Two French Graphic Step Stools

I used to find vintage wooden step stools all the time at thrift stores or estate sales, but they are getting harder to come by

Then last week I found two...YEA!

I did a quick dry brush of homemade chalk paint, the tutorial on dry brushing is HERE.   Then I applied a coat of clear Minwax followed by Annie Sloan dark wax   

I finished them off by adding water slide decals to the top, the tutorial on making water slide decals is HERE or available for sale at The Polka Dot Closet.  I finished with another coat of clear Minwax over the water slide decal

The French graphics are from Graphics Fairy

I put these in my booth at Orange Tree Antiques and priced them at $25

Wooden step stools usually sell pretty quick.....Are they good sellers for you?

Happy Creating!

Carol

Partying with MMS Furniture Feature Friday

Making Wedding Garters

Oh my gosh 6 weeks until my son's wedding....Wow, this is really coming fast!  We have a list of things to do and this last weekend we checked off....Making the wedding garter!!

The future DIL and I collaborated all weekend, I had so much fun making many different style......And then we got it JUST RIGHT!

In June I went to New York City and while I was there I shopped  the garment district with the wedding garter in mind, coming home with many laces and trims

Then a couple weeks ago I won this giveaway from Pam at 52 Apothecary Shop a fabulous French inspired blog...More bling and lace....Thank you Pam!

After one more stop at a wonderful local Orlando fabric store that specializes in everything bridal....We were ready to start creating!

You know I always share how to make all of my projects, but I used so many different techniques and there is already many wonderful tutorials online.  I can recommend this great YouTube video that got me started

I can't tell you which one she picked because my son reads my blog, but I will tell you she said 

"I love it"

Which one do YOU think she picked?

If you have missed any wedding posts, you can catch up by clicking on any of these links

Wedding table centerpieces

Fabric flower bridal bouquet

Bridesmaids bouquets

Signs for the wedding rehearsal

Wedding rehearsal dinner centerpieces

Doggie bags for the rehearsal dinner

Save the date

Wedding boutonnières 

Happy Creating

Carol

French Vanity Stool Transformation

So whats a girl to do when a friend gives her a vanity stool...

...And she just happens to have a tulle skirt she picked up at a thrift store... 

...And some fabulous new Paris script fabric...... 

Why....She makes herself a French tulle vanity stool

WOW, did you notice I restrained myself and did not paint the frame white!!!  The silver went so well with the grey in the fabric, that I saved myself the step of painting...Will wonders never cease!!

I bought this Paris Script fabric online from Carousel Designs it was $7.90 a yard. It's not a light cotton fabric, it's more like a denim weight, perfect for upholstery (Carousel Designs does not know I exist, I just love their fabric) 

I hot glued the tulle skirt onto the seat and since it was a tad to small I had to put a little cut in the top of the waist band in the back, but covered the cut with a flower and strands of rayon ribbon

I put this little cutie in my booth at Orange Tree Antiques and priced it at $32

And it sold in 1 hour.....I hate when that happens, WAIT.... I love when that happens, but then I second guess myself......Geez, should I have priced it at $64 instead of $32?  Then I remind myself..I don't want to marry this stuff... I want to sell it! 

I know I have readers that have shops, what would you have priced it at or for you shoppers out there....what would you have paid for it?

Happy Creating!

Carol

I am partying with 
Debbiedoo's
Shabby Creek Cottage
Miss Mustard Seed

Rehearsal Dinner Invites And Doggy Biscuits

My Son and grand dog Dora were visiting from DC last week so, it was a perfect time to make dog biscuits for my son's wedding rehearsal dinner since I had a dog taster right on premises

Let me explain...My Son is getting married Thanksgiving weekend, and I'm hosting the rehearsal dinner at an outside cafe close to my home in downtown Orlando

My Son loves his dog Dora and since it's an outside cafe, puppies are allowed, so I'm having a 

PUPPY BAR for our doggy guests

I did a post HERE on the doggy bags I made as party favors 

I wasn't sure what treats I was going to put in the bags, then the sweet folks at

Cloud K9   

Read my post and sent me dog cookie cutters ....

.....And cellophane bags....How nice was that!!!

They Also gave me the link to CopyKat Recipes who posted this super simple recipe to make dog biscuits.  Now, girlfriends, I feel a lot more comfortable holding a paint brush than a spatula, so if I say this is easy.....It is!

Here's the ingredients

My grand dog, LOVED them!

 I will definitely make these again.  

My brother told me he has a  co-worker that makes up cellophane bags of dog treats every year as Christmas gifts for co-workers with dogs....What a great idea!

Speaking of Christmas gifts Cloud K9, not only has cookie cutters of all makes and models of dogs, they have tons of doggie, gifts and clothes too!

Before I leave you, I want to give you an idea for what you can do with  any left over dough.........You could free form! 

Oh no, my Mom reads my blog and she doesn't like potty (Or in this case poopy) humor.........Sorry Mom, I couldn't help myself!

Happy Creating!

Carol

Thank you Cloud K9

Covered Buttons

I love covering buttons, there is just something about it that is relaxing to me and it's fun to pick just the right fabrics

I sell them in my booth at Orange Tree, but the only way it is profitable for resale is when I find buttons to cover at estate and thrift stores.   I can often pick up a whole bag full for .25 to $1.00.......

.....Then the only investment is sweat equity

I find it best to use fabric with small patterns, vintage pillow case material is perfect and fabric scraps

I used a frame from Graphics Fairy, wrote "Buttons" and printed it out on card stock

An easier way to display them is on a playing card, I showed HERE how I made this picture frame backing board

I am going to display this new batch in a little vintage drawer

Just throwing this idea out there for my friends that sell online or have retail space.   I price them at $4.50 a card and they always sell out

They are just a nice little addition to my booth....

....Keep your eyes open at estate sales and thrift stores for buttons to cover and save those little fabric scraps.......See.... We knew there was a reason we were saving those little pieces of vintage fabric!

Happy Creating!

Carol