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msjay2u

what got you started?

17 years ago

I been wanting to get some garden junk projects started. I found a cd tower that someone threw away and I wanted to work with this first. I think will be nice if I can EVER figure out what to do with it (see link below but mines is all silver with a black base and black balls)

I was wondering what your first projects were that transformed you from ideas to actually getting inspired and doing it. I have NO IDEA where to start. I look at the CD tower everyday and know I can make something interesting with it. I know I can probably make some cute little birdhouses but can not get started on them either.

I don't know what to do to get inspired.

HELLLLLLLLP!!! Pleeeeeze....

oh and i am a picture person so if you can post some photos that would be great

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:130632}}

Comments (21)

  • 17 years ago

    That looks like a vine trellis or a bottle tree to me!

  • 17 years ago

    I think it is definetly a trellis. Doesn't even look like you need to do much besides add a vine.

  • 17 years ago

    Msjay,

    I think it too looks like it would make a great vine trellis! But, even though I'm not a painting artist I see that scary person painting--looks like the Scream stressed out person. But yours just needs some sort of face and hands to complete it. Do you see what I see? IT would be some sort of welding project.

    Also, I can't remember if this is sepcific to WHAT really got me inspired. I think it was seeing someone else's bowling ball with the half marbles glued all over it. I though, humm, now I can do that! I now have at least 9-10 BB's in my yard. One even has pennies glued all over it! I have long since moved on to other projects--my yard is full of JUNK (whatever that means). I have a 6 foot ladder painted white to serve as a trellis for my 3 clematis. I have an old metal umbrella skeleton that I set up each spring for a vine to grow on. I have rusty old things around the yard as well. I have an old shock coil spring that I found that holds open the garden gate.

    Have fun coming up with ideas and actually DOING them!

    Love, Jules

    Here is a link that might be useful: Unsorted photos of Jules'

  • 17 years ago

    Is it big enough to set little pots in and have flowers or vines coming out at different levels? If not, you could add some chicken wire and sphagnum moss and then put in some soil and plants. I like Jules idea of a face, too. maybe add a hat on top with some twigs on each side for arms and make a "plant person" with a pair of shoes at the bottom with plants in them.
    blessings-sherri

  • 17 years ago

    I'm with Daisydal. My first thought was to lay the thing on it's back, line it basket liner or something and use it as a planter. Maybe hang it or mount it to a rail/fence top.
    I like the curved shape, it's works vertically or horizontally

  • 17 years ago

    Thanks for the ideas. I think I like the one about the scary person although I don't know how I can acomplish this. I am not scared to learn how to weld but what can i use for the arms?

    The cd case is not very large at all. I would say only 4" x4" wouldn't a vine get lost on this?

    Jules I clicked on your link and it asked me to sign in. I think that if I make up a user id and sign in it is going to tell me I have the wrong user id to sign into your photos.

    I saw someones link showing how they made the bowling ball and had it setting up in the air on a piece or rebar. I thought it might be a good idea to do a set of bowling balls and then line my front path with them. that might be awesome!! problem is where do you get the bowling balls from.

  • 17 years ago

    MsJay it depends on the vines you choose. Clematis for instance comes in a wide variety of sizes and would fit great on that. If you wanted to try an annual Sweet Peas would fit, though I don't have a lot of luck with them.

    To get bowling balls, some have said to check at your local bowling alley and see if they are throwing any away. I found a couple at a local Goodwill, others have found them at yard sales or even on Craigslist.

  • 17 years ago

    OOOOHHHHH I love Daisydal's idea of the plant person...I have a similar cd stand that I think I will try this with next spring. I can picture it with clematis growing up it like a long dress, dress shoes planted with some flowering annuals, and a totem head on top. Now I can't wait for all of this snow to leave so I can start gardening again.

    ~Micki~

  • 17 years ago

    It might be cute to create a person out of it by lining it with sheet moss ... kind of making a topiary out of ... and then have sticks for arms and figure out something for the head. A chia pet head would be cool. lol!

  • 17 years ago

    MsJ,

    " F O L G E R S " !!!!!!!!!

    I drink my 5 cup mug full of coffee and look at this web site. Then I get inspired to go out and burn myself with hot glue; smash my fingers with hammers; sweat till my clothes need burned; breath various fumes from sray paint and glue; and otherwise have fun. LOL

    My reward is when people ask me to give them a tour around the exterior and interior of my house. Everything has a story. (Not many things were ordered and delivered here)
    I had two girl scouts and their mom (strangers) who came by this weekend who were delighted at all of the handmade items. It made me feel great to see the delight they had for our projects.

    You have got to be delighted enough to be driven to create things for your own home. If that doesn't get you started then you are not hungry enough yet.

    I am thrilled to tell great whopping tales to children about "What the Fairies are up to" (Which in fact they left for the winter but promised to come again in the Spring when the snails are on the move again in the flower beds. uh-hummmm)

    The bottom line for me is that "I AM DELIGHTED MYSELF WHEN I DELIGHT OTHERS".

    Susie

  • 17 years ago

    Susie, your name should be "rosiesusie!!!LOL!! You are such a cheerful person and you have such great humor!! You always make me smile! I agree with you totally!! That is my reward as well, when someone comes over and says, "oh my gosh, how did you do that?" or that is so cute, will you show me how to make one! I love to share my projects with others, too. Besides the personal gratification of being "me" and creating, it gives those decorating demons someplace to go besides filling up my head!!! My only problem is, (well, now, that's a lie, I have all kinds of problems!!!), I get too many things that i want to create and now enough time. Then, i get overwhelmed and depressed because there's never enough time. I love your posts, girl!
    Ya know, Oklahoma is not that from from Texas....... man, could we do some damage or what!!??
    blessings-Sherri

  • 17 years ago

    LOL

    Yeah I want people to admire my yard and the junk in it too. I been on this bowling ball thing now and I think I am going to start with that. I have this idea to make bowing balls with pennies all over them, stick a piece of rebar in the ground them line my path with these bowling balls. If I can find cheap bowling balls that is. I am hitting the bowling alleys tomorrow. wish me luck

  • 17 years ago

    MSJay,

    Ok, I dont know what went wrong with that.....so I've made a homepage for my photos. Here is the link:
    Desert Rats Photos

    Love, Jules

  • 17 years ago

    Desert Rat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Such wonderful creations!!!!!!!!!! I am realing with excitment!!! You have some lovely things and some great scenic pics too. Thank you so much for letting us peek.

    MsJay,

    I was able to find a thrift store where bowling balls were about $3.00 each. They had a large amount in their sporting good area. But hopefully you can get them from a bowling alley for free. I haven't tried that.

    Susie

  • 17 years ago

    you gave me some good ideas DR!! Imma have 2 steal some of them. I like a lot of things you have. where did you get the blue bottles for your bottle tree? I have my stand up, firmly planted in the ground but no bottles to put on it. See thats why nithing gets done. I have ideas but can never find the supplies. Are you going to add more bottles?

    Also does anyone know how many pennies it takes to cover a bowling ball?

    I did not make it to the bowling alley today to beg for free balls. Hopefully tomorrow. I am hell bent on the penny balls!

    also I found ald old milk can in my barn in mint condition. Any ideas of what I can do with that?

  • 17 years ago

    I always have good luck at bowling alleys by asking for damaged balls. I've gotten cracked ones, ones that were out of round and a couple that were split. If the pro shop or whoever you're talking too realizes that you're not going to resell them as regular bowling balls they tend to be more generous.
    Good luck!

  • 17 years ago

    All of the wonderful people here on this site got me started. I have always saved "junk" but just recently started putting it to good use. Now I am adicted. I am on this site several times every day and I am always looking at things to see what they could be other than garbage.

  • 17 years ago

    MsJay,
    Thank you very much! Ok, so the blue bottles. I got 2-3 froma garage sale, another 2-3 from teh antique store and another 1-2 from the thrift store.. I pay anywhere between 50 cents to $4 a bottle. I have more but they are bigger and do not fit on that particular stand. I just happened on that stand at a thrift store. I'm not sure exactly what it was in its former life--maybe a coffee mug holder??? I had been wanting a real dead tree to display them on...It takes time to collect the right peices so be patient. Also, if I remember correct my BB took about $3-6 worth of pennies (I double covered mine) if that helps any. I guess if you have more pennies than needed they can always be used in oyur spare change. :-)

    Hope this all helps you.
    Love, Jules

  • 17 years ago

    It took about $9.00 of pennies to cover mine! (Maybe bowling balls are bigger in TEXAS! LOL) And we all know that the penny is getting smaller. LOLSLAP (LOL Snorting like a pig). It could be that I am generous to a fault. Somebody asked one time had we considered putting nickles or dimes or quarters on our BB's. No!!!!! It's a Bowling Ball not a 401K!!!! It is my opinion that we will know when times are really tough when we are taking our bowling balls to the grocery store to buy milk and bread. Yep, I was able to convince Hubs that BB are safer than our Bank. So far I have not been able to allow mine to leave my coffee table. It is fun to gaze at even in the house. I call it BB therapy.

    Susie

  • 17 years ago

    MsJay, you really got some good feedback on this project! The GJers always see possibilities that others don't! Please share the results with us!

    As for myself getting started with garden junk, mine was more utilitarian than creative probably. I remember 2 items that were the early "signs" of a junker ... one was an old coal hod, the other was an old wooden ice cream freezer, both were gonna be thrown out in the trash. I saw a planter in both of them. This was around 1972. Been looking for neat, unusual stuff ever since, because they both made great planters! ~tenderlee

  • 17 years ago

    Welcome to the board, msjay2u. We're all a lovely bunch!
    In my eyes, your CD stand is dancing. A ballerina in the garden! You could use chicken wire to form arms. It wouldn't have to be detailed, just the illusion. Of course, the draw back of having one ballerina is that you'd have to add more later.
    Take a deep breath and take one project at a time.
    Vickie

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