Tip for Making Peanut Butter Cookies

A great baking tidbit from a dear friend of mine!
Used by permission

As I was cleaning my sewing room tonight and tossing out close to empty spools, a memory was triggered.  My sister LONG ago showed me how these plastic spools with spokes can be used for pressing cookies (like peanut butter)....to make the cutest little flowers on top!  If you come across a spool....wash it up and toss it in your baking drawer for next time!  I just did.

Storage Bags Made from Repurposed Jeans

by Lois Breneman - Heart to Heart - 2016

Probably everyone has old jeans around the house that are no longer worn, so why not give them another purpose!  Cut off the legs and make snazzy and colorful storage bags!   This is a perfect project in teaching your grandchildren how to make a useful storage container.




Not only can the legs be used, but the top section of a pair of jeans, including the pockets, can also be transformed into a nifty little storage bag.  Two of the bags below with pink trim have partially concealed pockets, with the lining turned down over the pocket opening.  You might say it's a secret compartment, and kids would love the mystery of that!

In making these bags, the fabric of the jeans is stiff enough that interfacing isn't necessary.  The finished bag will stand up with just the two layers of fabric (jeans and a cotton lining).  To make the bag stand up, the bottom is squared up with a "dog ear" sewn in on each side, trimmed off, and the raw edges are zig-zagged. 

Ric-rac or other trim can be sewn between the two fabrics to add an extra pretty touch.  The colorful lining is turned down to help even further to add stiffness to the bag in helping it to stand upright.

For more photos go here.

Mosaic Tray

by Nina Graff
Nina is a fabulous artist, photographer, and friend!
You can see her breathtakingly beautiful work at

http://back40fotos.com/

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!  Or when life gives you broken dishes, make a mosaic!

So--- I bought this mid-century 'Salem North Star' dish set at an estate sale years ago, just because I liked it's funkiness. When we moved  ALL the dinner plates were broken. (bad packing job on my part), but I couldn't throw them out, of course.  

Then I found a 50 cent metal tray from a rummage sale! I hope the paint doesn't chip off.  I think it will need to be handled carefully.  I'll look for some wooden trays for the next project!

I finally finished the tray I had in mind.

The pieces were glued on with tile adhesive.  It was allowed to dry for a day, then grout was applied over the top and wiped off (bit by bit) with a soft damp cloth.

There are enough broken pieces left over for another project or two.  The tool shown below is called a tile nipper!   If you decide to work on a mosaic, these are quite helpful to get pieces nipped to the right size!  It's like building a puzzle!

  This quote is from Holley Gerth:
"We're all a wild mix of broken and beautiful."
She posts really good stuff! http://holleygerth.com/

7 Genius Uses for Your Leftover Coffee Grounds

http://tiphero.com/7-genius-uses-for-your-leftover-coffee-grounds/

 

After you’ve brewed your morning coffee, what do you do with the grounds. If you usually toss them, then you’ll want to take a look at these ideas for inspiration.

1. Help Your Garden Grow: Coffee grounds mixed in soil can help make flowers and plants, like roses, in your garden grow and flourish. They can also make your compost much more productive.
   
2. Buff Out Dings on Wooden Furniture: If you’ve got dings or scratches in your wood furniture or floors, grab some coffee grounds and a q-tip. Just apply the grounds straight to the problem areas, then let it sit for about 5-10 minutes before you buff the area with a cotton rag.
   
3. Treat Cellulite: Mix in some coffee grounds with your normal moisturizer. Then once you’ve washed your body in the shower, massage in your scrub, then rinse skin with warm water. Over time, this should help to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
   
4.  Enhance Your Hair Color: Brunettes and redheads – simply add 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds to your shampoo to enhance the color of your hair. If you want more dramatic results, you can also saturate your dry hair with brewed coffee or espresso and cover your hair with a plastic shower cap for 20 minutes before washing.
   
5. Eliminate Odors in the Fridge: Use coffee grounds just like you would baking soda in the fridge. The grounds will absorb odors and keep your fridge smelling fresh.
   
6. Dye Fabrics: Just boil a pot of water and pour coffee grounds in and steep. Now you have a base for dye. You can also give paper an antique feeling with coffee grounds!
   
7. Clean Your Fireplace: Tossing some coffee grounds into your fireplace will actually help to clean it. According to Real Simple, just sprinkle a handful of grounds onto the ashes to prevent flyaways.

Repurposed

by Jalisa Wenger
Used by permission

I'm a vessel "marred and broken,"
Hopeless on the ground I lie.
Once I thrilled to do His service;
Now those dreams are doomed to die.

But I feel Him gently lifting.
Hopeful in His hands I wait.
Could it be that He can use me
When I thought I'd met my fate?

"I will mend you if you're willing.
You will never be the same,
But with richer, fuller service
You will glorify My name."

Now I am a mended vessel.
See, my scars with gold are bound!
Once again, I serve Him daily!
Greater joy cannot be found!

Repurpose (Place Mats)

Used with Permission by April Dawn White Frayed cuffs and thread bare knees are all that remain of my children's denim jeans. I carefully slipped the blade of the seam ripper under the thread and lifted the blade. After cutting the stiches, I removed a back pocket from a pair of blue jeans.  During this project, I repurposed the worn out jeans into funky denim place mats. Any salvageable part was cut away and assembled into something new. What once was a back pocket is now a utensil and napkin holder. From the tattered jeans, I created four distinct place mats. Each denim place mat has a unique backing and binding fabric to represent the personalities of our family members. On my daughter's placemat I repositioned a crocheted pocket and covered the back with pink and red heart and star material. As I reworked the fabric, Genesis 50:20 came to mind: "But God intended it for good." As the youngest in the family, Joseph was teased and despised by his older brothers. Their hatred for Joseph was so great, they sold him into slavery. Decades later, Joseph held a prominent place in the king's court. The same brothers, who sold him off, later stood before Joseph begging for assistance. Joseph had every right to turn them away. Instead he said, "You planned evil against me, but God used those same plans for good" (Genesis 50:20, MSG).   I love the phrase "but God used those same plans for good." Those same plans, not different plans, the very same plans -- for good! I stopped sewing to offer praise! I began to examine those areas of my life that once were painful. Now I can see God was using those same plans for good.    Praise God that He is the ultimate recycler! He was reducing, reusing, and recycling long before our generation. He wants to reduce our burdens, reuse our trials to help others, and recycle areas to bring us good and to bring Him glory!   "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV) Connect with me: Email redchairmoments@gmail.com Facebook http://www.facebook.com/RedChairMoments Twitter http://www.twitter.com/RedChairMoments Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/redchairmoments/