Vintage Fun with Cigar Boxes

Hi Everyone!
I hope everyone has great plans for the weekend. I am hoping to finish up my craft table and start in on the new finds I purchased last weekend. OK.....I need to stop buying stuff to re-do, I'm falling behind.
So here's my latest project. Do you know cigar shops will usually give you (or for a small fee) their empty boxes? They are so cool, I hate to cover them up. But I did! I didn't feel THAT bad.


I stamped the swirled images with Versa Mark and used  a coat of UTEE before I distressed the sheet music. I decoupaged the sheets over the entire box and then started adding my fun stuff. Aren't those  some cutie kids? That was a little postcard that was given to me.



I used a ton of Tim Holtz products on this piece such as distress crackle paint, distress inks,grungeboard and Idealogy embellishments. I used Helmar's 450 to attach the handle and the buttons and it held great. In addition, Mod Podge (I'm hung up on it right now) and UTEE and crackle accents along with a bunch of other "stuff". I also entered my project in the Gingersnapcreations Challenge GC119:  Shared Moments and Challenge CCCB#75: Take Note  @ City Crafters.

This shows the Tim Holtz embellishments. I used his buttons and timepieces glued together with Helmars 450 to make the handle on the box. I covered the fleur de lis with distress crackle but I forgot to shake it up. I liked it, then I accidentally tore it and I liked it more. :) The word "home" came from Teresa Collins Thankful line.

Buttons I bought at the bargain bin at the fabric store and again, Tim Holtz grungeboard frame.

It's hard to photograph boxes.

Dang it!

I can't seem to get my creative mojo back this weekend. I have a few unfinished projects that I can't piece together. Boo. I also ran out of paint tonight so I'll try and finish my scrap table tomorrow. I like the way it's turning out.

I think I'll share another couple of my finds since I don't have a project. Years ago my father was "yardsaling" and came across this fantastic pair of old chaps. Now obviously, you all know how much I love my western memorabilia so when he gave these me, I just couldn't believe my luck (really his luck!). They now have a place on my wall with my all time favorite saying cut out of vinyl with my awesome Pazzles cutting machine.

This last weekend I went to my friends yard sale and found these adorable chairs. I loved the cowhide seats.  Her kids are grown and decided it was time to get rid of them, soooo.....Nooooo!!!!! I took them and they have a place in my cowboy room till her kids have kids and then I'm giving them back! :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

My new find.....

Happy Friday Everyone:
I'm thrilled with my new purchase at Borders. Not that I'm happy they are closing their doors but I got a great deal ($80) on a table and shelving for my new craft room (Sorry Nick).  I had been looking at these expensives antiques and wondered how I could incorporate, but really couldn't afford! :)

So I started sanding it just a bit and painted until it was too dark to see.

My plans are to cover the top of  table with cloth and pictures of vintage cowgirls with a clear coat of polyurethane,  so I'm trying to decide on material..... Any thoughts? I need help on this one.

Hopefully, I'll finish it this weekend. Have a great day everyone!

Remember......

Remember...........

In my reflections of this day...... I was sad about all the lives that were lost. No, I didn’t know anyone who perished but they were my brother and sister Americans no matter what religion, political views, nationality, etc.... My heart goes out to the families and friends that were forever changed on this day years ago. We all were. Then I realized the Terrorists are celebrating death and I got angry. Then it hit me……Don’t do this.

 So, I am choosing to celebrate their lives. I am choosing to celebrate those who knew freedom and made a difference in someone else's life. I am celebrating that we live in a country that will come together to acknowledge, respect and memorialize those who sacrificed. I, for one, am thankful to be an American. 

Vintage Dress Patterns

The week is almost over. Yay! I don’t know why but I’ve been super tired and can’t wait for a little rest. I think because Kathryn came home from school for a few days and kept me running TO THE MALL! But I was so happy to have her home.
I had purchased some old patterns at a yard sale years ago and dug them out since dress patterns and vintage ladies are getting so popular. I scanned them and cleaned them up a bit with Photoshop Elements and created a series of vintage style stamps with my Teresa Collins Stampmaker. I’ll be sharing the stamps this month with fun vintage projects. I think it’ll be a fun little adventure looking back at all the outfits! I entered it in the Paper Play Challenge. I haven't done that before so I hope i did it right. :)

I paired this stamp with an October Afternoon line called The Thrift Shop. The paper line has the look of vintage dress patterns with journal tags and rub-ons. Perfect for my girls. Let’s get started……

Supplies:

Teresa Collins Stampmaker

1 12x12 The Thrift Shop “needs paint”
1 12x12 The Thrift Shop “collector’s item”
Helmar 450
Versa color ink (Mountain Lake)
Studio G ink (brown)
Utee (lovin’ this stuff)
Various ribbons and tags
“live” chipboard
Fiskars boarder punch
I created this card on whim because I loved this brand and “needed” to use them. I really like all their paper and embellishments and plan to buy tons more. It just fits my style. :) I started piecing them together to make a little triple card. I stamped my girl very lightly because I didn’t want her solid. I punched two little holes at her waist (look at that tiny waist – as if) ran a little ribbon through and added the rhinestone with Helmar gemstone glue. Of course, for that "old" look, I ink all the edges in brown.


The chipboard piece I inked up and then added 3 coats of Utee. I’ve never done this before and I’m hooked. It adds such dimension. So I went crazy. After I stamped my sentiment tags, I Utee’d them too.

I left the edge on this stamp when I trimmed it up. I like the look.

 I hope you enjoy my first pattern girl and if you are interested in making your own stamps, the possibilities are endless.  Please contact me and I can get you the details for the Stampmaker.

Tada!

Here it is!

I love my new blog and feel such a sense of motivation to start creating more projects to share and hopefully generate some new followers. Again, Thanks to Sharon @ http://www.plumroselane.com/ for creating the beautiful blog. PLEASE visit her Etsy shop for details, she does wonderful work. I am so thankful she could take everything that was spinning around in my head and make it a reality!

Since I’m showing off everyone else’s creativity today, I wanted to share a project that my SIL created and I thought was just beautiful. I am hoping to spotlight a number of creative people as we go along in this journey.
                                  
This was an old bistro table that she broke the glass on. She purchased a wood rounder that fit perfectly (how does that happen?) and went to work with that infamous Mod Podge, magazine clippings, stickers, paint and fabric! Since I wasn’t there for the creation, I asked her how she did it.

She started by painting the entire set and bought matching material. (it’s a little hard to see but the material is green with white polka dots). Cut material to fit, paint a layer of podge and adhere fabric. Another layer and let dry. Sounds like you’ll need to buy a lot. We’re talking 6 or 7 layers in all. She collected different flowers that she likes from magazines and placed them as she liked. Podging away here……. Another layer over the top. Then she used various stickers and the final ric-rac and more layers (maybe 2 more for good measure). A polyurethane spray to seal everything and voila!

Way to go Marci, It’s beautiful. Look at that cute pot underneath. I think I'll hit some yard sales this weekend looking for stuff to Mod Podge!