Glittered Eiffel Tower Jar Candle

I've been on a glittered jar candle kick lately!

Whenever I am stressed, out comes the glitter!  Sure, I have much to do with preparing to move clear across the country, but I just had to get my glitter fix in!!

 For this one, I chose a gorgeous Eiffel Tower print over at the Graphics Fairy.  I really love the sepia tones!  I just had to display the candle with two of my Eiffel Towers, that I brought back last year from Paris!

 And of course I had to add some of my favorite taupe crinkly seam binding.

 And I also added this pretty silver fleur de lis charm.  Oooh, la, la!

 I think that glitter, seam binding, Mod Podge, and the Graphics Fairy images (thank you, Karen!) have become necessities in my craft room!

Now, go out and glitter something!

Vintage Book Bundles

Ok, I admit, I am in love with vintage book bundles!

Do you love them as much as I do?  I thought I'd share with you a couple of the book bundles that I made, and have put in my Etsy shop.  In preparation for our move, I am having a 20% off  sale from everything in my shop!  Just use the following code when you checkout: Paris1

 I just love the gorgeous covers on these books!  I've bound them together with pretty pink seam binding that I crinkled.  The piece de la resistance is the gorgeous pink paper flower.  Love!

 And of course I had to add a perfectly rusty vintage key, too!

 I think the covers are just charming.  They are works of art in and of themselves!

 This is the second vintage book bundle that I created. I added a page from a vintage French book, which I've stamped with my favorite French themed rubber stamps.  Oooh, la, la!

 I bound them all together with pretty spring green crinkly seam binding, and another rusty vintage key!

Looks like we will be headed back to Seattle in a few days, hopefully we will have better luck finding housing this time around!.  In the mean time, I've been busy sorting and cleaning, and taking loads of thing to the GoodWill for donation.  I am so thankful that we won't have to box and move all of our belongings ourselves!  Even after doing major purges, and selling our dining room set, we still have alot of stuff treasures!  So, I will be glad once all of this is over, and I can hopefully get out of stress mode (and back into blogging on a regular basis, I miss you guys!!)

Hope you have a great weekend!

I've linked up to the following great parties: Funky Junk Interiors SNS

Neat Wire Creations!

Hello Ladies,
Hope you are having a good weekend.  Did you remember to "spring ahead"?  I always hate losing that hour of sleep, but the extra daylight is so welcome, I think!
Yesterday I received the nicest surprise in the mail!  Well, it actually wasn't a surprise, as I knew she would be sending it, but I was so excited never the less!!  My sweet friend Erin sent me some of her awesome wire creations!  Erin just opened an Etsy shop, called Peony Wire Works (love that name!), and you can find her wonderful wire works of art there!!!

Our last name begins with a W, so I really love this ornament!  I found the perfect place for it, too!  My mom just gave me a demi john (love!!!), and I think Erin's creation looks perfect as an embellishment!!

How cool is that? Erin can do any letter, and has many more neat designs, too in her shop!!  I'll show you more of my demi john in a bit. Right now I want to show you what else Erin so generously sent to me!!

She sent me the makings of a cool chicken wire banner!  (she sent  more than I show here!).  Erin knew that I would have fun creating something neat (I hope I can do you proud, Erin!) and so kindly offered to send me the beginning of a very fun project!  I have a feeling that my banner will take on a French accent, too!  Merci beaucoup, Erin, you are the greatest!  So be sure to check out Erin's shop and her brand new blog, also called Peony Wire works as well!  

Ok, here is another look at Erin's neat ornament on my new demi john.

It's perfect, don't you think?! The demi john isn't an antique, it's a reproduction, but I am totally in love with it!  It has the French Country look that I so love!

I have it on display on the kitchen counter, in a neat wire basket.  I found this vintage wicker covered bottle a year or so ago at a yard sale.  I don't really know anything about demi john's, so not sure if this is considered one, too!  Also in the wire basket is a pretty vintage tin, a ceramic olive oil dispenser that I bought on a trip to Paris, and a matching herb grinder I bought there as well.

 Can you see the cute little bees on the grinder?

I really love the colors of this vintage tin! I found it for next to nothing at a garage sale several years ago.

I just can't stop looking at this cool ornament!  It is perfect for our home, Erin!  Thanks again!

Glittered Easter Themed Jar Candle Tutorial

Hello Ladies!

I know that Easter is still 7 weeks away, but I have been in the mood for some Easter themed crafting!  Maybe it's because it has been one of the longest, snowiest winters on record here in the Midwest, which leaves me longing for any hint of spring!  At any rate, here is a fun project that involves several of my favorite crafting mediums:  Glitter (of course!), Mod Podge, crinkly seam binding, and copies of vintage images!  As a matter of fact, I think it's safe to say that these are necessities in my craft room!
So, here is what you need to create your very own glittery jar candle:

A tall jar candle, Mod Podge (I use matte finish), glitter (my favorite is Martha Stewart coarse glitter in clear), a foam craft brush, crinkly seam binding, waxed paper, and an image of your choice.  I found this darling little Easter chick image over at the Graphics Fairy!

 I always like to cover my work surface with a piece of waxed paper.  Trust me, you will be glad that you did!  Begin by lightly brushing a thin, even coat of Mod Podge on the reverse side of your image.  Press the image onto the jar candle, smoothing out any wrinkles with your fingers.

 So far, so good!  Let this dry before proceeding.

 Then, lightly and evenly spread a coat of Mod Podge over your image.  Immediately sprinkle with glitter, shaking off any excess.

Ok, since I am a "glitter addict", I like adding even more of the sparkly stuff!  Let this dry, then you will be adding another coat, for even more bling!

Next, rather than dipping your brush directly into the jar of Mod Podge, pour a small amount into a dish or bowl. (I like saving the little plastic trays that produce comes in.) This step is really important, unless you want to get a bunch of glitter in your jar of Mod Podge!

Then just brush another coat of the Mod Podge over the first layer of glitter.  Don't worry about it looking cloudy, it will dry clear! Generously shake some more glitter over the Mod Podge, and let dry.  Any excess glitter that ends up on the waxed paper can just be poured back into your glitter container (because I hate to waste anything, especially when it comes to glitter!).

Let dry thoroughly, then the fun part begins: embellishing!

Next I added a generous couple of pieces of crinkly seam binding, to make bow.  You can stop there, or add a bit more embellishing, it's all up to you!

I love the pretty springy green color of this seam binding, and I think it's the perfect contrast to the pink background!  Posing next to the candle is a cute little Easter bunny, all decked out in glitter and pink seam binding!

Of course I just had to get some more glitter into this project! (surprise, surprise!)
I added a little bouquet of cream silk flowers, that I added yet more glitter to!

Aren't those little chicks just darling?

And here is one last look!  When the candle is lit, the entire jar just glows and glistens!  It's just magical!
So, if you decide to make your very own glittered jar candle, I would love to hear from you, and see your creation as well!
One last note:
I received this gorgeous tag in the mail today from my sweet friend Cindy, over at Her Whimsical Musings!

Isn't it beautiful!  I wish that you could see it in person, all of the embellishments and details that Cindy adds to all of her work is just amazing!  Cindy is one of the sweetest, thoughtful, and creative kindred spirits that I have ever met!

Look at the mannequin with the butterfly wings, and the mulberry paper rose!  ***sigh***

And, as if that were not enough, Cindy added a beautiful medallion of the Virgin Mary. which signifies devine protection (and who of use couldn't use more of that in our lives?!), as well as another gorgeous pink paper rose!
You can check out more of Cindy's work in her Etsy shop!  It is full of all of her amazing creations, and I just know that you will find something that you have to have there!!
In addition to Cindy's blog, she also has an on line magazine featuring many talented and creative bloggers! You can check it out here. Cindy sure is one busy lady!
Thank you so much, Cindy! You have made my day!!!

Hope you all have a terrific weekend! 

Linking up with the following parties:
Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday
The Graphics Fairy Brag Monday

Vintage Milk Glass

It's hard to believe that one of my favorite blogging days is already here: White Wednesday!  

If you have never visited Kathleen over at Faded Charm, then you are in for a real treat!  Each week, she hosts White Wednesday, a day when those of us who adore white, cream, and all shades in between, can share and enjoy each others treasures!

So today I thought I'd share with you some of my latest vintage milk glass finds.  I just love this beautiful compote dish!  I've never seen one like it before.  It has a really pretty diamond pattern, which gives it a quilted appearance.

And I also really love the scalloped rim, and of course it is on a pedestal, and you know how much I adore pedestal anythings!!

And I was super excited to discover this pretty pedestal bowl on the same day!!  It's quite heavy, and is full of vintage charm!  Even the bottom features a pretty pattern!

I was also thrilled to find a vase that matched perfectly one that I already had!  They have a pretty tear drop pattern.  Can you imagine how beautiful a spring bouquet of peonies or roses would be in one of these vases?  Or even a big bunch of daisies!

I also already had one of these cute pedestal bowls, so when I found a matching one of the same size, I quickly scooped it up!

I am in love with the pretty open work design on their rims!  All of these pieces are in my Etsy shop, if you care to look.  I am currently have a sale of 20% off everything in my Etsy shop!  Just enter the following code upon checkout to receive your discount: Paris1

Ok, this last piece is obviously not milk glass!  But since it is White Wednesday, after all, I just couldn't resist showing it to you!  It is the prettiest wrought iron candelabra that I painted a nice soft creamy white color.  I gave it a healthy dose of distressing, so it is just oozing with chippy shabby chic charm!  And it also is in my Etsy shop.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!
I'm linking up with the following great parties:
My Romantic Home Show and Tell Friday
Funky Junk Interiors SNS