Making Art Agian! :)

I'm excited to open my other Etsy Shop back up this season! You'll see that I've added a widget to my sidebar now. Right now there are just a couple little things in there, but I'll be filling it up over the next couple weeks. Here are a few pics of things that have sold in the past.

 I love working with Paper Clay. These are my Snowman Lollipop Ornaments.

 Vintage Reindeer are fun to embellish!

 An old wood finial becomes a Snowman decoration!

LOL These guys are kinda funny.

I hope you'll visit my shop once I have it filled! Mostly, I just wanted you to know that I DO make things and don't just shop! Haha! :)

The Wreath: I Did It! :)

Hi Friends! It's midnight, and I'm back into the swing of things. More like my old self...which means making art late into the night! I just finished my Glass Ornament Wreath that I had been talking about. I'm excited to show it to you and see what you think. But also want to say...YOU SHOULD MAKE ONE! It was really fun!

I started with a 13 INCH willow wreath from the dollar store. I also found a package of red and white tinsel at the thrift store. I don't know what she uses at Georgia Peachez Wreaths , but I wanted my ornaments to have a little cushion around them. And also thought that it wouldn't look bad if it was showing through in areas.

 I wrapped the tinsel around the wreath very tight and close together, gluing it (with hot glue) now and then.

Now this was the hardest part! I had no idea how many ornaments I was going to need.

I really just wanted to use my cheapy ornaments that I had found over the summer, and the ones that I bought last week on sale. I didn't want to get out my REAL vintage ornaments. haha!

Well, I was going through ornaments like....candy! LOL

I had to go pull one box. Luckily it was a box that had a few I was willing to put into the wreath.

A mushroom, a berry, stars, and a UFO!

Wellie...Give that back to Mama!

OK... Things started going downhill. I was working on a flat surface and then remembered that my mom has a free standing wreath hanger. So when I was hanging the wreath...I DROPPED the entire thing! I was soooo lucky that the ornaments that broke weren't my Grandma's!

My sweet Grandma (who is no longer with us), left these Shiny Brites in the box. My mom and I decided that they might as well go in the wreath because we don't want to break them or get them mixed up with all of my old ornaments.

It's really hard to tell what's going on in this pic but... You're looking at the wreath partially done. That silver area is a hollowed out shell of what's left of a broken ornament (glued to the wreath). But the cute blue church ornament right next it (which was Grandma's), didn't break! I'm so lucky! I think Grandma was watching. :)

OK, after I put the vacuum away and my heart rate came down a little, I went in search of the little size ornaments and beads. You need lots of these to fill in all the gaps!

OK...HERE IT IS...

I think I could have kept adding and adding ornaments. I had to make myself stop!

These pictures are not the best because it's dark out!

I like Mr. Snowman in there. I only used two of Grandma's ornaments so that I can put the others in a wreath for my sister. So I'll be making another one. Please let me know if you give it a try!

Here are a couple more tips for a 13" wreath. Which ends up being much bigger when you're done.

It took about 20 LARGE balls, I put these mostly around the back/outside (NOT those jumbo ones).

It's helpful to have lots of SOLID colored balls to space between the more special ones.

You'll also need about 25 smaller balls or teardrops etc. for the top and inner layers.

I have 45 mini balls/beads on my wreath to fill in little gaps.

You will use TONS of glue sticks. Be ready!

And then the fun things: Spun cotton snowman, elf, glass picks, sugar bell, foil flower etc

I hope this inspires you! Or maybe it'll make you want to go buy one of those gorgeous wreaths from

Georgia Peachez!

Have a Great Day Friends! :)

Recent Antique Store Finds!

Hi everyone! Hope you're all well. My mom and I hit a couple really good antique stores that were having sales on Friday. It was lots of fun, and I found some cute things! Best of all, I didn't spend very much.

This guy though was at the local thrift store for $14! He's 46 inches tall and vintage "Empire 1960's".

 I've been watching how much he goes for on EBay for the last couple of days. And he sells for over $150 if he's in great shape. Unfortunately this guy is quite "distressed" though. He doesn't have any holes or cracks and his light works, so that's good!

He's going to live with my sister and "the one". They've recently developed a passion for vintage holiday decor. I believe that I'll be able to help them out with this! haha

This is the little guy that I'm going to keep. He seems older than my other blow molds, no markings though. Does anyone have him? He was $5 at the antique sale! Do you see the white dresser in the background? It was my great grandparent's. It's spoon carved and original white chippy paint, but there is a problem!

All of the drawers are jammed really bad. I talked to a local furniture restoration place and he wanted $300.00 to re-align the drawers. No sure what to do with it now. My dad can't even get them to budge. Thoughts?

 Vintage wrapping paper for $1 and mercury glass beads for $2 a bag! I grabbed those empty ornament boxes to use to make little shadow boxes.

Did you all see the latest cover of "Romantic Homes" magazine? It features a drop dead gorgeous wreath by "Georgia Peachez" ! I've always wanted to make a similar wreath but couldn't bring myself to dip into my vintage ornament stash. Well I bought these ornaments just for the purpose of the wreath, and made sure I didn't spend over $2 per ornament. I'll post my result soon!

This old box is filled with cookie cutters, but I really bought it for the box! I love to store my glass beads and cards in them. The Santa will make it into my wreath, and I couldn't pass up the vintage white tree and pink house!

Haa! This pic looks like it doesn't belong in this post. But I also grabbed these fall and Halloween things at the antique sale for really cheap! And I can't do a post without a piece of PYREX you know! :) Oh wait!!!....

My dear friend Jill of "A Little Bit of Everything" has gone and done it again!

She gifted me with this little Butterprint bowl, and it couldn't be cuter! And look at the card she included.

Thank you Jill, I am so lucky to have your friendship! :)

OK Friends, I hope you enjoyed my recent finds. I've been feeling great and only have ONE WEEK to go in my cast! I've been doing some crafting, so my next few posts will be about the things I've been making instead of BUYING! Must quit all the buying! Why is it sooo difficult? :)

Estate Sale Finds!

Hi Friends! I hope you all had a great week!

A couple Saturday's ago I was able to get to an Estate Sale! The house was packed with every possible wonderful vintage thing you could think of! My sister and her boyfriend had never been to a sale, so I took them...rather they took me and my scooter since I can't drive yet! Anyway, we got there 2 hours before it started and got number 67!!!! WHAT? So crazy! I still managed to find a few of the things that I went there for. And here is what came home with me...

 If this guy didn't have so many chips he would be worth quite a bit. But he'll look cute displayed with my Pyrex I think. Hopefully I can paint over those chips!

Of course I couldn't pass up these darling vintage children's books!

 This Mother Goose one is the best!

It's from Christmas of 1926!

 Isn't she sweet?

There are little rips and tape on most of the pages, but that just means that it was a much loved book right?

I love his face!

And I added another Golden Book to my collection.

Sorry for the terrible pics! I'm trapped on the couch right now because I've been having lots of swelling and pain under my cast. Uhhg! But only 2.5 weeks to go!

I was thrilled to find this large paper mache Santa! And I had been looking for a cute little truck to make into an ornament. I'm going to strap a bottle brush tree in the back and dust it with mica snow!

I was worried that maybe the Santa was a repro or a newer version, but it's marked with the same name of the little girl that owned the book in 1926! Cool!

I've never owned any paper dolls, but these are sooo cute! You can put the bunny in the wash tub! LOL

Or a Bear on a Scooter! And look at that red checked skirt and aqua sweater!

A cherry embellished dress with matching clutch for a little sweetheart!

But someone is sleepy in their red robe with Minnie Mouse doll!

At the sale I also bought the shiny red PYREX bowl that was in my last post, and my sister's boyfriend (aka "the one" ) found me a really cute mint green colored chair in the basement.

OK Friends, I hope you enjoyed seeing my little purchases from the estate sale. I'm really craving digging into my art supplies and making some holiday things! As soon as the cast comes off you can expect more than just a single post per week. I can't wait to get busy!

Gifts, A Thrift Find, and Swap Details!!!

 Hi Friends! I hope you all had a great weekend! I've got lots to share this week...

Last year I sold one of these vintage Beistle jointed Pumpkins on EBay for $45.00. I'd sort of been regretting it ever since because he's just so darn cool! Look, he takes up the entire chair! Well, the other day I walked into the thrift store and there he was again! And he was only .50!!!! Yes, fifty cents!  He's in great shape, and this time he has a forever home with me!

 OK, this is soooo over due! I owe a HUGE thank you to Kim of "Musings From Kim K."! I was the luckiest girl ever, and won her Halloween Giveaway! Can you believe that she sent this much stuff? And so much of it is hand-made!

 HEX! Look at what she did with a scrabble tile holder!

 And "Putz" houses aren't just for winter! Kim made a spooky version!

 A handmade shadowbox becomes a cute little scene with ghosts and bats! And Kim included chunky floating candles with spiders!

Wellie immediately put the package ties that Kim included into her hair. Soooo naughty!

Kim we can't thank you enough for the package you sent! It was overflowing with Halloween Magic! And it was extra special this year because we (me and Wellie) are living with Mom and Dad, and can't do our usual decorating!

 Another sweet girl (and fellow Minnesotan) sent me a package full of the best paper-crafting supplies ever!

Tammy of "Tammy's In Love" has become a dear friend since I began blogging.

In the package were numerous paper items to cut up and create, and even a few vintage trick-or-treat bags! My favorite thing though was this book "Brighter Days Are On the Way". It's just so perfect for what I've been going through (with my surgery and being confined to the house), and Tammy knew it!

Thank You Tammy! :)

Speaking of DEER friends (haha), these cuties showed up the other day from my dear friend

 Jill of "A Little Bit Of Everything". The two of us often send little things back and forth. And Jill knows that I have a weakness for vintage animals! Thank you Jill! :)

I have to show you another thing from the thrift store. A few weeks ago I found these vintage rolls of Dennison streamers for .25 each. I figured that it was meant to be that the only two colors were orange and black! I think I should make a cute decoration using the witch that Tammy sent. 

OK...LETS TALK ABOUT THE PUTZ HOUSE SWAP!

Have any of you had luck finding your cardboard houses? I have to admit that I found mine last year at JoAnn's and just assumed that they would have them again this year. I've seen the little ones at Michael's for the past few x-mas', so I didn't think we would have a problem. Well this weekend I went to both places and came up empty handed. The good thing though was that neither JoAnn's or Michael's had even half of their x-mas stuff out. Most shelves were still filled with Halloween. So I'm hoping that these stores DO have the houses, and will be putting them on the shelves within a couple days.

**We don't have Hobby Lobby here in MN, so that's why I'm not mentioning it. However one of the gals said that she ordered her houses online through HL.

**FYI There are a few sellers on Etsy who sell "cardboard houses" under supplies. You can check them out too. I'd love to support them of course, but it's difficult when the ones at the craft store are only $1-$3.00. It's totally up to you though if you want to send ONE large house, TWO medium, or even THREE of the tiny ones. Make what you can find.

Here are you swap partners!

Dorothy ( Hens Rule ).....Chris ( A Little Creation )

Lynn ( Life On The Wienee Ranch )..... Tresa ( Speedy Lady )

Shirley ( Zetta's Aprons ).....Deb ( Garage Sale Gal )

Erica (GEV).....Kim ( Musings from Kim K. )

Debby ( Cozy Blanket ).....( Little Susie Homemaker )

Renee (My Vintage Mending ).....Chris (Perfectly Printed )

The links should work for you to get a hold of your partners for contact info, but please let me know if you have any problems and I can get address' for you. Will you also do me a favor and send me a quick email to let me know when you have sent your partner her package? I was hoping we could have them shipped no later than Nov. 15th.

OK, have fun and let me know if you can't find the cardboard houses! :)

Erica