Happy Independence Day & a small share

In case you're not from the USA, we are celebrating our day of Independence today. Its a hot one at that, with the temperature 98 F degrees and humidity is high as well. Even the pool felt like bath water at a cooool 88 F degrees. It's only going to get warmer for the next few days. I will take this over being cold though, any day. It's been so hot and dry for so long that many fireworks have been banned, but a few are still taking their chances with them tonight so we'll check some out somewhere.

I did work on a small project today, but I love the way it turned out! It would be stunning for a wedding photo, but I've made it as a memo board. It started out as a goldleaf picture frame that I thought was pretty IF it weren't the gaudy gold. So, I painted it! And then I was inspired by a picture I saw on Pinterest that gave me another idea. Check out this blog post to see what inspired me.

And here is how mine turned out.

It kind of blends in with my very old and so ugly curtains, but it will do. I wish I could find the Before shot, as I'm sure I took one, but just picture it in a gold leaf all over with black in the crevices. I bought it at a neighbor's garage sale this summer.

I did lots of layering of colors and it started off as just a solid ivory color until I seen the frame that was someone else's pin on Pinterest and it just clicked instantly that it's was just what this needed. I already had out the Flesh and Brown Velvet paint from previous projects. I don't even know if they still make these colors anymore. 
 

They were paints that I inherited from Mother-in-law, who passed away in 2001, & I don't even know how long she had them. I used the Flesh for most of the accents, but then mixed it with the Brown Velvet to create a sort of Taupe color for some darker accents. It might have been 4 drops of Flesh to 1 drop of the Brown Velvet. The frame still didn't look quite right, so I started dry brushing the taupe over some of the high points on the flesh color, then dry brushed some white over all of the high points on the frame.

I think it has sort of a cameo look to it now. I added some cork that I covered with burlap to create a memo board, but this could be removed and the glass could go back in for a picture frame. 

Oh, and just in case you might be wondering about the cute little white salt jar, I also found that at a garage sale and added the SALT label to it with my Cricut using the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge for the font and Home Decor the frame.

I have other stuff that I've finished, but need to get pictures taken of them & edited to the best of my ability.

  
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Little Bit More Primitive Stuff

I've kinda been on a roll lately with working on craft projects for my 1st show in November. I'm pretty motivated, yet I'm really nervous this year because I'm not sharing 2 booth spaces with my friend this time. Instead, I'm getting my own TWO spaces, all to myself. I've grown accustomed to sharing a large stage area and it draws a huge crowd every year. But my friend makes so much stuff that she needed it all to herself. I wanted to be selfish and not give in to her request, but we both needed more space & she was actually there first, so it's really only fair to let her have it. I'm just really worried that people aren't going to notice MY space until after they've looked at & purchased from the her stage space first. My space will be directly in front of the stage, but I've had that spot before and believe me, I know how my stuff was ignored before. I've literally watched people have something from my booth in their hand, look up at the stage & put my piece back down on the table, then make a bee-line for the stage. A random few would come back to my booth, but most did not. I'm really striving to draw the people to my space this year - it would be great if they would look there first. (wink-wink) There's a whole lot more to this story, but I'll not get into all that.

This next project follows the same design as the Salt & Pepper shakers you can see HERE.

Here is what these looked like before.

And this is what I've done with them.

Sorry for the bad photos. I always pick the wrong time of day to take pictures and I wouldn't say I have the best camera either. If it sounds like I'm making excuses for my poor photography skills, I am. 

 So that's that! Just some more primitive type stuff if you fancy that look. I'm working on more, but slightly different looking. 

Stay tuned...


 
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A Little Bit on the Primitive Side

I have been making crafts since I was a child when I would hand sew my own Barbie accessories from my mom's left over pieces of fabric and trims.  

I was drawn more to the domestic types of classes and our high school even offered a Crafts class one year. I just always loved being creative.

I'm also what I refer to as an ADD crafter. I have a vast array of interests and never seem to stick to one kind of craft. I just love it all! There are some I'd like to try, but do realize that I have an attention span of a gnat and I would lose interest before completing them. I've finally gotten smart enough to spot these projects and avoid them in spite of the temptation. Oh, I still have project completion issues, but they have improved with my age.

This recent project is a somewhat simple one and for the most part, turned out very nice. It's not exactly MY personal taste, but would still be happy to have it in my home. I like some things primitive looking, but not all out primitive. I think I like the rustic country, on-the-verge-of-shabby-chic look. My home doesn't look anything like that either, so I don't know what difference it makes what my tastes are. HA!

These were your basic varnished wood with a medium shade stain variety.  I do have to admit that I stole the design idea from somewhere online. But you see, I had no plans to make this project when I seen it, so I never saved the site of where I saw them or I'd give credit where credit is due. It just so happened that later that same week, I was at a garage sale and found these Salt & Pepper shakers and couldn't resist redoing them. (Here is quite possibly a not-so-interesting story) as I was walking around the sale with these in my hands, a guy came up and asked if I was going to buy them. I told him "Yes" but I'm thinking to myself, "Ummm, yeah dude. I ain't just carrying them around to find a better spot on the table for the lady having the sale." I know, sometimes you have to hold onto stuff until you make for final decision and you may change your mind. I don't know about you, but I don't think I would have the guts/nerve to ask someone if they're actually going to buy what they have in their hands. It was a first to happen to me.

I have been working on so many other projects and painting up a storm, but don't have many of those things completed yet. 

Apparently though, Thursday was enamelware day at the sales. I found 4 pieces at 2 different sales. I forgot to add the red teapot, but it's not vintage or unique, so nothing to get upset over.

The boxes are white, but the chamber cup is the same color as the table, a bluish grey. I want to add some vinyl lettering to these pieces. I love the huge box with the handled lid. I've seen ones that say BREAD, but I'd like to make this one different. I'm leaning towards LAUNDRY. It won't hold powder soap because the bottom is rusted through all around perimeter.  It could hold extra toilet paper, but what could it say to elude to that & still be cute? The other pan has 2 holes on each side like maybe it had handles and the lid doesn't exactly fit in the length, but pretty darn close, so I don't think it actually goes with it.

So that is all I have for you today. Keep cool and be inspired!

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Ooooh...Look at that! These have been featured at these places

AND...

Donna's "Funky Junk" Facebook Feature 

 
Parties I'm Linking to:

It MUST be Summer!

For anyone who follows my blog, I guess you can tell I haven't been very active on it in quite some time. With it being summer and my kids out of school, I just don't spend that much time online and I have been really working on many projects for my Fall craft shows. That also includes hitting the yard sales for all the goodies for me to try to give new life to.

I do have something to share with you today. I started it back at the beginning of May.

This is a table I got at the local Habitat ReStore. I forgot to get a picture before I sanded it down, but this really shows you the different tones. I thought maybe the different wood tones would create a problem and they kind of did.

Here is what it looks like now...

 It's not the greatest picture, but here are more to show better details of how I painted it.

This is the top

Yes, I used my Cricut to create the stencil design with Contact paper with the Splish Splash cartridge. Contact paper is not my favorite stuff to use for this application, but it's certainly the cheapest!

This is the bottom portion

I used Home Accents cartridge for this design using Design Studio.

This is the front edge design. This was probably the trickiest one to do because it had to be not much more than an inch tall. I was so happy it worked out!

I waxed it with a clear paste wax, but I tried using a stencil brush to apply the wax and I DO NOT recommend it, at least not on chalk paint. At least I only paid 25 cents for the stencil brush. If you look at the image of the Top of the table, you can see along the bottom portion what the stencil brush results look like. I couldn't get the wax to come off unless I went in a circular motion, but that left a splotchy look that I was not pleased with. I went back to using an old wash cloth for the application process.

I just hope I'm able to sell it. It's done in a gray (Antique Silver) & very pale gray (Shaded Ice) that looks a bit like an icy blue and white. They seem pretty popular out in blogland, but not so sure about rural America. I think that's why I added the imagery to it, by trying to make it irresistible.

As far as everyday stuff goes, it was 105 degrees here today. A great day for the pool! We sure are getting our use out of it this year compared to last year. It seems like every other year is a good year for using the pool. It's supposed to be in the 90's for the next week. Gee, looks like more pool time....

Until next time...
Be creative!


 

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Starting a New Project

I'm sure many have had the same kind of story as this. You make something and you show it to someone and the next thing you know, you have orders coming out the wah-zu. That's what has happened to me. Sometimes it's a blessing and sometimes it's a curse. If you have MY luck, it can be more like a curse. 


It sorta started with this little table I made earlier this year that you can read and see HERE. I have to say that it has been THE most popular project I've made and posted on my blog.


I posted the table on Facebook to show friends and family and right away, one of my old scrapbook friends, who just happens to be a neighbor as well, asked if she could buy it right now. I said "Sure!" She loved it so much she wants 2 more tables in a much narrower version and she wanted a high back chair with the seat portion done like the top of the table. I thought I found a chair that fit the bill, but I was mistaken, yet have been working on it anyway. Then I found a chair at a very reasonable price, but I never showed it to the lady wanting the chair. Why? Because I had scanned over good ol' Craigslist and discovered this...

"I" want this chair! Just kidding, but I thought to myself, how can I try to pass off the other chair when I know in my heart that this would be what she would really want? I had to at least show her the picture to see if it was worth spending the extra cash. I explained the significantly higher price I would be charging and the problem with it not having a wood seat that would need to be replaced with one. Surprisingly, she didn't care. She. wanted. this. chair. Who can blame her? I think she was hearing the Angels singing as the beam of light from Heaven shone down on it while she was looking at it's picture. It seemed to have that huge of an impact on her!


Let's check out the details, shall we?

The woven rope seat that is in perfect condition. It's going to be a shame to remove it and try to customize a wooden seat in its place. This is not a small seat! My husband doesn't say one way or the other if it will be a big deal to make one from wood. If not, we have a couple of friends who are carpenters.

I like the simple carvings on the rungs of the back.

Nothing like some natural distressing!

She's got some nice legs as well. I think I hear a construction worker's cat call in the distance. ~*snicker!*~



It may be a while before I get to show this in it's finished stage. The painting isn't the problem, it will be getting the seat done, since that will be up to Alan to get done and this is his work's extremely busy time of year with tons of overtime. I don't think I want to start painting it until the new seat is on or else I will most likely be doing a lot of touch up painting.


Until next time!

 

Out of Control!

I think that I have to admit that I have a problem with yard sales. Today was an all out free-for-all. I spent my limit for the entire weekend all in one day and then some. Not to mention that I was sent home with a lots of free picture frames - large ones! My living room looks like a yard sale exploded in it. I need to get it cleaned out before my hubby gets home. I already told him that I went overboard, and yet he's still willing to go pick up a set of end tables and a coffee table tonight.  Unfortunately, I missed out on the tables. I guess they weren't meant to be.

Are you ready for pictures? I always say this...but what you see still isn't everything that I lugged home, but this is the majority.


This is an old trunk that my friend found for me for $10 - the latch needs a little work. The trim pieces on top were free from a sale. Not sure if I want them, but he wanted to get rid of them really bad. He could have thrown them away just as easily as I can. LOL

This is a pretty Pfaltsgraf shelf that has just a few little dings at the bottom that can be easily fixed. I will paint this up and give it a new life. It has some great curves!

These are most of the free picture frames. The little sleigh was only 50 cents.

Check out that giant key that I got!

And then, this $1 silver plated dish was necessary in order to make one of these:

(Mod Vintage Life)

Is that not the coolest? Of course, these are much prettier than the one I found, but beggars ain't gonna be choosers.



So many goodies here for CHEAP! The blue bottles were 25 cents each, but the Noxema jar was $1. The stamp stickers were 25 cents and can you believe that those rubber stamps were only 50 cents! I have wanted that NOEL stamp for yeeeeeears.

Those pieces of plaid fabric are fabric samples and I thought they looked perfect for using for a lot of my Christmas crafts. I'm sorry about how poorly I take pictures of the things I find.

The Winter plate you see here is actually a cake plate with a snowman holding him. It's part of a set of dinnerware that my husband and daughter have been buying for me for a couple of years, but now it's discontinued. Alan seemed kinda happy that I found it, even though I don't use cake plates, but it would be darling with a winter display on it too.

I also came across this primitive style cabinet. It was when I went back to get this that I was given all the free picture frames. SOOOO worth the trip back!

I have such plans for this! It's not going in my home....maybe. I think I could maybe use it in my bathroom for extra storage though.


OK, enough over stimulation for one day. What kind of treasures have you found in your searches? I'd love to see too!