Metal Bling Basket

This summer I've been working on a Sue Whitney-type project that involves this:

Love that patina!

At any rate, I was working with some metal strapping. I'm sure there's an official guy-type name for it, but I'm going with metal strapping since it's metal and it's used to strap pipes to the wall. Apparently, the "Guy Name" for this stuff is pipe strapping, if you read Hubs comment below, but don't tell him what I did with it. ;-)

As I was working with the strapping, the thought occurred to me that it would make a cool basket. I went to YouTube and looked up basket-making instructions and here's what I came up with:

I used some screws in the holes to hold the strapping in place while I added the new rows.

I was so excited to find the copper strapping. I was doing the happy dance in the store and Hubs just rolled his eyes at me. Whatevs. Copper metal strapping is Happy Dance-worthy, am I right?

It took me about 3 or 4 days to do this, since I had to let some ideas brew for awhile. I couldn't do a traditional finish on the top, so it took me some trial and error to find a solution I liked. A few hours of work plus a few cuts and scraps later, I had this:

I think I must have been a raccoon in another life, because I sho' love the shiny stuff. Of course, if you know me by now, you know I can't leave well enough alone. That's right, I froufed this bad boy right up.

Here it is in all it's glory.

Because of some of the comments I've had on this basket, I want to clarify a few things. 

• If/When I make another basket, I would definitely wear gloves. This project is hard on your hands. 
• This project is a moderate- to advanced-level project. 
• I'm not sure I would make one for a kid or with a kid, as there are wires inside that can be painful if bumped into. If you can find a way to weave the wire ends in so they aren't seen and aren't sticking out, that might help, but I don't have little people any more so it's not an issue in my house.

Cost Breakdown:

Metal Strapping - $9-ish

Copper Wire and Soldering Wire - $8-ish

Beads - Stash on hand

Total Cost - $17-ish

You can check the FruGal's Facebook page for more pictures and details on the project.

I'm Linking Up to the parties on my Link's Page!

Burlap Candle

The menfolk in my house have been whining complaining about all the Frou-fruing I've been doing. I saw these cutes candles on House of Smith's post about a recent trip to Pottery Barn and Bam! just like that...inspiration struck.

See, I've got this candle in the boys bathroom that has the most wonderful vanilla scent. But the candle is old and ugly. I grabbed some burlap left over from my window curtains I made. I haven't posted about these yet. 

I cut the burlap to fit around the candle. Then I broke out my heat gun and heated the candle and stuck the burlap to the melted wax. You'll need to hold it in place for a few seconds. I focused on where the ends of the fabric meet. I left the little fridge edge that was already there, froufed it up a bit 'cuz that's what I do, and here you have it.

Thanks House of Smiths and Pottery Barn for the inspiration.

Cost Breakdown:

Rattly old Candle - Free

Burlap - Free

Buttons - Free

Total Project Cost - FREE!

Total Project Time - 10 minutes

Check out my Links Page to see the parties I've joined!
I'm also linking up to:

Faux Mercury Glass Pumpkins

I love pumpkins. I think they are about the cutest thing ever and if I could get away with it, I'd have pumpkins all over my house. All year round. Sadly, I can't get away with it. My people wouldn't let me. I look forward to Fall with great enthusiasm and every year I look for new ways to decorate pumpkins.

With CSI's Pottery Barn Challenge, I decided to try my hand at their Mercury Glass Pumpkins. 

Here's my inspiration.

I started with this little cutie, purchased from The Flower Factory for $2.10.

I'm not sure what it's made out of, but it's light and it's fake, which will save me from remaking these next year.

I sprayed them silver with Krylon's Bright Silver. I have not really found a silver spray paint that I truly love. Most of them just turn out gray. This one had some shimmer to it, but it turned a funky color in spots. 

Look:

The glare makes it seem like the paint is shinier than it is. It makes me wonder, if they can turn the spray paint can lid that bright shiny silver, why can't they make a spray that does that? Anyhoo...I'll climb down off my soapbox.

Since I wasn't jazzed about just the paint, I decided to Modge Podge some foil onto the pumpkin and see how that looked. Take a gander:

See how much shinier the foil is than the paint? I took the foil, scrunched it up and then smoothed it back out. Then I formed it along one of the pumpkin sections, cut it out and the Modge Podged it in place. 

Easy Peasy.

Here it is with all but one section done.

I love the texture on it, but now it looks like a tin-foil pumpkin. Back to the spray-paint. I just wanted to put some flecks of my hammered metal bronze on the pumpkin, but getting the right amount out of the can resulted in a major pumpkin fail. I grabbed the silver and between the two, I came up with this.

I bought the leaves from The Dollar Store many years ago and how hoarderish fortuitous for me that they were in my stash just waiting for the right project to come along. I imagine you could just Modge Podge some crumpled tissue paper to the pumpkin and then paint it, but I like how this turned out.

Here's a close-up of the paint (well, as close as my cell phone camera gets).

One last time:

Here's a funny story about this Candlestick holder. Hubs and Kiddo and I were shopping at Gabe's last night when I found this cast-iron candlestick for $5.99. Kiddo took it from me and said, "This is really heavy. You could kill someone with this. Maybe this is what Colonel Mustard used in the parlor." 

A few minutes later, Hubs walks up and see the candlestick. He picks it up and says, "This reminds me of what Colonel Mustard used in the parlor." They are soooooo related!

Cost Breakdown:

Mini Pumpkins - $4.20

Silver Spray Paint - $2.97

Foil, Modge Podge, Leaves and Hammered Metal Spray Paint - Free

Total Project Cost - $7.17

Total Project Time - About 1.5 hours (mostly drying time)

I'm joining the parties on my Links Page, plus:

This project inspired by the wonderful gals at:

Journal Tutorial and GiveAway!

This past winter, I was lurking, stalking enjoying some of the fabulous blogs out there and I spied a post about making covers for the composition notebooks. Since I didn't own a sewing machine at the time, I wasn't inclined to make such a thing. In February, though, my nephew was killed by a drunk driver and in an effort to help my sister and her family cope with the loss, the idea of making some journals popped back in my head. 

Again, without the sewing machine I needed a tweak that would work for me. Modge Podge to the rescue. Here's how I did it.

Supplies:
Composition Notebook
Fat-Quarter of fabric
2 pieces of coordinating scrapbook paper
Modge Podge
Scissors
1" Foam brush

I used a regular composition notebook, which are currently on sale at the soul-sucking-mega-shopping-plex known as Wal-Mart right now for $.25! A fat quarter of fabric is also sold at The Evil Giant (read: Wal-Mart) for $1.00/ea. I have no idea if this is a good deal or not, but since I have more power to resist temptation at Satan's playground (read: Wal-Mart) than I do at the Holy Land (read: JoAnn's), I buy things like this in Outer Darkness (read:  Haven't you figured it out by now?).

Actually, this particular fabric is leftover from this project. I didn't want to make a special trip to Hades just for this tutorial.

Tear or cut your fabric so you have about a half-inch border around the book, like this:

Grab your bottle of Modge Podge (you know you have some). I like to work in sections, but I don't necessarily wait until they are all dry to do both sides. When I made my first books, I lathered it on pretty thick, but now I just use a light coat. I prefer the material to still feel like fabric when it dries and not all creaky and crackly. 

This is actually a little too thick. It really doesn't need that much to grab hold of the fabric.

This is what it looks like after you smooth it all out.

Next, notch the fabric at the spine like so:

Open one side of the book and paint a border around the three edges (ignore the center section). Fold in the corners first, like this:

Do both corners and then fold down the sides. Look! You made mitered corner. You may need to paint on some more Modge Podge in the corners to hold it down.  It should look like this:

While it's drying (or, if you want to be prepared you can do this step at the very beginning of the project) trace around the paper to get a template for the inside cover. Like so:

Note: If you have a specific pattern to your paper, you may want to make sure that it is correctly lined up before you trace. I'm just saying is all...not that I'd know from experience or anything.

Cut out the paper, leaving about 1/4" around the INSIDE of the line. You want your inside cover to be slightly smaller than the actual size of the book. Modge Podge that bad boy down, smoothing out any wrinkles as  you go. Again, a light hand with the MP is all that's needed. It will look like this:

I added a label using my handy-dandy Crop-A-Dile II (purchased on clearance from The Demon Outlet for $10). I also whipped up a beaded bookmark to add a little Frou-Fru lovin' to the book.

 Here is the finished product:

Did ya' read the label? That's right...I'm GiViNg this book away in honor of having double-digit followers. 

Hey...we all gotta start somewhere.

Here's how you can enter to win:

1. Follow my blog and leave a comment to tell me all about it for two chances to win. Yeah, I'm blantantly fishing for compliments. What of? A girl's gotta get the lovin' where she can. 

2. Help spread the word about Frou-FruGal by posting a link to this GiveAway on your blog sidebar. That'll get you three entries. Come back here and leave me a comment that you posted me on your sidebar.

3. Head over to Facebook and "Like" the Frou-FruGal. Leave a comment on my wall AND here for Three more chances to win.

Winner will be announced on Sunday, September 5th.

This posting is in loving memory of my nephew, Spc. Kale Darren Clay,  who was born in Olympia Washington on 03 March 1986 and passed away on 13 February 2010 at the age of 23. I love you, Kale!

I'm Linking UP with the Parties on my Links Page. 

When The Estate Sale Gods Smile

A few weeks ago, I was coming home from working out. Around these parts, Garage and Estate sales start on Thursday and it was an early Thursday morning. I was talking to my BFF at the time and was just telling her how I was experiencing too much month in my money and there were all these signs for sales but I was being a good girl and was not even going to put temptation into my path...yada, yada, yada. 

Famous last words, right? It happened. I saw the heavens part and a light shine down on two of the most gaaaaw-geous chairs out on the drive way of this estate sale. SCREEECH! "Hang on, Sista' I'm going in." I whipped my car around and headed back to the sale. What was I to do? The Estate Sale Gods has shown me the way and I had to obey.

Sadly, the chairs were too rich for my blood. I couldn't justify $35/each on my budget and I came away with this cute little garden cart for $8 and this glass frog marble display for $3, which is half of what I paid for my first one at an antique store.

The glass frog Marble Display is already in use. Here it is on my mantle next to my Tinker Toy Box (that helped me make these).

The garden cart was cleaned up and put under the center section where my window shelves are. I debated about repainting this little cart, but I like the white-ish color and it has a natural patina (distressing) that you can't replicate. For now, I'm happy with her just as she is.I'm planning on making this an herb/succulent garden and just need to make some cute pots to hold said herbs/succulents.

End of story, right? False! I could not get those pretty little chairs out of my mind and so on Friday, I was all set to justify their purchase. Hubs was out in the boondocks canoeing with Kiddo and Buddy, so he couldn't talk me out of it. I made an excuse drove past the estate sale on Friday and told myself if those chairs were there is was Meant. To. Be.

Can you guess what happened? That's right, the chairs were....Gone! You thought I got them, didn'tcha? I consoled myself that there were plenty of other chairs in the world and some day I would find some others that I loved as much as those. Oh, the lies we tell ourselves.

Fast forward to Monday morning and I'm doing the usual Craigs search when I see a dresser from the Estate Sale posted. Now, I loved the dresser when I first saw it, even though it needed some lovin'. Again, remember how I was being so responsible that day? I let it go, too. Imagine how giddy I was when I saw it posted on Craig's for $20! You read that right, Twenty Bucks! I was so excited, I texted the guy and asked if he still had it. While I was waiting for his response, I went to the next Craigs posting for some end tables and that's when the Heavens parted for a second time. SQUEEEEEE!

MY CHAIRS! I know, right?! You're excited too, huh? I texted the guy as fast as my chubby little fingers would go to see if he still had them and howmuchdidhewantforthem? He was asking $25/ea, which I have to admit, as much as I loved those chairs, I still was thinking this was kind of steep. Plus, if I bought the dresser and the chairs, we were back to $70. It really wasn't an outrageous price, especially considering that these are down filled chairs. They are high-end pieces.

I roped my neighbor, Larry, into driving me up to the sale in his little truck, I took out some money from the bank and drove up to the sale. The guy agreed to take $60 for all three pieces. Since he was trying to empty the house for the owners, I probably could have talked him down even further. I was happy with the $60 and  nearly did the happy gig on the driveway as I was loading them up.

Without further ado, I present to you my latest acquisitions.

Stay tuned to see how I revamp these pieces. The dresser is first up and I need to figure out the colors. I'm thinking Heirloom White with a glaze, along with some type of painting in the center panel. Hubs hates the yellow, so it's got to go, but I have to admit that I kind of like it. 

If you have any ideas for the center panel, please let me know. I need inspiration. I like a lot of the bird/branch stuff I see, but I think this piece calls for a vertical design.

Cost Breakdown:

Garden Cart - $ 8.00

Glass Frog/Marble Display - $ 3.00

Chairs - $40.00

Dresser - $20.00

Total Price - $71.00

Check out my Link Parties Page to see where I'm linking up.

Old lamps have new life

I saw that the CSI project for this week is spray paint. Since becoming a blog follower, I have discovered the joy to be found in a can. Yes, I'm talking about you, Krylon. The joy you distribute in a can marked Oil-Rubbed Bronze. Oh, how I love you.

I've had these two lamps packed away in a box for a few years now. They come from Grandma Bourne's house.

       

Doesn't it look like the Pixar lamp's Grandpa? I believe these are pig iron lamps but I could be wrong. Here's the other one.

I know a lot of you gals like the rusty look, and I enjoy it's appeal too. However, I have a long way to go before I'm ready to enjoy that look indoors. These two little beauties needs some Froufin' Up!

Hello Lover. How have you been?

Here's the final product.

I still need to rewire the taller lamp, but for now they'll join the blue frame on top of my piano. 

Thanks, CSI for spurring me on.

Cost Breakdown:

Lamps - Free

Spray Paint - Free (but I need to replenish my supply as I just used up the last of it)

Total Project Cost: FREE

Total Time: 20 minutes actual work, 2 hours waiting for paint to dry

I'm linking up:

From Sweater Vest to Pillow

 Remember this sweater vest from my recent Garage Sale Finds? What follows is a blatant blogland rip-off. I can't remember where I saw this, but I liked it so I'm doing one for me.

Well, today I was looking for a quick and easy project. I took out my handy-dandy scissors and did this to it.

I didn't actually use this part. I sewed the ends closed on the other part and then stuffed the pillow with some batting I luckily have been hauling around the country with me for the last 10 years had in my stash. Whew! Isn't clever how I planned for this project 10 years ago?! It's like I could see into my future and know that I would have need of an extra bag or 3 of batting for a future craft emergency.

I drew upon my 10th grade home-ec skills and applied the ol' blind stitch to close up the pillow.

I took some of the large sequins from the part I cut off and filled in on the top where I sewed the pillow shut. Here's my latest bit of Frouf for my house. Here she is, Blinging up Grandma Bourne's rocking chair. 

I also gave it a whirl on the sofa. I can't decide where I like it best. If I leave it on the sofa, chances are the Fur Child will add his own furry touches to it. It may go back on the rocking chair.

Cost Breakdown:

Sweater Vest - $.50 

Batting - Free

Thread - Free

Total Project Cost - $.50

Total Time: 30 minutes

Be sure to check out the parties on my side bar to see where I'm linking up: