Upcycled Design Lab Blog

Upcycled Tin Can Lid Table Top Cover Up - Episode 4 of Dogs vs Cats

Hey there, thanks for stopping by. I just wanted to let you know I have a newer blog called Upcycle Design Lab and you can find my newest post there. I hope you enjoy this project and the tales of my furry critters. Be sure to subscribe to never miss an upcycling post. ************************************ It's been awhile since we've had any news from the front. But it probably will not come as a surprise to you that the Dogzilla's have taken a decided lead over the Cat Monsters in the war-torn living room. Most recently they (the Dogzilla's) have chewed... Read more →

5 Minute Simple Scarf to Poncho to Scarf Re-fashion (Wear it 4 different ways)

Hello Friends, Today I have a simple scarf re-fashion. This is not my design I stole it from my nieces who wore theirs to a family gathering. I thought that it was such a lovely idea and I wanted to try it for myself. I really like the asymmetrical way that the scarf hangs when you wear it as a poncho and the versatile way you can still wear it as a scarf. Over the years I have received several of these pretty shawl scarfs and I do like wearing them but they are a little difficult to keep on... Read more →

Upcycled Magazine Paper Catch All Bowls

Greetings from the Lab (aka my kitchen table) This week I am still playing with magazine paper but I have what I think is a slightly more useful project then the woven paper hat. Of course in the end you will have to be the judge. :-) The first step is to cut the magazine paper into uniform strips. Then use a glue stick to paste the ends together in a long strand. I started the "quilling" with a wooden skewer but only used it until the piece was a couple of inches in diameter, after that it just got... Read more →

Not Your Typical Paper Hat - Upcycled Magazine Paper

Remember back in your childhood. Did you ever fold a paper hat out of a piece of news paper or shape a cone hat from bright constructions paper for a birthday party? This is not that kind a paper hat. Those hats you fashioned as an imaginative child were easy to make, you produced them quickly and then easily disposed of them once the party or imaginary pirate raid was over. They had served their purpose and you went on to some other happy childhood pursuit. But this silly hat was a little more complicated to put together. It took... Read more →

Christmas Gift Bag House Paint Makeover

Hello Friends, Boy Howdy am l tired! Way too tired to tell any tall tales about the trouble our four legged friends have been getting into. The hubby and l had a long day of yard work on a project that involves 4 tons of gravel currently sitting in our driveway. Sadly we have not moved even one ounce of it yet. We did move a lot of dirt though. :-) But let's get on with this weeks project before I do a face plant on to my keyboard. Next weekend my family is getting together for what we call... Read more →

Episode 3 Dogs vs Cats - Easy Upcycled Door Latch

In this week's breaking news an unprecedented pre-dawn attack orchestrated by the cat monsters lead to the successful invasion of the dogzilla's storehouse of supplies (ie the closet were we keep the extra dog food.) Sources (me) report an early morning artillery strike against an insufficiently guarded storage bunker. The storehouse was largely stocked with rations for the coming months. Also forfeited in the cat occupation was the regions waste disposal site, a devastating loss to the communities infrastructure, according a local authority. (also me) The attackers have been identified by several eyewitnesses (me me and me) as Corporal Kittenmiester... Read more →

The Trouble With Dogs and Another Pickle Juice Repair - Dogs vs Cats Episode 2

There is a war being waged in our little household. There are no clear rules of engagement, just the relentless battle between the cats and the dogs, to see who can cause the most damage. Innocent nick nacks, furniture and apparel have been caught in the crossfire. Pillows have been mended, wiring replaced, shoes forfeited, plants relocated and floors continually swept to counter the endless barrage of pet hair. As yet no victor has been declared in the epic battle of Dogzillas vs Cat Monsters. It is, however, apparent that the humans have lost. :-) Not quite ready to wave... Read more →

The Trouble With Cats and The Making Of A Pickle Juice Chair - Episode 1 Dogs vs Cats

Would you ever consider recovering your furniture with this stuff? No? Well, maybe you would just like to giggle at the account of someone who did. ***** This is the tale of the great cat claw caper other wise known as the story of how I came to re-cover a chair with pickle juice, gelatin and twine. To be clear there are no typo's or incorrectly auto corrected words in that last sentence and perhaps more importantly I have not been drinking today. Well, not yet. Scouts honer, I really did re-cover a chair with twine and I used all... Read more →

Star Spangled Jewelry Upcycle

Hello, I do hope you had a wonderful fourth of July Weekend, last week, if you are here in the States. Or a lovely week in general if you are elsewhere in the world. If you stopped by last week you will know that l made this crazy pair of flag shoes to wear to a fourth of July party. So in the spirit of, if you are going to do something, why not over do it? I made this jewelry to go along with my other patriotic garb. l mean, why not? l already had the paint. Right? The... Read more →

Upcycled Fourth of July Shoe Fun

It is hard to believe that it is the 4th of July weekend already. The days are getting shorter again and here in Colorado it won't be long before there is a crisp coolness in the evening air signaling the approach of fall. Fall in Colorado is actually a beautiful season but the kid in me still wants summer to last forever. And on that topic (the one about staying young at heart or at least trying too) we have been invited to an annual 4th of July party on Monday. Last year and years previous I have, at the... Read more →