Okio B Designs: May 2014

Still recovering from our mini vacation, but I did find some time yesterday to make some new Frenchy pendants.

I bought the kit while I was at Hobby Lobby. It comes with the pendants, some numbers/designs and plastic inserts. The number 2 is from the kit.

For the others, I wanted to add a Frenchy touch. Problem is, the pendant space is super skinny. Not too many images will fit into such a tiny space.

Still, I managed to find some images in my stash that work perfectly! I already had the religious images printed out onto label paper so all I had to do was cut, peel and stick.

This one is from a piece of vintage French flashcard. Tricky to cut, but fits like a glove!

I'm keeping the number 2 (it's my favorite number!), but the others are available in my Etsy shop.

Jeanine

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We just got back from a quick road trip to Virginia. You never realize how much you miss blogging and reading everyone's blogs until you leave town without your laptop!

We visit my sister who lives in Winchester 1-2 times a year. There is a Sheetz on just about every corner there. Who doesn't love Sheetz?

I also popped into the local Hobby Lobby. We don't have any on Long Island, so I take advantage every time we visit. They were having a fabulous Memorial Day sale. Fifty percent off? Yes, please!

I was tempted to scoop up some of these flamingos. Instead, I stocked up on a lot of goodies I can't find at our local Michael's or AC Moore: rubber stamps, cardstock, etc.

Scrabble, anyone?

We also visited a local zoo. They boys had a blast.

My little guy wanted to take this little guy home with him!

Sorry, buddy - not enough room in the car!

And still another little guy adopted us at our hotel. Would have loved to bring him home with us but he was male, and my husband said no because of the spraying. Sigh! We came home with a turtle instead.

We had a wonderful trip and I miss my sister already, but I've also missed reading your blogs. Off I go - to try and catch up!

Jeanine

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Image courtesy of The Graphics Fairy

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Memorial Day, and a big thank you to all of our veterans!

Jeanine

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I joined Instagram a couple of months ago when we upgraded our phones. Needless to say, it has become quite addicting! I love how you can jazz up your photos before posting. You can take a photo like this.

And turn it into something like this.

See the difference? A girl could go crazy with all of the photo options. (By the way, these are some Frenchy peat pots I made earlier this week using paint and some rubber stamps.)

If you're on Instagram, let me know as I'd love to follow you!

Jeanine

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Wanted to share the quick makeover I did for the pig-shaped cutting board I picked up over the weekend.

I didn't have enough chalkboard paint, so I gave it 3-4 coats of flat black paint as a primer. Then I was able to use 1-2 coats of the chalkboard paint so we could write on it.

I have it on the counter in our kitchen.

We love him!

Jeanine

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I was able to get a little garage sale shopping in this weekend. It felt good to be back on the hunt, although I didn't nab as much as I would have liked to. Here's my haul:

The smaller wicker basket has already been painted white and will be added to our linen closet. I have a Frenchy makeover in mind for the larger basket ala Lin at A Tiny Cottage in the Woods. See her beautiful French basket here.

I just had to have the pig cutting board. I have a chalkboard paint makeover in store for him.

These vintage finds will likely go into my OkioBVintage Etsy shop. I think I might have to keep the bling buttons though.

I'm pretty happy with my first official haul of the season. Everything set me back about $10. And now I happily have some new projects in the works.

Jeanine

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I made a few more chalk paint Mason jars yesterday using some of the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint I picked up at Suite Pieces a couple of weeks ago. I'm so enamored with their shabby look!

I used Paris Grey and Pure White.

I dressed them up using some vintage lace. This one also has a hand-stamped Fleur de Lis tag.

I added some French script pins to the white one.

And a vintage French flashcard. Le Menage means household.

I'm thinking of doing a pink one over the weekend.

Jeanine

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It's been a while since I've added anything new to my Etsy shop. I was tinkering in my craft room yesterday and made some new Frenchy bags and tags.

I broke out some rubber stamps, Staz On ink, glassine sacks and tags.

I love the nautical look of this one. Note the fleur de lis where north should be. Love it!

These pre-strung tags can be tricky to work with. At first, I didn't love that the ink got on the metal but it's growing on me. I feel like it almost gives them a vintage look.

All of these goodies are in my Etsy shop.

Jeanine

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I painted this large, metal tin white last summer. I had originally used some Frenchy decals on it, but they peeled off sometime during the winter. Rather than toss it, I decided to give it a new makeover that I know won't peel off.

I really love vintage first aid finds. So I decided to make my own.

I printed out an image of the red cross and then used a pencil to outline it onto the front of my tin. Then I used red paint to fill it in.

Once that was dry, I used sand paper to lightly shabby it up. There are a couple of oopsies on the bottom right, but I can live with it.

I think this will work nicely for my beach-themed porch!

Jeanine

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I was digging through the garage recently and came across more of these bathroom tiles that have been in there for literally 5+ years. I just can't seem to throw them out because you never know when inspiration will hit.

Case in point: I whipped up these numbered coasters using them yesterday.

I used Staz On ink and some numbered rubber stamps. Once I did the numbers, I felt like they were missing a little something-something, so I added the scroll-y designs to the two corners.

I finished up by adding felt to the backs and gave them a couple of coats of clear poly spray.

I can't wait to use them when we're entertaining this summer!

Jeanine

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Been a bit MIA the last few days and sadly, I have nothing in the works. We were preparing for our older sons first holy communion, which was yesterday.

It was a beautiful day and the big guy was looking quite dapper - if I do say so myself. =) I did make up some cute favor bags, but of course I forgot to snap a photo of the bag.

We had some yummy white chocolate lollipops from Etsy (Wicked Good Treats). And cute little personalized mint tins. Packaged in a glassine bag with a Merci clothes pin. I think the adults loved the clothes pins more than the goodies, but the kids certainly loved the lollipops.

Jeanine

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It might have been raining and chilly here all week, but I was dreaming of warm, sunny days at the beach. After this rough winter, I promised my husband I'd get to the beach more this year. And now I have a super cute tote to bring along with me.

I bought this cheeky image off of Etsy a couple of years ago. Using TAP paper, I ironed it on to a tote I picked up at a garage sale last year.

I have to admit, I'm a bit obsessed with TAP paper as you've probably gathered from my other posts mentioning it. It works so much better than regular transfer paper; it practically melts into the fabric.

Anywho, back to my new beach tote. It's packed and ready to roll.

It'll also be perfect for carrying this adorable anchor coin purse I bought from Grey Fox Textiles (Etsy) last week. It was a steal for $9.50 and perfect for tossing in my new tote or handbag.

Jeanine