Christmas Ornament Redo

Bonjour Mes Amis!

While I admit I'm more than a little tempted to go out and buy a bunch of new Christmas ornaments each year (especially when I spot anything sparkly or silver!), I usually try and stick to my rule of 

"making the most of what I've got"!  So that often means redoing or repurposing those items that I already have on hand.

So today I thought I'd show you one of my latest creations, these pretty Frenchy decoupaged ornaments!

 They actually started out looking like this:

 I'd picked them up years ago at a garage sale, for next to nothing.  While I really loved them and enjoyed them as is for many years, I was in the mood to give them a French accent, in keeping with my

"glittery-silvery-creamy-Frenchy" theme this year!

 So here is what I used to transform the ornaments (which are made with a styrofoam like base).

I began by tearing pages of a vintage French dictionary into small pieces.  No worries, the dictionary is not valuable!  I picked it up a few weeks ago at our library's used book sale for just 50 cents!  I never would tear up a valuable book, I bought it just for crafting.

Besides, I already have a nice French dictionary that I use:)

 I then used my handy-dandy Martha Stewart fleur de lis punch (love!!),

and punched out a bunch of them from pretty light blue scrapbook paper.

I wanted the ornaments to be a bit glittery, but I didn't want them shedding all over the place!  Believe it or not, even though I am a glitter nut, I really don't want to find the stuff on every square surface of our house!

And since I am a cheapskate  budget minded,  I hate wasting anything!!!

So, I had a bit of a brainstorm!  I had a large bottle of iridescent glitter glue that had gotten too thick to really use.  So, I cut open the bottle, and mixed it with satin Mod Podge.

 I save the little trays that my "Lean Cuisines" come in, they are perfect for decoupaging and painting projects.

 I didn't take any photos while I was decoupaging the ornaments, it was more than a little messy!

Anyway, once I had the balls all covered with the French dictionary pages, I let them dry.  They I added a fleur de lis cut out to both the front and back of each ornament, went
over the entire ornament with more Mod Podge,
and lightly sprinkled with iridescent mica while still wet.

 I wish that the glitter and mica showed up better in my pics!

 Anyway, I am so happy with the way they turned out, and am glad that I hung onto those ornaments, I was about to donate them to the thrift store!

 They look so pretty hanging on our tree, best of all, they cost next to nothing to make!

Oh, notice the little crocheted angel hanging to the left behind the ornament?  My mom made that years ago, and I really treasure it.

Hard to believe Christmas is just over a week away!

Have a fun and creative day!

Glittery Fun!

Bonjour Mes Amis!

Ok, I am not one who likes rushing the Christmas season. It seems that it comes earlier and earlier each year, doesn't it?

So what have I been doing, but creating glittery Christmas ornaments!

I know, I know, but I just couldn't help myself!

 A few weeks ago I picked up a few paper mache star ornaments from Hobby Lobby, not sure exactly how I would use them. I decided to give them a glitter French twist!

So I pulled out bits of this and that, all things that I happened to have on hand.

I started by decoupaging copies of vintage French Christmas sheet music

(found at the Graphics Fairy) to the stars.  Then the fun really began!

I used both clear glass glitter as well as regular iridescent glitter to cover the stars.

 I "aged" this gorgeous silver tinsel trim with dark brown ink to give it a more vintage feel.

 Then I created a bunch of little "Joyeux Noel"

(French for "Merry Christmas") and mounted on heavy chipboard.  Also glittered, of course!

Love!

 I had a bunch of pretty silver glitter snowflakes left over from last year, which were perfect for this project.

 I combined them all together, along with some wonderfully crinkly cream seam binding, and this is what I came up with!

 The glitter isn't showing up well in the photos, but they are nice and sparkly!

I think they will look so pretty hung from the tree, and really will glisten in the lights!

 They were so fun to make, I want to create some more!

 Happy creating!

Petite Pumpkin Vignette

Hi everyone!

I don't do much in the way of fall decorating, but I did add a few autumnal touches here and there.

A sweet friend who knows how much I love Becky from Timewashed's pumpkins, gifted me with this adorable creation of hers!

Isn't it just adorable?  Of course I love all things French, so this little cutie is totally moi!

Becky's attention to detail is just amazing, isn't it?  Not only is the Parisian peat pot tres chic, but the pumpkin that she created is adorable!  From the glittery bling she added to the stem, to the velvet leaf to the "automne" tag, I just love it!

  So in keeping with the French theme, I placed it in front of my decoupaged Frenchy wooden platters that I created a few years back.  You've probably seen my little Eiffel Tower beneath the glass cloche before.  Perched on a vintage silver pedestal, it's one of my very favorite things!

 I also added the petite decoupaged basket that I made earlier this year

(from a mushroom carton!).  You can read about that here.

 I tucked inside a pair of pumpkins that I decoupaged with vintage dictionary pages 

(can you guess that I love to decoupage?).

 So there you have it!  My version of "automne"!

 Have a tres bon week!

Trash to Treasure Makeover

Hi, hope you are all having a great weekend!

Normally when I share with you one of my makeover projects, I like to begin by showing you the "after", as so often the "befores" are so darn ugly that I'm afraid I'd scare you off!  Well, I just couldn't resist starting out by showing you what my latest transformation began life as:

 See, I wasn't joking!  What an ugly duckling this wooden coat rack was!  

(or should I say "ugly gosling"?!)

I actually found it a few years ago at a church rummage sale, and had it in my stash, just waiting for inspiration to hit.  I knew when I first spotted it, it had potential, as it's made of solid wood, has good lines, and the pegs made it functional.

I'm sure that many a person who spots me purchasing these oh so hideously ugly treasures in the making thinks to themselves:  "That poor, poor woman!  She has absolutely no taste!"

So here is what I used to make over this puppy:

A great Frenchy stencil, black chalky finish paint, brown cream wax, clear wax, and white acrylic paint, all from DecoArt.

Are you ready to see the finished product?

Viola!

 After sanding the entire piece, I painted several coats of the chalky finish paint, then used the white acrylic to stencil a French street address, as well as the wonderful fleur de lis at each end.  I then gave it a generous dose of distressing, and followed with several coats of cream wax.  I used the brown wax to tone down the white stenciling, so that it had more of an aged appearance. Then I used a few coats of clear wax, buffing between each coat.

 I must say that I like this a whole lot better than the 1980's country geese!

 I'll be putting this in my Etsy shop.  You can be sure that I'll be looking for more ugly ducklings to transform, as I had so much fun working on this project!

Ok, here is one more look at the "before":

 And the "after"!

I've not been compensated for writing this post, though I was provided with the products from DecoArt.

Now go out and have a creative day!

French Stenciled Signs

Bonjour Mes Amis,

I've been busy creating and painting in my craft room, and thought I'd share with you two of my latest creations.

With the help of my handy hubby who cut the boards for me, I've created a couple of Frenchy stenciled signs for my Etsy shop.  I just love the curvy shape at each end!

For the first one you see here, I've used a gorgeous turquoise chalk paint by DecoArt.

The stencils are from DecoArt as well.

 I just love all of the flourishes and fleur de lis!  Tres chic!

 "Le Petit Gateau" = "The Little Cake".

 The second sign is in the same shape, and I've used DecoArts chalky finish paint in a pretty creamy dreamy white!

 I just love their French themed stencils!

 (I've not been compensated for this post, just sharing my opinions about DecoArt!)

Now if you want to see a real French patisserie, how about this?!

 Or a Parisian cafe?!

 Oooh, la, la!

I snapped all of these shots on one of our trips to Paris.

Just thinking about all of their wonderful food is making me hungry:)

That's it for today, have a great weekend!

Peat Pot Fun!

Bonjour Mes Amis!

Like many of you, I love creating with peat pots!  Isn't it amazing how something so humble looking can be so full of crafting potential?

I picked up a pack of peat pots

  (try saying that three times fast!!) 

last week, and had fun coming up with these.

 As with many of my projects, I often don't have a set plan of exactly how the end piece will look.  I just pull out items from my stash and get to work.  Things usually have a way of coming together, and with any luck end up better than I think they will!

For these little cuties, I started by painting the pots creamy white.

I found some wonderful Frenchy graphics over at the Graphics Fairy and added them to the front of each pot.

 Pretty creamy cotton lace looked perfect around the rims, I think.  I grabbed my stash of buttons, and found these vintage Mother of Pearl buttons, which I added as well.

 My favorite part of the baskets are the sweet handles!

 Earlier this winter I had bought some gorgeous wired garland with pretty silk and velvet flowers.  While I wasn't exactly sure what I would do with it, I knew that it was full of crafting potential!  So I had a bit of a brain storm, and used a bit to fashion cute little handles!

 I'm so happy with the way my baskets turned out, and had so much fun creating them!

 I've put them in my Etsy shop, but you can be sure that I'm going to make some for myself to keep!

Initially I was going to fill the baskets with little bits of this and that, but decided to just add a bunch of crinkled shredded brown kraft paper. That way, the recipients can add their own treats or treasures.  I think they would be so pretty as party favors, or favors at bridal or baby showers!  

And of course they would be wonderful filled with jelly beans or little chocolate eggs for Easter!

 Thanks so much for visiting today, hope I have inspired you a bit!

Have a great day!

Joining the following parties:
Blissful Whites Wednesday
Shabbilicious Friday