Toboggan Winter Photo Display

Happy, Happy New Year junk friends! Are you looking for ideas on what to do with your sledding equipment when not in use? Well, look no further because I have one for you.

Supplies you'll need; Cup hooks, decorative papers and cardstock, personal photographs, glue or tape and a hole puncher.

Oh, and don't forget the toboggan! This one is a four-footer so it's perfect for a wall display.

Affix photos to your favorite cardstock and pretty paper. Punch two holes on each photo's paper "frame". Screw two cup hooks into horizontal pieces of wood on toboggan and use as hangers for your photos.

Now they're lined up all nice and pretty.

The best part is if you tire of your junk photo display, you can always snatch the toboggan from your wall and skidaddle out into the snow with it!


Keep on junking throughout the New Year everyone!

JUNKMARKET New Magazine and DVD!!

Hello junk friends! I was so excited to receive an email from Sue Whitney, President of JUNKMARKET Style, announcing the release of their fabulous new magazine and DVD set available on newsstands tomorrow. As a Contributor on the website, I am thrilled to spread the word about this newly produced material. As a long time fan, however, I'll be first in line to purchase...so watch out!


See what Sue has to say;

Yay! Fresh off the presses and video camera comes a JUNKMARKET dynamic duo. This is so exciting. Let me give you the skinny on this product. The magazine is a 48 page excerpt from my current best-seller, Junk Beautiful- Room by Room Makeovers with JUNKMARKET Style, highlighting the best of the best from the book. It includes 5 room makeovers along with many of my favorite step-by-step projects. If you don't already own the book this will leave you yearning for more and there is indeed plenty more where this comes from. What's totally new and fresh? Something that we here at JUNKMARKET have never done before....a DVD. Woo hoo! The DVD includes a flea market shopping experience including all the tips and tricks, a style file, three different bathrooms three different ways, a creative workshop section with me, Kimberly, and our new Junk Hunk, Brandon, a video version of my daughter's bedroom makeover, and a personally guided tour through the "House That Junk Built". That would be my home! I have to say that this may be one of my favorite junking experiences ever...and that speaks volumes. We had an outrageously good time, shooting, writing, creating, and producing this DVD for you. I hope you have as much fun watching it as we did making it! The cover price is a bargain at $12.99. The contents will totally give you an upper-hand on how to cut costs and raise the coolness meter at the same time. Now that's a two-fer.

This will be released December 30, 2008...tomorrow!

Where to Find It:

You can pick this treasure up on newsstands in locations such as: CostCo, Target, Lowe's, Home Depot, Menard's, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Grocery Chains and many other outlets.

Thanks again!

Be Well,

Sue

Decorating With Thrift Store Finds

Fill your home with junk that makes it pretty and functional. This happy kitchen is loaded with pre-owned pieces that make it special.


This fabulous vintage drink cooler was found at a charitable thrift store. (Another plus regarding many thrift stores are the funds they raise for charity).

A vintage banana split glass holds a votive and a few pieces of nature's seasonal decor.


Here's the scoop. Found at a thrift store for $1, this gorgeous vase that resembles sundae glassware is filled with seasonal greenery and berries. Paired up with a 49-cent red-handled ice-cream scoop and you've got a pretty sweet bouquet.


A tricycle tire gives this kitchen something whimsical and funky to look at in an unexpected area.


I find these jars between $.99 and $2.50 each at thrift stores and garage sales. As you can see we need our hot chocolate accompanier and Twizzlers within arms reach at all times.


This $3.00 mini cake plate, found at a barn sale a few months ago, may be small in size but it really works big in my kitchen. It stands between my stove and coffee maker so it holds all the important things we need to make life easier around here.

The only items I purchased new are the matching pepper grinder and salt shaker. The rest can be found at thrift stores, garage sales and flea markets on any given day for cheap, cheap, cheap!


And finally, soup and vegetable cans can be inexpensive, yet pretty, items to decoarate with. They are also quite handy gathering pencils, scissors, crayons, clothespins, magnets....



Do you shop at thrift stores or flea markets on a regular basis? What are your favorite things to find?

As always, take care and keep on junking!

Tutorial - How To Make Simple Fire Starters

With family and friends heating their homes with wood burners and fireplaces, fire starters seemed a natural gift idea. The added bonus is they are a fun craft to do using junk materials found in your recycling bin and lint trap of the dryer.

Supplies needed are cardboard egg cartons, lint from your dryer trap or vent (preferably cotton), leftover candles or wax, a coffee can and cooking pot.

Break candles into chunks and place into coffee can. Add water to your cooking pot and use the coffee can with candles as a makeshift double-boiler. (Do not melt wax without using the double-boiler method since it can burn quickly and could be a fire safety hazard.) Watch the melting wax carefully. Fill each egg carton holder completely with lint.

Carefully pour melted wax over each lint-filled egg holder approximately halfway. There is no need to fill completely, just make sure all lint is wet with wax. Set aside or place in refrigerator to harden quickly.

When wax has completely hardened, break apart each egg holder. Each of these pieces is now a fire starter that can be burned easily as-is. Just place in fireplace or wood burner and light the cardboard carton.


Since we are giving these as gifts, we decided to wrap each fire starter with a piece of burlap and include a special message with "warm" quotes. That way each time they use one of the starters they will get to read a warm and fuzzy quote or just a special message from the Allen family. Quotes can be found on sites such as ThinkExist.com or Brainy Quote.



Tie each off with a piece of twine or rope and attach the tags. Looks like Santa's sleigh is ready for take off with these little bundles of warmth for the season!

Be sure to instruct the recipient not to place directly in the fire's path when not in use (as you probably know), since these can be quite flammable. They should be set in a safe place. Ho! Ho! Ho!



As always, take care and keep on junking!