tune in later this evening for video : )

Heritage frames are EXPENSIVE.  Especially if they have bubbled glass.  This old clock frame was PERFECT.  It went from nasty orange to a great vintage photo frame.

One of my biggest pet peeves inspired this project. I love to read and I always have a stack of books on my nightstand. I purchased a really cute book stand to organize it. HOWEVER . . . it is constantly sliding and tipping over, especially when I dust. This was a perfect solution. It is suppose to be used as a dish holder. It works great for holding books and it will stay in place.

This is such an easy project, but it adds a real “wow” factor. I simply purchased some square drinking cups from the dollar store and attached some metal name plates to the front with some high temp hot glue. I found the little frames in the jewely dept. at my local scrapbook store. Orig. there were a couple of hooks at the top for a necklace, but I simply sniped them off with a pair of wire cutters. Then I added my own label. I really like how they turned out. The pic on the bottom is another version using a square vase. I also purchased this embellishment in the jewerlry isle.

This is a quick and easy way to make frames. I purchased these trays at the dollar-store. However, if I were doing a project that I planned to display in my home I would use something a little more durable. I would have LOVED to use some old silver serving dishes from my Grandmother . . .but I don’t think my mom would have liked that so much lol. Print the photo on a Laser printer (ink-jets cause the ink to run), you may need to take it to Kinkos. Trim and adhere it inside of the tray with Mod Podge. Make sure that you burnish it to get all of the bubbles out. Once it is completely dry you can lightly Mod Podge the top to seal it. If desired you can then mix an epoxy resin (I like to use Clear Cast it comes in a purple box at the craft store) and poor it over the top . I LOVE this effect because it gives it the rounded bubble look of old antique frames.

Search “journals” to find more free downloads on my site.

****I didn’t get everything posted . . . my computer was running so slow.  Come back this afternoon for more free downloads, videos, and more ideas : )

***********Don’t forget to follow iron-on instructions and flip the image when printing!!!!

Use hot glue to wrap hemp (I started with jute but it didn’t hold the paint very well) around a large plastic eggs from the dollar store

Use spray paint to get the desired colors

The basket was also from the dollar store

I love finding party favors and gift ideas at the dollar store because it only takes a moment to personalize and make a one of a kind custom gift.

This cute litte bunny was made from an ugly candle stick and a tacky little ceramic bunny. I simply painted them ivory, antiqued them with some glaze, addded a little moss and beaded fringe, and them simply glued the bunny to the top of the candlestick.

I LOVED these adorable little carrots. I simply added a little tag and voila! A quick and easy party favor. To download the tags, simply click on the link below.

Once again, a quick way to make a great party favor. I simply printed off a vintage image off of the web and added some decorative paper, ribbon and a button.

This is a perfect example of thinking outside of the box. I purchased several of these back at Christmas from the dollar store (it was after Christmas so they were actually 50% off) I liked the shape and thought they would make great cone baskets. I did one for Valentines day too. You can check it out in my “crafting with old books post”.

I lOVE the way this turned out! I simply painted, added some green fringe, and I printed off some paper embellishments.

This was a really simple and inexpensive project. It was made from 3 square picture frames from the dollar store, some thin wooden dowels, and a piece of wood that I got FREE from Home Depot (every once in awhile they will have a cart of free wood pieces by the cutting center). I simply drilled holes in the bottom of the frames. Inserted the dowels with hotglue and then painted. I also added a little bit of moss and a chickie figurine that I already had.

I DID NOT MAKE THIS. I actually purchased it at a craft fair but I LOVED it. It is simply a composition notebook that can be purchased from the dollar store that has been cut into a purse shape and covered with decorative paper. They simply added ribbon for the handles. I thought this was such a great idea!

This was created out of a really tacky bowl and rabbit figurine that I found at the dollar store. I simply painted and then glued the bunny into the bottom of the bowl.

This was kind of a sad little tree from the dollar store that needed a little love. I simply spray painted and added a few small easter eggs that I got last year from Joann’s on sale for $1

I simply downloaded a vintage easter image off the web and decopauged it onto the bucket. I then brushed a thin layer of antique glaze over the top.

This was a great deal! I purchased everything from the dollar store. The wreath form is typically around $5 at the craft store. I simply painted the plastic eggs with spraypaint and stone technique paint.

I hot glued moss all around the wreath.

I hot glued the eggs on the wreath and then added a little extra moss and tied a ribbon at the top.

This was probably my favorite because it was so simple, inexpensive and turned out so great! I simply used a tacky ceramic ornament that I found at the dollar store. It already had a hole in the bottom that was perfect for inserting a wooden dowel with hotglue. Then I drilled a hole in a circle base and used hot glue to insert the bottom of the dowel in. I added a hook at the top and then painted and antiqued.

I was so pleased with how these Luminaries turned out.  I gathered various vases and glass candle cups from around my home.  I lovethe little glass votive cup on the pedestal.  I purchased this at Joann’s for $1.49. I printed  the silhouettes on vellum paper.  The best way to do this is to cut a sheet of 12X12 down to 8.5X12 so that it will feed through the printer but still have excess to wrap all of the way around the jar.  You can also just print the silhouette onto an 8.5X11 sheet and then glue the ends together until you have the desired length.  I started out using vellum tape but I wasn’t impressed so I just used my general adhesiveby  Tom-bow (the one in the white and green tube).  Make sure you use the least amount of glue possible and try not to overlap the ends very far.  You can top off the luminaries with beaded fringe or ribbon if desired.  I also added wooden bases on the bottom of some of them.  I simply used wood circle and square plaques available at most craft stores.  Be creativetry using colored vellum.  I think olive green would have looked awesome!  If you want some more ideas check out H is for Handmade.  If you’d like to download some votive wraps to get you started simply click on the pic below and print onto vellum paper. 

*It’s best to only use votive or tea light candles. Make sure you use heat safe glass and a like any candle don’t leave them burning unattended.

There are tons of free silhouette images on line that are copyright free. However, my favorite projects were done with pictures of my own children. To do this simply take a profile picture. Have them stand up against a wall that contrasts their hair and clothing. Make sure their chin is level and they are looking straight forward. While you are facing their profile take a photograph. There are two ways to get a silhouette. First by hand, simply print the picture out and hand cut around their silhouette. Now you have a pattern that can be traced onto black paper and resized in a copier.

  You can also do it in any photoshop program by removing the background and then flood filling the silhouette.

The effects of the down turn in the economy has even influenced trends in fashion and design believe it or not. While loud and funky over the top designs use to be the call of the day, it seems we’ve taken a step back. Back to a simpler time. Back to classic clean designs. This trend is reflected in the stationary world with classy monograms and silhouettes. The elegant designs are simple but thoughtful. To download simply click on the desired pattern below. TIP: for a higher quality finish print on linen paper. Another great tip is to add a little pattern paper to the inside or outside flap of the envelope. A black and white damask or brocade print would look beautiful. Tie with a nice ribbon and charm or button to create a unique botique worthy gift.

This is a great inexpensive gift idea. This necklace is made from a white floral pebble. You can add the silhouette with several methods. Rub-ons, rubber-stamps using Staz on Ink (it helps to sand the top of the stone first), or you can trace a custom silhouette onto vinyl transfer paper (the kind used for electronic cutters) and cut it out by hand. After you’ve added your silhouette image then simply spray the stone with a clear sealer, attach an anchor on the back with epoxy or metal/glass glue and then attach a ribbon or a chain.

For these plates, I simply traced my son and daughter’s silhouettes onto vinyl transfer paper, cut them out by hand then attached them to the plates.

These coasters would be such a fun gift idea for any Grandma or Grandpa. I purchased round wooden circles at the craft store. Then I printed out circles to fit the top in my photoshop program. I added a french script to the background and placed their silhouettes on top. I decopaugedthemto the top of the wooden circles after I had painted them black. Then I sealed the top with a layer of epoxy or resin that is available at any craft store. I added some black adhesive felt to cover the back of the coasters. Then I decorated a cute box to store them in.

When I saw this picture I fell in love. I Absolutely adored how perfect the grouping was. I tried to recreate it, by putting my own twist on it, I didn’t even come close lol. however, one thing I wanted to do was use several different techniques. So, here are a few ideas.

First off, don’t laugh at this awful photo. I had to hurry and shoot it inbetween takes at studio 5 and right before I snapped the picture the wall got bumped. But I wanted to show my intrepretation of the grouping above. I still think I live the Country Living one better.

I decided to take it old school and go back to the days of the “Embroidery hoop” wall art. I don’t know if you remember this, but I remember doing cross stitch when I was little and then my mom would sew a huge ruffle around it and then hang it on the wall. I thought I’d giveita try, while updating it a little. I printed the image onto iron-on paper (I use Avery which is available at most office supply stores) and then followed the package instructions to iron it on some fabric, then I placed the fabric in an 8″ embroidery hook (that I’d painted black) and trimmed around the edges. I attached a bow and a button at the top for a little extra bling.

On this little cutie, I used a 5″ embroidery hoop. Follwed the same process as above and added a little beaded dangle by 7 gypsies.

I used an oval embroidery hoop on this one and follwedthe same process as above. I added fringe around the frame and some beaded fringe to the bottom.

For this one, I simply created a border in my photoshop program, added the silhouette, printed it out, cut it to 8X10 and placed it in the frame.

While vintage silhouettes are typically just the head, I wanted to show that you could do the whole body. It worked out perfectly with the oval frame. I simply printed the silhouette onto linen paper.

This was a fun one. I found an old tacky frame that I had and I painted it green. I ironed on the chandelier shape onto fabric. Placed it into the frame (leaving out the glass) and then I attached the rhinestones.

Silhouettes don’t have to have plain backgrounds. You can use fun colors or printed backgrounds as I did here. I scanned an old newspaper into photo-shop, placed the silhouette over top, and then printed it and placed it in the frame.

One of my FAVORITE products is the Silhouette electronic cutter. LOVE IT! Not only do I love the machine I LOVE the cool vinyls and heat transfer papers they have. I used the heat transfer paper to trace this silhouette onto and then I cut it out by hand (so even if you don’t have the machine you can still use the heat transfer paper). Then I simply followed instructions and ironed it on the fabric, then tacked on the the chair. To finished this project I simply decoupaged some harlequin paper around the front of the desk.