How to Make a Birdfeeder from an Old Record

Paradise for Rockin’ Robins

Use old scratched records for this tweet birdfeeder

Design by Joan Martin Fee

Supplies

Gloves, cotton
Oven
Pot holders
2 Records
Drinking glass
Glass pie plate
Chain, small links
Crop-a-Dile™
S hook
Bird seed
Needle nose pliers
Wire cutters
Ruler

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Place glass upside down in oven. Place record over glass form. Heat for 3-5 minutes. Ovens vary, so keep an eye on it. Wearing cotton gloves and using hot pads, remove record from oven when it is pliable and let record cool on glass. 

2. Place pie plate in oven, right side up. Place second record in pie plate and when pliable, push into pie plate with gloved hands.  Remove from oven. Let cool.

3. Punch three evenly spaced holes along edge of large record bowl, using Crop-a-Dile. Punch six evenly spaced holes along edge of small record bowl.

4. Cut 3 pieces of chain 12” long and 3 pieces 8” long. Open link on one end of 12” length chain using needle nose pliers and insert in hole in large record bowl. Repeat with other two 12” lengths in remaining openings.

5. Open opposite ends of chain and insert in every other hole of small bowl.

6. Insert 8” lengths of chain in small bowl.

7. Combine loose ends of 8” lengths together and use S hook to hold together.

8. Add bird seed and send out the invitation.

For more great ideas on how to use old, scratched records, check out Cheryl Ball and my e-book Get Those Old Records Off the Shelf at http://www.lulu.com/shop/joan-martin-fee-and-cheryl-ball/get-those-old-records-off-the-shelf/ebook/product-4670569.html

Creating with Old Records

 

VaVaVabloom Vase or 

Desk Organizer

Design by Joan Fee

Get organized for the new year or add a colorful touch to your desk with fun record creations!

Supplies

• Oven
• 2 old scratched records
• Scissors
• Cookie sheet
• Glue, waterproof
• Glass or metal object, approximately 3” in diameter
• Pot holders 
• Cotton gloves

 Directions

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Place one record in oven on cookie sheet. Remove pliable record from oven.
2. Immediately, cut record in half.
3. Place one half of record back in oven until pliable.
4. Form around 3” diameter object and hold until set.
5. Place other half of record in oven until pliable.  Cut a 7” x ¼” and a ¼” x 1” wide strips. Make loops in end of long pieces. Wrap short piece around center of loops to form bow.   
6. Cut the center from one record.
7. If necessary, glue record together where they overlap.  Glue center of record to overlapped piece. Glue on bow. 
8. For vase, insert glass, fill with water and add flowers!

Check out more fun old record crafting ideas at www.lulu.com for the ebook Cheryl Ball and I created - it's filled with unique and crazy ideas for old records!

Get Those Old Records Off the Shelf

We all have them...a pile of old records and no record player or the records are so scratched that they won't play. Here's a fun project to preserve the album covers - make a tray for that special person (you included!) and it will be music to their ears...My buddy, Cheryl Ball, from the old Aleene's Creative Living television show days and I put together tons of ideas to repurpose the old records in our ebook - you can check them out at http://stores.lulu.com/craftproductsatyahoodotcom

Servin-up Rock ‘n Roll

Designs by Joan Martin Fee

Supplies

• 1 Record Album Cover
• Frame with glass to fit album
• 2 Drawer pulls
• Screwdriver
• Drill
• Scissors

Directions

1. Cut album to fit frame. Tip: Cut and paste to fit frame or buy a mat to fill in open space.
2. Drill pilot holes for handle screws on ends of frame.
3. Attach handles. Replace glass.

Craft and Hobby Association Highlights

I saw this posted on a booth and I liked what it had to say!


Paper butterflies - when I was a kid, everything was pink - pink bedroom, pink clothes, pink, pink, pink...

3D flowers on the side of a booth

I'm getting ready for my class reunion and was searching the trade show floor for ideas for decorations. Can you see this in purple and gold?

My dear friend, PattieWack.

My friend, Cheryl Ball, created with butterfly dress - love it, Cheryl!!! Can I borrow it for my class reunion?

It was old home week at the show. Crafty Chica AKA Kathy Cano-Murillo shows off cannon spray paints in the i love to create booth.

This girl was soooo getting into spraying on dye to make a cool scarf.

I had so much fun making a button pin in the Blumental Lansing booth - it was great to be a crafter and enjoy all of the make-it and take-its.

Can you tell what this dress is made from?

Purple and gold??? Hanging from the oak trees at my reunion?

Too cute, paper dress.

Paper booth display.

When my brother remodeled his house (the house I grew up in) he offered me an old lighting fixture from the hall. I'm thinking it would look great as the top of a mobile like this.

Kathy Ireland was on the floor showing her new trims.

Such a colorful display of afghans and hats.

Craft and Hobby Association Craft SuperShow

Fabulous day at CHA!!! Had a blast teaching at the Craft Academy! Crafters are amazing! I had seriously thought about cancelling my make-it and take-its because of the weather. We saw several overturned cars along the freeway and the weather was something else! I dropped a friend off in Manhattan Beach and would love to go back sometime to do some window-shopping - fantastic looking home decor stores!

Tomorrow is a 'free' day - I'm thinking the show floor will be crazy with crafters!!! I might take a watercolor class. I'm having breakfast with Cheryl Ball!!! and will meet up with some more former Aleene's friends the next few days.

From Crafter's Heaven,
Joan

Healthy Meatloaf Recipe

Here's a comment about Krissy Ball's healthy meatloaf recipe on Instructables. If you haven't tried it yet, here's the link - it's made from turkey and it's VERY yummy!!!

From: beadydaniDate: Jun 18, 2009. 5:11 AM

Subject: http://www.instructables.com/id/Healthy_Meatloaf_Recipe/

Thanks for sharing this recipe, I have heard (I am British) of Meatloaf for as long as I can remember. Having seen this recipe, I will definitely (I love trying out new recipes) be making it, I am particularly pleased it can be frozen which will really help with my busy schedule. I am so glad I stumbled on this page.

Thanks beadydani for your comment.

Thai Spring Rolls

This Girl Can Cook!!!

I haven't talked much about Kristin Ball, Cheryl Ball's sister, who is the third person in our Still Crafty After 50 group. Kristin is an amazing chef with vast experience and training including cooking at a golf course country club, Skywalker Ranch and with the number one caterer’s in Santa Rosa and Paso Robles. She designs the menu, prepares the food and even creates tablescapes for the finest wineries in California. She has designed craft projects for over twenty years and many of her designs have appeared in national magazines. She’s always looking for new and fresh ideas for both food and design. Kristin loves making every day things an event with her special touches.

Kristin's YouTube video Easy to Make Thai Spring Rolls was just picked up by chefcommons - congrats Krissy!!! Kristin also revamped the Ball Family Meatloaf Recipe and made it oh so healthy and oh so tasty!

I hosted the video with Kristin and I was amazed at how easy Spring Rolls are to make and not being a big veggie girl, they were outstandingly yummy! And, you can keep the wrappers on your shelf for ages at the ready to make them anytime!

Check out http://www.stillcraftyafter50.com/ for more ideas from Cheryl, Kristin and me transforming those things from our youth that are hanging around into functional and fun projects and Kristin's healthy recipes for us, our parents and the children in our lives.

Make it a creative day!

Joan

Melted Record Fountain

A Year Ago!!!

It's hard to believe that I posted my How to Make a Fountain From Old Records video on YouTube a year ago. In that time, it's had over 8,500 hits and spawned an e-book Get Those Old Records Off the Shelf with Cheryl Ball featuring a ton of ideas for using old records including how to make a record bowl, room divider, serving trays, birdfeeder, clock, cake stand, jewelry, tablesetting, mail sorter and soooo much more!

Check out the video on YouTube How to Make a Fountain From Old Records and
check out Cheryl Ball (from our old Aleene's Creative Living days) and my Get Those Old Records Off the Shelf ebook for tons of ideas to use old records!

www.lulu.com/spotlight/craftproductsatyahoodotcom

Get those records out of grandma's attic, out of storage or wherever they're at and put your own spin on creativity!

Joan

Get Those Old Records Off the Shelf!

Cheryl Ball and I got his fabulous idea a while back about using our 'retro' fabrics and craft products we'd collected over the years. We combined them with things from our youth and transformed them into something functional and different – creating a whole new look for old. That's when Still Crafty After 50 came to be.


Well, we got this gig to appear on our local tv station and I came up with the idea to make a fountain from melted records. It was a hit! We have since recorded a how-to video entitled How to Create a Record Fountain and it has over 7,000 hits on YouTube. Check out the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqS_kM2gBlc

So, we thought, why not make other things from records. And our new ebook was born - Get Those Old Records Off the Shelf. This ebook lets you get those old records off the shelf...out of grandma's attic, out of storage, wherever they are and take a spin on creativity!

Records only take a couple of minutes to melt in an oven and can be shaped easily into fantastic projects.

Get Those Old Records Off the Shelf ebook includes photos and instructions to make a Record Fountain, Record Clock, Record Cake Stand, Record Birdfeeder, Record and Album Cover Placesetting including napkin rings, tablerunner and placemat, Record and Album Cover Jewelry, Bowl, Record Album Cover Trays, Record Mail Sorters, Record Album and Cover Room Divider, Record Vase.
Check it out at http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/get-those-old-records-off-the-shelf/6694989. Since it's an ebook, it's inexpensive and you can print it off right then and there - no waiting!


Get ready to Rock 'n Roll Craft!!!
Joan

Check out the hummingbird...

My week...a spur of the moment trip up the coast, White Christmas, crafting, delightful food, delightful friends... This was a very interesting week, one with MANY twists and turns, all thoroughly enjoyable.

On Tuesday, I found out a big deadline I was working on got extended a few days, so with that freedom (plus I was super stressed out and knew I needed to chill), I jumped in my car and went north on Highway 1 along the coast. My plan was to head up the coast for about an hour to Ragged Point and have lunch - but something made me whiz on by there and with the many twist and turns of Highway 1 I found myself at my favorite restaurant in Big Sur. Lunch was fantastic, overlooking the Big Sur coastline. The weather was fabulous and the drive up and back was great - hardly any traffic which let me pull into turnout after turnout to observe the mighty ocean below. I turned up the tunes real loud (thanks Miss Frances for Beyonce!!!) and found myself pulling into places I'd been before like Ventana Inn - they now have nice wood chaise lounges overlooking the ocean and I found myself basking in the warm sun not wanting to leave.

Wednesday was the newcomer's luncheon at a country club about 1/2 an hour away - it was absolutely spectacular - the view out the huge windows was of the surrounding hills with beautiful vineyards. We were all chattering about wearing our holiday finest - sweaters, jackets, etc. and it being 72 degrees outside - ahhh, the life of living at the coast (I had been emailing with friends back in Fresno and they were socked in with fog and freezing). I got introduced as being on the new board - some people were amazed that I was a new member (4 months) and already volunteering for a position - it's who I am, I wouldn't have it any other way. The food was wonderful and we had a presentation by a local high school choir of holiday songs.

Wednesday night and Thursday morning were spent doing freelance work. I literally had pieces and parts of projects everywhere in my tiny place. I got a phone call from a high school classmate saying he'd be in town in ten minutes and inviting me to dinner. I did the 8 minute scurry clean-up. Thing is, I have been to his house for meetings and he is one meticulous person, but, oh well. As we walked out of the restaurant, the sun was absolutely gorgeous right in front of us setting over the ocean!!! We stood there watching the sunset and I couldn't help but say outloud - "This is MY life."

Friday night was so delightful - Cheryl Ball, her sister Krissy and I got dressed up in our holiday attire, went to a steakhouse for dinner - I don't have steak that often, so it was a wonderful treat (was yummy for breakfast this morning too!) and then we were off to watch a production of White Christmas - it was absolutely amazing!!! We even got snowed on in the audience.

I woke up to rain this morning but as the morning progresses, the sun is shining and the ocean is beautiful. I need to play catch-up today after all my fun actives this week, so it's a working weekend for me. I'm not boo-hooing, cuz I had a delightful week.

Take care,

Joan

Big Purple Guy, Elfin Forest, Visitors, Job's Daughters, Work...

My friend and former cubicle mate sent me this picture of herself with the 5 foot tall stuffed animal she and her husband, Bruce, are giving to Toys for Tots. Too cute, Lucy!!! Miss you big time!

Last night in Cambria was very nice. We were running out of time before sunset, so we took a quick walk that turned out to be quite a workout coming back up a hill. Dinner was delightful - clam chowder in a bread bowl and shrimp salad at a beach side restaurant. There's a delightful new candy store in town and they had 11 different flavors of malted milk balls. One of the workers was kind enough to get us just a couple of each flavor.

I received an email from a high school classmate of mine yesterday asking for some help. Lisa and I had been Senior Class Officers together and we were also in Job's Daughters for many years together. Lisa emailed me in a panic because one of her former students (she's a teacher) asked her to do a 15 minute speech for her installation on Sunday. I told Lisa I'd brainstorm with my sister and see what we could come up with. The things we came up with are certainly not things she'd want to tell at an installation celebration. My sister and I remembered some initiation 'ceremonies' - everything from blindfolding a person and having them point out different areas of a cow and the last one you ask them to point at is the tail where someone dutifully puts a jar of Dippity Do so that their finger goes right in it. FYI - Dippity Do is an old version of hair gel. We talked about a song we sang when someone was caught with their elbows on the table at social functions. The song went - get your elbows off the table (insert name), get your elbows off the table, we have seen you do it twice and it isn't very nice, get your elbows off the table (insert name). There was a second verse - believe me - you only put your elbows on the table once in this crowd because the poor person had to run around the tables while we sang the song. Then there was the story about going on a snipe hunt - the initiation was in town where there was a curfew. Well, I and a few other girls saw a police car coming down the street, so we dove into the bushes. Yup, they found us, put the car lights on us and told us to go home. Strangely, the initiation was taking place at the high school principal's home...ahhh, to be young and innocent...being older and doing fun things is pretty darn good too.

The Elfin Forest - I joined the walking group in the newcomer's group and we walked at the Elfin Forest today - I will have to google that and see where the name came from because I didn't see any elves or any forest. It was a delightful walk with fresh air and good conversations.

My freelance work is in high gear - I'm creating twelve projects for a book and doing some instruction editing.

The holiday festivities are shaping up to be a fun time - next week is my newcomer's luncheon at a local country club (it's a chance to play dress-up), Cheryl Ball, her sister and I are going to see the play White Christmas along with a nice dinner out, there's a lighted boat parade, my old Aleene's friends are getting together, a friend told me this week she's getting married on New Year's just after midnight (I have my fingers crossed it's not foggy so I can be there!!!), our We Love You Betty party for my friend whose boyfriend passed away, I'm going to a wedding reception at the Disneyland Hotel with a day at Disneyland and next week a friend will be in town so I'm gussying up the house for that - I was all gung ho to decorate the outside of my house, but with all the work I have going on, I think I'll concentrate on the inside and be happy with that. My next door neighbor has enough lights up for the entire neighborhood. Life is good!!!

Have a fabulous weekend,
Joan

Weekend and Lots of Reflection

I had a most delightful weekend. I had dinner with Cheryl Ball and her sister and then we came back to my place to chat. They had been here right after I moved in, so they were able to see all my hard work. The next day was supposed to be a 'do whatever day' and I was heading down that way when my sister called asking if I had lunch plans - one of my nephews was in the area and he hadn't been to my new place. We went to the same restaurant Cheryl, Krissy and I went to - yummy fish tacos!!!

Last night was weird - I checked my email about 11:30 as I was heading to bed. I had an email from my friend in London, so I emailed her back. The phone rang - who could it be at 11:30? My friend from London, of course. We chatted almost an hour. Made for a groggy me this morning! They will be leaving London in the next year and a half, so looks like I'll be going to London next year. They live across from Buckingham Palace...free room and board. Now, to find a cheap airfare.

Tonight was my first Chick Flick get together with my newcomer's group. We did a movie and then dinner. But, I had a surprise - we parked near the restaurant and walked through Beverly's and there was Heidi Borchers. Since I was with a group, I hugged her and said I'd give her a call. That's on my to do list for tomorrow.

As I walked in the door tonight my phone was ringing. It was a high school friend of mine telling me of the passing of her boyfriend, also a classmate. So sad. My friend has had so many trials in her life and now this. My heart goes out to her, her family and our friend's family. I had seen Terry in September and he was fine and shortly after that he started acting 'odd' and seven weeks later he is gone from our lives.

Hug your kids, your spouse, your parents, friends, anyone and everyone that you hold dear in your heart.

Joan

Thanksgiving on the Farm - The Barn, Family, Ribs, Tractors, Cranberry Sauce...
The cooks!!!

You can move a farm girl to the ocean, but you can't take the farm out of the girl...Thanksgiving was delightful! My mom got into the whole Barn Thanksgiving and brought out Thanksgiving related quilts, candles and milo from our fields to decorate. My bro, David, was a wonderful help bringing it all together. He got out the generator, so we would have music, moved the tractor out of the barn, put up tables and chairs, etc., etc. He was a great help and he wasn't even there for the festivities - he and has family went to his mother-in-laws for the day.
The ribs were seared for 1/2 hour at 500 degrees and then slowly cooked and basted in bbq sauce for 2-1/2 hours - yummy!!!

My nephew, Chris, loves Cranberry sauce - he makes sure everyone has their fill and then he takes the rest and smears it on rolls - quite a few rolls, I might add.

Toward evening, we went back out to the barn to put everything away and since David was still gone, that meant we had to wrangle all the heavy stuff and take care of them. Having spent many hours on the tractor as a kid disking the fields (don't even get my dad started on the summer I used a Honda 50 motorcycle to check the water in the fields every 1/2 hour), I got on the tractor and even though I hadn't driven it in years, I was able to get it started and take loads to a storage building. Fun, fun, fun!!!

We all went our separate ways on Friday - me to visit a friend in Fresno and my family to shop and go to our favorite / mandatory hangout - Superior Dairy - with to die-for ice creams treats.

Friday evening I headed back to my home, unloaded my car and vegged the rest of the evening.

Cheryl Ball and I are doing dinner tonight and I want to go to my storage place and dust off my Christmas decorations that have been in storage for 3+ years and decorate for the season. I came home last night to a blaze of lights from my next door neighbor's house - I knew I'd come home to something, but didn't expect so many lights. Something tells me he isn't done, yet.

I just got off the phone with my best friend from high school. We chatted for over an hour about life (she's going to be a grandma for the third time!!!), about our classmates - she still lives in our home town, so she was bringing me up-to-speed on the happenings or lack there of.

Seems like I haven't gotten my engines going today and it's already 1:00 p.m. with lots to do today.

Tomorrow is a do whatever day - wrapping presents, maybe getting a live Christmas tree, straightening up...whatever.

Joan

This Week

Aprons and More Aprons!!!

It's been a whirlwind week with lots happening, but the thing that keeps coming back to me about the week is APRONS!!! Late last week I had the pleasure of editing instructions for seven aprons that the Duncan designers created for an upcoming Belle Armoire issue. They ranged from one that Cheryl Ball created that I called a Lucille Ball apron to a Peace Apron. All very clever and all very different.

Last Saturday, I met up with Cheryl Ball who was selling her handmade items at the Paso Robles Olive Oil Festival. She had the best aprons for sale - while I stood there she sold 3 (one with an olive on it, of course) and she's making some aprons for a new bakery that just opened in Paso. Cheryl's wasn't the only booth selling aprons, there was another one, but she was charging over $40 for hers. On my way out of town, I stopped at a quilt store and there were more aprons!!! I see the apron I bought on my last vacation is hanging in my storage building - time to get it out and at least make it a part of my kitchen decor. On Sunday, Cheryl, her sister Krissy and I had brunch in Morro Bay. It was nice to catch up with both of them.

Looking back on last week, I don't know how I fit it all in. A former co-worker mentioned about me being a butterfly and after just watching one in my yard fluttering around for place to place, I think she hit the nail on the head. I DO have to post pictures of my butterfly bathroom - I keep forgetting.

Last Wednesday I attended my first newcomer's club meeting - it was fabulous - the energy of the sixty-five ladies was fantastic. They have little off-shoot groups - one is for Chick Flicks, one gourmet cooking, one gardening and the one that was formed that day was The Valley Girls. It seems as though about 85% of the members are from The San Joaquin Valley - that shouldn't have been a surprise to me since that's where I'm from and here is where a lot of the Valley people vacation to get away from the heat.

Last Wednesday night I visited with Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica. She was in a nearby town debuting her new product line - the line I spent over a year editing instructions, writing packaging copy and getting it translated - it was a BIG job. It was so fun to see Kathy in all her glory. I had dinner with Kathy and her husband, Patrick. What a terrific evening! Thanks Kathy and Patrick for sharing your evening with me.

Saturday was spent shopping - I bought a most gorgeous Mission-style bookcase, begged my sister and nephew to come over and help me unload it - I bribed them with ice cream. We spent the rest of the evening chatting and having fun. My sister and husband lived in this house for a while way, way, back.

I also found some outstanding bargains on summer clothes - 75% at Penney's. I need summer clothes because...I'm going on a cruise to Cabo in October. I'm going with 14 very party people, so it will be fun and it's a place I've never been.

The rest of the weekend was spent organizing my storage building, putting books on my bookshelf and going through old files - being totally afraid to throw papers away. I figure I can always track stuff down if I had to.

I have been busy working in my yard, planting flowers and trying to figure out what to do with a yard that's pretty much just dirt...I'm sure you'll hear about that again.

The weather as been absolutely fantastic, so I've been taking lots of walks and everyday I have the windows open to let in the sounds of the ocean and the fresh air.

Well, my friends, I must get back to work - be sure to check out http://www.duncancrafts.com/ - we're adding over 50 new projects this month on the crafts and ceramics websites - everything from Halloween costumes for your dog to a garden candlestick to a Crafty Chica project - can't tell you what it is!

Enjoy your day!
joan

Record Fountain, Cake Plate and Bowl

Get Those Old Records Off the Shelf

















You can make a ton of projects with old records!!! From fountains, to cupcake plates to room dividers!!! Here's the basics...

Record Bowl

What You Need
1 Record
Oven
Pie plate
Gloves, cotton
Liquid Fusion adhesive
Flat item about 2” in diameter (plastic, metal or glass – this is used to cover the hole in the record)
Hot pads

How to Make It
1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
2. Turn pie plate upside down. Place record on top. Place in oven for 3-5 minutes. Ovens vary so keep an eye on it. Record is ready when pliable.
3. Wearing gloves and using hot pads, remove from oven and place record inside pie plate to form. Let set until hard. It won’t take very long.
4. Glue flat objects over hole in record. Let dry.

Check out Cheryl Ball (from our old Aleene's Creative Living days) and my Get Those Old Records Off the Shelf ebook for tons of ideas to use old records!
www.lulu.com/spotlight/craftproductsatyahoodotcom

Still Crafty After 50
Cheryl Ball and I were on one of our local TV stations today with 9 recycling segments. There was plenty of prep work before our arrival at 5 a.m. this morning. Throughout the five hour show we teased, chatted, crafted and even got on camera doing stretches. I am soooooo tired!!!

We've been back at work for not even an hour and we've already gotten word that they want us back - GULP! next week for 9 new segments...

My favorite was making a fountain out of old records - it only takes 3-5 minutes for a record to melt in your oven at 200 degrees. Here's the link - it's the recycle material video
http://kmph.com/Global/category.asp?C=108757&nav=menu612_5

Or here's the same project on youtube
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AqS_kM2gBlc

Another favorite project was silhouettes on plates - the instructions will be up soon!

Check out our Get Those Old Records Off the Shelf ebook for tons of ideas to use old records!
www.lulu.com/spotlight/craftproductsatyahoodotcom 
Joan