My Patriotic Swap Ornament

If you read my last post you know I entered a Patriotic Ornament Swap hosted by Sarah at Makin' Projiks.  Now I am going to show you what I submitted as my contribution to the swap.  As a I stated before these are well traveled ornaments.  I was on vacation while making these so they were all over NY, Massachusetts, Missouri, and then on to their final destinations, wherever that may be.

My initial project I was going to make was a bust, because I couldn't get my printer to work so I gathered all my patriotic colored supplies and hit the road.

Here are some pictures with my ornament in the works.  Sorry for all the different color tones to the pictures but as I said before these were crafted on vacation and taken with my cell phone.

I had some vintage blue ornaments that have been riding around in my car for months, a box or red candle stick holders I picked up at the thrift, cupcake wrappers, wooden balls, chenille stems, glitter stars, ribbon paint, glue, and accessories.  Now to figure out what to do with all this.

I used the candle stick holder as a base and glued some chenille stems to them.

I used the vintage glass ornaments as a body...I hope they make it intact to their destinations, you never know with vintage ornaments.  The cupcake wrappers were used as a skirt.  I have never done this before and didn't realize how tough it is to glue a paper cylinder to a glass cylinder, but I persevered.

If I thought gluing paper wrappers to vintage ornaments was hard, gluing glittered ribbon to the paper and ornament was even harder.  There were gaps between the ribbon and glass ornaments that I had to fix.  I also had to decide whether to tuck the stem of the ornament into the candle stick holder or use it to keep the wooden ball on.  I tried it both ways and stuck the wooden balls over the ornament stems.

I got excited because it was coming together and I could see what they could potentially look like.  as I was making these they kind of reminded me of something...

Here they are with their heads...oh wait one is missing their head!  I ran out of wooden balls.  The project would have to wait because I sent my sister to the store to get some and they were all out of the size I needed.  I had her pick up a smaller size but I didn't like the way they looked.

Now the hard part for me...their faces...I hate painting faces, they never turn out right!

I just settled for eyes and hair and added accessories.  I wanted to add more layers but I was running out of time and had to get these in the mail, so out they went!

Here is a view of the finished ornaments.  They are all different but similar.

There were brunettes!

Blondes!

and Black haired dolls!

I hope all the recipients enjoy them.  I had fun and a lot of stress making them but that is all part of the creative process for me.  Do you want to see the original ornament....the ornament that these were based on?

TA DA!  My five year old niece also made one.  We made hers first.  It helped with the development process of the final ornament.  I think she did an amazing job.  There was a lot of paint, glitter and glue involved.

Look at that happy face and glitter hair!  So cute.  Kids are so talented and artistic and are not swayed by others opinions.

So did these ornaments remind you of anything?  I can't decide which one the ornament looks like more...

https://ignaciosantonja.wordpress.com/2011/03/23/superheroes-de-todo-a-100/

Super Woman?

or

Wonder Woman?

http://prenatalyogacenter.com/blog/postnatal-yoga-and-the-power-pose/

I'll let you decide.

Oh guess what?  My Swap box arrived today and I can't wait to show you what I received.  There are some very talented people out there.  Stay tuned for the reveal or check out Sarah's blog Makin' Projiks.

Patriotic Swap

I joined a Patriotic Swap hosted by Sarah at Makin Projicks.  I've been looking for a swap to join so I could get my craft on.  I work better under pressure.  Sarah has never done a Patriotic Swap before but I and others kind of asked her to host one.  I'm wonder what I will receive because I had no clue what to make.  I pulled out all my red, white, and blue stuff trying to decide.  I had a totally different projick in mind for the swap but my printer wouldn't work and I was going on vacation.  I tried figuring it out but no luck.

So I packed up all my craft supplies, headed to Syracuse, and then off to Massachusetts.  These are well traveled swap gifts...kind of like our founding fathers.  I worked on them in Syracuse, Plymouth, and in Western NY.

Here is a sneak peak of what I was working with.  Can you figure out what I made? 

I had my 5 year old niece helping me.  She also made one for herself.  As we worked on hers I was able to work out most of the kinks before actually working on the ones I would be sending out.  Hers was really cute I should have just had her make all of them.

I used pieces and parts of stuff I had collected.  I over packed and only used a few of the craft supplies I had brought with me...I also ran out of stuff so I had to make a craft stop while on vacation.  That was not part of my vacation plans.

I also miscalculated on when I had to send these out, I thought I had more time to work on these...NOPE!  I finished these up and sent them on their way in a little patriotic wrapping.

Stay tuned for the full reveal.  

I will have a full post of what I made after I receive my Patriotic Swap box.  You can also check out Sarah's blog and see how talented she is with crafting, quilting, and decorating.  Sarah has such cute kids and she is never afraid to say how she is feeling.  She hosts Swaps throughout the year so if you want to get your craft on think about joining her Halloween Swap!

Yard Saling Memorial Day Weekend

I love going to yard sales, thrifting, or going to flee markets as many of us in blog-land like to do.  It is rare for me to find a yard sale where I find stuff I like.  Most yard sales in my area have a lot of children's clothes, toys, or modern random stuff, but every once in a while I find a good one.

I stopped at a sale that had a lot of vintage stuff.  I wish I would have bought more but this was the last sale I found and I was running out of funds.  I'm not sure where the couple got the stuff they were selling but the guy said he had more stuff in boxes he needed to get rid of.  I had to pick through boxes to find the stuff I bought.

I found a box of reflectors and two Putz style folding fence to go around a Christmas Village or Tree.  I'm still waiting to find a feather tree!

A bag of some vintage and newer style clothespins.  Yes I still hang laundry out on a line and I love this type of clothespin.  Nothing beats the smell of freshly laundered, sun dried clothes and sheets. 

In the far left corner a bolt of lace (newer, but a lot of it), some wooden tie on ornaments  and fuzzy deer.  These actually came from another sale.

A cute baby blanket with some embroidered animals.  There is a few stains on it.  I'm debating on how to clean it...Any Hints?  I was told to oxi-clean it.

This picture is not the best but it is a closeup of the fabric and embroidery.  All those dots on the front is yarn, tied on the back, with a cute floral backing.  I have few quilts but this was cute and so cheap I had to have it.

and Mattel Tuff Stuff Blocks...my siblings had these as a kid.  

I enjoyed my weekend of sales and spending time with my family.  I hope your weekend was just as enjoyable.  I did not let this holiday pass without remembering the men and woman that have fought for our country and visiting my relatives that have passed.

Seeing Stars

I was on Pinterest several weeks ago...No let me rephrase that because I'm on Pinterest almost every day...while I was on Pinterest several weeks ago I came across a post with unique lighting ideas and links to the sights.  While checking out the post I saw this picture and thought to myself that I wanted to make that.

Star Light Star Bright Light Garland ~Mon Makes Things

 I clicked on the link and it took me to Mon Makes Things with a tutorial describing how to make the Star Light Star Bright Light Garland.  If you would like to see their tutorial click on the link above.  She used a strand of 25 count globe lights and sheets of white foam to make her string lights, and she also painted her cord white.  

After seeing her tutorial I went online looking for the supplies.  I was going to have to order the globe lights.  The cost around $25 depending on where you find them.  I was put off on the price so I put off placing my order.  When I was in the city shopping, I stopped at a $5 and Below store and found a cheap set of globe lights that I thought I could experiment with so I bought them.  I still want the real globe lights but this will do for now. 

Here they are.  It's a 15 count Christmas style string of lights with plastic globe covers for the lights.

The first thing I did was remove the plastic globes from the lights.

I next covered the bulbs with tinfoil.  If your not careful the tinfoil will come off.  Use what you have and if you have the real globe lights you would just remove the bulbs for easy painting of the cord.

I also covered the metal plug with tinfoil.  I'm not sure if you should do that but I haven't had any problems with the lights since doing that.

I next removed the lights from the box and left them in a pile.

Then I went to town with Gold Krylon Spray Paint.   In the original post they sprayed thiers white but I thought the gold would be nice.  I did very light coats of spray paint, waiting for it to dry between coats and I also moved the string lights around so everything was covered. 

When I was in the city I also stopped at Michael's to get some craft foam.  They had some pretty glittered white foam sheets so I bought those instead of the plain white sheets.  The plain white sheets of foam was cheaper.  I bought 4 sheets of foam for $1.49 each.  I cut each sheet into 6 equal sections.

Now comes the hard part.  I free formed my stars until I had a star that looked like a star.  

I then used that star to trace my other stars.  You now have an idea of what most of my stars look like.  Feel free to print off a star shape from the computer and use that as a template if you don't like the free form look.

Here is a pile of stars ready for their shining moment.

I took the plastic globe, placing it on the center of the star and traced it to see how big the hole should be.  That was a pain so I just free formed the hole.  I then stuck the completed stars on the string of lights.

The glittery foam gives it a nice glow.  The lights are low wattage so I'm hoping there will be no melting of foam or any fires. 

I had difficulty taking a nice picture of the lights.

They are very pretty in person.

The only problem I have with the lights is the Green Sharpie Marker lines on the back of the stars.  I think I will pop the stars off the lights and give them a coating of the Gold Krylon spray paint.

I definitely want to do this again with the actual globe lights.  This string of lights gives off a nice little glow.  If your interested in making a set for yourself I would suggest you check out the Mon Makes Things tutorial, she has such nice photos.  Let me know if you try this.  My sister-in-law wants me to make a set for her now or give her mine...we shall see!

Destroying My House

So several months ago I purchased a dollhouse off Craigslist for $20.  It came with the house and 3 huge boxes of supplies.  All the supplies were from the 80's or early 90's.  Some of it I'm sure will be useful but I don't like the wallpaper included and a lot of the paint was dried out.  The person that built the dollhouse originally made them for a living so there were a lot of bits and pieces and the dollhouse was put together rather well even though it is a slot and tab constructed doll house.  The dollhouse is a Greenleaf Jefferson house.

When I got the doll it it was in much better condition than it is now however I have been very, very, slowly taking it apart.  Let me say it has sat around for awhile with me doing nothing with it.  I would pop off a window here and there but last night I really went to town taking it apart,  This is  photo heavy post.

So this is the house, missing some of the windows and front door.  It is painted a red color which I don't like.  The photos were taken at 1am, I was up till 4am taking it apart...I couldn't sleep.

The windows and door way that are still attached to the home are still there because they are glued in really well and I am trying to figure out a way to remove them without damaging the siding, even more than I already have.  If you look at the photo below you can see at the bottom right window that there is a piece of siding missing.  It tore off when I removed that window.  I kept it to glue it back together but it seems to be missing now.  (My nieces have been playing with the house.)

In the below photo I had also started removing the electrical wiring.  I had to remove that to get to the layers of wallpaper stuck to the wall.  I don't know how a dollhouse is supposed to be decorated but this one had several layers of wallpaper and floor coverings that were coming unglued because of age.  The wiring was over top of some of it and under some other layers.

Here is the top two floors.  There are pieces and parts of furniture, wallpaper coming off the wall, dusty flooring, and some really stuck on trim.  The attic was not finished so that was the easiest room to tear apart.

This was supposed to be the kitchen area but I think it was used as another living room.  The room had some plastic paneling that was coming off the walls.  The piece on the floor was the last piece removed from the house.  The paneling was all warped so I won't be able to reuse it. 

The downstairs hallway.  Some of the spindles were missing from the stairs and others were broken by the kids.  Some of the bead board is painted and some not.  The bead-board is warping but it is also really stuck to the walls, along with the ceiling trim.  Any ideas on how to remove them and the wallpaper?

The right side upstairs bedroom above the future living room.  My photos are out of sync and my computer wouldn't allow me to adjust them.  This shows the wallpaper coming loose exposing the wiring.

The other living room.  My plan is to not have any colored painted trim in the house.  It will all be white.

The left side bedroom above the future kitchen, again pieces and parts.

The upstairs hallway.  I can't get that piece of green trim off the end above the window, or even remove that window.  I broke my nail really bad trying to remove the stuff. 

The picture before the deconstruction.  That roof flap doesn't normally come on the dollhouse, or at least the ones I have seen but the builder added it to this house.

With the flap up so you can see the attic.

Demolition!

Trim and furniture pieces removed.  Is this what a normal house demolition looks like?

The after photos of what it looks like now.  You can still see the wallpaper and trim stuck to the walls.  Any ideas on how to remove that would be greatly appreciated.  I have been doing research but I haven't found any good ideas yet.  I want to start with a blank canvas.

Future Kitchen.  This room is the biggest problem.  I can't get the stuff off the walls, the non working and broken windows out and the old flooring is still there because it is glued down well.

Another big problem area, the downstairs hallway.  I have removed the staircase.  This is exactly how it looks right now.

The future downstairs living room.

The bedroom above the living room.

The bedroom above the kitchen.  The wallpaper in here is horrible.  It is very thin and does not peal off well.  It feels like computer paper.

The upstairs hallway.

So this is the project I am working on now, very slowly.  I have realized this is going to cost me a fortune to renovate, just like a real home, because everything needs to be replaced.  I thought I could  just go in and decorate but nope it needs a total overhaul.

The windows in this place don't leave much wall space downstairs in the kitchen and living room area for decorating so I have been thinking of filling in those spaces.  Has anyone done that before and have any recommendations?  I want to do this right.  

I have been looking on Pinterest and Google but I am willing to take any helpful suggestions or links you may have.  I will try to keep you guys updated as I go along.

Investment:

Dollhouse              $20

Delivery Fee         $10

Paint                       $16

                            +_____

                                $46