Boxing Boxes

 I shop online periodically.  I always save the boxes for a while to determine if I can use them for something else. (I've been trying to declutter and organize lately.) 

I've made a pact with myself that if I don't use them within 30 days, I break them down and take them to a recycle station. After all, more boxes will be on the way...eventually. 

Being that I frequent fast food restaurants, (Don't judge me.) I accumulate a lot of paper napkins. (Why throw them away when I can use them in the car or at home*?)

 For a while I stacked them on top of the microwave. That stack can get so large, it tumbles over.  I decorated one of the small, cardboard  shipment boxes using one napkin, acrylic paint, felt and air-dry clay to decorate a box to keep them in. I happened to have all I needed in my craft stash. 

* I never buy paper napkins. I use cloth and launder them. I purchase the cloth napkins in good condition from thrift stores.  Since I'm at a vintage age 🙂, I also have vintage 

tablecloths that have matching napkins. 

That's it ***

Costume Jewelry

 

I have organized the necklaces and bracelets. Now comes earrings and brooches.

While decluttering I had to decide what I would give away and what I would keep. Among the jewelry were some pieces that have sentimental value that I am not ready to let go of even if I rarely wear it or not at all.

After setting the “give away pile” to the side, I focused on how to store the “keepers.”

Instead of dumping it all in a box, I decided I wanted to dump it in an attractive box.

I used a decorative contact paper I had recently bought and covered a hinged shoe box with it. Rummaging through my stash I found Velcro, imitation leather, and a lone blue button.

I set to work covering the outside of the box. I then cut out two pieces of leather in the shape of a strap and glued them together for sturdiness. Measuring carefully, I determined where the Velcro should be on the underside of the lid and attached it. Instead of placing the button at the bottom of the strap, I placed it on top just for color. Later I was able to place a title on the box indicating its contents. 

After sorting the jewelry by colors and sets  I placed them inside the box and stored it on a closet shelf.

FOOTNOTE: 

I came across this receipt during my decluttering. As of 2026 this receipt is thirty-five years old.

The Century Plaza Mallhas gone the route of so many malls of today. 

Century Plaza Mall

It no longer exists and has been replaced by an Amazon Fulfillment  Center.

That's it ***

Bracing the Bracelets

Now that I have the necklaces corralled it was time for the bracelets. 

1. I spotted a small wooden crate that  once held fancy fruit and chocolates, at a second hand store   A new crate at a Craft or $ Store would have been about $5. I got this one for 99 cents. 

2. A  base coat of white followed by pink was  the previous plan.  I later decoupaged it with a floral gift wrapping paper which you'll see in the final product.

3. The wooden drawer knobs in my stash finally got a chance to shine...literally. They were from a project that was never fulfilled. Originally,  I wanted the knobs green, but later decided on silver.

4.  The wooden dowel purchased from Lowe's for $1.69+ was cut to length with a  hacksaw I'd forgotten was in the garage. The pool noodle was easy to cut with a pair of strong scissors.

5.  I'm pleased with how this project turned out. You can see the decoupaged floral paper I used. The cup hooks are strong and hold the bracelets and dowel well.

        6. Now I can see the bracelets (this is just a sample) I have without rummaging through a drawer  looking for them. This hangs in my closet, on the wall next to the necklace holder.

That's it ***

1 

Necklace holder

This wooden slice was drawn and decorated by Matthew S.     He gifted it to me and I made a jewelry necklace  holder from it.

Necklace holder

 

Single Serving Oven Baked Rice

 

That's it ***

Corn Fritters (Mock Oysters)

                                                                                   Why are they called mock oysters?

I  used bell pepper, salt, black pepper, green onions and paprika in my mix. I didn't use cracker crumbs or corn meal. 

*FOOTNOTE

When I say this cookbook has everything;

                    Ever been hungry enough to eat a bear?

There you have it.

That's it ***

Amish Bakery

Dutch Oven Bakery is an Amish bakery located in   Falkville, Alabama. I took a day trip with others to see what they offered. 

Inside did not disappoint. It was chock full of goodies. You can see pictures here.

I bought these items.

I've had success using this microwave popcorn popper. 

There are many varieties of corn. All of it isn't yellow or white. 

You are probably wondering if the popcorn turns red  after popping? No it doesn't.

It turns out white and the kernels are smaller than the yellow that I'm used to. 

There seemed to be less husk to get out of my teeth and throat.

I seasoned it the first time with a little powdered Ranch seasoning from the salad mix pack. The popcorn seasonings in the shakers are expensive and they have little to no taste to me.

 

Tin Can Wind Chimes

 Things don't always work out. You can either chalk it up to experience or you can try again.

In this particular instance I'd seen colorfrul wind chimes made from tin cans and thought I'd try it.

Oftentimes my problem is that I can't decide on what I want to do, end up incorporating all features and then it turns out a tragic mess. 

I saw this.

Laura Daniel

             AND                         I saw this.         Debra Makol

*Coffee can, vegetable cans, Red Bull can. All      spray painted white 

 *Cans painted with acrylic paint in the colors        on the napkin. 

   *Napkin decoupaged onto one can.

I tried too many techniques. 
Decoupage, stencil, free hand, stones, glitter

The wire and chain (from a broken necklace) I used was difficult to shape. Then I tried to use string. 

A TACKY MESS!

I decided that this would be an experimental experience.   

I will try again. 

That's it ***