From Damned to Glammed...Spray Painting New Life Into Old Stuff...Another DIY Project

Refresh, Revive, Resuscitate Your "Old" Stuff
and Give them a Second Chance at Life
by Spray Painting

Step 1: Remove Dust from Object with brush or towel
Step 2: Using Painter's Tape (bc EZ to Remove), tape up the areas you don't want to get painted.
Be kinda anal with taping...avoid taping places where you want to get painted
because when you later remove the tape,
you'll remove the paint....I know this from experience.

Step 3: Spray Paint the Object according to manufacturer's instructions on the can
I Love to use this handy dandy spray gun attachment which allows
me to spray for a longer time very easily

Here I used All White White White spray paint
and turned an
out-of-date Gold colored Mirror
into a
Shabby Chic Bright White Adorable Mirror

Step 4: Let Dry
Spray paint in WELL Ventilated area...like the out doors...away from anything you don't want to
get "second hand" spray...like your car

Also, if spraying in yard, put down old newspapers or garbage bag
because you don't want to get bits of grass and other organic matter
sticking to your paint...and again, I know this from experience.
It sucks to have to pull off grass from wet paint!

Close-up of the paint job

I'm pretty happy with the results
And, it takes just minutes to do.
EZ PZ

Have fun!

A Dress Renovation...aka Make Over Time

Here's My Newly Transformed Dress

Before: Jimmy said to "throw it away"
So,
I cut off the Long sleeves
and made Short ones

Then, I ripped off All the blue buttons that were
"pulling" this dress down with it
And handsewed on
some Playful White White White Buttons from my Button Stash

So, the Vibrant Blue would "Pop" like it should've from the Get-Go,
I sewed on some White White White Eyelet Lace
I had on a Roll
Good use for a Roll that I got for less than $5
And didn't have a clue as to what to do with
Until Now...

But, the fun was only beginning
I turned to the Back of the dress
And
added on a Blingey Bling Bling Rhinestone Button
Bling!

Okay, say it with me... Bling!

Voila!
A New and Improved Summer Dress

P.S. If my Makeover didn't work out,
I was just going to cut up the dress
and
use the pieces of fabric for something else.
Luckily, I liked my Re-Do.
And, yeah, Already Worn it out with new black short cropped tights.
I think I'll try wearing it with white cropped tights next.

Anthropology, Please Move Over...Stacy's Here

My Target T-Shirt

Re-Do

From Target, bought a couple Plain but Cute Tees
in Sage Green and Light Coral

Using my own Handcrafted Handsewn Vintage Kimona Rosettes,
Pinned them onto the Tee

My handy little pincushion, thread, and snippers

I handsewed on each Vintage Kimono Rosettes,
several scattered Swarovski Light Cream Crystal Pearls,
and a Vintage Silk Taffeta Golden Plume Ribbon for girly girl accent

Ta Dah!

Love the look of the Vintage Kimono Rosette on this Tee...Perfect!

The Silk Taffeta Ribbon really complements
the 2nd Vintage Kimono Rosette
to a "T"

I'm Very Very Pleased with the Finished Tee turned into Blouse.
Now, to work on the Sage Green one...



The Completed Sage Green Tee...
Vintage Kimono Rosettes take Center Stage



Another Cute Tee Turned Blouse
Perfect to wear this Summer

Sometimes you look at a piece of clothing and envision it just a heck of a lot better looking. At least, I did when I came across these cute little Tees at Target. Loved the colors, loved the style, but it just didn't have that "oompf"....know what I mean?

So, I took them home and dreamed of a better look for them. Like a Make Over for Tees. Looking at this Light Coral color, I immediately thought of my handsewn Vintage Kimono Rosettes. I Love to collect vintage fabrics especially Lovely Kimono fabric. They sure make pretty Fabric Rosettes. Normally, I turn these Rosettes in Lovely Cuff Bracelets which I then list for sale in my Lilikoi Cottage Shop. (Sorry, they're all Sold Out right now but hopefully in the future I'll create more.) But, this time, I knew they would be perfect for this tee. And, I was right.

Wearing my trusty Reading Glasses (yes, my eyes are not what they used to be), I threaded my tiny needle and started individually handsewing each component on. Everything just sort of fell into place. You know how that goes when everything goes just right.

I added in the small Silk Taffeta bow because everything can use a bit of "Girly Girly" glam, right? It just looked so perfect along with the rosettes and the tiny Swarovski Crystal Pearls.

Who needs Anthropology when you have a bit of imagination and a desire to make things Pretty Pretty, right?

P.S. Whoever the lucky Gal is that gets this tee needs to "handwash" it with loving care. Hmmmm....who should that lucky person be?

1st Birthday Gift for Ethan

A Scrapbook Page Turned into Wall Art
A gift for Ethan
on his 1st Birthday

Purchased this Square Frame from Target

Used the same paper used in his Baby Shower invitation,
my favorite baby photo of him enlarged and printed at Costco, cute
chipboard Noah's Art from JoAnn's craft store

Used more of that cute chipboard in animals which is Ethan's room's theme.
The little feet is a leftover from his Baby Invitation which I kept to use for just this sort of project.

I doublestick taped on this cute wooden giraffe cutout that I got from Walmart.

Testing it out on my wall...looks cute.
My brother Brad and Michelle...the proud parents...
really loved this framed artwork and plan to put it in Ethan's room.

Do-IT-Yourself DIY Holiday Gift Bag Using Recyclable Material

Handcrafted Customized Gift Bags
Using Recyclable Shopping Bags

Step 1: Use any Shopping Bag with Handle that you have around your house.
Using your Holiday Gift Wrapping Paper, cut 2 pieces
whatever dimensions to cover both Back and Front of the Bag.
You can draw out the cutting marks on the Junk side of the gift wrap and then cut.
Or You can even Free Hand cut the pieces.
You Don't have to be precise.
It's all up to you.

Step 2: Apply Glue or Double stick Tape to the backs of both cut wrapping paper.
I like to use my handy Glue Stick (versus liquid type glue like Elmer's) because it's Easy, Dry, and Sticks well.
Double Stick tape works well too...it won't come off that's for sure.

Step 3: Adhere your glued or taped wrapping paper to Both sides of the Bag.

Step 4: Ta Dah! You are done! Wasn't that Fast and Easy?
You can custom create bags to work with your holiday theme and
create matching or coordinating Gift Tags or cards.
Place your Gift inside the bag,
add a bunch of Tissue Paper at the top,
tie on a Snowball (see previous article on how to make these),
and your Gift Tag.
Voila, you are done!
Yayyyy!

A Quick, Easy, Customized Gift Bag
Easy on your Wallet, Great for the Earth, and best of all
Handcrafted by You!

There's no need to spend $5 on a Fancy Gift Bag. You can create your own. It's fast and fun to do. You can make one in less than 5 minutes.

This would be the Perfect Holiday Craft project to do with your children on Furlough Fridays. You can even adhere a Photo of your children or your Family Photo Card to the Front in the Center of the Wrapping Paper.

Be creative and add more embellishments like Garland to the top of the bag (glue gun...be careful it's hot...it's better if you do this instead of your kids), glue gun a silk flower Poinsettia or two, tie on some Christmas Jingle Bells...whatever you want to do. It's all up to your imagination.

Your Giftee will be pleasantly surprised when she/he receives their Holiday gift in a handcrafted bag made by you and your children.

If you blog about your creations or post it on the web, please send me a link so we can all see your creative handiwork. Have Fun!

Stay tuned and Check back because I'll be posting more DIY Do-It-Yourself Gift Wrapping Ideas all the way to Christmas.

Do-It-Yourself Nature "Stamped" Cards

Today, we're going to learn how to stamp using these simple materials:
1) acrylic paint
2) paint brushes
3) water in a dish (to clean brushes)
4) paper towels
5) used paper or envelopes
6) Blank card & envelope
7) leaves, flowers...whatever you find in your yard (or neighbor's yard when they're not looking)
All things you can find around your home.

Lavender leaves...interesting shapes and kinda sturdy

Ferns...great to use bc they're very sturdy

Jimmy chose these leaves to create with

My loveable assistant Jimmy brushing acrylic paint onto the leaf.
Just use the paint "straight" without adding water
so it'll be thick and leave a good impression.
Place leaf, paint side down, on your card....where ever you want to "stamp".

Using paper or envelopes that are in your trash (or recycle bin), place it over the
leaf and rub lightly over the leaf...to help transfer paint to paper while keeping your hands free of paint.

Lift up leaf and voila! A pretty imprint of the leaf.

Then, start overlapping the leaves to create an interesting design.

You can also "stamp" different colors over each other...another
layering technique.

Ta Dah!

Our paint station for the day.

Okay, my fingers got a bit "dirty" when I was loading up the
leaves with acrylic paint.
Wash your hand under water and rub and the paint comes off.

Our Cards and Matching Envelopes.
Ready for Father's Day.
Lucky dads. :)

The Nature Stamped Cards and Envelopes

I've been wanting to photojournal this art project for awhile. It's very simple to do and Easy to clean up. Just water and towels for clean-up. Other stamp design material: try flowers, feathers, cut apple or other fruit, cut sponges, whatever you got around your house.

This is a great Summer Art Project for your kids. Your kids will love this. They can even do hand prints on the cards! Send the cards with a handwritten note off to their grandparents and aunts and uncles just to say "Hi!" Create several Birthday cards and have them ready for all those kiddie birthday parties this summer.

Great project for both adults and kids alike...Creating...it's good for the soul. ♥

How to Make Cute Tags---Pictorial Tutorial

How-To Make this Cute Tag
Stacy's Pictorial-Tutorial

A friend once told me that I should do some tutorials in my blog. Ok, that was awhile ago...and she knows who she is. So, while I was creating more of my "Thank You" tags which I enclose with customer's jewelry purchases from my Etsy shops... Stacy's Designs 88, Blue Lovebirds, and Lilikoi Cottage (I know, terrible egotistical shop plugs!)...I thought this would be a good time to snap the process for you all.

When I package my jewelry orders to send out to my customers, I always enclose a handmade "Thank You" card. On the blank back, I handwrite a special thanks to each customer. I love doing this...giving it my personal touch. I always feel like I'm sending a gift out and these are my friends, not just a customer. I'm really into the packaging bc I want everyone to feel like they are receiving a Birthday gift from me. It gives me a thrill imagining their face when they open the bubble manila envelope and pull out their specially wrapped gift box. I want them to smile and feel Happy and Special!

My array of supplies: 1) blank shipping tags from craft or supply store,
2) Close To My Heart Inked Stamp pads, 3) Close To My Heart Acrylic handles,
4) Close To My Heart Acrylic Stamps, 5) 9 1/2 inches of cut ribbon---I'm using red grosgrain ribbon,
and the 6) Finished Tags

Close To My Heart acrylic stamp, one of the designs which I used to create these tags.
Your acrylic stamps come in these nifty little organizer case which is see thru and flat.

Editor's Note: Sorry, but this "Romantic Backgrounds" stamp is no longer for sale.
You can use another of my Favorites, "Adorable" (#D1183)
which is a gorgeous and versatile Paisley print set!
See 1st Tag at top of page.

Close-up of the Acrylic stamp on the Acrylic handle.
Word to the wise, I only use acrylic stamps bc they are easy to store as they are flat
and come in their own little organizer pouch which is flat flat flat.
No more wooden stamps = way more space. :)

Here's how it's done.
Acrylic stamp "Thank You" on acrylic handle...stamping the tag.
Notice how you can see the Exact placement of your stamp on the tag. Love it !
Always get my stamp print exactly where I want it now.
I used "Black" Close To My Heart Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad.

Editor's Note: you can use this "Thank You" (#D1361) set for your choice of the word "Thank You".

Ta Dah!

Next, using one of the Acrylic CTMH stamps,
just stamp the bottom and the top of the tag...like so.
I used "Cocoa" Close To My Heart Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad.
This is one of my favorite all time colors to use.

Using another of your favorite Close To My Heart Acrylic stamps,
and the "Tulip" Close To My Heart Exclusive Inks stamp pad, just stamp the corners of the tag.
Place the stamp whichever way you want...you'll always be right.
I like to do a little different angle on each tag bc it makes them each unique.
You're almost finished...isn't this simple?

Editor's note: oops, sorry this Butterflies stamp is no longer for sale. You can use another one of my Favs, "With Love" (#D1284) for the design on the corners. See 1st Tag at top of page. It's a lovely Asian inspired tag.

Next comes tying the ribbon to the end.
It's probably easier just to follow the photo.
Half the ribbon, pull the looped side thru the hole,
then pull the tails thru the loop and tug tight while holding onto it.

The finished "Thank You" tags. You can handwrite a personalized sentiment on the back.
On the front, you can stamp anything. Let your imagination run wild!
Have fun. :)

NOTE: I'm an Independent CTMH Consultant. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Your CTMH goodies will arrive directly at your doorstep. Isn't that neat? Crafting made simple...I Love that.