Recovered Vanity Stool

When I Was lucky enough to find a vintage vanity stool I knew I wanted to do something special

  

I was thinking old Hollywood glamor, but I knew it was going to be a stretch with this old stool

Then while out at the thrift store I found these fabulous drapes, complete with a fringe valance

  

Now, we all know how much fabric we get from drapes, and they only cost a couple dollars at the thrift store

But, if you're like me, I always forget to look at the rack of drapes.  For the yardage, it sure beats the fabric store, even with a 50% off coupon.

The silk flowers are on a pin so they can be easily removed.  I put this stool in my booth at Orange Tree for $48

Yep, I think I achieved some old Hollywood glamour!

Remember  to check out the fabric alternatives while out thrifting!

Happy Creating!

Carol

Vintage Sheet Music Covered Suitcase

I was lucky enough to find another vintage train case and covered this one with vintage sheet music.

I pulled up Paris Graphics from the Graphics Fairy and printed the graphics onto sheet music by putting sheet music in my printer instead of copy paper

I first tore around the graphics and strategically placed them on the suitcase using Mod Podge.  Then tore the sheet music into small pieces and finished filling in the suitcase.

  

I gave it all a spray of walnut ink to age it

And covered the handle with twine

This was an easy project, but oh  baby was this ever tedious! 

 Just pull up a chair and pop in a movie, because this takes a couple hours to complete, but it's so worth the time.


Happy Creating!
Carol


Linking with
Funky Junk 
Common Ground vintage inspiration Friday
Graphics Fairy

Altering Vintage Hangers

I am in vintage hanger heaven!  

I went to the last day of an estate sale and no one had bought a whole box of vintage hangers....Go figure!
  

Oh, I saw all the possibilities

Handmade flowers..... tutorial HERE

Pins and rhinestones





They came in a variety of colors and some had lace overlays





These would be great for hanging a vintage dress or gown





Or maybe a gift for a bride





I have added these to my online store The Polka Dot Closet.  You never hear me mention my online store because frankly, it has been sadly ignored, but I plan on changing that.  I figure if I commit to that on a post it will give me the push I need!  I priced them between $8-$10

This was a really fun project, a little vintage lace, rayon and silk ribbons, and vintage jewels...Oh my!





Don't be that person at the estate sale that walks past a box of fabulous vintage hangers.....Snap them up and have fun!

Happy Creating!


Carol


Linking up with 
Ruby Jeans Blue Monday

How To Make And Add Plaster Appliques Behind Knobs

When I saw a piece of antique furniture with a plaster applique behind the knob I set out to see if I could recreate it.

Here was my victim, a very unassuming but "Good bones" piece of furniture

I found this knob at Hobby Lobby and pressed it into clay.

You can find the complete tutorial on molding plaster appliques HERE

I shoved pieces of a drinking straw into the clay to make a hole for the knob to go through

Then poured in my plaster

And Wa La!  

I attached them to the cabinet front with E-6000 glue, then gave it all a coat of heirloom white paint and a brown glaze

Once more

 Before

I really like this piece, I think it is so perfectly imperfect and it looks so old!

Oh look, someone got Fancy Schmancy and actually staged her photo shoot!

I put the cabinet in my booth at Orange Tree and priced it at $55.  

Happy Creating!

Carol


Joining
Metamorphous Monday
French Country Cottage
Miss Mustard Seed

Oh La La, A French Bird Display

After I finished packaging my French stamped candles I started looking for something to display them in at my booth at Orange Tree

Then while strolling through the thrift store I spotted the perfect display piece, perfect for a baby shower or....French candles!

Oh Ya, this will work!  I added pearl eyes, earrings, feathers, tulle, and of course a tiara.  It was 11pm at night and the more bling I added the more I giggled, I couldn't quit!

Of course once I got her all blinged up, she kept falling over, (More giggles) so I found an old table top, added some polka dots and of course rhinestone toenails

After she got a stamp of approval from Billie

This French bird was ready to get to work.  I loaded her with Candles and took her to my booth at Orange Tree Antiques

I have to say I was a little embarrassed to bring her into the antique store, she was just sooo goofy!  To my surprise the owner loved her and told me to put a price on her as she was sure someone would want to buy her..........I'm not so sure, we'll see.  One thing you can't put a price on though is fun and dressing her up was so much fun!

Happy Creating 

Carol

How to Stamp Candles

Have you tried stamping candles, it's inexpensive and so easy!

This certainly is not a new technique, it has been around forever

Your first step is to grab your favorite stamps.


I ordered these Paris stamps online from Stampin D Amour, they have luscious vintage stamps.  When I let them know I was going to link to their site they graciously offered to include a free stamp with every order before 8/31/11 Just mention you're my friend!


Now grab some regular tissue paper, the kind used for wrapping presents.  Stamp your tissue paper using a light hand, if you press to hard your stamped impression will get muddy.

You can use any ink, just test it because some will run on the tissue paper.  Now cut out your stamped images close to the graphic

Using regular wax paper, cut a strip

Then wrap it around your candle tight with the wax side towards your candle and the tissue paper graphic underneath

Now use either a heat tool used for paper crafts or a hair dryer and blow hot air over the wax paper that has the graphics under it.


Peel off the wax paper and you have a stamped candle that won't rub off, how cool is that!

This process works because the wax from the wax paper melts into the tissue paper and blends it into the candle


Here's some tips from my trials and errors


The wax paper can be used over and over, just use a new spot each time



If you do not have the wax side of the paper towards the candle you will know right away because the tissue graphic will not stick to the candle


When I cut my strip of wax paper I mark it with a magic marker so I know which side is the wax side.  It is easier to tell when it is coming off the roll than when you have used it a few times


When the graphic is stuck to the candle you will know because you will no longer see the tissue paper edges through the waxed paper


Do not heat for to long and melt your candle, you just want to melt the wax off the wax paper


You can lift up the wax paper and check as often as you like, once you have started the heating process the graphic will not move


You can color the tissue paper before you melt it down, say if you want to color in a flower


I put a garden glove on to hold the wax paper when I am heating it because the heat from the hair dryer can get a little warm

I also did some stamping on fabric, if you're interested in some fabric stamping tips let me know and I will cover it in another post

"What the heck is that"?  


Well, I made the candles to sell in my booth and I was trying to think of a way to display them........ I lost my mind and had a BIRD brain idea, you'll have to wait until my next post to see what it is.....This is so crazy I am almost afraid to show you!


Happy Creating!


Carol


Linking up with
My Romantic Home
WOW Savvy Southern Style  
DIY by Design

How to use fabric circles to form a ruffle

You will love this easy method to make ruffles for clothes 

Or a pillow

I saw this on a blog, I just don't remember who's?  If anyone knows, I would love to link it up.  The blogger had put fabric circles on a white undershirt and it was so cute I would love for you to see it!

This works best with t shirt material, I had this shirt in my closet forever and never wore it.  I was going to donate it when I thought...Wait a minute!

I cut 40 approximately 3" circles.  No need to be precise.

Fold the circle in half, then fold again and again.  The original instructions said to hand stitch, but I'm always in a hurry so I used my sewing machine and ran a stitch close to the point.

Then open into a flower

Pin the flowers on your fabric in any pattern you choose, close together or far apart.  Then attach with a couple of stitches through the center of each flower.

I found a black and white t shirt at the thrift store and cut 35 circles to put on this black shirt.  No need to buy a new shirt to cut up when you can pick one up at the thrift store

On the shirt I put some extra stitches on the outside of some of the flowers to make them lay flatter.  I get compliments from total strangers every time I wear this shirt

What is it about our pets, every time I bring out the camera

There they are! I was trying to photograph the pillow, not you guy's.

This was a little tedious, but a good "Sitting in front of the TV" project.  I love the results and it certainly was easy.  

I can see using these circles on all sorts of projects

Now, before I let you go I want to show you a couple giveaways I was ohhhh so lucky to win!

From Joselyn at The DIY Spot I won a vintage Koehler  book and journal.

And from Laura at Decor to Adore I won the Oh La La giveaway from her travels to France.  Feast your eyes!

Thank you Jocelyn and Laura!

Finally, I want to highlight a special blogger.   Debbie at Words Up On Wheels  made a special effort to stop in at Orange Tree Antiques and see my booth while she was on vacation.  She wrote a post about it and nicer words have never been written.  Debbie is an unbelievably talented writer, I would call her blog "Word Candy", stop over and feast your eyes!

Happy Creating!

Carol