Pinteresting Experiments

These are all the experimental projects, crafts, foods (et al) that I've tried off Pinterest. I tell you where to find the original craft. What worked for me. What didn't. If I had fun making the project. Basically it's just a log for myself, but you're more than welcome to read it.

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Button Bowl-EPIC Fail

The Inspiration came from here: http://bonkersaboutbuttons1.blogspot.com/2010/12/knoop-button-bowl.html

I attempted this.  I Googled the hell out of this, becuase the visuals haunt me. I love this bowl and want one. I recently acquired a massive bucket of buttons that my mom has had since I was a kid.  -& my Mom's birthday was coming. 

I figured combine the two and make my Mom a button bowl for her birthday. 

This isn't a craft to attempt late at night, while in bed.  It just didn't work.  Probably the glue wasn't the right glue.  The buttons were too big and not uniform.  It was just a fail in every sense of the word.  I deflated the balloon and pulled all the buttons apart... maybe I'll try it again soon.  Probably not.

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Fish Tank-My Addition to Pinterest

I am warped.  I know. 

Everyone is all about the "upcycle" these days.  Right?

Welll, here's my addition to the UPCYCLE pages, a blender Beta tank.

Yep.  You read that right.  a Beta, Blender Fish Tank.

I burned the motor on the blender.  The "juicer" part was leaking.  I could have recycled the bottom portion and done who knows what with the top part.  So, going back to the old "College" aged days, I turned my blender into a fish tank.

To begin, I cut the cord on the base of the blender.  Just in case it ever decided it wanted to start working again, I didn't want my  Beta, named Puree, to turn into a real Beta Puree when someone decides to be funny and plug it in and turn it on.  That'd be pretty sick. Next, I put a cork where the leaking Juice Pouring Lever goes.  I had tons of them.  Let's re-purpose it.  Next... the blades.... I just poured enough aquarium gravel to safely cover the blades.  I filled it with Beta safe water and a Moss "filter" ball.  Then put the Beta in there. 

Puree seems to love his aquarium.  I kind of overfilled the blender, but I usually put the lid on it as well.

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Swimsuit Cover-FAIL

http://laviediy.blogspot.com/2012/02/diy-20-minute-beach-cover-up.html

I attempted this.  I actually followed this one exactly as specified.  AAAAAAAAAAAAAND, well, I am way too endowed for this cut and paste patterns.  I need something made exactly for my body.  :(

There are times when I absolutely hate having big boobs.  I would like to take a simple pattern and keep it simple and recreate it.  I can't. 

So, unless I have thrown this away, I have a swimsuit cover that someone a little more flat chested can use...but I'm pretty sure I was a little bit irritated and threw it away.

Oh well.  Perhaps I'll try again with a lot more fabric and more modifications... Perhaps.  But Probably not.

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Glass Lampshade Birdfeeder-The Inspiration

I've established that I usually see a craft and put my own spin on it. 

Here's the inspiration:

http://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/outdoor-orbs-part-ii-how-to-make-a-birdfeeder-from-glass-shades/

My Version:

I had some round flower pots, with the hole a little off centered.  I used this instead of the glass light shade globe.  I pretty much used the same techniques as shown on this blog.

It was cold outside, so this picture is taken through the window.  I plan on making more of these in the days to come.

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Oven Fries-Success

Again, I love my Green Bean Deliver and can't wait to start it back up.  You can make these with regular potatoes, but I almost never have them... unless Green Bean Dropped them off. 

Tasty.  Super easy.  Who doesn't love fries?

http://greenbeandelivery.com/healthytimes/recipes/oven-fries-2/

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Pizza Muffins-Success

http://lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com/2010/07/annoying-habits.html

Everyone needs some tasty treats to whip up for snacks, parties, or... Dinner.

My son loves pizza and I don't always have everything on hand to throw one straight in the oven.  I made these for a party and they were a huge success.  I might actually make them again tonight for dinner.  Then we can eat "leftovers" for lunch or snacks later in the week.... if there are any leftovers.

Again, these are pretty easy to make and a  HUGE success as snack food for a party.

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Self-Watering Seed Planter-Fail

Maybe It wasn't a fail.  I did actually "start" some flowers in my self-watering planters... but that's all that ever happened.  I figured a small plant should be able to thrive/survive/grow fully in this container, but it didn't.  Maybe I'll try it again and use just as a seed starter and not an actual planter.

http://skruben.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-to-self-watering-seed-starter-pots.html

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Grow an Avocado Tree-Fail...

http://www.avocado.org.au/howto/grow.aspx

I eat a ton of avocados.  I figured I'd give this a try, even if I never got an actual avocado off the tree.

Well, It started out great.  I had roots growing and everything... I decided since they are naturally grown in warmer climates, I'd sit my plant outside to see if it would grow any faster.

Well, No.  It didn't.  It got so hot outside (100+ degrees) that all the water kept drying out of my jar and my plant dried out and shriveled up. I was sad and wanted to start another one, but haven't had time.

I will definitely try this again in the spring.

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Earring Organization-My Additions to Pinterest

Again, before the days of Pinterest, I needed some organization for my jewelry.  I walked through a million stores trying to find something to use to organize my handmade jewelry pieces and earrings and I came up with this:

2 mesh wire paper trays, a cork board and some hooks.

Hooked the Mesh baskets together, hooked them to a cork board.  Hung the cork board on the wall... and pinned all my earrings through the mesh baskets.  Ingenious! I know.  I still use this today.  So I added it to Pinterest.  It didn't really take off, but it's useful to me.

http://pinterest.com/pin/180355160047499537/

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Jewelry Organization-My Additions to Pinterest

Many, many, many years ago, I determined that I had way too much Jewelry and had no way to successfully keep my necklaces from getting tangled.  I determined that I was going to take a handy, dandy corkboard and some teeny tiny nails.  Push the nails through the cork board and hang my necklaces & bracelets onto the corkboard.  This picture is kind of messy, but here's what I've done (before the days of Pinterest)

http://pinterest.com/pin/180355160047499641/

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Branch Framed "art"- The Inspiration, Success

I saw this on Pinterest and HAD to make one.  Immediately.

http://cleverlyinspired.blogspot.com/2010/10/garage-sale-frame-my-favorite-piece-of.html

My younger sister was about to close on a house, and she was doing a room in Cherry Blossoms.

I went to Goodwill, found two matching art pieces that were ugly as hell.  I tore the pictures out.  Added some Cherry blossom stems from Micheal's and ended up with two beautiful pieces of work.  Unfortunately, I lost my pictures of the artwork when I had to change phones.

My sister loves her pictures though.  I will probably be making some for my own new house some time this winter.  I have some old sticks laying around in my craft room that are DYING to be turned into art.

*SIGH*

Again, I used my own techniques, but I definitely got inspired when I saw this on Pinterest.

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Hanging Bubble Planters-The Inspiration

Here's what I did with some Mini vases I had. 

Here's a link for the inspiration behind this:

http://pinterest.com/pin/180355160047489443/

Okay, they are nothing alike, but I love my hanging mini-vases.

Success!

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Rain Chains-Success... Maybe?

http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2012/07/tutorial-rain-chain-from-wire-wrapped-rock/

I saw this on Pinterest.  I was bored at work.  I grabbed some rocks from my yard.  Some jewelry wire.  Pliers. And I hid my hands under my desk and made my own rain chain. It looks NOTHING like the one shown here... but that's the fun in making your own, right?

Now, since I've made this, I haven't had it outside while raining.  I actually just put it outside last week after the day of rain.  So, I haven't gotten to see if it looks amazing while raining.  It's currently sitting on a shepherds hook outside my boss's office.  I hope it does look cool while raining.  Maybe one day soon, I will get to find out.

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Christmas Decorations

http://pinterest.com/pin/180355160048702454/

Here's the link for the inspiration.

We basically took our own styrofoam balls.  Put glue on them, covered them with glitter.  Used some old needles & ribbon I had lying around.  Taped them to our valance. 

Simple.  Cute.  Fun.

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Frozen Fruit Popsicles-Successssss

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/06/frozen-fruit-pops.html#more

We loved our popsicles.  We made them with strawberries, raspberries and cherries.  We used Cherry and apple juice (100% fruit juice) as the base.  Seems simple enough, but most people would still rather buy popsicles.

Homemade is always better.  Definitely doing this again next summer.

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Homemade Gummy Snacks-Success

http://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/2011/09/homemade-gummy-fruit-snacks-healthy-snacks-for-kids.html

I'm not certain my son ever got to eat any of these.  My friend and I ate them all before he ever got home from his dad's.  :) I've made a few batches since then.  I tried the new version, with Pectin.  Not a success.  But the Gelatin version is great for a jello type snack. 

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Broccolette w/ Sesame & Ginger-Success

http://greenbeandelivery.com/healthytimes/recipes/broccolette-with-sesame-and-ginger/

Oh I miss my Green Bean Delivery & can't wait to sign back up for it.  With my move, I had to temporarily cancel it until I was situated &  had the money to resume it.

I love the seasonal foods & recipes on their blog.  I made teh Broccolette w/ Sesame & Ginger.  It was pretty damn tasty... except I accidentally spilled an entire container of Sesame seeds into my Broccolette.  Regardless, I'd make this recipe again in an instant.