Okio B Designs: April 2013

I'm a firm believer that if life hands you lemons, you make lemonade. Case in point, my broken dress form peat pot.

I bought some rub-on transfers from Joann's a couple of weeks ago. Now, I'm no expert on rub-ons. I've only used them a handful of times. After rubbing for what seemed like forever, this transfer just didn't seem to be happening. So I kept at it.

I must have moved it while rubbing because it didn't exactly come out intact. As you can see, it looks, well, broken. Rather than toss the whole thing and move on to plan B, I decided it still had personality and potential. So I added some French book paper, a little flower bling and some shredded sheet music. To me, she's perfect now!

And these are a few more I did with a little less drama. They are in my Etsy shop.

I wouldn't say I've mastered rub-ons but I have it down to an inexact science.

Linking to Knick of Time Tuesday.

Jeanine

2 comments

We had such a crazy busy weekend that I wasn't able to take in any garage sales. Boy, am I itching! I did pop into our local church thrift store and found these two goodies.

Not sure how old the jewelry piece is but I found it to be interesting and unique. Thinking about painting it white.

The old compact doesn't have too many markings but it's in great condition for an old piece. I love the fabric and embroidery on the top. It says Elgin American. I'll have to look that up so I can find out a bit more about it.

Not bad for $2!

Jeanine

2 comments

I used to love playing with paper dolls when I was little. I used to make my own by cutting the models out of my Mom's Spiegel catalog (remember Spiegel?????). This one I found on Pinterest and couldn't resist!

I printed the template out onto cardstock and cut each part out. Then I used some brads so her arms and legs would be moveable. I hand-stamped the Paris on, and added a little bling.

She's really sweet and I would have loved to play with her when I was little. For now, she's just kind of hanging out.

Jeanine

3 comments

I'm doing my little Friday happy dance. The weather is gorgeous, the birds are singing and it's the end of what seemed like a long, long week! We have a busy weekend planned so wanted to share some random pieces that I've been working on.

This candlestick I found at Goodwill earlier this week. I gave it a few coats of ASCP in Old White. It's kind of hard to tell but there is a French graphic on there.

How about now? It's a great Paris address image from The Graphics Fairy printed onto decal paper.

In addition to the paint and decal, I added a little crown charm with some twine, and one of my French script candles. And ladies, hang on to your old veggie cans...

With some chalk paint and decal paper you can transform them into these. I'm using the taller one as a vase and the smaller as a candleholder.

I gave each can a coat of chalk paint and then added my images.

The one on the smaller can is the same one on the candlestick. And a big thank you to my sister Kathy from Creative Home Expressions.

She found these nautical goodies at her local Goodwill and sent them to me for my porch's beachy theme! I'll be working on them this weekend! Isn't she sweet?!

Jeanine

3 comments

Remember the little hand mirror I picked up at Goodwill that was missing the mirror? Well, here it is now.

I wanted to use a Victorian image for it and found this perfect one from The Graphics Fairy.

I printed it out onto cardstock and then carefully measured it so it would fit into the mirror. I used some silver glitter around the inside edges and added some rhinestones and faux pearls to each lady for a little bling.

I think the image fits perfectly as it adds just a touch of color.

Jeanine

3 comments

I picked up this little crate from Goodwill yesterday. I was going back and forth on whether to keep the natural color or paint it. So I did a little of both.

I gave it a "white-wash" instead - basically spreading on some paint and then wiping it off to get just a hint of color. I left some of the natural wood showing too. I notice a couple of little paint oopsies but those are going to come right off with some sandpaper.

I loooooove this rooster image from The Graphics Fairy so I knew that was the first thing going on both sides of the crate. I printed it off in the smallest size possible onto decal paper and placed it on both sides.

I used some leftover Scrabble tiles to spell out NEST. Then I added some faux green moss and two little eggs for a finishing touch.

Super cheap and easy as I had everything I needed!

Jeanine

8 comments

Super excited by this morning's Goodwill finds. The last few times I've gone, I've come out empty-handed. Not today!

Excuse the photos. It's a dark, dreary, COLD day here yet again. Anywho, how cute is the little lantern? It was half price so it was 85 cents. The beeswax candle is getting tossed; I just wanted the little crate. The metal urn will be first up in the makeover department.

I love this little flower basket. I'll be ditching the flowers though and keeping the basket.

This tall candlestick is definitely getting a chalk paint makeover and probably a Frenchy touch or two.

My favorite piece is this hand mirror. It's actually missing the mirror.

But that's fine by me! I'm thinking of adding a Marie Antoinette image or Victorian lady with some bling.

Not a bad haul for $18 total!

Jeanine

6 comments

You've probably seen these all over Pinterest. I, myself, have pinned them a few times. I love the look and since I always have a nice stash of Ball mason jars lying around, I figured I would make some too!

I only have three ASCP colors: Old White, Louis Blue and Antoinette. Lucky for me they look gorgeous together!

I only gave them a coat each of the chalk paint because I find it to be rather thick.

Once they were dried, I used sandpaper to shabby them up a bit.

I love, love, love how they turned out! I'm going to use mine with some LED candles.

Jeanine

7 comments

Just a quick project. A small bucket of starfish for my beachy-themed porch.

I used some decal paper to add my starfish images (from Etsy) to my bucket which I believe I got at Target a few summers ago.

There are some sand dollars tucked in there as well.

Dreaming of beachy weather. It's almost here! Total cost: $0 as I had everything I needed. I'm still have $90 left for my beach makeover budget.

Jeanine

5 comments

Remember I said I had another little Ikea pitcher that I was planning to jazz up? Here it is in all of its Spring glory - flowers and all!

I used this great image from the Graphics Fairy and some more of my waterslide decal paper (buy it from eBay!).

My daffodils were starting to tip over so I snipped the ones that were leaning on the ground and added them.

Love the yellow with the off-white and black lettering. Definitely screams Spring to me!

Jeanine

No comments

Haven't had too much time for crafting/blogging over the last few days. My hubby's been in the hospital since Friday night. Sigh! I was able to makeover this little porch table Friday afternoon and take pics of it this morning. Here's the before:

Yuck! Not even sure how to describe the previous color other than to say "U-G-L-Y, you don't need no alibi, you ugly!" And here it is after a few coats of ASCP in Louis Blue:

Love, love, love it now! Works so much better for my porch beach theme now. Did I ever tell you I paid $7 for the table at a garage sale like 5 years ago?!

And I'm happy to report that my Dad is working on making a wood whale for me like the one I previously posted about. Thanks Dad!

One more peek. Love the shade so much that I'm going to use it on a corner cabinet in our diningroom too! Wish me luck on that job. I've never painted anything bigger than a chair. Doh!

Jeanine

1 comments

I must have over 20 recipe books in my house. Sad part is, I hardly ever use them. Each book seems to be filled with recipes we ripped out of magazines, printed off the computer, etc. And now with Pinterest, I have a hundred or more recipes bookmarked on my computer. I needed an easier way to keep our favorite recipes handy without having to dig through piles of pages.

I used some off-white cardstock to make these quick - and handy! - recipe cards.

I used DaFont to add the word recipe into a simple Word document. Then I just added some lines and printed out onto my cardstock. I cut each to my desired size, and added some Frenchy stamps to each side. Pretty easy right?

What I think is my genius moment, is adding the metal ring. With the metal ring, I can easily hang it in the kitchen for when I need it, and I can add more recipes when I have the time.

It's less bulky and a quick grab for when I don't want to spend time flipping through all of those recipe books.

Linking to French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday.

Jeanine

8 comments

I've had this pitcher from Ikea for a few years now. Last year, I added a coffee label to it using Mod Podge. Unfortunately, it started to peel off. Can't have that, now can we? So yesterday, I gave it a new Frenchy makeover using waterslide decal paper.

I have to say this is one of my favorite Frenchy images. It's making the rounds on Pinterest so be sure to download it when you can!

I simply printed the image onto the decal paper. Then I give it a couple of coats of clear spray paint so the image wouldn't run. Once that is dry, you add it to a bowl of water and within minutes the decal separates from the paper and it can be placed on your item.

What I love the best about decal paper is that the image looks almost painted on depending upon the surface. For the pitcher, my husband had to do a double-take because he thought it was indeed painted on (as if I could paint that well!).

I have another pitcher in the works (also from Ikea). Meanwhile, I'm running low on my decal paper so I'll be ordering more through eBay.

Linking to French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday.

Jeanine

7 comments

We spend a lot of time on our porch in the summer. This year, I wanted to give it more of a beachy theme...for not a lot of money. I'm giving myself a $100 budget to work with. Here's what we have so far.

This boat oar is from Home Goods. I bought two of them a couple of years ago. They've been hanging by our garage/patio area. Total cost: $0 as I already had it.

This lanterns are from the Pottery Barn outlet. I picked them up about 5 years ago. Again moved them from the backyard to the porch. They need to be cleaned up a bit and candles added. $0.

Nevermind this table. It's getting an ASCP makeover this week. I just ordered Louis Blue which I think will look pretty and work for a beach theme. The lantern/starfish/candle - already had. The sea urchin was blue but I gave it a fresh coat of red paint. $0 for that too. The seahorse is from the Christmas Tree Shops. I spent $9.99 for it. Down to $90 now.

Starfish also from the Christmas Tree Shops - from 2 years ago. Need some freshing up. Now here's what I want:

From FolkyBirdSandFish.etsy.com. It's $34 but I'm trying to talk my Dad into making a wood whale for me.

This cute crab pillow is from FrenchCountryDesign.etsy.com. I believe it's $15.

Another fab pillow. This one is from White Apple Designs. In the $15 range as well.

Doorstop from NextDoortoHeaven.etsy.com. It's $10 and I love, love, love it!

Wish me luck as this will likely be a long work in progress given my budget.

Jeanine