Okio B Designs

I bought this frame for $1 at a local thrift store a few months ago. I had spray painted it white and that's about as far as I got. Yesterday, I decided to turn it into a burlap message board:

I cut a piece of foam board to fit the frame. Then I used some spray glue adhesive to add my burlap.

Once that was dry, I hot glued some metal clips to the front. Then I added some chalkboard tags. Feeling Frenchy, I wrote numbers 1-6 in French onto each tag.

As a finishing touch, I used a grungy red safety pin to add the Eiffel Tower image. I have it propped on a music stand in the tea room. Total cost: $1!

Linking to The Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday.

Jeanine

8 comments

Yes, I did it. After months of hearing everyone rave about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, I finally splurged and bought two quarts.

I could hardly contain myself when they arrived yesterday. I didn't waste any time painting these Goodwill candle sconces.

I chose Antoinette for them which is a soft pink.

These will be going in our bedroom once my husband re-paints the room. I enjoyed using the paint but is it me or is it very streaky?! I know the cans say you can use one coat but either my paintbrush stinks or my painting method stinks because I found the paint to be a little, as I said, streaky.

I'm working on a Pottery Barn knock-off shelf next and hoping that I will get the hang of using this paint. Wish me luck!

Jeanine

5 comments

Look at these adorable plates I found at Michael's this morning:

So beachy and coastal chic!

And only $1 each.

Score!

Jeanine

2 comments

I've been cleaning house since last week. Prepping for our upcoming garage sale. I keep finding little odds and ends here and there that slipped my mind. I had a stack of ordinary dollar store lunch bags and decided to spruce them up a bit:

I used some patterned crafting scissors to cut off the tops of each bag. Then I distressed some French poetry pages and glued them to the front of each bag.

I added a white faux pearl to the top of each bag and then tied them altogether with some bakers twine. The first one got some pretty vintage lace at the bottom with two more pearls on either side.

My husband already told me he will NOT be using them to bring his lunch to work. That's okay, hon, they weren't meant for you anyway. These little pretties are safely tucked away in the corner cabinet. ;)

Jeanine

1 comments

I came across a stash of small dollar store matchboxes I bought over the holidays. I love when I find something I completely forgot about. It's like getting something new without having to spend any money. I've really been admiring the matchboxes that Petite Michelle Louise and A Little Bit French make. Thank you ladies for the inspiration for these:

All of the images are from the Graphics Fairy (thank you, Karen!). I simply printed them out, sized them and glued them onto each matchbox.

I added some vintage lace and trim to the two religious ones. For each of them, I added some vintage French poetry book paper which I distressed a bit. Others simply got some rhinestone or faux pearl embellishments. Or a flower.

Let me tell you, they are addicting! I can't wait to make some more. I have them displayed in an upcycled thrift store wood tray between my kitchen and dining room and they just look so pretty there!

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

Jeanine

9 comments

I picked up this pair of frames at an estate sale a couple of weeks ago. What made them so very interesting is that they had a small piece of canvas in the back instead of the usual cardboard backing. I wasn't sure what to do with them since the canvas kept falling out. Finally, I decided to test some Avery label paper on the canvas part and here's how they came out:

I love that I didn't have to repaint them. All I did was cut the label paper to fit the canvas. Peel, stick and done! Well not quite.

Because the canvas kept coming out, I had to glue it on. So far so good. For one of them, I glued some tea-stained seam binding to the back so it could be easily hung up.

I really love the Alice scene in both of them! And they really do look like someone drew or painted them onto canvas.

Jeanine

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I've had these tall wooden spools for a few years now. I purchased them from Home Goods and they originally had a country motif. I was in the mood for a change so I stripped them down and gave them a quickie French makeover:

I printed my images onto Avery label paper. After cutting them to size, I simply stuck each image on and added rhinestones to each crown. For one of them, I added some wire to make a small picture holder.