Jewelry box before

I want to start refinishing old furniture or at least my old furniture but I'm a bit scared to start.  Plus I have a hutch being stored in my parents' garage that I got for free that I want to redo. (and I'm sure they would like it out of their garage.)  So I've planned a beginner project for myself of refinishing my old jewelry box.  I've had it for a good 20 years. My parents gave it to me for Christmas when I was in high school and I love it, but it has seen better days.

It doesn't look too bad in the picture but it has scratches and other small imperfections from numerous moves and kiddos going through it.  So hopefully if all goes well I will have this refinished by next week.

Valentine's Craft Redo

Here is what I made about eight years ago, and they are still cute but they needed updating.  They look a little worse for the wear and have been packed up pretty much since we moved into our house six years ago.

 But instead of actually redoing them I decided to make more, just with a different spin on them.

A much more up to date look don't ya think?

So then I found a couple of styrofoam cones that didn't get used at Christmas time and put it all together for a little Valentine's decor in the house.  I usually don't put anything up for Valentine's day.  Which is strange because I love hearts and the color pink.  Anyway... here it is

i heart faces-Best Face Photo

I took this January 3rd.  The day before everyone went back to work and school from Christmas break.  The little ones were bored and yet didn't want to go back to school even if it was only preschool.

Check out other photos go to i heart faces

Easy Collage Gift

My oldest daughter is obsessed with Paris at the moment.  She's taking french in school and loves it!  So for Christmas I made her a collage.

With just a dollar store frame and a few scrapbooking items this was a very inexpensive and quick gift.  I got a few of the pics from The Graphics Fairy.  The other items were scrapbook papers and sticker sets.

Now I've been commissioned by my eleven year old for one of London.

Turn your old blankets and pillows into pet beds

I have been wanting to make beds for our cat Quita and our dog Bob but with all the holidays I just hadn't gotten around to it.  So over the weekend I set out to make them their own little beds.

I recycled a pillow and four blankets that weren't being used.

This is Quita's bed.  I took an old pillow the stuffing was starting to come out of and balled it up.  I put the pillow on top of an old fleece blanket and cut about 4-5 inches bigger all the way around the pillow.

I did a running stitch to gather the fleece around the pillow, then flipped the pillow over.

I cut the blanket around the pillow again and gathered with a running stitch.  It ended up looking like a paper bag waist on a pair of pants.  I sewed it all together by hand and then sewed a ribbon around it.

   It was free except for the ribbon which I didn't need to put on there, but I think it makes it much prettier for our kitty.

Bob's bed was just as easy.

I had a bunch of old baby blankets and an old comforter that had just been hanging around taking up space in our hall closet.  I folded the comforter in half (it's a twin size) and in half again.  I laid two baby blankets on top of the comforter and then tacked them all together with embroidery floss on each side and in the middle.

I did buy some fleece for the outside of this bed only because it was on sale.  (of course after I did, I found another fleece blanket that had been shoved waaay in the back of the closet)  I cut the fleece about an inch or two larger than the blankets I put together.  I got out my sewing machine and stitched it together like a big pillow case, turned it right side out, and inserted the pad of blankets.  Once the padding was inside I stitched up the opening by hand.  I might go back later and put a zipper in so I can wash the outside.

He loves his new bed, really... can't you tell by the look on his face?  :)