Friday's Top 10 List: 5-17-13 {DIY Recycling Inspiration}

I've been on a recycling kick lately.  Perhaps it comes from all the unfinished projects I'm finding in my garage.  

Have fun with the list!

*****

We've all seen those big, bulky entertainment centers at the thrift stores or on the side of the road with a huge FREE sign attached to them.  Pick one up and create this.

Organize your craft ribbon using cans.

Vintage suitcases are very popular in my Mom's shop.  I came across this article with tons of inspiration.

Before you throw away any furniture check and see if you can transform the pieces into something for the herb/flower garden.

Using Mod Podge, patterned paper, and a few other oddities you can make these unique little tins.  Business card holder, sewing kits, small gift boxes, etc.  Their uses are endless.

Drink a lot of wine?  Reuse those corks!

Skip the jewelry box and go for one of these!  Recycle those oddities that you have around the house tucked away in a box.

Alphabet block magnets.  Good idea.

If I owned my own Bed & Breakfast I would create a different theme for each room.  Here's some ideas for repurposed headboards.

Garden tool table and chairs?  Love this idea!

*****

Until the next word...

~Jennifer

Friday's Top 10 List: 5-10-13 {All About Photography}

I've been on a photography kick lately so I decided to do another list on that very subject.

Enjoy!

*****

Have you heard of Lomography.com?  I finally registered with their website last month.  Great tips and cool cameras.  Last night I got an email stating that my "piggies" are going to expire within the next couple of days.  Not knowing what this was I did a little investigating.  I accumulated credit that I could use in their shop.  Piggies equal dollars so I purchased some black & white film and a Diana lens for my Nikon.  If you love the artsy side of photography then you'll love their website.

I hear that May is a good month for selling your house.  Here's some tips to shoot a great house tour.

Have you ever bought something and then it just sits in the box?  I have a Bamboo Tablet, brand new and never used.  I bought it for the sole purpose of doing this.  I should try it someday.

Are you a food blogger?  I've ate a lot of cold dishes as I was working on getting that perfect shot.  Here's a post to help you photograph your food so that it looks as good as it tastes.

Brittni, from Paper & Stitch shared a three part series filled with awesome photography resources.  Here's part one, two, and three.

Jim Harmer started his website out of his love of Photography.  He shares advise on camera gear, podcast, online classes, flash photography, landscape tips, and I could go on and on.  Go check out ImprovePhotography.com.  Be careful, you might get lost.

I have this book and I love it!  Lots of cool DIY projects and inspiration.

The best cheat sheet for photographers.  Especially those that are just learning how to use a DSLR.  Yes, that's me!

I get a little nervous when it comes to street photography.  I don't want to offend anyone, yet I want to capture that unexpected image.  Here's an article, from Stacey via the CM Blog, that I found most helpful.

Alisha Robertson shares her insight and knowledge on photographing newborns in a two part series on MCP Actions Blog.  Here's part one and part two.

*****

Until the next word...

~Jennifer

Handmade Card Inspiration

I take a lot of photos.  Let me say that again.  I take a LOT of photos.  It's time to put them to use.  A lot of my prints never make it to paper.  They exist only on a flash drive.  Why?  My daily struggles with time I guess. 

I've been coming across all sorts of interesting things in the craft store.  Photography related rubberstamps, film strip washi tape, Polaroid scrapbook paper, and a few other goodies.  And of course I buy it all!  Then it sits in a drawer in my office. 

My goal this week is to dig it all out and create some new cards.  I need to get my Etsy card shop back open and why not do it with a whole new look?  My card rack in Galena needs some sprucing up as well.

I'll post an update as to how they turn out.

Until the next word...

~Jennifer

Friday's Top 10 List: 5-3-13 (Mother's Day Inspiration Part Two)

Perhaps I should of kept my comments to myself last week in regards to how beautiful the weather was.  We are having an unusual Spring here in the Midwest.  Oh well, what can we do about it?  Be grateful we don't have snow and look forward to those warm sunny days. 

As I mentioned last week I'll be sharing more inspiration for Mother's Day.  If you missed that post click here.  Feel free to share your links in the comment section with any additional ideas.

Enjoy!

*****

Tea Cup pincushion.  

Personalize a handmade piece of subway art for your Mom.

Colorful DIY flower vases.

If your Mom loves DIY projects, she'll get a kick out of these.

Does she like wine?

Create a mini marbled clay bowl.  These are so cute!

Custom name and picture boards.

Use the same amount of glass beads to represent the kids with a bird nest necklace.

Display your art on tea towels.

Recycle a plastic bottle into a cell phone holder.  Awesome!

*****

Until the next word...

~Jennifer

A Simple (DIY) Gardening Tip

I found another great use for an IKEA shopping bag.  It's works great when your collecting rubbish around the yard.

I've been busy cleaning out the flower beds and random leaves that were left over from last Fall.  The handles make it easy to carry around the yard and then to the burn pile.

I will definitely be getting another bag on my next visit.

Until the next word...

~Jennifer

My Relationship With iTunes

Image is from my personal collection and the vintage cassette player I still use.

Today iTunes celebrates their ten year anniversary.  If it wasn't for Napster, they may of never existed.  Read more here on Steve Job's vision and the birth of how we listen to music today.

My relationship with iTunes?  There isn't one.  I haven't made the connection just yet.  I have an account and a couple of downloads, but that's all.  Call me old school but I still buy cassettes, CDs, and vinyl.  I like the tangible things.  Don't get me wrong, I love modern technology, but the thrill of visiting the local record stores in search of a piece of vinyl will never get old with me.  I don't even own an ipod.  Someday perhaps.

It's always interesting to watch how things change and progress over the years.

Until the next word...

~Jennifer

My Life With Dogs: The Football

For Disco's Birthday we got him a new football.  Clearly you can see that his current one has seen better days.  While working in the yard today I observed him collecting both of them and moving them around from place to place.  I don't have the heart to throw away the old one.

He his happy with both so that's all that matters.

Until the next word...

~Jennifer