Tool Time Tuesday...Homemade Bird Feeder and For Us Too!!

Spring is trying so hard to come around here at Sew Many Ways...the birds are chirping, but the temperature isn't quite there yet. Well, the birds are going to be singing more after this Tool Time, even if it isn't warm outside.

All you need for this project is a threaded rod, (I found it at Home Depot for a $1.75), 2 washers and 2 nuts that fit over the rod, one plastic bowl and a drill with a bit that matches the size of your rod.

One tip for the bowls...you only need one bowl, but I bought the larger ones on the left for 60 cents a piece and the smaller green ones came in a package of 4 for $1.00 at Walmart. The 4 for a $1.00 worked out, because I cracked the first 2!!

Here's a close up of the threaded rod label.

2 washers and 2 nuts.

This is my block of wood that I drill on.

Place the bowl, bottom side down, on your drilling surface (my block)

Drill in the center of the bowl, on the inside. Start slowly or you'll crack the first 2 like I did! (update...thanks to 2 great readers...make sure you drill a few small holes for water drainage. Placing a small piece of screen over it will keep the seeds in, but the water out. Thanks ladies)

and here you have it...

Take your threaded rod and screw on one of the nuts then one of the washers.

Now, place the bottom of the bowl on top of that washer, leaving just about 1/2 inch of the rod on inside of the bowl.

Inside the bowl, place the second washer over the rod then...

screw on the nut.

Here's the bottom.

Here's the inside.

Now take your favorite bird seed...

and fill her up. The rod is sturdy, so it's easy to stick in the ground.

Don't forget to place it next to your nesting cage. Click here for that tutorial.

It will be like a Bed and Breakfast for the birds!!

This bird food may be yummy for our feathered friends, but I'm also thinking this idea would be great for human treats too. How about...

• snacks...popcorn, candy, pretzels etc
• hand sewing, eye glasses, cell phone etc
• use the bowl for picnics, camping or at the beach next to your chair
• stick easily into the ground or the sand

I was going to say this project is "for the birds", but I guess it's for us too!!

Happy Tuesday,

~Karen~

Don't forget to link up any of your projects at my Sew Darn Crafty Party...so many wonderful links there already.

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 9

It's Sunday again, so let's see what you've been up to. Sew Darn Crafty is all about YOU!! Show off your projects, share a tutorial, show us your vacation pictures, share a family favorite recipe...share anything. Not only does linking inspire us all, it also brings lots of new people to your blog for a visit. Click here for past parties and lots of inspiration

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

• link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not  search through all your whole blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
• link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
• anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects etc...
• visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
• grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
• the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
• linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in

So let the linking begin...

~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Party Features...

I want to thank all of you who join in on the Sew Darn Crafty Party every Sunday. I just love all the projects that you share. Thought I would feature some of last week's projects with you. I made a little "Featured" button if you'd like to grab one for your blog. It's over there on my side bar.

So here we go...

Sandra, from Sew in Peace, made this beautiful I Spy Quilt...isn't it just the cutest! Go for a visit and see the detail of the quilt.

I have a confession. I am a huge Star Wars fan!! So pop over to see Laura from Come Together Kids for a great tutorial for this adorable pillow.

All I can say is YUM!! Visit Ladybird Ln. for this fantastic recipe. There's a secret ingredient.

This looks so yummy, I want to bite off his ear...but it's felt! Visit Tina at Art Chick Studio for the free pattern.

Penny rugs have been on my "to do" list for years. These are such great inspiration. Go over to see more at Harvest Moon By The Lake. Oh my gosh...Leanne sells them too. See her pages under her profile!

Now this is fabulous! She used scrap book paper to sew this passport holder. I think I'll make mine a coupon holder. Visit Ms. Not So Perfect for her wonderful instructions.

This idea is perfect for Easter. Just genius...looks like a carrot popping out of the ground. Definitely going to make these. Visit The Seven Year Cottage for instructions.

and last but not least...how could I not show this. Tracey, from Bits and Pieces of the Better Life, made this beautiful wall unit. I absolutely love it...and the desk and chair in front of it is to die for.

Thank you all again for your inspiration. Don't forget to grab a feature button if you'd like.

I'll be right back in a little bit for another Sew Darn Crafty Party...so get your project links ready,

~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursdays...

 "To the world you are one person, but to one person you are the world"

                                                                                                                              ~unknown~ 

Have a great day,

~Karen~

(there were a few different people who said they were the author of this quote, so I put unknown. If anyone knows...)

Tool Time Tuesday...Power Cord Ideas

Happy Tuesday! Today's Tool Time is about extension cords for your iron and your hot glue gun.

I bought this foot controlled extension cord after Christmas for half price. You can plug in your Christmas tree lights into this and then just tap the tree on with the foot switch. Well, this is great for Christmas lights, I use this for my iron and love it!!

If some of you have this foot control power cord already...bring it out for your iron. You will love it too. If you don't have one, look for one in your hardware store.

The most important thing to look for is how many watts the power cord will hold. This one holds 1625 watts.
 

This is the label on my iron. This iron has 1400 watts. Irons use a lot of power, so leaving them on during a project is like leaving on 14 -100 watt light bulbs. Having this foot power switch is any easy tap on...tap off way to control things.

The cord is pretty long and the foot petal sits any where near the ironing board.

Fully lit up when the iron is on...

One light on when the iron is off. The one light just lets you know that the switch is plugged into the wall.

Easy tap on and off with your foot.

Here is another idea for a surge bar for your hot glue gun. (I showed something like this a while ago, but I added a cute little sign!!)

One extra tip...Keep your hot glue guns on a silicone oven hot pad. When the glue drips out...it's easy clean up.

The cord tip for this is to keep a lamp (turned on) AND the hot glue gun plugged into a surge bar. I have it hanging just under the table on the leg.

When you are working with the hot glue gun the lamp is on, which reminds you to turn the glue gun off when you're done.

If I walk away or if any one else is using my glue gun...I'll know that if the light is on, the gun is on. Plus it's an easy on/off switch underneath the table. This lamp is known as the glue gun lamp!!

I just wired the frame to the lamp.

Always be safe with electrical cords, but definitely try these easy ideas.

Have a great Tuesday,
~Karen~

Don't forget to see all the fabulous ideas everyone shared on my Sew Darn Crafty party this week. Definitely add some of your own too!!

Moda Jelly Roll Give Away...

Good morning all my blogging friends. I hope you had a wonderful weekend. April from Kool Beenz blog sent me a link to her fabulous give away and asked if I would share it with all of you. Absolutely!!! Who wouldn't share a great blog and a super great give away.

Fat Quarter shop is sponsoring a give away for a Hullabaloo Jelly Roll by Urban Chicks from Moda

Run over there now for 9 chances to win. Here's the link....no really, run...this is a great one

Give April some blogging love for me,
~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 8

It's Sunday and you know what that means...time to share your creations this week. Sew Darn Crafty is all about YOU!! So show us whatcha got! I love looking at all your fabulous projects and creations.

I'm creating a new "Featured on Sew Many Ways" button, so look for it next weekend when the linking party ends. I will feature some of the ideas from this weeks additions!!

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

• link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not  search through all your whole blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
• link as many projects as you'd like
• anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects etc...
• visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
• grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
• the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
• linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in

Have fun at the party,
~Karen~