Let's Play - Wardrobe Door Makeover

Morning all,

The next step in doing the boys room has been completed. Not only did they approve, I had their eyes lit up and got some rather odd comments - sadly my ability to understand teenage boys was a skill I left behind in High School. The doors according to them are "Sick!" and they are "Stoked" - I can see that all that English homework is really paying off...

So the doors were very shabby, I looked into replacing them but when I toyed with the idea of spending close to $200 on new doors, which will look just as shabby when they boys are finished with them, I decided it wasn't a good investment.

Then I was cleaning up the Xbox games and I just started looking at the case and bingo, how about I make them into game covers.

So if you remember way back last year when I made these for my boys based on their favorite game Skyrim

I checked if this was still the game of choice, they decided that they wanted 2 of the Elder Scroll games and even though it's only a pc game they wanted Guild Wars 2, so that's what I did.

The best part is, these games are all based on ancient times and the nicks and scratches only enhanced the finished look (Score one for Mum!)

After cleaning the wardrobes I decided that I needed a warning on each door - my joke on them!

DIY Delight or Disaster? Searching for 5 different fonts, fiddly weeding not to mention "tips and hints" from the boys to get to say Delight. My boys love this, I am currently the coolest Mum going...that will change quickly I'm sure! The photos are really disappointing that room is so dark, lighting is a huge issue in there.

While I think this is only something that would be coveted by other gamers, what do you think?

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Glitter Washers

Morning all,

In my desperation to do something in the heat, that wasn't going to have me leaving me in pools of sweat I thought I'd try my hand at a few of those fun crafts that include lots of drying time.

So you know all those pendants made from washers? I'm kind of obsessed with them. Nat over at Northshore Days inspired me to make some.

Instead of using paper I decided I needed to use glitter because I have an addiction. Not sure if its the sparkles or how attractive my husband looks as he desperately tries to vacuum up the stuff that seems to sprinkle from me wherever I roam. He really loves glitter (I also may be lying)

Supplies:

• Washer
• Mod Podge
•  Fine Glitter, Amethyst
• Mod Podge Dimensional Magic
• Pendant Bail
• Necklace
• Superglue

Coat the washer with modpodge and smother it in glitter, and allow to dry and shake off the excess.

Very carefully apply the dimensional magic and allow to dry - it will dry clear even though it looks cloudy

Glue the bail on and put it on the necklace.

DIY Delight or Disaster? Oh please it's glitter! Delight. Move over bottle caps, Melly has a new love - and needs to slap herself for referring to herself in the third person and calling herself Melly.

Thanks for reading my heat induced ramblings.

Mel xo

Inspiration Cafe - DIY Framed Monograms

Mary from Sweet Little Bluebird is at Inspiration Cafe 

today sharing a quick and easy home decor craft...

DIY FRAMED MONOGRAMS

Head over to the Cafe to check out her great share!

 If you would like to guest post at the Inspiration Cafe, we'd love for 

you to let one of us know, or go HERE to our submissions page.

If you've never written a guest post before, that's OK, we're happy 

to teach you how with this easy step-by-step tutorial HERE.  It's easier 

than you might think and a great way to get exposure for your blog!

This Is Me - My Reflection

Morning All,

I can't believe month two has rolled around so quickly, for those that don't know I have joined Amy of While Wearing Heels, in a year long project of self portraits. Unlike the Facebook "selfie," duck face is completely optional.

This month the task was a photo of our reflection, which firstly had me cursing her, not because of the task, but because I had the song "Reflections of me" stuck in my head every time I thought about what I was going to do.

I debated about what I would do and decided my reflections should also "reflect" something about me.

So here I am in wine cabinet, love me a glass of wine. Friday nights when the working week is done and the kids are in bed it's time for a nice glass of wine.

Then to say I spend a bit of time surfing all your lovely blogs would be an understatement  here is my reflection in the iPad. Which clearly need a good clean! 

So as you can see I clearly run very deep, wine and the internet. I can say I loved this month because it did actually make me reflect on who I am. I wish the pictures were of me in front of the mirrors at the gym, but this is who I am....and that's okay.

Tomorrow the rest of the gang will be linking up over at While Wearing Heels, why not come over, take a look and join in next month.

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Ruffle lace scarf

Morning All,

The awesome folks at Wholeport sent me some of their beautiful lace. Not being a sewer of clothes I was a little unsure as to what I was going to do with it. I was cursing the fact I could knit but not really sew, and thought I wish I could knit this. That lead me to thinking about fabric yarn so I thought hmm maybe I can.

Here's how I made it.

Supplies 

1 Yard of lace  - found here

rotary cutter / mat

large quilting ruler

size 2.5mm knitting needles

very sharp scissors

an overlocker (serger) 

Cut into approx 7.5 cm strips (2.5 inches) but don't be too concerned if they don't all match up that's the fun of the ruffles

Join strips together with an over locker (serger)

Over lock one side of the lace

Then cut a hole big enough to fit the knitting needle though at around two inches apart, on the side that was not serged (overlocked) - I eyeballed this again the ruffles are forgiving.

This knits up in the same manner as my yarn ruffle scarf using the same pattern

Just keep going until the length suits you. The prep work is the longest part, it knits up very quickly.

There she is.

You can also dress it up or down with some pretty accessories

Ahhh romantic ruffly goodness!

Wholeport has a huge selection of lace and lace trims, you can see them all here.

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Be Delighted Every Day, Follow Mellywood's Mansion!

Bottle cap watch

Morning All,

Just when I though I was done with my bottle caps for a while, the team at Wholeport sent me some papers to play with. As you know I have been trying to come up with ways to use my beloved bottle caps for something more than a simple pendant.

 So when I saw this beautiful Japanese paper, which you can find here I knew I had to get the caps back out. Isn't it gorgeous!

I basically made it the exact same way as my Valentine Bracelet only I added a watch face. Oh I am in love with this it really is just so pretty. If blue is not your colour, checkout the rest of the Japanese papers over at Wholeport, the cotton paper has such a beautiful feel to it it is so very different to any other paper I have felt before.

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Linking to all these great places

Inspiration Cafe - Upcycled Dresser to TV Cabinet

Nat from NorthShore Days is at Inspiration Cafe today, she and her hubby upcycled an old dresser into a modern functional TV cabinet...

 The whole corner of the room has opened right up and it looks so spacious, modern and clean. 

Nat is also loving all the extra natural light too.

Click here to read more...

 

 If you would like to guest post at the Inspiration Cafe, we'd love for you to let one of us know, or go HERE to our submissions page.
If you've never written a guest post before, that's OK, we're happy to teach you how with this easy step-by-step tutorial HERE.  It's easier than you might think and a great way to get exposure for your blog!

Thrifty Finds or Junk??

Howdy,

So I was really excited, I rarely go out shopping for second hand goods mainly because I don't like taking the kids. However I did recently go and I found these I was thrilled, Julian not so much. The garage may be a little out of hand at the moment. So I need some help.

 The chairs, well I'm all good with these $1.99 each they just need to be stripped and painted. I actually needed these so these were a great find.

The wine rack $5.99, I just loved it when I saw it, I know it can be something (other than a wine rack) but I am not sure what. If you've seen any cool ideas leave me a link, pretty please! 

I have a bread box but I want to use this as storage, I haven't decided whether it will go in the kitchen or the craft room. Again if you have seen any bread box posts, leave me a link.  have been googling but I'm still not sure.

Anyway, I still love my finds but for the sake of Julian's sanity I really need to start doing something with my huge pile of stuff in the garage.

What are you hoarding?

Mel xo

Valentine Decor

Happy Valentines Day,

Today on this day of love, I have broken down and decorated my wall for Valentines day,

Apparently a couple of bloggers were disputing whether I would cave to bloggy peer pressure.

So Danni, Suzan, check out my vinyl and you can decide whether I caved or not.

As a side note Julian who had no idea I was doing this walks in from work, sees it on the wall and dead pan says, "That's beautiful, you should work for Hallmark" - And that's why I love him!

Happy Valentines Day!

Mel xo

PS - These are blogging friends not randoms who thought they would bully me, it was all in fun!

Bottle cap Necklace - Yeah Another One!

Morning All,

Yep I have been playing with bottle caps again, I love them, they're easy to use, they're cheap but I wanted them to be more than just a pendant. Yesterday I was over at the cafe with my Valentines version.

So i made up my bottle cap beads and played around with them, measured them up on a necklace.

Then I came up with this.

I have done multiple posts on how to make and attach the bottle caps see below, then I added some smaller beads.  

DIY Delight or Disaster? Well it's different but I'm not loving it, I see that they can be more that just a pendant however I'm not sure this layout is doing them a lot of justice. I think it's back to the drawing board.

Here are some projects past projects that I do love, using my bottle caps.

Bottle Cap Advent

10 minute Earrings

                                                        

iPhone case with Matching Earrings

Valentines Day Bracelet

I guess I've found my medium, I truly love my bottle caps, what is your favorite thing to craft with?

Thanks for reading,

Mel xo

Inspiration Cafe - Valentine Bottle Cap Jewellery

Hi All,

Mel from Mellywood's Mansion is over at the Cafe today, sharing a fun Valentine project to give to the little girl in your life. 

Just click the picture of the Cafe below and head on over for a quick, cute and easy project, sure to bring a smile to a special girl.

Inspiration Cafe

 If you would like to guest post at the Inspiration Cafe, we'd love for you to let one of us know, or go HERE to our submissions page.
If you've never written a guest post before, that's OK, we're happy to teach you how with this easy step-by-step tutorial HERE.  It's easier than you might think and a great way to get exposure for you blog!