Altered Pail (Salvation Army Find)

Maybe you remember the tin pail that I found at the Salvation Army for $0.69 that I wanted to repurpose.  Click here to see that post.  Well, here is the finished project and the pictures that will walk you through the process.  Hope it inspires you!

First I took out (most of) my supplies (later I decided to add more to it!).

The first thing I did was rub some of my paint onto the pail to give it a weathered look.

Then I cut out a strip of burlap and applied a heavy layer of Mod Podge to my can and 

placed the burlap onto the Mod Podge.  I then put Mod Podge on top of the burlap and cut two

 different pieces of scrapbook paper to layer on top (doing the same thing with the Mod Podge).  

The pages were thicker and I had to hold them into place to make sure they didn't come up while 

they were drying.  So, this took about 3 minutes per piece.  Not too bad, I didn't think.  

I had my mother-in-law over so we were chatting while I was holding the paper in place!  :-)

When it dried enough to let go, I added a wooden number 7 (because I love the number 7... I actually love most numbers...typography is awesome!)  I got the wooden number from my local craft store.

I applied a heavy amount of Mod Podge and held it in place for another 3 minutes 

while I continued my conversation! Lol!  After it dried enough to let go of, I just let it sit 

for about 10 minutes while I gathered the items I wanted to use to place inside of the pail. 

I used spanish moss and put it almost to the top.  Later I went back and added more, 

so I should have just gone all the way to the top with it to begin with.

I added a nest that had little eggs.  I got a few of these at my local craft store because I 

L-O-V-E

to add bird elements to my creations!  

This little nest has some feathers in it, which I adore!

Tim Holtz produces one of my favorite lines of scrapbook and crafting elements.

I have been trying to find a reason to use this!  So, I decided not to waste any of the product, and I cut the little sample number 7 from the package and use it in the nest.  

I also dabble in jewelry making so I had some little elements that I wanted to add.  I had the little corked bottle with a number 97 on it and some seed beads inside that I thought would look cute in the nest, so I used that and a little key charm and a few small buttons.  I also had some of my favorite alphabet twill that I place inside.  Something was still missing.  I needed an element of bling! What could I add?

I found a little spacer that had blue rhinestones.  Perfect!

So, I slid it onto a piece of spanish moss so it wouldn't fall to the bottom.

Here is another view.

I didn't like the twill just "laying there", so I added

a safety pin as another element

Then, I added twine to the top of the pail and added an old button and a 

wooden bead hanging down from the twine.  I knotted the end of the twine so it would stay.

Okay, here it is finished.

Let me know what you think.  I'd love to here from you.

Until next time, be blessed!

:-) Tonya

* P.S. - I linked this post to Simple Home Life and 30 Handmade Days and My Repurposed Life  and Primp: Primp Your Stuff Wednesdays and Destination: Craft.

Dry Erase Altered Frame

I am getting in just under the wire to make my post for Wednesday!  I have had a busy day today.  I went to several antique shops and picked up some great little finds (I will post those pictures later).  My son was away for the first half of this summer and he came back today, so I spend some quality time visiting with him.

Anyway, for this post, I decided to take a cheap $5 Wal-Mart frame and see what I could do with it.  I gathered some materials and decided that I would antique the frame and add a piece of scrapbook paper and use the glass as a dry erase board for quick messages.

This thought came to me yesterday when I was erasing a plate that I keep in my kitchen that I use as a dry erase "Menu".   (I will post pictures of that later, too).

Anyway, here are pictures of the process.

I gathered my supplies.  Scrapbook paper for the background, Vaseline (any petroleum jelly should do) and Q-tips for dabbing the frame in certain areas, paint, my handy-dandy paper cutter, twine, embellishments, a paint brush and a sponge brush.

First, I took the glass and the paper out of the frame.  I don't mind if the paint gets on the inside of the frame that no one will see, but I didn't want it on the glass.  I also used the paper inside of the frame to cut the scrapbook paper to the right size.  

I daubed the Vaseline on the frame very strategically in spots where I thought the paint would have chipped if it really was an antique frame.  Then I applied the paint DIRECTLY to my sponge....not to the frame itself, and I daubed the sponge onto the frame (do not wipe it, you will smear the Vaseline).

I put a good coat on and then I waited for it to dry.

If the paint didn't cover some of the cracks, I thought that 

was okay, because it only added to the charm.

After the paint dried, I used a paper towel to GENTLY wipe the frame.  

The areas with the Vaseline underneath the paint wiped off, leaving behind the

frame.  It looks like the paint actually chipped off.

I wiped a line of the Vaseline down the frame on each side, so you can see where the 

dark lines are on the frames (making it look like it was more dimensional).

The frame I got had a little gold on it and I didn't want the gold to show through (because I wanted it to look like a wooden frame), so I used a second color to touch up some of the areas that had gold showing through.  I touched the frame with the blue and then just wiped it a little so it would stand out too much.

I used a small paintbrush so I could control the paint better.

You can see where I added the blue to this corner.

Here is the frame after all of the blue has been added.

It looked a little plain, so I added a little embellishment across the top.

Here it is with the embellishment.

Tell me what you think.

Hope you enjoyed this post.

Maybe it will inspire you.

Until next time, be blessed.

:-) Tonya

* P.S. - I linked this post up to House of Hepworths #108 and The Shabby Nest 

and Funky Junk Interiors.

Chalkboard Decor

Today's post is about the refinishing of a chalkboard craft that I did almost 2 years ago.  When my husband and I got married, we had the song, "Everything" by Michael Buble' at our Reception.  It was one of our favorite songs.  In an effort to keep that romance alive, I took an old picture that I was planning to put in a yard sale and turned it into a chalkboard and wrote some of the lines of the song on the chalkboard.

I put about 3 coats of Rust-Oleum chalkboard paint on the glass (letting it dry in between each coat).

While the glass was out of the frame, I painted the actual frame and rubbed the paint on to give it an aged look.  I wiped paint off in areas so I could see the frame (to make it look like it was chipping off).

After the frame and the glass dried, I put it back together and used real chalk to write on the board.

The problem with using real chalk if you hang your chalkboard in the bathroom, is the steam from the shower.  I happened to hang my piece in the bathroom.  It continued to fade and I would have to retouch it over and over.

Finally, I decided that I would make the "chalk" permanent.  I went to my local craft store to find a chalk pen.  They didn't have one, but they did have a Terra Cotta pen that I thought I could use as a great substitute.

I thought this would work out, but it took forever!!!  I had to keep "pumping" the pen and wiping it off (probably because I had to write on top of the chalk and it was getting "gunked up").

You can see here how I couldn't do one full letter without stopping.

Here is a picture of it halfway completed so you can see the difference.

Here it is completed.  Now when I hang it back up in the bathroom, it shouldn't fade.

No more retouches (hopefully)!

Hope you are inspired to make a "romantic" 

piece of "art" to hang up!

Until next time, be blessed!

:-) Tonya

* P.S. - I linked this post to The Winthrop Chronicles.

Game Themed Entryway

Whew! It has been a busy day!  I started trying to work on some of the Salvation Army finds, but I cannot locate a very special element that I want to add to one of the projects.  I finally had to set that idea to the side and work on something else (other than supper and cleaning house... which I am doing in between projects)!  So, I decided that I would show you some of my favorites as far as my own home decor goes.

Welcome to my hallway!   My family loves to laugh and play.  We have game night at least twice per month.  It is a great family bonding activity, so if you have teenagers or pre-teens, I would like to encourage you to break out your games (make sure they are games that they like) and enjoy family time.

I created this because .... well, because it keeps the games handy ... and because I love the way it looks.
I hope you enjoy it and get some ideas for yourself.  Let me know what you think!

In each of these old Ball jars, I have placed game pieces.  In one jar I have marbles, in another Scrabble pieces and in another chess pieces.  You can see the checker board standing up behind the jars.  I couldn't resist using Scrabble letters to spell out "Game Time".  There is also a minute timer, which is used in most games we play.  

I have to admit, I have a love for numbers and letters, so the Scrabble card lent itself well to my theme and the letter "D" was perfect!  We have 3 kids, so I chose the "3" Uno card (and yellow matched the best).

You can see the dominos laying on the table in front of the cards.

Of course, no game is complete without the tally.  Not that it matters to me, I am really not competitive!

The wire basket holds old pool balls that I found at an antique store and old wooden block letters.  Each of the blocks has our initial on it.  I love the number 7, so I had to get that pool ball!   My son was with me when I purchased them and he loves the number 14, so we got that one.  And the yellow ball was to bring the letter "H" out (otherwise, it would have been the only yellow element in the basket). 

I adore this glass "Tic-Tac-Toe" frame.  I have pictures of my husband and myself in the frame with cute little sayings.  Then I used the glass pieces, (the "X" and "O" 's) on a few pictures and leave the rest on the table to make it look like there is a game in progress!  

I used cute scrapbook paper with chipboard arrows pointing at the photos.

That's the top of the table.  The underneath of the table has a collection of games we love to play (with a few decorative items, like the old football and coach's whistle and the large wooden dice that my sister gave me for Christmas. 

Oh, I forgot to tell you about my old Backgammon set.  

I think it adds a nice touch with the case.

And... I love wire baskets (actually I love almost any kind of basket),

but this wire basket does a nice job of keeping the games organized 

and neat... and the basket looks nice, too. 

This is how it looks down the hall.

I love the pictures on the wall.  I especially love the Bingo card.  I put it

in an oval frame and the Bingo card is sideways.  At first I was going to 

hang it right side up, but it just looked good hanging sideways... kind of quirky!

I also, put one of my all time favorite quotes on the wall that I typed

onto pretty paper and framed.  The quote is by Shel Silverstein.  It is perfect for teaching 

your children that they can accomplish anything that they put their mind to doing.  

 I needed a piece that had typography on it.  I painted this myself

to match what I wanted.  It took a long time because I had to let layers dry in between painting.

It's not perfect, but it's what I wanted.

Finally, I put an old postcard and a skeleton key in a frame and placed it beside another quote that I framed, "Bless this home with laughter and love".  I thought that was quite appropriate! 

So, there it is.  A sneak peek into my home....down my hallway.

I hope you enjoyed it and got some ideas to use for yourself!

Until next time, be blessed!

:-)  Tonya

* P.S. - I linked this post up to Vintage Wanna Bee and Creations by Kara.