Okio B Designs

Wishing all of my bloggy friends a safe and happy July 4th!

Jeanine

I've had this little, vintage children's toolbox (or is it a shoe shine box?) for a while now. For a while I used it as a planter. It got pretty beat up from the elements, so I decided to give it a makeover.

After a few coats of gloss red spray paint, I was a little stumped on what to do next. I didn't feel like doing the Mod Podge transfer method and I didn't have any TAP Paper. Instead, I just printed The Graphics Fairy's Union Jack image onto clear label paper.

I still have to smooth out a few air bubbles as you can see, but I love the look. And all you have to do is peel and stick.

I did the image on both sides of the box and then just added some random white-painted bottles I already had. It adds a nice pop of color to the porch.

Jeanine

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I've been a very bad blogger of late, but I am still here.

I've been doing random projects here and there.

And finally hit some garage sales last weekend.

And enjoying the beautiful weather.

I will have some news in a few weeks. I went back to school. Well a very specific school, so I've been juggling home life, work, crafting and school over the past few weeks. But I am still here.

Stay tuned!

Jeanine

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This is one of those times where I'm kicking myself for not taking a before pic. Harumpf!

This started as an old wooden calendar. I took apart the pieces until I just had the flat piece of wood with the ridge. Originally I was going to make a chalkboard out of it, but decided to do a small American flag instead.

I started by painting the red and white stripes using painters tape and acrylic paints. (I know, I know, my stripes on top are a little off.) Once that was dry, I placed star stickers on the wood before painting that section blue. After a few coats, use a razor to peel up your stickers and voila!

I'm still playing around with the little tinsel like decorations I added to the back. I picked up two of them at Michael's ($1.49 each). I feel like I need a third, but I'll put that to a vote when my men get home from work and school.

Jeanine

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My firstborn will be eleven in July. Eleven. How? What? When did that happen???? He'll be starting middle school in September, so I decided it was time for his room to have more of a big boy feel.

It's still a work in progress, but here is the start of a gallery wall I've been working on for him. I literally pried the vintage license plates off our garage wall. They are older than me. They are older than my husband for that matter - and he's got ten years on me. They've been in the garage since we bought the house.

I found these super cute prints on Pinterest. I didn't stop at the wall. I also started adding some cool to his shelves.

I knew he'd love the gamer print. I wasn't sure about the skull, but he gave it two thumbs up.

I'm waiting on new curtains and will be adding a few more touches this week. P.S. With the exception of the prints, I had every single thing used in his room already. The frames and the "S" just needed some fresh paint. I've only spent about $35 so far and that was for the curtains!

Jeanine

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Can you say jackpot?!

I feel like I hit it this morning at a local garage sale. Look at all of this vintage goodness! Bunny tins, heart tins and tart tins.

And a teeny, tiny muffin tin. Seriously, how cute is that? I grabbed star tins, measuring spoons and a biscuit cutter too.

This guy is going to get a makeover. I'm turning it into an herb planter. After a few coats of white paint and some graphics, it will hardly look the same.

Not bad for $8 and what's even better: I'm slowing getting my crafting/thrifting mojo back.

Jeanine

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The boys are off from school this week, so we planned a quick trip to Boston. It was a little chilly (and rainy), but we managed to walk the Freedom Trail, visit the New England Aquarium and travel to Salem.

I'm a bit of a history buff, so I was in my glory.

And I looooove old, historic cemeteries.

This grave marker is for a four year old, though. That was sad.

We got to see the Robert Shaw Memorial...

And the Paul Revere Mall...

And this touching Memorial Garden for our troops.

Now, Salem was cold and rainy. Still, we made the best of it.

We got to see a brief re-enactment of the Salem Witch Trials.

And visited several museums.

It was an awesome trip and we certainly packed a lot into 4 days. But it feels good to be home!

Jeanine

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I salvaged a rusty hinge from a burn pile a couple of months ago. Something about it just called to me, so I stored it in the garage until more Spring-like weather arrived.

The weather has been perfect this week, so I finally broke out the hinge and gave it a few coats of white spray paint. Since I wanted a more shabby look, I also gave it a few coats of white chalk paint.

Once that was dry, I printed out the French graphic (via The Graphics Fairy) and used the Mod Podge transfer method to add it to each side of the hinge. Can you spot the oopsie? I forgot to reverse my image. Doh! I didn't notice until I had already peeled off the paper. It's okay; I can live with it. (And yes, I do love bacon!)

I used my hot glue gun to add four magnets to the back, and voila! - instant Frenchy refrigerator magnet. It still bends which is nice because if I get tired of it on the fridge, I can always add it to a bookshelf.

Jeanine

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I've had this teeny-tiny Altoid tin for a couple of weeks now. I finally got around to embellishing it last night. I wanted to go with an Alice in Wonderland theme.

After searching up some how-to pins on Pinterest, I started by adding paper to the front, back and insides. Mod Podge worked best for this.

Once my paper was in place, I just started adding random Alice pieces: a keyhole, tea party image, book paper and lace.

The front was a little tricky. I knew I was going to be displaying it with the tin open, so I just added a few things to the front. I actually had to smash an old watch open to get the clock piece. Hot glue worked best for adding that one.

As always, I love that I had everything on hand to make this sweet little tin.

Jeanine

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Happy to say I've gotten a bit of my crafting mojo back.

Nothing fancy: just an upcycled little crate and some trinket boxes.

Everything got a few coats of white paint and some French book paper.

Short, sweet and simple...and perfect for White Wednesday.

Jeanine

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Yikes has it really been over three weeks since I last posted?

I'm posting more on Instagram these days. Just waiting for the weather here to cooperate more so I can get back into the swing of things craft-wise.

If you miss me (hee hee hee), you can always follow me on Instagram: @okiobdesigns.

Jeanine

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I know it's St. Patrick's Day, but I haven't been dreaming about leprechauns. I've been dreaming about spring. This past week was lovely. Warm and sunny with a few spots of rain here and there. But the weather man says we're getting snow this weekend. Noooooooooooo!

So I'll be keeping busy making more of these Easter sacks for my 8 year old's class, while watching the snow fall. Hopefully this will be winter's last hoorah.

Jeanine

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Have you seen these adorable bunnies at Target?

Both are in the Dollar Spot but are $3 each. One is a plain paper mache and the other looks like ceramic, but it's really more of a white paper mache.

I decided to Frenchify the brown paper mache one. I started by giving it a few coats of white paint. Then I tried to hand-stamp some French script on it. Fail! Because it's not completely flat, the ink had some gaps. Plan B was to print out French Script on clear sticker paper. I simply traced the bunny, peeled and stick. Voila!

Meanwhile over at Michael's, these lace clothes pins are on clearance for about $1.59. Of course I grabbed a few and gave them a French touch too.

It's gorgeous out today so I'm taking advantage and getting some spray painting in for future projects. Less than two weeks until spring...

Jeanine

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My boys have taken over my craft room!

First the 10 year old came in asking if HE could make a "paper Mario" pillow. I really wasn't sure what that was. So we took to the internet to find a Mario image. When he found the one he liked, I downloaded it on to TAP paper.

And because he's only 10, I ironed the image on to the fabric for him. Then he got busy sewing his pillow. I had to help here and there (especially with closing it up), but overall he did about 75 percent of this one by himself.

The 8 year old got wind of the Mario pillow and decided he wanted me to make him a Dipper Pines (from Gravity Falls) pillow. He doesn't know it's finished yet. It's a surprise for when he gets home from school today. Ssshhhh...

Jeanine

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I found this vintage, French agricultural plaque on eBay last week.

As you can see, someone tried to paint it and then stopped. I figured if I could get it for a steal, I would finish painting it and no one would be the wiser. So I made a ridiculous "best offer"...and I won!