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!

Friday, November 23, 2012

It's Going to be a Glittery Christmas!


Ok, you all probably know how much I love glitter and paint. 
"Is there anything this girl doesn't glitter and paint?", you may ask.
Well, there are a few things, but today this post is all about the sparkle and creamy dreamy white!
 The other day while out thrifting, I almost overlooked a set of three vintage candle rings.  You know, the plastic kind. The kind your mom's or grandma's probably had (maybe you yourself have some tucked away!).  Anyway, there were two identical rings, and one slightly larger ring.  As soon as I swooped them up, I knew just what I would do to transform them!  I wish that I'd have taken their before shots, but I was too excited to start their makeover!  So, I gave them my special frosted, glittery treatment, which involved using lots and lots of glitter!
 They still needed a bit more something, so, what to do?  I looked thru my stash of goodies, and remembered a bunch of silver jingle bells that I had on hand.  Actually, the bells were another one of my paint and glitter projects!
 The bells originally were gold, so I spray painted them silver then added lots of coarse clear glitter.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I'm a use what you've got kind of girl!
 I think the rings look so pretty with the tea lights lit.  As much as I'd love to keep them for myself, I've placed them in my Etsy shop, if you are interested!
 I got a little snap happy during their photo shoot!
 So remember, if you see something that's looking a little tired and worn, it doesn't have to stay that way forever!
 With a little imagination (and glitter!), you can turn the drab, into fab!
 I'm linking up with Debra over at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday.
Be sure to visit!


Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Christmas Peat Pots

Like so many of you, I have fallen in love with peat pots!  I purchased a bunch earlier this summer, fully intending to create something fun with them, but never got around to it til now!  So today I thought I'd share with you one of my glittery Christmas pots!  I was really inspired by Becky over at Time Washed. She turns peat pots into the most amazing creations!  So here is my take on it!

I first gave the pot a white washed treatment.  You can't tell by the photos, but I added a generous dose of glitter to the paint, so that the pot glistens in the light!  I also was inspired by the tutorial that Becky did awhile back, on how to bleach bottle brush trees.  I went out and bought a big bag at Michael's, and after bleaching the trees, I then glittered and flocked a bunch of them.  For this cute little tree (which I am in love with, by the way!), I used a pale aqua flocking powder, by Martha Stewart.

I've had the most fun creating these little pots!  I've made quite a few of them so far, that I'm going to give as little Christmas gifts!  (And I am keeping one for myself for sure!)
The handles were fashioned from iridescent pipe cleaners, and I added a mini pale aqua pom pom trim to the rim (don't you just love pom poms?!)
An adorable little German glass glitter bird, a glittered little white star (which started out gold, I'm a big believer in using what you've already got on hand!), and some glittery white little tree branches were added.
You know how much I love bling, so I thought this pretty rhinestone brad was the perfect accent to the sheer white ribbon bow.
I also added this lovely angel print (compliments of the Graphics Fairy), that I mounted on heavy cardstock.  Oh, and I glittered that, too, of course!
I tucked in some shredded vintage sheet music, and viola!
My version of a Christmas peat pot!
Gotta go and get busy making some more!
I'm linking up with Becky over at Time Washed for Blissful Whites Wednesday.
And Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday.
Be sure to visit for tons of inspiration!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Retro Kitchen

Bonjour Mes Amis!
I was about to share with you another Christmas project that I've been working on, but thought I would save that for a bit later in the season!  Instead, I wanted to show you one of my latest creations, that I transformed with one of my favorite shades of aqua!
 I was beyond excited when I found this vintage kitchen dimensional wall hanging while out thrifting the other day!  Of course she didn't look this pretty when I found her.  Oh, no!  She was more than a bit tired and dated, and was just begging for a transformation!  
Are you ready to see her in her "before" state?
 Yikes!  I told you she was dated!  I'm sure the other shoppers took one look and thought "that poor woman has horrible taste!"
 Even hubby was more than a bit apprehensive when I shared it with him!
But I immediately knew that with some aqua paint and a bit of distressing, she could go from dated and drab to funky and fab!!
I think the hooks would be the perfect spot to hang potholders or aprons (I always wear an apron when I work in the kitchen, do you?)
I'm so happy with the makeover, and can't believe what a difference paint can make!

 I've placed her in my Etsy shop.  Now I would love to find more of these beauties!
Sharing at the following fun parties:
Shabby Art Boutique Shabbilicious Friday
Common Ground Vintage Inspiration Friday

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Frosted and Glittered Wreath

Can you believe that the holidays are almost upon us?  Hard to imagine, isn't it?
Well, I've caught the Christmas crafting bug, and wanted to show you my latest creation, what I'm calling my "Dreaming of a White Christmas" wreath!
To a faux pine wreath I added some assorted berries, greenery, and large pine cones. Then I gave it all the appearance of being dusted in snow and glittery frost.
I also added 5 large glittered paper roses that I made from vintage sheet music (I showed you those in a post the other day).
 Aside from the roses, one of my favorite elements of the wreath is the "W", which our last name begins with.
I painted a wooden letter silver, then generously doused it in glitter (because you can never have too much  glitter at Christmas!)
 I'm so happy with the way it turned out, and can't wait to hang it above our fireplace!
I am forcing myself to wait til after Thanksgiving, though!
 I'm offering these wreathes in my Etsy shop as custom orders.  I think one of the neat things about the wreath is that you can keep it up all winter long.
 Wouldn't it be beautiful as part of a winter wedding decor?  
 Natasha decided that she wanted to model it for you! (tee hee!)
 So I hope that I put you in the mood for a little Christmas creating and decorating!
Now I'm off to see what you all have been up to!
Linking up with the following parties:
Timewashed for Blissful Whites Wednedsay
Common Ground Vintage Inspiration Friday 
French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday
Be sure to visit for tons of inspiration!


Thursday, November 8, 2012

Glittered Vintage Sheet Music Roses

Bonjour Mes Amis!
You may have noticed that I love creating with vintage sheet music.  I know that many of you do, too!
So today I wanted to share with you the glittered roses that I've been making out of vintage sheet music.  Some of you might have seen my posts in the past about the roses, but thought I'd show them again for those of you who might not be familiar with them.
 While they are quite the time consuming project, they are so much fun to make!
 I've made all sizes, the largest ones are pictured here.  The smaller you make them, the more tedious they are!  I've used them to embellish everything from decorative tags, to Christmas decor, to candles.
 The possibilities are endless!
 Having fun with PicMonkey!  (which I love, by the way!) 
 I even made a garland of them awhile back, which I think looks so pretty!
 Here I've just displayed a few with some other loves of mine, a wonderfully tarnished vintage silver tray, and a mercury glass votive holder.
 I did a tutorial a few years ago on making the roses.  You can check it out here if you want to try creating some yourself!  I've since modified the way that I create them, I guess it's one of those projects where there is no right or wrong way of doing it! If you do make some yourself, I'd love to hear about it!

 Ok, here is a little sneak peek of a project that I just finished, using the roses.  I'll share it with you next week!
Happy creating!
Linking up with the following great parties:
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday 
French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Vintage Sheet Music Covered Cherubs


Bon Jour, Mon Amis!
Hope you are all having a great week so far!
Today I thought I'd share with you the cherubs that I recently hung in my craft room.
They are actually a paper mache form that I found a few years ago at a garage sale.  I didn't know at the time what I'd do with them, but since I love anything involving vintage sheet music, I just knew that the two would make a perfect fit!
 I made them a few years ago, and never got around to hanging them til now!  (do you ever do that?) Actually, there just never seemed to be the perfect spot to hang and enjoy them.
The cherubs ended up being much more time consuming than I imagined, but it was such a fun project!  I just randomly tore pages of vintage sheet music, and used Mod Podge to adhere the pieces to the form.  I then went over the entire thing with a couple more coats of Mod Podge.  I used a bit of craft chalk to apply a hint of blush to the angels cheeks, as well as their lips.  I had debated on painting on eyes, but thought that might make them look creepy!
 I've hung the angels in an antique frame that I also painted white.  The frame has alot of meaning for me, as it used to hold a photo of my dad and his sisters sitting in a buggy being pulled by a horse.  My dad must have been about 3 years old at the time, and it was the neatest picture.  Sadly, the glass and photo were badly damaged from being stored in my mom's attic.  Anyway, my mom gave me the frame, as she knew I would find the perfect use for it!  It used to be black, and after I painted and distressed it, I couldn't believe how beautiful it was!  The details are just amazing, and didn't even show up with so many coats of black paint!
 If my dad were still with us, he'd be 90, so this is one old frame!
 I think my angels look right at home here!
 I got a little snap happy taking their photos this morning for my blog post!
 I'm so glad that I finally found a place to hang the angels and frame!
 After redecorating my craft room this summer and painting a formerly icky red brick wall that I never liked, I now have the perfect home for my angels!  When hubby saw that I was painting the brick, he was none too pleased!  Then I reminded him that it was my craft room, after all, and I don't tell him how he should decorate his  man cave garage! (tee hee!)  I just love the way it looks now that it's white, and think my angels look good there, too!

Thanks for visiting today!
I'm linking up with Becky at Time Washed for Blissful Whites Wednesday.
Be sure to visit for tons of inspiration!

Friday, November 2, 2012

A Fun Shabbilicious Project

Bon jour, Mon Amis!
It's been cold and gray here at the chateau, a good excuse to cozy up inside with a cup of hot cocoa and play in my craft room!
So I thought I'd share with you one of my latest projects, a pretty tin cone that I transformed with paint and vintage sheet music.
 I neglected to take a photo of the cone before I painted it, but it was a mustardy color ( "mustardy" is a word, isn't it??) and it just didn't have the look I was going for!
Of course I had to use my favorite creamy color, followed by a generous dose of distressing.
 I added one of my hand crafted tea dyed tags, that I embellished with a snippet of vintage sheet music, and the sweetest bird image (courtesy of the Graphics Fairy).  Isn't that little bird just darling?  I really love the colors, and those pretty lilacs.  And you know me, I just had to add some glitter for a bit of bling!  I tied it on with wonderfully crinkly seam binding in my favorite shade of aqua (love!).
 I really love this metal daisy.  Isn't it fun?
 To the inside of the cone, I added some neat shredded brown paper, and some vintage sheet music.
I had so much fun creating this, and I'm really happy with the end result!  I've placed it in my Etsy shop, but I'd love to make one similar to this to keep for myself!
Have a great day!
Linking up with Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
and French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday