"Re-Creative" this Holiday Season With Recycled Holiday Gifts You Can Make With Your Children

Spending Time With The Family Making Recycled Holiday GIfts: Tips From The Topeka-Shawnee Library 

Are you close to the holidays and freaking out because you are just NOT ready?  Chill...help is on the way...think about a trip to your local library to learn about homemade gift ideas that you can make.  The Topeka-Shawnee library might be helpful as a start, with a blog that they posted on vintage inspired crafts you can create with your family. Included in their article is a   book suggestions titled  Re-Creative ,
a book craft source which  features projects that transforms "yesterday's trash into todays stylish and useful objects". What are you waiting for...check out your library and start crafting with the kids!

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Entertaining For The Holidays Using Vintage Mosaic Candy Dishes and Trays

Yo Yo Yo...A Mosaic Holiday for Retro Collectors 

Retro funky collectors, this hoiday idea is for you if you like to serve your family and guests holiday snacks in kitschy dishes. I spotted these wonder Mosaic trays and candy dishes at The Collinsville Antiques Company in New Hartford, CT a few weeks ago. If you are asking me whether I bought these tiled treasures...the answer is...I didn't YET...I'm hoping by some miracle they are still there when I retun in a few days. You can however find these type of Retro craft items on eBay, Etsy and in shops selling for generally under $20.00. Making mosaic functional items such as ash trays, candy dishes, trivets bowls etc. was a popular hobby in the 1950s and 1960s. Let me know if you find these treasures.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Kitschy Retro Camper Decorating Ideas

Go Camping In A Retro Or Whimsically Decorated Camper: Ideas From Country Living

If your dreaming about a Kitschy Retro Christmas spent in a vintage Camper, than you will adore the decorating ideas Country Living featured in http://www.countryliving.com/home-design/decorating-ideas/g1808/unique-rv-decorating-ideas/?slide=2 I love how this designer  used a bold turquoiuse wall with a rustic chic Bohemian flair.


C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Making Christmas Ornaments From Upcycled Sterling Plate Flatware Silverware

Have A Merry Merry Upcycled Christmas

Here is a great gift for those of you who love a vintage holiday look. Artisans at Twisted Metal  creative beautiful Christmas tree ornaments upcycled from Sterling Plate Flatware Silverware. You will so find so many unique holiday gifts and functional art  made by artist Neva Starr. Here is the link http://www.spoon.fish/shop

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Inspired By Origami: Face Masks Made From Toilet Paper Rolls By Artist Junior Fritz Jacquet

Wierd Face Masks Made From Toilet Paper Rolls: Artist http://www.juniorfritzjacquet.com/

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/08/toilet-paper-rolls-squished-into-funny-faces-by-junior-fritz-jacquet/

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

What To Do With All Those Extra Chopsticks

 Chinese Take Out Extras That You Can Re-Use In Your Kitchen Or Craft Room

If you visited my dad over the years and you opened his kitchen drawers you would find compartments of  "extra" condidments that came with Chinese food take out orders. There would be  Duck Sauce packets to last a lifetime. Amazingly he kept his inventory of packets of Soy sauce, Duck sauce, Mustard, Fortune cookies, Chop sticks etc very organized in designated drawers. His closing line after he called in his order was always "please give me extra____".  Every Sunday was Chinese take out from "Kings", a nearby restaurant that expected his order and his plea to send along "extra packets". So over the years dad had quite a collection of Take out STUFF.


Upcycling Your Chopsticks: Holiday Trees and More  

I wouldnt advise saving food packets for too long, (certainly not as long as dad did) but Chop sticks and empy clean containers are another matter. There are so many things that you can do with chop sticks from making holiday trees to using as skewers for fruit or marshmallows. Not to mention converting chopsticks into lamps and baskets. Check out the links below for tons of ideas.

 What To Do With Chopsticks

 https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/10-uses-chopsticks

http://www.networx.com/article/50-uses-for-disposable-chopsticks

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/01/08/50-uses-for-disposable-chopsticks/

http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/chopstickscraftsideasforkids.html

Holiday tree image spotted on Pinterest.com

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Organized Clutter Features Charming Alternative Christmas Trees Made From Vintage Housewares

Making Homemade Christmas Trees Using Vintage Kitchen Funnels, Sieves, Rolling Pins

I'll start off by saying that my experience in making homemade Christmas trees ended back in grade school when my pal Sharon and I created a giant custom coloring book to take to children in the hospital. However  after seeing this wonderful blog post on making  "Alternative Christmas Trees" on the popular website Organized Clutter  I'm feeling somewhat creative.


 Funky Funnels and More

It's easy to get inspired with holiday creativity when you poke around the Organized Clutter website. As a collector of kitchen collectibles, I was delighted to see these funky Christmas trees made from vintage household kitchen items such as funnels, sieves,rolling pins etc.

 

Add a few colorful balls and a stand and you are all set with a unique
Christmas Tree for the holidays.

Where to Find Vintage Kitchenwares

You can find these household kitchenwares at Flea Markets, Thrift stores, Yard sales, Antique Shops.
You might want to start collecting during the summer months when there are a lot of outdoor sales and you can generally find these kitchen collectibles at more reasonable prices. If you are reading this article close to the holidays, you may need to not only romp around  your favorite haunts but also look online.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Creating s Junk Wall: Spotted On The Whimsical Website "Organized Clutter"

Creating a Junk Wall Using Old Wooden Boxes and Collectibles

I found this really fun website called Organized Clutter which features a section on decorating with collectibles. I thought you might enjoy seeing a Junk Wall. I would love to do this in my home, but I just haven't gotten the nerve to carry it out get. Using old wooden boxes to create vignettes is really charming and leaves plenty of room to move things around when you feel like re-decorating. You not only get the inside of the box to use as a display space, but you can use the top of the box as well. This Junk Wall is organized quite well...I guess these gals who run this site really do specialize in   Organized Clutter!

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists