By Your Hands: antique bottles

Monday, June 3, 2013

Jacquie's Up-Cycle Nation: Behind The Closet Door

I just love the unexpected find! For $0, I turned ultra-drab into an ultra-fab shabby chic treasure!

Some trash to treasure inspirations strike suddenly, without warning, under cloak of night; becoming a covert rescue operation. Stranded on a curbside trash pile is a discarded bi-fold closet door. I drive by slowly, eye-balling the scene: looks clean. I use my shifty senses to survey the neighborhood (don't want to get caught in the act, pride goeth before the score...), not a soul in sight! I put the car in reverse and load up my find!

The key to good closet doors for up-cycle projects is solid wood. Hollow core, pre-fab cheapies don't hold paint and won't withstand rehab abuse. To save time in the search for good doors, check your local RE-Store, a building supply store benefitting Habitat for Humanity.

The doors I picked up need very little work before the embellishing fun. The outside of the doors are just the right patina of vintage white oil paint. I will leave the "out" side as-is for days when I want a blank palette. But the "in" side of the doors are smoothly finished with one coat of primer. I want some 'pop' so I am going to give these doors a color wash.

Three cheers for short supply lists!!

*Sandpaper *Paint *Paintbrush *Rag *Embellishments

Using a wet rag, clean away any dirt and grime on the door. Lightly sand the "in" side of the door, wipe away sanding residue.

To apply a wash of color, not a thick coat, dilute paint with water.

1/4 cup paint + 1/8 cup water is plenty for this project.

Apply paint one panel section at a time.

After each panel, use a damp rag to wipe away 75% of the paint.

Now the door is ready for embellishments. (I know! That was SUPER fast!) Lay the door flat to attach hardware. I know this seems like common sense- but believe me, I learned the hard way!

I never have enough places to hang stuff- so I am going to add vintage hooks and upholstery tacks to aid in my display needs.

My embellishments include a bevy of trinkets including vintage lamp crystals, cut glass salt shakers, and some wire tea light candle holders.

Get creative with placing embellishments. Put elements in unexpected places. Use this screen as a place to display architectural finds that have been hiding in a drawer. Display your collection of off beat knobs! Go hog-wild! It's your screen and it's just so happy not to be headed to the dump it will proudly wear whatever you choose!

The screen is now free to move about the home and patio!

LOVE & UP-CYCLE NATION!

Jacquie Wheeler

Hand of Bela Peck

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Handofbelapeck?ref=si_shop

http://handofbelapeck1759.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hand-of-Bela-Peck/294397987277061?ref=hl

Monday, May 27, 2013

Jacquie's Up-Cycle Nation: Floral Bottle Board

Decorative signs ride current craft trends- but just because one style passes doesn't mean the sign needs to hit the trash pile. Looking at an object for it's shape instead of the message can often lead to new life for would-be castaways.

This floral bottle board is a good example of "one person's trash is another person's treasure".

Believe it or not, what lies beneath this sign was so outdated, even the cashier at the thrift store gave me a cross-eyed look. But for just $1, I knew I couldn't pass it up.

Despite the hot-glued bugs, this wood sign is in excellent shape and already has a whimsical wire hanger. Bugs are easily picked off (and set free into the wilds of my patio plants) and a good coat of paint with primer will cover this sign's current message. Add some vintage bottles I scored for $3 at auction last week and I would have my own custom floral board.

What you will need for this project:

* Wooden Sign * Small Glass Bottles * Sandpaper * Paintbrush * Foam Brush * Spare Paint * Mod Podge * Scrapbook Paper * 22 Gauge Wire * Wire Cutter * Ruler * Pencil * Upholstery Tacks * Small Hammer

Start by sanding the entire sign, front, back, and sides.

Apply one coat of neutral paint with primer. I used some leftover interior paint from the garage.

Paint that gets on the wire can be scraped off with a damp towel, or use sandpaper if the paint has dried.

Choose scrapbook paper to embellish the sign. For this project I used paper from My Mind's Eye's Lost and Found collection. Once the paper has been cut to suit the sign shape, apply Mod Podge to the back of the paper and adhere paper to the sign.

Sand edges of paper to decrease the harsh line where the paper ends.

Apply a second coat of Mod Podge over paper and entire front of sign.

Using a ruler, mark the center point of the sign. From there, make a mark every two inches on either side.

With a small hammer, pound in upholstery tacks at each pencil dot. Leave about 1/4 inch open to wrap wire. Add some distressing by randomly hammering the board to leave strike marks.

Using 22 gauge wire (or stronger, depending on bottle size), cut 12 inch strips. Place bottle neck in center of the cut wire, wrap wire twice and twist until the wire is secure and the bottle can't slip through.