Claiming Our Space: Pinterest, How I Love Thee for Helping Me Find a Use for Unused Stuff

I am a later-comer to the Pinterest Party, having only joined a couple of months ago. But, in that time, I have quickly become hooked and have definitley joined the ranks of the converted. (Long Live Pinterest!!)

I think I will need to live to 100+ to visit all the places, make all the crafts, prepare all the recipes, create all the jewelry, plant all the gardens, etc. that I have pinned, plan to pin and want to pin.

Sometimes, I think to myself there is no way I can even begin to work on any one of the myriad of ideas pinned to my "For Free Time - DIY Crafts" board, mainly because I don't always have alot of that thing called "free time." I don't even have as many things pinned as some of the folks I follow. The other problem is that besides the time investment, many projects also involve a financial investment into tools or materials that I either don't have on hand or have enough of to make the project.

However, the flip side is that when I am sorting out a cabinet, or closet, and come across items that remind me of something I have seen on Pinterest, I become totally inspired.

This project is no exception. I found this image on Pinterest from http://eighteen25.blogspot.com.

I just knew that with minimal outlay, I could create something similar. Since I already had candlesticks and vases/jars in my living room cupboard.

My only expense was the E600 glue, which I know will come in handy for other projects down the road. The vases are leftovers from my wedding. The jar is from IKEA. The candlesticks are from who knows where (I have had them for at least 10 years). All these items have been packed away, unused, for the last 2+ years.

But that is about to change with just a bit of glue after I ran everything through the dishwasher to make sure they were sparkly clean.

Then I set up my workspace at the dining room table (with Willow supervising), gathered my materials and tools and got to work.

Step 1: Gather all your tools and materials

E600 glue
Vases/Jars
Candlesticks
Small Level
Toothpicks (I like the flat ones since you can use them to "scoop" up the glue)
Paper plate
Tape (if needed)

Step 2: Decide which vases/jars go with which candlesticks
Since all my candlesticks are the same, for me this was the quickest step.

Step 3: Put dollop of glue on the paper plate
Size depends on how many pieces you have to glue.

I have read several reviews on the glue that have said that trying to use it straight from the tube can result in a big mess and a cap that won't come off the next time you want to use it.

Step 4: Applying the glue
Using a toothpick gather up some glue and apply to the top of the candlestick.

This is probably the most tedious part of the who process.

Step 5: Placing the candlestick to the vase
Place the vase upside down on your workspace.
Gently place the glue end of the candlestick on the bottom of the vase.

Step 6: Making sure things are straight
With your level, check to make sure things are straight.

This may not be as much of an issue if your vase/jar has a flat bottom, but if it has a curve, this step will ensure that your vase/jar won't look wonky once things are all dried.

If your vase/jar has a particularly curved bottom, you may need to use a couple of pieces of tape to keep the candlestick in the level position to dry.

Step 7: Move the glued piece(s) to somewhere safe so it can dry without being bumped.
     I places a couple of books on top to make sure things things got good adhesion.
     E600 glue needs 48-72 hours to fully cure.