Monthly Archives: June 2014

The adorable, always humorous MBA Jane is my way of honoring our Sisterhood Merit Badge program, now with 5,929 dues-paying members who have earned an amazing number of merit badges so far—8,474 total! Take it away, MBA Jane!!! MJ 

For this week’s Make It Easy/Make It! Intermediate Level Merit Badge, I decided to quit pinning amazing ideas and DIY crafts on Pinterest, and actually accomplish one. Or several.

In order to earn my Intermediate Level Badge, my little chickadees, I needed to make a piece of outdoor furniture. Seeing as how my garden is coming along at a beautiful rate and there’s nothing better than relaxing on the porch at sunset, a frosty beverage in hand, I was all about some outdoor furniture. (A girl can get tired of sitting on the steps, especially when that girl’s derriere is not as young as it used to be).

I cheerfully hopped on the Upcycling Bandwagon. Didn’t know there was such a wagon? Oh my, yes. Upcycling—recycling something into something else even more fabulous—is all the rage, and never let it be said that I’m not up to date in the newest trends; I have leopard-print ballet flats to prove it.

A little treasure seeking in my own attic brought out the perfect materials to make the cutest bench you ever did see: an old twin headboard and side rails. Are you following me, farmgirls? Headboard for the backboard, so to speak. Rails to make the bench, and a fresh coat of homemade chalk paint. I even had plans for the extra rail (after all, I only needed one section to make the bench): either a table to match (on which to place my frosty beverage) or a homemade swing (but where will I put my frosty beverage in that case)? Table it is.

I sawed a bit, measured a lot, sanded some, and nailed the rest. Along the way, I got distracted by other ideas for upcycled DIY outdoor (or indoor) furniture. You wouldn’t believe the creativity of our fellow thrifty gals out there in cyber space! A few more ideas now taking up real estate in my noggin:

• another bench idea, but this one made from 2-3 kitchen chairs, connected
• window seats made from cabinets
• nightstands out of stacked dresser drawers
• fire pits made from wine barrels
• tables and chairs made from pallets
• a porch swing made out of an old crib
• suitcases into end tables
• small entertainment centers transformed into children’s play kitchens
• take an old dresser drawer, add legs and a hinged and upholstered top, and you have an instant ottoman/footstool (with storage)
• ladders into bookshelves, or shelves for hanging bathroom towels on
• shutters turned into a bookcase
• a dresser becomes a doggy or kitty (or pot-bellied piggy) bed
• an overturned table becomes a bed, perfect for porch napping (you can buy memory foam cut to fit for your mattress)
• an aviary from an old television cabinet
• old microwave carts or small bookshelves become an outdoor bar station

You name it; some creative gal out there has done it! It might just be me … or you.

Welcome New Sisters! (click for current roster)

Merit Badge Awardees (click for latest awards)

My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Courtney Robbins!!!

Courtney Robbins (FolkHearts, #4840) has received a certificate of achievement in Stitching & Crafting for earning a Beginner Level Knitting Merit Badge!

“When I was little girl, I wanted an American Girl doll more than anything in the world, but my parents didn’t really have the extra money to spare on one. I came home from school one day, and my mother had sewed me a doll that was the same height and she had made me a whole bag full of knitted doll clothes! I loved my beautiful redheaded doll and all of the hand knitted sweaters!!!!

Two years ago, I asked my mother to show me how to knit so that I could someday make my children clothes and later pass the skill on to my grandchildren. My first project was a wavy rib pattern scarf. After that I started making knitted headbands with colorful knitted flowers with buttons. Recently, I have become a beginner with circular needles, which I had never tried before and found a little challenging to get used to.

My most recent scarf, I would consider beginner level. It was a drop-stitch cowl pattern. I used super-bulky yarn and large needles so that I could wrap it around a couple of times. I gave my sister the purple one that I made and I kept a maroon-colored one for myself. During the process, I learned a new cast on for knitting in the round, I learned how to yarn over, drop a stitch, and practice on my circular needles. I am super-proud of the cowls, and I am anxious to make some more for this winter to give away for Christmas presents!!”

Our sisters-in-crime, the JUNK GYPSIES, are back on TV, Thursday, June 12, at 9/8cst on Great American Country (GAC). Be sure to watch our Texas friends! They’ll be tweeting during the episode and you’ll have a chance to win prizes.