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, January 23, 2012

Upcycled Pedestal and Cloche

Bon Jour, Mon Amis!  Today I thought I'd share with you a recent project of mine, an upcycled wooden pedestal, topped by a glass cloche.
If you're like me, you have a closetful (or more!) of potential craft projects, just waiting to be transformed!  Well, I'm always hunting for wooden candlesticks, and usually have a small collection in my stash.  Wooden bases (make that wooden anything!) are also high on my list when I'm out thrifting.  Glass cloches are always on my thrifting wish list, and I just happened to have a couple of extras on hand (yeah!).
So, one day when I peeked into my closet, I suddenly saw the makings of a beautiful wood pedestal.  Of course, it was there all along, I just didn't invision it til that moment! 
So, with the help of my handy hubby, I was able to transform drab to fab!
(ok, I promise next time to take some "before, during, and after" shots!)
Light blue is my very favorite color, so I knew that it would be perfect for this new beauty!  I then gave her what I like to call "a generous dose of distressing", and viola!
A pretty new baby blue pedestal was born!  I've placed her in my Etsy shop, and now I need to make one for myself, too!
On a side note, have you heard that Picnik is going to be ending in April?  I just found out the other day, and I'm so disappointed!  I really rely on it not only for my blog (I enjoyed playing with it and altering all of the photos you see here today), but for my Etsy shop as well.  Not sure what the reasoning is. So, if any of you have another free (and easy to use) photo editing program that you could recommend, I would love hearing about it!
See the gorgeous tag, below?  My sweet bloggy friend Myric, over at Petites Passions, created it, and sent it to me!  I just love it, and also love how she mixed sand with glitter (be still my heart!) for the border!  The girl is a creative genius!  Thank you again, Myric!


I'm linking up with Cindy Adkins Whimsical Musings  for her awesome linky party!

22 comments:

Claudia Fabiana said...

It turned out so pretty...
lovely color, too.

ciao

Ann@A Sentimental Life said...

I think we all better be looking in our closets! See what all we find!

Heather said...

Hi, my name is Heather! Please email me when you can, I have a question about your blog!

HeatherVonSJ[at]gmail[dot]com

Heather said...

Hi, my name is Heather! Please email me when you can, I have a question about your blog!

HeatherVonSJ[at]gmail[dot]com

Cindy Adkins said...

It turned out great and I love that light blue color! I'm friends with Myric, too - isn't she a doll?! Good luck with your sugery!
Hugs, Cindy

NanaDiana said...

It looks really cute, Donna. You might just have to keep that one! I have a post going up for you on my blog tomorrow...so you have lots of pre-prayers going into surgery.

I know a lot of my friends (not necessarily bloggers) use Photobucket and it is pretty easy to use...and free...and fast....I use it once in a while to crop a photo. You might want to check it out. xo Diana

Myric said...

I love the wooden pedestal. I think it is a great idea to put sea shells in it like what you did for beach inspired house! And thank you for mentioning about my tag.
I'd say 'bon chance' means like goodluck in French. I know you won't be needing luck. God will be with you.

xoxo
Myric

Christine said...

L-O-V-E this, Donna! The blue is glorious...Sending good thoughts your way this week!

Karen said...

This is really nice, Donna.

Oodles and oodles of thoughts and prayers are being sent your way from myself and numerous friends.

Hope your surgery goes as planned and that you have a speedy recovery.

Love, Karen

Musings from Kim K. said...

Beautiful project, Donna. Prayers and good wishes this week. I'll be anxious for updates (when you are up to blogging again). I'm mourning picnik too. I have more expensive software but I loved the ease of picnik. I'm going to start playing with Picasa to see if some of my same favorite photo effects are available.

Hugs!!

ArtfullyJune said...

Beautiful stand.

I'll be praying for you, hope your surgery goes well.

Blondie's Journal said...

Very pretty, Donna, and distressed just perfectly!

I have heard that Photoshop and Photobucket are great places to edit your pictures. I have yet to try them out. There is a lot of information on this being passed around the blogs and you may hear of some more.

I am thinking of you as you go into this surgery. Many prayers being sent!

XO,
Jane

deb said...

First of all sending lots of prayers and strength for your surgery, and of course healing hugs!

Now to that gorgeous cloche...oh la la! The blue is so pretty and the height is perfect. You did an sawesome job. I'm sure it won't last long in your shop!

Take care♥
*hugs*deb

john said...

Thinking of you and sending you love ! Gail x

Cindy Adkins said...

Oh Donna, this cloche is perfection--WOW!!! and so is the beautiful tag from our sweet friend Myric!!! Wishing you luck tomorrow and sending up prayers.
XO
Cindy

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

This is really lovely, Donna! I wasn't happy about Picnik either. I also use Photoshop Elements 9, and Claudia from Mockingbird Hill Cottage suggested befunky.com I signed up for it and it is a lot of fun and easy to use! I'm thinking of you, my friend! Hope things go well and you heal quickly! Sending prayers your way XO!

Gina said...

That's a pretty pedestal! It turned out so nicely. The color is beautiful too.

Good luck this afternoon.

Sherry@Back2Vintage said...

The pedestal and cloche is gorgeous in blue!!! The distressing is just perfect. You and your medical team are in my prayers!!!

Cindy Adkins said...

Hi Donna,
You know I just adore your pedestal stand...It is gorgeous!!! I hope you had a good weekend and got to rest!!! Thank you SO much for linking up to my party!!!
XO
Cindy

Your Craft Book said...

Joining you from Cindy's link party, what a lovely cloche and I love the colour blue, so pretty, Maureen.

Linda M. said...

Hi Donna, Great project and I just love seeing seashells inside it, I'm going to have to keep my eye open for these pieces. Have a super week. Joyous Wishes, Linda

Dee ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️ said...

Beautiful cloche! I love the seashells in it.

Dee