Rustic Wreath

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Here's a repost of my featured
Rustic Cardinal Wreath:

Thanksgiving is at my house (again) this year ...

I've made all my guests a family initial

cardinal wreath.

(I'm also making these for teacher's gifts!)

So simple ... here's what I did:

Supplies:

10" Grapevine Wreath, 4" Gold Initial, Bird's Nest Pick,

Floral Pick (evergreen, pine cones, berries),

Cardinal with alligator clip,

20 gauge crafting wire, wire snips

needle nose pliers (to help with tightening wire)

hot glue gun

First, cut a 12" length of craft wire

and wrap it two or three times around the initial.

Attach it to the side of the wreath.

You may have to turn the wreath a few times

to determine the best place for the 

initial.  The thinnest spot works best.

Turn the wreath over and twist the wire ends

together to secure the initial.

Poke the bird's nest pick into the wreath near

the top of the initial.

Poke the sprigs into the wreath.

Secure with crafting wire and/or hot glue.

Clip the cardinal near his nest ... and there it is!

Quick and easy!  A nice take-home favor

on Thanksgiving Day.

~ Peace!!! ~

Chalkboard Frame

Here's a little something I whipped

up in my studio today:

 Do you love it??

I love it!!!
It was simple to make;

I'll show you how.

I started with an open frame.

I've had it for years.

I have many of these.  Random fetish.

Anyway!

Materials List:
Open Frame
Plywood (cut to fit frame)
Chalkboard Paint (black)
Paint Pen (white)
Tracing Paper (to make pattern)
Transfer Paper
Stylus
E6000 Adhesive

 I flipped it over and measured the opening.

I cut a piece of plywood to fit

the opening.

Measure twice, cut once, right?

Wrong.

It took me three tries to get it right.

That's just how I roll.

 I sanded the rough edge I'd cut,

and painted the plywood with two coats

of black chalkboard paint.

Now for the fun part!

I wanted to "doodle" a monogram

onto the black surface,

and outline it with a white paint pen

for a "permanent" chalkboard design.

I started with a stencil,

and closed the the openings

for my monogram base.

I doodled and sketched until I

liked the monogram design.

I used light-colored transfer paper

and a stylus to get my design onto my

painted plywood piece.

I used a white paint pen to go over

all the transfer lines, and then I added

some more doodles and dots.

I used a bead of E6000 adhesive

along the ledge of my frame

and glued my plywood piece in place.

~ Voila! ~

There you have it!

I'm going to finish off the back with

some kraft paper cut to size.

That way I can add a little inscription to

my gift recipient.

Cute and simple, huh!!

Love it!!

~ Peace and Picture Doodles ~

Paint Caddy

 My painted paint caddy:

So I bought this fun little caddy at the

craft store about a year ago:

I loved everything about it -
the size, the texture, that it's wood!!! 
I knew I would be painting on it
eventually, I just needed to decide what,
exactly, to paint.


I stored it in open view on my shelves.
I stared at it every time I entered
my studio.  I thought about it.
I pondered it.

Then, it came time to drive the
quarter mile to the entry gate and put
our phone number on it.
So that the next time there is a grass
fire on our property, we will be
easy to reach.  And just maybe the
fire department won't have to cut the lock.


I thought, should I go to the store

and buy some sticky numbers like the ones

you purchase for your mailbox??

Then I thought, Just Paint It!

It's quicker, it's easier, and for heaven's sake,

it's definitely cheaper.

 (pretend you're seeing a pic of 
the gate ... I've driven in and out on seven
different occasions and forgotten
each time to take a pic.
That's just how I roll)

So I did.

I just painted it.

I loaded my caddy with sealer,

paints, and brushes.

I drove the quarter mile up to the

entry gate, and painted the numbers.

And it was quicker, easier, and

definitely cheaper

than buying those sticky numbers.

 A few weeks later, looking at

my little wooden caddy full of brushes,

I thought, "Just Paint It!"

That's what I should paint on the 

side of the caddy!!

I used some cardboard stencils I'd

found at the store about four years ago,

and made a pattern.

(pretend you're seeing a pic
of my paper stencils.
Like I said ... that's how I roll.
It's a good thing I haven't forgotten
where I live or who my kids are
... yet ...)

 I transferred the pattern

lines to the side of the caddy using

transfer paper and a stylus.

 
Oh, look!! 
I remembered to take a pic.

 

First, I used black acrylic paint

to "shade" around the pattern lines.
I generally like to shade the

left and lower sides of each letter.

Next, I reached for the red paint.

Because I always seem to reach for the 

red paint when I paint letters.

But I changed my mind.

I chose two shades of turquoise

(my new favorite color).

First, I base coated each letter

with the lighter shade of turquoise.

Then, I used a sanding block

to rough and distress the letters and 

the shaded areas.

 

Then, I used the darker shade of turquoise

to paint the lower halves of each letter.

  

Finally, I outlined the right and

top of each letter with white acrylic paint

and my liner brush.

 

There it is!!

I wanted it to say "Just Paint It"

but I haven't decided how to add the

final words "just" and "it"

So for now, this is "Just It!"

And I love it!!

Peace and Finally Painting It

DCC Blog Hop - SEPTEMBER

Welcome to the DCC Blog Hop!!

The topic for September is vintage. 

I have several vintage items awaiting
a fresh coat of paint ... I sort of collect things
like luggage, trunks, and chairs.
I can't help it.  It's a fetish of mine.
I haven't actually painted any of these items yet,
because until I know exactly what I
want to use them for, I don't want to change the
way they looked when they first called my name from
those dark, dusty corners of flea markets
and antique stores.

Anyway, this month's blog hop inspired me
to search for old ... wood.  I know.
I'm weird.  I just love old wood.  The older,
the more coats of paint showing, the better.
I actually look for chips and dings 
and rough edges - those are
my absolute favorites.
I think Doc turned four shades of purple the
first time I brought lengths of old crown
moulding home from a flea market.  His love
of antiques veers more towards the
already stripped, sanded, and refinished models.
I like my antiques rough.  Rustic.  With character.
(Sometimes, I have to remind him
that it's written somewhere in the marriage
paperwork that he should love, honor, and
tolerate my flea market finds,
regardless of their condition).
:D

Just so you know, I turned those split and peeling
old lengths of crown moulding into hook racks -
one for wet beach towels in our little "pool house"
and several in my garage to create
my own version of a mud room.  To hold
the plethora of backpacks, knapsacks, tote bags,
overalls, and seasonal coats and jackets
that litter my life.  Did I just say litter??

 Ah, but I digress.  This month I was on
the lookout for wood.  On my first day of scavenging
all the local flea markets, my dad happened
to ask me, "what is it that you're looking for today?"
"Wood" I said, "old planks of rough, dirty wood!"

 "Well," he says, "why don't you take a look
at what I've got up there in the shed?  I saved all
the old redwood planks from the remodel a few years ago."

 Oh. My. GOSH!!!
Who could have known I need only look as far
as my parent's shed??  Who, I ask you??
I did take a look at what he had up there in the shed,
and it was wonderful!!  1" and 2" thick planks
of old (1940s), painted redwood siding in several
lengths.  "What length do you need?" asked
my wonderful father.  I'm pretty sure there
was the glow of a halo over his head that day.
"About 25"!" I say, "or thereabouts."
"I'll cut them for you, but not today."


Hm.  The glow of that halo faltered.  But not much.
Two days later I had this:

 
* YAY *
So. Many. Ideas!!
But first, it is football season.
Our team played their first game this weekend,
and I thought I'd make something
for those big ol' boys that live in my house.

 Something sporty.
Sportsman like. Appropriate for
sport, or to show sportsmanship.  

 So, I sanded the loosest paint chips off;
and I brushed a sealer onto the front and the
sides of the board paying extra attention to the
split corner and to the edges of the
remaining paint, to make sure I got a good
coat of sealer onto those areas.


 Next, I made a quick pattern
of the letters, and then of the team mascot.
I had to play with my pattern
placement until I found a pleasing arrangement.

... or ...

I shuffled a lot more than this,
but got so engrossed I forgot to take
more photos.

I taped my pattern in place,
and placed transfer paper
between my pattern and my wood.
Then I outlined the main pattern lines
with a stylus (or you could use a paintbrush handle).

I base coated the main pattern lines,
like the mascot shape and the lettering.
Then I shaded around the letters and sanded
the whole piece thoroughly.

Next, I added color to the bottoms of each letter
and added detail lines to the mascot.
 I sanded the surface again, to distress the
finish, and then I wiped all the dust off
with a clean rag.

I outlined all my details with a liner
brush and thinned black paint.
Then I sealed the entire piece with a
matte finish varnish.

 +++ Go Pokes!!! +++

Here's what Doc said when I held
it up across the length of the barn for
his inspection:
"Wah - ah - ah - ow!!"
(His "wow" actually had four syllables).
Then he stepped forward for a closer
look and said, "I want this for me!"

"It is for you!" I said.
hee hee HE's my biggest fan.
 
Peace and Vintage Wood Signs :) 


I hope you liked my spin on
crafting with vintage pieces!
Click on the Designer Crafts Blog Connection
blinkie at the top right of this post to
hop through our list of fabulous
designers and see other creative versions
of vintage crafting. 

The Refrigerator - Part II

When we decided to build a barn

out in the middle of nowhere,

I knew we would need a room for

storing snacks and beverages and possibly

for cooking light meals.

Some people refer to this as their

"kitchen"

I like to think of this as my

"probably wouldn't need it if it were just me,

but since I have a hundred kids

and they're always hungry and thirsty,

and if I'm serious about getting some actual

crafty-work done in my new studio,

we'd better put in a room for storing snacks

and beverages and possibly for cooking

light meals" room.

Ya know what?  Maybe I will just

call it a "kitchen"

Anyway, I didn't want to dedicate a whole

room to this "kitchen area"

so I dedicated a wall on the outside

of our build-out, on the inside

of our barn.

When you open those big garage doors,

you see this:

Now we get to the part where I talk about the

"probably wouldn't need it if it were just me,

but since I have a hundred kids

and they're always hungry and thirsty,

and if I'm serious about getting some actual

crafty-work done in my new studio,

we'd better put in a thing for storing snacks

and keeping beverages cold

and popcicles frozen"

... or refrigerator, as some would call it.

By now you've surely determined that

this will be no ordinary refrigerator.

But of course,

I had to start with an ordinary refrigerator,

which you can read about here.

Now, I personally wanted to have the fridge

sprayed a shade of barn red;

(after all, we have a paint sprayer for

just this very type of project)

however,

Some One wanted it painted with a roller.

Since I personally wasn't doing the painting,

Some One else was doing the painting,

so he got his way.

I pick my battles.

Here's why I thought spraying would be better:

Yikes!!!

Here is where Some One tells me that

it will need more than one coat.

(umm ... AGREE)

And here is also where I personally

share my sudden recollection

that red paint usually needs an orange base coat.

Well, we are miles away

from the nearest paint store,

and so we will press on.

Without the orange base coat.

Ta daa!!!

 But it isn't finished yet!

I thought we'd add a little white trim

- to make it seem more barn-like.

And special.

On a side note,

oooh!  I got a new saw and I have

sooo many project ideas

that will require me to use this delicious

piece of toolery!!!

I'm not sure if toolery is a word ...

it sounds like jewelry, which is a word,

and I like them both so much!

Badda

 Bing

Badda

Boom!!!

Now, we ran into a little hiccup

when it came to the handles.

When I initially dreamed up a barn fridge,

I had pictured in my mind our 

old upright freezer-on-top fridge-on-bottom

in a lovely shade of goldenrod yellow.

When I went to the Grove house to

clean my fridge, I discovered this strange and

unusual white side-by-side

in the goldenrod fridge's space.

I then remembered we

must have given away goldenrod fridge

and purchased this 

strange, white side-by-side

many years ago.

Funny how I forget stuff.

(Actually, it's not that funny, but I digress)

So, the handles I had pictured for this

barn fridge wouldn't work

since we now had this ice maker and 

the narrower doors to work with.

For the larger door,

(and this was Doc's idea)

(See - I give credit where credit is due)

(when I remember to)

we used a rail from a decorative window packet.

Don't know exactly what it's called,

and the packaging is still out at the barn.

For the smaller door,

I'm going through my hook and knob

collection to see if I can

find any really rustic-looking handles.

Until I find the right one,

no popcicles.

Just kidding.

I'm sure they'll figure out a way

to access the popcicles.

They're resourceful like that.

Hungry buggers.

Peace and Toolery