Altered......everything!

I LOVE to alter things...I love to repurpose....that is how I came upon the name Recycled Rita.
Many people have asked why I used that name. I have loved vintage since I was little and made things out of anything I could find to keep myself busy...cardboard, fabric, bits of paper...you name it.
My family always says my mom could make a delicious dinner out of water and a toothpick because no matter how mother hubbard our cupboard was, she made a nice meal. I think I have the same mindset but I like to make something out of junk or castaways.
This party was perfect for me! I couldn't wait to share some of my altered goodies with you!

First up is what I am working on most recently....I saw these pockets in Somerset Life and then Robin made some pretty containers for her class kits and I knew I needed to alter some toilet paper tubes! Here is the result:

I used vintage images and waxed them to make them even more aged and filled them with pretty vintage lace, buttons and millinery to make a mini-kit and mini art pocket. These are available now in my etsy shoppe.

Here is a close-up of one of the pockets:

A few years back, I altered some cigar boxes, here is one made with an Asian theme.....

Japanese newspaper, postcard broken jewelry and pearls... This was meant to be a purse, but alas...it was never finished!

Here is the backside:

If this party happens again, I have so many projects to show you!

For now...I am off to make some halloween houses with these jewelry boxes that I have already covered in vintage document pages....

Go visit the French Cupboard to see the rest of the wonderful participants, you won't be disappointed! Maybe it will inspire you to keep something out of the landfills too! I would love to hear any ideas you might have! thanks for visiting! karen

Creatin' and Shoppin' the Flea......

I first wanted to let you all know that I am participating in Etsy's Christmas in July sale and all items in my etsy have free shipping.... now thru July 31st!

I have been really busy lately .... our camping trip was fun- it was so beautiful up in the mountains. I am working summer school so that is always busy. We had our car, fridge and dryer all break down....we are past most of that now.... and I have been a creatin' fool!

The picture below is a sneak peek of our vintage vacation swap. My partner and I just mailed out so I will share the rest with you soon but here is a little something, something......

Today I went to my little Flea Market.... I had such a fun time...just me, wandering around at my own pace. I stayed mostly with $1 finds because that is what fits my budget, but I love what I got! Here is everything together:


I love that Biscuit tin..only $1! And the doll dress...so sweet!

Here are the pretty paper items I got:

I love vintage prayer cards and some fun italian papers and a bathing beauty and baby postcard... I can't wait to make new things with these lovelies!

And buttons! I love me some buttons!


I also got a handful of mother of pearl buttons....love them too!
For some reason the same picture loaded twice... so you can see all my finds again!

Well, I am off to start dinner and hopefully create something new! Have a Happy start to your week! karen......

OOOoooo La La!

I guess I am a little hooked on the French theme...I made a French Inspired Art Kit for my etsy..filled with wonderful french inspired things and mostly vintage supplies...
I also added these darling ballet shoes....

And another French Prayer card box- this time just the box but up on mini spool feet....

I also added some deconstructed flower pins and some fun vintage goods... Go visit my Etsy, if you would like a closer look!

I am off camping Sun.-Tues. so in case I don't get another post in...have a good few days!

karen....

Paris Inspiration Swap- what I made........

I had so much fun making these boxes..... I loved the Paris theme and covered each box with copies of a vintage french document...then added a beautiful postcard image and some vintage lace, ric-rac and a pretty flower.......


I filled each box with a tiny silver shell dish and added vintage buttons and lace, an eiffel tower charm, an old Parisian ticket, some pretty images, vintage keys and other goodies and then I made a pretty fabric cuff for each of them......

The cuffs I gave Natalea and Hope are the top 2, the bottom 2 are now in my etsy shoppe. I was lucky to meet 2 wonderful women/artists and it is just as much fun to create as it is to recieve each package! If you have a chance to do a swap and never have, jump in! It is great fun!
I will be adding new goodies to my etsy soon and will be having a 200th post giveaway very soon so keep checking back! Have a great start to your week, hopefully I will post again soon!
hugs! karen....

Petite Inspiration Box Swap

These swaps are so fun! Heather from Speckled Egg does a wonderful job putting it all together and I loved the paris theme.
Here are the beautiful boxes I was lucky enough to recieve:
This first one is from Hope of Vintage-Whimsy.....

This is a beautiful frozen Charlotted with a crown and wings holding an eiffel tower glittered charm and tag...Ooooo La la....

It was filled with beautiful antiquey flowers and tags and a tiny charlotte and many other wonderful paris inspired goodies....

But wait! I had 2 wonderful partners and this was from Natalea of Kandeland...

A beautiful French lady wrapped in crocheted lace and fabric torn ribbon with a pretty eiffel tower charm attached....

And filled with wonderful buttons, lavender, aged paris tags and lace and other yummies!

I am a lucky girl! Later I will post what I gave them...I am off to finish cooking dinner!

Hugs! karen....

Happy Red, White and Blue!

Sorry for the darkness of the above picture, my point and shoot camera takes terrible inside pics. This is a little vignette on our coffee table, some are new finds and the blue and white pieces were gifts from my dad to my mom years ago...

The last few weeks have been up and down...we wound down the school year and ended on the 23rd. A couple of days before the end of school, our principal planned a turnover of some of his staff- me included. It didn't work, but still hurt and started our summer off with a punch in the gutt! We spent our first days off meeting with our union and gathering all our info...not fun!

But..... on a fun note! I have gotten some wonderful things thrifting lately!

I LOVE these scalloped trays and found the red stars and shell balls at a different thrift store

I also got the bust and the flower hat at the same thrift store...and that little Marie mirror at my local flea.... I will sell the hat on my etsy, it is filled with flowers but the rest of the treasures will stay with me. My intention was to sell the larger tray but I am so in love with them, I don't think I can part with it!

Summer school starts on July 7th, I am hoping to take the kids to the beach after school some days and enjoy some crafting...

Soon I will be adding some creations to my etsy and I also post on the petite inspiration swap that I did...

Hope your 4th is safe and happy...I am off to boil some ribs for bbq and make some pasta salad!

Hugs! karen.....