Earth Day Projects

Happy Earth Day! We junkers are always celebrating earth day--keeping things out of the landfill by upcycling and repurposing them. Today I am sharing some of my favorite projects for the outdoors, all using things that otherwise would have ended up at the dump. Click on each title to go to the original post!

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday and Happy Easter! I try to imagine what is was like when Mary, Mary, and Salome first approached the empty tomb. I picture brilliant light radiating from the dark, empty space. Darkness and light were the first things God spoke into creation. God brings forth new life from dark spaces. Think of a seed bursting open in the dark soil, reaching for the light or a baby being formed in the darkness of the womb. Jesus came into this world and died to bring us new life from our dark places. On Easter we celebrate the resurrection that tells us that light will one day overcome all darkness. Embrace His light, let it wash over you with new, fresh, and loving light.

Reclaimed Wood Flour Bin

When I saw this flour stencil from Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils

(affiliate link), I knew I wanted to build a wood bin to use it on.

BUY THE STENCIL HERE

Using pallet wood, I created four sides joined together with 1" x 1" boards on the inside. The front and back are three boards wide and the sides are two pallet boards wide.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! On a recent walk by the river we could hear sandhill cranes making quite a fuss and being extremely loud and noisy, but we couldn't see them. When we got close enough to finally see them, the birds became silent and remained that way the entire time we were nearby. There are times in our lives when we all feel like God is silent--we can't hear him or feel his presence and we wonder if he is hearing us. It is during these hard times, these times when God seems quiet, that I believe he is very near to us. He is waiting quietly, waiting for us to trust him, waiting for us to learn something about his infinite love and grace. He has promised to never leave us or turn away from us. Even though it may feel like he is being silent, the truth is he is nearby, he is listening. Lean into him and believe that you are not alone, God is with you.

Thrifty Thursday Unfinished Wood Projects

If your local schools have woodshop as a class or if you have hardware stores that offer classes for kids' projects, you have likely seen unfinished wood projects at your thrift stores.  Projects that might be a little off, not perfect, unfinished. Such was the case with this tool tote I recently found.

All it needed was a handle and some nails hammered in better and I had I had a perfectly good tote ready to upcycle. This handle is a rung from a broken thrift store chair.

Rustic Farmhouse Chicken Feeder Side Table

You never know what you might find at a thrift store in Montana, but when I spied this chicken feeder for $3, I knew I could do something with it...

and decided to make it into a rustic, farmhouse side table.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! I love knowing the history of the area I live in. I like learning about Lewis and Clark and Sacajawea and thinking that they may have walked in the exact same places that I walk and explore. When the Israelites were feeling discouraged and wanted to quit, they were reminded to look back to Abraham and Sarah, to remember that they were cut from the same rock and were created from the same God. When we are feeling defeated and down, when we want to give up, we need to remind ourselves that we are children of God. We are created in our Father's image and cut from the Almighty Rock. Be encouraged knowing that our history and heritage in Christ is strong and good. Persevere with the knowledge that you are cut from the Rock of Salvation.

Laundry Sign

Need a quick and easy project that is also useful? This handy, dandy laundry sign takes less than thirty minutes to create and will be used all the darn time!

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! I love a backroad and when I have the time, I usually prefer to take the unbeaten path. Sometimes the road takes me somewhere new and unfamiliar. Our choices in life are often compared to roads we are on. One decision leads us down a certain path and another option takes us somewhere else. Whatever road we are on, Jesus walks beside us, whether we recognize it or not. Like the disciples walking on the road to Damascus, when we do realize Jesus is with on the road, when we encounter him, we are changed. Know this, no matter what path you are walking, God is with you and he longs for you to see him, to walk arm in arm with him, to lead you down new ways.

Cluck, Cluck Chicken Painting

I painted a chicken.

Why a chicken you ask? Why not?