Okio B Designs: 2012

It's hard to believe another year has come and gone. I'm welcoming 2013 with open arms as 2012 definitely had its ups and downs for me. We survived Sandy and 12 days with no power - definitely a downer. My 5 year old started kindergarten - both an upper and downer. I could go on and on.

My outlook for 2013 is much brighter and I've made just a few new year's resolutions that I hope to stick with: 1. Stop spending money on things we don't need; 2. Get more organized; 3. Pay it forward whenever possible; 4. Quit smoking and 5. Be more patient and understanding.

Not a huge list but one I plan on trying my best at achieving. What are some of your resolutions?

Happy new year!

Jeanine

*Image courtesy of The Graphics Fairy.

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Drawing inspiration from Pinterest and Sissie from Sissie's Shabby Cottage, I made my first ever rag-tie banner last night.

I used a bunch of leftover fabric pieces that were taking up space in my craft room. You know what they say about lemons and lemonade!

I love the shabby look. Makes me long for spring though. Sigh!

I just kind of looped and pulled each piece of fabric onto some twine. I think there are about 50 pieces of fabric on there. Yes, very time-consuming but so pretty. I think it might actually work for some of my upcoming Valentine's Day decorations.

Jeanine

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Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I play Santa in our house which means I purchase and wrap all of the presents - even those for myself (isn't my husband lucky?!). I only picked up a few things before the holidays for myself because I knew the after-Christmas sales would be better. Yesterday, I took a trip to the mall to hit some sales and picked up these yummy candles from Anthropologie.

I love the ceramic jars and Frenchy feel. And did I mention they smell delish! Seriously, I could sniff these candles all day!

I chose the Angel Food scent - although there were 3 other flavors to choose from. Unfortunately, they were not on sale. Still, they make for a sweet after-Christmas gift to myself.

Jeanine

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Wishing all of my bloggy buddies a very Merry Christmas! Hope Santa brings you lots of cratfy goodies!

Jeanine

Image courtesy of The Graphics Fairy.

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I cannot believe Christmas eve is tomorrow night! I've been busy cleaning and cooking for company, but I did steal a little craft time to make these Alice in Wonderland coasters.

Remember, I told you I had like a gazillion of these sea salt tiles in our garage? I hate letting them go to waste so I broke out my stamps and added these great Alice images. Once they were dry, I gave each coasters a coat of clear spray to seal in the image.

When the spray was dry, I added some felt backing to each one so as not to ruin any tables or counter tops with them. I think these would be so sweet for Valentine's Day with the red. Thinking about adding some to my Etsy shop, but this set is for me!

Jeanine

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I still have a bunch of peat pots left over from the summer. Since I'm still avoiding the chaos of the stores and malls (and still working with what I already have in the house), I decided to make a couple of new embellished ones.

I gave each a coat of white acrylic paint. I tried my hand at doing a mixed media one with the little girl. The image is from The Graphics Fairy and with Newtown on my mind, I wanted to use something with a little girl or boy.

I printed out the image on cardstock and stuck it on with Glue Dots. I added some pink glitter to her wand and hat. Then I added some distressed French poetry book paper, the twine, number 15 and a Paris clothes pin. For now, the pot is filled with some shredded sheet music.

For the second one, I wanted to keep it simple. I added some French script on cardstock to the bottom. I had a leftover star from the peace sign I did a few weeks ago, so I added that to the top. This one is filled with faux Dollar Store moss.

I have a few ideas for some Valentine's Day ones but I promise, I am not starting Valentine's Day projects...yet!

Jeanine

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I picked up this little wood drawer at the thrift store last week. Luckily, it was mild enough yesterday to get some spray painting done. I gave it a few coats of white spray paint, sanded and then added some Frenchy touches:

First is this little file tag. It comes pre-packaged with several self-sticking tags and inserts for things like Family Photos, 2012, etc. I cut out some French poetry book paper instead and added that.

Then I headed over to The Graphics Fairy for the French graphics that appear on both sides.

I used the Mod Podge method to get the graphic on.

I'm loving this little drawer! It fits my peat pots perfectly so hopefully it will be useful for my new year's resolution of getting more organized.

Jeanine

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Because I refuse to do any sort of shopping these last few days before Xmas (crowds, traffic, etc. - no thanks!), I'm doing some projects with items I already have in the house. Last night, I decided to embellish some of these apothecary bottles I pick up whenever I'm at a garage sale.

I added some vintage lace on the first one using spray adhesive. Then I wrapped some vintage French poetry book paper around the lace. I tied the old button (from my Mom's stash) on the front using twine. Another old button adorns the top.

For the second one, I just used the same French poetry book paper. This time, I added a distressed, hand-stamped tag and some tea-stained seam binding.

I love dressing these little bottles up and using items I already have in the house!

Jeanine

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Jeanine

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These pretty petite frames are from Michael's. I picked them up over the weekend not quite sure what I was going to do with them. I feel like they called for something Frenchy and that's just what I did with them!

Excuse the pictures - another horrible dark day here. First, I distressed some French poetry book pages. Then I hand-stamped the crown for one and a fleur de lis for the other.

I added a single rhinestone to the black one and then four for the silver one.

Yup, just what they needed!

Linking to Between Naps on the Porch: Met Monday.

Jeanine

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Popped into the local thrift store this morning and found a few nice pieces. Love this wrought iron easel.

I will probably end up painting it over the summer but for now it perfectly holds our Xmas countdown tray.

I also found some sheet music, a wood plaque and this wood crate drawer. I plan on giving that a shabby makeover and some French lettering.

Not bad for $5!

Oh, and anyone noticing a large amount of spam comments lately? I've been getting a ton of them and wondering if anyone else is having that problem too.

Jeanine

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I finally got around to Goodwill this morning. Not exactly a banner day for me. I feel like I need a t-shirt that says I went to Goodwill and all I got was this:

Chess set and little metal urn. I had my eye on a set of shabby chic plates but they wanted $14.99 for the set - a little more than I was looking to spend. The chess is for my boys. And the little urn is actually quite heavy. I'll have to give it a fresh coat of paint. Meanwhile, I whipped up some petite French pillows yesterday. It felt good to dust off the sewing machine.

I hand-stamped the images onto each pillow. Staz On really is the best ink and even though they say it's not for fabric, it works quite well and does not wash off (I have the oopsies on several pairs of jeans to prove it!).

Both pillows are in my Etsy shop. Now what to add to that urn...

Jeanine

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I have a ton of random fabric filed away in my craft room. One of my new year's resolutions is to get more organized and de-clutter. So while I was going through my fabric pieces, I realized I had a piece that was long enough for a quick farmhouse towel.

This great image is from The Graphics Fairy. I like the red and angels for the holidays but I like the sheep and Frenchy text for throughout the year. I used transfer paper to add it to the front of the towel.

The red ticking I bought from the Somerset Shoppe over a year ago. Not enough to do a pillow or something larger but just enough to use on my towel. I attached it using fabric glue and some clothes pins.

How easy was that! All you need is some fabric, transfer paper, image, ticking, clothes pins and fabric glue. And about 15-20 minutes which includes the ironing time and glue drying time.

Linking to the Graphics Fairy: Brag Monday.

Jeanine

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I've been very short on projects the last few days. Haven't had a chance to pop into Goodwill or the local thrift store. I did, however, make a few holiday candles using this pretty wrapping paper I got at Home Goods last year.

I used some Dollar Store prayer candles.

Really quite easy. Just cut your paper to fit the candle and Mod Podge it on. I used some green tea-stained seam binding for the top and added a little key embellishment.

I'll probably have these on the table for Xmas eve. For now, I'm just having fun tucking them here and there.

Jeanine

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I wanted to share this beautiful wood Santa my dad made a few years ago. They came to visit yesterday bringing me lots of homemade soup for my cold, as well as this big guy:

My father hand-cut and handpainted each and every piece on it. The mittens and star are attached to pegs in the middle.

Look at his attention to detail.

These photos don't do it justice as it's kind of another funky, overcast day here today. I wish I had an ounce of his artistic talents. I like to think I got the creativity gene but I can't draw to save my life and my handwriting is atrocious. Sigh! At least I can enjoy his hard work!

Jeanine

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Remember these?

They've been all over Pinterest and blogland. I had made some over the summer and thought they'd look sweet randomly stuck in our tree.

Clock #1.

Clock #2.

Clock # 3.

Clock #5.

No great skills needed for these. I just kind of wedged them in there. Just my speed as I'm on day 7 of my cold.

Jeanine

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Sometimes I like to keep it simple. Especially when feeling like poo thanks to my first cold of the season.

My hubby and I used to collect old bottles when we were first dating. I like to display them all year. In the summer, they get a beachy touch. In the winter, they get the royal treatment.

Just some crown pendants tied on with twine and lace. Simple.

Jeanine

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Ikea has these sweet tart tin ornaments. I forgot to take a before photo but they had a red gingham pattern in the middle and red ribbon to hang them. I decided to give mine a Frenchy touch:

I used some distressed vintage French book paper for the centers. My Cricut didn't have the exact circle size so my circles are a little smaller than the centers.

Once I glued the paper in, I added some enamel number tags and some little pink rhinestones.

I switched out the ribbon with some twine for a more rustic look.

They come in a pack of four but my 5 year old appears to have run off with the other two. Once I find them, I'm going to make a couple more.

Jeanine

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We're pretty much finished with our Christmas decorations. I tried to add a touch of the holidays to each room in the house. C'mon in and take a peek: