Wednesday 23 April 2014

cork and curtain rail holder cake stand

stainless steel curtain rail holder and three cork plates...this is pretty much all you need for a simple but unique cake stand...actually more a cookie, praline or cupcake stand, as i guess a cake would be too heavy for it.

...i do like the idea of having the connecting part of the plates on the side instead of in the centre of the plates.












this is what you need





- three cork plates in different sizes, or even same size

- stainless curtain rod bracket

- screws

- screwdriver

- felt pads


this is what you have to do




- reassemble the curtain rail holder into all its parts



- it usually conatins of a stand, a cover of the stand, the rod and tiny screws



- attach the foot of the bracket onto the cork, using your screws



- no drilling is required if you use cork plates, as the material is quite soft



- you might have to shorten the screws, in case they are too long



- place the cover onto the foot of the bracket



- attach the curtain rail holder onto the foot



- get one or two felt pads ready



- adhere the felt pad onto the cork plate, to fill the space in between the plate and the holder



- insert the cork plate 





- prepeat with the top cork plate



- it should look like this





 

i hope you enjoyed the alternative to a tradional cake stand and its tutorial...best regards...silke

Monday 14 April 2014

switch frame-photo frame

...and another hardware store inspired project...photo frames made from switch frames.

isn't it quite obvious that switch frames would make cute photo frames...i think so.

they look very nice if only painted in simple matt black...but i felt more like decorating them a little bit.

...as i chose to use a few of my own photos from the good old eighties...i got a little bit inspired by the very 'decent' jewellery i wore at that time...oh my god...i very much enjoyed looking like a decorated christmas tree when i was younger

it wasn't very difficult to find some 'pearl-like' craft supply, some pretty much inexpensive fake pearl jewellery and glittery pearl diamond spray paint...so i just started painting and gluing.













this is what you need



- switch frame panels in various sizes

- photos in the size of the frames

- pearly diamond spray paint

- fake pearls and pearly craft supply

- super glue


this is what you have to do



- spray-paint your frames



- if you are crafting inside, spray-painting inside a carton is a great idea



- the diamond spray gives the frames a perfect pearly finish





- adhere some pearls to the inside of the frames



- turn the frame panel around and glue the pictures onto the backside of the frame



- decorate the windows without photos with the remaining jewellery




- and here we go: diamond-and-pearls-switch-frame-photo-frames



- i actually mounted the frames onto a shiny grey handmade memoboard, but you can hang them directly to your wall


there is a wide range of different switch frames available and to decorate the frames according to the chosen photos is a lot of fun...maybe you have a great theme for your frames already...enjoy your crafting...best regards...silke

Wednesday 9 April 2014

dehydrated fruit chips

...after my sweet and sour apple chips, i was curious to find out how other fruit chips will be.

very much delicious with nearly any kind of fruit to be successfull.

i made some strawberry, kiwi, plum, pineapple and pear chips and can't wait for other delicious fruits to follow.

this time i did not use my oven, i reactivated my old inexpensive dehydrator and was surprised to see that it still works.

...my dehydrator is many years old, does neither have a temperature control nor a timer, only five trays...and still makes really good fruit chips...i am so happy to realise, that i do not need any of the high-end models.




strawberry chips


kiwi chips


pineapple chips


plum chips


pear chips


this is what you need


- fresh fruits

- mandoline slicer

- peeler



this is what you have to do


- fruits with a non-edible skin need to be peeled

- fruits with edible skin need to be washed thoroughly

- cut the fruits into thin slices

- place the slices onto the trays of your dehydrator 

- let them dry over night...mine only has a on-and-off switch, so i can't give a temperature and a time

- the fruit chips are ready, when crispy like chips


if you don't have a dehydrator, you can also prepare fruit chips in your oven like i did with my apple-cinnamon-lemon-chips.



these fruit chips are really yummy and a perfect little snack on the go...enjoy and best regards...silke



Wednesday 2 April 2014

stylish wall storage for shoes and handbags

sometimes it is just not possible to stick to your own resloutions...i really tried to keep my bedroom modest and decent...only my bed...a bedside table...and a little bit of decoration.

...after more than seven years i had to gave up and admit that my walk-in closet is not big enough anymore and that i have to outsource some of my stuff.

step by step i had to transfer some necklaces...some shoes...some handbags...and some clothes to my bedroom... i am not sure about what to choose...but at least i had an idea how to do it in style...

...styrofoam crown molding for the shoes and styrofoam consoles for the handbags.







it is as easy at it looks like...


this is what you need




- styrofoam crown molding

- styrofoam wall console hanger

- saw ( optional )

- paint

- brush

- nails

- hammer

- folding ruler

- level


this what you have to do






- cut your molding to size, if required






- paint all sides of your moldings

- nail the moldings onto your wall

- decorate them with your favourite heels


my inspiration for this gorgeous shoe storages can be found here:

how to use styrofoam consoles for additional handbag storage can be found here:









how to use canvas and drawer pull for necklace storage can be found here:

http://silkerudat.blogspot.de/2013/08/padded-jewellery-storage.html


in case you are looking for some organization ideas and storage solutions, i hope you got a little bit inspired...best regards...silke