Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Upcycle Reuse Repurpose Recycle To Make Memories Last




Upcycle, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle To Make Memories Last. 

There are many of us who enjoy the diy projects of upcycling, repurposing, recycling, and so on. Some do it because it is a hobby that they enjoy, and find pleasure in it. Others will do it for others such as family members, and friends to help them preserve things in their own home. Many of us hate seeing things being thrown in the dumps, and like to be green. There are many who do it, and have done so many projects that they have decided to sell them for some extra money, and to make room in their homes. There are many who have made this a business for themselves too.

Anything in our homes can be used in other ways. We like to upcycle to reuse discarded materials in order to create something of value. Upcycling is the use of old items for new purposes. I love to repurpose items that may have the potential for something fresh, and unique. It is a joy giving a new life to things, but also a new life is added back into our homes, and with other homes too. 

Many like to make headboards from pallets, bi fold doors, or maybe using some old fence doors too. Some wonderful market bags, and handbags have been made from sweaters. I have seen an old suitcase be renewed by making it with an expandable file in it for the office, and family papers. Another popular item used is jewelry. Broken pieces, maybe lonely pieces that belonged to a family member, and etc. They are great to put around picture frames with maybe a picture of the family member it came from. I adore those who use linens from times past for new table cloth, curtains, lampshades, and etc.

Whatever it is we do with items instead of discarding them has brought joy to many of us who do it, or for many of those who shop for such items done by some talented people. As many will agree we also do it to Make Memories Last. 

So, what is your reason for doing this? Maybe you are someone who does not have the time for this craft, and like to purchase such things from those who do this. Whatever the case may be we all have our own reasons for upcycling, repurposing, reusing, and recycling. 

Memories, let's make them last

Thanks so much for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams, and hope you all are having a great week so far! Summer almost gone, and fall is working it's way to us. Enjoy the week, and see you all again soon. Toodles . . . . . 

Monday, July 29, 2013

Vintage Antique Refinished Trunks of All Sizes

                                            How to Refinish an Anitque Truck
                                            
                                       2 Old Trunks With Retrospeciveaustin

                                                Fabulous Old Trunk With Rehabvintage

                      Vintage Green Crocodile Embossed Dome Top Trunk

                                           Antique Vintage Luggage Trunks

Vintage Antique Refinished Trunks of all sizes, colors, and ages. I love them, and would adore having one in our home too.

So, what do you think? Do you like trunks too? There are so many different kinds of them. The old, and vintage ones are fabulous to awe over. I have seen some restored, either new coats of wax, or some of them get distress painted too. Some might need new hardware, and some still have their own hardware. Some trunks are vintage from days of traveling, and then you also have vintage trunks for those who were in the military. There are so many to see.

Hmmm....my Dad had an old army green one he kept locked up all the time. He would store things in there from his time in the service, patches, uniforms, and etc. Unfortunately, I was told it had gotten really banged up, and it was thrown. Darn! I would have loved to work with it. I did get a chance to see another military one this weekend at my first visit to this particular consignment shop. Was not in bad condition, and I felt she had it priced fairly decently too. 

No, I did not get it, but have been thinking bout it since. Also, I seen another one that was more modern, bit smaller, but cute. That one has stuck in my mind too.

So, do you have a trunk in your home? Is it something you too are looking for? What do you think of these items?

Hey, thanks so much for spending some time with LilacsNDreams today. Hope to see ya'll again soon. Take care till then. 

  

Saturday, July 27, 2013

May You Accomplish Your Goals For the Weekend



May You Accomplish Your Goals For the Weekend, and have some fun too!

It's Saturday, WooHoo! Made it through the week, and here is the weekend . . . Whew! Was it a long week for anyone, or a short week? My week went by pretty quickly. Did I accomplish everything I wanted to? Not fully, but I sure got a lot of it started which is good, and not too many disappointments. 

As I had commented to a good friend of my once, the smaller goals are easier to achieve than the bigger goals. If you set your goals to high, and don't accomplish them you will be disappointed, and become discouraged. If you set smaller goals for yourself it is easier to achieve them, gives you a feeling of accomplishment, and you are ready to set another goal to continue on.

Big weekend in town for us here, Railroad Days. Rides, swimming, parades, flea market, local vendors, and etc. Didn't make it today. Will I tomorrow? Not sure yet. House will be empty tomorrow, and it gives me opportunities to work more without any disruptions too. 

It's Saturday out, bit cooler, but nice. Enjoy this beautiful day everyone, and may you accomplish your goals for the weekend. 

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and see you all again soon. Have a super weekend!


Friday, July 26, 2013

Have a Fabulicous Friday and a Wonderful Weekend


Have a Fabulicous Friday, and a Wonderful Weekend Everyone!

Yippee! It's Friday, and what a beautiful day it is going to be. We didn't get the rain, or storms as predicted last night. Darn! We really could use some of the rain right now. 

Well, here we are going into Friday, and into the weekend. Stopping by to wish you all a Fabulicous Friday, and to have a sweet wonderful weekend! Have fun, enjoy, and hope you can do all you wish to do. 

Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams. Take care, and see you all again soon.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Google Gmail Changes Sorting by Using Categories


Google Gmail Changes Sorting by Using Categories

Whew! I was trying to work on creating another banner for my site, but things not working and I soon did not feel creative anymore. So, here I am with all of you again. Still working on this site page, and still feeling the need for some simple changes. Just cannot put my finger on what I want done yet. 

Anyway, how many of you use Gmail? Yes, another product of Google. I have used Gmail for quite some time now, and have never had any issues with it. I enjoyed how I did not have to sort through all the spam mail like I get with my other email accounts. Better yet, it seemed as though I did not get spammed with ridiculous things near as much as the other accounts either. 

Well, recently Google did a minor change with the gmail accounts. Now, when you open your gmail to go through it, read it, etc you will find it already categorized for you with tabs. Unless, you have already done your own categories this new change is putting things into Social, and Promotion. I understand the need for organizing, helping us, and trying to make things better. But, sometimes you don't need to fix what is not really broken. I did not mind how it was working before, and I was use to going through things, and deleting as I went along too. Now, when I go to my Gmail account I enter into my inbox, then I have to search through the other tabs to see what mail was put where. By the time I do that hopping around I have spent more time reading my emails then I use to do before. Course Google is hard to reach, seems to ignore what the people are trying to contact them about, and etc. 

Sorry, but I really do not like how they have things set up. I did find from another blog someone else also upset over this same issue. They told how you could switch it back to the old way, and it was actually simple too. Whew! Was I relieved!

Upon entering your Gmail account for your emails you will see to the right side of those category tabs they have entered is an X by itself. Click on this X, and another box will open for you with Primary, Social, Promotion, and etc. Unclick the social box, unclick the promotion box, and just leave the check in the primary....which is the inbox being used. Close it out, and when you go back to your email you will see that the tabs they have given you disappear.

For those who use Gmail, and not liking the small change they have done I do hope this will help you. Just in case you didn't know you could change it back this should help you through it. Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams everyone! Have a beautiful day, and see you all again soon!

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Priority Mail Changes Become Effective July 28th

 Priority Mail Changes Effective July 28th, and that is coming really soon. So, thought I better get something out there for ya'll to read about, catch up on, and make any adjustments that you might need to make. First of all, there is no changes in the pricing. What is changing is with the Express Mail, and Priority Mail services they have. 

These changes taking effect will be on July 28 as I read it with ecommercebytes. Some of the important points for online sellers to know is:

• REBRANDING Express Mail will be changed to Priority Mail Express (and Express Mail International will be changed Priority Mail Express)

• ESTIMATED DELIVERY Priority Mail packages will have an estimated service of 1 day, 2 days, or 3 days that will be displayed on the payment receipt, online shopping label, and in the USPS tracking information. 

• INSURANCE Domestic Priority Mail will now include insurance with No additional charge. 

• PRICING Current pricing for Priority Mail will remain the same. 

• PACKAGING Shippers can continue using Express Mail and Express Mail International names and associated packaging until January 2014.

The USPS has always advertised Priority Mail as 2-3 day delivery service. Now mailers will get an estimated service 1 day, 2 days, or 3 days based on the packages departure, and ship-to location.

Shippers cannot request 1, 2, or 3 day delivery. But, if they need over night delivery, they can use Priority Mail Express (to most locations) Priority Mail remains a non guaranteed service, but Priority Mail Express continues to provide a money-back guarantee service (see details on the USPS website) 

When the changes go into effect on July 28, 2013, domestic Priority Mail will include, without additional charge, either $50 or $100 for loss, damage, and missing merchandise. If you are using a stamp, or a meter to add postage to your package, you'll need to bring your package to the Post Office to receive the automatic insurance. 

The USPS said it was rebranding Express Mail because becaue revenue and volume figures for the product have "stagnated" in recent years, and it wanted to increase awareness. "It is hoped that these name changes will help reinvigorate Express Mail by leveraging the wide spread recognition of, and and positive associations with the Priority Mail Brand. As an added benefit, the proposed name changes would effectively consolidate most of the Postal Service's shipping products under a single brand identity."

USPS is currently testing advertisements, and is planning on promoting the changes via mail, TV, radio and internet channels, according to Post & Parcel 

All of this article was copied from the ecommercebytes site, and you can go there to read this as well if you wish.

I use Priority Mail all the time for the items I sell, and ship because the weights are just a bit more, and I can generally get a better deal than using UPS. I generally had the insurance included with the shipping charges, but now will have to do some revising of my shops with this new effect taking place. 

Well, now I hope this informational was helpful to those of you who maybe had not heard about this, or maybe got wind of it, but still questioned it. If you have any questions make sure to check the USPS website noted, call the Post Office, or the next time you visit the Post Office ask them to explain it to you also. 

Thanks for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams, and hope to see ya'll again soon. Have a splendid day!

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Changes With My Blogger Background


Changes With My Blogger Background, and not sure what to do, or what I want.

Hello Everyone! Bear with me as I feel like changing things just a little bit with my site LilacsNDreams . . . . Mainly the background. Not sure what I want yet. As the next few days go along here you might see the background change a few times. Don't worry, same place LilacsNDreams, just me going through a feeling of a change. 

Not sure what I want, if I want what I had before but just a little bit more toned down, something lighter, feel of vintage, hmmm . . . I still like having my lilacs coloring definitely, blues, pinks, shades of green/aqua, feeling of vintage, buttons, stitching, and Oh....I just cannot decide. Not too much floral, if any floral it has to be light, or not over powering. So, I search the internet, looking at things, trying to inspire myself, and etc.

If you have any ideas I would love to hear them. I usually do my own backgrounds. I find something not copy righted, or I take pictures, download, use photobucket, and enter the code I need for the background with that CSS on blogger here. I am not a computer technie, so bear with me as I work my way through this.

Sorry for any inconvenience, or confusion. Hope ya'll understand, and again . . . . Please bear with me as I go through my changes . . . . sounds like a woman thing, right? LOL:)

Hope ya'll had a wonderful Monday, and here is to having a sweet week! Thanks for dropping into LilacsNDreams, take care, and see ya'll again soon.  

Monday, July 22, 2013

DIY Ideas For Making Coasters at Home

                                                                  DIY Tile Coasters

                                                       DIY Scrabble Letter Coasters

                                           DIY Family Pictures Coasters Made

                                                        DIY Coasters Using Maps

DIY Ideas For Making Coasters at Home, how neat, and actually simple to do too. 

So, how did the weekend go for everyone? During the summer I get these urges to slack off a little bit with my blog, or anything else actually. As for stepping away from the computer, are you serious? That I don't seem to do! Either using the desk top, my phone, or my iPad that was given to me by our son . . .I live on the computers. I LOVE to read things, view other blogs, research, and when I come across diy projects I feel like a fire has been lit underneath me. I just keep looking, reading, looking, and reading. Taking some notes for my to do lists, supplies, etc. 

I have seen this done before, made notes of it, but felt this was one of them simple projects that I should share with you. Most of us, I know I do, will have the supplies already at home. If not, it truly is inexpensive to do these. Better yet, you can create anything you would like with making your own coasters. 

Let's see now . . . scissors, pencils, felt or cork board (felt is cheaper), mod podge, foam/sponge brush, ceramic tiles, and some water resistant clear acrylic spray, or polyurethane spray.  These are some of the supplies needed. It is your preference as to what you make them with. Maybe you would like to use some paint, stencils, scrap materials, and etc. There is no limit to what you use.

Now, what you put on top of the coasters you make is up to you. This is where you can have some really true fun doing this. Use scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, maps, pretty napkins, family photos, scrabble letters, and just whatever you have around the house would work.  

Visit some of the pictures I have shown above with their links, and you can get some really simple neat instructions to help you in making these.

Hope ya'll enjoyed your visit with LilacsNDreams, and thanks for sharing your time with Me. I enjoy the visits, comments, messages, and hope to see ya'll again real soon. Take care, and have a fabulous Monday!

Friday, July 19, 2013

Happy Thrifting, Junking, and Vintage Collecting Friday


Happy Thrifting, Junking, and Vintage Collecting Friday to all of you!! Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, and may it be a creative one too. Have a wonderful Friday, and have a beautiful weekend everyone!!

See you all again on Monday. Toodle Ooohh . . . . . . 

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Radiators Repurposed Upcycled Recycled are Preserved Treasures


All Sort of Radiators and What to Do
                                All Sorts of Old Radiators and What to Do

Radiant Cocktail Station Over Radiator
                             A Radiant Cocktail Station Over Radiator

Built Radiator Cover With Scrap Wood
                           Built Radiator Cover With Scrap Wood

Book Case Cover Radiators
                            Book Cases Cover Radiators

                   Preserving Treasures With Radiators in the Garden

Radiators Repurposed Upcycled Recycled are Preserved Treasures

LilacsNDreams is sharing more creativity with some of those old house radiators. As we know there is always some way, or something to do with things being removed from our homes. Better yet, find a way to upcycle them as they sit within our homes too. 

You see this quite often in older homes is the old radiators. What do you do with them? When I was younger I use to hate them, and thought them useless. Now that I am older . . . LOL:) I realize they were a good use for their time, some people still use them, many others either throw them, and then there are many many others who will find uses for them.  The love of creativity by using something old, and making it work for more modern times. 

If you think about it there are many things that you could do with them. In most homes today they do not work anymore. They just sit there. Sometimes they stay, and sometimes they can be removed. For those that stay in the home what could you possibly do with them? I have seen others share ideas with putting glass tops on them, and making them larger tables for in their homes. Many like to cover the radiators where they are, and it looks really good when done too. Make a book case over them, use some scrap wood to make a radiator cover, make a cute little cocktail station, preserve them by using them in your gardens, make benches out of them for outside or on your porches, and the possibilities are endless actually.  Don't forget that painting things is always a good project to do too. Being creative, isn't it fun?

Who would have guessed right? I mean I never thought of redoing radiators into something else myself. I so enjoy seeing new life given to old pieces that can still be used with our modern ways of things. 

So, what do you think? Have you thought of getting rid of any old radiators yourself? Hopefully after getting some ideas from here you will see there are some possibilities as always. 

Thanks so much for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams today. See you all again soon!

Monday, July 15, 2013

Design Your Life With a Lil Sparkle and Creativity

                                 Thrift Shop Finds For The Home

                          Brown Beaded Watch in Thrift Shop Finds

                  Black Scroll Stand or Wall Hanging For the Home

                        Thrift Shop Finds as Bathroom Accessories Decor

                                 Black Scroll Stand Finds Another Use

Design Your Life With a Lil Sparkle and Creativity, what fun!

What a week! It's summer time, holiday, and I have to say it . . . I just feel lazy lately! I took a last minute week off from things a bit. Oh, yeah. With my shops, organizing at home, crafts, and I mostly lounged. But, I did take one day to myself to visit our local thrift store in town, and another one over yonder as well. 

Both stores have things donated to them, but what a difference in some of the inventory and the prices too! Not to mention the hospitable service between the two also. I visited with Melissa's Hope Chest where I found the gorgeous heavy glass vase with some wonderful design in it. I also found the gold filigree vanity dresser frame tray there too. Oh, yes, I can't forget those wonderful vintage hangers that are fun to work with too! Some day I will have to show what I have been working for with those. 

On my way home I stopped with our local thrift shop which does not happen often. I don't agree with their ethics there of how the employees take for themselves what comes through the door for donation, or they set things aside for close family members, and friends. The day I visited I watched a very expensive horse saddle brought ought for a customer. One of them good saddles that would cost about $1100+. I watched them bring it to the counter for this girl who then paid only $30 for it. Wow!

Anyway, that is where I found the black scroll stand or wall hanging. I also got the blue glass jar with the glass votive holders. I found the brown beaded watch there which is missing a bead, and needs a battery. But, it is something I can deal with to fix too. I got the cute little picture frame with stand to set on my vintage vanity in our bedroom, and the white stand is holding a picture of my grand daughter on my desk as I write this to all of you. 

As you can see from the pictures I was undecided with the black scroll stand. Our downstairs bathroom is small, and I wanted something there to hold some rolls of toilet paper for us. I really don't have enough room to hang things on the wall, and was hoping this would work. It did at first, but I wasn't settled with it yet either. So, I then moved the stand into my office, and set it against the small wall with our clock above it. As I looked at it I was thinking of course. I then put something solid on the second shelf as you can see, and I am using the slots above to separate most of the mail that comes. Below it on a couple of the shelves I have put in small boxes of envelopes which fit in there good. So, it is working well in my office at this time....till I change my mind again. 

You will also see that I did compromise for the bathroom an idea. I used the gold filigree tray to set a couple rolls of toilet paper on those, and on the side I decorated with the blue glass bottle, and the 2 votive candle holders. By the way, the 2 votive holders have tea lights in them that have a blue wick too. This all goes very well with our shower curtain that has a very light designs of vintage paper, vintage bathroom bottles, few butterflies, with colors of sand, blue, purple, and a beachy green color. 

So, sometimes it is great to thrift shop for your business, crafting, and the things we do online or in our own stores. Yet, it is so much fun to thrift, and be able to create different things for our own homes too. Don't you think? Hey, doesn't hurt to add a little sparkle, and creativity to our homes, right?

Hope you all had fun visiting today, and maybe got a few ideas of things to do for yourselves. Remember you are always welcome to share some thoughts, and ideas with all of us here as well. Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope to see you all again soon. Have a sweet day everyone!

 

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Happy 4th of July America!



Happy 4th of July to All!

Yesterday I spent the day going to base to get our son, and bring him home for the weekend. So many soldiers in uniform, and in their civilian clothes too. So many of them there, and that was just the one base out of many that we have through out the united states. 

One of the duties of my son is he has funeral detail which is for all the fallen soldiers who are brought home to the area he is in. Anyway, he was gonna get off base early yesterday because his sergeant felt they deserved a break, and wanted to cut them loose for the weekend. Then.....our son text me right outside of base that he would not be released till about 5 p.m. ....2 hours later. Ok, that is fine, it's the army, and things happen. A few minutes later he sent me another text saying that he was "getting promoted today". WooHoo! Something he was kind of waiting on, and was starting to think he was overlooked. So, when it was announced him, and his sergeant were a bit surprised as they had not been notified prior to this. So, the day ended well for our son before he left base yesterday. He was given a certificate for this accomplishment, and of course was happy too.

So, today is the 4th of July and I wish you all well during the festivities, gatherings, and etc. Please be safe. I also ask that if you see someone from the military today, someone being active now, a veteran, and so on....please shake their hand, thank them for their services, salute them, but show them how we are thankful for what they are doing for us. Those not able to be home as they are across seas please say a prayer for them. These men, and women are fighting for our rights, and freedoms of today for "US". And, remember those who have fallen for us as well. Take just a moment to be proud of our freedoms, but to also be thankful for what we have by those who fought for "US". Thanks for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams today, and see you all again soon.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO EVERYONE!! 
Have fun, enjoy, and be safe!!

Monday, July 1, 2013

Decorative Wall Plate Light Switch Covers

                                    Yellow and Bees Light Switch Cover

                              Brown and Blue Damask Light Switch Cover

                             Lady Bugs Light Switch Cover

                                               Kitchen Decor Light Switch Cover

                             Black and White Antique Toile Light Switch Covers

Decorative Wall Plate Light Switch Covers can be do it yourself projects too.

How fun, and cute these are! What fun you can have with your light switch covers for every room in your home. Don't forget the covers for your outlets as well. They come in all shapes, and sizes which you can have fun with all of them. 

These are not too bad to make, simple, and fun. You can change out your wall plates often, when you change your decor, for the seasons, and if you are looking for some small changes to make. 

You can find switch plates from your Dollar Stores, Hardware Stores, Walmart, Target, and etc. Supplies you will need to have with these plates will be brushes, glue, paint, scrapbook paper, tissue paper, wrapping paper, embellishments, mod podge, and so on. Pictures of your kids, families, pets, and the possibilities are endless with this small do it yourself project. 

You could have the fun of making some of these yourself. If you would not have the time, or don't feel comfortable doing them yourself you can buy made plates with some of your stores, or better yet check with some of the wonderful talented artisans who do these kind of things for you. Check with Etsy, and other market places that you may find on the internet.

Hope you enjoyed this little project shared with you, and it helps you with some of them creative juices for you as well. Simple, sweet, and fun. I like it like that, don't you?

Thanks for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams, and sure do hope to see you again soon. Take care, and have a sweet day!