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Cool Idea: Soda Tab Table Lamp

casasugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:00:09 -0800

Craftster member Tashaduckman recently shared a very cool upcycled project. She writes, "We had to make a lamp for class using a recycled material . . . for some crazy reason, I chose to use pop tabs. It took forever, but here it is! I call it the tree hugger:"
She used almost 500 soda tabs to make the tree light, and as you might imagine, it took her quite a while to construct it! The tree is woven together with ribbon and wire to maintain its shape. I love the way the light plays through the metallic trunk. Have you tried to make any creative upcycled projects like this?
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Cool Idea: Duck Wing Quill Place Cards

casasugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:00:50 -0800

I recently passed on a leaves place card idea to you from Another Shade of Grey that would be great for your upcoming Thanksgiving party. A couple of you liked the idea, but I didn't get a huge response. So, I figured I'd give it another shot. Instead of painting your guests names onto leaves, try feathers! According to Another Shade of Grey, you can buy a pack of 20 duck wing quills for about $1.99 (10 cents a quill). But, I'm really loving the look of these Pheasant Feathers ($.99/each). Whichever feather you fancy, paint each guest's name using a fine tipped brush and some acrylic craft paint.
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Cool Idea: Frank Lloyd Wright in Thread

casasugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:30:37 -0800

Craftster member PencilNeck's embroidery creativity has bowled me over. She made this embroidery of a Frank Lloyd Wright blueprint as a Christmas gift for a family member who works with architectural design. She embroidered almost exclusively with backstitching for the project, and found blue floss to match the blueprint color.

For more images of this project, including her cool Frank Lloyd Wright signature,

Cool Idea: Shredding Scissors

casasugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:00:57 -0800

It's not often that I have top-secret papers that need to be shredded, but it happens occasionally. I can't justify cluttering up my house with a clunky shredder, or spending the dollars on something I rarely use. I would, however, throw down for a pair of The Container Store Stainless Steel Shredding Scissors ($8.99). For that periodic confidential envelope, or when I want to make confetti or packing stuffing, these shredding scissors will come in handy. Yeah, they require a little more work than an electronic paper shredder, but it's fun work.

Cool Idea: Embroidered Metal Lampshades

casasugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:00:11 -0800

When I was swinging through the San Francisco Anthropologie store recently, I was stopped in my tracks by these metal pendant lamps.
We all know that objects make a bigger impression when they're arranged in multiples (and three is really a magic number when it comes to arranging), but the multiple lamps weren't what wowed me. It's the impressive embroidery on the metal shades! I'm not sure how they punctured the holes into these — perhaps with a tiny drill bit — but the overall effect is stunning and unexpected.

To get a closer look at this embroidery,

Cute Idea: Embroidered Menorah

casasugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:00:23 -0800

I recently came across an adorable holiday idea that I simply couldn't resist sharing with you . . . and ooohing and ahhhing over it. I may not be of the Jewish faith, but I'm seriously jonesing for this adorable embroidered menorah by Floresita. Yeah, the snowflakes and the miniature tree amp up the cute factor, but I just love how mother-of-pearl buttons act as candlelight. This would make a perfect holiday gift or decoration for anyone celebrating Hanukkah this year. Perhaps if you're having a dinner party, you could embroider a name onto each piece of fabric, and use it as a place card that doubles as a gift. You could also use a similar format to embroider a chandelier using buttons. You like?
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Cool Idea: Hooped Faux Tapestry Wall Art

casasugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:00:09 -0800

Browsing a fabric and coming upon a wildlife faux tapestry fabric, Poppytalk was enlightened with an idea that doesn't involve any sewing. I'm sold! By simply setting the tapestry fabric inside an embroidery hoop, she created three pieces of instant wall art, for the price of $16. In addition to the ease and affordability, I love the kitschy, lodge-y theme of this project. It really gets me excited to get outdoors this Winter! To see all three embroidery hoop pieces,

Cool Idea: Home Decorating Ideas From a Book Signing

casasugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:15:48 -0800

Anna Maria Horner, author of the recently released sewing book Seams to Me, recently decorated a "book nook" for a three-day book signing event. She writes, "Not one poor soul got away from me without a serious amount of giddy chatter risking overzealousness, I am quite certain." To see some of the lovely interior design for her booth, and to see how you can adapt these ideas in your own home, check out the slideshow! Source

Cool Idea: Plastic Bottle Chandelier

casasugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:00:02 -0800

I recently stopped by my friend's drawing exhibit at the California College of the Arts, and of course I couldn't help but check out the digs. Aside from the fancy schmancy Le Corbusier chairs in the lounge (seriously, I went to the wrong college), my eyes were drawn to this chandelier, made from upcycled plastic bottles, hanging from the ceiling. Obviously, it's not for all, but I loved the way it looked in this industrial space. At first glance, I didn't realize it was made from plastic bottles; it almost looks like some sort of jellyfish/sea-life creature. It also reminded me a lot of the pendant light in the West Coast Green Harbinger House. As we saw with Michelle Brand's eco designs, there's a lot one can do with a plastic bottle after the cola's gone flat. I'm glad that students are getting that message as well.

Cool Idea: Kitchen Legos

casasugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:30:11 -0800

In these tough economic times, we all have to do a little penny-pinching. For some, that means cooking at home instead of dining out, steering clear of the shopping mall, doing DIY projects on the weekends, or even making your own firestarters. But even DIY projects cost money sometimes. So, how do you make something from nothing? You look in your kid's toy box, of course. Instead of shopping for accents, Evil Mad Scientist made some kitchen accents like bowls, napkin holders, vases, and utensil holders out of Legos! Resourceful, huh? As grown-up kid, who loves Legos, Playmobil, and Barbies as much as she did when she was 6, I can't get enough of this project.

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