LittleMissMaggie: 10/21/12

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Fun Halloween Decor

Yesterday I shared some great Halloween decor with you that my friend Sue created. She finds the coolest stuff in her travels, things you would never think to decorate with for Halloween. I am always amazed at the things she buys especially after I see what she has done with them. Today I am sharing a few of her vignettes. I love this Old Crow ad. She told me she purchased this cake plate at Home Goods and she also bought some fabulous dessert plates to match it.

I'm not sure if this paper face is for Halloween or not but it sure resembles a Halloween lantern, doesn't it? Looks like a creepy pumpkin face.

How about this fabulous Memorial Record? I have never even seen one of these. I guess I haven't been to too many funerals where they have big fancy guest books like this one. It's bigger than a wedding guest book.

This tree with the crows looks like a real haunted tree. They look like they are eyeing something. It was probably the incredible luncheon Sue served us. I was sitting right in front of them, and I could swear something was watching me. I think they're kinda spooky.

This next photo must be an ancestor. Looks very scary to me. She must be a distant relative I never met, and I can't say I'm sorry to have missed her.

I just noticed my reflection in the glass while I was taking the next photo. This one really captured my spirit (lol). I can just picture this cabinet in a mad scientist's laboratory. It's full of many interesting specimens. Don't you love the strange dog sign?

Thanks for dropping in. My friends and I enjoyed having you.

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

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

The Witching Hour

Today I went to a Halloween Tea hosted by my friend Sue. Sue and her family love Halloween and you can tell by the way she decorates. I took several photos which I will be sharing with you for the next couple of days. I love huge clock faces any day of the year, but check out how Sue transformed these for this special holiday. I remember being with her at the flea market when she found this niche vase. Isn't it something attached to this clock face?

I think this next one is my favorite because I love black and gold. It's a large clock face with a civil war soldier portrait and a small round mirror with a beautiful ornate gold frame. Kind of eerie, don't you think?

Here is another unique clock face with a skeletal image imposed on the center. Aren't these cleverly done? I bet these are easy to store too because they are flat.

Everywhere we looked there were busts of those who have passed on. I love this gray and white map with the black letters superimposed on the glass.

Here is the pet cemetery. It's one of the first things you see when you enter the yard. Sue even found a wooden box that looked like a tiny coffin for dolls. She comes up with the coolest ideas.

The place was crawling with these huge spiders. They were climbing everywhere. Don't they look real?

Then there is the guy on the left. He just hung around while we enjoyed our tea.

So did this ghostly couple below. I'll be sharing more before Halloween. Sue has quite the collection of ~~girlish~~ ghoulish things!

Thanks for your visit. Drop in and hang around any time.

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

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Fabulous Finds and Mod Podge Transfer Instructions

Sunday I went to my favorite flea market and I found some great finds including two vintage scales, but unfortunately I already took most of them to the shop and forgot to take pictures of them. I did, however, keep these to put on my website. No it's not ready yet, but it will be soon.

First of all, I found this adorable little toy telephone. I have never found one of these before and I researched the sold listings on Ebay. The pink phones seem to be more rare so I think I will do all right with this purchase. I think this predates my childhood because I don't remember these at all. No, I won't share which decade that was but it was a long time ago.

Notice no zip code after East Hampton, Connecticut, so we know it predates zip codes. I think this is so cute for a toy collector.

Now for my next favorite item (well, I was equally smitten with both of these) is this incredible seltzer bottle. It's etched and it's beautiful!

It just so happens we visited Dublin this summer so it is especially dear to my heart. I love the clover border and the etching is really detailed. I have not researched this manufacturer yet, but I think this was a wonderful find.

There are some wonderful details all over this bottle. Don't you agree?

I have gotten three emails so far asking me about the transfer method I used on my Paris Tea Cart so I have written out detailed instructions which I am including here. In the next couple of weeks I will do a photographic tutorial of this process. Time just didn't permit this week.

Thanks for stopping by.

Mod Podge Transfer Method

Select an image and make a laser copy image. If you take your image to the Fed Ex or Kinko's or the like, they will resize your image and reverse it if you need them too. My Fed Ex store allows me to email the image to them and it is ready for pick up in a couple of hours. If you have text on your image, be sure to reverse the lettering (mirror image).

I prefer to do this on a painted surface. After I have painted and sanded my surface, I spray it with clear flat spray. That seals your paint or chalk paint and makes your surface ready for the transfer.

Now cut close to your image but not right on the lines. Coat with mod podge and place the image face down on your surface. Smooth out with your hands to try to get out any air bubbles. Now leave it overnight so it is thoroughly dry.

Come back the next day and take a saturated wash cloth and wet the paper. Massage the paper with your fingertips to start removing the paper, but be careful not to remove the image. Clean off the paper residue that has lifted and walk away. Leave your project to dry. Repeat this process another three or four times until you no longer see the white paper. Each time you will see more and more of your image revealed.

When you are happy with the results, take really fine sand paper (300) and just go over everything to knock of any little paper residue that is left behind. Be ever so gentle. Then clear coat it with your favorite finishing spray. Easy peasy.

My first project was my flower pots. It's an easy inexpensive test project to get the process down pat. To view the flower pot project click here.

Happy crafting everyone. Embrace your inner artist every day. We all have one residing in our souls. It's just waiting to express itself!

Monday, October 22, 2012

Paris Tea Cart

I told you Saturday that I was working on a reverse decoupage project and finally it is finished. I did not take a before pic of this piece, but I'll describe it as truly a Bombay Company tea cart. I'm sure you have a visual of it in your mind. It was very traditional, and, just to ally your fears, no, I did not take a fine antique and shabby it up.

I had my husband paint the cart with primer gray, and then I came back and repainted it with Annie Sloan Ochre. Then I took my mouse sander and gave it a harsh sanding. I was going for the faded worn vintage look so soft colors and worn paint were the order of the day.

I did the top and bottom with only very slight variations. I took different images I found on the internet and literally cut and taped them in layers so that I could go to the copy store and get one 11x17 laser copy image. I made one copy for the top and one for the bottom. Working with one sheet of paper made it easy.

If you want to try this, don't forget to reverse the image if letters are involved. I'll recap my images in case you like the ones I used. An Old rose image search on the internet yielded this beautiful cluster of roses. The Graphics Fairy yielded four of the post mark images, the bee and the postage stamp with the butterfly. Just put in post marks and you should be able to find these. The image in the bottom right is an image I found when I was searching for French perfume labels.

One of these days I will do a step by step tutorial of what each step entails because believe it or not each sheet of regular copy paper needs about five tries at dissolving the paper to reveal the image. After the image was revealed, I came back in with a scrolly-type stencil and tried to make my paint a gray green to blend with my faded image. When this was complete, I sprayed about three coats of Deft lacquer spray over the image to seal everything. You can find Deft at Home Depot. I like the Satin finish. I'm still learning about this process, but I love the end result and I hope you do to.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Falling for Summertime Chintz

A few months ago I did a tablescape with this china and told you how good it looks in the fall. We use this china for Thanksgiving and it always works out beautifully.

You can see how the deep tones in the china are complemented by the deep hues of autumn.

I used a pumpkin for my vase. I cut the top off and inserted a jar that fit inside and arranged the flowers in it. One word of caution though if you decide to try this. Once the pumpkin is cut into it fades rather rapidly so don't set it on anything that can be damaged. Best to set it on a plate or discard the pumpkin right after use.

Aren't these brown sunflowers incredible? and I like the pretty powder puff mums.

What will you do with your fall tablescape?

Thanks for your visits. I always look forward to them.