Monday, January 9, 2012

Anne, the Irish Texan, this is for you♥

This is for Anne.
She is from Ireland but currently lives in Texas.
That should explain the title.
I did not invent this, nor is this probably the best way to do it.
But alas here it is...A cone wreath.


Supplies: Vintage sheet music, glue sticks and glue gun, scissors, string.
*Chocolate and Patience Optional
 

Due to the delicacy of paper (it's old) & and size,
 I folded each sheet in half leaving about an inch at the top.
Start at one side and roll into cone...
Honestly you will just need to practice this 'till you get the feel of it.
Adhere length of cone down with glue, leaving paper sticking out as shown above.

Use patience now...begin taking pictures of each button shown to you as demanded by 3 year old.
Paper sticking out will help stack cones together. I would NOT glue these together yet.

Continue making cones.

Take an amazing picture of your papers.
(ignore the glue gun cord at the bottom, you can always edit that!)

Place in wreath shape only to realize it's WAY bigger then intended and will never fit in shipping box.
Make note to get new box.


USE PATIENCE AGAIN
Run into room and find 3 year old in closet.
 Laundry basket flipped over, she's perched on shelf, cutest shoes I own in her grasp.
In fact probably the only cute thing I own from the looks of the closet.
Ask child to wait while you get your camera.
Take photo, THEN give speech about danger of climbing shelves to get "high heels"...then ponder the irony
of the situation. ("High" heels, top shelf of closet...)


 Try to get back to work and have at least one major HOT GLUE FAIL!


Remember...Nobody cares what the back looks like!



Ok...I kinda care. 
Cut large cardboard circle and glue cones down.
Paint black so it looks better.
Punch 2 (or 5) holes and string twine or ribbon to hang. 

Cut large circle. This was about 9in. diameter.

Cut in a spiral. Leave circle in center. (see pic)

Starting at the outside point (not the center) begin rolling up towards the center.
Not too loose, you can loosen later.

Loosen roll and position to the size you like on the center circle base.
I scrunched the middle into a lump.
Lift flower and apply hot glue beneath.

Scrunch with your hands for desired effect.
I used an ink pad to color the edges a little as well.


Glue flower to center.


 
 
 VIOLA



 ...and that oughta do it.
ENJOY♥


































Friday, January 6, 2012

Found...a treasure.

This vintage childrens embroidery was purchased at a thrift store for 75 cents! Needs some cleaning and a new frame...but I  love it.


Enjoy


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Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Refab for Mom

Some may think I'm "ruining" these treasures. Oh well. I prefer to think of it as putting them through Refab. They will be fabulous (or close to it) once again.

I recently went to my mom's house. (Belinda)
She had this shelf propped by her front door.

Refab patient.
Not that there was anything really wrong with it...except it was dirty, the chalkboard was scratched, the fabric on the french memo board was ugly, etc.

She got it for only $3.95 at ...Goodwill (which by the way, we call MACYS as code)
We don't want people to think we spend ALL our time at the Goodwill. But the fact is you can spend the whole day there, because they have to put donations on the floor within an hour of recieving them (I learned this from my mom). It's a constant influx of new refab patients.

Anyhow, I told her I couldn't wait to see how it looked when she redid it!
She looked at me with a look somewhere between worry and shock.
"You know I can't fix it! It's fine, I'll just use it like that."

Then, I laughed. I'm kinda mean like that.

Needless to say, she knew I'd fix it. I knew I'd fix it.


Remove ugly parts

Cut off satin ribbon. Cover in red burlap.
*Be sure your glue gun is covered in glitter and string.


Paint over chalkboard. Adhere twine with furniture tacks.
Prop in front of "sorta cute/sorta not" shelf recently refabbed.
 
Screw chalkboard and memo board into frame.
* Do this between 12 & 1 a.m. using loud drill.
Try to wake everyone in house.

The following morning text your mom:
"Belinda, your order is ready for pick up on aisle 12. Belinda your order is ready."

Sunday, January 1, 2012

A Bargain Jar - The Best Medicine

I love jars. Everyone has seen the cork stopper apothecary jars in the boutiques...and they aren't cheap.
For an easy boutique look find some smooth glass jars (cork top or otherwise) and follow the directions below to create your own custom chalkboard label jars.

Large plain apothecary jar 2.95 Goodwill
Small plain jar .95 Goodwill
(After I worked my magic)


You will need a can of Chalk Board paint. (available at any craft/hardware store)
You will need your jar. (.95 from Goodwill)
Masking tape to tape off the area you are going to paint.



Paint with a brush or sponge brush in a smooth continuous direction.
You will need to hold the jar up to the light to see thinly painted areas between drying.
Apply another layer of paint once current layer is dry.
Check against light again.
Repeat.
Once paint is completly covering the glass no light will show
through the black area and you can let it dry completely.
(a blow dryer will speed this process up)




Run your nail or razor along edge of tape before peeling up and away from jar.

Small jar wrapped in lace, ribbon and paper roses,  and vintage buttons. Cork used to store straight pins.
These are sitting on a tray converted from Christmas to Burlap Chic. (2.95)
Info on tray conversions coming this week.

Try it!

...and as always Enjoy ♥