{Menu Chalkboard}

A few months ago I went to the treasure shop with my boys and I bought a frame that I wanted to re-use. The frame cost me a few dollars.

I saw potential in this discarded old thing.

With a little bit of black board paint left over from another project and some bright red cherry paint on the frame, I made this board to put up the menu for the week. It sure beats the handwritten paper on the fridge. My family love knowing hats coming up too!

Enjoy;

Lauren x

{Celebration Giveaway} Homemade eco-friendly cleaning pack

Well, for those that are on the "Homemade by Lauren Facebook Page" will know that I posted about the shock of finding out that it had reached 100 'likers'. I thought it was cause to celebrate - so here is the deal:

The PRIZE

A 'Green' Eco-Friendly Cleaning pack. Includes: 1 handmade cleaning cloth, 1 spray bottle and 1 bottle of eucalyptus oil.

So, how do YOU enter???

Vote for your favourite Homemade By Lauren POST or SUBJECT.
(i.e. it could be the brownie recipe or posts about kids crafts)
Tell me what is something you have loved seeing on the blog.
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Once you have decided your answer.....
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1. Comment on this post
2. Email me to : homemadebylauren@gmail.com
3. Comment on the Facebook page wall



{The boring bits}
*one entry per person
*winner drawn by random number chooser and announced Monday 25th July 2011 @8:30pm
*prize will be posted to winner the next day

Annnnnnd GO!
(your welcome)

Enjoy,

Lauren X

{Old But New}

I have always loved visiting op-shops, garage sales and the like. I think it stemmed from scouting around "coucil kerb-sides for treasure" with my family as a kid. There is something SO spiritual about finding something that is about to be discarded and rescuing it and giving it a new life. I love mixing items taht are old with the new. I love things that look like they tell a story from a previous life (even though this isn't always known to you).

So, when I took my hubby, kids, dad and one of my brothers along for a 'treasure hunt' last weekend the excitement was palpable! We went to Reverse garbage in Sydney and the thing about these kinds of places is that you never know what's in stock...so thats half the fun! We came away with a few little nick knacks each. I snapped up some gorgeous fabric scraps.
On the way out we spotted a place called The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre.
We thought we would give it a go. It was amazing. Everything from old tools, wooden chests, old suitcases, sewing machines, books, jewellery - even a kitchen sink!

Here is a few pictures of the old drawers I got from The Bower and the fabric from reverse garbage. I turned some of the fabric into a decorated soft drink bottle vase and the drawers became cutlery and condiment holders for a BBQ the next day.







Reverse garbage and The bower are on facebook too, so check them out too!

Enjoy;
Lauren x

{12 Days of Christmas ::: Day 3} Gift Wrapping

Well, at christmas time there are so many gifts going from hosue to hosue and person to person, I thought it would be cool to dedicate a post to the wrapping process. Personally I love spending some extra time thinking of cool ways to wrap presents and the idea of re-using stuff from around the house and recyling it is even more of a fun chalenge.

Think 'outside the box' (pun not intended lol) and try incorporating some of these ideas into your wrapping this year to make it different and fun. Fabric scraps, herbs, pinecones, flowers, lace and ribbon off cuts, buttons, old costume jewellery, newspaper, brown paper, twine, leaves, old or odd christmas baubles, inks, paints, stamps, paper scraps etc.....

I also found some tips on wrapping gifts. Sometimes it can seem a little daunting to some people, so I wanted to post a few tips that might help take the stress out of it. Personally though, I love wrapping and would have a whole room dedicated to it if I could (thats in my DREAM house lol). Get creative and I would love to hear your ideas too. In the mean time, here is some eye candy for inspiration :)

Enjoy;
Lauren x

{12 Days of Christmas ::: Day 2} Vintage Christmas Tree Craft and Book Wreath}

Vintage Christmas Tree Craft
Today is a craft I wanted to share that I found over at "The Country Chic Cottage". I am just loving this idea how she has recycled by turning old sewing patterns (which you may have lying around or can find at an Op Shop for next to nothing) into a gorgeous looking decoration. I love this idea, and she even recycled the foam she used for the core from styrofoam she found 'in the attic y'all' hahaha ;)



Book Wreath
I just loved this blog when I found it - her motto? "Creating a beautiful home, one glue gun burn at a time". I then found an idea very similar to the tree above, but so beautiful. As she says, Librarians and booklovers please avert your eyes hahaha.

What a beautiful and cheap way to create something so gorgeous! Hop over ans visit her to see more details.





Enjoy;
Lauren x

Cute Footprint Memories

I saw this craft project on 'brown paper packages' and just thought it was SOOO cute!!!! What a way to keep the memory of your family alive. ADORABLE!!!!! You could even make it a "green" project by re-purposing a wooden stool you have at home.....for details, click on the blog link above and see their instructions - this is DEFINITLEY going on my to do list!!!!

3D Car stickers....A fun no cost craft idea!

Joshua (3.5yrs) and I quite often wait till Daniel (8mths) is asleep and we often try to do a special activity just the two of us. I look forward to these moments - sharing "little wisdoms" over craft or cooking or just playing.

Last week we did a crafty activity that was great because it a) cost nothing and b) was played with for ages!!! We turned a sheet of car stickers into a 3D road. Josh even added in a hotel made of blocks.....love their imagination.

What i love about this idea is that it is adaptable to anything.....jungle animal stickers, girl people stickers, insects, trains, boats, the list is endless!!!! All you need is some glue or sticky tape and some paper/ card. You can reuse old boxes even to make it a "green/ enviromentally consious" activity. Try it - the kids will LOVE it!