Showing posts with label repurposed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label repurposed. Show all posts

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Storage Jar

I just finished up on a project last nite late and today as I was straightening up, I decided I needed  storage for scissors etc. close to my Big Shot. Yesterday, as I took my vitamins, I noticed the plastic container the vitamins come in was just about empty. (And that container is pretty big.) At that time I wondered what I could use that container for. And today, it came to me.


OK, so, what do you get when you combine an empty plastic vitamin container, paintable wallpaper and of course, paints??? 
Why, you get a faux metal container. Here are 2 views.

Thought I would briefly share how I did this.

You will want to get:
paintable wallpaper
copper acrylic paint
hazelnut acrylic paint
sage green acrylic paint
empty plastic container
Matte Medium
Matte Finish (spray)
Foam Brushes

I bought this paintable wallpaper a few years ago. I fell in love with it because it resembles the old tin ceiling tiles. I have used paper off this roll for so many different projects, it's kind of my go to paper for lots of things. Paintable wallpaper is hard to find, at least here in my area. I was able to find his at Lowe's. You may find some there or at a wallpaper store or a paint store. This pattern is just so cool and the squares are just the right size for this container. First, I cut the wallpaper to the desired size. (Set aside for now.) Next I painted the exposed areas on the plastic container. I started off with the sage green, next, I painted the copper all over the green, using a dry brush technique. Then, I used the hazelnut to tone down the copper paint. You will want to make sure the paint is dry before adding your next color. I even painted the bottom and the rim.. Set the container aside to make sure its thoroughly dry.
Next, take the wallpaper and start with a base of hazelnut, painting this color all over the whole piece. Let dry, then apply copper all over, using a light hand, sort of like a dry brush technique. Last, using the sage green, lightly dry brush over the raised areas of the wallpaper. You will want to look at the whole piece of wallpaper to see if this is looking like old copper. If  you need to tone down the copper, you can use the hazelnut and if you need to add patina, then use more sage. You will get the look of old metal using these 3 colors, you will just have to play with the colors and their combination to get the right effect. And every project will be different as to how much of each of these colors you use.

To adhere the paper to the container, I used Matte Medium by Liquidtex or Golden. This works great and I use this often in many projects that I need to adhere paper to stuff. Works great in collage projects and a whole host of other uses. Let everything dry then seal the whole piece with Krylon Matt Finish spray.

Now this is ready to hold tools and will not look like a plastic vitamin container. It's time for you to try this fun project. Try it and see how yours turns out. I am sure it look great.

Hope your new year is off to a good start.

Well that is it for today, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,


Thursday, December 23, 2010

Last minute gift accessories

Hi Everyone,
I know, as you  read this, you are probably finished buying all your gifts and getting them wrapped or maybe, just maybe, you still have things to finish. Well, as I wrote this post, all I had left to do was to make tags, so, I thought I'd share two things that I made to dress up a gift or a gift bag.

What do you get when you cross a brown, five petal flower, and a beige scalloped circle????




Would you believe a gingerbread man tag??? Isn't this cute and it really takes just a few minutes. After you cut out the shapes get your white pen and just add some faux stitches and zigzags on the hands and feet, add a face and some brads for buttons and your tag is done. Just punch a hole and add ribbon. Quick and easy.

OK here is the other thing I want to show you. I used packing stuff. This stuff is a very flexible foamy sheet. Not bubble wrap. (Don't you like my terms??) I have a really nice snowflake die from Accucut and using that die and that packing stuff, I cut cool snowflakes to attach to gift bags or presents or even to add as an ornament on your tree.

Since this packing stuff is white, I put a blue sheet of cardstock behind the snowflake so you could see it, otherwise it would get lost in the background. Well I have a few things to complete and I will be up late tonite getting then done before I go to bed. I want to have nothing to do tomorrow but reorganize my studio. And it sure needs it, it looks like a bomb hit it.(LOL)

My next post will probably be after Christmas, so, with that in mind, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and thank you for reading my blog.

Well that's it for now, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,






Thursday, December 9, 2010

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree........................

 A while back I mentioned I had made some gifts for friends but I couldn't share the pictures because the people getting these read my blog. Well, I can share the pictures now because they have their gift now.


I took pictures of 3 of the trees but,I actually made 6 different trees and they all came out great and they are all slightly different. I have to thank Sylvia Weaver Rivera from TheHive for showing her book/Christmas Tree at TheHive. Here is my take on her project. Thanks Sylvia, for giving me the inspiration for this project. I love it and the people who received these just love them as well. I picked up the books I used at my local St. Vincent de Paul. So I am doing my part of being "green", and 4 book only cost me $1.75. What a bargain!!!

Well that is it for now, thanks for stoping by,



Monday, November 8, 2010

Repurposing for Christmas

Hello Everyone

Today I am sharing an item that I re purposed for gift giving.
I am not a coffee drinker, but those latte drinks at the grocery that are in those little 4 pack carriers, are perfect to cover. Then adding soaps or bath salts or candy or whatever in the bottles is so cool.

I carefully took the collar off the bottle and used for a template. Remove the collar and any labels off all bottles. Wash the bottles and let them dry. Using the collar from one of the bottles I made new collars and used a beautiful designer paper. Next I took the little carrying carton and recovered it with the same paper and look what it looks like now. Add a little something to the caps to cover and you are done. This would be cute to make for a little birthday gift as well.





OK, time to get started on your Christmas projects. You have about 46 days left 'til Christmas.(LOL)

Well that is it for today, thanks for stopping by, see you soon,

Barbara