Happy Friday! Show tomorrow 10 - 4 at the Canton Middle School for the SLCHA

Nothing new to post today!  I have been feverishly working to get all my favorite items ready for the Antique and Artisan Show at the Canton Middle School.  Stop by from 10 - 4 and check out my creativity in person!  

Although I have been busy, spring has officially started at our house.  The tulips and the daffodils are up!   The lilies are also poking through in the back.  Now I'm going to have to start weeding! :)

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Wedding Wednesdays: Oops I'm a day late! Brooch Bouquets

Everyone knows I am into antiques and love vintage jewelry.  I have had several posts about it.  But what could more lovely on your wedding day than to carry small pieces of history down the aisle or even family heirlooms.   A brooch bouquet will never wilt or die either, so it would be a lasting memory.   Check out some great examples from Etsy:

Rhinestone Art Deco Bouquet by theRitzyRose

Belles Fleur II by hairbowswonderworld

Brooch Bouqet by 1amanda

They are rather pricey to buy all made, but imagine what fun it would be to travel around antique shops, flea markets and garage sales to find great brooches and large earrings.  I have even thought of making a bouquet out of my recycled flowers and including some vintage jewelry or small chandelier crystals, so be prepared for the post after my next show, which is this Saturday, April 30th at the Canton Middle School for the St. Lawrence County Historical Association from 10 am - 4 pm.

Subscribe to The Mad Recycler by Email
Become a Fan on Facebook

"I fell in love with Jack Daniels again" - Miranda Lambert - Jack Daniels Cuff

I definitely consider this bracelet to be a work in progress.  It has not been lined or had anything fancy done too it, but it was too fun not to share along the way.  I'm sure not many of you know, but Jack Daniels has recently started coming pre-mixed in aluminum bottles.  You can get JD & Coke, JD & Diet Coke, JD & Ginger Ale.  The bottles right now are not returnable, so the wonderful people at The Ole Smokehouse have been saving them for me!  The bottles are just the right thickness for cuffs and require not additional snap to hold them on unlike my soda can version.

Jack Daniel's by Miranda Lambert - Full Lyrics

I am also gearing up for the SLCHA Antique and Artisan Show this Saturday, April 30th from 10 am - 4 pm.  Hope to see you there!  

Enjoy! 

 

Blue Tinted Recycled Bertolli Jar

I am continuing on recycling bertolli jars.  Below I didn't a jar with mod podge and a little food coloring.  It worked wonderfully.  I painted it on the outside and then to give it texture, pressed small bubble wrap into it.  They make lovely candle holders as well as a great vase!  Enjoy!

Recycled Bertolli Jar - Lace Lantern

Of all the food jars I have ever seen, my favorite are Bertolli sauce jars.  The shape of them is just to nice to throw away.  I have been trying to figure out easy ways to make them into lanterns.  Mod Podge seemed the ideal solutions.  I took paper doilies and cut them with my Fiskars large seal punch and then mod podged them to the jar, turning them so the whole would be at different positions.  Below is the semi-finished product (I am still working on a handle for them).  I think they are lovely though!

Before sure to watch for these and other recycled jar lanterns at my next craft show Saturday, April 30th from 10 am - 4 pm at the Canton Middle School for the St. Lawrence County Historical Association.  

Happy Friday!

Subscribe to The Mad Recycler by Email
Become a Fan on Facebook

"Did you ever think how a bit of land shows the character of the owner? " - Laure Ingalls Wilder - A Seedling Update

Considering its snowing here this morning, I figured I would share my happy little seedlings.  I have thinned them out so now only one remains in each recycled seed starter pot.  So far I have started roma tomatoes and all 20 plants came up!  I also started cosmos, dahlias, pansies and foxgloves.  All I have left is my quick growing plants like sunflowers, 2 different types of zinnias, and Chinese lanterns. Hopefully the weather will start to cooperate and I will be able to put them outside sometime before July!

Wedding Wednesdays: Etsy Weddings Boots & BBQ

I decided to start dedicating Wednesdays to the great things I find for weddings.  Of course, I had to ask the BF if this was ok, to make sure I wasn't going to freak him out, and he doesn't care so here we go!  Last week's Etsy Weddings Newsletter had the perfect theme for me, Boots & BBQ.  I totally love the quaint country charm and fun that goes with an outdoor backyard wedding.  If done properly it can be elegant yet rustic at the same time.  Here are a couple great things from this newsletter:

Red and White Tablecloth Thank You Seals by KisforCalligraphy - $8.00 for  20

BBQ Cutlery Packets by misspicklespress - $15.00 for 12 sets

His and Hers Letterpress Flask Set  by ManEatingFlower - $65.00

Check out the full newsletter for other great bbq wedding ideas!

Subscribe to The Mad Recycler by Email
Become a Fan on Facebook

Everyone knows I love ruffles! Check out Etsy Shop: MoonberryStarberry

MoonberryStarberry's creator, Chelsea, is a local creator in Potsdam, NY.  She makes beautiful clutches and pillows.  I absolutely adore her ruffled items, such as:

Purple Leaf Ruffled Clutch - $18.00

as well as: 

White Ruffle Pillow - $28.00

I have seen her items in person, the construction is wonderful and very sturdy.  All her items are very reasonably priced as well.  Check it out and support local creators!

My New Recycled Flower: Is it a poppy or ranunculus?

This is my latest creation, a pink flower with a pearl in the center.  I am not sure if it looks more like a poppy or a ranunculus blossom.

So what do you think?  Is it a ranunculus or a poppy?  I think it could be either depending on the color and center decoration!  Either way it will make a great addition to my recycled wreath decorations, cuffs and I think I may branch into headpieces too!

A Red Poppy :)
Photo Credit: Flower Info

For all of you who have never seen it, since it does not grow well in Northern NY (trust me I've tried) this is Ranunculus aka Persian Buttercup.
Photo Credit: International Flower Bulb Centre

Enjoy!

The completely recycled soda can cuff! - Pink Daisy Lace Cuff

Is everyone sick of seeing cuff bracelets yet?  I am still not tired of making them, each one is unique, and I have a new favorite every time.  This cuff was totally created using soda cans, the flowers, the leaves and the cuff itself are all from soda cans.  The only thing not from a can is the scrap fabric covering the can cuff, the snap, the pink button and the 2 floral cabs.  The center pink daisy, was created by decoupaging a paper doily cut out over the  pink soda can daisy.  This also is my new style of cuff, I had previously had the one with elastic on the back, but now I have attached a snap so it is easier to put on and more versatile size wise.  Too cute!! :)

This cuff will be at my shows (depending if/when it sells) this weekend.  Friday from 4 pm - 8 pm at the Winthrop American Legion and Saturday from 9 am - 3 pm at the New Testament Church in Massena.

See you there!

"We are the music makers and We are the dreamers of dreams" - Roald Dahl - Vintage Sheet Music Recycled Cuff

I would still consider this cuff to be a work in progress but it was too cute not to share.  It was started using a pre-made aluminum cuff that i decoupaged with vintage sheet music then added a soda can daisy, that had also been decoupaged with sheet music and attached a turquoise button to the center.   I think it needs just a touch more bling and to be lined and I will be happy with it!  Enjoy!

Don't forget 2 crafts shows this weekend, first Friday from 4 pm - 8 pm at the Winthrop American Legion for the Easter Holiday Shopping Kickoff Fair, and then Saturday from 9 am - 3pm at the New Testament Church in Massena!  I will have a variety of my recycled bracelets as well as bedspring wreaths, butterflies and decoration sets!

Another turquoise cuff! I ♥ Turquoise!

Do I even need to write a description for this? 

Don't forget 2 shows this weekend, which I hope to have a bunch of these bracelets made and for sale!  Friday I will be at the Winthrop American Legion from 4 pm - 8 pm and Saturday at the New Testament Church in Massena from 9 am - 3 pm :).  

♥ A Little Hope on a Rainy Spring Day ♥

I have been trying to be extremely patient with my seedlings this year b/c I am doing them in a totally different way then before.  I use to start my plants using the jiffy seed starter mini greenhouse, but decided to try my own recycled seed starting pots and a little greenhouse the BF's grandma found at Kinneys for $25.  I really didn't care about the greenhouse, but I needed a nice set of shelves to put in front of our sliding glass door b/c it receives a good amount of sun for most of the day.  The greenhouse seems to be helping b/c yesterday morning my Roma tomatoes and my pansies finally popped up! :)  :)

Roma Tomatoes

Pansies

Mini Greenhouse

So since the recycled newspaper pots seem to be working well, yesterday I started my snapdragons, black eyed susans, dahlias and fox glove.  All I have left to start this week are the zinnias, Chinese lanterns, and sunflowers.  I think my little greenhouse will be full.  :)

Don't forget I will be at two craft shows this coming weekend, one Friday April 15th from 4 pm - 8 pm at the American Legion in Winthrop and Saturday April 16th from 9 am - 3 pm at the New Testament Church in Massena.

Happy Friday! New Packaging - Bedspring Wreath Decoration Sets

Lately I have really been working on trying to make my decorations as easy to understand as possible.  I'm not sure even with me explaining all of it people truly understand that great changeability of this wreath.  So to make it easier.  I decided to package up my decorations into sets and sell them per set versus individual.   That way I can sell seasonal sets, holiday sets as well as other themed sets.  Watch for these at my next craft show!  

Another recycled cuff - The Pink Rose

I love making these bracelets!  Each one of them is so unique, I really am going to have a hard time parting with any of them, but there will be some for sale at my next craft shows, April 15th from 4 pm - 8 pm at the American Legion in Winthrop and April 16th from 9 am - 3 pm at New Testament Church in Massena. 

This bracelet was created using leftover scrap fabric use to create the hat in this past halloween's Mad Hatter Costume.  The cuff itself is made from soda can, that I cut into strips and glued together.  Then I created a casing with a small piece of elastic and attached it to the soda can and covered it!  The large pink rose is also from a soda can!  The best part about this bracelet is all of it is recycled, even the elastic was leftover from something else!  Its a piece of jewelry you can feel good about.  

New Shop Alert in Potsdam, NY - Maple Run Gourmet Grocery & Gift Emporium

Yesterday was the grand opening of a new shop in downtown Potsdam.  I went down on my lunch break to check out the Maple Run Gourmet Grocery & Gift Emporium.  The shop features all things maple.  I love maple syrup so of course this was the perfect place for me.  I was able to sample some of their specialty products, like the maple butter, maple candy, maple BBQ sauce as well as Maple Wine.  I loved the Maple Wine, it was drier than you think it would be, but it is currently not for sale as they wait for their liquor license.  There is also a selection of smoked meat and jerky.  A great selection of wooden kitchen products made from maple as well as gourmet/specialty kitchen items, like the crepe maker which I just may have to go back and get for my kitchen.  I left the store with maple, popcorn, a maple lollipop, maple candy, maple soda and maple pumpkin butter.  All of it was delicious, the maple soda was only "ok" for me, it tasted like carbonated maple syrup which can be a little much to drink a whole bottle of but it was interesting to try anyways.  So for a great gift or something unique for your next party check out the Maple Run Gourmet Grocery & Gift Emporium at 49 Market Street, Downtown Potsdam open from 6 am - 8 pm.

Photo from Maple Run Gourmet Grocery & Gift Emporium