DIY Marble Mosaic Table Top

This summer I found a long, skinny table for $5 at a garage sale that I thought might come in handy on our deck to hold random stuff or even to use as an outdoor buffet for parties.  I thought I'd make it a little more fun and do a mosaic on the top with some of those flattened glass marbles you can get at craft stores. 

I got all of these marbles at thrift stores, so they were even cheaper.  They frequently turn up in thrift stores as people donate the left-over pieces from a project they've done, so I have collected quite a range of colors.  I used Eco Glue to attach them....the same glue that I use when making my Junk Mail Gems magnets.  But, any glue labeled for mosaic or other glass projects should work fine.

The table covered in marbles

 Once they dry well you can grout over the top.  I used this brown grout just because we had it left-over from a tile project in our previous house.  Just pour some in a bucket and add enough water to get it to a thick frosting-like consistency. I'm using a tile float to apply it here.  You want to make sure you get it deep into all the crevices between the marbles, and a good coating on the edges.  I find that using my bare hands works best to get the edges covered the way I want.

applying the grout

Grout is on...letting it dry a tad

Sorry, not sure why this is upside down.  But after you let it dry for a few minutes, gently wipe it with a damp sponge.

Just keep gently wiping it periodically every 10-15 minutes or so as the grout dries, removing more and more of the haze from the glass.  Once the grout is dry and hard, wipe it down again with the sponge and then buff off any remaining grout haze off the glass with a dry towel.

 Here it is all done!  It's also a good idea to brush over the whole thing with a grout sealer.  I put it off a little too long and my grout cracked a little...live and learn!

Spice Rack Turned Car Rack

Yesterday I picked up this spice rack at a garage sale for $2.  The plan was to just use it for the 18 nice glass spice jars, which I want to use for my own dried herbs and to give away my herbs and dry mixes as gifts.  Spice jars can really add up so it was a great deal!

I was going to toss the empty rack back into my thrift store donation bag but then got an idea...

 ...the spice rack makes for a perfect little car garage for my 2 year old's car room!

 

I hung it down  at his height, just above his wooden car garage that he got for Christmas.  :-)

 

I also LOVE this idea to use a magnetic knife or tool holder to display metal cars on the boys' walls:

I may do something like that in my 4 year old's room since most of my 2-yr-old's cars are wood.  Here are a few links if you'd like to do some shopping yourself!  Happy organizing! :-)

My Upcycled Earring Holder

A few weeks ago I came across a couple shutters at a garage sale, unfinished wood still in the package. Knowing I'd come up with some use for them, I snatched up two for $4.

I ended up spray painting one of them flat black, adding a couple hooks, and hanging it on my wall to organize my hook earrings.  Turned out great and it only took minutes to make! (Sorry about the dark photos...our room is dark and the shutter is black!)

FREE Junk Mail Gems Bookmark & a chance to win a Macbook Air for $10!

 If you've explored the products on my website in depth, you may have come across my special edition red jewelry.  I started selling this line of products in honor of my dad a few years ago, (who was battling Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) out of the red patterned envelopes that he began receiving frequently from his insurance company.  $5 of every red bead jewelry purchase goes directly to CaringBridge.org and $5 of every red pendant purchase goes to the American Cancer Society.

Well, my dad has been cancer free for over 3 years, and I am sad to say that it has returned.  While he has been able to achieve remission after two rounds of chemo this time, his journey is just beginning, as he will be undergoing a stem cell transplant beginning as soon as next week.

Throughout his journey he and my mom have come across many kind and generous friends, family, and even strangers.  One such angel has generously purchased a new Macbook Air, which is going to be raffled off for $10 per ticket, to help raise money for their medical expenses. 

But that's not all!!!  For every one of my blog readers who purchase one or more raffle tickets, I will send you one FREE large weave bookmark! (1 per person)

Here's how to enter:

1) Purchase a raffle ticket (or a bunch!)
 Click on this link for the details to enter the raffle.  You'll be asked to send an email, and will receive a Paypal invoice and then your ticket number(s) once your payment is completed.

2) Let me know you've purchased a ticket
by forwarding the email proof of your ticket purchase to Gretchen (at) JunkMailGems (dot) com.  Be sure to include your shipping address so I can mail you your bookmark!





For more info on my dad's battle, check out his CaringBridge site here!

Is this a plug?  Yes.  Shameless? Totally! If it weren't for my dad, I wouldn't even exist, and neither would Junk Mail Gems! ;-) THANK YOU for your support!!