Tabletop Shabby Christmas Tree with Vintage Lace and Bridal Trim

November 20, 2017 by Florence 36 Comments

I love me some shabby chic and you got it with this tabletop shabby Christmas Tree with vintage lace and bridal trim! Everything on the tree was made using vintage and household items. Now since I’m a picker and go to estate sales all the time, naturally I bought some of this stuff in the past, but nothing was bought specifically for this project. As a part of the “C’mon Get Crafty” Link up this month, we are allowed up to $10 for supplies if needed.

Inspiration hit when casually browsing Pinterest one night, and I saw the Shabby Chic lace tree of my dreams!! I fell totally in love. On to youtube where I watched a tutorial on how my vision was created. Now this isn’t my tree, but it was THE VISION. Here’s the link to this tree if you care to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9uYmZ4gDy4&t=1670s

Isn’t it gorgeous??

Using her tutorial as a guide, I used:

A paper towel roll,
a toilet paper roll…fitted into the bottom of the paper towel roll, which gave it greater stability.
3 cardboard discs of graduated sizes spaced down the paper towel roll. This is to help keep the Christmas tree shape. I cut the round discs from scrap cardboard box, and eyeballed for size. This step doesn’t have to be perfect.

cardboard-tree-form — In its Basic starting shape

Basic Construction

Glue white paper doilies onto the discs in order to hide the ugly cardboard. They can show through the tree. I had to piece all of mine on as I didn’t have any the correct size, but this will work just fine.
Cut an opening in the discs large enough for the end of the toilet paper roll to pass through. I found it worked best to trace around the toilet paper roll, then add another 1/4″ and cut along this line.
Put all 3 discs (or however many you make) on the paper towel roll.
Glue them in place with hot glue.

Other Basic Construction Ideas…

You could also use a narrow piece of wood like a dowel or chopstick, stuck down into florist foam, and glued onto a base.
I also saw someone use an old perfume bottle as the base, all of which I thought were charming ideas.

I have a whole LOT of lace remnants, crochet trims, and bridal sparkly bits I bought long ago at an estate sale. Besides loving shabby chic, I have a ton of these on hand, so this was a perfect project for me.

What I Used:

Bits of gathered and non-gathered crochet trims
Bits of gathered and non-gathered lace trims
White tulle bits
White bridal trim
White bits of lacey skirt overlay
Pieces of a tulle shower curtain
Eyelet lace trim…all sizes
Bits of crochet ribbon
Bits of sparkly bridal trim
Moire strips

The Fun Part

Gather all your lace remnants
Girl, you just start a hot-gluing mad frenzy!
Have needle and thread on hand to add gathers to lace and re-gather others. Some of my lace was flat and some needed a bit more gathering love.
After all your lace is on, discs hidden, and tree shaped to your satisfaction, it’s time to decorate the tree with whatever bits and bobs you have on hand. (I had pink rhinestone buttons and pink rhinestone flower shapes from bridal trims.)
I loved her use of tiny pearls to decorate with, but I didn’t have those. I used what I had on hand.

It took me a whole week to do, working on it as I had time. I’m sure it’ll be quicker next time, so don’t let this deter you from doing your own tree. Mine is a little different from the vision above. But I LOVE it. See what you think.

What I Used for the Base

I used a vintage metal lamp part with a threaded rod attached as the stand on which the whole thing rests. Then stuffed a plastic bag inside, wrapped around the rod so the tree would stand straight
If I hadn’t had that, I would have used a chipped crystal bowl, gluing the cardboard roll into the bottom.

What I Used for the Topper

The topper was an odd piece I found at an estate sale recently. I keep odd pieces of things around.
I found 2 sparkly tinsel napkin rings in my Christmas stash, which I added to the top.
You could use a cabinet knob as shown in top photo
Mine are large enough to rest on top with no added gluing.

What do you think of the Shabby Chic Christmas tree?

Now be sure to visit all the other fabulous bloggers below, who have more inspiration to share…

Every month a group of bloggers are challenged by C’mon Get Crafty to create a new craft or project from their own stash of goodies! Check out some awesome creations you might be able to make from your own stash! #CraftRoomDestashChallenge

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INLINKZ:

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Last Minute Halloween Porch Boo Decor

October 29, 2017 by Florence 6 Comments

Here’s my last minute Halloween Porch Boo Decor…we have Mr. Dreamboat/Farmer John on the porch waiting for trick-or-treaters. He decided he wanted to be a little scarier, so he donned a mask even though it doesn’t fit him very well. If you missed it, here’s how Mr. Dreamboat/Farmer John came to be.

I believe the mask makes him look a little ill, don’t you? And he needs to lose a few pounds, but even as laid back as he is, we know better than to discuss that topic.

There are my 2 bales of hay, my pumpkins and here are my 3 little “ghosties,” made from blocks of wood, painted white, with free-hand painted eyes and mouth. I got that idea from something I saw on Pinterest last year, but wasn’t able to do until this year because of this.

Did you notice the black cat? That’s “Elmer,” with one eye. We found each other at the thrift store a few days ago…

But the real star of the show is the “Boo Sign,” which I made last year out of a piece of shingle left over from home building 20 years ago. A miracle it’s lasted through several purges. I used just one coat of Annie Sloan “Old White.”

And here it is!

Finding my stash of letter stencils I bought long ago at a yard sale, I had a “B.” Unfortunately, the “O” was missing, so I grabbed a coaster and traced around it. I copied the cat from one of my favorite sweatshirts.

I’m pitiful in the drawing department, and after 3-4 attempts to draw a spider in the upper right, I finally gave up. I even watched a youtube video on how to draw a spider. Let’s just say, the sign looks better without it!

A neighbor down the street who goes all out for Halloween decorating, actually has a replica of the skeleton grandma from Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” sitting in a rocking chair in his front yard, so I got the idea for the Bates’ Motel from that.

So you know what my husband said? Florence, the kids aren’t going to know the significance of the “Bates Motel.” And I’m like…the kids aren’t going to CARE…they’re just after the Halloween candy. It’s not like they’re going to stand there analyzing my decor. Right? My sweet man!

What do you think of the last minute Halloween Porch “Boo” decor??

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How to Make a Dummy for Halloween Decor

October 8, 2017 by Florence 48 Comments

I’m showing you how to make a dummy for Halloween decor, but really, this guy is my Mr. Dreamboat, which you’ll see below. I’ll give you a brief porch tour at the end to tie it all together. I created what I’ve always dreamed of, but never done. The unlikely object below was my inspiration and you’ll learn how further down.

I really had fun with this Fall porch!

Confession

OK-TRUTH: I usually don’t decorate at all…OK, maaybe a pumpkin sitting on the steps…that’s it.

But THIS year, I got into the spirit, and finally created what I call my Mr. Dreamboat. So call him a stuffed dummy…stuffed man…pumpkin-headed man…whatever, but he’s a dreamboat to me! He’s NOT a scarecrow either. I’ve always wanted one of these, but figured he was too hard to make. Looking back, it was really easy.

Yes, I admire those stuffed figures that have character…not scary ones, and not rigid scarecrows.

My Dream~

My Mr. Dreamboat would be admired by passersby because he would sit on a bale of hay in the front yard close to the road, and he would smile and wave. He might even have a pumpkin head, but for sure he’s wearing jeans, flannel shirt, and hat. And everyone would exclaim and say “isn’t that person clever to have created that?” Well, it’s just a dream.

Reality Says…

He can’t sit on a bale of hay (Mr. Dreamboat on a bale of hay would require a whole lotta support!)
The bale of hay can’t be in the yard. It can’t be close to passers-by or close to the road because…bales of hay on grass kills grass
And he can’t be waving…see reason #1

I realized I had to modify my dream just a bit.

So How to Create This Dummy, er…Dreamboat?

First we have to have clothes, stuffing, and some way of giving him form.

How to Get the Guy to Pose

Giving him form means he needs a backbone, which I did with coathangers wired together.

As it turned out, I straightened the long brown wire you see bent in the photo. I straightened it to go down one leg. I originally planned for him to cross his legs, but the wire wasn’t long enough. I used 1 coathanger for the torso, and one for the head.

What I Learned:

The brown coathangers are much harder to work with than the thinner white ones. Even with the help of a vice and pliers, it was almost impossible to work the brown one. That’s why I gave up lengthening the wire in his leg so I could cross them.

wire-backbone — The Beginning of the Dummy

Here I planned to give him 2 strong arms, but the difficulty of working with the brown wire changed my mind. So I settled for one.

Here we are fitting the dummy (Dreamboat) with his shirt~the hubby kindly contributed his well-worn work clothes.

Here begins the fun part…forming the guy, the dummy, the Dreamboat…

Begin stuffing from the bottom. Safety pin the lower legs shut after he’s stuffed enough.

What to Use for Stuffing

Fiberfill
Newspaper
Shredded paper
plastic bags

What I Used~

This summer we took stuffing out of rock-hard rigid patio pillows and chair seats. I planned to sell it all in an upcoming yard sale, but I had enough to do my whole man! Plus I used a bit of tulle I got from a friend who does weddings.

Now bring in the shirt, button it up, and start stuffing. Don’t forget the shoulders and arms. Stuff the shirttail into the pants, and safety pin the back of the shirt to the pants’ waist.

See how the “backbone” is stuck down into the pants? Having that bit of support was helpful. Do the same with the arm wire, guiding it down into the sleeve. Poke the stuffing all around it.

Once he’s stuffed, gather up your guy tenderly and take him where he’s going to land. In my case, it was to a metal loveseat on our front porch. Mr. Dreamboat made it without mishap. I forgot to take pictures, but my guy sat headless on the porch for a few days until I decided how to do his head. And EVERY TIME I went to the porch, I got a start just seeing his legs sitting there…never mind that he was headless!

Creating the Head~

There are several options:

he could have a real pumpkin head…nah too heavy
you could go all creative with paper mache…nah too messy, and I’m too lazy.
you could do a cardboard one and draw a face…nah too elementary
you could do a wooden one and draw a face….nah I don’t do the power tool thing

But a fabric pumpkin head would be just the thing. We’ve been seeing how to do fabric pumpkins all over blogland.

What size to make it was the next huge question. A little trial and error, and I ended with a 23″ diameter circle of fabric.

The Basic Directions:

It’s the same process as making a fabric yo-yo.

Begin with a circle of fabric
Start a long basting stitch around the perimeter of the circle (about 1/4″ from the edge)
I left the thread on the spool the entire time I was sewing.
Begin gathering the circle closed by pulling the ends of the thread
When you have it closed, start stuffing with fiberfill, while poufing into a head shape
When shaped to your satisfaction, you can tie the 2 ends of thread together to hold it closed.

I used yellow fabric for the head…again, whatever you want to use.

Take it out to Mr. Dummy Man (Dreamboat) and give him his head. Here’s where I really wasn’t sure why I made a wire circle for his head. But it was helpful for anchoring it. I bent it together and stuffed it into the head. I didn’t want to hot glue it because hubby still wanted to use the clothes.

I formed the eyes and mouth with black construction paper and glued them on with regular Elmer’s glue.

The lower pants legs went into a pair of old shoes.

I posed his right arm a bit, and had enough wire left over to cock up his hand to wave.

I stuffed tulle into dirty old gardening gloves of mine and pinned to his shirt cuffs.

Other Construction Details~

The Straw Hat~we found it covered with dust in the basement and almost tossed it, but I remembered Mr. Dreamboat had no hat. I simply pinned it in several spots with straight pins.
The Red Bandana~Stuffed into his shirt pocket for a bit of color.
The Witches’ Broom~a recent thrift store find completes the non-scary scenario
The Clay Jack O’ Lantern between his legs to remind everyone it’s Halloween after all~I found that at a thrift store earlier in the year. It holds a battery-operated candle found at an estate sale.
The “John” on his shirt~I found that in a bunch of sewing supplies at an estate sale

So instead of being scary, Mr. Dreamboat looks just like Farmer John taking a break from his labors.

Now what about the colander? I saw it one day and said to myself, hmm, this would make a good hat for a dummy. I must have been thinking of The Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, dontcha think??? So began the Dummy man, er, my Mr. Dreamboat.

And here he is with the rest of my Fall Decor!

bale-of-hav-fall-decor — There’s My Bale of Hay Where It Can’t Kill the Grass

I did a bit of rearranging….

With the exception of the pumpkin in the photo below, every single thing came from yard or estate sales!

pumpkin-and-pottery-face-jugs — Giant Pumpkin in the Corner with My Pottery Face Jugs Below

ghosties-and-mini-pumpkins — Here are the “Ghosties” I Made and Mini Pumpkins

And amidst it all…hydrangeas are still blooming!

Fall come!

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Unique Patriotic Door Sign that No One Else Has

June 25, 2017 by Florence 30 Comments

This is the evolution of a unique Patriotic door sign that no one else has! It’s certainly true that I find holiday-related items at thrift stores well before or after the actual holiday. I found this in February at my favorite thrift store for $2.99.

July 4th was a long way off. It’s a wonder I bought it…I hated the color, and I didn’t like the middle portion at all. Give me bright red, white, and blue!! The only thing I liked about it was the raised metal swirly designs on the ends. I planned to repurpose it into my version, whatever that was.

I asked the hubby to put eye screws along the bottom edge. I’m afraid I’m pretty hopeless with tools like drills, saws and things. He helps me a lot, but I’m the one that comes up with the ideas. Some are good; and some….well, you know….I envy those DIY bloggers who are so adept at all those power tools! Me and a saw? Well, let’s just say, I’m scared I would end up in the ER with a bloody hand and a missing finger.

I remember a few years ago, hubby warned me matter-of-factly that our big power saw didn’t have a safety. I expressed concern over his using such an old machine. “Oh, you have to know what you’re doing,” he said glibly. Shortly after, I came home from an errand, only to find the-hubby-who-can-fix-anything, and who knows how to use all our power tools was desperately nursing a nearly severed thumb. The doc in the ER had to sew it to the the fingernail because there was very little left to sew it to. Did I mention that he passes out easily? Did I mention that he passes out when I’m having my blood drawn? This was a real experience I can tell you! All that to say, you can see why I’m a little nervous about saws.

As I said, I hated the middle part. Nice sentiment, but it looked faded, and “manufactured,” if that makes sense. I would have liked to remove it, but I couldn’t see a way to do it without tearing up the sign completely. I had to come up with another idea.

Down to the basement to experiment with paint. “We’ll just paint over it,” I said to myself. Scrounging around my paint stash, I triumphantly emerged with bright red paint. Trying to tone down the blue with a little white dry brush, I highlighted the metal swirly designs too. A good start. Then I began with red in the middle. It should have worked, but I didn’t like it.

OK, change gears. I scrounged around and found some really blue, blue. More like a really bright royal blue…not my first choice on shade, but it would have to do. This cheapskate will make it work!

Meanwhile I carried out the rest of the plan. I thought it would be cute to hang red and blue pallet wood from the sign. I had the chain, the eye screws, the pallet wood, and the paint. I planned to stencil star shapes on the pallet and paint them white.

I laboriously painted the stars, and a new message over the solid blue in the middle. I was afraid of clashing blues, but I think it’s OK. If it is, too bad….it doesn’t bother me. Here is the finished result hanging on our front door. I love it, even though it bangs around when you go in and out the door. A small price to pay for a unique Patriotic door sign that no one else has!

How do you like it?

PLEASE PIN!

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A Vintage Birdcage Makes a Beautiful Easter or Spring Centerpiece

April 1, 2017 by Florence 46 Comments

I discovered a vintage birdcage makes a beautiful Easter or Spring centerpiece and I couldn’t wait to show it to you!! I’ve talked about the day I found the birdcage, and I know it’s not that old, but I still liked it and it was cheap at $4. My first birdcage, grody and full of rust! My heart sang all the way home from the estate sale. Even though it was desperately in need of a makeover. I’d never tackled a birdcage, but how hard could it be?

Turning a Vintage Birdcage into a Fun Spring Centerpiece

Cleaning it as best as I could, and sanding the rust didn’t make much of a dent. I needed to cover it with a blocker, so I used Rust Oleum Hammered Aluminum spray. It gave excellent coverage, and I was tempted to leave it, but sadly, it wasn’t the look I was going for. You can see how it looks below. All nice and industrial. B-O-R-I-N-G….

a vintage birdcage makes a beautiful easter or spring centerpiece — Birdcage tray treated with hammered aluminum spray paint

After spray painting the bulk of the cage white, WHAT to paint the bottom and the tray???? PINK! Love it!! Felt I was going out on a limb (it’s a pun) to paint the aluminum bottom and tray pink, (who does THAT??) but love me some shabby chic!

Yes mam, it’s painted pink all the way up to the little swing and perches! But what’s that on the bottom of the tray??

Why it’s an image transfer from The Graphics Fairy! A birds’ nest! What could be more appropriate? Karen has it all kinds of lovely vintage images..check out her site if you haven’t already.

What ELSE can I do to doll this up? Ideas are spinning….well, it’s pink, and Easter’s coming…an Easter arrangement would be perfect! You know… birdcage means birds…and birds mean nests…and eggs…and Spring….and nature…and woodlands. Off to the thrift store to find all that stuff.

NOT! I suppose you know about Murphy’s Law? When you’re looking for it, you can’t find a darn thing. BUT! I did find a little birdhouse that used to be a Christmas ornament until it lost its little string. EXPENSIVE at 99¢ but beggars can’t be choosers.

And this sweet little 99¢ rabbit is a simple napkin ring.

I already had a white bird, and the little nest of eggs came with a plant that died, so my woodland Easter arrangement was taking shape with the addition of these two.

Since my thrift store trip was a bit of a disappointment, I hauled myself down to Hobby Lobby where everything Easter-y was 40% off. I scored colorful egg ornaments and another sweet little rabbit.

Plants! The birdcage must have plants. My vision was a longish pot with already established blooming flowers, but sadly, my local nursery hadn’t caught that vision. They only had individual potted annuals in the ugly plastic pots. So on to Plan B. My birdcage could take 2 plants, but not that much room for my birdies, nest, rabbits and things.

Improvise! I have lots of styrofoam blocks. I placed them in front of the pots and covered with sphagnum moss, and now there’s a place for my rabbit! And I had the brilliant idea to hang colored egg ornaments from the top! When you want to use it as a Spring arrangement, just remove the hanging eggs.

Ta-da!

Now I just love looking at this! I’m enjoying it every day. Perhaps I’ve given you some inspiration if you ever run across an old birdcage. But you’ll have to beat me to it. I’m already looking for birdcage #2. Soon I’ll have to break down my lovely arrangement and put the plants in pots for the season.

How do you like my Easter/Spring birdcage centerpiece?

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