Upcycling YOU can do - Part 2 of 4 - Pencil Holder

Upcycling YOU can do 

Part 2 of 4

Upcycling isn't just about saving the earth. 

It is also about saving money and making your home look nicer with things you made! 

In this 4 part series, I will give you DIY instructions for 5 different upcycling crafts for your home.



Food Cans ---> Pencil Holder

Most crafters have made a pencil holder or two in their day.
But today I am going to show you how to make one that is a little bit different.
This pencil holder takes 2 cans, one large and one small.
I wanted a pencil can that you could keep your pens separated from your pencils.

Supplies needed are:

Large aluminum can

Small aluminum can

scissors

pencil

hot glue gun

ruler

tacky glue or other strong glue

Use your ruler to measure the size of the label on the large can.
Glue it with your tacky glue, right to the label already on the can.

Now that you have made the big can pretty, on to the little one.
The great thing is you don't have to do anything to it!
Put several rings of hot glue on the bottom of the small can.
Place it into the center inside of the bigger can.
Like this...

Now all you have to do is fill it. I made this for my boys to have in their room.
It is filled with pencils and has a few pens, highlighters and rulers.

As you can see, the inside can creates a nice small space to put your pens and highlighters.
I also placed a few small rulers in that gap. 

Here is the finished product, sitting in my boy's room!
What ya think? Do you use pencil cans?

I hope you are enjoying this Upcylcing YOU can do series.
Please leave me a comment below, share and pin!

Later,
Erin 

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Life's Up's and Down's

You know those times when it seems like there has been a series of bad events, one right after another? When you just wanna say "What else can go wrong?". That is where I am right now. For the past several months things just want to go wrong, one right after another. I know what you might be thinking, that this post is going to be a big whoa as me story. Well, guess again. I wanted to share with you what I do when I start feeling 'poor me'. 

People get through tough things differently. I pray and talk to God and He gives me peace. Also I talk with friends and get advice and just plain ole' vent. One of the quick pick me ups that I use most, other than relying on God, is crafts! Specifically, paper crafts. I really enjoy paper crafts!!!!!!!!!

Today was a rough day. It was full of tough situations and decisions. So this evening I set down to create a paper craft. Not only did I want it to be pretty, I wanted it to be inspiring. Truly, I feel that I accomplished that. Here is the finished product.

I created this from a page out of an old photography book. That inspired me to create a scene with two different stamps that I own. A camera and a film strip/negative strip. Before I created my little painting, I drew and stamped it out just like I would on the final paper, only on scrap paper. Once I was satisfied with that, on to making the actual artwork.

The first step was to stamp on my images with Stazon ink. This is great! You can stamp on just about anything and once it is dry, it is really hard to remove. After that dried, my pencil and I drew out the camera strap. The white/opaque background was created with white acrylic paint. Starting with a thin layer and then adding more as you need, you can recreate this too. Last but not least was the lettering.

From searching on Google, this quote was found. I don't know who originally wrote it, but I felt that it really fit my project and my current events in my life. So I grabbed a sharpie and got to work. 

Do you do any mixed media art? What do you usually use? Is it simple or intricate?

Please leave me a comment below. Share and subscribe!!

Later,

Erin 

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Upcycling YOU can do

Upcycling YOU can do 

Part 1 of 4

Upcycling isn't just about saving the earth. 

It is also about saving money and making your home look nicer with things you made! 

In this 4 part series, I will give you DIY instructions for 5 different upcycling crafts for your home. 

Baby Shampoo Bottle  --> Decorative Q-tip Holder

I can't stand seeing that ugly Q-tip box. So as the movie Robots says "See a need. Fill a need." 

Looking around I spotted the almost empty Baby Shampoo Bottle. 

That was when I had my 'A-ha!' moment. So here goes nothing. 

First things first, find yourself a Baby Shampoo Bottle. Empty would be preferable.
Mine was almost empty, so I was good to go.
(The one in the photo isn't empty as you can see. That isn't the one I used.)

Your next step is to draw out an oval. I drew my oval out on paper first. Next I traced it onto the bottle with a dry erase marker. Didn't want ugly sharpie marks left behind! 

The great thing about dry erase marker is that it comes off plastic surfaces with just a wipe. 

With an Xacto knife, carefully cut out the oval shape. 

Don't worry about being precise, you will melt the edges later.

This next part should be done with a candle/fireplace lighter.
I find  that you have better control with a long lighter than a short regular lighter.
Plus your less likely to burn your fingers if the metal part gets hot.

Here comes the fun part! I used washi tape to decorate my bottle.
You could use whatever you have on hand. Sharpie markers or even acrylic paint would work.

Last but not least, take it to your bathroom and arrange your things to add in your beautiful creation!

The great thing about this holder is it can lay down or stand up, whichever you prefer.

I hope you have enjoyed this Upcycle. Do you think you would use this? 

My bathroom looks so much better with it.

Next week I will publish Part 2 of Upcycling YOU can do!

Later,

Erin 

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