Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Nodders

Do you know what these are?



These are old, rusty bed springs used for crafting.
I started seeing these all cutified last fall when I was trolling e-bay for craft ideas.
I found these the day my sister-in-law, Amy and I went to Canton. 
Read about it here. 
We both got three.
We paid $5.00 for three of them which I thought a fair deal for junk.
I had seen them for more money on e-bay when you consider shipping.
These are junk, trash, discards. I have a problem with paying big bucks for garbage.  
Anyway...
I had no idea that I would find a whole mess of them in the trash pile at the cabin were I stayed this summer with my brother and his wife.

Typically old homes have a vintage trash pile somewhere on the property to throw cans, bottles and junk. 
A friend of mine found antique bottles at her grandparent's farm. She used them at her daughter's wedding. She gussied them up with lace and buttons and stuff.
(Unfortunately, I didn't find any cool bottles. I think my brother has taken them all.)


I found the spring to an old seat of some kind.
I decided rather than bring the whole thing home, I would take the springs off. 
Wouldn't you know it? I couldn't find a decent tool at the place! The man who owns this cabin must have tools in his truck. I managed to get about 10 springs. I spent hours ripping them apart.
Nodders

Since I was put in charge of figuring out what to do with the aforementioned springs, I decided that it was none too soon to begin figuring out what the heck we are going to do with them.

I can proudly say that after $35.00 is supplies and 4 days I finally have one that looks good. 
Go me!!

It was kind of by accident. 

I bought a pumpkin or two at Hobby Lobby and tried them out on the nodders.
Nope!
I decided I needed to make my pumpkins.
I looked for a tutorial on line and came across this darling blog called The Cottage Home. She had an awesome one that totally helped me out.
Read about it here. 
I got an assortment of orange fabric for my pumpkins.

Thank you, Walmart.
They need to be about three inches in diameter.
I spent hours (days).
Nothing.

I even painted drop cloth fabric orange.




Now don't get me wrong, these pumpkins are cute as all get out but, not right for the top of the nodder.

I kept trying and finally I got it right.
 I came up with a cutie made from some cheesy, orange velveteen that I picked up on the spur of the moment for .50 cents.
I almost didn't even buy these scraps because they looked so cheap and cheesy.

I sort of thought for a minute that I made it too small. But small is better. 





But there was something else I was thinking about.
I went back to Hobby Lobby and bought this sort of rustic pumpkin.
I had been seeing vintage inspired jack-o-lanterns for the past few years.
I wanted to replicate that look.
So I browsed an old magazine.


  and e bay for inspiration.


This one is by far my favorite. It will look sooo cute with my Halloween display.
To think I almost bought one like it for $14.99!!
Remember... I spent $35.00 on supplies?
Sometimes my bargain hunting costs me more than it should. 
Read about some more nodders and pumpkins made during our 
fall crafting weekend. 
Here.
Excuse me while I go get started on some snowman ideas for the rest of the nodders.   

Sprinkled with rusty, crusty, springs,
Katie
Linking with,
Savvy Southern Style  
Cherished Bliss  
I Gotta Try That 
The Ivy Cottage Blog 
My UnCommon Slice of Suburbia 
French Country Cottage 
Primp Your Pumpkin Party









7 comments :

  1. These are so cute. You did a great job!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cute idea! Always fun to find junk. Thank you for visiting my blog, I am newly following you.

    ~Shanon

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Shanon. I am pleased you stopped back by.
      Katie

      Delete
  3. looks like you are having so much fun figuring out what to do with the old bed springs. Looking good.
    I have the same problem and so many people make really cute things.
    Happy Fall.

    Audrey Z http://audreyzumwalt.blogspot.com/
    Timeless Treasures

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Audrey. You make such cute things out of old stuff. I'm still trying to find an old mailbox like you have.
      Katie

      Delete
  4. What a creative idea! I love your pumpkins on the springs. Too cute!

    Linking from Debbidoos,
    Ricki Jill

    ReplyDelete