin cushion which I removed. Its cover was dirty, red and full of holes.




I took the bottom apart easily by unscrewing two small screws. I am lazy, I used a knife blade instead of looking for my little screw driver.



I decided not to recover the pad. I liked how the gray felt underpad looked. I screwed it back into place. I used the knife again.

Don't tell my husband.



I flipped the metal arm part over. I just loosened the wing nut (What a phrase!) and slipped the metal arm over the ruler part upside down. This gave me a way to hold the picture in place.



Now I have an interesting easel to display things I sell at the flea market. I hope you have another idea about how you can have fun with your stuff.