Can’t find a cell phone case background design that you like? If you have a clear case, simply cut out a pattern that fits the case and change it out when you want something different.
Giving Outworn Furniture a New Life
One of our mottos at White Elephant Creations is giving outworn objects a new life. Although the idea for our blog was started 12 years ago, you could say that the White Elephant mantra is in our blood. My paternal grandfather, Robert Ralph, operated a furniture upholstery shop out of his basement in Point Pleasant, NJ, for 40 years. As a kid, I remember spending time in my grandfather’s shop watching him upholster couches while he whistled along to Big Band music playing from his radio.
A while back, I had a vinyl covered mid-century love seat that needed to be fixed. Since my dad had worked for my grandfather when he was younger, I asked him to help me with the project. While I did get to assist with the recover, my perfectionist dad ended up doing most of the work. I do have a another vinyl chair that needs to be re-covered, so hopefully, I’ll get my chance. With our throwaway culture, upholstery has become a lost art. But I look forward to carrying on the Ralph family tradition.
-Mike
My dad demonstrating a peculiar trick of the trade. To save time, he fills his mouth with tacks (they come sterilized) sticks the magnet end of the hammer in his mouth, and then tacks down the cover.
Baby Onesie Patchwork Quilt
Although our son is past his baby years, Faith finally completed a quilt using the onesie logo designs that he wore as a baby. Several of the funny ironic designs were courtesy of our friends at DeFY ink who also hosted the baby shower where many of the onesies were created. The final touches for the quilt were provided using scraps from curtains, pants, shirts, and old baby blankets. A labor or love, eight years in the making.
The Little Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
For our daughter’s 4H miniature club, they were tasked with creating a book-themed miniature display for this year’s 4H Fair. For her book, she chose The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, the classic by C.S. Lewis from his Chronicles of Narnia series. It was cool to see all of the details that she created using random objects, including the miniature wardrobe, of course! How many references to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe can you find in her display?
View-Master Reel Coasters
If you were a kid from the 60s through the 80s, you most likely played with a view-master. I remember looking through one to view the Grand Canyon in 3D. There were lots of ones from National Parks, scenes from kids cartoons and shows, and lots of Disney movies. I. came across a set of ones from the Pee-wee’s Playhouse, the quirky Saturday morning show from my youth that launched a series of cult films with it’s odd-ball title character, Pee Wee Herman. Using some cork plant pads and Mod Podge, we transformed the reels into coasters to add a fun nostalgic look to the coffee table.