Converting Christmas Tags To Summer Tags

I came across some old blank chipboard tags that I bought at Target at Christmas for a buck and decided to convert the tags to something I could use now.

If you have these lying around here's what I did.

I cut off the red and green string and distressed the blank chipboard tags with Ranger Distress Ink in Vintage Photo. 

Then I glued some beautiful paper flowers I found on sale last night at the craft store for $1.49. What a deal.

Then I ran some jute string through the grommet.

Since I had three packets of flowers

and all where the same colors, I wanted to change a few of the colors for a variety. 

So I rubbed some dollar bin ink on the petals of the flowers to give them a hint of a different color.

Then I got out my sure fire decorating item, (my potted dried mazanita tree). My husband can't stand this thing it always gets in his way maybe that's because I have several of them and they are hard to store. But I can't get rid of them I loooooovvvvve them. If you are ever in need of a good treefor decorating, grab one of these bushes and pot it. Its perfect for any time of year. 

  

Back to my tags, as you can see I just hung the tags willy nilly amongst the tree branches.

And voila!

My Man Thursday~Something New

I have decided to do something fun and dedicate Thursday's to a special man. Each Thursday I will post about the man that's on my mind.

Today is dedicated to the British actor Clive Owen. He is the best. Some of his movies are questionable but he is very good looking and he's still married to his wife which seems to be rare for movie stars. 

If you would like to Netflix some good movies try these:

Greenfingers-so cute

BMW Short Films- The Driver (not sure if you can get these on Netflix but Itunes or YouTube might have them. I bought my DVD from BMW years ago.

King Arthur: little cheesy but he is on a horse and in period clothing, need I say more?

Beyond Borders-lovely. I had to buy this one

Second Sight Series- young but good. Love this series.

Closer- troubling but sexy

Children Of Men-Depressing but good

Inside Man-Intense

There are other movies but these are just my favorites. I was so looking forward to Elizabeth The Golden Age but I was very disappointed. Now I can't even sit through it without laughing. Sorry Clive.

Clive Owen Is My Man Thursday 7/8/2010

Personalizing Your Twinkle Lights

I have been batting around this idea and I think I finally figured it out.

So here is how you can personalize your twinkle lights.

You will need: 

Small white paper dollies

Acrylic Paint- I used red and blue for the 4th Of July

Two paint brushes smallish

A old cup or bowl so you can mix water with acrylic paint

A hole punch

A string of lights

Now squeeze a nice amount of acrylic paint into old cup or bowl

 

Pour some water in the paint bowl to dilute the acryilc paint.

Mix water and paint until you get the color you want. 

Now brush the color around the edges of the dollie and let dry.

In my opinion the sloppier the better.

Once they are dry fold in half and punch two holes in the center 

so the dollie will fit over the light bulb.

Now I placed two dollies, red and blue, on top of each other.

And squeezed and twisted them together at the base.

This way there is more fluff and fun happening on each light.

When you are done pinching the dollies together, slip them over each light bulb and

squeeze and twist them on the stem of the bulb this way they will stay in place.

 

And you are done. Enjoy.

Push Pins

I love making covered buttons. It's so easy but they looks really impressive when they are done.

Here is how to make covered button's and turn them into push pins.

What you'll Need:
A covered button kit- Jo Ann Fabric
Shank Remover- (forgot this puppy in the supplies picture above sorry)
E6000 Glue
Fabric of your choice
Push pin posts

First: Just follow the instructions on the back of the covered button kit. Easy peasies.

Carefully tuck fabric edges under covered button back

Now push down hard with the pusher thingy in the covered button kit

Pop it out!

You are done with step one.

Now

Dab a bit of glue on the push pin post and glue it to the covered button. Wait a couple of hours for it to set maybe even overnight and then you are done!

Really swell!

Have fun!

Vintage Bulletin Board

I have just finished my vintage bulletin board. I was so tired of looking at the same old bulletin board. But I have been twirling my hair trying to decide what to do.


I didn't want to use store bought paper as the backing, what's the point? You cover it up anyway. And I did want to use the same old bright fabric you see everywhere. I also didn't want to spend a lot of money, so I went with what I had.

I'm pleased with the result and I'm in such a hurry to show you, that my photos don't do it justice because its dark outside. Lighting is everything ( I sound like I know what I am talking about and I don't).

If you would like to toss one of these babies together here how:

Rounded up a plain bulletin board, burlap, the large weave will hide the constant push pin marks.  Vintage paper, I used  newspapers from 1939 but you could use book pages, magazines, sheet music, anything you want that has that aged look. Next find your trusty glue gun, and Mod Podge.

NOTE: For pushpins I used vintage handmade fabric push pins~ tutorial tomorrow on that. Once you start making those babies you won't want to stop.  

This is so simple its scary.

First lightly sand down the frame of your boring old bulletin board.

Next put a coat of Mod Podge on the frame and press your paper to the frame. When dry cut the excess paper. Then Mod Podge over the vintage paper to seal it on the frame.

After the frame is done cut burlap to fit the cork board and fray the edges (shown above). Apply a thin line of hot glue around the cork edge and press the burlap down. This will stop the burlap from fraying and set it in place. 

Voila!  You are done. 

Now decorate with you favorite push pins. Funky or vintage doesn't matter. Either will look great. 

Tomorrow a tutorial on push pin making.   

Keeping The Boys Of Summer Busy And Giving Back Some

Today we did our first stint into the volunteer arena. We bagged apples for the Oregon Food Bank. It was great. Very well organized and the work wasn't too hard for our little ones- 8 and 9 year olds.

We bagged a total of 1,486 lbs. of apples. They estimate 1.3 lbs. a meal which equates to 1,143 meals for hungry families. 

The boys had a great time. I highly recommend it.  

Just call your local food bank and sign the kids up. They learned a lot about who has been needing the food and how important it is especially in today's economy.

Color Wash

I was bored with my fingernail polish colors and wanted something different but didn't want to spend 8.50 like I love to do when feeling extravagant so I settled for a cheap 'o brand and added it to my OPI. I mixed them on a plate and used the wand from the less expensive brand to do the mixing.

The color was just what I wanted. A unique color, like the flowers in my backyard.

Hint: paint where it is cool so you have more time to work with the quick drying pigment.

I would show you my feet but no one should be subjected to that.

Get funky with the colors.  I may try green and blue next.

Is there away to do tie-dye? I will have to think about that one.