Bailing Twine Flowers

My friend Kate made yarn pom poms for a wreath (and her cat Fable) and I thought I’d try the same technique but use bailing twine instead to make flowers. I love bailing twine – it’s inexpensive, a roll of it goes a long way, and I use it in a lot of my projects.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Bailing twine
• Florist wire
• Scissor
• Your fingers

Here’s how ya do it:

1. Loosely wrap twine around four fingers starting with your forefinger to your pinky finger. Wrap the twine around your four fingers about 25 times.
2. Remove the twine from your fingers and twist florist wire in the middle of the flower to bind the center of the flower.
3. Cut the looped ends with a scissor.
4. Now simply fluff up the flower to the perfect shape and cut the flower to the desired size.
5. Done!

I hot glued mine to the ends of twigs but there are countless creative uses for these beauties. Have fun, and happy crafting!

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Simple Centerpiece with Vintage Bottles

If you’re in need of a fast, simple and classy centerpiece for your table, try using vintage bottles. My cobalt blue bottles look perfect with some ferns and hosta leaves from my garden.

You can group all colors and sizes together on a tray or keep it simple by creating a small grouping.  Either way, you can’t go wrong and it’s sure to impress.

Vintage Teacup Table Number Displays

The perfect table number displays. I love this idea because it is simple and fast to construct. Short and sweet, just like this post.

Happy Sunday and happy crafting!

A Few Of My Favorite Things – March

Hello gang. As promised, I’m going to continue to dedicate one post per month to, you guessed, A Few Of My Favorite Things.

I love collecting, surprise, surprise.  And I usually have an idea for those little goodies I pick up here and there (like on trash night). For instance, the portrait above was found in the trash. Okay I hear ya, “Ya should have left it there!” You see, I collect portraits. To me there’s something oddly cool about these amateur paintings. Some day when I graduate from my kitchen to a proper art and craft studio, I want to line the walls with these characters. Creepy maybe? Nah….

If you follow my blog, you know I collect anything related to maps like this really cool map tin. I suppose it was intended for desk use to hold pencils and pens. Right now it’s filled with beautiful fragrant lavender that my friend Florence grows on her lavender farm.  Florence and her husband Anthony also own a fantastic local gallery called FloreAnt Projects Studio and Gallery.

I case you’re wondering, the marbles on this tray were my grandfather’s, father’s and ultimately mine. No one can say I lost my ancestral marbles.

The glass tray they are sitting on I made using a copied image from a 1884 autograph album that belonged to Mary J. Carter from Camden, New Jersey. The album found its way from Camden to a tiny little antique store in Lititz, Pennsylvania and it has the strangest personal messages like:

“When your husband at you flings,
Tea pots, plates, and other things;
Seek relief and seek it soon;
In the handle of the broom.”

Oh Mary……

Here’s how you can make a decoupage tray just like this one.  The trays I use are from Behrenberg Glass, behrenbergglass.com. They have the best selection of glass trays and they even have recycled glass trays like the one in this project.

1. Make copies of your favorite image.  Depending on the size of your tray, you’ll either need to enlarge or reduce the image on a laser copier.
2. Clean your tray with glass cleaner.
3. Soak the copy in water.
4. While that image is soaking, completely coat the back of the tray with glue – I use Elmer’s School Glue. Then place the image face down on the glue and using a brayer, roll out the excess glue and bubbles.
5. Let dry completely and then trim the excess paper hanging over the edge of your tray using an X-Acto knife or razor blade.
6. Tape off the edges of the tray and spray the back with a primer. When the primer is dry you can paint the back of the tray any color you like.

These trays are great for hanging on your wall or using as a catchall trays to hold YOUR marbles.

Happy crafting…and collecting!

A Few Of My Favorite Things

Since I like to collect stuff, each month I’m going to do a blog titled, you guessed it, ‘A Few Of My Favorite Things.’ And, within these posts, I’ll share a little project or two (or three) you can do to repurpose your ‘Favorite Things’.

Starting with my globe — yes I LOVE globes and anything map related. My friend Kate is convinced I need to seek help with this particular obsession. This one caught my eye because of its unique zodiac base. I have a collection and some are in good shape and some…not so much.  To see a project for those not in good shape, check out my video, A World Of Thanks.

Now let’s move on to the green metal flower frog. What can I say, it’s just perfect. It’s green, my favorite color, and I could use if for its original intent or it can hold photos. As you can see, mine is holding a picture of my mom and dad on their wedding day, June 29th, 1940. Even though she has her eyes closed, it’s one of my favorite photos.

And last but not least, a green vintage metal toy car and an arts and crafts era ceramic planter. My friend Shaina gave me this lovely Norfolk Pine which I repotted into one of my favorite old ceramic pots. I added some moss, small rocks and my little green car.  Doesn’t it look like like it’s driving through a redwood forest? Alright, maybe not but I think it looks cool.

Happy Sunday and happy crafting!

Depression Glass Top Hats

Hello crafters. It’s Friday night and I’m recovering from a nasty case of the flu so what do I do? Clean of course.

While rootin and a diggin in my cupboard, I came across these colorful, cute depression glass tooth pick holders in the shape of top hats. For some time I’ve been picking these depression glass beauties up at flea markets with the intention of using them – not as tooth pick holders mind you.  And in case you’re wondering, the multi-faceted pattern on the top hats is called ‘Button and Star’.

So tonight I popped tiny votive candles inside and they’re not looking so depressed anymore!  I’m feeling better already.

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday’s ‘Key’ Project

I have a bunch of vintage keys which had long been retired from their service of locking and unlocking who knows what treasures. So for their tireless years of service, I decided they needed a special place of honor.

I found that an 8″ x 8″ painters’ board flipped on its back made the perfect shadowbox.  The shadowbox was painted a base color of robins egg blue, then I silver-leafed the entire board. After the silver-leaf process, I rubbed off some of the leafing on the edges of the frame so the blue color would be revealed – this step gives the frame a really cool worn/vintage look.    Then I cut decorative paper and glued that within the opening of the shadowbox frame.  Lastly, I glued the keys within the shadowbox.  And……voila!

You can find all of the supplies mentioned above (with the exception of the keys) at your local arts & crafts store.   Scour local flea markets or antique stores (or your drawers) and you’re sure to come across some vintage keys or other unique pieces that deserve to be ‘framed’.  Happy crafting and happy weekend!

Milk Glass Treat Pedestals

Yes, we’re all in Holiday countdown mode right now and looking for quick solutions to our entertaining needs.  Here’s a simple project using items you may (or may not) have lying around the house.

I have loads of milk glass vases.  You see there’s something about the knobby textures and shapes that call my name and cry out, ‘Buy me, buy me!’.  And the fact that there are two humongous antique malls close to work contributes to my crafting insanity.

However thanks to my obsession, I’ve created these easy to make treat pedestals.  Here are the ingredients for this project:

• Milk glass vases
• Mismatched plates
• A permanent bonding adhesive (I used the E-6000 product)
• Treats

For two of the pedestals (the one on the left and right of the photo below) I turned the milk glass vase upside down and using the adhesive, glued the bottom of the vase to the plate.  Let dry overnight and you have a unique and easy-to-make pedestal.  Load with goodies and PARTY!

I also separated an old globe and placed it on top of a milk glass vase.  If you ask me, this is my favorite.

Happy Holidays and happy crafting!

And the winner is?

Sample Sheet No. 165

Sample Sheet No. 148

The following challenge was presented on my first post, “Whoever can identify the make of the car my father is sitting on will receive one of my vintage print decoupage glass trays.”  Donna, how did you know the answer?  Christa was a close second so she will receive one of my trays as well.

Any who….as Donna correctly answered, it is a 1936 Ford Standard Tudor Trunk-back Sedan.  Starting in 1935 and continuing into 1936 the Ford Tudors had the first built-in trunks for a Ford car.  Mom loved to shop so I’m sure the trunk was packed.  Also, the original price of this Ford was about $545 and the car weighed 2,718 pounds.

Donna and Christa’s decoupage trays are prints copied from a 1940s Vogue eZe Hang wallpaper sample book.

Oh — A special thank you to my contest auditor (and husband) Andrew for confirming the precise year and make of Dad’s car.

Welcome

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I’m told I come from a long line of crafters, artists, comedians, musicians, stone masons, moonshine makers, farm folk and dreamers.  On this blog I will share stories, craft and design ideas, and other random bits of nonsense and inspiration.

A writer I’m not but I look forward to this journey!

PS:  The first person (other than family) who can identify the make of the car my father is sitting on will receive one of my vintage decoupage glass trays.  Good luck!

my creative family peeps: mom, aunt rachel, dad, aunt vera

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