Suitcases....They're not just for Traveling Anymore

Every Antique Shop or Thrift store I walk through has a variety of suitcases of all shapes and sizes.  I still have some old pieces of my grandmothers that I've set aside in the hopes of finding a way to re-purpose them.  Check out these great ideas for using vintage suitcases.

Easy DIY Chair Planter

Do you have a chair just sitting around, if not, next time you see one at a garage sale, don't pass it up.  Snatch it!  So many cute uses for broken, dilapidated chairs.  I found this one at a garage sale for FREE, just because a little bit of the caning was broken.  Great chair! 

Here's what I decided to do with it:

First, take off the chair pad.  Usually these are screwed in from the bottom and easily removed with a screwdriver.

 Then, start adding your chicken wire.  I used leftovers from another project that were just shy of covering the area I needed so I used two pieces run in opposite directions, one left to right, the other front to back.  Each piece I stapled wherever it reached the chair.

 In this picture you can see the first piece hanging down, it didn't reach back up to the chair.  The second piece is stapled.  I don't like it hanging down so I used a little piece of wire like thread and stitched the two pieces together on the sides.

 A much cleaner look.  If you look closely you can see the piece of wire I used.  If you are cutting straight from a bolt of chicken wire you shouldn't need to use two pieces, it should be wide enough.

 All done with the base.  Once I get some landscaping fabric in there it'll be ready to plant.

 I chose this chair because of the caning as well.  I am planning to plant up the back of the chair as well, using the caning (until it rots out anyhow).  I started by using another piece of leftover chicken wire and stapling it along the bottom and right side.

 Finishing by attaching it along the left.  I did not close it up on top.  This is how I'll add my dirt and I'll plant at the top to let something trail down the back of the chair as well.

 Most of the planting will happen in the front though.  This is the hole that was already in the caning, I cleaned it up a little.

 Then I added a few more.  By the time I plant I'll probably add more but I won't know for sure until I get to it.

 Here's a couple shots of the finished planter.  I will probably spray it with poly in the hopes that it'll last a little longer, add some landscaping fabric or burlap and get 'er planted this spring.  Can't wait to see how it turns out!

Never had a chance to plant this guy, sold it instead.  Here's a few gorgeous examples from Pinterest:

blue-by-arizonasandy-on-flickr

artbookstea.blogspot.com

Do you have an unusual planter in your yard?  If so, please share.  We'd love to see what you've done.

Building The Chirping Frog- Part 4

Our newest adventure:  The Chirping Frog, an antique, collectibles, vintage, home decor, furniture, artisan wares and more shopping mall in a great location right off a major interstate is well underway.  I also plan to host classes in a variety of fun topics; such as mosaic, hypertufa, jewelry making, paper arts, etc.  I am so excited and a little terrified all at the same time.  Here's some links if you're interested in following our progress:

• Part 1- Clean-up
• Part 2- Dirt Work
• Part 3- Tons of Rock & Footings 

This week we've been working on placing forms for the foundation walls.  It's just over 2' tall, just a wee little wall.  First a board goes down and then the forms.  This corner is where we started.  I was no help through this, those forms are heavy!  I did get the job of carrying all the rebar into place and tying it off.

7 Inspiring and Unique Lighting Fixtures

I am always looking for creative ways to re-purpose and bring new life to common, everyday items.  Lights fixtures are an easy way to do just that.  Here's a few of my favorites:

This is wonderful.  You could use a wheel or a lid of some kind for the top portion and the possibilities for the dangles are endless.  My thought, how about the bottoms of plastic water bottles?  When cut they look like flowers.

Found on Pinterest

I really love this idea as well.  Wouldn't it be nice if grandma's old canisters could forever be a part of your home as lighting fixtures?  What a neat way to keep them close yet not have them on your counters (I hate countertop clutter).

Follow through on this pin and you'll find 24 amazing ideas to up-cycle ordinary things into gorgeous lighting fixtures.
retrorenovation.com

These are amazing.  So beautiful and unique, that's a PVC pipe guys (and gals)!  My husband will think I've lost my mind but I really want to try these sometime.

upcycle us

Again, I'm flabbergasted, this is outstanding.  Never knew silverware could look so good!

urban comfort

This one makes me smile every time I see it.  I can't help but hum, "I'm a little teapot...."

bymentalo.com

Safety pins, yep, incredibly creative!

inspire me

Ever since my first visit to World Of Concrete years ago I've wanted to make a concrete light fixture.  I have yet to attempt it.  Hopefully I can get my act together and try one out soon.

indesignlive.com

Can you believe some of the materials used to create these lovely lights?  People are so creative.  For more check out my Pinterest Board called DIY- Lighting.  These are just a few of my favorites, there's plenty more to see.

14 Artsy Tea Cup Inspired Crafts

One item you'll see plenty of when meandering through your local antique shop is teacups and saucers.  Some are just gorgeous and I wouldn't have the heart to use them in any of these projects, but others, lots of others would make great candidates for creativity.  

Take a look at these gorgeous ideas to give you a little inspiration:

A great Vertical Gardening Idea!
http://www.creativespotting.com/2013/03/teacups-mosaic-board/

Teacup Candlesticks
http://www.thecottagemarket.com/2012/03/its-cinch-anthropologie-type-tutorial.html

So simple, yet so beautiful.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/259590365997551001/

I am completely in love with this little light, absolutely adorable.
http://dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.com/2013/05/my-cup-of-tea-teacup-crafts-home-decor.html

Cup and Saucer Snack Stand.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/259590365997551028/

Love the mix of brass with cups and saucers.  Very nice!
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/259590365997551032/

Cute Lamp.
http://dreambookdesign.com/2011/08/how-to-cover-a-lamp-shade/

Teacup and Saucer Candelabra.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/259590365997551035/

I'm a sucker for a unique light fixture.  Love this idea.
http://diyforlife.com/how-to-make-a-teacup-chandelier-diy/

Garden Flower
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/259590365997551074/

The possibilities are endless.  Cute idea!
http://todayscreativeblog.net/redecorate/

Cute Birdfeeder
http://www.soyouthinkyourecrafty.com/season-12-auditions/

Have you made anything creative using teacups/saucers?  I dabbled a bit, here's a few of my creations:

 

15 Fabulous Bottle Cap Art Projects

The other day, while trying to clean out and organize my stash I came across a box of bottlecaps.  What am I going to do with them?  

Here's a variety of projects to inspire that show just how beautiful simple bottlecaps can be. 

offbeatcelebration
My mom made Christmas ornaments using old tins, this project reminds me of them quite a bit.  Adorable.

decorapolis
Love these.  What a cute idea.

hausandhome

by your hands
These are just adorable.  I've been working on art journals and this is a great way to decorate and personalize paper clips for journals (what about for clothespins or bobby pins?).

simple sue
Lots of possibilities using them for jewelry applications.

buzzfeed
Follow the link for a variety of creative accent wall ideas.  Really love this backsplash.

Found on pinterest
 I couldn't help but include it, how cute is that!

delish
Great idea.

crochet rising
Cute little tin man.

a Stylish Little Lady
This is just outstanding, its bottlecaps, Wow!

noted list
I just saw windchimes at Dierberg's made with bottle caps.  Really cute idea.

delatsami
Beautiful!

Found on pinterest
Lots of possibilities

marthastewart.com
These are great and would make perfect personalized gifts.

thewhoot
Adorable.

Next time you pop the top, StOp, don't throw that cap away, start collecting them, if you're not going to use them find someone who will (my hand is raised, send 'em my way).

Have you made anything cute with bottlecaps?