Tuesday Display Chain: On Wednesday....

Yes, that pretty much sums things up around here.

The ever-creative and overly-talented Misi at 1890 Gable House Musings is once again hostessing the Tuesday Display Chain.  This week's theme is "Crafting Secrets Exposed."  Really?

If you don't know me by now, I'll let you in on a little secret: I get very little crafting done....and I am not very ingenious in that regard.  I do have a slick way of finishing/binding hooked rugs, but it's not MY idea (lifted from my clever hooking pal, Cathy), and seeing as I don't have a rug ready to bind, there wasn't any way of showing you it.

Add to that some family issues that have put me behinder than usual, and I thought I'd be sitting this one out. But, I don't like feeling left out.

So here's my contribution - lame as it is:

I can only imagine what you're thinking....but I warned you it was lame.  These are just some of my "old reliables" that I reach for time and time again.

Old English Scratch Cover:  In addition to doing what it's marketed for (i.e., cover furniture scratches), it's a wonderful "fix everything."  I do have my Bri Wax that I use for distressing and faux finishes, but I find that my Old English is much more versatile.  For example, I had a friend repair this old hand mirror for me. In doing so, he gouged a piece of the wood.  I didn't mind the gouge itself, as the piece is primitive and has gouges (and carving) anyway - but the exposed wood was not attractive.  A little Old English to the rescue, and you never would know:

I also used it to "blend" the finishes on some replacement pieces on this old child's rocker:

   (The sweetie in the chair is "Joyce," one of OLM's creations.....)

I have two bottles - one for light and medium wood and one for dark, but find I use primarily the dark one.  This stuff lasts forever - I've had these bottles for at least 10 years (so if you're looking for it in the store, it may not look the same anymore).

Next up:

Lighter Fluid:  This stuff is amazing at removing tape and sticker residue.  The above said mirror also came with a residue on the mirrored surface.  I could remove some of it with glass cleaner, but it had been on there so long that the adhesive residue was actually becoming part of the mirror.  Lighter fluid took it right off.  (Works great on removing price tags from books that are to be gifted as well, and I use it to remove labels from plastic and glass containers for storage/reuse.  For large labels, remove as much of the top of the label as you can, then use the lighter fluid to remove the adhesive.)

Lastly:

My Snippets:  My husband thinks I save everything. I disagree - but I do save my snippets from hooking.  And, on the rare occasion that I actually craft something that requires stuffing, and I want that lumpy, old timey, feeling, I reach for my stash and use them. 

There you have it....not really "crafty," and definitely not "ingenious" - but it is what it is.  For some truly "creative" and "crafty" ideas, check out the posts from the other chain gang members at 1890 Gable House Musings.

Over and out....The Crow.