Old book necklace tutorial

Have you ever looked at something and thought that it was super cool and unique and just downright Fab? Even as you were thinking this, somewhere in the crevasses of your subconscious you  also knew it was not something you would ever wear? Well, I should have listened to the voice in my head because while I like the idea of this project, I do not like it enough to wear it. Have you ever felt that way about things?

List of things you will need:

40" of chain
Jump rings
Lobster clasp
2 pages from an old book
Posterboard
Glue
Mod Podge
Scissors
Matches/Lighter
Hammer
Nail
Needle nose pliers (optional)
Stain (optional)

Step 1. Cut one 15" length of chain and one 18" length of chain.

Step 2. Attach both ends of each chain to jump ring.

Step 3 - Glue the old book pages to a piece of posterboard

Step 4 - Trace a quarter seven times onto the old book paper. Cut out.

Step 5 - Apply wood stain. This is optional. You could leave them how they are but I was going for an aged look. 

Step 6 - Apply varnish or Mod Podge to cut out circles and let dry. 

Step 7 - Using a nail, hammer a hole into the top of each circle.

Step 8 - Attach each cut out to a jump ring and attach to necklace. Use needle nose pliers to re-align jump rings. If you do not know how to open a jump ring correctly, check out this link first - Proper Technique

You now have a finished necklace.

Hopefully, it is one you plan on wearing!

Chair Renovation

I have had this ugly dining room chair since we moved into our home over 10 years ago. I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I hung on to it with the intention of giving it a face lift. It took me 10 years to start it and only one hour (minus drying time) to complete it. I hate to think of all the things I could get done if I would just quit procrastinating or waiting for the perfect time. 

Ugly chair.

Start by removing the chair cushion from the frame. Then using a flat screwdriver, pry up the old staples in order to remove the ugly, faded fabric.

Here are the components of the chair seat: sturdy board base, layer of cushion, fabric. Replace any of these as seen fit. All of mine were in good condition.

This is the cushion pad.

Beautiful piece of gray fur I had hanging around. Because who doesn't have a random piece of gray fur?

Lay cushion in center of fabric. Lay chair board on top of cushion.

Pulling fabric tightly, staple the fabric to the board. Wrap corners of fabric like you would a Christmas present. Don't be scared of going a little staple crazy. You want the fabric to stay put. And there is something seriously satisfying about the ker-pow of a staple gun, No??

Paint chair frame. Let dry.

Finished seat cushion. (Well, almost finished. I went back and fixed that little bulge in the front. Blasted thing.)

Secure seat back onto chair frame. 

 

Finito! What a beauty!!All my girls are fighting over who gets it. It is mine, I tell them with a small maniacal glint in my eye. Mine. 

How to make ButterBeer

If you know me at all then you know I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan. Like one of those creepy robe wearing adults with authentic wands that have movie-viewing parties complete with a Nagini inspired cake and ButterBeer. Did I just admit that? I'm just kidding.

Anyway, I had ButterBeer at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Florida and it was rich and made me a bit queasy. Kind of like real beer.
I ask myself, who doesn't like ButterBeer?? How can you be a fan and not like ButterBeer? So, I set out on a quest to find a recipe that delivered. Folks, I was successful. Is it still rich? Heck yeah people. Anything called BUTTERBEER is bound to be a bit cloying. But I found that I could drink this is small doses and pretend like I was sitting at The Hog's Head Tavern with my crew.

I'm gonna quit now before you all think I am a horrible dork. What's that you say?? Oh. I thought you said something.

Here it is (from BakeMeAway.wordpress.com)

1 liter cream soda
1 cup heavy cream
butterscotch sauce to taste 

Pour the soda into a large shallow dish.  Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.  Remove from freezer and if the soda has started to freeze around the edges, break up and rake the frozen bits to the center with a fork.  Put the container back in the freezer for another 30 minutes.  Keep repeating this process until the soda is very slushy.  You’ll want to be able to drink it through a straw.  This took about 3 hours starting with room temperature soda, but could take less if your soda is chilled and if you have a colder freezer.

When the soda is almost ready, make the topping.  Beat the heavy cream until it is lightened, but still loose.  (Think beer foam instead of whipped cream.)  Whisk in enough butterscotch to give the cream a definite butterscotch flavor.

To serve, spoon or pour the slushy soda into clear cups or glasses.  Spoon the foamy topping on top.

You could also make this as an unfrozen version. 

If you make this, let me know what you think readers!

Too cold to do anything but organize....

We have about 20 cans of half-used paint in our basement threshold. Every time I open the door, I vow to do something about all those cans. Finally, I have.




Simply gather all of your paint cans, some mason jars in various sizes, a funnel (mine is homemade), and some labels.




Use funnel to get paint into jars mess free.



Isn't this beautiful!

Label jars with name of paint. You may also want to put the brand name of the paint so you can get more if needed. 

Hope everyone is keeping their sanity on these frigid days. I am not gonna lie, mine is questionable. BUT I am grateful and blessed to have a warm place to stay with cabinets full of food and people to share my blanket-laden couch with :)