Upcycled T-shirt Rug

"Heather, should I keep this t-shirt?" 

"Noooooo! Look at all those holes!" 

"Yes, keep it, and then make me a rug!"

I know there are many, many things one can do with a t-shirt, but they usually get thrown out before they have a chance to become something else. Thanks to DIY Life, I found a link that took me to Xoelle.com, where I found a tutorial for these soft shaggy t-shirt rugs. With your imagination - and I know you have one - you can create latch hook rugs with multicolored scraps, solids, shades of one a color... I think this has to take the cake for creating something really functional and wonderfully satisfying out of a shameful shirt. Kids and people of all ages can enjoy this project.

Get the Tutorial from Xoelle.com Here

Supplies needed / approximate cost
Latch hook: $3
Latch hook canvas: $6 or more depending on size wanted
Fabric dye if needed: $2 per box
T-shirts: $0 or more depending on your source/thrift shop
(see tutorial link for number of shirts needed) 
Cheat if you must
If you are desperate, you can buy yardage of jersey knit fabric, dye it, and cut into strips. This of course means you are not making an 'upcycled' project, but no doubt you will still be satisfied.

Prepping for Painting

On Socialfabric.com (an online forum for crafty types), this question was asked in the DIY Group:

"Did you have to sand down the [kitchen] cupboards before painting them?"

Some people answered "NO" but I say "YES" and here's why:

Kitchen cupboards get a lot of wear, so if the paint is not well-adhered, it will and probably will start to chip or peel off, depending on what paint you used and what surface you painted over. I am assuming here that there is a normal amount of oil and grease particles floating around and building up on your kitchen cupboards, and you can't be expected to catch all of this when you clean. So, keep your non-stick surfaces to your skillets, not your cupboard doors, and prep them right before painting!

The following tips go for any surface or furniture you are about to paint:

Mirrors to the Soul

Speaking of great ways to dress up your blank walls, I created this Treasury on Etsy.com, featuring 16 great mirrors. Some of them will inspire you to create something of your own with a mirror you have at home. To create something like this, choose a mirror with a wide frame to decorate with buttons, shells or other small objects - even costume jewelry! Hot glue is perfect for DIY collage mirrors. You will notice that these creative designers used monochromatic color palettes. Subtle color differences in a busy piece make a statement without clashing with the interior decor of your room (unless of course you want to make a huge statement, then by all means go all out with the color!). If you make a mirror, send me a photo!