Copying Vintage linen for paper projects

Enter the drawing for the 4th Annual Cottage Giveaway

Now back to our regularly scheduled program

I know you have all seen this and even done it, but sometimes we just need a reminder to jog our creative minds!

This is wonderful for scrap bookers and paper crafters.  Just grab your favorite vintage fabrics and linens,  and put them on the color copier.

Here is the fabric and the paper

Here is all of your unique crafting paper

 OK who can find the cat.  I have two places in the house with good light for taking photo's and that is where Martin wants to sit!

Here is a couple things I have done with my fun new paper.  I bet you already have some projects in mind!

Cards, Tags, scrap booking, I can tell your minds are in over drive.

Happy Creating 

Carol

4th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway The Winner Is!

I am joining the 4th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway hosted by Miss Kim at

The Winner Is
Sherry  Blessings From our Nest
Congratulations!!!

Twice Remembered Cottage

If you Love giveaways you can head on over to 

Twice Remembered Cottage and enter tons of them all on one page YIPPEE!!

I am giving away a fabulously Romantic Mosaic Serving Tray 

More mosaics available at 

The Polka Dot Closet

To enter all you have to do is go to the left side of my page and become a follower, then go to comments and say "YEA! I'm a follower".  If you are already one of my cherished followers, just say "YEA! I already follow".

 I will use a random number draw on May 29th and email you with 

"YEA! you won".

I will ship the tray to anywhere in the continental US 

Now since this is a DIY blog I will show you the before and after of your tray

I loved the bones of this tray because you don't see many with bow handles

 A few coats of my favorite heirloom white paint

Now add some vintage china from plates and stained glass and I have your giveaway

 Featured in DebbiDoos Garage Salen Sunday Linky Party

Good Luck!

Carol

Using lace as a paint stencil

Have you ever thought......... this table, shelf, lamp, basket, or picture mat just needs something?  Just a little extra to spark it up?  The next time you're thinking that try using lace as a stencil.  It is just a subtle effect, but oh what a difference it makes.

Here is a picture I used the lace technique on.  I had a white oval picture mat, but it just blended in with the picture.  Then I laid a piece of lace over the white mat and sprayed it with an Heirloom white satin paint.  

WA LA!

It is a simple technique, but here is a couple tips.

I am using a pink mat so it is easier to see.  Cut your lace a little larger than the mat, then spray the lace, not the picture, with a light coat of spray adhesive, the prepositional kind.  Now make sure your lace is tight to the mat.

As soon as you have sprayed the paint, rip the lace off quick, like a band aide (Ouch)!

Isn't that pretty?

It's a subtle effect, but goes oh so perfect with our Romantic Cottage homes.

I can tell your crafty minds are in high gear......What could I stencil?

No, not the CAT!

Happy Crafting!!

Carol

A Vintage window transforms to a cup and plate holder

This is linked to the Country Chic Cottage See all of the window transformations! 


I had a huge empty wall in my kitchen just before you go out the back door to the garage (The fact that I had a huge wall anywhere is surprising because of my little house) I needed some where to display my heirloom cups, saucers, and Salt and pepper shakers my mother had given me from her collection.  Most importantly I needed a mirror to take a quick look before I headed out the door.  Have you ever taken one last look and realized you didn't comb your hair or put your make up on?  One time I had put on my favorite suit, I loved it because the jacket and skirt were a silky light fabric.  I grabbed my purse and keys and thought I would take that one last peek as I headed out the door for my sales job.  OMG the skirt was silky all right I had put on my slip , but forgot to put the skirt on?  

Here is what I came up with for the big empty wall to meet all of my needs

I got the window for $15.00 at an antique fair then I screwed a board to bottom for a shelf

I put coat hooks to hang the cups

I found this mirror, I think it was the front of an old bathroom vanity cabinet.  I screwed it right into the  window frame and then added a couple of cabinet knobs for interest.

Now to mount the plates I put 2 little finishing nails in the window frame

Behind the plates I used this removable blue, I call it booger stuff, what is it?

So, there you have it, It is right by the door that slams and it does not budge.  I have no worry about anything falling off, it is really solid.

I hope I have inspired you to stretch your imagination.  you can do more with that vintage window, you can make it useful.

"Imagination is the highest kite one can fly"

Lauren Bacall

Happy Crafting!

Carol

Transforming Thrift Store Candle Sconces into Crystal Beauties

Don't pass up these ugly dated $1.91 candle sconces.  

I always look for candle sconces or candle sticks that have an edge on them that is just begging to have a chandelier crystal dangling from them.  Get out your Dremel!

Now mark a tiny spot for you to drill a tiny hole

Grab Mr. Dremel and drill a tiny hole from the bottom, oops, this was really to big a hole, but I will make it work.

Now give it a nice coat of paint, and it is time to hang the crystal.

There is many ways to hang the crystals, I usually use something that looks like a straight pin, I got in the jewelry making department, but since I made the holes to big, necessity is the mother of inventions!  I am going to use pearl head straight pins.  Drop the straight pin through the hole from the top and then curl the pin underneath with your needle nose pliers and hook on the crystal.

It looks kind of cute with the pearl, or so I am trying to convince myself.

You can get crystals at many on line stores, even the big box home improvement stores have them in their lighting department.  I have a few in The Polka Dot Closet 

There you have it, already for your home or shop!

The same thing could be applied to thrift store light fixtures, you could make a lovely chandelier. The next time your out bargain shopping give another look at those ugly outdated sconces.

Happy Crafting 

Carol