My map

You know those maps made of old license plates? Well I have always wanted one but the cost a few pay checks, so I quickly gave up on ever owning one. They have pictures of them, but that's not nearly as cool. Then while in Sea Side, Florida I happen to spot a map made of various coke cans (I'm from atlanta  and it's coke! not pop, not soda. Call it what you will) But back to the map. So I got very excited about said map but when I saw the price tag I about died. I realized I could make one myself and by golly I did. It took a while to collect the cans and figure out a system. But I think I've figured it out now and I'm working on my second one. I'm hoping to make a few more and sell them on etsy. so if ya want a map, let me know. I'll be happy to make you one

A bit of mayhem

Well I haven't had time to make anything or go on a thrift shop adventure in a while due to working 3 weeks of soccer camp, taking a coaching class, and drinking my weight in water so I don't collapse in this horrid heat. So I don't have much to blog about so I figured I'd share a few things others have made that are quite impressive.

Forget tasting the rainbow, you can drink it! Roy G Biv Smoothies made for each color of the rainbow and day of the week. Don't cha want one? 

Check this out! Can ya figure out what it once was?? 

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Little motorcycles made from pocket lighter parts! I don't think I'd have the patience to make one of these but they sure are pretty darn cool. 

Thanks to Myth Busters we now know you can drop a of Mentos in soda bottle and watch it explode. But check out what this guy made

Last of all, take a chill pill and relax for a bit and do nothing for two minutes while I go do a rain dance. 

A bit of a road block

What I would give for new shoes!!!!! A kidney (I have one to spare right?) an Arm, A leg, My Soul.... ANYTHING FOR NEW SHOES!!! Now when I say I need new shoes I do not mean this in the "I'm a girl obsessed with shoes" kinda way. No no, Although I was gainfully employed at a shoe store for quite a while with a lovely discount, I'm not really a shoe obsessed person like other members of my gender. I still have my converse I bought in the 10th grade people. 

I need Athletic Shoes. Asics size 7 1/2 or 8 to be specific. Now I know there are lots and lots of shoes worn once or twice and simply tossed to the side. I could easily find a pare of black dress shoes or simple boots. But athletic shoes are hard to come by, much less ones that aren't fairly worn which defeats the reason of buying new shoes.

 While mine are in good condition, the supports in them are completely gone and 3 weeks of soccer camp are taking their toll on me. My already bad ankles kill! Now I need these shoes out of necessity not a need. I coach soccer 6-7 days a week this fall... I need new comfortable shoes badly. Now if only the Adidas gods would give us shoes in our coaching gear pack this  year. 

I recently painted Josh and Dawns' hall way in payment of Teva flip flops... which I have yet to receive (cough cough, josh, cough cough) Again another thing I had a necessity for, as mine I can open like a sandwich and make talk. When do I wear said flip flops that I have to have them you ask?? Why that's simple. When I get off the soccer field when I've been out there for 8 hours. Any who. So if any one would like to gift me some shoes or repay me for a service I have offered in the past or future, I would be very grateful. I'd offer to work for them but I don't have a free moment for a good 2 more weeks. I'm a 7 1/2 or 8. Nothing pink. 

A nifty idea...

I was bumming around blog world one day and came across Kim at too much time on my hands and she is on a wooden pallet kick. GENIUS? I think so. Every time I see a wooden pallet just chillin by a dumpster my craft brain gets a going! There's just so many things out there people have made from this free wood.  Kim took this pallet: 

And turned it into this! 

She's currently giving one away in a contest so if you want a shot at winning this nifty little organizer pop on over to her site at too much time on my hands and say hello. You can also see her full post about building one of these bad boys. Here's a few other things people have made with wooden pallets. 

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Cool huh? I love love love the shelf!! I'm thinking a nice planter for a small patio garden? It looks totally awesome in my head! Maybe I'll bring it to life one of these days. Add it to the ever growing list of things I want to make one day. 

A fun solution

Since NO ONE gets rid of storage containers and they are hard to come by, I'm left to fend for myself. I REFUSE TO USE COOL-WHIP CONTAINERS. I don't care that it's the south and perfectly acceptable. So I found a an empty coffee can and decided to paper mache it. I started with some orange construction paper and finished with 2 layers of book pages. 

Before: 

After: 

  I think I'd look good on a desk or maybe holding some yellow flowers. Not sure what I'll use it for but it turned out decent. If you want to paper mache something it's simple: Mix water and flower with a tab of glue. Dip paper strips in mixture and apply to what ever you'd like. 

To add to the collection

What's more exciting than finding something you collect?! Not much. It's half the fun of garage sales, thrift stores and in my case, the speech teacher's treasure box. In the last week of school my kiddos were picking their prizes for a week of hard work when I spotted it! A 101 Dalmatians Christmas Toy. No, I'm not ashamed that I'm excited about a McDonald's toy. Feel free to laugh but I've had a few of the set and I use them to decorate at Christmas. I have no where near the 101 in the collection, but I like my little Dalmatians. So needless to say, I was very excited about this little toy. The speech teacher decided I'd worked hard at speech group (Only a select few will know how hard that really was) and let me have the toy. It's the little things in life and some days it's a stupid Happy Meal toys.

And the list keeps growing!

The other day my friends Meg and Kristen both informed me of this lovely website called stumbleupon.com. (Now if you’ve never been to this website consider this your warning.) This website will change they way you bum around the Internet. 

You simply sign in and select things that interest you. For example, I picked traveling, photography, crafts, and a few others. Then you hit the stumble button and a website matching your criteria will show up. You can add it to your favorites or hit the button again.

 Needless to say I’ve spent a good deal of my time on this website and have found the neatest things. The downside, my craft list and things I want to do list have quickly doubled in length. But with 3 weeks of soccer camp and work starting 2 weeks after that, my time is quickly running out. But here’s a few of the things I have planned:

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How cute is that? And it's so easy to make. Now I just need some buttons....

And these bad boys are about to get turned into this: 

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 Home made Solar Lamps. I just need some old yard solar lamps. So if you have any that work I'd love to have them! 

I also found a woven rug made from old bed sheets, some new recipes, and lots lots more! How I'm going to get all this done before teaching and coaching pick back up I don't know. So if any one would like to sponsor me so I don't have to work and can just do this for a living that would be fantastic!