IKEA Hack/ Mothers' Day gift idea

I'd forgotten about this IKEA Hack and thought I'd feature it now in case you wanted to steal the idea for a Mothers' Day present.

I bought some Ribba frames years ago and broke the glass in one of them. Rather than throw the frame away (or put it aside where it would sit forever while I got round to getting new glass cut for it) I did the following:

* Removed the mat, leaving just the backing card in place.
* Bought a packet of Home Brand wooden clothes pegs, and stained one with the wenge coloured stain I had on hand.
* Waited for the peg to dry then glued it onto the backing card.
*Clipped on a postcard I'd picked up at an exhibition I went to (originally I'd planned to change the card on a regular basis but Man Ray has been in there for a couple of years and seem to have no plans to move)

The entire project cost under $2 (the cost of the pegs, with enough left over for 11 more frames!)

Even if you bought a frame from the op shop and a test pot to paint the frame and peg with, it shouldn't cost you more than $5 to make.

(Listening to: Fabric 3)

_________________________________________________________________________

Featured on IKEA Hackers in June 2007.

See my other IKEA hacks:

Colouring in fabric (December 2006)

Zippered pouch (December 2006)

Shopping tote (January 2007)

Rationelle coasters (February 2007)

A busy lunch hour (and more IKEA hacking)

V and E came for lunch today, and since V is another of my gluten-intolerant friends I rustled up some fresh tomato soup from my favorite Alison Holst cookbook with (gluten-free) pesto toast to dunk in it. All quite delishimo and frugal: and served up on an IKEA hack I'd forgotten about until now.

I bought a roll of IKEA Rationell drawer mat a couple of years ago for $9.95 (much prefer the US price!), cut it into placemat-sized pieces and rounded the corners by drawing (and then cutting) round a five-cent piece. Having done that I discovered there was enough mat down the side to make a set of matching coasters:Here's a view of the coaster and the edges - all displayed , serendipitously, on my other ancient IKEA hack.

I wanted a coffee table on wheels with a shelf underneath but everything that fitted one or other of those requirements was far too large and/ or far too expensive.

Then I spotted the Eneby TV trolley for $129. Perfect size, had the shelf I needed (and the wheels) but was very.... white. And clinical looking.

I soon fixed that - before I put it together I sent the top and bottom shelves off to the powder coater and $30 later I had possibly the world's only black Eneby TV trolley. Which is still looking great and is going strong 4 years later with only an occasional wipe with a damp cloth.

(Speaking of an occasional wipe with a damp cloth - that's all the placemats need as well. I did originally plan to make some extra sets as presents but then I realised I didn't know too many people who would appreciate a set of 2001: a Space Odyssey placemats!)

And I almost forgot - not only did V & E come for lunch, but the vet turned up in the middle (half an hour early) to de-worm, vacinate and do Nibbs' yearly check up.

Yep, now I'm working at home I don't have to stuff The Fluffmeister into a cat carrier, so we're back to more civilised veterinary house calls. God I love Canberra sometimes...
(Listening to: Sola Rosa, Entrance to skyway)

_________________________________________________________________________

Featured on IKEA Hackers in March 2007.

See my other IKEA hacks:

Colouring in fabric (December 2006)

Zippered pouch (December 2006)

Shopping tote (January 2007)

Peg frame (May 2007)

It's in the Bag (with apologies to Selwyn Toogood)

Finished (finally!): The IKEA bag to go with the pouch I made for Duchess N of Mosmania. (Yes, I know it's not Friday but I'm away in Sydney this (long) weekend so let's pretend and call it Wow! It's done Wednesday or something.)

And the pile is looking rather a lot smaller, I'm pleased to say.

I'm seriously considering making some bags to sell but I need your input. eBay, Etsy or a good old fashioned market stall (preferably somewhere like Mosman where they're rolling in dosh)? Opinions, please!

(Listening to: Evermore, Real Life)

_________________________________________________________________________

Featured on IKEA Hackers in February 2007.

See my other IKEA hacks:

Colouring in fabric (December 2006)

Zippered pouch (December 2006)

Rationelle coasters (February 2007)

Peg frame (May 2007)

The weekend passed in a bit of a creative frenzy

I've been in a state of longing since I spied Little Birds' button wreath. Not for the wreath per se, but for a hot glue gun to make the wreath with (I must be about the only person in the crafting world not to own one).

After a three day cooldown period I woke up this morning and decided I could justify a trip down to the Canberra Centre to have a look at glue guns as I also needed a couple of other crafty things for the stuff I'm working on for Christmas.

And there, at Hot Dollar was a white glue gun which was just perfect (we'll ignore the fact I could have got a blue one for $2 less, shall we?) I'm feeling fulfilled. If only it was that easy all the time.

I've had a very full-on crafty weekend all round really. Sent a list of what I managed to do yesterday to Raven-haired Sis and she replied:

"You are a busy bee!

I hope you have a good day today. Remember to breathe..... ;)

I would suggest a walk in the park to decraft for a bit, but knowing you it may go like this: ........ you'll find some interesting leaves....oh that could look good laminated.....oh ....in a picture frame....um with....oh ,twigs inside....oh....and some of that autumn mohair from that op shop in it...yes yes , brilliant!!!!

Oh look... pine cones!.....hey a christmas tree made soley of pine cones painted black and white, great!! But first I need to get to a craft shop and buy that laminater and spray paint.........

Hee hee, I know you so well - LOL!"

Gulp! She does indeed, and here I was thinking that it sounded like a good idea. A little stroll through Glebe Park to calm me after the horror of the mall in December.

But I went to the mall early, parked on the street (where most people seem to forget you can park on Sundays) and was in and out of Hot Dollar with nary a hair out of place and a sizable bag of craft supplies for $30 (including the object of my affection pictured above)

So what have I been producing? Some things I can't show you for obvious Christmassy reasons but I can show you the following (in order of creation):

Thanks to Twelve22 I seem to have (almost) mastered the zippered pouch:Now I'm wondering if I should colour in some more fabric and make a matching bag to make the gift more substantial...

Speaking of bags, remember this? Today I made a big sister for it which, unfortunately, won't be staying here but will be heading to Brisbane in time for Christmas. I get to share the photo as the lovely Karla knows she's getting it.
I decided on a larger version as the little one, though cute, is rather impractical for anything other than the standard wallet/ keys/ hanky/ phone/ makeup. And I made the straps longer so it can be worn over the shoulder if necessary.On a creative rolls, I moved on to the button wreath (I wouldn't let myself play with the glue gun til I'd finished the bag which has been on my To Do list for weeks. And weeks. And... you get the idea!)I can see things I would have done better now I've had some experience but it's definitely good enough to hang on the front door.Finally I made up some stitch markers from some bits and bobs I picked up at Hot Dollar. These are a gift but I think I'll be making plenty more of them as they are easy peasy lemon squeezy to put together.
And then I collapsed. And realised what an utter shambles the house is after a frenzied weekend of crafting. And how empty my tummy is after being so wrapped up in the creative process that I forgot to eat lunch or dinner. And, pleasingly, how much shorter my Christmas present To Do list is.

In fact I now have all my overseas gifts packed and/ or posted and should have the Australian ones I need to post sorted by the end of this week. I think a glass of wine is in order.

(Listening to: Loop Select 005)
_________________________________________________________________________
Featured on IKEA Hackers in June 2007.

See my other IKEA hacks:
Colouring in fabric (December 2006)

Shopping tote (January 2007)

Rationelle coasters (February 2007)

Peg frame (May 2007)

A random late night post with far too much colour for my liking

If I say I got my mail before 9 am this morning and am only just getting to open it now would that explain the sort of day I've had? And I think it's only going to get worse between now and when I leave for New Zealand as (oddly enough) eBay sales are hotting up pre-Christmas, I have a ton of (self-inflicted) deadlines to get stuff in the post to distant friends for Christmas (and some pre-Christmas birthdays) over the next week or so plus have to arrange rather important stuff like a cat feeder.

Anyway, let's not talk about that. My head appears to remain above water for another day and I'm happy with that!

Here's what I've been up to craft-wise recently:

1. A mystery knitting project destined to become a Christmas present. Made out of some more of this stash, which I seem to have made rather a lot out of recently.
2. Remember this IKEA fabric I bought? I got the urge to embellish it:
and, in true TSS style, have decided the test run is probably good enough to be made into something (probably another Christmas present).Finally, I remembered why Christmas and chocolate don't mix too well in this country. I raided a box of Lindor balls I had set aside for gift giving and discovered this...very very runny balls.

I can't give them away like this can I? So both boxes are now in the fridge awaiting consumption and chocolates are now officially off the gift giving list for this year (like hello! what was I thinking? They would have been in a car for 3 days before they arrived at Christmas Day, let alone two plane trips prior)
(Listening to: Fabric 2)
_________________________________________________________________________
Featured on IKEA Hackers in June 2007.

See my other IKEA hacks:
Zippered pouch (December 2006)

Shopping tote (January 2007)

Rationelle coasters (February 2007)

Peg frame (May 2007)