Creating a Button

Somewhat Simple participated in Craft School Sundays over at Creative Jewish Mom on how to make a button with a text box code below for cutting and pasting here http://www.somewhatsimple.com/2010/02/blogging-101-how-to-make-button.html and if you have ever wanted to create a button with a text box users can use to link back to your blog for any reason this is a good way to get your feet wet.

I decided to create a featured on button for my other blog Unique Unusual or Interesting for those that have been featured can post on their site and created the following using Photobucket and the instructions indicated. 

This is the first time I had used Photobucket for editing and I like the animated lettering option and I also liked the animated mask sticker, although their selection for animated stickers is very limited.  Another drawback is if you don't set the size right it will not always resize correctly and had to start over when it wouldn't resize the completed picture to 200 x 250 and I ended up scraping it and starting all over. 

The color coded instructions over at http://www.somewhatsimple.com/2010/02/blogging-101-how-to-make-button.html make it a world of difference to edit the coding you will need to copy and paste then edit to the location where the photo is at, although you will need to download the code and instructions in order to copy them.

I am not HTML literate and I end up deleting some of the code recommended (specifically the code for 200 x250 as it showed up as text) but it did not affect the functionality of the button.
<a <br /> href="http://uniqueunusualandinterestingart.blogspot.com/" width="250" src="<a href="http://s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd88/KMOM14/?action=view&current=black-1.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd88/KMOM14/black-1.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>"</a>

Revamped Shoes

 

Give new life to an old pair of shoes.

These are my "errand running" shoes that I wear all of the time and unfortunately there was a hole on one of the sides of the shoes but other than that there are in good condition, so I decided to revamp them.

Items used:

• 1 pair old shoes
• Amazing Goop Glue
• 1 yd grommet tape
• 1 broken zipper (off a zip up hoodie)
• 2 decorative stones
• clothespins
• Scissors
• Scrap of material

First I cleaned the shoes then used a small scrap of denim and glued it on the inside of the shoe to repair the hole in the side.  I next glued the grommet tape, starting at the back of the shoe around each shoe then secured it with clothespins to hold in in place while it dried.

For the decoration on the top of the shoe I removed a broken zipper from a hoodie.  

I had the decorative stones left over from another project (I got them at Dollar Tree for $1 for a bag) and applied glue around the circumference, teeth side up, and glued the zipper to it wrapping and gluing until I came to the end.  Once it was dry I glued it each to the top of each shoe.

Wardrobe Refashion - Signed Up For Another 4 Months

Wardrobe Refashion is a site where users pledge to not buy any "new" manufactured clothing but instead pledge to "refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items" or make with your own two hands for the term you sign up for and you pledge to post what you have created to share with the other refashioners on the site. You can sign of for 2, 4, 6 months or life.

I have a lot of things that I plan on refashioning that I haven't gotten around to yet as I am still digging stuff out of the closets to decide what to keep to refashion before donating the rest to Goodwill or Salvation Army in between job hunting.

Overall it has been positive experience.  It was a little painful not hitting the after holiday clearance items, but it did save me a lot of time as well as money as I didn't even bother checking the racks.

My 16 year old son was rather horrified when we were at the store and wanted me to buy him some new jeans and I told him that I couldn't due to the pledge.  As he wanted a certain pair due to how they looked and fit he spent his money and bought a pair jeans with his Christmas money and gave me several pairs along with a pair of shorts to patch up for him.  

Nicki at Wardrobe Refashions is accepting applications up until 2/28/10 if you want to join in on the fun.  To sign up go to http://nikkishell.typepad.com/wardroberefashion/2010/02/sign-up-now.html.   For more information on the rules go to http://nikkishell.typepad.com/wardroberefashion/the_rules.html.

Even if you aren't up for pledging, I highly recommend checking out all of the creative upcycles over at Wardrobe Refashion as you are likely to get an inspiration to upcycle something you have in your closet.

Valentines Goody Box from Ice Cream Container

Upcycle and ice cream container into a cute goody box for Valentine's Day!

I am using this a cookie container to give out cookies for Valentine's Day treats and it can be used for storing other things once it is empty.   It took about 10 minutes and costs almost nothing to make.


Items used:

• Ice Cream Container - empty, washed
• 2 colors Decorative gift wrap or scrapbook paper
• Marker or pen
• Scissors
• 1/4 inch ribbon - 20 inches
• Pre-made bow or bow made from wire edged ribbon ribbon
• Glue stick or craft glue
• Glue Gun and glue stick

Lay the container on the paper, putting it on the corner end and flipping over until it will cover the circumference of the container.   Mark on the paper then cut.

I used a Blue Bunny Brand container which is made of plastic and narrower at the bottom than it is at the top, so I did end up cutting the paper into two segments and then overlapped on the sides. 

Rub a glue stick on the container (or use craft glue) and glue the paper to the container.  I do not recommend using the glue gun as it give a lumpy appearance.   I used mylar gift wrap from Dollar Tree, but other themed wrap or scrapbook paper could be used.  Glue the paper to the container. 

For the front, I cut out the letters "LOVE" freehand from the mylar, but any different paper from the wrap applied to the container would do.   Glue on with glue stick or craft glue.

For the back I cut out a heart freehand and glued it down with a glue stick.

For the top,  put the paper right side down and put the lid on top of it and trace around it with a marker or pen, then cut out and glue to the top with a glue stick or craft glue.

Starting at one of the edges on the lid, apply a bit of hot glue on the lid at a time and glue the ribbon around the edge.  I used a silver grey ribbon.

Apply hot glue to the bottom of the the pre-made bow or to make you own, use wire wrapped ribbon and fold over itself into approx. 4 inch long strip, wrap around the center with a string and tie off the pull each piece of the bow out.

Glue the ribbon to the lid and it is ready to fill with goodies.