Okio B Designs

If you've flipped through a recent Pottery Barn catalog, you've probably seen where they cover a wall with vintage book paper. I love that look and would be ecstatic to do something like that in our house, but I don't think my husband would go for it. Plan B: give a vintage chalkboard a similar look.

This is the chalkboard before. Pretty ugly, no? I bought it a couple of years ago with the intention of adding black chalkboard paint to it. Um, clearly that never happened. Fast forward and here it is now.

I used a variety of vintage dictionary and book paper. I made a quick 2014 Wish banner to the top and then printed wish and dream onto vintage sheet music and added that to the mix.

Here's a closeup. This hangs in my office/craft room - right across from my desk.

I think I'll be enjoying the view more now that it's all dressed up!

Jeanine

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How excited was I when I won one of my sister Kathy's giveaways (CreativeHomeExpressions) last week? My special delivery from Susan of EvelynandRose.Blogspot.com arrived yesterday.

Two beautiful handmade ornaments. And how adorable is the Santa tag?

I love them!

A big thank you to my sister and Susan!

Jeanine

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I've been showing some of our Christmas touches for the past couple of weeks now. Here are a few more to share.

The $24.99 Target wreath that I snagged for $3 at our local church thrift store. The Merry Christmas sign is from Walmart. I wanted to keep it simple.

Some bells and greenery hangs from our porch light.

Santa has definitely come to town! Here...

And here.

Snowman hat on a stack of books.

Can't forget the bathroom! And, of course, wishing everyone:

Peace...

On earth!

Jeanine

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Tinkering with some Dollar store match boxes over the weekend and came up with some petite pretties.

I used some French book paper and religious images found on Etsy to dress them up. Slide open the box and...

You find a little surprise inside. A small square religious metal - also made using the Etsy images.

These would be sweet to give as a gift, but I must admit...these are for me!

Jeanine

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I've had this vintage milk bottle carrier for a couple of years now. I dress it up and down depending upon the season. I gave it a quick holiday makeover and have it on the trunk we use as a coffee table in our livingroom.

I made the wood pieces quite a few years ago and break them out every December.

I added some Mason jars and festive candy to add a touch of color.

A quick update to a favorite vintage piece!

Jeanine

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I picked up a few Xmas ornaments over the weekend at our local Dollar store. They are super cute and glittery, but definitely missing a little something-something.

I can't make a paper snowflake to save my life so I immediately grabbed a three-pack of these glitter snowflakes. I printed out some religious images onto label paper to start.

The images are super small which was ideal for this project because the middle of each snowflake is no bigger than an inch and a half.

Next, I cut out some French book paper and distressed it a bit. I added a strip to each snowflake with a good ol' fashioned glue stick.

Loving them so much more now that they have a Frenchy touch! I also picked up two glittery bells.

They got a Frenchy touch too. Une etoile means star.

And jouir means to enjoy. I used vintage French flashcards and tea-stained seam binding to add to each bell.

I love that I have some new Xmas ornaments for only $3!

Jeanine

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Sadly, we do not have a mantle in our home. Every Xmas I wish we did. Since we don't, I have to create a makeshift mantle of sorts out of the corner cabinet in our dining room.

I dress up the top of each year as if it were a mantle. This year, I have a bunch of jars with bottle brush trees, a cloche, an apothecary jar filled with decorated matchboxes and this bird cage that is up year-round. This year I added some faux greenery.

I added my star garland after I took the first picture. I used some pre-cut, self-sticking stars and twine to create the garland.

The cabinet houses my snowman collection.

I gave my vintage typewriter a holiday touch as well.

Yesterday we put up our outside Xmas lights. I'm still in the process of dressing up our porch.

Jeanine