Welcome to my blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I believe that everyone can have a beautiful home without spending a fortune! One of my favorite things to do is find creative ways to re-purpose things I already have on hand, or have picked up at yard sales and thrift stores. Join me as I share with you some of my favorite ideas for crafting and decorating, as well as travel adventures, and fun things that I pick up on my treasure hunts! Much of my work is influenced by my love all things French, nature, and of course shabby chic! I have gotten so many creative ideas from you very talented bloggers out there, and I hope that I can be an inspiration to you as well!

Monday, May 3, 2010

Parisian themed shadow box project

I have seen so many neat ideas in blog land using wooden candlesticks, so I was excited to find two of them, on two separate trips to the Goodwill.  At only 25 cents each, I couldn't pass them up!  I wish that I had taken a before picture of the one I used for this project, but it was before I started my blog!  Anyway, the poor thing was decoupaged with tiny pheasants!  I am sure that the cashier wondered why on earth I would want such a silly looking candlestick!  Now, I have nothing against pheasants!  They are pretty birds, but decoupaged on a candlestick???!  I thought that I wouldn't have any trouble removing them with goo gone, but those little pheasants weren't going anywhere!  I finally had to sand them off!  And it took a lot of sanding!

I am sorry that I don't have a step by step tutorial for you (now that I have a blog, I promise to bet better about that!), but I first epoxied a wooden round circle from Hobby Lobby to the base of the candlestick, then epoxied a wooden shadow box from Michael's to the top of the candlestick.  I borrowed my hubbies clamps to hold it all together, and when it was dry, I topped it off with a wooden finial from Hobby Lobby.  I love finials!  Once the entire piece was dry, I was ready to prime & paint. (I first removed the glass and backing from the shadow box.)  Since I didn't have exactly the color that I wanted for the shadow box, and because I am cheap thrifty, I mixed two colors of paint that I already had til I found a shade that I liked. I really like all of the aquas that are in right now, so I was happy with the end result.  I gave her two coats, and after drying, I lightly sanded then followed with my friend Ralph, as in Lauren.  I am in love with his "smoke"  antiquing glaze!

Deciding what to use on the inside of the shadow box was a no brainer!  I have gotten so many gorgeous images from the Graphics Fairy.  If you haven't been to her site, be sure and check her out!  Karen adds beautiful vintage images each day and is so generous to share them!  I fell in love with the vintage Parisian travel guide image, so I Mod Podged (did I also tell you that I love Mod Podge?  I think I am addicted to the stuff?!!) the image to the inside backing of the shadow box.  I am really happy with how she turned out!  I ended up selling it in my Etsy shop.  Now I want one myself!
I am linking this to Brag Monday over at The Graphics Fairy.
And Shanty to Chic's I made it without my hubby

11 comments:

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

As long as we have our creative ideas, Grahpics Fair, modpodge, spray paint and Ralph, we can't go wrong.

I love your creation, it's so ooh-la-la!

hugs
Sissie

Tammara said...

I love the creativity behind this! Sheesh, I have to keep scrolling back up to relook at all the goodies on it--love love love it!

Anonymous said...

I love it too! and you gave us enough description without a step by step tutorial for me to be able to make one.

Cindy Adkins said...

Simply gorgeous! And so unique--Bravo!!!
Hugs,
Cindy Adkins

Donna said...

Thanks everybody! You made my day!!

Karen The Graphics Fairy said...

Fabulous!! You would never know this was made from candlesticks. I adore the color you painted it. Great job it looks beautiful! Thanks so much for linking this one up to Brag Monday.

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Oh..how lovely this turned out...and I LOve,love Mod Podge!

I'm visiting you for Mosaic Monday...
I would love for you to stop by when you have a chance!

Have a wonderful day...
Hugs,
Stephanie

PetraB said...

This looks so wonderful. I love the colour you used for painting.

Christine said...

Very creative, love the color, it's totally something I'd pick.

Anonymous said...

I have been looking for this picture on The Graphic Fairy website for 2 day. could you please tell me which section it is posted under. This project is amazing by the way. I had aready made a similar stand but was unsure what it pop into it and this is so amazing and would go perfectly in my newly decorated living room

Donna said...

Thanks everyone for your nice comments! I appreciate it! To anonymous: I looked all over the Graphics Fairy site, so that I could tell you where I found the print, but I was unable to find it! I am positive that I got it under the "French" category, but I didn't have any luck. I also did a search on "Eiffel Tower", and it's not there either, though there is a neat Eiffel Tower that you might like for your project. Sorry that I couldn't be of more help to you!