Showing posts with label Decor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Decor. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Using My Doodles as Decor: Georgie and Georgina Sugarskull


My doodling addiction continues. Introducing Georgie and Georgina Sugarskull, the newest additions to my doodle collection and Halloween decor. I've been wanting to incorporate some Dia de los Muertos ( Day of the Dead) touches and these were an easy addition. I printed them out and framed them in black and gold painted frames to match my color scheme of black and white and  gold.  

I started my drawing by tracing a simple skull outline. I knew I wanted to give her a floral crown so I drew the flowers on top of her skull first and then kind of went wherever my pen took me. This is what I find relaxing about this. I just kind of go wherever in an image, usually without a plan and just feel my way through. 


Georgina was done first, but Georgie was named first. I'd texted him to my son, he asked if he had a name, I said "you name him" and he named him Georgie. Georgina was kind of a no-brainer after that. 

I followed the same process for Georgie, took me a while to get the hat right. If I'm adding an element like that I'll do it in pencil first, then go over it in pen but the Zentangling itself I just go for with the pen. 



The frames were inexpensive plain unfinished wood I had in my stash. I painted with a couple coats of black paint, then dry brushed with gold. 


Now, lest you think I'm allergic to color, I did color each of these in my Recolor app. 






Saturday, November 15, 2014

Thanksgiving 2014 Banner: Cornhusks are Back!


This week's link party is still going strong here so please link up! 

Sharing my Thanksgiving mantel for this year. You might recall my Cornhusk Wreath shared here.  I had some cornhusks left over and couldn't wait to play with them some more. 

Life is always challenging. This year has been no exception. Yet despite challenges, we have much to be thankful for. So it seemed an obvious choice for a banner.  The banner was pretty simple. I cut the letters THANKFUL from metallic brown paper using my Cricut ( Expression...not Explore...trying to win one of those or if anyone wants to hook me up with the Cricut people!) and matted as shown on cream and gold card stock . 



I have a container full of punches I haven't used in a while and found this one that looks like acorns so punched the bottom corners of the cream cardstock. Used gold glitter washi tape to edge the top of each panel. 


I decided to make some cornhusk leaves and  feathers. Feathers are really popular right now and they fit right in with my idea.  


I cut leaf / feather shapes from cornhusks, coated them with Mod Podge to make them less brittle and edged the tips with gold glitter paint. I used Martha Stewart gold. 


I attached my leaves / feathers to the bottom of each letter using my glue gun and added a punched maple leaf to a couple of the  letters 


For some of the letters I did leaves. For others I did feathers. Same shape as the leaves but I notched the edges and cut some additional feathers from kraft cardstock. 


I'm happy with the mix of rustic and glitz. I also had fun re-mixing pieces from prior years.  Some of my favorite pieces from my mantel this year: 


Script Tissue Paper Pumpkin from 2012 and turkeys I found at JoAnn's for 75% off a few years ago and painted. 


Dollar Tree glass candles ( wrapped in Dollar Tree tissue paper) that I did for New Year's 2014 and ended up keeping out all year. More JoAnn's turkeys. My white pumpkins from Halloween are still holding on. Just a little longer little guys. 



And this year's Cornhusk Wreath

Less than two weeks to T-Day! 

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Monday, December 9, 2013

Winter Wonderland Repurposed Storage Jar

Christmas Jar 3

We visited our favorite little antique town this weekend and while there, I picked up a clear glass storage jar. Maybe it was seeing all of the vintage Christmas displays in the stores but I immediately had an idea mind for my jar which also provided another chance for me to bleach  more bottlebrush trees. You can check out this post for more on the trees.

Christmas Repurposed Jar

For this project you will need:
  • Large glass storage jar with removable lid
  • Bleached bottlebrush tree
  • Epsom Salt
  • Jingle Bells (large and small)
  • Snowflake pick
  • Wood Word or letters
After cleaning up your jar, glue the bleached tree to the bottom.

Christmas Repurposed Jar 2

I put a big glob of hot glue on the bottom of the tree since I wanted it to stand firmly in the jar. Once the tree’s glued in, pour in some of the epsom salt and then drop in a few of the jingle bells, add more salt. When satisfied with the depth, place the snowflake pick and phrase inside the jar. I sprinkled some iridescent glitter on top.

Christmas Repurposed Jar 1


Christmast Repurposed Jar 4

Cover the rim of the jar with a coordinating washi tape, twine, and ribbon, and then tie a few jingle bells to the ends.

VIntage Repurposed Christmas Jar

It’s sitting on my Winter Wonderland vintage mantle with my other bleached trees.


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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Bleached Bottlebrush Trees

Botttlebrush Trees

I love the look of vintage holiday decorations and have long wanted some vintage bottlebrush trees. I’m automatically drawn to displays of them in stores. I am not always drawn to their price so once again, I decided I could make my own.  SO easy. Another why didn’t I do this before project.

You will need:
  • Bottlebrush trees. Can be found at hobby and craft stores or where Christmas villages etc are sold. I bought a big bag at JoAnn’s last year for 75% off after Christmas knowing that I wanted to make some this season.
  • Household bleach.
  • Water
  • Container
  • Time
  • Spray adhesive
  • Glitter
I googled around for some hints on how to bleach the trees. All of the instructions were similar: mix equal parts bleach and water in a container; submerge trees, wait. Time is the tricky part and my conclusion is you just have to keep an eye on your trees vs an absolute amount of time. One tree took 15 min. Another the same size took 30. Just bleach until they’re the color you want. I wanted natural but may do some more and stop at pale green. I've seen tutorials where people have dyed them all kinds of colors or used spray inks etc.

Bleached Bottlebrush Trees
Mr. Chocolate only looked at a little oddly when I told him I was bleaching trees. He just doesn’t ask anymore. What’s weird is the color bleaches out but the flocking stays on the trees.
Glittered Bleached Bottlebrush Tree

While the trees were drying from their bleach bath ( rinse with plain water once you get the color you want), I made their bases by wrapping some wood spools with washi tape.

Washi Spools

When the trees were dry, I used a spray adhesive (Elmers) and silver and iridescent glitter. Spray, sprinkle, turn, repeat.  Then hot glued them to my spools.

Natural Bottlebrush Trees


Bleached Bottlebrush Tree Closeup

They’ll likely end up on my mantle but since I’m a diehard about not decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving , I haven’t totally decided yet.

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Sunday, April 28, 2013

Tick Tock Faux Vintage Clock From a Ceiling Medallion

Vinyl Face Faux Vintage Clock

I’ve wanted a vintage “clock” for a while but have not wanted to pay the prices I’ve seen. I was wandering through the hardware store one day and found these ceiling medallions in the lighting section and had an aha moment.

Of course this also meant I had to try and “craftsplain” this to the lighting department guy. “No it’s not for a light fixture. I’m going to make a faux clock” . “Oh sure that was obvious!” said lighting department guy walking away looking back at the weird lady.

Portfolio Ceiling Medallion

For this project you will need:
  • 16 inch Ceiling Medallion ( I got mine at Lowes )
  • Ceiling Medallion Canopy Kit
  • Acrylic Craft paint ( I used Craftsmart black and Martha Stewart Pearl)
  • Vinyl ( I used Expressions Vinyl beige)
  • Cutting tool ( I used my Silhouette Cameo)
I started by painting my medallion black.  Since I usually go for an aged / distressed look I wasn’t particularly careful about brush strokes.

Ceiling Medallion Painted Black

Then I dry brushed it with the pearl paint. Again, not particularly careful. I changed from a foam to bristle brush for this.
Dry Brushed Ceiling Medallion

While this was drying, I laid out and cut my numbers using CoCo, my Silhouette Cameo. I did these in two rows and then once I’d applied the transfer paper, cut the numbers into separate pieces to make them easier to apply.
Faux Vintage Clock Vinyl

Positioned them where I wanted them and then went over them with a burnishing tool to apply them.

Celing Medallion Canopy

This is the canopy that usually covers the guts of the light fixture. I just glued it through the hole in the medallion. It came with a piece to plug the middle hole and I used some scrapbooking brads to plug the other two. It also came with some other pieces that will likely end up being used in jewelry. I did not attempt to craftsplain this to the Lowe’s guy.

Vintage Faux Clock Closeup

And now I have my brand new vintage faux clock!