Duct or Duck Tape Doll Clothes

This post is short and funny. I have NEVER seen something like this before but I figured it was worth its own post. I guess someone lost their Barbie clothes and didn't want a naked doll hanging around. They made a bathing suit for Barbie out of Duck Tape. Yes, it is true. They even used Purple so it would be styling! 

This is probably the shortest post I have ever done! I laughed so hard at the doll that it was probably well worth it! 

Wouldn't it be sad, but funny, to make your child a matching bathing suit! What some people come up with.

Duck or Duct Tape Purse or Bag - Designer Purse

I did a Duck Tape week a year or so ago. With needing time to be with my new grandchild, I figured I would do all these Duck Tape items that are really short to post about as you can just look at the item and tell how to make it mostly but a post that would be a bit shorter so I can "get ahead" on my posts. So, I am doing Duck Tape Week Two.

This purse is out of two colors of Duck Tape. It is not extremely thick. There are basically two thicknesses of tape other than the  top where there is the edging, it is a bit thicker. It is just a large square of tape and it is lined with the tape as well. At the top, they put large islets through the edge to be able to put the handles on. 


The handles are the cording you can purchase at the craft store for edging pillows etc. They just wound the tape around the cording as long as they wanted it but a few inches longer so they could fold it through the eyelets and then taped it back onto itself. 

You could recycle some old straps from an older used purse and just cover them with Duck Tape and use those as well. Either way works fine. You could even just Duck Tape over your old purse to give it a new look if that is easier.

The fun thing about this purse, if you get tired of the color or pattern, just cover it with a new layer of Duck Tape and you have an even stronger and thicker purse.

When that color gets old, just add a new layer and the purse gets stronger and thicker but is always a new color and pattern. 

Happy creating.

Over the Door Antique SIlver Knife Hook

Princess One is having a baby and asked that I come visit and help her. Her due date is today. So, with that information, I am going to post a few quick posts ahead of time so that I can visit her and enjoy my first grandchild (grand-daughter) without having to lug my computer around or find internet service etc.

This is a cool thing I saw once and took pictures but since I have never made one, I didn't feel like I was expert enough to post about it but it is such a creative way to use old silverware. If you have some cheap silver plate silverware, you can use it to make these creative over the door hooks. Wouldn't it be lovely to make a hook for each grandchild with grandma's silver or something as a way for each grandchild to get a piece of grandma's silver. It isn't like people actually eat off silver anymore as it is so much work to polish and that is a large inheritance for one person to get if there are lots of family members so making these hooks would be a way to share it with everyone. 

I made some jewelry out of spoons and forks but never finished the sets off. I probably should get to that and blog about it. You flatten the forks and wrap them around and they are bracelets as well as using two handles to make one bracelet. You can make earrings out of the forks and spoon tops as well. I will put  finishing those on my "to do" list for Easter. It would be nice getting them done.

If you make hooks out of the knife, a bracelet out of the fork and spoon handle, a necklace from the fork or spoon top and use the middle of the spoon and fork shaft for earrings, each person gets one full set of the silver. Kinda a fun idea. I'll be posting about Princess grand-baby one soon!

Princess Five's Art Show - 3-D - Part 2

Princess Five's art is pretty cool. I couldn't help but frame it and put it in her new room. You can see that she did a great job with this three D art project. She just picked colors that she liked which funny enough, matched her new room. She did this quite a while ago so the fact that she hadn't decided to change rooms makes it awesome that she chose the colors she did. 


Basically, you trace the item you want in 3-D and draw straight lines until you get to the object outline. Then, you curve the line in an arch while you are in the traced item and then go back to straight lines when you reach the other side of the traced item. Outside item, straight lines, inside the item, curved lines. You just follow that pattern. If the object is at an angle, the curved line arches at the side rather than the middle of the item. 
 
This can be done with letters, favorite objects or anything else you want to draw.  

I figured I had to show that project, and some of her other projects, as I think she did such a great job on them. Her "Chunky Giraffe is quite cute and I like the way that she chose different types of items to draw in different styles. 

She made this wooden cup in shop and I had no idea she made it. I have never seen it before. I went into her room to take pictures of her calendar when I noticed she had all her pencils in it and asked her about it. 

She made it and did a great job!

The last picture is something that Princess Three did years ago. I love this and also framed and hung it in her room and that room now happens to be Princess Fives room so both pieces of framed art just happen to be that rooms colors and I think they are both quite talented. 


I have never hung a piece of my art in a frame. I have painted some tole painting items and had them in my home but I have never done anything on canvas or any other type of art for framing. 

Seeing all their art makes me want to take an art class. It seems like I only get creative that way when I have an assignment. My favorite class in college was creative writing. Perhaps someday I will finish writing a book I started. I may have to have someone give me a deadline so I can get it finished. 

Perhaps some day soon... We used to have regular art shows with the girls and when Princess was showing me all her art, I couldn't help have flash backs to when they were little giving me their latest "art show" and if you haven't read this blog for the past three years, you may have missed the post where I describe our "art shows" in detail. Here is a link to a post about our family "art shows."

Princess Five's Art Show - Part 1

The semester at school just ended and Princess Five was in an art class. She came in the other day and was excited to show me the pictures she drew.


All the girls are artistic but because they dance, they don't have lots of space in their schedule for extra classes.

Princess Three had an art class and it was nice to be able to see her talents. 

Princess Five took art and really enjoyed it and did learned quite a lot in her class. As you can see, she learned to draw heads, noses, eyes, lips and she also drew a daily picture that the teacher had made into a calendar. 
 
One of her pictures that I liked is her Minnie Mouse headband. One of her favorite drawings is the tree from the Dr. Seuss, Lorax movie, the Truffula tree.  She and her friends actually made little Truffula trees and when she moved into her new room, she stuck it on her bulletin cork board. 
 
Now she has the tree next to the calendar she made.  

She also drew a bouquet of flowers which is beautiful but I didn't get a very good picture of it as the glare off the laminated pages on the calendar reflected. 
 
My favorite piece, she did in the colors of her room and I framed it but I have house guests in her room and can't take a picture so I figured I would do a part two tomorrow and show it to you then. 
 
I am impressed with her drawing. I am sad she isn't taking another art class as she wants to do drama. 

She was actually signed up to take the second art class until this week when she decided she would rather take the advanced drama class. I am excited to show you the framed art tomorrow. It thought it was very cool and hope she does a few more so we can have several on the wall. 

Plucking Princess Eyebrows

Having had LOTS of practice plucking eyebrows having had five girls, I figured I would share the wisdom. The girls dad is ethnic and being ethnic, he gave them some things that have been wonderful blessings. 
 
Dark skin that doesn't burn easily or the lovely long eyelashes, he also gave them them some things that aren't so lovely. Bushy eyebrows may have been big in the 80's but I have never been really big on the untamed look of the girls eyes so from an early age, I shaped their eyebrows with a little plucking as it doesn't take much sometimes to just give the eye some shape and form which accents those LOVELY long lashes they have been so blessed with.

The girls lashes are so long that when they wear their glasses or sunglasses, the lashes hit the lenses. How many people would kill for that? Most of the time, they don't have to wear any mascara as they lashes take care of themselves being so dark and full. 

The eye brows are meant to be two separate brows. Many people have hair in between the eyebrows. Most of the girls have gotten a nice mix of the two of their parents and the problem isn't bad. 

I usually pluck the girls eyebrows after they have showered. The brows soften up in the shower with the warm water and it can be really relaxing to have them done just before bed. In fact, tonight when I was doing it and taking pictures and video, Princess Five fell asleep. I thought that was funny but she thought I was doing it for hours when in reality, it takes about 10 minutes to do. 

I usually do my own eyebrows in the car in natural light while I am waiting for the girls after dance or something. The natural light really makes the brow show up and I keep a set of tweezers in the car for just that occasion. I never take more than about 1 minute to do my own as I keep up on them.
 

I posted a video plucking Princess Five's eyes on youtube. Here is the link for that. 

For the inside of the eyebrow, draw a line with your finger from the center of the nostril up to the forehead. You don't want to pluck the eyebrow in any further than that. On most people, that is where the eyebrow starts so keep that invisible line in your head as you start plucking. Every girl, when they start plucking their own eyes, has gone in too far on one eye and then we have had to let it grow out and it looks a bit funny for a few months while the hair grows back in. You can see on the nose side of Princess Five's left eye, she did that at it is a bit further from the nose than the other eyebrow. We are letting it grow back in.
 
Usually, I pull the skin in the opposite direction that the hair is growing. I don't pull hard but just tight enough that it is firm and then pick up the hair with the tweezers and pull the hair out in the direction the hair is growing. Don't go against the hairs natural growth direction when plucking or the tweezers may cut off the hair and it is more painful going against the grain when plucking. 
 
It makes the skin softer to use some A & D ointment or some other non-scented lotion on the brow to soften it up if you don't do it after a shower. I used to work with a girl who would have me pluck her brows all the time and I used lotion for her but I really do think if you have thick eyebrows, doing it after a bath, swimming or shower is the best time. 

If you have hair that grows above the brow and into the hairline, I usually just slide my finger along the brow smoothing it in the direction it should be and then go just above that main growth of hair and start plucking out the ones that aren't next to any other hair. The same goes for the eye lid and below the eye on the cheek if you have hair there as well. Many men have hair there that they won't shave as it is close to the eye so you can pluck those hairs as well. 


The hair on the bridge of the nose can be plucked as well as the "unibrow" in between the brows. Basically, if the hair is touching other hair, leave it. If you smooth the eyebrow and the hair isn't touching any other hair after smoothing, pluck it out. That is unless you have a hair deficiency or problem. 

If you have a unibrow, that doesn't apply to the area between the eyes. Pluck ANYTHING that is on the bridge of the nose or between the eyes  that is in between those lines drawn up from the center of the nostril.  There shouldn't be any hair visible in that area. 

When in doubt? DON'T pluck it. It is easier to go back in a few days and pluck a few hairs after you have a chance to see it in the light than to wait for MONTHS for it to grow back and you look silly while it is growing back. 

When I am plucking eyebrows on others, I always do one eye first and then let them go look in the mirror at the stark difference in the one eye versus the other. If you do both, they can't really tell you have done anything. But, if you do one eye and then let them look, they will KNOW you did something. This is good for younger boys or teens that may have a unibrow. You don't want them getting made fun of for being hairy and doing one eye will then help them see how plucking or getting laser hair removal or getting it waxed can make them look like a different person. 

If they are scared to have the laser or the waxing done, do one eye with tweezers and then show them the difference just one time. Put on a movie and pluck slowly so they don't stress and flinch when you are plucking or you will have a fight on your hands and may never get them back to do it again. 

Be VERY careful not to pinch the skin or eyelid with the tweezers. I have done this to the girls a few times over the years when I got distracted and they have a little scab for a few days. Try not to do that as it hurts. 

Anyway, plucking can be very helpful at giving people confidence as it really does shape the eye and gives everyone a finished look. I was watching a woman sing awhile back and I was sitting at the back of the church and the only thing I could see on her face from back there was her eyebrows. This isn't a judgement, just an observation. Dark skinned races genetically have thicker hair. This is great when it is on your head but not always great when it is on the face.

After an initial plucking, the person can usually follow the lines you gave them and pluck the incoming new hair growth on their own. Sometimes it just take one plucking or waxing to give them the "format" or pattern on where to pluck. 

Good luck and I hope it isn't too painful!

Best Way To List Anything for Sale Anywhere - Part 2

Local Free Paper or Radio selling 

Local newspapers often have a section where they will list items you have for sale for free. If the item is under a certain price usually around $100, they will let you list a few items a week. If you are cleaning out your house, just send in a few items each week to be listed and in a month, you could have sold 12 items for $100 each. $1200 isn’t bad for stopping in at the local paper and writing up an add or just mailing in three things each week. If it doesn’t sell for $100 the first week or two, list it again the next week for $75 and so on until it sells. They will pick the item up and you have money in your pocket.

Some local radio stations will have a “Trading Post” ½ hour to hour where people can call in and list an item they have for sale or trade. This is hard to do sometimes if the selling hour is while you are working or may be busy and forget to call in. However, the local station has an area where you come in and leave a card with the item you want to sell and contact information on it and they will read it for you during that time and then people can call you. Sometimes they will allow you to call in off hours and they will take the listing as well.

Facebook 24/7 Yardsale Group

Facebook has yard-sale sites all over. They are listed in all sorts of ways. Type in the name of your town and the word yardsale or yard sale and see what comes up. Usually, someone started the group and you have to “ask” them to be included in the group. Once they invite you, you can start listing items. Click on “add photo or video” click on “Upload photo” then browse your computer for the picture and click it. Once it is uploading, write your description about the picture and don’t forget to add your phone number. I use ONLY my cell as I want to protect the girls. It is nice to have two accounts rather than using the one for friends and family as they can see what you are selling unless you “lock” your album. It would also keep your name and address safe.

Don’t forget to click on “Post” after your picture has uploaded and your description is written. I have done that. The problem with this type of selling is that you have to “babysit” the item. There is no way for people to search like on ebay. If you post it a 9 in the evening, by morning, there could be fifty other peoples listings and your is so far down no one will even see it so you have to “Like” your own post as soon as you post it or you will have to search for your own post. To keep your item current, you have to post something about it so people write “Bump item” or just put a “…” in the box so now the item is pushed back up to the top of the list again. Also, you have to remove it when it is sold. You also have to answer questions often and if you don’t have a smart phone, that requires checking the computer all day. This also happens with ebay and other online sites. Smart phones make it easier to answer questions on the go.

Local Classifieds Online or Paper

Local newspapers and radio stations often have classified sections. You can just type in the name of the local paper or radio station and they will have a link on the “home” page to click on and once you are to the “Selling page” you type in the description of the item and sometimes they allow a picture, but often time they don’t host pictures. If you have a place to host your own pictures, you can post a link for them to click on to see pictures. I haven’t had much luck with the local online stuff but I am sure people look at it as they always have items on the pages.

State Classifieds

This one is the best option for larger, higher priced items. Usually, you can get a little bit more for the item than you may get locally. Often times, people are willing to pick up higher priced items including the gas it takes to get it as they can get it much cheaper than new. Go to the state newspaper site and then click on “Classifieds” where you will need to open an account. Then, follow the prompts to list an item. You will need to choose a category to list the item and then post some pictures. They usually list them from 7 – 30 days. Once the item is sold, take it offline so you don’t get calls at all hours. I have gotten calls and texts at midnight and two in the morning before about items I have listed.

If you are in a small town but have someone that heads to the “City” often, list that in your description so people know they can get the item by meeting locally near their home and you will sell more smaller items. Highway entrances are a great place to meet as it is public and easy on and off for both parties. Sometimes, if they want me to meet them at odd times or places, I charge a little more for gas and my time to accommodate them if they really want something. Homes, Cars, appliances, instruments, medical supplies and tools all do well on this site.

Craigs List

I haven’t used this in years but it is similar to the State Classifieds. You list by state.

WARNINGS - Be careful for spammers on these sites. NEVER give out your bank account number to “let them deposit the cash for an item or deposit a check into your own account!” My niece was contacted by text and / or email about a guy that wanted to buy her nice camera on the state news classified section. He asked her to send it out of the country. They sent her an email that made it look like the money was deposited into her Paypal account. She packed it up, sent it and then when she looked at her account, it wasn’t there. NEVER open an email from someone else showing payment. NEVER click on a link in ANY email when doing an auction.

ONLY go to websites by logging in the site in the URL slot. NEVER click on a link to go to a website that deals with auctions or money. There are people who take a cashiers or a personal check for an item and will clean out your bank account. Also, there are some that will say they need to deposit a penny into an account to make sure the account is working and then after the deal, clean out the account.

My sister got an email that looked “fake.” She forwarded it to ebay and then she got an email back saying “Thanks for letting us know about the fake email. Click here to make sure your account is still ok." She then clicked on the link and it was actually a key code capture software. The guy within minutes had cleaned out her account, changed her password, got into her Paypal account and she couldn’t get into ebay and by the time she found the way to contact them, the guy had gotten away with it. She texted him as she figured out it was someone she purchased something from. He texted her a very rude text back saying “You got me.” But the number didn’t lead to anyone. The government has bigger fish to fry and I have never heard of anyone who has had their account or identity stolen actually finding the person who stole it. She was "ok" as it was just a selling account but if you take chances, eventually it could cost you. She spent hours changing accounts and passwords to clear her name.  

Only deal in cash or money order. No checks ever. Meet the person personally in a public place if possible, and, never mail an item unless they are someone that has a good standing account and you have checked your Paypal by going to the site directly.