popcorn tin upcycled.....

 Tutorial reveal.....upcycled popcorn tin! I am in the midst of remodeling my sweet pea's room....oodles to do over the summer months. What better time to offer a few tutorials as I go along. I envisioned a cute metal trash can for my sweet girl's room....as I am trying to reuse and upcycle as many items as possible I didn't want to go out and purchase a new metal trash can....so alas an idea was born. I knew my mother had a few of these popcorn tins in her storage room.....so I thought about recovering one in some fanciful fabric. The tin was originally a snowman theme...so I spray painted it with a white primer to not allow any of the old theme to show through my fabric cover. Next I picked a pretty floral pattern I knew she would love. I cut the fabric to fit the tin...which was 9 inches tall and 28 inches around. I cut the fabric a little wider and longer to allow for a pressed seam so that I would not have any fraying edges to show.

I originally was going to use double sided tape...alas I didn't have any. I decided on my tried and true Modge Podge glue....which I am happy to say worked like a charm. I just dipped my fingers in and started slathering away with glue little by little as I tightly layed the measured fabric along the tin until I reach the end. Make sure to wrap your fabric tightly as to get any air bubbles out and the fabric should lay nice and smooth. We recently laid hardwood flooring in her room...so next I was concerned with the trash can scratching her floors.

 I placed 4 felt feet along the bottom of the tin for added peace of mind. Now she has a stylin' new trash can that will add a new look to her room.

 While I was at it....I decided on recovering her mouse pad to match the new trash can. I recovered it a few months ago with this fabric....still lovely...but hey....let's match things up.

 While my fabric was still out I layed it right side down and layed the mouse pad on it facing down. Trace around your mouse pad with a pen and cut your fabric out along your traced markings.

Now again....slather your glue all over the right side of the mouse pad and lay your fabric on top...right side facing up. Smooth out any air bubbles and lay a few heavy books on top until dry. After it is dry you will need to trim any excess fabric and apply clear nail polish or fray check around all your edges so that the fabric won't fray. Viola'.....a new mouse pad and trash can!

sneak peek.....

I have been having a blast redoing my sweet pea's room.....bohemian chic. So.....a new tutorial coming soon....a little sneak peek in the meantime. I will be finishing up the project today...so a tutorial coming very soon!

father....

What can one person say about their father? All I am thinking about today is how much I miss him, love him and think of him every day. Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there who love unconditionally, deeply and to the fullest. Someone once told me "I can't imagine a world existing where my dad doesn't". It has stayed with me in my thoughts....especially today...the first Father's  Day without him.

another year older.....

Ok....I'm not celebrating my 4th birthday this year....but still just as exciting as ever before to be turning another year older. I don't always look forward to birthday's...but this year I am most certainly so thankful for the many blessings in my life.....it's gonna be a good life! 

a clean start......

 Like many people I love being able to cut costs in various ways and making your own liquid laundry soap is one of those ways....and is super duper fun. My sweet pea and I spent one afternoon making our own laundry soap...a perfect project for kiddos this summer....plus it teaches them basic measuring skills as well as economics. The ingredients you will need are:

1 cup washing soda

1/2 cup borax

1 bar of soap

approximately 3 gallons water

You will also need a container....I used a large 5 gallon bucket with a lid from my local hardware store. Something to stir your mixture...I used a long handled wooden spoon Also another large cooking pot to boil water in and melt your bar of soap. Lastly a grater....I used a cheese grater for grating my soap.

 First thing you need to do is boil 4 cups of water in your large pot. While you are waiting for your water to boil you can grate your bar of soap. I used Lever 2000....my husband loves the fragrance. But in the meantime I think it would be nice to use honeysuckle or peony soaps...which can by found in various etsy shops.  Once you have grated your bar of soap you should have a bowl that looks like the picture above. Your water should now be boiling and you should turn your heat down to simmering and add your grated soap to the water.

 Now just continue stirring until your soap is completely dissolved and you have soapy water. This was perfect for my sweet pea to do while I followed through with the next steps.

  You will need to fill your 5 gallon bucket with 3 gallons of warm tap water. Now add your washing soda and borax to the warm tap water in your bucket and stir until dissolved.

 Your soapy water on your stove top should be ready to add to your borax, washing soda and water mixture in your 5 gallon bucket. Stir until everything is completely mixed and cover with a lid or you can use a clear saran wrap of sorts. I left mine in the laundry room for 24 hours to set up. After your have left your soap to set up for the 24 hours your soap can look like a variety of things...from chunky, slimy or watery. Any appearance is fine.....just stir again really well to break up any chunks you might have and break up the mixture. You can certainly use a measuring cup and use right out of the bucket....I prefer to use smaller containers. I saved milk jugs and bleach containers and filled them up with a funnel and a liquid measuring cup. I left each one of my containers with a little room to spare for shaking them up before each use.

Now you have liquid laundry soap to use or give as gifts. When figuring how much money I can save by making my own laundry soap...it was just exciting. Normally I spend about 40-50 cents per load of laundry with my store bought laundry soap. Now I am spending less than a penny per load. The great thing about making and using your own laundry soap are there are no chemicals....so it is great for anyone with sensitive skin, you are saving money AND the liquid soap is perfect for those with HE front load washing machines. Your clothes smell great and are as clean as ever before. Have fun.....spend the day with the kiddos and make some laundry soap!