Thursday, August 30, 2012

Nesting Tables

Busy, busy, busy.  I'm getting my load ready for Kane County.  Thought I'd quickly show you what I did with the nesting tables you got a peek at several posts back.



The before.



Someone had spray painted them gold.  I gave them a white base, and a grey top. After that, I added a rose design, which you can find the tutorial for  HERE.  I just used a light touch for a faded look.



I alternated brown, and clear wax to dirty them up a little, and to finish them off.









I have an estate sale to hit tomorrow.  I'll try to share as much as I can.  See ya soon.




Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Fab Flower Pot

This flower pot got gesso, lace, beads, and a transfer.



I decoupaged lace, glued beads, slathered it with gesso, and transferred with gel medium.  It works really well for storing cards and tags.



Just fab.




Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Gorgeous Base


This gorgeous base is another find from the past week.  It's a vintage piece that at one time held a beveled mirror.



I have it upside down here.  Kinda looks like a crown.



This is exactly how I found it.  Love the traces of aged white.  The mirror was missing.  You should know by now that I keep just about everything you can imagine parts wise in the garage.  I didn't have a mirror that fit, but a piece of marble works great.  So, I can either display it as a crown, or a small stand.



Right now it's holding the crown I won a while back from Mikey Fuller at The Shabby French Cottage.



Either way, I love the beautiful details.



Still sorting through my other finds, and finishing up a set of nesting tables.  See ya soon.


Sharing With:
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesdays
Faded Charm: White Wednesday
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Vintage Posies

This weekend, it was something small and simple that made my day.



A while back I found little vintage millinery flower bundles at an estate sale.  I kept a bundle, and sold the rest.




Well, while shopping the sales this weekend, I spotted a plastic bag.




It was in the midst of boxes, and boxes, and boxes, of vintage fabric, scarfs, and dresses.  I found some pretty cool stuff in the boxes too, but it was the posies that made me smile.













Have you ever been excited about something so simple?  After I finish sorting, I'll share some of my other finds from the sale.  See ya soon.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Transferring Images To Bottles

After my last post, I started getting emails from readers asking if they'd missed my tutorial on how I transferred images to bottles.  No, you didn't miss it, cause I hadn't done it yet.  So, here it is.  I used two different transfer techniques on the bottles.



The bottle on the right got a spritz of matte sealer to give it some tooth for the transfer.  After the sealer dried, I followed with my Splendid Blender transfer method.  Soft and subtle is what I wanted.



I used acrylic gel medium for the bottle on the left.




I'm sure most of you have seen a tutorial or two using  mod podge to transfer. Well, I've been transferring with acrylic gel medium for years.  I started using the Splendid Blender because it's so quick, and I'm an impatient sort.



So, why did I use acrylic gel medium for this?  That's easy.  Last week, I found tubes of the medium at an estate sale for 50 cents a piece. So, why not do a few transfers. The process is basically the same.  Brush the medium on the mirrored image, and lay it down on the bottle.  I've used both laser and ink jet copies.  Just make sure to smooth out all the air bubbles, and let it dry. It dries fairly quick.



Once the bond is pretty tight, wet the back of the paper, and slowly rub away the residue till the image is revealed.

Okay, here is how I got the image so transparent.  I used a fine grit sponge sanding pad to remove as much of the remaining residue as possible  Make sure the image is very dry when you do this.  I didn't want a perfect transfer.  I wanted the label to look as if it had worn away. The little missing pieces are intentional.  If you want perfection, you don't have to remove as much.




I continue to get questions about the images I use.  I've said it before, but it bares repeating.  I've been collecting ephemera for decades.  The images I use are from my own collection.  If I ever use another source, I will let you know.

So, there you have it.  Two bottles, two transfer techniques, and yes, I did the silvering and grunging on the silver bottle.  You can check out the basic technique in my post, "Silvered Bottles".  I go a step beyond though.







Sharing With:
Twigg Studios: Sunday Showoff
Funky Junk Interiors: Saturday Nite Special
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
At The Picket Fence: Inspiration Friday
2805: Potpourri Friday
Common Ground: Vintage Inspiration Friday
The Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home
Stone Gable: Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Frames, Bottles, etc.

I worked on so many things simultaneously, I wore myself out.  I painted frames,


arranged, and redesigned finds,


















added graphic images to my silvered bottles,



and made faux mirrored tags with chandelier images.



Maybe I'll focus on one thing tomorrow.  Kicking back now.  See ya soon.


Sharing With:
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesdays
Faded Charm: White Wednesday


Monday, August 20, 2012

Weekend Finds

My husband and I went to a few estate sales this past weekend.



We spied this cement table and two benches.




We were ready to buy the set, but when hubby and one of the estate sale guys went to move the top of the table, it began to split.  Waaaaahhhh.  It weighed a ton, and I didn't want it to break off, and land on any one's foot.  So, we left it, and went home with the two benches. The people conducting the sale really had everything priced to go. We paid $7.50 for both benches.  Yes, seven dollars, and fifty cents.






Sitting in the garage at the same sale was this settee.




Also a very good buy.  It came home with me too.




The upholstery is in great condition, and so is the frame.







I'll share some of the other things we picked up later.  It's a beautiful day here, and I want to take advantage of it.  Painting, painting, and more painting.  See ya soon.


Sharing With:
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesdays
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Southern Hospitality: Thrifty Treasures
Debbiedoos: Newbie Party Graduates

Saturday, August 18, 2012

GIVEAWAY #9 WINNER

Once again, I'd like to thank all of you who entered, shared, and left such flattering comments.  As always, I wish each and every one of you could win.  So, I'll have another giveaway before the end of the month.  For now, let's get to the winner of my "Romantic" giveaway.



The winner of GIVEAWAY #9 is:



An early entry.  Shabby Chic Sandy at FOR THE LOVE OF WHITE.

Congratulations Sandy.  Email me with the address you would like your package sent to, and I'll get it to you asap.

Thanks again to everyone.  Keep an eye out for my next giveaway.

Lazy Days

Yesterday was my lazy day.  The weather was beautiful.  I played with photos, saw a movie, and just chilled.  Oh, and I made over a little basket.



This is one of the vintage willow baskets I found a little while ago.




I added a few of my fabric roses, and stiffened them like I did with my shabby frame. I spray painted the entire thing, brushed it with gesso, laid some lavender inside and took pretty pictures outside.








See ya later.




Sharing With:
The DIY Showoff: DIY Project Parade
Funky Junk Interiors: Saturday Nite Special


Thursday, August 16, 2012

Fleur-de-lis Paperweight

Sometimes I'm really surprised at which posts get the most attention.  Playing With Rocks" is now my third most pinned tutorial.  Well, here's another quick rock project.




Just follow my "Adding Dimension" tutorial.  I used a fleur-de-lis stencil, and wood filler for the raised image.  I gave it a few coats of gesso, and now I have a nice little paperweight.




Quick, quick, quick.