Happiness in the kitchen once again! Free Printable Little Cooks... Chefs

I know you all think my hubby is the greatest but he does have a few quarks that really bug. One of those is that he insists on having a bunch of junk sitting on the counter all the time! So I put it all on a wooden tray so that when company came I could quickly hide it away in the pantry. But I STILL HAD TO LOOK AT IT!  Recently I saw a post on pintrest where a lady had put all her tea necessities on a silver tray and knew that was my answer. I found one I loved at a local thrift store and on went all his junk.

I put his splenda in a little silver sugar (of course) his creamer in a little silver overlay creamer jar. Not that he drinks coffee... he has to add it to his hot chocolate to make it creamer...lol. I found a silver swan napkin holder. Our butter has always been in a vintage refrigerator dish. I used the sugar shaker for his garlic salt and his vitamins and hot chocolate packets went in the silver biscuit canister. Now there is happiness in our kitchen once more!

Feel free to pin the thumb above but please do not pin the actual download. I would like everyone to stop by here to download it so they don't miss all my other fun free downloads

A Working Studio ... Free Scissor Printable

I am loving being able to work in my studio again. I made this cute little necklace with the tiniest little antique change purse.

 Not only am I able to create again but with all my supplies and tools in place I can now start getting things organized and decorated! I have just added a new "old" shelf that hubby made me from an old door and antique door knobs.

and I have to show off my latest find... a scissor light for my workbench. I was so excited to find this. I pictured it with an antique light bulb but I have ordered some reproduction Edison light bulbs to actually use.

I got some crates from the craft store. I distressed them and used vinegar and steel wool to age them. I think they are perfect for Fairyland and some of my little theaters. My other distraction you can see sitting on the crate below.... Yep... I got a Pazzles cutter! You can copy and paste any .jpg into it so if you have software to open the cut files you can convert them to .jpg and just copy them into this cutter. I have just been going crazy finding all the fun cut files available! I will be making some stencils for the sides of the crates too. Just as soon as I figure out the software for it.. lol.

Speaking of decorating and scissors... I thought this little graphic might look good blown up and framed. I think it would make a cute little card too. I hope you can come up with a fun use for it :) Oh and I almost forgot to say... check out the brand on those scissors she is holding :))

Feel free to pin the thumb above but please do not pin the actual download. I would like everyone to stop by here to download it so they don't miss all my other fun free downloads

My Table Top Mannequin and Bortree Corsets Paper Doll Free Printable

I really have a treat for you today :) I don't know if you have noticed but I always try to post something that goes along with what I am working on. Well I have been working on my studio. I had planned to make one big post with all my studio projects but things are taking a bit longer than I had hoped... so I thought I would just start posting some of my smaller projects.

I bought this mannequin bust on ebay but as you can see it is not quite my style. A redo was in order. I hated the thought of having to sew a new cover so I thought I would try painting it first. Because I did not want to loose the softness or texture of the fabric, I used some textile medium with my acrylic paint and gave it a whirl... it worked! I added a candle stick to the bottom and then had my son cut me a stencil that I took from one of my favorite paper dolls for the wording.

It now has a home on top of my favorite project so far.. but more of that later.

 

The paper doll that I took my inspiration from is an advertising paper doll for corsets made by Bortree manufacturing. I hope you love her as much as I do :)

Feel free to pin the thumb above but please do not pin the actual download. I would like everyone to stop by here to download it so they don't miss all my other fun free downloads

Tattered Lighting

Although I have not been blogging much and I had a ton of junk going on, I still somehow found time to do a few creative things around the house and I thought I would share one of them with you today.

I finally got hubby to run the electricity for the wall sconce I picked up on ebay. The shade it came with looked ridiculous. It was an oval but it hit the wall and was obviously too large. I wish I had taken a picture of it before...

So I picked up a round shade at the thrift shop and removed the paper from the wires. Then I cut a third off the back and straightened the wire that I removed, resoldered it back on so that it now had a flat side to go against the wall. Then I wrapped the entire frame with strips of torn muslin.

I sewed on sections of fabric and lace from my scrap bin, added some kewl buttons and...

I ended up with this... I was pretty happy with the outcome.

This is from the side. I wanted you to see how I sewed some of the scraps inside the frame and some on the outside of the frame... it really worked for that tattered effect I was after.

I have been up to a few more projects too! I think I mentioned I was working on a major redo of my studio so here is a sneek peek.

and this is a peek and one of the projects that I am working on too. This is a before glimpse however. I will be posting the before and after of all the projects soon!

Serving Up Silver Platter Paper Dolls

Did you know you can have yourself made into a paper doll? I have not had these listed for some time but just decided I would list them again. These are dolls I did of some of my friends sometime back but I just made some new sheets that you can steampunk any paper dolls with so I used them. This is such a fun idea... Just because I used my paper dolls you really can use any paper dolls.

I just love tarnished silver and I have been looking for ways to merge my art with my decor! Anyway... every time I see a piece of old silver plate in one of the local resale stores... I just have to buy it! Since I don't have a lot of storage in my little house, I have started to just put it on the walls.

Recently I discovered that magnets will stick to some of them. You do have to be careful though, not all silver plate platters will accept magnets. It depends on what base metal they were made with so test them before you buy them. Here are a few ideas I have come up with to give them a little more pizzazz. I have use the magnets to attach old photos and papers, I have added magnetic hooks to hold my jewelry

Or how about hanging scarfs on those hooks!

 

 and now of course... I am dressing them up with paper dolls.

 

 

I just added some magnetic strips to the back of my dolls and instant steampunk decor! These are kinda a grown up version however this would be such a fun way to decorate a little girls room too.

I colored them with watercolor crayons and then added some printed graphics from some of my other collage sheets to steampunk them out. I also added some real gears, feathers and chain to give them an additional layer of interest.

Just me and my art, tutorials and free printable

 

Well I guess it is back to "All about me" :)) and things around this house has been just crazy. I did get this frame done and I am also adding a tutorial on how to make authentic looking cab cards below and a free printable to start you off.

The about me part, I have had company for the past couple of weeks and the last of them went home on the 3rd. Whew I thought! My son called me the next morning and told me my beautiful little grandson was sick. It did not look to serious but he was taking him to a doctors appointment. I told him to call me and let me know how he was. Shortly later my son called again and said that the little guy had Fifth disease, a virus that most children get. Between the time he had called me and the time he got him to the doctor he had broken out in the most awful red rash and even some blisters. So he had it to a more severe degree than most. It is not a virus that will really harm him as it will run it's course but if his momma who is 4 months pregnant contracted it there was a risk of significant harm to the unborn baby : / The doctor said it would be best if our little guy and his momma stayed in separate houses... sooo I have a sick little guy for the next week and his momma is in tears too since she can't be there for her sick little one. My son has been running back and forth between the two houses but each time he goes home he has to shower so our little momma doesn't catch it. I just keep saying "Gosh what next!" ... lol

How about how to make authentic looking cab cards! 

First you will need to print your image (and you can use the one below) on semi gloss brochure paper. Then you need some light weight matt board, like the white gift boxes you can get from the dollar store. Oh yes, you will also need a can of craft spray glue.

Cut out the image you are going to use for the front of the cab card and spray glue the backside. Stick it to the light weight matt board and let that dry. Cut out the image you are going to use for the backside leaving about a 14 inch extra around the edges. Spray the backside of your image with glue. Then lay the image already on the matt board onto a light box or hold it against a window so you can see where the edges of the card will be. Align the front image with the back image. Once dry using your already cut out image, cut the matt board and the backside image to match the front.

Use a heavy emery board to sand the edges and round the corners.

Use an ink that matches the print all around the edges also touching it here and there direct to the paper on both the front and the back. Then blend it all with a blending solution or a blending pen. Since I had used a laser printer, I could just use alcohol.

 

I also bend it here and there and bang the corners to give them the look of having been handled through the years.

I placed mine in the frame above with some originals and as you can see it is difficult to tell the difference.

 

 

Now for the printable :)

Feel free to pin the thumbs below but please do not pin the actual download. I would like everyone to stop by here to download it so they don't miss all my other fun free downloads

Enjoy!

Inka

Tarnished Treasures

You may remember this photo from Christmas. I am only re-posting it as a before picture. My house is a small house but most the rooms are open to the rest of the house and the living room/dinning room area has ridiculously tall gable ceilings so it doesn't feel as small as it is. The problem is all that blank wall up there ↑
So in the dinning area I have a set of cabinets that I use as a "sideboard" and above that hangs an antique print of roses that I love!

 Above that is lots of wall!
I had this ridiculousness small iron scroll hanging there but it just looked lost with all that wall above.

 

So last week I got to digging around in the cupboards and collecting what ever I could find that was silver and this is what I came up with. Some of the pieces had some tarnish already but I think I will like it much better when it has had time to really darken.

First I laid them out on the floor. I moved things around until I came up with a design I liked. Then I took a picture of it so I could remember how it had been laid out.

Then I used the command mounting adhesives to stick them to the wall. Three of the pieces are footed so I had to use Herculie's hooks to attach them.

All things old are sometimes new!

I had this old earring holder but it had been designed for the old clip on earrings and it was very unstable. It had just a wire tripod for the bottom. So hubby used the cutting blade on my dremel to cut slots in it to accommodate my pierced style earrings. Then I used the base of an old candle holder to give it some stability.
 

and all those old parts.............

Well they became my new bracelet holder.

We drilled a hole in the little silver coaster to hold rings and the bracelets that did not hang well and then used old parts from a candle holder and some dead clocks we took apart.... very steampunk kewl!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Year, New Day, Old Loves

and now I have decided to go back to old things :))

 

I think I have mentioned before that I had an antique store in California for years... and hubby and I bought the home I grew up in and we lived there for over 20 years... for me it was an additional 20 years :)) ... it was totally Victorian shabby chic... anyway when we moved to Idaho, I sold a lot and put a lot in storage. I decided for the first time in my life that I wanted new things. We had a house built and I bought the main furniture new. I still had a few old pieces that I just could not give up but I thought I could mix them with the new and come up with my "style" At first I just felt like I was living in a hotel. Then slowly I starting putting things on the walls and trying to make things look like "normal" people.... Well I am not "normal" people and I just have not been comfortable.
 

Over the past year or so my art has been drawn back to my love of all things old... only rusty and worn rather than the white and pink of shabby chic of my past. I found that when I was working on my art pieces that I was happy. My love for rusty and worn started to drift into the other rooms and it made me happy :D So this year instead of fixing the place up, I am going to be wearing things out, rusting things up, adding my art to the rest of the house. I think the best description of the style I love is "Tarnished Treasures" So if this interests you, click "Decor or Tarnished Treasures" on the "Quick Links" on the right hand sidebar. I will link the few projects that I did last year and as soon as my new camera arrives I am going to start snapping pictures around the house and giving you a run down on the how too's

A Gentleman In Every Way ... MMM Buttons

This week over at Mixed Media Monday the theme is buttons. I know it is suppose to be Mixed Media Monday but I can never seem to get things done by Monday so I am always late. I just don't work that fast. By time the theme is announced it takes me a few days to get my artwork done.... but here are my buttons!This is truly a noble effort ... another piece for my bathroom. I started with a smashed leather toiletry case.

The poem in the mirror reads

A gentleman in every way,
His sparkling eyes do smile.
His cloths are always sure to be
In just the latest style

 

The watch case features fabric with news and map print that has been dirtied up with a little rust, a brass leaf branch, a top hat from a monopoly set, a brass harmonica charm, a rusty spring topped with a brass treble cliff and the typewritter of "H" for Heaton.

Yep ... that is my hubby in the rusted picture frame... a much younger version I must admit. He is much older and rustier himself now :))

Playing with rust again

I have been playing with rust again :)) I had this old bird cage and I wanted to do something with it. I thought of doing a doll but I also had the stand and I did not want to waste it. So I rusted a bird and gave it a crown. I found a little plastic couch at the thrift shop and used my rust technique on that... once it was rusted it was pretty cute. Then I just added a table, some tiny tea cups and an old coffee pot I had. Now I have my eye out for a little claw foot tub that I can rust and put on a branch up a little higher.

Rusty Ladies

I just had to share my latest thrift shop find... can you believe these ladies only cost me $4.50!!! Yep that's right, $4.50 for both! They had some problems though. The head had been broken off one but was still attached by a rebar that ran down through the center. The other had some hair broken off and was missing and they both had paint chipping and flaking off everywhere. So I brushed them down with a wire brush and used concrete patch to repair the broken head and sculpt some new hair. Once sanded, hubby blew them off with his air compresser and I used my homemade rusting technique on them. Aren't they fun! I think I need to make them some hats and masks... maybe some wings?