CREATIVE HOMESCHOOLING ~ do it your way!

Whether you are just beginning to explore homeschooling or you are an " old pro ", there is much food for thought about the varied teaching  philosophies and approaches to homeschooling. In addition, there's no shortage of curriculum's and learning materials to choose from which speaks volumes for how much the homeschooling movement has grown. For many homeschooling parents the choices can be overwhelming when trying to choose learning materials for their children. After all, every child is unique in how they gather and process information. This is one of the many joy's of homeschooling!

Old Shutter~NEW SHUTTER

What would you do with an old shutter destined for the trash heap?

 WAIT! You can do something with that !

  Cottage Style!

The eating area area in our cottage is tiny... cozy for 4 and not one more  tiny, but it's charming with three large windows that let the morning sun pour in during breakfast! I like using large pieces of art and furniture in small spaces when I decorate. To my eye, they make more of an impact than several small things hung together. That's just me!

THE PROJECT:  The green shutter was used to cover the windows for protection from storms during the off season.
 When I saw the shutter my artistic side wanted to find a new way to use it and my sentimental side just couldn't part with it! So........after a bit of daydreaming, I came up with the idea that we could place a small mirror that " looked like a window" and attach it to the shutter! Off I went to a local BIG BOX store to find an inexpensive mirror, then to the craft store for off white and green craft paint and some CRACKLE MEDIUM.

CRACKLE TIP: when using crackle, think about what color you want to see peaking through from underneath your top coat. It will depend on your project if you are going with a dark or lighter base coat.

I painted the base coat on the NEW mirror frame with green paint and let it dry, followed by the crackle medium, allowing for the correct drying time before applying the off white top coat. The green peaks through the white top coat from behind the crackle and makes it look as if the added mirror has always been a part of the shutter!  

           Splatters of old white paint tie in the old with the new.

       Now we have a " Piece " of  cottage past  ( and it's even painted GREEN ) adorning the wall and more sunlight bouncing around our cozy kitchen in the morning!

   This was an easy and fun GREEN project! 


What have you re-purposed lately?




This post is linked to Funky Junk Themed Linky Party!

Deborah Jean~

YOUR INVITED! Creative Recycling Blog Challenge

How do you make your world and our's a little greener?

"There's nothing I like more than to find some old thing and make it beautiful again"

~ Deborah Jean


Your invited to play my Creative Recycling

Blog Challenge!

IT'S EASY!

 Just post something on your blog once a week that you have created FROM A FOUND OR RECLAIMED ITEM from your dumpster diving endeavor's or where ever you find your trash, I mean TREASURE!

CATAGORIES INCLUDE:

Trash to Treasure of any kind!

( a few ideas)

Hand painted and re-purposed furniture

Mixed Media

Collage

Nature Art

Fiber Arts

Vintage Jewlery

Garden Art

and so much more...

 Just  grab my CREATIVE RECYCLING BUTTON and include it in your CREATIVE RECYCLING POSTs w/ a link back here . Kindly, leave a comment brag about your creation ( all bragging rights approved ) on this post with a link back to your blog so we can all share in the fun!  

* I'll update my list of junk lover's WONDERFULLY CREATIVE PEOPLE each week.* 

 See who's playing!

 Deborah Jean ~

http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.com/2010/04/old-shutternew-shutter.html

http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.com/2010/04/antique-letter-desk-say-what.html

Victoria ~

 http://confessionsofanewoldhomeowner.blogspot.com/2010/03/phonograph-table.html
http://confessionsofanewoldhomeowner.blogspot.com/2010/04/repurposed-potters-bench.html
   
 Marcia~  http://www.childinharmony.com/2010/04/dress-up-dresser.html

Kyria~  http://crossyr.blogspot.com/2010/04/creative-recycling-challenge.html

Judy~  http://judysturman.typepad.com/in_his_grip/2010/04/bed-to-front-porch-bench.html

Happy CREATIVE Recycling~

" Creativity is not the finding of a thing, but the making something out of it after it is found. "

~ James Russell Lowell