Tinker Around

Welcome to my blog. It is full of basic projects and tutorials for things that I have done and feel like others out there would benefit from learning too. Be sure to take time to leave me a comment. Thanx, Pam

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Paint Bottle Rack

Well, I told you that I had designed a rack to hold my bottles of craft paints, well....I got it!!!  SO excited!!  I have already sold four of these and my carpenter is a very happy man.  These are just raw wood, so you can paint or stain or whatever.  Here is a picture of how I used to store my paints...
They were organized by brand and then by color. But, what a mess to try to get to them.  I have stored them in the past on lazy susans, spice racks, tubs, shelving,... Nothing seemed to keep them compact and easy to get to.  So, I got with my carpenter, who is priced very reasonable!  And what you see below is what we ended up with.
This is a picture of just one of the units, I bought two to start with.  Each unit holds 80 bottles of the crafting paints, mine are mostly Folk Art with some American.  I just find that those brands are the thicker ones and I get great coverage.  


You can see in this photo that there is also a carved handle in the top in case you want to move them around, lift and go.  (above photo)



Now in these two photos (above) you can see the front and side views.  I designed it with a slant to each shelf so that the paints are laying forward and the paint comes out a lot better, and I don't have to do as much shaking!


In this picture you can see my two units stacked.  I left a few blank spots in each color area for expansion. See that tub at he bottom?  Yeppers, I still have more paints.  I have ordered one more unit that is just 40 bottles to hold my gems, glitter, and metallic paints.  It will stack on the top and I can still comfortably reach all the yummy rows of paints!!!  How neat is this?  What do you think??  

You have questions??  Oh, the measurements and how do you get one??  Ok, for one unit... $30 plus tax   I know that companies change prices over the months and years, so just know that this is the current price when I am doing this posting, you will need to contact them and see what the going rate is when you are going through my archives and find this posting.  The unit is 4 1/2 inches deep (it might fit behind a door for you!), 29 1/8 inches tall (it might fit under your desk), and just 21 inches across.  It is a nice size to hold so many bottles of paints, we wanted compact as a must in the design!!!  Where do you order yours??  Uncle Bob's Workshop www.unclebobsworkshop.com   214-534-9975    He is out of Garland, TX  so if you are shipping, you might as well pay the shipping for a couple of them!   You can email Bob at unclebobsworkshop@verizon.net  I think that you could have one of these made to hold your spices too!  He can also make them larger if you want, I personally like this size.  The one that I am ordering to hold the remainder bottles of paints would work great for a tabletop display of your paints.  

Ok, I didn't post last week, did anyone even notice??  Any comments to this weeks posting??  Would love to hear from you.  See ya in a week or two. - Pam


Thursday, April 14, 2011

Uber Easy Recycled Boxes

Today, I am just doing a short post on a couple of boxes that I recycled.  You know, anytime that you can recycle instead of having to toss it out or purchase new, you are doing a service to not only our environment...but to your wallet!!

Here is a candy box that my son had tossed into the trash.
Just need a couple sheets of scrapbooking paper, scissors, paper glue, pencil, flat ball feet, and some embellishments.  I cut and glued paper all around the outside and the top and just the inside top, oh and on the bottom.  Just anywhere there was writing that I didn't want to show.  I didn't mind some of the inside decorative papers, but the inside top had a layout of the candy...so that had to get covered up.  Oh, and the box still smells yummy!!  You ready to see the after?  Wait for it...


That top pearly piece is all one peel and stick by Prima.  
They have a ton of stuff for scrapbooking and all sorts of altered art.  This would have looked fantastic with some of their large flowers around one corner!  I could have also taken another flat ball that I used for the feet and put on top for a handle knob.  Let your imagination run wild when you do a project like this.

Let's take a look at another box that I did.  This one was purchased at a clothing place and came with a bottle of perfume inside.  My daughter doesn't throw much in the trash, I just find it on my art table.  See on the before how there is a ribbon coming through the slit...that has to be dealt with when covering a box like this.
Now, because it came with a bottle in it, I also had to rip the inside out.  An easy fix to that was to just line it with felt.  I used an exacto knife to cut a slit in my paper to let the ribbon slide through.  Used some more balled feed and stickers to coordinate with my papers.  





Now, before we go...I also have to tell you about the bestest (and yes, that is a word!) glue company around - Helmar.   They have a glue for every project you can think of.  Glue dots for making things dimensional, fabric glues that will grab the fabric really well, paper glues that don't ripple and buckle, glues for jewels, and a glue that is so strong that you can bond most anything!!!  http://www.helmarusa.com/     I just wish that I had more of their product!!! 


Ok, this week I listed two of my favorite folks - Prima and Helmar.  They are also on facebook with all sorts of giveaways all the time, be sure to tell them that Pam sent you!  Please take the time to go take a look around their websites, they are chock-full of ideas and product!  See ya next week, Pam.


Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Painting Seminar and Craft Show

Well, I don't think that I have caught up on my sleep yet.  What a blast I had painting with Ros Stallcup last week.  I learned a LOT and had a BLAST!!!  What a great lady!!  IF you have NO idea who I am talking about, you can find her at  http://www.gransgarden.com/   Ros is such a spectacular woman and so down to earth!

Ok, here are some pictures of the paintings we did and of the group.  Each morning we started around 9am and we took two breaks and a lunch...finishing up around 4:30pm each evening.  On to the pictures...
Learning the basic rose.

Ros in action, what a great teacher!

Ros and Me!

Our Snowscape.  We didn't use any white in this painting.  There were some light blues and a fleshy color that were combined for the snow.  Amazing.

I was really surprised at how easy Ros made it.  We all followed along at a rather quick pace. There is stucco under the painting, and that really was great for dry brushing techniques.  

Some of the ladies during one of our breaks.

The finished Roses.  There is stucco underneath and some stenciling on the corners.  Really is much more dramatic in person.


Now, on to the craft show at the 18th Annual Kosher Chili Cook-Off.  I don't think that I have ever seen or felt so much wind in one day, and was quickly reminded why I really don't care for outdoor shows.  The shoppers were really kind and I met some interesting folks.  I took pictures of some of my favorite vendors and under each picture I will put their contact information.  So, let's take a look at who my picks were for best of vendors...

Yesteryear Chimes
Hand Crafted From Vintage Plates
Bob & Carolyn Mason
North Richland Hills, Texas 76182
Custom Work Upon Request
817-607-8139
682-365-3757
yesteryearchimes@sbcglobal.net



Colors of the Season
Nancy Friedman
friedman.nancy@att.net
www.colorsoftheseason.com
972-863-7183 home
818-261-1520 cell


Really Great Gifts
for those who have everything!
Jane Christensen
972-620-1270
Addison, TX 75001
Closet Safes
Pink Awareness Items
janeychristensen@yahoo.com



Yes, these are made of golf clubs, balls and tees.
Bill is a REAL recycler! 
Bill Yancy
Garland, Texas
papawbill94@yahoo.com
214-729-8954




All their info is up top on the sign.  You can see that even the older kids where helping out here.  Oh, and their CHILI  WAS  ALARMINGLY  HOT!!!  But oh so yummy!


All the bounce houses were put out by this group.  I don't think the houses were empty once the show started!  The kids flew to these things like magnets.


Her info is right there on her sign.  I had never personally heard of vegan soap.



Jane Todres
phone 972-612-1968
cell 972-529-0658
janestudio@aol.com
Tomorrow's Today
Plano, Texas 75093





This guy was great!!  
Rainbow Entertainment
972-267-8474
www.rainbowentertainment.com
richard@rainbowentertainment.com 
Richard S. Pollak
(I think that this is the agency that the guy on stilts uses.)


And this, is Me at my booth!
One Stroke with Pam
www.picturetrail.com/tinkartist
giftofgabsave@hotmail.com


Well, thank you for stopping by.  Not sure what we will be doing next week.  I am always open to suggestions.  Please leave a comment here before you go, I really enjoy hearing from my readers!