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!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

I Love Paint!

Wow!  The weekend sure flew by, I can hardly believe that it's almost Monday again!  Hope you all had a great weekend, things are finally starting to cool off a bit here and it feels so much better!
Isn't it amazing what a little paint can do?!  I think paint is one of the cheapest ways to transform just about anything!  I have been painting, distressing & glazing so much these past few months that I think I could almost do it in my sleep! ha,ha!  At least I could get alot more done that way!
Anyway, I am so pleased with the way these little round frames turned out!  If you read my post a week ago on my garage sale frenzy during Michigan's Longest Garage Sale, you saw what the "before" looked like (second photo).  Pretty icky!


See what I mean? As soon as I spotted this pair of vintage wooden frames, I knew they would look oh, so much better painted a nice creamy color!  And with the addition of my blue & white toile bark cloth fabric, I can almost hear the frames breathing a sigh of relief! I used this fabric in quite a few projects in our bedroom, that you can read about here.  I also used just a bit of "Rub-n-Buff" in "antique gold" to neaten up the metal hangers at the top.  If you have never used Rub-n-Buff before, be sure to use disposable gloves, or else it will take you forever to remove it from your fingers!  And just a little goes a long way!




I put these in my Etsy shop, but if they don't sell, I've got the perfect spot for them!!


Ok, here is another paint makeover using the same cream color (I know, big surprise, cream!)

Anyway, I really fell in love with this large wooden scoop, and I must say that I liked it black!  But since I am  putting it in my Etsy shop I painted it, distressed it a bit, then used my favorite antiquing glaze (Ralph Lauren, of course!).

It looks vintage, but it's not.  It's much larger than it appears, too.

I thought it looked so pretty filled with shells.  You can never have too many sea shells!  I put a few reproduction vintage postcards from Paris in it, and I like that look, too!  Well, I had better get back to my painting projects, I've got lots on my "to do" list!  Have a great evening!

I am linking up with the following great parties!
Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday



17 comments:

Christine said...

The frames are to die for, I'm sure they will sell right away! I love the fabric too...yay paint!

Dandelion and Daisy said...

With a little paint, fabric and imagination you took ordinary frames and made the extrordinary. Beautiful.

Nancy's Daily Dish said...

Wow! What a gorgeous project and makeover the plaques are! I just love them! Cute Etsy shop you have!

Cindy Adkins said...

Hi Donna,
Oh, I love all your treasures!!! Beautiful!!! I want to tell you that you just won the tag on my I Owe it All to Him blog....congratulations! If you email me your address, I will mail it this week.
I'm at: cindylou_20@hotmail.com

Hugs,
Cindy
xo

Melissa said...

The wooden scoop is awesome!! Love it with the shells in it.

NanaDiana said...

What a great job on all your pieces. Can you believe I have never used rub and buff? I have always made my own mixture...but I think I need to try some of this stuff. I love the little round frames...perfect! AND the scoop-very cute with the seashells in it. I'm sure they won't last long enough for you to enjoy them for very long! Diana

Amanda said...

I just wanted to stop by and let you know that I linked to this post today from the new Home & Garden channel at Craft Gossip. :) My hope is to share many of the fabulous projects I see everyday with the vast CG audience. I hope you will not only stop by and subscribe to CG, but will tell your friends about the new category! Hope you see some traffic from it!

Your feature will appear in the main Craft Gossip RSS feed, on the main home page and can be found directly here
http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/wall-art-redo/

If you would like a "featured by" button, you can grab one here!
http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/grab-a-craft-gossip-button/

Karen said...

Love the fabric you used in the frames and the color of the frames! Great look.

The scoop looks wonderful with the shells!

Amaco said...

So excited to hear you're a Rub 'n Buff "user".! AMACO has 17 different colors available. Let me know if you'd like to try any of the other colors, and I'll send some out to you to try. Your readers can find Rub 'n Buff at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, art supply stores, and of course on the AMACO website.

Cindy Adkins said...

Hi Donna,
I was so excited to be featured on the Graphics Fairy--I'm so glad you saw it!
Here's the neat part...whoever becomes "Miss Creative Spirit" for September will win the bracelet--how cool is that?

By the way, I adore this post!
Hugs,
Cindy

mizdarlin said...

Those frames are vastly improved..and you know I have a toile fetish..I even like the scoop..once you added the seashells..it takes a good eye to make 'cream' or white have any life at all, IMHO..but you always pull it off..

René said...

I have a feeling those will sell quickly. The frames were a clever idea.

-Rene

Leo said...

I am loving this wooden scoop....the frames too...but the scoop - oohhh...I love it!!

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

Everything you painted looks so much better in cream...so bright and cheery. I love the round frames with the toile. Great job:)

Debbie said...

Hi Donna! What a difference in the frames! and the scoop is wonderful! I'm sure everything will sell quickly. Good job!!
Debbie@houseatthelake

Anonymous said...

Beautiful painting work. the round pictures are amazing. what a fab job you made of these.
hugs June xxxx

Atticmag said...

The frames look great and the blue and white toile will go with any decor. Fingers crossed that you move them quickly.

Good news! We're staring a Friday Giveaway link-up party this Fri. 8/27 plus we are giving away custom backsplash! Please join us. Jane F.