More cat stuff.
27 May 2011 1 Comment
in craftables, crafts Tags: crafts, DIY, furry dependents
One thing about pets is that they create extra dirt, fur, smells, etc. to clean up. I am what some might refer to as a neat freak. Although I care less about tidiness (unless company is coming over) and more about hygiene and getting rid of germs and odors (ESPECIALLY if company is coming over). I have been to enough bachelor/frat boy pads that have grossed me out, that I want to make sure no one ever comes to my house and wonders when the last time I cleaned was.
Anyways, cat litter has been a recent nemesis of mine. I cheaped out in August and didn’t buy one of those covered cat litter boxes because it was more than twice the price of the regular or high-walled boxes. So I bought my boys a box with higher than average walls, foolishly thinking that would keep the cat litter inside. When I found out that didn’t work I went to Walmart and bought a small rug to put around the box to hopefully catch excess litter. That improved things, but I still found litter in places I didn’t want it. However, the covered cat boxes were still just an expense I couldn’t participate in. I know, my frugality is getting a bit excessive but I couldn’t bring myself to buy another one when I had one at home that sort of did the job. Besides, by now I had already bought a rug. I couldn’t let the high walled box win.
Enter grand upcycling idea number one!
One of my favorite storage devices are those Rubbermaid storage bins. I used them to move here and still keep some excess stuff in them. However, I have a few empty ones laying around. I thought they’d make a perfectly suitable covered cat litter box, and I seem to be right. 
My picky cat has already used it once and the other one has snuck inside for a peek. I now have more rug available up front, since the sides are covered, so hopefully my days of endlessly sweeping up litter are over. Not likely, but maybe I can cut down from everyday to every other day. I can also put stuff on top of this one so even though it is bigger it didn’t cut down on garbage area storage space.
These boxes run about $7 or so at Walmart, and if you don’t care about colors you can get some super cheap red and green ones on Clearance post-Christmas. I would recommend using one that is fairly tall. I tried a medium sized one at first and it ended up turning into a cat bed that will likely go unused after today. However, I still am happy with the end results.
Caturday.
08 May 2011 2 Comments
in craftables Tags: crafts, furry dependents
Well if you are still with us after that pity party below, we thank you.
Here is something a bit more fun to read about: a cat castle that I have nearly finished. I need to find some supports and paint it grey (I was thinking some kind of Home Depot mistint). I wanted to make sure they liked it before investing too much time on the exterior, though.
I decided to undertake this project because my office at work was filled with all these boxes. I got rid of a lot of stuff by way of donation to some local organizations and then decided to reuse the boxes for a fun kitty project.
Cats are strange creatures. A few months back I bought a cat tree from Target. It gets used a bit. Mostly for storing their toys and sometimes it acts as a hideout so that someone can swipe my legs when I walk by. However, for the most part it was a waste of money. However, the cardboard box that was going to be thrown away? It gets used daily as can be seen inthe photo below:
Notice unused cat tree on the right side of the picture.
So I decided to take that idea and run with it. I read somewhere that cats like cardboard boxes because it absorbs their scent quickly and thus makes them feel cozy and safe.
I started with just one big box and made it so there was only one entrance. Stuck an old pillow in it and B seemed to like it.
It also provided him a bit of reprieve from J, who is a few years younger and likes to torment him by jumping on him and wrestling him out of his catnaps.
Next I added a second tier with two boxes. One has two entrances as you can see and the other just has a sideways hole cut into it. The one with the front door has been more popular so far. I think it might be because it provides a bit more privacy and darkness. Or maybe it is the flower wrapping paper…
Lastly I added a top and two “wings” that are just those lids turned upside down. They have sides so I guess they sort of feel like little box nests. This is where the supports will come in handy as if only one side is getting used it is a bit top heavy and falls over. J found that out the other day. Ha.
It doesn’t look like much at the moment, but once I paint it grey and add some faux dead mice on spikes every cat in the 941 will want one.
Skid GROW.
23 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
in my project Tags: a day in the life, crafts, self-sufficiency, why am i doing this
This magical story actually started in an unlikely stuffy government meeting and ended in a beautiful pile of dirt in the ghetto (note: the term “ghetto” actually kind of bothers me to type out, but I am unsure of how else to describe this part of town, so you catch my drift).
I think it was back in January/February that I was attending a county meeting where this very fervent individual had requested to participate in public comment. This man was from a local church and was letting the CRA know that his church group had been involved in “adopting” a few neighborhood blocks that fell into its jurisdiction. The man shared how each Saturday the church goes into these blocks, sets up a BBQ and cooks pancakes for the neighborhood kids, gives the kids trash bags and gloves and helps them clean up their own neighborhood, and works with the families to try and help them help themselves. They really focus (as do I) at being a hand up, and not a hand out.
The presentation that this man made on that Tuesday night really spoke to me. I had never seen someone speak so passionately about ensuring families have clotheslines so they don’t have to dry their clothes on the ground. Or how families were so happy that the church helped clean up an old mattress so that prostitution activity could move elsewhere and out of someone’s backyard. The ardent speaker shared how they mowed down overgrown grass and provided what was likely the only warm meal some of the neighborhood kids would eat that day. I am not trying to sensationalize the situation of this community. It is what it is. The part that makes me saddest of all is that this all occurs within the borders of one of the most powerful and richest nations on earth. To me that is the part that must be sensationalized. It should be screamed from the rooftops until things change.
Or maybe it should just be preached from inside a school’s cafeteria to the right audience.
Shortly after this man’s public comment I emailed him to see if the church would be interested in doing some container gardens with the residents. I had just finished working on a container garden project and we had tons of materials left. It seemed like a good partnership. What emerged from that email is something I could have never imagined. Through the work of church volunteers, amazing people, energized residents, and myself we were able to develop and initiate a beautiful community project.
It has been dubbed “Skid GROW” for a few reasons, one of which I am sure you can figure out. Today was the day we installed a majority of the gardens (a prototype was installed a few weeks back) and this was probably one of the best days I have experienced thus far in my year of service.
I worked with a woman today to install, fill, and plant her garden. Afterwards she gave me a huge hug and thanked me. I am a pretty emotional girl, and have been known to cry at a commercial or two. However, instead of tearing up I am pretty sure my heart just burst. She was so happy to have been given this amazing gift. While there will be a financial benefit to her; lower grocery bills or healthy foods readily available. Most importantly, she now has control of something in her life. She has a little plot of land that belongs to her.
Building the garden beds:
Our Dirt:
Choosing Seeds:
The plot before:
After shots:
Neighborhood kids planted and watered once the seeds were in:
Our prototype garden that was set up a few weeks ago, already with some goodies:
More Crafty Christmas
05 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
in craftables Tags: christmas, crafts, DIY, gifts, tips
Here is the project I have been looking forward to finishing: Star Wars peg people for my nephew.
You can find a tutorial with better quality pictures here.
There are many places that sell unpainted peg people. Michael’s (which I assume to be one of the more expensive places) sells 2 large for around $1.19. You get 3 of the smaller (Yoda) ones for the same price. I’m sure there are other retailers that sell them. I already had the paints, Fimo, glue, and gloss. So, including the 25 cent piece of felt i got from Walmart, this project cost me around $5.
You don’t have to make Star Wars guys/girls you could make your own family, a miscellaneous family, cartoon characters, movie characters. Whatever your heart desires. These are fabulous little figures made with love. They can also be light on the wallet too.
Enjoy 
I have one more gift up my sleeve, and a rehabbed step stool that I got for $1 coming up in the next weeks.
