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