3 FOOT TALL PLASTIC AND LIQUOR BOTTLE TABLE LAMP

Here I upcycled plastic soda bottles, and a large 1.75 liquor bottle.  With the flowers and
the twigs, and flowers, this table lamp stands about 3 feet tall.  It definitely makes a statement.

My neighbor Mike upstairs came to my rescue when I sent out a bulletin for bottles so I can have something to upcycle into something pretty.  He has given me some really nice bottles in the past.  I thought it would be appropriate to give him one of his own bottles that I upcycled just for him, with a bouquet of my plastic upcycled soda flowers. Besides he has no idea what I do with them.

Again I used my plastic flowers that I cleaned, cut, stained with my alcohol inks, then melted into a variety of shapes with a candle. I attached them to some tall bamboo sticks which I picked up from Home Depot. I glued them with the hot glue gun. I added a twig which I purchased from Michaels.  Now my bouquet is done.

Now to install my mini tree lights I bought online as they are not in season.

A close up view of my plastic soda bottle flowers.  However, this picture does not do the flowers any
justice.  You can't really see the brilliant colors.  Too bad. The alcohol inks are amazing aren't they?  See
the light at the top? I wrapped the mini tree lights around the bamboo stems so the lights go all the way up.
They no longer "sag" at the bottom of the bottle.

Using my drill and a glass/tile drill bit. I slowly drilled a hole big enough to insert my mini tree lights. I decided to keep the original label on the bottle for this project since it was going to a home where a guy  can appreciate the bottle. Only thing is, I forgot to add the rubber grommets where I drilled the hole to protect the cord.  Now I know. Next time.
You should have seen his face when I gave it to him.  He lit up:)

Anyway, that's about it. I think this upcycled plastic flowers in a lamp liquor bottle came out great. I just had to share. Remember to see the first post for instructions on how I make my flowers. If you are interested. Pin it, share it and come on back. Till the next time...many blessings.

Sincerely,

Mary Helen

UP-CYCLED PLASTIC SODA BOTTLE NOW A FLOWER NIGHT LIGHT

So far, here is the final outcome for this pretty flower today...my new night night.  What a dramatic effect these alcohol inks give on my wall with these tiny led balloon/lantern lights.  Actually, I am just testing it, as I am putting it up for sale on Etsy.  Wish me luck, I always need supplies:)

The flower made using a 2 liter soda bottle, and the leaf out of a small soda bottle.
 I added the cross, with the message..."I can do all things through Jesus Christ
who strengthens me.  Phil.4:13  I plan on putting this in a clear vase
with mini tree lights.

I made this flower sometime last month out of the top of a 2 liter soda bottle.  It is prettier in person.  It is a lot bigger than my usual up-cycled flowers. But I was going for big.  I stained it purple using my alcohol inks.and there it sat in a corner in my room, for a month.  However, I was waiting for the right bottle to make the right stem or leaf. My flower was way too big to put on a stick. I was thinking more like in a vase with lights. Easter is around the corner, and being that I had accidentally purchased this cross from the dollar store, I was showing a friend one of my favorite bible verses. She thought I wanted it and put it in my basket. Anyway, I thought it quite appropriate for what I wanted...an Easter Centerpiece for my table that would reflect something of what Easter is about. Jesus Christ. After all, to me, once again, Jesus is the reason for the season.

I found this smaller soda bottle with some nice texture. so I thought it would go nice with my purple flower.This time I used the bottom of the bottle.  I stained it different shades of greens again using my Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Inks.  What I like about these inks, is a little goes a long way.  And you get a really nice stained glass effect.  Me and my Adirondack Alcohol Inks equals one happy camper.

Ok don't laugh, I am not using this small glass. I feel like Cinderella's step sister trying to stuff this big flower into this small bowl.  Lol. If the bowl was bigger, it would work.  I was going for big and dramatic.  It's not there yet.

I glued them together, but I still don't have a clear glass vase wide enough to hold this big flower. I think a fishbowl would be nice. I could lay this piece on a bed of mini tree lights. Of course i would have to drill a hole in the bowl to install the lights. What do you think?

Really, it's so easy to make. I was thinking of a lotus flower budding, but the leaf is not a lotus at all. So it's my hybrid plastic flower, half lotus, and the other half cactus. Lol. Anyway please share so others too can recycle and up-cycle in a fun way.

Well I'm happy with this flower. I just need the bowl, so till then, Many blessings, and thanks for letting me be of service.  Come back soon:)

Sincerely,

Mary Helen

What I love about my new night light, is that it does have a dramatic effect without the glass bowl I had hoped this flower to be in.  Oh well, I am quite happy with this light. This is because the alcohol inks are transparent, and I added three small led battery operated lantern lights.  I just dropped them in.  Nice effect they give on my bathroom wall.  Looks like I have a bunch of chiffon floating on one corner of my walls.

Up Cycled Plastic Salad/Fruit Bowl

Here I upcycled a large one pound plastic container that I purchased from the market.  It held and protected my organic
baby arugulla.  Now it is a lot sturdier after the meltdown, as it can now hold a few pounds of fruit.

This is the container I used for this project.

Hey everyone, I'm still recycling and up cycling at the same time. I look for things that are challenging for me. I just knew I could make something out of such a big container like this plastic container. I made this salad bowl out of one pound plastic greens container.

There is no need to say much more.  I will let the pictures take over from here.

I used a pyrex heat proof bowl, and placed the plastic over the bowl.  Using a heating gun I began to heat and melt the plastic just enough to give it some shape.  Where ever I wanted it to bend I gave it extra heat.
Can you see the somewhat ruffled edge I gave it.  It gave it character.  Lol.  Does a bowl have character?

This is what it looked like.  Next time, I will move the heat gun more to avoid the white milky spots.   T

Another view.  This took no more than 5 minutes.  The hardest part was taking the label off.

Using my favorite Rangers Adirondacks Alcohol Inks.  I started with the color cranberry and painted the whole bowl.  I went back adding spots of other colors, giving my bowl this effect.  I can't tell you how much I like these inks.  If you have been following any of my work, then you know these inks are my favorite.  You can get them at Samsclub.com, really cheap for three colors.  Best price in town too!

Voila!  My new Up Cycled Plastic Salad/Fruit Bowl.  Yahoo. My trash was saved again.

Another View.  Cute right?

Well, that's it for now.  I thought I would share for all my fellow crafters.  If you like this  please share with someone.  Pin it.  Try it yourself and let me know the outcome.  By the way, it does not work with a regular hair dryer.  I already tried that.  LOL.

Anyway, till the next time...Many blessings:)

Sincerely,

Mary Helen

Upcycled Flower Made Out Of a Plastic Ketchup Bottle

Can you believe this was once a plastic ketchup bottle?  I cut, painted, fired it into a beautiful flower.

I am running out of plastic bottles to up cycle into flowers. I had just finished this catsup/ketchup bottle. So I washed it well and began cutting. What was interesting it had 3 layers of plastic which easily separated. The third in between layer was too thin to use, so I ripped that off.

I used my Rangers Adirondack Alcohol Inks to paint.  The come in packs of three at Sams Club for quite a reasonable price.  I love the effects these inks give.



 However, to get this effect, you have to use several layer of paints, using different colors each time. The alcohol inks dry quite fast, so you don't have to wait long to apply the next coat. Just blow. Haha. I do:)  Besides, blowing helps spread the ink into another painted part and will bleed.  That's what these inks do well...bleed.  I love this effect.

This is what happens when you let the inks bleed into each other.  Pretty right?  Kind of looks like stained glass.
Just paint, pucker, and blow, but don't breathe the fumes.  Make sure you do this in a well ventilated area.
 Blowing is not entirely necessary, but it does help.

This is the bottom half of the ketchup bottle.  You can see the two layers of plastic before it was painted and fired.
 It was easy to separate once it was cut into the petals.

Well, that's it for now.  I just had to share this for all my crafty friends who also would like to recycle by upcycling too.  So till the next time...Many Blessings.

Sincerely,

Mary Helen

Recycled Cat Food Tin Into A Trinket Box

For years I have been recycling Cisco my cat tin cans in the recycle bin.  I kept thinking if only there was something I could do with these.  When the label is off some of them have a pretty gold color that caught my attention.  So I've been saving some of them, and thought I'd play a bit with one since this is what I do.  I think it came out cute and thought I'd share for any other crafters.  Good thing is, you don't need many supplies.

What you will need:

• Can food tin with lid    Washed and dry of any oils and water so the paints will stick
• Sharpie permanent colored markers I got on sale at Office Max.
• Cuddle Bug for the embossing, but not necessary as free hand comes out pretty nice too
• Ribbon, enough to run along one side of the tin, and the lids.  Leave some excess ribbon for the pull top
• You do need good ventilation, as these markers put off quite an odor.

Instruction will be via Photos from here:

Here I removed the tab, embossed it with the Cuddlebug.
I them painted it on the outside and inside using my
Sharpie fine point permanent markers. 
Adding several layers of different colors for each flower
really makes them come alive.

I wasn't sure I was going to make a tin till I realized it still fit well.

I glued one end of the ribbon raw edge folded over with a glue gun, right where
my finger is pointing

Once dry I glued it at the rim,where my finger is so the lid will sit nicely.

Now I glued the inside of the lid to the ribbon.  Careful, the glue gun is hot.
 Make sure you you leave enough ribbon with the raw edge glued on for a new
pull top.

Using the markers I added some design to help cover any inked dates on the
sides.

Well, this is how I spent my day crafting this weekend.  It's really easy, makes great gifts, and it's cute.  It's also a great way to recycle folks.

Well that's it for now, when I can find my jewelry tools I will show you the cute earrings I am making out of similar lids.  The lids also make great wind chimes, and the can makes great candle holders too.

There you have it, So till the next time, please share, pin, like with anyone you like.   Together we can help clean up some of this litter by recycling it right?  Lets do it, and if you can't...then pass it on.  Till the next time...Many  blessings.

Sincerely,

Mary Helen

STAINED BEER BOTTLE USING PERMANENT MARKERS-recycled

Here is the same beer bottle in 3 stages of scribbling with my permanent markers because that's all I could do.

Today, my tremors worked for me.  Thank God.  Some days are worse than other days. I 

always tremor, no matter what. But, they have improved tremendously with my brain implant. 

On the days I tremor more, I don't mold, or play with fire so to speak. Or I don't paint,

 because of too many do overs. Today I thought I'd go with the grain, instead of against it. 

 My tremors that is.

I realized I could not use my inks today.  I have a deadline to meet, and I will not let that interfere. So, I picked up the permanent markers and literally began to scribble. I didn't know where this was going to take me, but I was inspired to do so. I am so glad I did.

I quickly began to see flowers forming. Well I see them. Lol, not sure if you do. This is not your typical stain. But, it is stained. I will bake it for 20 min on low and it should be permanently set.

See the shaky lines. Lol. Well at least I can make lines and made the bottle. Haha. If you visits my blog...

Livingwithessentialtremors.blogspot.com

You will get it.

Well, that's it for now. I have a new recipe I have to post on my other blog...

Maryhelenstestkitchen.blogspot.com

So till I have time to post more instructions as mentioned, many blessings:)

Sincerely

Mary Helen

A NEW SERVING DISH MADE OUT A RECYCLED CONTAINER

I've been really having fun making my flowers out of bottles,  So anything different would be a challenge for me.  I thought I'd give this old Trader Joes Biscotti container that I first used to store my dried chillies for about a year. However, for the past month it stored all my alcohol ink containers so I saw it daily. Well, my ink supply had multiplied so I moved my inks to a larger container.

So I cut the rim. I usually ink after I cut, but not when I am not sure of the outcome. So I decided to mold it with a candle prior to painting. I don't want to waste any of my Adirondack Alcohol inks on something that might not come out well.

This old container has been around the house for a while now.
Time for a make over!

This is what it looked like after I cut it with scissors, and carefully
shaped it witha candle.  It's pretty sooty and so are my hands.  So I wash
off as much as I can.with dish soap and a sponge.  You want to make
sure there is nothing stopping the alcohol inks from adhering to the paint.
You will see the missed spots in the final wash.

And this is the result of using Adirondack Alcohol Inks.  I used black, then
the red, gray and red again.  Make sure each layer is dry before you add
another layer.  You don't want smudges.  Don't worry, these inks
 dry very fast.

Well I usually make more than one of the same color to make sets. So I'm off but I shall return with a more in depth picture tutorial on how I mold and paint these pieces.
Till then, many blessings.

Sincerely,

Mary Helen