Giving Life to Crumpled Christmas Gift Bows



A Crumpled Bow in Disguise



As I was wrapping my Christmas gifts last night and was thinking about sharing a great technique for disguising some of the less desirable package bows, I realized that I haven't blogged since October!  So I'm sorry if you were looking for a November and December posting.  Here is December's last minute posting and I'll try to make up for November when I find time during this busy season.  (Not that any of you probably follow this blog.)



Some Crumpled Bows I Found this Year



It never fails.  You pull out the Christmas wrappings from last year to see what you can salvage to use this year and you find many of those store-bought Christmas bows crumpled and ugly.  Whether they started out that way or became disfigured when you stuffed them away is beside the point.  Don't waste time pointing fingers.  These bows are not something you want to put on any one's present but you've already spent good money to buy them.  So what do you do?  Throw them away and eat the cost?  No way.



Here's how you can breathe some life into those bows.  (This is something I learned from my sister, although I think she just did it because it is pretty!)  Take some coordinating pieces of curling ribbon or other Christmas ribbon that can be curled and curl it (I use scissors to do this).  String the pieces of ribbon through the loops of your crumpled bow.  It is as simple as that.  You can use a few different colors and types of ribbon to spice it up.  You can add a couple of pieces or a few more, it all depends on your style and how badly the bow is smashed.  This is also a good way to use up those bits of ribbon leftover at the end of the roll.

 

The Finished Product



I decorated the following bow using a thick metallic ribbon.  I curled it first with my scissors and then cut small slits at one end.  Then I pulled the ribbon apart to make thinner, irregular lengths of ribbon to put through my bow.  The finished product is to the left.



Curling the Ribbon with Scissors





Making Slits on the End of the Ribbon





Pulling the Ribbon Apart to Make Thinner Pieces



More Finished Bows

I hope this helps you!  Merry Christmas!



Stay Clean, Reduce Waste, Save Money

How many of you out there like to use disposable sanitizing wipes in your kitchen?  I know I did.  I used to use a wipe every time I prepared raw meat on my kitchen counter.  I wanted to easily make sure that there was no bacteria left that could transfer to other foods I would be working with next.  It was and still is a noble effort.  However, I was throwing away at least one disposable wipe a night and you might be, too.  How wasteful and expensive.  But just this week I've found a way to compromise.  I have decided to stop using those wipes in my kitchen and replace them with a more affordable and reusable system.



This basket under my sink makes these rags quick and handy.



I am using an antibacterial kitchen cleaner and reusable rags.  I have made it as handy and quick as those disposable wipes.  Just grab a rag and the spray-on antibacterial kitchen cleaner from under the sink.  When you're done sanitizing the kitchen, throw the rag into a specific bin or basket (preferably one that can be run through the dishwasher to be sanitized itself) designated for used rags.  When you have time, run the collected rags through the washing machine.  Here are some things I use for rags: old t-shirt pieces, old ratty washcloths,  holey socks, and  pieces of old dishtowels.  These make great rags, cost you nothing, and keep you from throwing them into a landfill.

If you are not ready to stop using disposable wipes, at least try to cut down on your paper towel usage.  You can use the same system to cut back on paper towels.  Instead of reaching for paper towels to clean up spills and handle cleaning tasks, pull a rag from under your sink.  When you are finished, you won't be throwing a piece of paper into a landfill, but a rag into your cleaning bin.  These rags can be easily thrown in with your load of bath towels without taking up a lot of extra space in you washing machine, so you won't need to worry about wasting water.



I keep this small plastic bin next to my garbage can for easy "disposal" of my used rags.



There are many benefits to these systems.  You can achieve the same results, you reduce your waste, and you can save money by not buying expensive disposal sanitizing wipes or paper towels. 

Fun and Useful Magnets

Magnets Before Being Covered

Every once in a while we receive flimsy magnets with advertisements or information on them that we do not need or care about.  They come with our junk mail, in "goody" bags from work, or they get picked up from vendors at fairs, conferences and conventions.  They are too thin and weak to hold anything on to our refrigerators and if they do not have anything important on them, they end up either taking up real estate on the fridge or find their way into our garbage cans. 

Wouldn't it be great if those magnets could be useful?  Well, they can.  With some craft materials, those eyesores bound for the trash, can be recycled into useful, and might I say it, beautiful, pieces of art.

Some Supplies That Can be Used to Cover Magnets



Getting Started:

First, you need to decide what you want your magnet(s) to be used for.  Keep in mind: these magnets will not be strong enough to really hold anything and they can not be decorated too heavily or they will not be able to hold on to a magnetic surface.  Some ideas I have come up with are: dirty/clean dishwasher notices, favorite photographs, small daily chore reminders or reusable lists (with or without check-off boxes, and children's gifts for parents or grandparents.  Let the weight, size and shape of the magnet determine it's use.  Once you've decided your purpose, you can move on to creating.

Once you have decided what you want to create, you'll need to trace the outline of the magnet onto the back of the heavy weight paper, cardstock, or photo you wish to use to cover the magnet with.  Cut out the shape and check it against the actual magnet to make sure it will cover the magnet properly.  If there is a little more paper than necessary, that is okay.  It is better to have more paper than not enough. You do not want the magnet to show on the top edges. 

Next, decorate your cardstock or heavy paper with the design of your choice.  (If you plan to cover your magnet with a photo, obviously you can skip this step.)  I chose to use rubber stamps and colored pencils to create the dirty/clean dishwasher notices below.  You can use any media you like to create words and designs for your magnets.  Tip: If using media such as paints or inks, be sure to allow these to dry before gluing your paper or cardstock to the magnet.

Once you have allowed your magnet cover to dry completely, you can glue it to the magnet.  I prefer to use craft glue, but most types, aside from hot glue, should work well if allowed to dry properly.  I suggest lying a heavy book on the magnet(s) to keep the pieces pressed flat as the glue dries.  When the glue has dried, you may apply a sealant to the top if you wish.  (I used Mod Podge®.)  This will help protect the magnet from slight water damage and give it a nice shiny finish.

Dirty/Clean Signs for My Dishwasher

Reuse Glass Candle Holders

Do you need to organize that makeup drawer?  Do you want your kitchen utensils readily available?  Do you want to save money?  Do you ever burn candles that are manufactured with reusable glass containers?  If so, then you've come to the right place.

Empty Glass Candle Holders

Many candles that we buy in stores come in handy and beautiful glass containers.  But what do we do with the glass container when the candle is gone?  I hope you don't say, "Throw it away," because in today's world and with this economy we can't afford to.  Reusing those old containers is easy and quick.  They make convenient and beautiful drawer organizers,  pencil, jewelery, or utensil holders and much, much more.  Your creativity is the limit.  You can leave them unadorned or add ribbon and other decorations to jazz them up a bit.  I prefer to leave them undecorated and take advantage of their transparent quality so I can see what's inside. 

Makeup Drawer Organizers

It's so easy.  Simply wash and reuse.  If there is a large amount of wax left in the container, let the container and wax cool to room temperature and place in the freezer for a couple of hours.  Note: placing a hot glass container in the freezer may cause the glass to shatter and make a mess for you to clean up.  Remove the container from the freezer and use a knife or other sharp object to break up and remove the wax.  Tip: If you place the point of your sharp object close to the wick and apply pressure downward, you can often split the wax into smaller pieces which are easier to remove.  Once most of the wax is removed, you'll need to wash the glass with soap and hot water.  If you have trouble getting the wax off of the glass, I suggest letting the glass soak for a minute or two in very hot water.  This hot water will actually "lift" the wax off of the glass surface in most cases, leaving only a little bit left for you to scrub off with a typical nonabrasive kitchen scrubber and a little dish soap.  I hope you've enjoyed the tip and take a look at the pictures for more ideas.

Jewerly Holder for Bathroom Sink

Utensil Holder

Utensil Holder with Recycled Ribbon

Ribbon Catch-All

I do not recommend using these containers to hold food.  I'm not sure that it would be safe and I do not accept responsibility for any problem that may result from eating food from a recycled glass candle holder.