Sunday, March 1, 2009

Meta Monday with Wine Corks, Pants, Tops, Belts, and Jewelry...Working With What You Have!

Welcome to Meta Monday!
A few quick tips on using what you have to recreate something new!
First, on my very first Tablescape Thursday I transformed some brooches I have to napkin rings.
A few people asked me how I did that, so please watch carefully while I show you...
Fold a napkin into a triangle first, then lift both angles up to the top,
you'll then flip over so this is the back.
I'm converting two pieces of jewelry into a napkin ring.
This is a bracelet, with a brooch clasped on.
I've slipped the stretch bling~bling bracelet up over napkin
I simply clasped the pin over the bracelet ~ Voila, a very classy napkin ring!
This napkin ring was cut from the hem of this black velvet dress I no longer wear.,
I simply pinned my Paris Brooch on to the velvet strip after I wrapped it around the napkin. This slips easily on and off.
Now for the pants., YEP, I'm cuttin up pants I no longer wear again! ;)
Cut the strip wide enough so you can tri-fold to avoid raw edges ~
This is a "no sew" project, my favorite kind!
Take the tri-fold fabric, lay under napkin as such...
Simply fold to the top like so...
Pin your favorite brooch through the fabric to hold in place.
Now, I'm cutting up my tops too! Drats...but, it's too tiny!
Scissors please, this will hurt me much more than it's going to hurt you! ;)
This is one of my favorite napkin rings! I cut the sleeve off, folded the rough edge inside, I did a little twist once before I slipped it up the napkin, I think this is every bit as classy as the bling bling bracelet and brooch., and I can probably get enough from this top to do 6. Again, no sewing. If you'd like, you could probably use a fabric glue., however, I think it would be a great way to show & tell your garden club gals how they could make these at home. (women love to learn new ideas) ;)
Simple Black Neck Roll Pillow
I jazzed it up with a long scarf I never wear...
Save your wine corks...
Cut bottom side of cork off with sharp knife so it can lay on its side nicely. Once you do that, you are going to score about 1/4" down to hold a name place card for dinner place setting. (be careful, please)
This is the end result! Do you like the place cards I made using my buttons & baubles I collect? I took some fancy photos of them & my ivory ostrich feather fan together and then printed my guests names on the photo with a software program. They were a hit with the guests!
Belts that are too small for my waist any longer (Sigh)
A pillow that I no longer use like this...
A lovely silk Adrienne Vittadini scarf I never wear...Lay in shape as seen
Lay pillow as such...
Tie two corners together in a knot in center of pillow...
Tie other two ends together like so...
Voila...
Now I use my pillow with the tied look above, but then today I realized I had two belts I no longer wear and decided to try another twist., for when I want to change the look up some. Simply turn pillow over with knot on the back like this...
This belt holds together with Velcros on the back, and it fits like a little glove!
This belt has a buckle and has colored jewels, It's very classy!
This is made from three items: an animal print place mat from Bed, Bath, & Beyond cut to fit one of my wood trays, and one of my scarves
The place mat is cut nicely to fit as so...lay the scarf underneath and bring to the top to tie
Voila~ And, here's my completed tray
~Francais et Chic~
The picture is of my grandson Tyler when he was just six months old. I took this pic on my bed with the animal print pillow he's holding. He's a cutie patootie!
I love being thrifty ( a former Girl Scout, ya know) and using what I have to recreate an item to enjoy in my home. I constantly find myself walking around looking at a perfectly normal item and wonder what in the world I can make it into... ;)
Well...head on over to Susan's from "Between Naps On The Porch"
to catch all the other Meta Monday projects!
Have a GREAT week!
~CC Catherine

39 comments:

♥Mimi♥ said...

How adorable! I just l♥ve the ingenuity in your projects! Now I'm going to have to check out my unused jewelry and scarves! Cool!

susan said...

Wow! I think I need to go get that Goodwill bag out the closet! Youare very creative--thanks for the ideas!

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Oh Catherine I loved all of these clever uses you have here...I also love to shop my house and see what I can come up with..love those napkin rings and that pillow...you are just great..hope you have a great MONDAY...hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

SILVER said...

my heart leapt a beat.. this is incredibly beautiful .. how you could put and pull all this together! Genius!

I'm going to do the next post for you, my lady.. with the pound cake recipe in - with full details ok!

(i may take a little more extra time cos i've got some errands to run..)

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

CC,
There are so many great ideas here and its so cool that you took us step by step. The napkin ring idea was my fave, just love all the bling! How neat that your a Grandma but I would have never guessed you were old enought. Cindy

Anonymous said...

I learn something new everyday about you CC.
You are so darn creative. Who would ever think (well not me) to cut up my old clothes or use my old belts.. What a nice Met Monday surprise.
Have a great time with all the girls. Say hi to everyone and drive carefully. You said you had SNOW!!!
Love Ya
Claudie
xoxoxo

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Wow, Catherine...this was like 10 Met Mondays in one...I loved it! You are sooo creative! Great ideas...love the placecards and the brooch napkin rings! Susan

Kathy said...

Catherine, you are just so clever! I love all of the ideas you've shown us today. The napkin rings are gorgeous - I love anything with a little sparkle and bling, so the first one you demonstrated with the bracelet and pin was my favorite. I must say that it hurt me to see you cutting up that beautiful white top, but the finished effect was beautiful!

Great post, Catherine!
Kathy

Anonymous said...

Thanks for voting up chair #2 over at Fifi's (it won)! Do you want to see the entire room? It's posted on my site here:
http://www.completely-coastal.com/2009/01/nautical-wallpaper.html
Cheers!

Ldy ~~ Dy said...

Okay...I was fascinated with each creation. It's amazing how you recreated each item into something even better! Wow!! That scarf/pillow transformation...I'm looking through the scarves I have (some of them very vintage)and I want to see what I can come up with! Thanks for the inspirations!

Kat said...

What great, creative ideas! Very clever, and I especially love the napkin rings. Kathy

Jewel Sauls said...

That was one of the most creative posts I've read! Love all the recycling touches you have shared! :D Jewel

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

You are so smart and make it look so easy, but there is a definite eye and a knack to that. Well done, girl! Linda

preppyplayer said...

Wow, I am impressed and inspired.
Do you think I will have the same results with tennis and platform tennis clothes? :)
I see a lovely fleece and lycra theme! LOL
Seriously, I do have a lot of broken costume jewelry that may need to be re-imagined.
Love your new background, fits you.

santamaker said...

I am wowed by your resourcefulness! I have used clothing for pillows before, but what a great idea for napkin rings! Who would have thought?!? I love how you think!

Lois Christensen said...

What great ideas!!! Love reusing the pants! And the placecards are adorable! Thanks for sharing!

xinex said...

You have so many neat ideas! Thanks for sharing them...Christine

Anonymous said...

WOW! Great ideas! Thank you for sharing.

Helen said...

How very clever and innovative you are ............

Scribbler said...

What a clever girl you are! I loved your ideas.

Scribbler

Bo said...

Hi Catherine...I was amazed how simple these great transformations were to accomplish...great job of explaining! ;-) Bo

The Raggedy Girl said...

How inspired all this was. I loved every bit of it.

Have a Wonderful Day
from Roberta Anne

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

what creativity..and I just donated a "ton" of things I should have hung to .. I could have repurposed them.. shoot...I'm sure if I look I'll be able to find more things I can use.. I absolutely loved this..
hugs ~lynne~

Linda Q said...

Awww you get the Queen award for the craftiest reuser. Great ideas!
Linda Q

Anonymous said...

Wonderful makeovers, Catherine. Great inspiration!

Anonymous said...

Catherine! You're amazing! Look at all of these wonderful things you've done! I need me some jewelry! :)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Deb said...

Hi CC! What a lovely time we all had today meeting other Georgia bloggers! It is always nice to make new friends.
Never before did I visit your blog, but I love it already. You are very creative, using old pants as napkin rings and wine corks! Who would have thought! Great idea.

Anonymous said...

My goodness.You are just FULL of ideas.Thank you soooo much.I fully intend to use your wonderful ideas...Ann

Sherri said...

Hello CC! It was a pleasure meeting you today. You are too sweet and the little note card was so thoughtful! I can't wait to frame mine. I will place it either in the kitchen or my studio. Such a treat. I love love love all your thrifty projects today! Those are right up my alley. FREE projects and look amazing.

Anonymous said...

WOW Catherine,

Are you talented or what? I would have never thought to cut the legs and arms off of tops and pants that no longer fit...and there are plenty of them in my closet. Great ideas.

Kris

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Well, you are just brilliant! So many good ideas in this post, and I love every one of them. Thanks for all of this inspiration! laurie

Chandy said...

Lovely choice for today's Met Monday! Sorry for the late visit; too many errands...

Carolyn of What Now? Tablescapes

Anonymous said...

It was so nice meeting you. It was tough to get to spend an equal amount with everyone. BUT just gives us another reason to get together again.

We will def have to go junking and shot some photography sometime. I need to convert you over to Canon first! Lol.

Glad you liked the tags. I love the cards. I think you should sell them on Etsy. They're beyond gorgeous! I'm worn out. So it's off to bed for me.

Melissa Miller said...

Hi Catherine,
I do think you have shared some of the neatest ideas ever.

The neckroll and scarf
is so pretty!
~Melissa :)

Alisa Lucas-Brown said...

Hey CC!
Wow! You are creative and imaginative! I love all your thrify ideas! I love all the napkin rings you created. So clever. Of course the braclet and the pin added lots of bling and was my fave! See ya soon! Smiles,
Alisa

Joyce said...

Great ideas you came up with to use what you have! I love it!!

Cass @ That Old House said...

I love using what you have! GREAT ideas for all of us... and I am especially charmed by the wine cork placecard holder. Very sweet!
Cass

Finding Grace, Going Mobile said...

My goodness,
Those place cards were extraordinary. How ingenious. Perfect for scrapbooking the event afterwards. T'would be great for brides books. Lovely, just lovely.
You really turned my head with that one.
Thank you,
Theresa @ Cottage Violets

Anonymous said...

It was so much fun to meet you today and all the other talented and creative lades. Hope we get to do this again so that I can spend more time speaking with you. I am so motivated to start my own blog now. Thank you again for the BEAUTIFUL card...I love it.