Ikea Hack for Kids Artwork

When the morning sun hits just right, it’s usually a welcome sight—unless you’re in the middle of a serious card game. To block the glare without breaking the bank, many DIYers turn to the

IKEA SCHOTTIS pleated blind

, an inexpensive and versatile staple often used for temporary or custom window solutions. These paper-like blinds are famous for being easy to cut to size with regular scissors and attach quickly with a built-in adhesive strip, making them the perfect "blank canvas" for a creative home hack.

This particular project turned a simple functional fix into a sentimental masterpiece by involving the grandkids. Using the pleated surface as a giant scroll, the boys filled the entire blind with colorful doodles and art. It transformed a basic white window covering into a fantastic gallery of family memories. Now, every morning when the blinds go down to keep the sun off the cards, they reveal a beautiful, hand-drawn masterpiece that makes the daily game even more special.

Christmas in October?

A fun family day with lots of laughs and great food!!

Have a look at all the chaos!

 

Hope you can get together with family and friends and have your own great day!

Check out Earl....He's, well, you know!

Cheers

Creating a Beaded Christmas Bulb Spider

As easy as watching a Youtube video!

OR

24 of these beads used

                                                                                 

After cutting the end off, curl wire around plier to hold beads on.

Add glitter and Pose your spider.

instagram

youtube

Finishing the wire wrap with glitter is the perfect way to present these beauties.

Cheers!

How To Make Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur With Two Ingredients

This is a quick and easy recipe.

I won't even make you scroll to the bottom of the page!

 

1/3 CUP  RYE or WHISKEY 

2/3 CUP BAILEYS IRISH CREAMER

 

Yep that's it!

Grab yourself a bottle of rye or whiskey,

 cheap works great. 

 Add any brand of Irish Cream creamer.   

I use a swing top bottle from IKEA. 

  Fill  1/3  rye and 2/3 creamer.  

  For a milder liqueur you can use

 a ratio of 1/4 rye to 3/4 creamer

. and for something

 with a bit of zip, use a half - half ratio.

This recipe works great with other flavors. 

 You can use vodka, rum, bourbon, rye, or

 whiskey as your base liquor.  Whatever your taste! 

 I have experimented using Maple Latte, French Vanilla, 

 Hazelnut, and  the latest, Caramel Macchiato.

 I prefer vodka as my base, except for the Bailey's Irish Cream.  

People tend to like it with rye.

  Mix a sample glass or five until you get it right, or fall down, 

whichever happens first!

 

 

 

For parties, you can use individual creamers.

 Let your guests make their own by setting up

 a self serve shot station.

It's a good way to sample different flavors before 

committing to a large bottle.

 

Makes great Christmas🎅 and Birthday🎁 Gifts.   

Happy Party.

Cheers!

 

Seashell Mirror

Unfortunately I had an accident. 

 While carrying  my newly purchased mirror into the house, 

I broke it.😢

 I must mention this wasn't my first attempt at hiding

 the large break. but every time I looked

 in the mirror, all I could see were wrinkles. 😣

I was on Pinterest one evening and saw a gorgeous STUNNING shell mirror, 

 WOW it was only......ELEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS

so......

With eleven bucks,and seven years bad luck,    

 my attempt at recreating the lovely work of art began.  

 

With some dollar store shells added to my own collection, I present to you,

 The New Wrinkle Hiding Beach Loving Looking Glass!!!

 

Not stunning, but not eleven grand either.

It won't be the easiest thing to clean but I'm sure it will hide the wrinkles.....😣

Nope it doesn't do that either.

 

 Cheers

Turtles Crossed With MacKenzie-Childs = Christmas Gifts!

A plethora of turtles..

Also known as a BALE...that's what Google says.

This project was inspired by my love of the ever whimsical 

MacKenzie-Childs...https://www.mackenzie-childs.com/ 

and a Youtube video Turtle Soup!!

She is a very amazing artist!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22Y0GxQ5Pxo

If you put them together you get this.

Most of this project was created from scraps and used materials including some antique beads.

The scrap boards were jointed, planed and cut into desired lengths.  The frames were assembled with pocket screws.  A router was used to create a recess for the mirror.

Wood filler applied, sanded, and base coated with white acrylic paint.  Then the tedious task begins.  

The first one was pretty much hand measured and painted.  The next two were masked off and then painted.  It took two rounds of masking but was much easier to paint.  I did the first in black and white, 

the second in navy blue and white and the third in green and white.

Approx. 50 of these little swimmers were manufactured.  Some went into frames and others became
 fridge magnets.  No turtles were harmed or discarded in the process.

Antiquing was done using oil based burnt umber paint and a rag.  After each frame was dry, 

it was clear coated with an acrylic based polyurethane sealer.

A large old mirror was salvaged and cut to fit the openings.

Turtles, crystals, and numerous other beads were  threaded onto a 22 gauge wire. Each strand was 

attached to the frame using eye screws.  

Hope you are all staying healthy!

Cheers.