DIY - VINTAGE PICTURE HANGER

I have spent alot of time searching for Vintage Pant Hangers [and looking at a blank hallway wall] that I could use to hang up 6 prints that I purchased from Obvious State on Etsy. Finding one hanger here and there and paying $10-15 a piece didn't interest me. I found 6 hangers at my local consignment store for $4.95 and I already had my favorite DIY product Briwax, I decided to just make my own 'Vintage' Hangers. It ended up being a very easy project + gratification was almost instant!!

EQUIPMENT:

• Wood pant hangers
• Sander + Sandpaper [I love my Black + Decker Mouse < $40 + gets in all the little nooks  & crannies!]
• Briwax [I used the Tutor Brown} 
• Assortment of tools for 'aging+ damaging' i.e. hammer, awl, screwdriver + pliers
• Fine grade steel wool
• Rags
• Double sided 'sticky' tape

DIRECTIONS:

1. Remove the padding from the underside of each hanger. Clean with soap and water and let air dry
2. Sand the outside and underside of each hanger. Don't be afraid to be aggressive on the edges, you want to get a 'worn' look!
3. Using any fine grade steel wool, rub over sanded areas to smooth the surfaces to be waxed.
4. Carefully avoid the metal hanger, and damage the wooden areas of the hanger by pounding, hitting, crunching and scratching with your tool assortment
5. Using your rags, follow the directions on the Briwax container in a well ventilated area and apply to the wood on your hanger. [A little bit goes a long way...] Let dry for 30 - 45 minutes and polish waxed areas with an additional clean rag.
6. Place a strip of double sided sticky tape on the BACK side of your picture, position and close your hanger + hang!

PRETTIE...VINTAGE PAPER FLOWER WREATH

My love of Vintage imagery is not just relegated to children's books, wrapping paper and gift cards from the late 1940's - early 1960's.....Over the last few years I have been lucky enough to find quite a few Vintage Sewing Patterns at my local Thrift stores.

Once I have scanned and cleaned up my favorite images....

I am left with quite a stash of often unused very pretty pattern paper.....which until recently I was unsure what to do with other than wrap a few choice goodies for friends with.

After making a few hundred paper flowers for my best friends wedding a year ago, (using this tutorial) and reams of purchased tissue paper - I had my "light bulb" moment. One thing let to another and my stash was quickly put to good use....I absolutely LOVE the random-ness of the printed directions and pattern pieces integrating with the kraft|brown.


One of my favorite crafting projects is to make one of a kind seasonal or celebratory wreaths which usually involve alot of tulle and/or tarnished glass christmas ornaments. For this wreath I decided to use a few (approx 120 - yikes!) of my Vintage pattern flowers and some Ivory tulle cut into 1 inch "ribbons" to make my now favorite and year round wreath.....


Basically I used about 40 of each flowers in 3, 3 1/2 and 4" sizes and tightly "packed" and hot glued them onto a 20" wire wreath frame in 3 layers. In between every 2 or 3 flowers I tied my tulle strips as a lite accent which also helped to "break" up the tone and texture of the pattern tissue paper.

The backside looks pretty messy and busy and I should have spray painted the wire frame a neutral ivory color but....hanging on the front of a decorative wall piece over my entryway mantle - no one can tell!

This entire project involved a significant time investment and the finished wreath is a substantial 24" in diameter ..... but it is a permanent fixture that has and will give me great pleasure and satisfaction for years to come. It is also used and loaned out (to worthy and carefully screened friends!) on occasion as a decorative accent for special events and celebrations. How lovely would a wreath similar to this look at your birthday party or wedding!?! Linking this project to: Tea Rose Home, Beyond the Picket Fence, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Whipperberry, Thirty Hand Made Days, The Shabby Nest, Common Ground, Farmhouse Friday, French Country Cottage

PRETTIE...DOILIES

A few weeks ago I was happy to send Melissa a few of my hand dyed doilies and ruffled seam binding as well as a few other vintage bits and pieces I had for a vintage inspired wedding photo shoot she was both styling and photographing. All I can say is wow! You can view more of her gorgeous and oh so chic photographs here! Not only am I thrilled to see how my doilies are eventually used but Melissa makes them look so good!

PRETTIE...VINTAGE WRAPPING PAPER

I spend alot of time here drooling over Vintage Wrapping Paper. My own collection is small but...growing! These are just a few of my favorite birthday paper images.

PRETTIE...EMBELLISHMENTS #2

I have long been a fan of Julie Collings of The Adventures of Bluegirl xo. She is an extremely talented crafter and author who provides creative inspiration generously and in great detail. Her Etsy store is full of gorgeous vintage delights and eye candy - perfect for any of your packaging needs or party decor elements!

Please share any links that you have to some of your own favorite embellishments! xo

CHRISTMAS...TRIVIA

Our Thanksgiving Trivia was a huge hit with all the kids and adults - the conversations and laughs that it spawned were priceless! Anyway my family wants more for Christmas! Be careful what you wish for......


Each printable sheet has 20 questions with answers. I made a sheet each for the kiddos and also for the hard core adult trivia buffs in our family. I cut some of my favorite 12 x 12" scrapbook paper (Cosmo Cricket) into printer friendly sizing (8.5 x 11" - insert blank side down) I printed the adult and kid version onto different papers so the kids wont get intimidated by some of the adult questions! All cut papers went into the mason jar, simply decorated with vintage paper lace wrapped around the bell jar. We are ready to go!

Download a copy here! Enjoy :)

PRETTIE....INSPIRED #2

This Halloween I am hosting a ladies night out. I put this Inspiration Board together to help keep me on track with how I want the evening to transpire.

Silver Stars, Candlesticks, Chandelier, Silver Spiders, Spooky Ghosts, Black Glass Compotes, Candy & Invitation, Platinum Pom, Cactus centerpiece, Silver Jack-O-Lanterns, Mis-matched Silverware

Colors: Lifeless black, platinum and grey

Styling: Old Hollywood Splendor and Elegance

Decor: 17" round balloons matching my theme colors - black string lights hanging in the dining room from the ceiling - home-made glass glitter garlands and silver tinsel draped over chairs and window frames - Musky perfumed votive candles located throughout the house - Scattered glass vases filled with leafless branches sprayed with liquid adhesive and covered with glitter - An over-washed black linen table cloth with frayed edges - Old wine bottles with Halloween labels holding dripping wax candles and Spooky Halloween images in tarnished silver frames on the buffet table

Tableware: Black glass compotes - Tarnished aluminum platters -Vintage silver cakestands - mismatched ivory china, crystal and silverware - black linen and platinum silky napkins

Food: Buffet style with Halloween feather tree centerpiece in tarnished champagne bucket. Finger foods placed on black and metallic cupcake liners - tiered plates of mini sandwiches, beef skewers, fruit, petit fors and cupcakes - Serving sparkling water, Red wine and Champagne

Music: Shuffled mix of Jazz, Hollywood musical tunes and "Spooky Music/Sounds"

PRETTIE VINTAGE ..PACKAGING

Summer is definately in full swing - our schedules sometimes seem hectic but there is still plenty of time for laziness and a little organization on my part. I recently scooped up an intact collection of Ruffles and Bows Birthday Cards - I raided my stash of kraft gift bags, tissue paper, my Hug Snug Binding and put these together for two girlfriends whose birthdays are coming up very soon. Giftwrap showcases the gift being given but I like original packaging and/or design to show a little more thoughtfullness and care...I love that these bags are one of a kind, simplistic and very prettie! The super fine vintage shred you can find here

Please feel free to download the images below and use for your own prettie packaging! What are some prettie packaging ideas that you have?!?