American Crafter Round 1 Voting!

***looking for Friday Favs Party??? It's right here
The Round 1 Projects are in!

I am completely blown away! I cannot believe what our 15 amazing contestants made out of TRASH. Trust me they made some real TREASURES!! Glad I don't have to vote because I'd never be able to choose!
Did you meet our judges yet?

#1 Disney Travel Fund Jar

by...Patches of Pink
Tutorial

This project was so much fun to make! When I heard trash to treasure" as the theme for round 1 of American Crafter, I thought, "Now, what can I make? And out of what trash?!" But an idea popped into my head as I was watching Pride and Prejudice (no, I don't think the idea was really primed by the movie), so I quickly ran over to the trash can (yes, I literally fished through my trash) and grabbed the salsa jar that my hubby and I had finished earlier that day. I went to work cleaning it up, and then started on my project.

My family and I absolutely LOVE Disney World (by the way, our favorite restaurant there is the Sci-Fi Diner), so I decided to make a Disney travel fund jar, where we could slowly save up our extra coins and cash for a trip to Disney World. I took the theme of 'trash' very seriously, so all of the items that I used on the jar were things that I was going to throw away soon (scraps of paper, an old Disney World flyer from when we went to Disney World last time, some spare ribbon, and even some old scotch tape!!). The stamp came from Bugaboo stamps. I hope you like my Disney jar, cause I love how it turned out!!

I love the entire story behind this project!  I love that a salsa can was literally fished out from the trash and transformed into something GORGEOUS!  By the way, can I come to Disneyland WITH you?! Alison
How cute!!  Makes me want to start my own fund! Angie

Perfect use of a (cute) stamp and I love that anyone could use paper from their stash to make it! Amy

#2 Drab to Fab Desk
by...Richmond Thrifter

Oh Goodwill and your "Color of the Week!" 

There is really no better place to find a ridiculous, "can I be reading that right" price. 

This little desk had been calling my name, begging to come home with me.  The first time I saw it it was $50.  Not bad but not low enough for me to take the plunge, so I waved goodbye and hoped I would see him again soon!  Well I guess it was meant to be because I went back a few weeks later and the tag matched the color of the week!  Thank you Goodwill Gods!  I ended up getting it for $25!!!

Crazy right!!! I had no idea where it would go but I had to buy it!  I eventually decided it would go in my daughter's room and once she is a little older will be great for art projects etc. 

So here is the icky before!

And here is the fun after!  I mod podged some girly fabric on the top and painted the inside a funky hot pink in addition to adding some inexpensive Target drawer pulls!

What a steal on these drawersl!  And what a transformation!  I love the fabric and the hot pink.  Perfect for girls! Alison

Amazing transformation!  Perfect for any little girl! Angie

Mod Podge Fabric?!  I'm in. I LOVE the pink inside of the pull down top. Amy

#3 Rescued Patio Chairs

by...Sugar Bee Crafts

Tutorial

Amy's Fav

When I heard the theme for this week, "Trash to Treasure" , I knew just the thing - -chairs I saved from the trash!  My mom was cleaning out my grandpa's yard and said these needed to go - the chairs were trash-bound, but I knew they had potential!!  Several coats of rust-covering primer, white paint, and sealer, and they have a whole new life.  The memory foam for the chairs was from an old mattress topper - I knew saving it would come in handy!  The back is painted with a simple design that mimics the outdoor fabric I used when I sewed the cushions.  LOVE Trash to Treasure - thanks for the great theme!

Once again, Mandy is always original.  Love those bright, happy colors.  And I love that even the foam for the chairs was recycled from an old mattress... Bravo!! Alison

I am in love with these!  Adding the pattern on the back is so unique! Angie

The addition of a part of the cushion pattern on the back of the chair is brilliant!  MY FAVORITE. Amy


#4 Tea Party Tray

by...Dreaming in Color

It is amazing the things that you can do with trash. It truly can be someones treasure. Thinking outside the box, I came up with a unique gift that was very affordable but looked expensive! Did I mention easy too? I started with a brass chandelier that was trash. I took all the wires out, turned the arms up and painted it pink. With saucers and a plate I picked up at Goodwill, I transformed this into a beautiful dessert tray. It would make a great cupcake stand too!

My daughter and I enjoy having tea parties. She is college age now and home for the summer but we still get to enjoy having tea together.We used this and got to enjoy all these goodies! It worked perfectly!

For a full tutorial go to dreamingincolor

Using an old chandelier as a tea party tray couldn't be any more PERFECT!!  Alison

Clever and unique.  I am not a tea party kinda gal but if I was this is a great idea. Angie

This is one of the most unique projects I've ever seen!  Way to think outside the box. Amy

#5 Patriotic Focal Feature

by...All Things Belle

Tutorial

With just jam jars, paint, vinyl, and scrap wood you can create an amazing patriotic focal display. I love that this is such a classy craft made with recycled items. This would be perfect on your mantle or patio. I made this with the intent to display it on the 4th of July, but in light of recent current events I already placed it on my front porch. I hope you are inspired to create something to show your pride to be an American!

I am kind of a sucker for all things patriotic.  Love the idea of putting flowers and flags in the jars.  Very appropriate considering recent events! Alison

Love painted jars.  Adding the patriotic touches is a great idea. Angie

Great because kids could help with this one easily, and the display stands add interest. Amy

#6 Away We Go Suitcase

by...Nat Sprat

Let's get this party started! I was so excited (and nervous) about our first challenge. Turning trash to treasure!?! I had nightmares of decorating dumpsters. But, once I got out and about and started looking for a victim, ( I mean....candidate...) it got to be pretty fun. I found this old Samsonite suitcase.... It wasn't love at first sight. (I'm sure Oscar the Grouch would have thought it was smoking HOT!) It looked like crap on the outside, but the inside was practically BRAND NEW! And sunshine yellow with white polka dots. *drool* I knew we were meant to be! So, I paid my $6 and took my new baby home. I got out the masking tape, spray paint, acrylic paints, brushes and stencils. I had so many images of what I wanted going around in my head, and it was so much fun to make them come to life! I got to work at about 10:30 p.m., and at 2 a.m., this is what I had!

Here is the suitcase from the front...

and from the back:

And, there you have it! My trash turned into treasure...and I LOVE IT!!! I can't wait to use it when we go on vacation in June! I will always treasure my trash. :)

No one could possibly mix up suitcases with you!  What a fun way to jazz up an old suitcase.  At first I thought you had used vinyl, but I love the paint/stencil idea even more.  I would love to try this as a storage container for dress-up clothes. Alison
Love this project!!  Truely treasure after! Angie
Awesome use of color, and I love the chevron pattern and monogram especially. Amy


#7 Tealight Flight
by...Taylor Made
Angie's Fav

I am so honored to be chosen as a contestant on this season of American Crafter! I was even more excited when I learned that the first challenge was Trash to Treasure. Taking junk and turning it into something beautiful, what's not to like? The first thing that came to my mind was the huge bag of used plastic Easter Eggs taking up space in my pantry. It felt wrong to throw them away and I am glad I didn't. After some brainstorming, I came up with.... The Tealight Flight. It was super simple and came out really modern and classic looking. I used the bottom halves of the Easter Eggs and spray painted them white. Then I glued them to a piece of scrap wood lying in our garage. Placed my tealights in the eggs and now I have an amazing candle holder. I put in in my fireplace, perfect spot! You can check out the full tutorial at Taylor Made.

I am simply in awe over this idea.  I couldn't find the "trash" in this project until I read that the tea light holders were Easter eggs!  Genius.  A great way to recycle all the Easter eggs we somehow collect! Alison

Holy Cow!!  I just threw away a bunch of old plastic easter eggs!  Threw them away!!!  Great project -- my fave for this week!! Angie

So simple and beautiful - what a great project for a modern home. Amy

#8 Drawing Desk

by...Sassy Sites

Tutorial

I found this little beat up ol' desk at the thrift store for a whoppin' 15 bucks! When I saw it, I knew I had to have it! I painted the entire desk with a greenish paint, distressed a little with sandpaper, and added some stain in spots to make it look aged. The top of the desk got a couple coats of chalkboard paint added to it for some extra drawing space!

The top of the desk also flips open, which I LOVE!! I added clips to the underneath to hold paper for painting. When you are done painting, just close away the mess! :)

I wrapped some recycled soup cans with jute and added those to the side to hold the art supplies. The cute little tray on top was found at a yard sale for $1... it's perfect for holding chalk!

I love the way this turned out!

What a fabulous find!  I think I need directions to your thrift store. :) I think every child loves the idea of drawing on their desk.  Such fun! Alison

Lovely!! Angie

Chalkboard paint is one of my faves, and I think those jars were a great addition to the side of the desk. Amy

#9 Starfish Beach Plaque

by...Crafts by Amanda

Tutorial

 I am slowly but surely revamping my bathroom. It needs a lot of help and could be rather costly, so adding little touches is an inexpensive way to get started as we slowly work through the remodel. I had been saving a crudely cut round lid from a 5 gallon plastic bucket knowing that someday I would turn it into something. Originally it was cut to be used as a seat. This lid fit snugly on the bucket which held bait while out ice fishing. The lid served as a place to sit as well as keeping the bait protected from the winter elements. After sanding, painting and distressing the lid, I used a thickening medium and acrylic paint to create the starfish design. it now hangs proudly in my bathroom!

I love the painting technique of this starfish.  It's simply stunning.  Love the rustic touch.  Perfect for an ocean-themed bathroom! Alison

Beachy themed ideas are my thing.  Great starfish inspired plaque. Angie

That lid looks awesome after the transformation!  And I love the texture! Amy

#10 Pretty Pink Purse

by...Come Together Kids

 I'm lucky to be the mom of two adorable girls (and a handsome boy, but he's not part of this project!)  My girls love pink, love flowers, and love toting around their prized possessions.  Unfortunately, my girly girls don't always remember to use their napkins or change into play clothes when crafting or mud-pie making.  By the end of each season, I usually have a pile of clothes with stubborn stains that just won't budge.  For this project, I went to my stash of "trashed" clothes and pulled out an old pink shirt and a pair of pants and set out to transform them into a "treasure".  I kept the neckline of the shirt, but cut off the sleeves and the bottom half.  I found a cute cupcake fabric remnant to use as a lining and made a simple purse tote.  Then I sat down with a pair of scissors, a hot glue gun and a few DVR'ed shows and got to work turning that simple purse into something a little bit more special.  I cut a bunch of strips from the remaining part of the shirt and the pair of pants.  I braided several of the strips together and attached them to the neckline of the shirt to make some purse handles.  With the rest of the strips, I rolled them into a bunch of little rosettes.  After two episodes of GLEE! and a few hot glue burns, I had enough rosettes in various sizes to cover the front of our purse.  I simply hot glued them on and my old clothes to pretty pink purse transformation was complete!

Wow--another impressive transformation!  I would never imagine a shirt becoming a purse!  Love those pretty pink rosettes! Alison

Lovely rosette purse. Angie

Super cute.  The perfect present for a little girl! Amy

#11 Dress-Up Headquarters

by...A Turtle's Life for Me

Tutorial

Trash to Treasure is my personal crafting motto, so my smile was nice and big when I saw the theme for this week!  The main piece for my dress-up center was an old dresser that had been in my parents' shed for many, many years.  It was missing drawers and support pieces were busted. I gutted the inside and then covered it with batting, fabric and ribbon trim (and painted the outside, of course!).  Added a spring curtain rod I found in the basement from the previous owners and it was all ready for her little dress-up clothes!  I had the flowers knobs from another project I did about 7 years ago and these were the extras. I hot-glued them on each side and now we have room for jewelry and hats! And, of course, I had to add vinyl to some tubs I had picked up for $1/each!  My total cost out of pocket was $2.12... everything else was free or I found laying around the house!  This could easily be modified for a boys' room to house all the superhero get-ups I know you all have!  Lots more details and pictures on A Turtle's Life for Me!

I would love to see the "before" aspect of this project, but I sure do love the "after!"  The organization nut in me is truly impressed how there is a place for everything. Alison
I would like to have seen a before picture.  The after is cute. Angie
What a great idea.  The fabric on the inside is an awesome choice. Amy


#12 Geese Be Gone Hurricane
by...Ramblings from the Sunshine State

If you've been to a yardsale or a thrift store, then you know these ugly, blue, 1980's geese are everywhere! But instead of trashing them, I decided to make something new with this ugly candlestick I had. As you can see, even the geese don't want to be on there anymore! A quick color change from 80's blue to a sunny yellow was the first step. Then I found a new piece of glass at the thrift shop for $.25. And now it has a whole new look! It can be used for anything now. From moss covered rocks, to vintage spools or even a candle. Once again, spray paint saves the day!

 Cute!  I love the idea of putting mossy rocks inside.  Using an old candlestick was the perfect touch! Alison

Great transformation.  Just too simple in comparison to the other projects. Angie

So many uses for these - I'm completely impressed at the ingenuity.  Amy

#13 Wipes Case Laptop

by...She Wears Flowers

We live in a pretty high tech environment and our children are more technologically savvy than we are most of the time! Still, it is nice to keep things simple and less gadget-y, too. I created the (Low Tech High Tech Wipes Case) to allow my young children to flirt with technology but stay within a zone their imaginations can handle. I made a simple version for my older girls several years ago. This has proven to be one of the all-time favorite toys for my children. A new and updated version for my youngest daughter has been on my to-do list for quite a while. When she saw me working on these, she was ecstatic and could hardly wait to get her hands on one. With a “screen” that she can change and a (semi-educational) keyboard to tap away on, she is pretty entertained for long periods of time. My favorite part is that I can easily slip it into my purse and it is handy for a little entertainment. I like to have extra paper for new “screens” with this so she can draw a picture or we can write a note together when we need a distraction (doctor’s office, long lines at the grocery store—you know what I mean!). Another big bonus is that loose parts are optional and they can be stored inside of the case. Pretty advanced for low tech, don’t you think?

Another genius idea for kids!  My 2-year-old son already craves technology, and I love that this necessary tool adds a fun little-something that he would enjoy, too. Alison
So clever!!  Seriously this is great! Angie
This made me laugh.  It's so stinkin' cute! Amy


#14 Headboard Bench
by...Scissors and Spatulas
***Alison's Fav

 This was my hubby's bed as a child. It was broken into several pieces and has been sitting in the shed at my in-law's. It was going to be tossed to the curb until I claimed it for myself because I knew just what I wanted to do with it. First, I sanded, primed and painted all the pieces. The paint color is Olympic Irish Cream. Then my wonderful hubby did some sawing, wood gluing and screwing to transform the broken headboard into the shape of a bench. He cut a deck board into three pieces for the seat. After the bench was complete, I used sand paper (both high and low grit) to rough it up a bit and give it an aged look. I love it! I'm so glad I had a vision, rescued and brought back to life an old broken headboard. I am using it as a bench for my foyer. Now my kids have somewhere to sit to put on their shoes!

This is my favorite!
Wow!!  First of all, I love that this headboard was originally her husband's bed.  To transform something so special into something that can be enjoyed throughout the years is just sweet.  I LOVE the paint color, and the bench turned out simply lovely. Alison
This bench turned out to be gorgeous! Angie
I never thought about a headboard as a bench.  What a fun idea! Amy


#15 Recycled Coat Rack
by...Lolly Jane
Tutorial

 

It all started with a broken table we spied in Kelli's neighborhood sitting out for trash.  As soon as we saw it, we instantly knew it would be a great base for a coat rack we've been talking about creating.  We made a quick trip to our local home improvement store to purchase a single table leg and then to our craft store (40% off coupon in hand!) for a wooden ball to top the project.   Everything else we had on hand and spent less than $10.  We grabbed pieces from our craft stash to build the rack and ended up scouring Kelli's donate pile; we scored some cute legs off a tattered end table that were just perfect and blinged up our rack a bit!  After ensuring all the pieces were secure and the rack was completely sturdy, we gave it a fresh coat of paint, lightly glazed it then distressed it a smidge with sandpaper.  We added 8 matching hooks to complete the rack, allowing room to hang coats & bags for both the parents and little ones.   

I am impressed with how handy these gals are!  To piece this coat rack together is almost like putting a puzzle together.  Props to you ladies! Alison
Love the picture on the curb!  Great use of trash! Angie
I admire people that can saw and drill.  I love this one. Amy


Voting runs through Sunday night at midnight
You may vote 1 time for your 3 favs
10 Contestants will move on to Round 2

Results will be up on Monday morning

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