Another Recycling Project

A Cork based Trivet

Have you ever looked at something before you decide to throw it away, trying to find a use for it...I do that so many times!

Would you call me a hoarder?

Some may just call me crazy...I think it is just my creativity taking over!

I knew I could definitely do something with the middle part I cut off of the cake base to make my wreath. I looked and looked and thought a little and looked again. Yep, I knew just what to do with it...a cork trivet. At least I could also use all the corks I had been saving for so long. So here is what I did...

The most difficult part was cutting the corks up into circles and trying to make them all equal in thickness as much as possible. It is very important to have a sturdy cutting board and a good craft knife (for the younger crafters: please make sure this part is done by an adult). Since you have to cut so close to the edge of the cork, it is imperative that you concentrate so please do this part of the project without interruptions or distractions and work slowly cutting in a sawing motion, gently working your way down the cork circumference.

I cut more circles than I needed so that I could place them in the best possible way to go around the base. After cutting them, I grouped them according to the thicknesses since some varied although by only a fraction of a cm.

The best way to start is by placing one cork circle in the centre and work your way around in circles. When I was happy with the way the trivet looked, I glued down each piece separately.

Et voila!

My cork trivet!

A Valentine/Celebration Wreath

I may be posting this a little late for Valentine but I decided to do so anyway since this wreath can be used decorated in different ways for various holidays and occasions during the year. I still have mine up in the main hallway and looks very decorative. Just like changing the decorations on my year round tree, I could add seasonal or occasional decorative items to give this wreath a meaningful theme throughout the year.

Using a cardboard cake base for the main circle, I also cut some fun foam hearts in white and red and decorated them with designs using gold outliners. Here are some pictures to show the steps I used to make this wreath.

I would like to give credit to Diana Trupiano whose wreath inspired me to recyle one of my cake bases.

Here is the link to her lovely craft... http://www.craftybug.com/freeprojects/valentinewreath.htm

Now what shall we do with the centre part I cut off from the cake base? That is another story and another re-cycling project!

My Year Round Tree

Keep

Christmas

with you

all through the year

That is the message featured on my year round tree. This is a saying I always remember especially after Christmas. It was a saying that I remember hearing on a Sesame Street Christmas episode I used to watch with our kids ~ this meaningful message has stayed with us from year to year.

This year I decided to have a mini year round tree which I hope to decorate according to the different seasons, feasts, birthdays, anniversaries and holidays.

Come join me as I go about changing or adding to my little tree.

Here are the little hearts I made using paper, glitter glue, stickers, outliners, flowers and gems along with ribbon hangers.

I put them all on my tree for Valentine's along with other decorations I received from my online friends.

More Pictures ~ San Anton Gardens

Some of you have emailed me to say how much they
liked my first post and that they'd like to see more
pictures of the gardens...here they are, enjoy!

I'm now really looking forward to spring after the long winter months. The gardens with all the different flowers in a variety of colours will be such a lovely treat to capture on camera.

A Stroll through San Anton Gardens

Earlier this month I enjoyed a lovely morning walking through San Anton Gardens with my daughter. It was a beautiful day in the middle of winter. These parts of the presidential gardens that are open to the public are such an inspirational place for painting, writing, taking pictures and above all for enjoying the lovely atmosphere of this historical place. A variety of tress, shrubs and exotic plants from all over the world as well as lovely fountains, pools and statues makes these gardens a paradise for the imaginative mind. Colourful flower beds are a feast to the eye especially during spring and summer and some of the trees which are over three centuries old add a
mystical aura to this enchanting place.
Let me share a part of this experience through some of the pictures I have taken...

Welcome to my Blog!

Hi I'm Doreen, welcome to my blog!

I hope you will visit often to share the ideas and moments in my creative adventures.

Being creative is just so much a part of me...I love to do all kinds of crafts, redecorate, recyle, paint, write poetry and stories and I also love taking pictures. There is so much around us that inspires me to create...every day I try to do something creative, however little or big and that gives me a feeling of happiness and fulfillment. I invite you to join me in my adventure...