Junk bottles

 I spent all of $1.94 on 4 bottles.  Don't you like how the bottles are listed on the receipt as Bric-Brac?  I haven't heard that word since Nixon was President!

bric-a-brac |ˈbrik ə ˌbrak|
noun
miscellaneous objects and ornaments of little value

I guess if the description fits, use it.

 In their original state

 I started with Pool Alcohol ink.  You can find it here.  And if you need a quick refresher on how to use Alcohol Ink go to this post (just scroll down a bit)

 Then moved on to Lettuce

 the colors I used: lettuce, sunset orange, wild plum, aqua, and pool.

 Now off to the Farmers market for flowers.  We have a few growers that are only a few miles out of town so we get quite lovely flowers at the market each Wed.  You can pick any 4 bunches for $15.

 For the wide mouth vase I used floral tape to make a grid (just stretch it to make it sticky) at the neck to hold the flowers in place.  I wrapped jute around the neck a few times to cover up the green tape.

 I recently sewed the table square, I think it is 36 x 36" from some Heather Bailey Fabric and edged it with a small polka dot from Free Spirit.  I layered the topper on a vintage green cloth and placed the flowers on a tray.  I like to keep this kind of arrangement on a tray so I can easily move it at dinner time.

Well, that's it for today!
The weekends coming and that means garage sales...just think how many junk bottles you can pick up on the cheap!
cheers!
paula

digital frame - Elles studio for www.jessicasprague.com

Tart Tin Pin Cushion

Deb asked if I would post how to create the pin cushion I made for a few friends.  I first saw the pin cushions made by artist Becky Schander in the July/Aug/Sept 2010 issue of Somerset Life magazine.  They were created in grey, which I loved, but I didn't have any grey wool that looked right.  So I opted for a hand dyed orange that has a mottled look when you see it in person and a pink houndstooth print. The article also explains how to age silver tart tins, but I found a set of six on Ebay that were the right color for my liking, no aging needed. 

Let's get started...
The circle needs to be the same as the opening of the tin.
I found a glass in my kitchen cupboard that looked to be the same size as the tin, so I used it to create a chipboard template for my pattern.

I keep all my templates in a file as I frequently need them a second time.

NOTES ON WOOL: 
I have been buying small pieces of wool for many years...mostly when I go to Texas to visit my sister.  We have a few favorite haunts that sell hand dye wool...my favorite was a little store (that is unfortunately not there anymore) in Argyle, TX.  If you don't have any wool scraps on hand you can check a local quilt store.  And if that is not an option...online retailer, Ram in the Thicket sells hand dyed wool in every color imaginable, in fact I am not sure how you would choose!  They also sell in small pieces, which is what you would need for this project.  The price is very reasonable as is the shipping.  You can find them here.

If your interested in my favorite, houndstooth wool you can find it here.

or a group of 6 x 8" pieces here

and from the same Etsy shop, Three Sheep Studio, a bigger check. 

Remember, no matter what wool you buy, you will need two circles approximately 3"+ across depending on the size of the tin.

Okay, back to the tutorial...
Cut out wool with a 3/8" edge for sewing (2 circles).

With right sides together, sew around circle leaving at least a 1 1/2" opening.

Turn circle right side out.

Stuff the pin cushion till you can't stuff it anymore (even though it's small, it takes a good amount of stuffing).

Stitch it closed with matching thread.

Now make sure it fits in the tin!

To make the tufting-
I tried to use a standard needle to create the tufting (the magazine did not give a size) but it wasn't long enough to go through the puff.  So I opted to use a long needle (the kind people use to make dolls and such) to make the tufting in the center of the cushion. I threaded heavy duty button and carpet thread through the needle.  Then starting from the bottom I sewed up through the pin cushion and back down, pulling tighter each time.  I went back and forth about 2-3 times.  The article says to thread the button onto the needle and then pull back toward the bottom but my needle was too big to go through the shank of the button so I finished off my thread and glued my button to the top later.

Once you are satisfied with the tufting, add glue to the bottom of the wool puff.

Place into tin and use your finger to hold down for a few minutes so the glue can dry a bit.

If you did not sew you button on, add some glue to the center and add a button.  I used some beautiful glass buttons I picked up at a favorite store in Texas.

Let dry and your done!

Unless you want to add a bit of embellishment...just a thought.

cheers!
paula

The calender saga continues...

I was working on a post for Wednesday but kept having to stop to send out calendar downloads (not a bad thing) and then I had a epiphany...why in the heck am I writing a new post on a different subject when everyone is crazy for the calendar?  So I got up from the keyboard and went back to the workroom. Thirty minutes later I came up with a few more ideas for you to try.

Printing:
Did you know that the calendar prints in two sizes?
If you drag the calendar from the email to the desktop (I am using a Mac) it prints about 1/4" larger than if you drag it to Adobe Reader.  Again, I am using a Mac so I just drag and drop the PDF onto the Adobe icon on my tool bar and the file opens in Adobe and is ready to print.
If you don't have Adobe Reader you can download it for free here.

Recycle:
I mentioned in a recent post how much I liked 2011 Paper Source Calendar.  I used one on my desk in  2010 and hated to part with the beautiful letterpress paper so I decided to recycle it using the printed calendar over the top of the numbers from last year.

I printed the calendar on some paper I have been hording for a few years.  I use to buy it at Recollections when they were in business... it's a smooth recycled paper.  Wish I had more now that I am down to two sheets. 
Once I had printed the three sheets, I cut out the calendar leaving 1/4" on all sides.  Then I added each month over the recycled 2010 calendar. with adhesive. 

Or you can take it one step further and cut a small slice in the paper and slip it in.

Here is how I did it...Since I was making 12, I cut a template (I am the template queen, just ask Deb) to match the corner...then I only have to measure once.

Place the calendar exactly where you want it on the recycled calendar.
Lay the template on the corner and make two pencil marks on the ends of the triangle.

Remove the calendar.
Using a metal ruler and an X-Acto knife, cut the recycled calendar from one pencil dot to the other. Repeat on the opposite corner.

Now just slip the new calendar in place.
I love this idea because I get to keep the expensive letterpress calendar that I love and enjoy it for 1 more year.  Yeah!

If you don't want to go to all that trouble, just staple it on with a Mini Attacher.

CD Case Calendar from Scratch:
If you don't have an old calendar you can make one from scratch.  You will need an old recycled CD case (maybe it's time to throw out that Michael Bolton CD you've been hanging on to anyway), three sheets of 12 x 12 patterned paper, and three sheets of coordinating cardstock.

Cut 12 pieces of patterned paper 4 5/8 x 5 3/8" (4 per sheet).  I am using an old Basic Grey paper line called LillyKate.  This one is called Cherry Blossom.

Print the calendar on coordinating cardstock and cut out.

Cut out the calendar and adhere to patterned paper with a small bit of adhesive.

You can stop here and the calendar will look just fine or...
Use your sewing machine to stitch the calender to the paper.  (yes Judy, you are going to have to break out the sewing machine again!)

Repeat sewing for all 12 months.
Now you can add the calendar to your CD case.
NOTE: The calendar must stay reasonably thin to store all 12 months in the CD case.

Love it.

Or change it up by rounding the corners and inking edges with Distress Ink.

You can still use the CD case but then I thought, what about a vintage flower frog?  got about 100 of those around the house with pictures, quotes and flashcards in them, so why not a calendar?  It will make a lovely vignette on my desk with my beloved Ticonderoga pencils.  Now I need some chocolate for my pressed glass dish.

Okay, that's all for the calendar...I only have 1 hour left to pack my bag for a quick overnight trip up the coast to Monterey.  Remember, if you have not already done so you can still enter to win one of two kits to make the original calendar with the book covers.  However, you will need to go back to the last post to leave a comment.  We will pick a couple names and Deb will post in the morning since I will be enjoying the aquarium at that time.   If you have already left a comment for a chance to win you do not need to leave another on the last post.  
Thanks everyone!

Best Wishes for the New Year!

It's that time again.....Time to start the New Year fresh with a fun new calendar.  I usually get halfway through January before I figure out that I need a calendar, so this is planning ahead for me.  I have found a few fun ones that I thought I would pass along.


This calendar I actually saw in Anthropologie a couple of years ago.  I still love how a simple block of wood is the stand for the calendar cards and a pencil.  I think great inspiration if you are so inclined to make your own.

 Stitched calendar - By Sara Lynn

Chalkboard calendar -  by Somethings Hiding Here

 Just cute - by Yee Haw

Library card calendar - collettepaperie

Love the concept of this calendar which is really more like a journal.  An index card for everyday of the year is divided by postcards for each month.  Everyday you are to write something that happened that day.  This is repeated each year.  So fun and interesting after the first year so see what you had done on the same day in previous years. 

quotes calendar - colettepaperie

mini notebook calendar - colettepaperie

Calendar of silly holidays - Dirty Bandits

 Chalkboard/vinyl wall calendars - Simple Shapes

Old door weekly calendar

 Wall chalkboard calendar - Martha Stewart

Last year we made this desktop calendar as our make and take at the 7gypsies booth at CHA. 

 For those of you that don't get to attend CHA we thought you might enjoy making this fun calendar.

Here's what your going to need: (all products except tack from 7gypsies)

Autograph bookcovers

 seam binding ribbon

binderie punch

Avignon - diagram paper

chain dangles

round photo turn

arrow photo turn

venice clear stamp (not pictured)

victoria decorative brad (not pictured)

tack (not pictured)

1" square book board piece (not pictured)

calendar download

DOWNLOADING:

Email us at contact@2gypsygirls.com to get your calendar pages.  Copy onto creme colored cardstock.  Cut apart leaving leaving 1/4" around bottom and sides and 3/8" edge on top.

COVERING:

Thoroughly cover the backs of the autograph book covers with glue stick and attach diagram paper.

Trim and sand edges

NAIL:

Glue 1” square piece of book board behind the center of the large A on back side of front cover.   

With your thumb push tack into front cover in the center of the large “A”.  Lightly hammer tack 3 times until it starts to go through second board.  

NOTE:  If tack doesn’t stay, pull tack out and put a dot of glue in hole and reinsert tack.  Let dry.

PUNCHING - covers:

Punch center top of both front and back pieces making sure the cover is pushed all the way to the back of binderie punch.

PUNCHING & STAMPING - calendar cards:

Punch hole in center of calendar cards approximately 3/8" from top edge.

Stamp the calendar pages with the clock face from the Venice clear stamp.  

Stamp the clock face a couple of times on each page with the image going off the page.  

We stamped with Ranger Distress Ink - Tattered Straw

RIBBON:

Tie ribbon from back to front in a bow to hold boards together (back pictured).

DANGLES

Cut back off brad and attach with glossy accents to round photo turn and set aside to dry

Take at least five links off of the end of the chain dangle and reattach link to the top ring so you have 2 chains dangling.  Attach arrow photo turn and round photo turn dangles to chain with needle nose pliers. 

With clasp attach dangles to ribbon at bow.

That's it....pretty simple.

Happy New Year!

Deb and Paula