Book Page Poinsettia

This is a reprint of one of my very first holiday posts which I'm sure only a couple of you saw.  These are very easy to do and I'm sure if you took a silk poinsettia and made a pattern from the leaves you could easily recreate these in a smaller version.  The ones I made last year were really large and a smaller size would be fabulous for Christmas packages.

 I love things made from book pages.  I recently went to a cute little shop in Orange County and saw a wall done with paper book flowers.  They were more springy looking.  Since it is time to decorate my space at Aubergine Emporium for the holidays, I decided to do my own rendition of a book flower.


Poinsettias by the Bunch

I started with a box I had laying around the house.  I used  a normal sized bread plate and traced it to make a back for the flower.

 I cut burlap circles larger than my cardboard and attached a ribbon on the back for hanging.

 Then I took spray glue and sprayed the burlap.  I cut slits in the excess burlap so that I could fold it over the cardboard neatly.

 Then I cut three sizes of poinsettia petals all in the same shape.  The actual largest petal was about the same length as the card board circle.  Then I made a slightly smaller petal and then a smaller petal still.  I put the patterns on book pages and cut them out.  I cut out five of each size petal for each flower I wanted to make.  Then I fan folded the base of the petal and taped it.  When I say fan folded, I first folded the base of the petal in half and fan folded out to each side.  Then I made the base of the folds flat and taped them so that I could glue gun them flat onto the cardboard.  You need to tape them so they stay flat and are easy to glue.  I laid down the largest petal first all the way around on the unfinished side of the cardboard.

 Next I took the middle size petal and folded them the same way at the base of the petal and then I glued them in between the large petals.  Be sure to leave a small circle in the center to put the center of your flower.

 Next do the same fan folding with the smallest petal and glue them in between the middle sized petals.  As you can see, I stayed in a pretty even circle in the middle.  Each layer goes directly in between the previous layer of petals.  You are still leaving that circle in the center.

Next take a little custard cup and cut circles like you did the larger back piece.  After these were cut, I took tissue paper garland (ivory color) and went around in a circle starting from the outer edge and working into the middle of the center piece of the flower.  I just used Tacky Glue to glue this down.  When that was done with the garland, I glue gunned the small circle into the center of my petals.

I purchased a sprig of red berries at Joann's Craft Store and cut off the little berries.  I glued them randomly over the center of the flowers to give them a little color.

When they were all finished, I cascaded them down my wall like a vine.  These would be beautiful on gifts at Christmas or also can be used as ornaments on the tree.  Thanks for visiting.  

I'm partying at...


Mondays          Le Chateau des Fleurs       The Graphics Fairy    
                                      Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage    A Stroll Thru Life   
                                     Cozy Little House Tweak it Tuesday
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style
                                           
Thursdays        The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday    
                                     Rustic Restorations Homespun Happenings
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Rooted in Thyme
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors

Sundays           My 1928 Charmer Sunday's Best

Glitterfest Coffee Filter Rose

Last week I showed you Fran's beautiful coffee filter roses that I found at the Little French Flea Market.  She explained to me how she did them, so I thought I would play around with them a little this week and I came up with my own slightly different version, but it is very similar to Fran's.

 I started with white coffee filters because that's what I had on hand.  In fact, I had everything I needed to do this whole project.  I used the left over coffee my husband didn't drink and dipped the filters in it to give them a little more character.  Once dried, I folded each filter into quarters and cut a heart shape.  I used four filters gradually making each heart shape a little bit smaller.  The centers of the roses are a quarter of a filter.

 I used garden twine, but you could use wire too.  I unfolded each coffee filter heart and snipped a little bit more to accentuate the cuts so I would have more defined petals.

 Put a tiny snip in the center of each cut filter and poke the wire through the largest cut filter.  Dab some Tacky Glue, then place the next smallest filter, dab the glue, then the next smallest filter, and so on and so forth. Once you have placed all of your coffee filters (at least four of them or five if you prefer), dab some glue on one of your quarter cut filters.  Don't forget to stagger the heart shaped cuts so your petals end up mimicking a real rose.  Wrap the quarter piece around the wire that is protruding up through your filters to place the flower center.

 This next photo is the quarter piece for the flower center.  Wrap that around the wire.

I used one-inch cloth tape I found at Walmart that I found in the first aid section.  It's white and goes nicely with the coffee filters.   Once all your filters are placed where they belong, squeeze all your coffee filters up toward the center of your wire stem and press them up close to your flower center quarter filter piece you just glued around the wire.  Remember that each coffee filter got that dab of glue?  Once you squeeze it upwards, the glue takes hold.  Now cut a couple pieces of the cloth tape and wrap it around the filters and the wire stem.  Once the cloth tape is in place, fluff your petals back out. 

 Here I set the flower in a glittered silver nest.  Some of the roses got silver glitter sprinkled in their centers and some of the petals got outlined as well.  These are great for package ties or tie them on your tree stems.  You could even use them for napkin holders.  Give these a try.  They are inexpensive and easy peasy.  Have a wonderful day.

I'm partying at...


Mondays          Le Chateau des Fleurs       The Graphics Fairy    
                                      Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage    A Stroll Thru Life   
                                     Cozy Little House Tweak it Tuesday
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style
                                           
Thursdays        The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday    
                                     Rustic Restorations Homespun Happenings
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Rooted in Thyme
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors

Sundays           My 1928 Charmer Sunday's Best

Book Review Part 2

Today I am doing part 2 of a post I did a week ago.  If you missed the post and would like to see it click here.  As I wrote last week, I found this book at the flea market and it is still available on Alibris.com and Amazon in used form of course since it was published in 1999.  I have to say I am sure I have seen this artist's work before and obviously appreciated this man's talent, but after seeing this collection of his work, I think I am going to become obsessed.  He designed a line of plates in black and white that I must get my hands on.  I love beautiful china and toiles are at the top of my list.  Oh, I almost forgot.  The incredible artist is Graham Rush and the title of the Book is Decorative Designs.  Last week I shared some of his neutrals and sepia tones, and this week I am sharing some of his colored works.  As I stated before, my photography does not do his work justice.  I am merely sharing this man's wonderful talent with you in case you are not familiar with his work.

Cover of the book

Pumpkin from page 110

Commissioned by Halcyon Days for an enamel box from page 90

Colorful still life from page 80

Study of a nightingale from page 41

Study of a red and yellow "parrot tulip"  from page 12

I just did a tablescape with this very flower.  Yummy!

Magic cabbage from page 158

Bookplate showing view of Suffolk Village from page 141

Sketch of the artist's French Bulldog Stella from page 103

Stella with color added from page 100

Scene from Cinderella from page 113

I'm partying at...


Mondays          The House in the Roses       Le Chateau des Fleurs        The Graphics Fairy
                                      Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage   
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style         Ivy and Elephants        Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild      
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Tablescape Thursday   Delightfully Inspiring Thursdays
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors

Sundays           It's Overflowing

Book Review Part 1

Last weekend I went to a local flea market with my friend and I found this book at one of the vendor's stalls.  I absolutely love the design and artistry of this book.  It is called Decorative Designs by Graham Rust.  If you love old book plates and scenic pictures, you will love this book.  The copyright on the paperback I bought says 1999.  I went on line and found several copies on Alibris.com and Amazon.  This man is an incredible artist.  My photos don't do his work justice, but the book is filled with amazing artwork and decorating ideas.  In fact, it had so many ideas, I am doing this post in two parts:  neutrals and colors.  There are hundreds of pics and ideas that he shares.  If you enjoy looking at these photos, you will want to get a copy of this book.  His style is very French which I know many of you love as much as I do.  The price for a used paperback was under $10.

Cover of the book.

Bookplate from page 140

Bookplate from page 139

Christmas card from page 127

Bookplate designed for Lord King of Wartnaby from page 139

Bookplate designed for Her Majesty the Queen from page 138

Bookplate designed for Her Majesty the Queen from page 138

Print from a collection of plates he designed from page 170

Book cover from page 130

I'm partying at...


Mondays          The House in the Roses       Le Chateau des Fleurs        The Graphics Fairy
                                      Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage   
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style         Ivy and Elephants        Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild      
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Tablescape Thursday   Delightfully Inspiring Thursdays
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors

Sundays           It's Overflowing

French Typography "Construction"

I'm not sure how I missed sharing this document before, but here it is.  This is the vintage typography I used for yesterday's post on the beautiful book covers.  I think this might  be one of my favorites of my French invoices.  Hope you can use this for something amazing.
Enjoy!

 

I'm partying at...


Mondays          The House in the Roses       Debbie Doos         The Graphics Fairy
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage   
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style           Primp         Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild     It's So Very Cheri Bloghop     Ivy and Elephants
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Tablescape Thursday
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors

Beautiful Book Covers

I found the inspiration to do this project at Confessions of a Plate Addict's blog.  She has a beautiful blog and I have just become a loyal follower of hers.  To see her tutorial  click here.    

 For the first stack of books I used one of my vintage French typography sheets.  I copied it three times and then placed it strategically on the book bindings so it would read across.  I just realized that I did not share this image with you so it will be the focus of tomorrow's post.  I love this French paper.  For the actual cover of the books I used brown mailing paper which I purchased at Walmart.  Basically the cost of this project is finding three books that match in size.  I purchased mine at a thrift store for $1 each.  Don't limit yourself to three books either.  You could do a whole row depending on how wide your image is.

 This look is totally romantic which is definitely my style.

 Here is an image I got from the Graphics Fairy.  It is a new image of hers.  I absolutely love it.  To use this image click here.

 Isn't this a fabulous decorating idea?  It makes a great presentation.  I hope you will give it a try.

I'm partying at...


Mondays          The House in the Roses       Debbie Doos         The Graphics Fairy
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage   
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style           Primp         Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild     It's So Very Cheri Bloghop     Ivy and Elephants
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Tablescape Thursday
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors

French Script Paper Lanterns

I've been wanting to do a project with paper lanterns for quite some time since summer is right around the corner.  This is exactly what I had in mind to do.  Well, Friday on my way home from work, I stopped  in at my favorite garden shop and what did I see?  Lanterns just like what I had pictured in my mind.  Kind of creepy.   Someone has been reading my thoughts!  Needless to stay, I stopped at the party store on my way home and picked up a package of 3 paper lanterns.  They were white.  Total cost for the 3 lanterns including tax was about $7.  I came home and started printing my French script typography invoices on tissue paper and set about covering the three lanterns.  For directions on the homemade tissue paper click here.

Now my lanterns were white and I like to use the natural tissue paper for a more antique look, but white would look fine too depending on your needs.  It was cold out last night, and I didn't want to brave the cold so I set up my trivets and photographed these in my kitchen so you could see what they look like lit up.

I have shared all three of these French invoices on my blog.  I am pleased with the way they turned out.

Since I didn't have a light strand, this is how I lit them.  I used two battery candles per zippy snack bag.  I hung the bag inside the lantern on the little hook they provided.  They illuminated quite well.  Each lantern took me about an hour's labor and I used the spray glue.  I think something like this would be great for Halloween.  How about a haunted Versailles theme?