Okio B Designs

I've been super curious about using waterslide decal paper in my crafts. As luck would have it, my boys needed it for their Cub Scout derby cars. I found some on eBay and put aside a few sheets for them and for myself. I tried it last night and I can tell you, I'm already hooked!

I used this thrift store terrarium that I picked up last week. It was black but I gave it some coats of white paint over the weekend.

To do the waterslide method, you, of course need the special paper. I bought inkjet sheets for mine. I printed this wonderful image from the Graphics Fairy onto the sheet. No need to reverse or mirror the image for this paper.

I gave it a couple of coats of clear spray paint to seal in the image. Once your spray paint is dry, fill a shallow bowl with water. Put your image in for 1 minute. Mine curled at first so I had to hold it down. I also wasn't sure how the decal came off so I started trying to peel the white paper. Nope, the decal is a see-through film so that's what you're looking to separate from the paper backing.

Peel the film from the backing - be careful because it curls rather quickly. Add it to your surface and use a sponge to work out the air bubbles. That took a little time and my corners kept folding under but I carefully unfolded them so everything sat flush.

I have to say I love this method more than the Mod Podge method which I just haven't been able to master. I have a few more sheets left and I can't wait to brainstorm some new places to use them. Email me if you need any more tips!

Linking to The Graphics Fairy: Brag Monday.

Jeanine

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Another dreary weekend in our neck of the woods. Not very conducive in the inspiration department. I broke out the last of my Dollar Store match boxes and gave them a quick Valentine's Day spin using some vintage Romeo & Juliet book paper.

My mother would kill me if she saw how I tear apart books but sometimes I just can't resist.

I cut each page to fit the size of the match boxes. Then I used some regular craft glue - the kind my boys use at school - and glued the pages onto each box.

Then I added some random heart stamps, je t'aime, lace and a button. Simple and sweet. My favorite is the one with the pierrot image from the Graphics Fairy. I've used it in several Valentine's Day projects as you probably noticed.

Rain again for tomorrow. I'm hoping something, anything will get my creative juices flowing again.

Jeanine

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Once again drawing inspiration from Pinterest for this little project. I had bought a couple of paper mache-ish top hats before the holidays. I never got around to decorating them for Xmas. Plan B: use them for Valentine's Day!

I only have this one finished so far. It's the bigger of the two I bought. I used some vintage sheet music for the top and brim. Wow, what a pain that was!

Then I covered the sheet music in Mod Podge and just sprinkled on some glitter which is hard to see in the photos - but it's there! The lace is actually from a shirt I bought 5 years ago from Newport News. It was sheer and lacey and something I hadn't worn in, well, 5 years. I snipped off some of the bottom and tied it on.

Then I added the LOVE lettering and cupid image (from Etsy). They are not glued on, just kind of tucked in so I can reuse my hat over and over again. I mean, Easter is early this year!

I'm still working on the smaller one - hopefully I can finish it over the weekend.

Jeanine

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I picked up this petite wood tray last week at our local church thrift store. Since it was a bit mild here over the weekend, I was able to give it a couple of coats of white spray paint. I really struggled trying to figure out what I wanted to do with it.

I didn't want to Mod Podge an image on the sides since they are so skinny. Instead, I opted for the faux French enamel number tag. I think it fits quite nicely on the front. Simple.

I added some vintage sheet music to the bottom of the tray. Not sure if you can see it tucked in there under the clothes pins.

Then I just added some random pieces to make a sweet French vignette of sorts. One of my embellished bottles. A religious pendant on the clothes pins. A faux pocket watch. French address tags (image from The Graphics Fairy). Old dice and a spool with French book paper.

It's on a corner of the kitchen counter that is always begging for something pretty to be added. Since it's so petite, it fits quite nicely and really doesn't take up much space.

Jeanine

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I had an extra box of these tin stars I got from Ikea before Christmas. I wanted to add a Valentine's Day touch to them so I headed over to The Graphics Fairy for these wonderful French pierrot clown images.

I printed them out onto cardstock and used Glue Dots to stick them on. I'm debating on whether or not to add red tea-stained seam binding or leave the twine. I kind of like the twine.

I'm displaying them in this cloche that I had filled with some pine cones for Xmas.

It was a garage sale find from the summer. I painted it white and added the Paris postmark - which is coincidentally also from The Graphics Fairy. They fit perfectly!

Really hoping Blogger gets its act together this week. I'm not sure if you've been having issues with uploading photos but I have...again. You have to add them using html which is such a pain for me. Sigh!

Linking to The Graphics Fairy: Brag Monday and Between Naps on the Porch: Met Monday.

Jeanine

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All you need is love, love...love is all you need!

Scrabble tile magnets.

Stencil letters.

Wood letters.

Yup, it's beginning to look a lot like Valentine's Day in our house.

Jeanine

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I had my eyes on these since last year and now I think they are sold out.

Image courtesy PotteryBarn.com

Pottery Barn's LOVE votive candle holders. If I recall, they were over $40 for the set. Wha??????? Check out my $4 DIY knock-off version.

Of course I still have to add candles to mine. Super easy to make, though. I used the carnival font (the one I am so clearly fond of!) from DaFont.com. I typed them into a simple Word document. Space them out a bit because next you're going to print them onto clear label paper.

Simply peel and stick to your votives. You can probably trim your label paper to your liking. I don't mind the extra showing on mine. Up close it actually makes the glass look frosted.

Not bad for $4. The votives are from Michael's at 99 cents a piece. I had a coupon so they were actually even cheaper than that. The clear label paper is about $19 for a pack of 20 sheets but since I already had some - I spent zero on that.

What do you think compared to the PB ones? Four dollars is definitely more my speed - especially given my new year's resolution on watching my spending.

Jeanine

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The Xmas decorations are tucked away and a new year has begun. Valentine's Day is just a few weeks away and I can already feel the love! It's been bitterly cold here - the perfect weather for staying indoors and crafting. I whipped up two banners over the weekend that I plan to use for Valentine's Day.

This sweet Marie Antoinette image is from Etsy. I've used it in several projects and never tire of it. For the banner, I printed it out on cardstock, punched some holes at the top of each card and slipped through some tea-stained seam binding so it could be hung.

I added some pink glitter around the edges of each card. A faux pearl is the cherry on top of the cake. Next up is this LOVE banner I made using some vintage Romeo & Juliet book paper.

This is the same font I used for my Xmas NOEL banner. It was a little tricky lining up each letter on the paper, but I think I have it mastered now. Again, I punched some holes at the tops of each page so I could add my tea-stained seam binding.

I just love the vintage lettering, don't you? I'll be using it again for a Pottery Barn knock-off project this week.

Jeanine

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It's hard to believe another year has come and gone. I'm welcoming 2013 with open arms as 2012 definitely had its ups and downs for me. We survived Sandy and 12 days with no power - definitely a downer. My 5 year old started kindergarten - both an upper and downer. I could go on and on.

My outlook for 2013 is much brighter and I've made just a few new year's resolutions that I hope to stick with: 1. Stop spending money on things we don't need; 2. Get more organized; 3. Pay it forward whenever possible; 4. Quit smoking and 5. Be more patient and understanding.

Not a huge list but one I plan on trying my best at achieving. What are some of your resolutions?

Happy new year!

Jeanine

*Image courtesy of The Graphics Fairy.

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Drawing inspiration from Pinterest and Sissie from Sissie's Shabby Cottage, I made my first ever rag-tie banner last night.

I used a bunch of leftover fabric pieces that were taking up space in my craft room. You know what they say about lemons and lemonade!

I love the shabby look. Makes me long for spring though. Sigh!

I just kind of looped and pulled each piece of fabric onto some twine. I think there are about 50 pieces of fabric on there. Yes, very time-consuming but so pretty. I think it might actually work for some of my upcoming Valentine's Day decorations.

Jeanine

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Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I play Santa in our house which means I purchase and wrap all of the presents - even those for myself (isn't my husband lucky?!). I only picked up a few things before the holidays for myself because I knew the after-Christmas sales would be better. Yesterday, I took a trip to the mall to hit some sales and picked up these yummy candles from Anthropologie.

I love the ceramic jars and Frenchy feel. And did I mention they smell delish! Seriously, I could sniff these candles all day!

I chose the Angel Food scent - although there were 3 other flavors to choose from. Unfortunately, they were not on sale. Still, they make for a sweet after-Christmas gift to myself.

Jeanine

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Wishing all of my bloggy buddies a very Merry Christmas! Hope Santa brings you lots of cratfy goodies!

Jeanine

Image courtesy of The Graphics Fairy.

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I cannot believe Christmas eve is tomorrow night! I've been busy cleaning and cooking for company, but I did steal a little craft time to make these Alice in Wonderland coasters.

Remember, I told you I had like a gazillion of these sea salt tiles in our garage? I hate letting them go to waste so I broke out my stamps and added these great Alice images. Once they were dry, I gave each coasters a coat of clear spray to seal in the image.

When the spray was dry, I added some felt backing to each one so as not to ruin any tables or counter tops with them. I think these would be so sweet for Valentine's Day with the red. Thinking about adding some to my Etsy shop, but this set is for me!

Jeanine

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I still have a bunch of peat pots left over from the summer. Since I'm still avoiding the chaos of the stores and malls (and still working with what I already have in the house), I decided to make a couple of new embellished ones.

I gave each a coat of white acrylic paint. I tried my hand at doing a mixed media one with the little girl. The image is from The Graphics Fairy and with Newtown on my mind, I wanted to use something with a little girl or boy.

I printed out the image on cardstock and stuck it on with Glue Dots. I added some pink glitter to her wand and hat. Then I added some distressed French poetry book paper, the twine, number 15 and a Paris clothes pin. For now, the pot is filled with some shredded sheet music.

For the second one, I wanted to keep it simple. I added some French script on cardstock to the bottom. I had a leftover star from the peace sign I did a few weeks ago, so I added that to the top. This one is filled with faux Dollar Store moss.

I have a few ideas for some Valentine's Day ones but I promise, I am not starting Valentine's Day projects...yet!

Jeanine

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I picked up this little wood drawer at the thrift store last week. Luckily, it was mild enough yesterday to get some spray painting done. I gave it a few coats of white spray paint, sanded and then added some Frenchy touches:

First is this little file tag. It comes pre-packaged with several self-sticking tags and inserts for things like Family Photos, 2012, etc. I cut out some French poetry book paper instead and added that.

Then I headed over to The Graphics Fairy for the French graphics that appear on both sides.

I used the Mod Podge method to get the graphic on.

I'm loving this little drawer! It fits my peat pots perfectly so hopefully it will be useful for my new year's resolution of getting more organized.

Jeanine

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Because I refuse to do any sort of shopping these last few days before Xmas (crowds, traffic, etc. - no thanks!), I'm doing some projects with items I already have in the house. Last night, I decided to embellish some of these apothecary bottles I pick up whenever I'm at a garage sale.

I added some vintage lace on the first one using spray adhesive. Then I wrapped some vintage French poetry book paper around the lace. I tied the old button (from my Mom's stash) on the front using twine. Another old button adorns the top.

For the second one, I just used the same French poetry book paper. This time, I added a distressed, hand-stamped tag and some tea-stained seam binding.

I love dressing these little bottles up and using items I already have in the house!

Jeanine

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Jeanine

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These pretty petite frames are from Michael's. I picked them up over the weekend not quite sure what I was going to do with them. I feel like they called for something Frenchy and that's just what I did with them!

Excuse the pictures - another horrible dark day here. First, I distressed some French poetry book pages. Then I hand-stamped the crown for one and a fleur de lis for the other.

I added a single rhinestone to the black one and then four for the silver one.

Yup, just what they needed!

Linking to Between Naps on the Porch: Met Monday.

Jeanine

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Popped into the local thrift store this morning and found a few nice pieces. Love this wrought iron easel.

I will probably end up painting it over the summer but for now it perfectly holds our Xmas countdown tray.

I also found some sheet music, a wood plaque and this wood crate drawer. I plan on giving that a shabby makeover and some French lettering.

Not bad for $5!

Oh, and anyone noticing a large amount of spam comments lately? I've been getting a ton of them and wondering if anyone else is having that problem too.

Jeanine