Fun with a book!

My dad is an avid reader. He goes through times that he reads almost a book a day. That said, you can't just buy him a book for his birthday or a holiday. The other day I was in the Goodwill store and they where having a great sale on their books. 5 for $1.00. I picked up a book for my dad...sure enough, he had read it.
So, what to do with a book he had already read that was a great deal?

Have any of you ever watched the movie "The Shawshank Redemption"? Remember what was hidden in the bible? Yeah, I got that idea.

I decided to keep some pages free at the beginning of the book and use the rest to make a secret compartment. First I put a piece of wax paper after my last page of "free" section and after real last page (in front of the back cover). I then used my  mod podge to glue the pages between the wax paper together. After you apply one coat, let it dry with other books or something heavy sitting on top of it. This will insure the pages are pushed together while they dry. Add a second or third coat. Then you can begin to carve out the inside. Let me just say that this is not any fun. I have kept all the page pieces to use on other project as well.

Once I finish carving out the inside, I will mod podge the inside. I will use sand paper to make sure the sides are smooth. I might even paint the inside with acrylic paint just for a "pop."

I will show you some of the other crafts that have come out of this project!

I have two days a week that both kids are in a program at church. Yay for me time!!

Thanks for coming by,

New Stuff I Have Done

When I came across this tutorial for Clothespin Dolls, I was in love. (Thank you Going Sew Crazy for the tutorial!)  I think these will be really cute as a take home for my daughter's birthday party coming up in mid June. I plan to put a little candy in their "hands" or maybe a "thank you for coming" note.

I picked up a jewelry box from goodwill for $3.00 the other day. There was not really anything wrong with it, but I wanted to give it an "adult" update. I need to add the ribbon around the front and bottom to be done. I am really happy about how it has turned out.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Like always, I have more stuff I am working on.

Thanks for coming by!

Arts and Crafts part 2

I am really trying to be a "crafty" person. I have all these ideas running around in my head and I really need an outlet. Also, I need to put some energy into something other than my kids. I need something for me. So periodically, you will see a post that says "arts and crafts." This is when I show off my hard work.

The same day I bought the desk caddy at Goodwill, I also picked up this display case. It was very dirty and the color was "smoker yellow." For those who do not know, that is the color things turn when they live with a smoker. It was only $5 so I picked it up. Not at all too sure why.

So here are some before pictures:







It took me about a week to get working on it. I cleaned it up. Painted it white. Then found some really cute paper to Mod Podge. I also changed the little handle on it. With the limited time I had to work on it, it took me a couple of weeks. I think it turned out really cute.

Here are the after:

I do, like always, have a couple of other things I am working on and will post those as soon as I finish. With two kids and a husband, this could be a while.

Arts and Crafts

I have always been the kind of person that is doing crafts. At one point I was really into making jewelry. Having my son put a stop to that.

I have since taken up, well, I'm not sure what to call it. I like paper crafts and have discovered the joy of mod podge.

At the Goodwill store I came across a desk caddy I really liked, but it was ugly. So I ran to Walmart to purchase some spray paint, hoping to redo it. When I started, I failed to notice that the regulator was missing from the nozel. So my paint job has bubbles. I could redo it, but who has that kind of time. Maybe later.

Lesson Learned: check your spray paint before you use it.

After and Before: sorry for the order