Sunday, November 13, 2011

Shabby Chic White Christmas Tree Branch Tutorial

Hello lovelies!
As promised, a fabulous fluffy Shabby Chic swag made out of y
our
old faux Christmas tree branches.
This can also be done with traditional evergreen branches, collect remnants from your favorite resale shoppe!
For this project we are making a swag to go above my living room cabinet.


If you want to make the hanging swag below, simply follow the tutorial and face bow and pine cones downward.
Supplies:
  • 2-4 old faux Christmas tree branches
  • wire cutters
  • florist wire 4-6 pcs
  • 2 large pine cones (paint the tips white or pink, let dry)
  • 4-6 ft white wired ribbon
  • strands of beads or pearls
  • scissors
  • crystal knob or jewelry accent
  • pink napkin or fabric remnant
  • hot glue gun

Start by laying your branches on each other and wiring together.
If you want it fluffy add two branches on each end.
Draw the centers together and wrap the wire tightly around both branches.
Next, take your wire ribbon and make the bow by wrap layering it.
Wrap wire around center and fluff the layers out.


Wire your pretty bow on to the the center of the tree branches.

Next, take wire and wrap around fat end of pine cone and wire this up underneath the bow and around the tree branches.
After that, loop your pearls or beads and hot glue
(Ahhh! be careful not to burn your pretty fingers!)
to the top of the pine cones on each side.

Now let's make the napkin rosette!
I chose a castoff napkin that lost it's counterparts and had a little stain on the center section.
I like to just cut about a 1 1/2 inch strip around the whole napkin.
Then cut a smaller 1 inch strip if needed.

You should have a nice little pile of fabric to work with.
Napkins work great, they have nice clean edges!

I'm not sure how other crafters make their rosettes, but this is a no sew version via me!
Gather the material and glue as you go.
Turn the fabric as you gather and glue.
Keep going until you get a nice full fluffy rosette.
(This is always where I burn my fingers, yikes! Be careful!)
I had a ruffle remnant so I added it to the back of the rosette.
When finished with the rosette glue crystal knob or jewelry piece to the center for
a little extra sparkle darkle!

Ohhhh, so pretty and deelish!
Now I have a pretty swag to fluff up my cabinet!
So fun and fabulous to reuse vamp up what you already have laying around!
This one I have outside my door!
Well my sugar sweet friends, my chamomile tea is kicking in and it is time
for a rest!
Please share your creations with me and don't hesitate to ask questions!
Big Squishy hugs,
Olivia

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Shabby Chic White Christmas (on a budget)

Good morning ya'll!
It's time for a Shabby Chic Christmas!
I have been working on Christmas in my home, Flea Market booths and Etsy store.
I have kids, so, my Christmas decorating budget is SMALL!
~Giggles~
Sooooo, I search my creative brain high and low for neato ways to remake what I have into something pretty and Shabby for Christmas!
This pretty Marie Antoinette Christmas garland I created by stripping
the leaves off of a grapevine garland and painting the base a soft ballerina pink.
I used white pearls and pretty snowflake bows to doll it up!
One of my all time favorite things to create are wreaths!
I collect florals and ornaments from tag sales and resale shoppes until I have
a big pile.
Then I go crazy filling up a pretty evergreen or grapevine base with tons of roses and ornaments.
For this wreath I sprayed the holly branches pink to match the ornaments and bow.
I found this shade of pink ribbon in the regular ribbon section at the craft store.
(~Etsy~ Wreath click here)

I created this pretty garland from a cast off Christmas tree and pink napkin rosette!
Tutorial on this coming soon!
Isn't this frosty the snowman a cutie pie!
I added the pink scarf to give him some Shabby flair!
(We put his red scarf back on...my son said it made him look like a girl)
Giggles!!!!!
Mr Romantic fixed my computer so I am back in business baby!
Whoo Hoo!
Much more Shabby Christmas to come!
Today, I am busy putting up my Shabby Chic white Christmas tree in the living room!
I will be sharing with
My Romantic Home
and
Pink Saturday!
Hugs and love!
Olivia


Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Vintage Christmas Cards


Hello my darling friends!
My home looks like a Shabby pink and white
craft bonanza has exploded!
Tis the season! Today, I found these darling vintage Christmas cards!

What a cutie pie!
Ho! Ho! Ho!
(I still believe...Giggles!)

I received my issue of Vintage Charm Magazine and it is
sooooo gorgeous! Inside the magazine are vintage picture
cutouts for us to use for crafts.
I used this pretty lady to make an ornament card!
Anyhoo, my laptop blew up so I am using our ancient
dinosaur computer! It makes getting around to my favorite blogs take a week rather than an hour. Well, the kids are going bonkers! Hugs and love,
xoxoxo
Olivia

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Shabby Chic Christmas Village



Hello my darling Shabby Chic Christmas loving friends!

I am so excited to begin transforming my home,

flea market booths and Etsy shop into

a Shabby Chic Christmas glittering wonderland!

First on the menu...

Shabby Chic Christmas Village sparkling houses!
A unique sparkling pink teapot village house.




Pretty large Deptarment 56 glittering cottage home!

The entire village has been listed in my Etsy store!
I am planning a tutorial for many of my projects soon!

Don't the fluffy maribu feather trees look cute with them!

I just cannot help my excitement over Christmas!
Hugs and Happy Creating to all!


Hugs,

Olivia



Friday, October 28, 2011

Shabby Chic Christmas Feather Tree Tutorial

Hello lovelies!
I got published in the Fall Issue of Creating Vintage Charm!

Click to order!

For the holidays, this weekend, I am working on creating

fluffy jeweled maribu Shabby Chic Christmas feather trees!

I find village buildings at resale shops and paint them pink

(I plan to detail the houses with white paint and glitter )

I decided to create a pretty jeweled maribu feather tree to go with

the pink village.

To create these you will need:

*cone ( I used a crocheted one, but you can be creative)

*maribu feather boa

*hotglue gun

*scissors

*silk, clay or organza roses for topper

*jewel scraps


~First, I cut my cone to make a flat bottom.

~Next, hot glue feather boa on, starting at the bottom and

spiraling your way toward the top, leave about 1/2 inch at top to decorate.

~Glue flowers evenly around the top. Add your vintage jewel in the center.

~Finally take a tiny bit of elmers glue with your finger and gently

dab it on the outer edges of roses, then sprinkle with a fine glitter.

I love how soft and dreamy the feathers appear to accent the pink house just perfectly! So creative and fun for the holidays!
If you don't have the time (or burning your finger patience) I will be listing some of these in my
Etsy (click to view) store.

I can't wait to see what everyone is creating for the Shabby holidays!I will be partying with the darling Beverly at How Sweet the Sound!

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

Hugs,

Olivia












Wednesday, October 26, 2011

What sells in my Shabby Flea Market Booths

Hello lovelies!
I have two flea market booths!
One is big and one is small.
Today I worked in my small one and added some new delightful treasures!
One of my biggest sellers is small painted tables, desks and chairs.

I also sell lots of painted frames, mirrors and shutters!


Baskets, magazines and linens are also good sellers for me.
I throw a pile of vintage linens in a basket and let my buyers go to town.
I also love to use Shabby white and pink valances, tablecloths and bedding
to give my booths that sweet and cozy cottage feel!
I also love to have at least one vintage mannequin in each booth to dress up!
The pink number on my girl makes her look like a Shabby princess!

I am blessed to have a job that I adore!
I also include vintage toys and military to entertain those that are not so Shabby!
Lot's of painting and crafting to do before the Holidays!
Have a fabulous day!

Partying with
Cindy at My Romantic Home!
Hugs,
Olivia



Friday, October 21, 2011

Shabby Chic Kissing Ball

Hello lovelies!
Well, I have had out my handy "hot glue gun"
and pouf pouf, I created this pretty romantic tassel/ kissing ball!
I love to collect different scraps of pretty lace,I usually pick up lace scraps in the craft department at
our local resale shops!
For this little beauty I used a lavender sachet as the base...
Next I cut and tied layers of lace and ribbon to give it fullness!
At the top I added the softest touch of maribu feather!
Ooooh la la so frenchy and delicious!
Now....where is Mr. Romantic...
Giggles!

Have a fabulous day!
I will be sharing this with
My Romantic Home
and
Pink Saturday
Hugs,
Olivia

Monday, October 17, 2011

Love notes


While reading an old issue of Southern Lady,
I stumbled upon a poet by the name of Violet Witherspoon.
I found her story interesting and her poetry lyrical...








No debt is owed a smile, however warm,
That brightened hearthstone cold on gray-branched day,
Nor dearness of an eye that shone with special charm

And lighted lowest clouds along their way.
For spoken kindess let no payment pass,
Though in truth such never fell unheard,
Nor yet for look, nor dress, nor studied stance
Seen loudly clothed in pale and dying word.
Only a sightless scene deserves the fee:
'Twas but a hand laid lightly o'er my own,
A momentary mime, mute reverie,
For hands sing songs with words to lips unknown.
Unseen by thee who played the mummer's part,
In recompense for hand, I gave my heart.

January 3, 1905



A small entertainment for my Monday!
I had a fabulous and blessed Birthday! My day started with pink pancakes...
need I say more! My hot hubbie and
I got to actually go on a real date!
Thank you all for the sweet wishes
(and for even kind of believing I'm close to 26 years old, gigles!!
Big hugs,
Olivia

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