Monday, December 31, 2012

January Calendar Birch and Birds Free Print

Happy New Year Friends!
 
I'm so thankful to you all for your kind comments
 
and visits.
 
I want to share my Birch and Birds painting
 
as a January Calendar Printable.
 
Hope the Folksy Winter Style makes you smile.
 
 
 
 
You can download your 8" X 10" page Here.
 
Or you can right click the image,
 
Save as jpg,
 
Then print on full page.
 
 
 Pin It!

 
 
Have a great New Beginning!
 
See you Soon,
 
Deb
 
 
Linking To:
 
French Country Cottage
 


Friday, December 28, 2012

2012 Favorite Projects

I didn't know what to expect
 
when I jumped into the blogworld this year.
 
It's been quite an adventure...so much fun!
 
And really, it's just what I would be doing anyway...
 
one project after another.
 
It's just that now I keep an art journal
 
and get to share it with you,
 
my like-minded creatives!
 
These have been some busy paintbrushes!
 
 
 
 
Here are the top 4 Most Viewed Posts.
 
 
 
 

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I thought I would also include a few more of my favorites.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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I'm looking forward to lots of happy art and furniture projects in 2013.
 
I hope my notes inspire you to create fun things for your home too.
 
Thank you friends for joining me on this handmade journey!
 
Deb
 
 
 
 
 
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Link Parties:
 


Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Sisal and Beadboard add New Twist

I always enjoy the cozy Christmas clutter.

But then I look forward to the fresh New Year.

So as I'm starting to plan for that

I thought it would be a good time to share

a project I worked on a few weeks ago

when I did a guest post over

at Debbie's Refresh ReStyle.

So here's my fresh new project:

 



It was "love at first sight"
when I found this rope in the thrift barn for $5.
I knew I could find some fun use for it.



All of that textural loveliness will give my plant a needed "pick me up".
So after soaking the rope in a bucket of bleach water
and laying out to dry,
 I wrapped and glued the rope
around my plastic pot.







That led to another idea.
What about giving this old plant stand
a new look.

This was a freebie.




But it just doesn't have that fresh beach house vibe
that I'm going for.

So I cut some beadboard panels to fit around the sides
and hammered off the metal flourish
at the bottom of the stand.


Now it's shaping up.





After base painting in a gray,
I brushed over in semi-gloss white
leaving random streaks of gray to show through.




Then a little bit of sanding
and a smidge of black glaze in a few places
and there you have it...
a cottagey beachy feel.

That will be such a nice complement to the sisal wrap.















 
 
 
My new plant stand has found a home now
 
 
 
 
 
 
Today I tucked a bit of sparkle in for the New Year.


 
 
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Hope you are all enjoying your homes
 
this Christmas Season!
 
Deb
 
 
Link Parties:
 
 












Monday, December 17, 2012

Make a Red Chalkboard

I've been experimenting
with making chalkboard paint.
I really like what's happening with it.
If I can make my own,
I can get whatever color I want.
Today it's Red.


But I didn't want just any red.

I wanted a bright red with a dark red shading surround.

I mixed 1/4 cup Plaster of Paris with 1-2 Tbsp water making a paste.

Then I added about 1/2 cup or more of Red Paint.

I used this bright apple red for the main base
and the darker colonial red for the shading.
When I shaded the edge I just used paint and glaze.
But all of the interior was the Chalkboard mix.

I applied 2 or 3 coats.









The paint seemed very durable .

 I kept chalking and wiping off with a wet cloth

as I was playing with design ideas.




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You might recognize the board

like the one I built here.





I had fun sketching different designs.





Now that's some good inspiration...

The same yum that inspired me to Paint a Starbucks Snowman.

Now for a happy snow girl:






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Blessings to you friends.

May you find

the

merry and bright moments

in your days,

Deb


Link Parties:

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Starbucks Snowman Serving Tray - Paint DIY

What a fun time of year!

This guy

will definitely add some happy to my home:




I thought since I decorate my car

like this:





I should bring some of that

Starbucks Holiday feel to my home.



I had a treasure in my garage

(a $1 Flea Market Find)

waiting for some personality.





Red oughta do it.

For the Starbucks background red

I used 3 paints.

Just a dot of white and the two reds

mix to make a nice color base.





Plan to sketch or enlarge a sketch on your printer

to transfer the snowman.

Transfer the lettering this same way

by chalking the back and using pen pressing on the front.





Base the snowman in with Kilz Primer.





For the gray shading on the snowman,

I dipped my large flat brush in clear glaze,

then dipped one side in white and one side in gray

and blended on.








I used a denim mixed with navy for the hat

along with the black shading.

Here are some other colors for the face:





These reds are great for the darker tones.

For the even darker one I added a drop of black.





I sprayed the finished tray with Krylon Clear gloss sealer

and just for fun affixed the Starbucks logo

(lending all credit to their copyright).


And now my car decor is in my home.





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There's just a little layer of ice on the lake.

Makes it sparkle.



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Now this is happy art

with this guy winking at you.

Cheers!

Deb


Link Parties: