Thrifty DIY Part One: Faux Fur Throw Rug

Currently my style is inspired by Scandinavian decor. So besides the regular look through for stoneware, vintage linen and furniture at the thrift stores, I have recently been searching for faux fur clothing and knitted sweaters with the traditional snowflakes and stars. I was lucky this past Monday, as you can see I found both.

My finds were a long beautiful grey-ish brown coat for $20 and a girls knitted sweater with snowflakes for $2.50.

Funny how when I stepped to the cashier at the thrift store, people were looking me up and down.... Yah!! Fancy me wearing something like this long fur coat that looked like it belonged in the 70's... One lady mustered the courage to say... "Hmm, nice coat you're getting!" Imagine the look I get when I told her... "Yea... I'm making a rug out of it"...

That's right! I had to tell that part of the story cause I really thought that was funny. 

And yes, that is what I had in mind. Scandinavian winters are cold and interiors are usually decked with warming lit candles, and fur throws around the home among other traditional decor.

So back in my studio I started off by taking off the inner lining from the seams with a seam ripper, better to be done on the lining side as opposed to ripping seams at the furry side and end up loosing some fur too.

Laying the coat open and flat on my cutting table I cut off the top part of the coat from right under the sleeves part. I was left with the bottom part of the coat laying flat. Coat's side seams are barely visible on the furry side and any pockets on the coat I sewed them shut. Perfect!!. 

I folded the bottom part of the coat at the lengthy part. At home I have a much smaller faux rug that I used as a guide/pattern of a hide. I started cutting at least 8-10 inches away from my smaller rug which made the coat turned throw rug, much bigger. 

Be aware... fur was shedding like crazy, while working on this project. Its to be expected.... I was so excited to do this I didn't bother changing and I was covered in tiny hairs!! Well, may have slightly bothered me but I was still very excited that for $20 I was going to have a magnificent faux fur throw rug for my living room.

I have to add that pillow fillers on this bench were also 99c pillows at the thrift store that I covered and another grey sweater made another lovely pillow. I am an avid thrifter and I love it.

My thrift store visit on Monday I also found a girl's sized grey knitted sweater that I turned into a pair of decorative mittens.

So hop on the second part of this Thrifty DIY for a tutorial on how-to make your own mittens out of a knitted sweater.
http://creatingvintagecharm.blogspot.com/2014/11/thrifty-diy-part-two-holiday-decorative.html

I spent $22.50 on the coat and sweater and now I have my cuddly and soft faux fur throw rug and a cute pair of mittens decorating my living room. 

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This post is part of the Thrifty Challenge hosted by Alice Wingerden on her blog Thoughts from Alice. An amazing list of talented bloggers included below, participated in this challenge. So I hope you check them all out and get ready to be inspired. Someone else's junk may just become your treasure!!

Glam Christmas Throw Pillows by Thoughts from Alice

A Deer Thrift Store Makeover by Ciburbanity

Ugly Ducklings (Thrifted Sweater Stockings) by Maison de Pax

A Deerly Beloved Thrift Store Vignette by Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

Holiday Thrift Store Challenge: Deer Mount Advent Calendar by Primitive & Proper

{Vintage Cookie Tin} Cake Centerpieces by Little Farmstead

DIY Embroidery Hoop Wall Hanging: Holiday Thrift Store Challenge by Simple Stylings

DIY Christmas Decorations from Thrifted Books by T-Shirt & Jeans

Christmas Cloche by Craftberry Bush

A Vintage Mantel for Winter by Finding Silver Pennies

Holiday Thrift Store Challenge - Christmas Chalkboard Globe by Heart Rocks in My Pocket

Thrifty DIY Part One: Faux Fur Throw Rug by Creating Vintage Charm

DIY Holiday Walling Hanging by House of Hipsters

Holiday Thrift Store Challenge: Modern Christmas Village by Number Fifty-Three

Christmas Decor from Thrifty Find by Town and Country Living

The Trellis Tree by Cozy Little House

Holiday Thrift Store Challenge Blog Hop by Shabby Love

DIY Centerpiece Tray by Cherished Bliss

Holiday Thrift Store Challenge – Vintage Sock Stretcher Stocking by Alex Inspired

A Merry Thriftmas Challenge: Re-purposed Holiday Tablescape by Home Remedies

Light Fixture Update - a Thrift Store Challenge by Nest of Posies

Holiday Thrift Store Challenge: Simple Christmas Decorations by Two Purple Couches

Rustic Christmas Tree by Delineate Your Dwelling

Oh Deer, It's a Holiday Thrift Shop Challenge by My Sweet Savannah

Simple Elegant Winter Vignette | Holiday Thrift Store Challenge by Cloth and Patina

DIY Shabby Chic Picture Frame365 Days of Crafts

DIY 3D Christmas Star Wreath - Holiday Thrift Store Challenge by The Chronicles of Home

DIY Crocks by So Much Better With Age

Simple Holiday Vignette | A Thrift Store Challenge by Restoration House Interiors

Thrift Store Christmas Decor Challenge by BrocanteuseRose

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I hope you enjoyed visiting here and have fun visiting other talented bloggers...

Ciao ciao for now...

Sonia

Thrifty DIY Part Two: Holiday Decorative Mittens

This tutorial is part two of the Thrifty DIY challenge. Part one I make a Faux Fur Throw Rug from a coat bought along with a sweater used in this mitten tutorial. You can find Part One here:

http://creatingvintagecharm.blogspot.com/2014/11/thrifty-diy-part-one-faux-fur-throw-rug.html

   A pair of pretty knitted mittens also make wonderful holiday decor added to a wreath or hung on an antique door knob but alas, I do not want to pay the price of well knitted mittens. So I decided to come up with a pair sewn on the cheap, just to decorate with.

I found a nice sweater that I thought had a fitting design for my purpose. The snowflake pattern, suitable for my mittens.

I created my own pattern... nothing fancy. Sketched by hand on a piece of paper, done by tracing my own hand. I am including the same pattern, scanned to size on a pdf so you can print it and simply cut it out. 

http://www.creatingvintagecharm.com/DecorativeMittensPattern.pdf 

Disclaimer (or call me smarty pants): This pattern is for mittens that fit me, but I made these mittens for decorative purposes ONLY. If you wish to wear these then you may have to try and adjust the width of the pattern.

 How-To

~ With a pair of scissors, cut the sweater apart at the seams.

~ Lay the front and back of the sweater flat and lay your patterns to cut. For the pattern #1, adjust the pattern to the part of your sweater where the design is. I made sure a snowflake is centered on pattern #1 piece. The hand palm patterns #2,3 can be cut anywhere you have room on your sweater material as long as its not waist band part of sweater. 

~ Starting first by sewing the thumb and hand palm side of the mitten by lining up the thumps of both pieces #2 and 3, sew the thumb and the palm together.

~ Now that you have the inner side of the mitten hand sewed, you can lay it on piece #1, design side, face to face. Sew around the edge of the mitten and you are done!!

I trimmed the cuffs of my mittens with a strip of coordinating white fur (bought the strip years ago by the yard at the ribbons and trim store isle) In my stash I also found pompoms string that I used to tie one mitten to the other so it can also serve as a hanger for my decorative mittens. If you try this out, get creative with the trimming of the cuffs. Fur is fantastic, pompom trim, narrow fuzzy wool scarf!

Stuff mittens with greenery and holly berries and hang them in an entry way on a wreath, wall hanger or door knob.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that you give it a try...

Ciao ciao for now...

Sonia

Do-It-Yourself Vintage Style Tool Box

What you will need

Tools:

Miter Saw or Table Saw

Drill and 9/64 drill bit

Phillips head screw driver (X)

Clamps

Cutting list:

2 { 1.5 x 3.5's } cut at 15 inches for wider sides of the box

2 { 1.5 x 3.5's } cut at 6.5 inches for depth sides of the box

2 { .25 x 1.5 } cut at 8 inches for handle sides

1 {1.25 dowel } cut at 5 3/4 inches for handler

For the bottom, I recycled wood from a wood pallet cut at 15 inches. 

Another option would be a piece of plywood cut at 15 inches x 8 inches 

Other supplies:

Wood glue

1.5 inches screws for sides and bottom

1/2 inch screws for handle

How To

Image #1/2 - Start by gluing together the four sides of the box and hold together with clamps. Wider side panels overlap end panels. Let the glue dry for about 15 mins.

Image #3 - Using the drill, make holes for screws at the two ends of the box as shown. Then screw all sides together.
Image #4 - Glue bottom panels to the bottom of the box, then fasten with screws. (drill holes for screws first)
Image #5 - You have the sides and the bottom done.
Image #6 - We are starting to build the handle for the tool box, first by measuring and locating the inside center of the box to mark where handles should go. Simply measure the inside and divide by two then mark the divided point by pencil. Gluing the wood strips first and let dry then fasten with 1/2 " screws.
Image #7 - Dap a little glue at the top of the wood strips where dowel is going to be fitted. Place the thick dowel in between the two wood strips at the top. Then screw in place, making sure screw is centered into dowel.

I made several of these boxes. Ones that I built out of weathered wood, I preferred to leave them in their natural finish, but the box in this tutorial was built with new wood so I first painted with chalk paint in dark grey. I let it dry well, then painted in white with egg-shell paint. It may take two coats of white to cover well. Then I sanded and distressed back down to grey paint.

These boxes are wonderful addition to decor anywhere around the house. They could hold: rolled towels in a bathroom, 8 glass jars with flowers for a table centerpiece, wood and pinecones by a fireplace, used as planters in the garden... possibilities are endless. I made several of these.

This project was what launched my woodworking frenzy... I mastered the miter saw and was the first project I built out of wood from start to finish. Its a great project for a starter.

I hope you'll give this a try and if anyone does get to make this, please send me pictures of your finished box and how/where you used it. I would love to see what you did with it and I would love to share on the blog post as well.

Thanks again for coming by my blog and hope to see you again soon.

Ciao, ciao
Sonia

How-To: Homemade Relaxing Milk Bath

I would like to share with you this quick and easy recipe for Relaxing Milk Bath. Something I have done so many times before and truly enjoy in a nice hot bath and does wonders to the skin too.

This recipe is from Betty Crocker's Celebrate and is very quick and easy to make and packaging could be fun to create too. Its a great gift for family and friends.

What you need & how to do it:
Mix together 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup salt and 1 cup nonfat dry milk. 

Mixture should fill a small Ball canning jar.

Optional:

I personally add lavender buds for scent and a drop or two of lavender essential oil. Two or three drops are not going to clump the mixture. As a gift, lavender sprinkled on top would make it more presentable. 

If you are gifting the Relaxing Milk Bath, include a label or tag saying:
To use, add 1 cup bath mixture to warm bath water. Can be stored in airtight container up to 1 year.

Packing options would be to pour mix in vintage glass jars or a pretty decorated brown paper bags (plastic bag inside to seal freshness of powder). Include a small scented candle with the gift and receiver will be able to enjoy a relaxing bath in candlelight at home. 

Above is a sweet box of goodies I gathered or whipped up this morning, including French milled soaps, homemade foot scrubs, moisturizer and relaxing milk bath. Would also make a wonderful display in your bathroom. I do plan on sharing a how-to for melt and pour soap soon. I guarantee you all these recipes are really easy and your home will smell so wonderful after you are done.  

More tutorials on this blog

How-To; Homemade Sugar Foot Scrubs

I do hope you give this Relaxing Milk Bath a try and that you enjoyed this post today. 

Thank you for coming by..

Enjoy!!

Sonia

How-To: Homemade Sugar Foot Scrubs!!

Spring and summer are sandals and flip-flops seasons, good time to share this easy how-to recipe to keep your feet moist and smooth.

I love the homemade body products. You know what is in the product cos you made it, and it does not include harsh chemicals and usually serve the purpose much better then anything processed anyway!! I am a flip flops and barefoot chic and you know what that does to your feet. Mine get really dry but this scrub really works, leaving my feet soft and moisturized, not dry and flaky.

Recipe: Basic

All you need is 1 part (or 1/2 cup olive oil or almond oil)

2 parts sugar (or 1 cup)
 A drop or two of your preferred  essential oils scent

Combine everything in a bowl and its ready to use.

I soak my feet in warm water and scrub with sugar scrub, until sugar is dissolved then rinse off with warm water and pat dry my feet. 

Optional add-ins

A drop of soap or food coloring (any color you prefer)
or
Mix in some dried lavender buds and if using as gifts, use a clear lidded jar and top the mix with lavender for more beautiful and natural presentation.(above)

Recipe: Using Lotion

1 cup of sugar and 2 tablespoons of lotion.

If you're anything like me, I have tons of lotions around my house, some that I buy and a LOT that was gifted to me. More then I can use before it can go bad. So using it as a scrub is a way to go through your lotions faster. 

Here are some sites I found with some nice recipes: http://tipnut.com/homemade-sugar-scrub-recipes/

and http://naturalnailcarerecipes.homestead.com/handscrubs.html

If you want to jar some Sugar Foot Scrubs as gifts, here is a page I found that gives ideas about extending shelf life for your products. http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/library/preservatives.asp

One of the ingredients that extends shelf like is Rosemary oil extract.

Doesn't that look like a neat idea for a gift? 

Enjoy!!

Sonia

Do-It-Yourself Farmhouse Style Bench

A bit of an unusual post but I thought many of you may enjoy and perhaps try to make this simple bench. I have two of them now. I love benches and they come in very handy. I use one in the dining room and other as a "coffee table" in my living room. 

What you will need

Tools:

Miter Saw or Table Saw

Drill and 9/64 drill bit

Phillips head screw driver (X)

Clamps

Cutting list:

2 { 1 x 5's } cut at 42 inches length for the top

4 { 1.5 x 3.5's } cut at 16.5 inches length for the legs

2 { 1.5 x 5.5's } cut at 8 inches length for side bridges

1 { 1.5 x 3.5 } cut at 34 inches for length support

Other supplies:

Wood glue

3 inches exteriors screws for legs

2.5 inches screws for top

(Most of these items I had at hand and I wanted to use what I had.)

How To

(Click on images to enlarge)

Image #1 - Start by building the legs using two cut pieces for legs and one cut piece of side bridge. First gluing pieces, then secure in place with clamps.
Image #2 - Using the drill, make holes for screws.
Image #3- Then screw legs to bridge together. repeat steps to build legs for other side of the bench.
Image #4 - Mark the center of the inner part of the side bridge and using glue and screws attach the bottom support.

Images #5,6 - Center the two top parts on top of your bench and fasten using glue and screws to the finished leg part of your bench.

I am not very good at explaining parts and process but I made sure to photograph each step to give a better idea of what I did. Hope you find them helpful enough.

Like I said, I have two of these benches. One I finished using a wood applique I bought from Lowe's, nailed to the bridge. Then I painted the entire bench in White, Egg shell paint and roughly sanded and beat it up a bit.

And there you have it. *Smile*

I'm grinning big, I'm actually enjoying building stuff. Its my new found love to power tools and building stuff. My next project is a storage bench for toys.

 Here's two flower boxes that I built and got me going on my new hobby.
Tutorial found here:
http://creatingvintagecharm.blogspot.com/2014/06/do-it-yourself-vintage-style-tool-box.html

 I hope you are inspired by this How-To and get to building one.

Until next time...

Ciao cari amichi!

Sonia