My latest wooden decorative birdhouses

I have two different shops for two different styles. Take a look!
The Irish Pub birdhouse is already sold!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShabbyandDistressed?ref=ss_profile
http://www.etsy.com/shop/WoodyWoodWorks?ref=ss_profile

8 Simple steps to your very own wooden Magic 8 ball trinket box

In just a few steps you can turn a simple wooden round box into an awesome "Magic 8 Ball" trinket box that’s perfect for anyone. Ready? Lets do it!

You’ll need:

-1 round wooden box

-1 round, flat wooden piece (optional, read Step 3)

-Sand paper

-Black acrylic paint

-Blue acrylic paint

-white paint

-1 sponge paint brush

-1 medium sized paint brush

-Black marker

-E6000 (strong glue in a silver tube)

-Mod Podge (glue)

-Computer

-Printer

-Paper

-News paper

The first thing you’ll always want to do is protect your surface by laying down a few sheets of newspaper, it takes just a second. Trust me you’ll regret it if you don’t. I cant tell you how many times Ive ruined something of mine with paint because I was in a rush to try something new. Ive learned my lesson though, and as excited as I may be to start a new project, I ALWAYS take the time to protect my surface.

Ok so here we go

Step 1. Sand the rough edges on your box and lid

Step 2. Paint the outside of the box and its lid in black (let this dry)

Step 3. While your box is drying you can paint one side of the round flat wooden piece in white. If you don’t want to use or cant find a round flat wooden piece then find something round in your home and trace it on the lid before you paint the lid in black. Paint the inside of the circle in white, and paint the outer part of the circle in black. When this part dries, you can then write the number 8 in the middle of it.



Step 4. Once the box and lid dries, paint the inside of each in blue (like the liquid inside a magic 8 ball) and let it dry completely

Step 5. Using your computer and printer, type a few of the Magic 8 ball phrases, print, and then cut the answers inside a triangular shape.

Ex; Ask again later, My reply is no, Yes, doubt it

Step 6. Using your Mod Podge go ahead and glue each triangle on the inside of the box. Have fun with it, they don’t all have to be facing the same direction, try to simulate the floating effect in the magic 8 ball. The tips of the triangles can face down, up, left, right, at an angle etc…

Step 7. Dap a dime size of your E6000 glue (or any glue that bonds to wood) to the back of the round, flat wooden piece that you painted white, and place firmly on the lid (in the middle)

Step 8. When the glue dries, go ahead and brush on a layer of Mod Podge on your box, inside and out and youre done!

Oh BTW incase you havent read my blog on how to make Frankenstein, Mod Podge goes on white but dries completely clear, sooo don’t freak out!




How easy was this to make, right? I told you it was an awesome little box. I love things like this because not only can this be a gift for someone all on its own, but you can also use it as part of your décor in your home, bedroom, office etc… hey if you’re more of a pool player you can leave out the triangles with the answers and call it an 8 ball trinket box instead! Its all up to you.

Hope you had fun. If you’ve read my steps and tried making this box please feel free to share your comments and post your pictures

"Go green" custom decorative birdhouse

Wow it's been a while since I’ve posted anything new huh? Well going back to my last post, I chose a winner of one of my custom made birdhouses. She was thrilled! and I...well I was a nervous wreck. I did NOT want to disappoint especially when she told me she was giving it as a gift to a good friend of hers for Christmas. She told me a little about her friend and her ideas for the birdhouse. I immediately went to work as I was filled with tons of ideas, which in one aspect is fantastic but in another, it isn’t. I had to pick and choose which one of my ideas to use and which ones I was going to let go of. I sketched all my ideas out and all versions of the birdhouse I could go with and then I chose one. It took me a little more than two weeks to finish it because I did not work on it everyday, only during the times when I was feeling inspired, or maybe it was the fact that I didn’t want to mess this up. I finally finished it, keeping my customer informed with pictures every step of the way, as I always do with custom made orders and I am happy (and relieved) to say that she LOVED it! She was so fantastic to work with. I have some wonderful and kind hearted customers which I am so very grateful for. Well, Christmas is right around the corner and her friend will be receiving it soon. I hope she loves it too.

My instructions were, two shades of green, a recycle logo somewhere in there because her friend is very into recycling and helping the environment. She suggested trees or branches, and her friends name wood burned on it. This was what I came up with, and although I have no pictures of it, I ended up writing the words reduce reuse recycle along the edge of the roof top in white letters. The branches and leaves wrapping around the sides of the birdhouse are also wood burned. 

My experience at the Sneak Peak at Freshkills event

I was fortunate enough to be asked to take part in this year’s Sneak Peak at Freshkills park event in Staten Island yesterday October 02, 2011. There were lots of other talented vendors, delicious food, and even several awesome live bands!

I had some fantastic customers stop by my table with wonderful and encouraging things to say about my work which is always a great feeling and very much appreciated. Lots of admirers left their name and email for a chance to win a custom made birdhouse from woody woodworks. I will be choosing a winner and contacting them later on today.   I can’t wait to see what the winner will have me do to it! I will be posting pictures of the finished product on my Facebook page and blog at www.woodywoodworksblog.blogspot.com

I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to show my wooden birdhouses, jewelry boxes and Halloween signs.  I was even given a free unfinished birdhouse by the nice people from the Home Depot kids’ workshop which I can’t wait to start working on. My friends and I had a blast!

Heres my sister in law helping to set up my table

The dude all the way on the left is my little brother, the geatest brother ever helping with the display for my wooden Halloween signs

Ta Da!

I think my sister in law really likes Frankie, and why wouldnt she, he's adorable if I do say so myself

Us girls just chit chatting before the guests arrive

In deep thought, no wait I was just dreaming of the Brick oven pizza being made a few feet from my table

Thats my honey in the back working on someething

blog spot should really include the option to rotate pics

Sneak Peak at Freshkills Park

I am so excited to be part of the FREE Sneak Peak at Freshkills Park Event on October 2nd from 11am-4pm. They have asked me to set up a table and sell my birdhouses!! Check out the link below and try to come down for a day of fun!!

Sneak Peak at Freshkills Park

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2^nd, 2011 | 11am-4pm

FREE EVENT | more info at nyc.gov/sneakpeak

 The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation is excited to invite you to the second annual preview of Freshkills Park! Autumn is the  to see the hills and creeks of the closed 2,200-acre Fresh Kills Landfill, on Staten Island’s west shore, now being transformed into the City’s biggest and most fascinating new park. After the huge turnout and great success of last year’s event, we have expanded the scope and the offerings of what you will be able to do and see at Sneak Peak.

 This year’s event offers nearly three miles of path to walk and explore by foot and over two miles by bike, more kayak tours, numerous public artworks and performances, more food trucks, a full craft market, a smartphone self-guide app and free water taxi and shuttle bus service to and from the St. George Ferry Terminal. Join us for a preview of what the park will have to offer!

KAYAK TOURS | WALKING TOURS | BIKING | KITE MAKING | KITE FLYING | COMPOSTING & REUSE WORKSHOPS | GAMES | CRAFT MARKET | BIRDHOUSE BUILDING | LIVE MUSIC | PUBLIC ART | GIVEAWAYS | FOOD TRUCKS | MUCH MORE!

 The Lower East Side Ecology Center will also be running an e-waste collection event in the parking area of the event!

We are fine tuning the schedule of programs and will post it soon on the event’s web site, nyc.gov/sneakpeak. For more information on Freshkills Park, visit the project’s home page or the Freshkills Park Blog.

HOW TO GET THERE (more info at nyc.gov/sneakpeak):
FREE WATER TAXI SERVICE and FREE SHUTTLE BUSES will operate regularly between the St. George Ferry Terminal and the event site. A full schedule of ferries, water taxis and shuttle buses is available online.

BY PUBLIC TRANSIT Take S62 Bus to Victory Blvd and Glen St. Walk down Beresford Ave to Wild Ave.

BY BIKE Enter at the corner of Wild Ave and West Shore Expressway East Service Rd.

BY CAR Parking is available at Wild and Beresford Aves, near the Victory Blvd Exit of the West Shore Expressway and south of the Showplace Entertainment Center.

http://www.nycgovparks.org/festivals/freshkills_sneak_peak.html

Winifred the Halloween Witch

I just posted another item to my etsy shop. It's a Halloween sign. I've posted a couple Halloween things already. I know it seems a little early to be doing so, but before you know it Halloween will be here, and i just didnt want be late in posting any Halloween decor like I usually am.

So here she is...
http://www.etsy.com/listing/80786329/wooden-trick-or-treat-halloween-witch

Milestones and Memories

I am the mother of three great kids and from the moment I found out I was carrying my first child nearly 14 years ago I have kept a journal for each one of them. It is a personal documentation, my own account of milestones and funny moments. I began these journals with the intentions of giving it to them one day when they had children of their own but I think I just might keep them instead and I’ll tell you why.

Every so often after completing an entry in their journals I like to browse through the pages and go back in time if only for a brief moment. A quick second when something triggers a memory in me and I can recall so vividly the smell in the air that  particular day, or the exact emotions that were going through me all because this little person, my child was in my life.

Being able to remember such memories in such a detailed way has sometimes made me cry. Not necessarily from sadness, but more at the fact that time truly does pass us by so quickly.  However having these journals to go back to and read has mostly made me literally laugh out loud a huge hardy laugh at all the funny things that my kids have said or done throughout the years, things that I have completely forgotten about.  And oh boy, kids really say AND do the darnedest things.

 I’ll of course share these memories with my kids and grandkids, but it will be something that I can look back to whenever I want. When they’re all grown up and living lives of their own and I’m no longer needed as often as I am now.

I so recommend that anyone with children keep such journals and take a minute or two every now and again to write in them. I promise you will be so happy that you did.