Okio B Designs: February 2014

I popped into our local Goodwill and church thrift store this morning. Came home with some goodies for about $10.

I'm hoping to give the laundry sign a spray paint makeover soon. It's still way too cold here to paint. I'm also planning on adding a French image to it using TAP paper.

The tins are actually citronella candles from Crate & Barrel. They were 99 cents each. I'm going to add a pretty image to the tops of them so they don't look so drab.

I also got two boxes of brand new Better Homes & Gardens' napkin rings, a little metal pail, a doily and some plain white napkins. I'm hoping to use the TAP paper for the napkins too. Thinking a nice Spring-y image would work well for them.

Jeanine

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**There is still time to enter my giveaway here.**

I've been wanting to make a fabric bunny banner for quite a while now. Last night, I decided to give it a go using this great bunny silhouette from The Graphics Fairy.

First thing I did was trace my pendants onto some muslin. Then I printed out my image onto TAP (Transfer Artists Paper) paper. It was the first time I've ever used it and I must say I'm hooked already!

I first heard about TAP from Susan at Homeroad. You can use it like regular iron-on transfer paper, but it can also be used to transfer images onto wood, metal - you name it! I got mine off of eBay but Amazon also sells it.

I love that the image doesn't look like it was ironed on. It almost looks like a silkscreen. I don't see any edging; it's like the image just melted onto the fabric!

I finished up my bunnies by adding little cotton tails. I'm hanging it with some twine and clothes pins.

Jeanine

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I have a habit of holding onto old food jars and bottles. I clean them out, peel off the labels and then wait for inspiration to strike.

Since my countdown to Spring has begun, I decided to make some cheery Spring/Easter bottles.

I printed my images onto label paper, so I just had to peel and stick.

I gave the taller one more of a rustic look with the twine and lace. I added a pretty blue seam binding to the smaller one.

Both got rhinestone embellishments and are filled with faux moss. You probably can't tell but the smaller one has some Easter eggs in it.

Yup, I'm ready for Spring!

Jeanine

4 comments

**Don't forget to enter my giveaway here.**

First, let me say I am not decorating for Easter already - although I'm itching to! I stopped in my local Michael's over the weekend and came across these wood blocks in their bargain bins.

Originally I wanted to spell out Spring. No go; no G. Plan B was to spell out Easter. So that's what I'll be doing.

But not yet. I swear!

Jeanine

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**This giveaway is now closed**

So, who's in the mood for a giveaway? I know I am! The folks at Adams Media were kind enough to send me a copy of DIY Chalkboard Crafts by Lizette Schapekahm.

One lucky winner can nab this baby and enjoy chalkboard heaven! Check out some of these great projects.

Coffee table spheres.

Beverage centerpiece - definitely my fave!

Charging station.

Tons of great ideas in this handy-dandy book! To enter:

1. Become a follower of OkioBDesigns or let me know in a comment that you already are;

You can gain additional entries by:

1. Like Okio B Deisngs on Facebook and let me know in a comment you did;

2. Follow @okiobdesigns on Twitter and let me know in a comment you did;

3. Follow okiobdesigns on Instagram and let me know in a comment you did;

4. Blog/tweet/Facebook about this giveaway and let me know in a comment you did.

Open to U.S. residents only (sorry!). I'll pick a winner via Random.org on Friday, February 28, 2014 at 5 p.m. EST.

Good luck!

Jeanine

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Kiddies are off from school this week. They just got back from a sleepover at Grandma's. I'll probably be MIA for the remainder of the week. =)

Jeanine

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I know I'm not the only one in awe of Rosemary at Villa Barnes. She recently did a post on upcycling a can with a crinkle paint effect. I loved the look so thought I would take a stab at it.

I didn't get the crinkle look I was hoping for like Rosemary did. Wondering if I added too much water to my glue?! Still I love the overall look of my can.

I painted the can white (over the glue/water mixture). Then I printed out the French script (from The Graphics Fairy) onto tissue paper and used Mod Podge to add it to the front of my can.

I'm definitely going to try this again because I do love the crinkle paint look Rosemary has mastered. Check out her blog to see her other amazing projects and techniques!

Jeanine

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So what do you do when you're snowed in yet again with more of the white stuff in the forecast? In between climbing the walls, I made some Frenchy matchbooks.

I broke out some French paper and printed off these beautiful images from the Graphics Fairy.

Simple white matchbooks suddenly become more interesting and almost too pretty to use.

Of course the hubby isn't too pleased with his now "girly" matchbooks.

But to me they are just perfect!

Jeanine

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Happy, happy!

Jeanine

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Someone was nice enough to post these vintage Bingo cards on Pinterest earlier this week.

I printed the images out on to cardstock. As luck would have it, I had three frames readily available to frame them.

There are four avid Bingo players in this house so I'm sure I'll be printing out these boards again for us to play on.

In the meantime, I have some "new" vintage art to admire!

Jeanine

1 comments

I popped into Ikea over the weekend. They have a ton of pretty stuff out already for spring. Since snow is once again in our forecast, I just couldn't bring myself to grab anything for the outdoors. Instead, I grabbed these two pretties.

I believe they are candle holders, although I'm sure you could use them for anything - like holding some faux Dollar store roses.

I love the shabby look and feel to them.

These are some random goodies I picked up last week at our local church thrift store.

Some frames, peat pots and Mason jar lids...

And wood hearts and wooden spools.

Not bad for $2!

Jeanine

2 comments

I found a neat pin on Pinterest showing you how to make your own parchment paper sack. I'm a huge fan of glassine sacks, but wanted to try something different.

Since I have a large stash of this clear paper (I can't recall if it's tracing paper or parchment paper since I tossed the packaging ages ago), I broke out a few sheets yesterday to make some pretty Valentine's Day sacks.

I folded the paper in half and then glued the sides together with one edge overlapping slightly. Then I cut off the edges on the bottom, folded it up and glued to the back. This closes up your sack.

Then I got busy hand-stamping the LOVE on the front and adding some sweet nothings to it. I also added some faux pearl embellishments and tea-stained seam binding. It's filled with Scrabble letters and...

Romeo & Juliet book paper, a vintage Valentine's Day card, hand-stamped Je t'aime carnival tags and some LOVE muslin ribbon.

These would work for so many holidays. I'm actually already envisioning some for Easter.

Jeanine

5 comments

I picked up this little jar from our local thrift store a couple of weeks ago. It pretty much sat on the kitchen counter until yesterday when I decided to give it a quick makeover.

I added some Dollar store faux moss to the bottom.

Then I added some faux eggs (notice how I didn't call them Easter eggs!) and this little nest tag I've used before.

I'm thinking it would also be nice to add some candy hearts to it for Valentine's Day. But since I haven't been able to travel too far because of the weather, this works for now.

Jeanine

4 comments

Guess what we got yesterday? Yup, you guessed it: more snow. Even more coming tonight. Sadly, this weather is doing nothing to keep the creative juices flowing. I got nothing. Except a few quick Valentine's Day pieces that literally took maybe 10 minutes tops.

Dollar store clothes pins hand-stamped with XOXO.

Little Valentine's Day notecard using this precious image from the Graphics Fairy.

Ikea heart ornament featuring another image from the Graphics Fairy.

I'm itching to start some spring and Easter projects. Hoping that might nudge Mother Nature along.

Jeanine 1.