Okio B Designs: February 2013

I popped into a local thrift store earlier this week. I wasn't in much of a buying mood but I figured I'd take a quick look. I walked out 99 cents lighter thanks to this petite muffin tin.

It's not vintage but for 99 cents, I knew I could give it a vintage farmhouse feel simply by adding some candles to the muffin slots. It's a look I've seen on Etsy and I just love it!

I picked up a bunch of these small candles from the Dollar store. And boy do they smell yummy!

I can't wait for a warm spring night to light these and just relax.

Total cost for everything: $2.99!

Jeanine

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I have no shame in posting projects that I'm feeling iffy about. Sometimes things don't go quite as you envisioned, and you need some other opinions to justify your own. Case in point, these votive candle holders I made last night.

I used some leftover French images I had printed onto tissue paper. I used these for some peat pots I did a couple of weeks ago. I figured how could I go wrong using them on these candle holders?!

I used the same Mod Podge technique I used for the peat pots. This time I added some German glass glitter on the images while the Mod Podge was still wet.

I'm just not feeling the love though. Not sure if it's because the glass glitter is over the images or if it's because the tissue paper is so obvious. I'm trying to decide whether or not to just start all over again and use transfer stickers instead?!

Decisions, decisions...

Jeanine

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There is this marvelous photo floating around Pinterest of an Easter nest in an urn. Perhaps, you've seen it? I was so excited because I had all of the components I needed for a quick copycat.

I got this little urn a few weeks ago at Goodwill. It's the perfect size to add a little nest. It could probably use a few coats of paint but I do like the chippy look.

I added some faux green moss from the Dollar Store and perched my little nest on top. Then I added my little bunny - which I can't for the life of me remember where I got it.

Super simple and a sweet Easter copycat!

Jeanine

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I really do love embellishing bottles. These are some I had used for other projects but kind of fell out of love with. So I peel off the old labels and embellishments, and start over from scratch.

The tall bottle originally had a Halloween touch. Now it's a shabby button holder. I used some leftover red ticking that I bought from Somerset a couple of years ago. I hand-stamped PARIS on a random piece of white fabric and adhered it to the ticking using fabric glue. Not sure if you can tell, but at the top of the tall bottle is a French address label from the Graphics Fairy.

The little salt (or pepper!) shaker is a Goodwill find. They only had one the one at the time and I loved the shape, so I snatched it up. I hot glued the photo holder to the back of it and then added some burlap, and another piece of random fabric which I hand-stamped SPRING onto. It's holding a miniature Tarot card from a deck I've had since my 20s.

I love the shape of the one with the lace. For that one, I used a pretty Paris image that I printed onto label paper. I distressed the edges a bit and stuck it on. Then I hot glued the lace on top and added a faux dried flower.

The best part is that I used remnants and random pieces from my stash so it cost me $0 to make these!

Jeanine

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According to my calculations, there are 24 more days until the official start of spring. Good enough for me to start breaking out the spring and Easter decorations.

I have two cloches that I switch out depending upon the season/holidays. For Valentine's Day, I used my pink one but spring calls for this pretty robin's egg blue one.

I actually keep this nest out all year. It sits on a vintage typewriter in our corner cabinet. It fits perfectly in this cloche so I did the ol' switcheroo. I can't not have a little French touch, note the little Paris postmark fabric tag in the nest.

I'll be sharing more of my spring and Easter touches in the coming days.

In the meantime, hope you're having a great weekend!

Jeanine

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Country has come finally come home! Yup, me and the hubby are ecstatic that New York has a new country music station. The only other one we could get was from Connecticut and we could only hear it on the way to my parent's house. Of course I had John Rich's Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy blaring in my minivan yesterday morning (I'm just too cool for words - lol!). That inspired this quick tank top:

The cowboy image is from the Graphics Fairy. I created the text using DaFont. First I printed off the image. Then I taped it to the sheet with the text and scanned both.

Then I was able to print everything out onto one page. I did it this way because if the text is not in a jpeg format, I can't mirror it and print it for the transfer.

Of course this was just a test one. I still have to play with it to get the line out from above the ride a cowboy part. Plus, I used the cheapie transfer paper which tends to yellow a bit. Not sure if you can see, but there is also a red rhinestone on there that I'm not sure if I love or hate.

Either way, I'm sure my hubby will get a kick out of it. If I can perfect the transfer, I'll be adding these to my Etsy shop.

Jeanine

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Is it me or is Blogger having issues again? I keep getting error messages and holy moly, is anyone else receiving a lot of spam messages? Thankfully, I have my comment settings set to approval because you cannot believe all of the spam I'm getting!

Anywho, I had this little wood plaque sitting around for a few months. I had painted it robin's egg blue and planned to use it for another project that never materialized. So instead of continuing to allow it to collect dust, I made this quick Salle de Bain sign for our bathroom door.

I printed out the text onto clear label paper. I wasn't in the mood for a lot of cutting so I just left a border. Peel and stick, and done!

Next, I added the little number plaque to the bottom - giving it a kind of French hotel look (in my mind anyway!). You can't tell from the photos but the door is white (it looks pink in the photos for some reason) and the blue gives it a nice pop of color.

Of course the hubby will either walk right pass it or I'll hear, "Hon, what does Sally d Bain mean?" Lol!

Jeanine

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Remember that petite colander I picked up at TJ Maxx last week? I turned it into a pretty spring nest:

Just added some faux "grass," a petite Dollar Store nest and some scented robin's egg soaps.

Yup, I'm ready for spring! And how cute are these Easter cupcake toppers from Target?!

Only $1 per pack. Too adorable (and cheap!) to pass up!

Happy President's Day everyone!

Jeanine

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This little cloche cost me a couple of dollars at a garage sale over the summer. I've dressed it up for Xmas and Valentine's Day and over the weekend, I gave it a simple spring touch.

Yup, I just added a roll of twine.

Then I made the butterfly tag with some French script and cardstock, and added it to a metal picture holder. It fits perfectly in the middle of the twine.

Super duper quick and I love the rustic look of the twine. I'll probably be adding a bunny to the cloche for Easter, but for now this works for me.

Jeanine

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Saw this on Pinterest and thought it was the sweetest idea ever! Bunny peat pots for Easter.

First I painted my peat pots white. One coat usually does the trick because you want a shabby look. While they were drying I printed off my bunnies onto tissue paper. One is from Etsy and the other is from The Graphics Fairy.

Next you kind of rip the tissue paper to get as close to the image as possible. Don't worry, you can barely see the edges when you get to the next step: Mod Podge.

Give the back of each image a light coat of Mod Podge and try to stick it to your pot quickly as it will curl. Once the image is stuck on (and dry), give it a layer of Mod Podge on top. In just a few minutes, you have some neat little peat pots to fill with all sorts of goodies. These are going to be our place settings this year for Easter.

Jeanine

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So I have a new strategy to outwit Mother Nature. I figure the more items I make for spring, maybe she'll get the hint. Nevermind that they are calling for more snow here tonight (boo!). I'm determined to enjoy an early spring - even if just in our house.

You've probably noticed how much I love this Carnival font (from DaFont.com). I used it for my Valentine's Day LOVE banner. This time, I chose a pretty blue hue and printed out SPRING on vintage sheet music.

I wanted a more rustic look for this one, so I used twine instead of tea-stained seam binding to string it together.

As soon as the Valentine's decorations come down, this baby is going up! Take that Mother Nature.

Jeanine

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I treated myself with a trip to TJ Maxx yesterday. The roads were still messy but what better way to soothe cabin fever than with a little retail therapy?!

How cute is this petite colander? I'm planning on adding a spring nest to it.

I couldn't resist the pink straws and striped cupcake holders.

And how adorable are these mugs? The cakes remind me of Marie Antoinette and they will look stunning on my Decor Steals mug holder.

Finally is this great metal organizer. I really needed one for my home office/craft room. I'm going to swap out their labels with some Frenchy ones.

A nice little haul for about $30 for everything.

Jeanine

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Don't you just love bunnies?! I have a few around the house year-round - not just for Easter. I printed out a few bunny images onto vintage sheet music and added them to some petite white Ikea frames that I hang in the bathroom.

In the summer, I have beachy/ocean creatures in the frames. For Xmas, I do Santa. Since I'm so antsy for spring and to decorate for Easter, I just couldn't resist.

Two of the images are from Etsy. The last is from The Graphics Fairy. I just love how they look on the sheet music.

I'll be putting these up in a few days - once I pack away the Valentine's Day decorations. I don't like rushing through these holidays but I'm just so desperate for warmer days.

Linking to The Graphics Fairy: Brag Monday.

Jeanine

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Here's what I woke up to this morning...

Yup, we got snowed in thanks to last night's blizzard a.k.a. Nemo. This is the view from my porch.

I don't want to jinx myself, but we luckily did not lose power.

Fingers crossed that we clean up and get out before Monday. View from our backyard. My sister will be happy to know she missed 3 feet+ of snow from her old Long Island stomping grounds!

Jeanine

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Yes, I have already starting making Easter goodies. Mainly because Easter is early this year (March 31st), and I have to get things into my Etsy shop. Since I was in a bunny mood, I decided to make two tea towels using this great image from The Graphics Fairy.

I buy these towels at Walmart. I think you get something like 6 towels for $2.99. I keep them on hand whenever the tea towel mood strikes me.

I printed my image off onto Target transfer paper (don't forget to mirror the image before printing). I'm not a big fan of the Target brand. I only buy it when I'm in a pinch. Problem is, when you are removing the paper backing, it rips and you are stuck scrapping it off and I sometimes end up taking the transfer off with it. Sigh! Lesson learned: generic brands are NOT always a good bargain.

Anywho, I did have some scrapping issues on one of these towels (it's the one on the bottom) and then I noticed a black smudge on the top one. I'll still put them out for Easter because I'm not picky. Of course one of my boys is sure to point out the black smudge.

Jeanine

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I picked up these petite ornate frames at our new Goodwill on Monday. They measure about 5" for the big one and 3" for the little one. They were a little tarnished but I recognized the potential and snatched them up for about $6 for both.

Here is the before. Don't you love the detailing?! And here they are after a couple of coats of spray paint (yes, I braved the cold just so I could spray paint these!).

I wasn't sure whether to leave them empty or add some pictures. While I'm deciding, I added these two lovely religious photos from The Graphics Fairy.

It's amazing what a couple of coats of paint can do.

What do you think? Keep them empty or keep the religious photos?

Jeanine

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Another chilly day here. A bit of snow is still on the ground. The ground hog in this neck of the woods saw his shadow on Saturday and you know what that means: 6 more weeks of winter. Sigh! I'm so ready for spring.

I'm thinking about warmer days, blue skies and all of the projects I have waiting for spray paint or chalk paint. Too cold to do them.

Dreaming of my toes in the sand, running around outside with the boys and wearing cute shorts. Wishing I could pack my bulky sweaters away - at least until next year.

Oh yes, I am ready for spring!

Jeanine

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I picked up this little wood plaque a few months ago at the local church thrift store. Last night I gave it a few coats of white paint and decided to make a sweet little French bird plaque with it:

I used some waterslide decal paper again. I had used it a couple of weeks ago on a terrarium and love the look. I used this great French bird image which is floating all around Pinterest.

The plaque is small - maybe 5x8, so I printed a 4x6 version of the image to use. Once I had the image sitting just right, I added some natural raffia ribbon by just tying it on the one side. Not sure if you can see, but there is also a pink rhinestone just beneath the bird's feet.

Super simple and now I have a sweet little plaque for my guest room.

Jeanine

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Who couldn't use a little love?

Just playing around with some fabric and stamps, and a small embroidery hoop for Valentine's Day. Glue on a Scrabble letter and you have a sweet little decoration.

Jeanine