Certain things I simply cannot leave behind at Goodwill. Apparently, a giant solid-wood tray with a scratched-up finish and space-age chrome handles is one of them.

But in my defense…it was $10.

And underneath that tired finish was a 24" × 24" solid-wood tray. This thing was substantial. If you've ever shopped for an oversized solid-wood tray, you already know they don't usually come with a ten-dollar price tag. The tray itself was in good shape. It just needed someone to look past the scratches, the marred finish, and those handles that appeared ready to launch into orbit. Naturally, it came home with me. Leaving a two-foot-square solid-wood tray at Goodwill for ten bucks would have required a level of self-control I simply do not possess.

And then…

It sat in my workshop for four months.

Sometimes I bring home a thrift-store find because I know exactly what I'm going to do with it. And sometimes I bring something home because it's $10, has good bones, and apparently, I have absolutely no ability to walk away from that combination. This oversized collage frame fell squarely into category number two. Read on to see what I actually came up with in this fun DIY/Craft Project!

Tis the season for gift buying and if you have someone in your life who loves all things DIY and crafting, I’ve got some great gift ideas for you!  They are thoughtful, useful, and won’t completely empty your piggy bank.  I mean, what else could you ask for?  Okay, let’s get going!

When writing blogs, typically one finds little opportunity to write Mwhah, hah hah! In this case I feel justified as I am about to describe to you, dear reader, the Tale of Frankenpot. Mwhah, hah hah! (If you just imagined an eerie castle flashing in the night sky by a massive lightning strike, kudos to you.) Caution: If the drama of this tale overwhelms you at any point, please pause your reading and return once your heart has returned to its normal rhythm. Warning: This story starts out scary; however it resolves to a happy, and I think quite lovely, ending. Read on. If you dare!

Many, many hours. That’s what I spend in my garage working on different projects. Some for fun and some for work, which, thankfully, is also fun. The projects range from furniture redesign and refinishing to crafting and decorating projects. When you do something for many, many hours, you’re smart if you make the space that you’re working in the best it can be. That definitely was not the case with my garage space – but that’s all changed now, baby! I got me a great workspace and I’m oh so happy! It’s nothing fancy, and people with a really nice, dedicated workshop may not be impressed. But for this redesign gal, it’s just right. Let me share how I got from workshop mess to workshop bliss…