Jewelry Holder for the Tennis Fan

You gotta love a sport where each game starts with the word LOVE.  

Even though it means you haven't scored any points yet, it is a kinder way to say ZERO.

When DecoArt asked me to create room decor for a sports fan, tennis immediately came to mind.  As it turns out,  I am a decent player on the doubles court.  

I started this project on a search for a vintage wooden tennis racquet  You can usually find them hiding in the corners of thrift stores.  I paid $6, which was a bargain compared to the ones I saw at last week's flea market for $50 and more!

I sketched out my plan to turn the racquet into not only decor, but a useful jewelry holder.  

I chose colors that tied into tennis: blue representing the courts and neon yellow for the ball, with white & black for the trim.  The paints are Americana Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic.

 First, I painted the entire racquet (including the strings).

 Then I painted white stripes on the handle and sides of the racquet face

 and added rhinestones around the frame.

The ball was a bit tricky.  I didn't want to try cutting a real tennis ball in half. After some thought, I used a paper mache cupcake top, which has a flat bottom.  I painted it neon yellow with white stripes, added a sticker that reads, "Queen of the Court," and hot glued it to the racquet face.

 Lastly, I screwed small cup hooks into the holes where the strings are looped through.

Voila!  Not only will I kill it on the court, I will now be able to quickly accessorize my outfit before warming up.  

You might also like these handmade gift ideas for sports fans:

Recipe-in-a-Tennis Ball Can

Sports Fan Gifts

Pull Tab for Chocolate

Sharing this project at these parties:

From my Front Porch to Yours

Posed Perfection

Disclosure: DecoArt provided me with product and compensation for this project. 

However, all ideas and opinions are 100% my own.

Tennis anyone? Maybe after dessert.

First of all, I want to welcome those of you who have just discovered my blog.  It is filled with fun altered artwork as I "transform the mundane -- one embellishment at a time".  Feel free to scroll down the posts or click on any tags that sound interesting to you.  If you see something you really like, please let me know with a comment! 

And, I want to let everyone know that today I am being featured on a fantastic blog called Paisley Passions.  I am absolutely thrilled, and want to thank Lori, from the bottom of my button jar, for this wonderful opportunity to share my altered artwork with her blogging friends.

And now for today's altered artwork feature: my recipe-in-a-tennis ball can.  Every December, my tennis group gets together for a holiday luncheon, and we swap gifts.  I decided to get each of my tennis buddies a new can of tennis balls, minus the balls! 

A new twist to tennis:
Recipe-in-a-tennis ball can!

I removed the cellophane wrap, made my own wrap out of two coordinating papers plus a white strip with "Fudgy Brownies" repeatedly printed across the entire length.  I added a wooden spoon, ribbon, a flower, button, and a tag on which I stamped the word "love".  (You gotta love a sport that uses the word "LOVE" instead of "ZERO".)  Then I glued a silver tennis racquet charm onto the tag.  (This charm can be removed and then easily attached to a necklace chain.)



I found a delicious fudgy brownies-in-a-jar recipe, and adapted the recipe ingredients to fit inside the tennis ball can.  I typed up the recipe, printed it out on a 4" x 6" card, laminated it, and slid the card between the wooden spoon and the can.  (You may need a glue dot here and there to hold the card and spoon in place.)  Then I placed a crisp, clear cellophane bag into the can, and carefully layered the dry ingredients into the bag, tying the bag tightly at the top. 

Not only were these handmade gifts a big hit, the fudgy brownies were delicious.  I included the three brand new tennis balls inside the gift bag with the altered can.  It was the perfect gift.  Now if I can only perfect my serve!  

 

Tie on a little "love" tag with a silver tennis racquet charm

Thanks for stopping by! 

See you on the tennis courts.

Doreen

Click here to link to Paisley Passions.