Using Book Pages for Collage

 

 

While on vacation, and having a few hours to myself one day, I googled thrift stores in the area, and found a local Salvation Army. After [only] three u-turns, I finally found it.  It was a bit disappointing.  However, I did pick up this wooden caddy for 99 cents. 

 

When I got it home, I realized it came with its very own dead moth.  Ewww!  I don't want to know how long it's been hiding in there. 

 

After a thorough cleaning, I painted it in my current go-to color, Behr's Clear Pond, which I had

on hand.

Ahh, it looks better already!

For creative inspiration, I turned to a vintage children's book called "The Bobbsey Twins on Blueberry Island."   I fondly remember reading many books in the Bobbsey Twins series in my early reading days. 

Using book pages and my stash of paint chips, I began altering the wooden box into a handy desk caddy.

 

For those of you familiar with my altered art, you know I prefer clean lines.  For this project, I'm going to go c-r-a-z-y and try my hand at collage!  [My friend, S, will be glad to know I'm using her favorite art technique.]

Paint chips.

Torn pages [eek--don't tell the librarian!].

ar

 

Twine.

A collaged clothespin on each side--to hold notes.

A vintage measuring tape cut around the 56" mark -- happens to be the year I was born [and, uhh, also my current age, at least for one more week], a stamped image and a rustic metal tag.

 

 A roll of the dice shows another five-six.  Cosmic.

 

 

Added these metal "legs" to give the caddy some stature. 

(Plus, I've had them forever.)

 

Here are photos of the finished caddy.  For now, it will hold markers.

 

 

 

 

What do you think of my new desk caddy?  What would you use it for?

You may also like these projects:

Framed in Chicken Wire & Burlap

 

Tin Can Alley

Come party with me here and


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Glittery Beach Party Favors

[This is a sponsored post written by me for #Plaid Kids Crafts and Blueprint Social.  I was not compensated, but did receive free products, for writing this post. All opinions are 100% mine.]

 

They say that life's a beach.  Here on the west coast, the Pacific Ocean offers us miles and miles of beautiful sandy shores, spectacular surf, breathtaking vistas, and of course, sensational sunsets.  So the beach is the perfect place to throw a summer party for kids.  And, of course, this means beachy party favors.  As part of the Plaid Kids Crafts Summer Campaign, I received a box full of awesome craft supplies:  Apple Barrel bright, neon and glow-in-the-dark acrylic paints, Mod Podge Extreme Glitter, Wash-Out for Kids Mod Podge, Glo-Away Gel, and alphabet stencils. 

 

 

I thought these fun, summery craft products would be perfect to create glittery beach pails.  Since these products are fun and safe for kids of all ages to use, each child at the party could decorate their own beach pail. 

For this project, you will need:

Apple Barrel Acrylic Paints
[I used Bimini Blue, Yellow Glow in the Dark & Glow in the Dark Fluorescent Pink]
Extreme Glitter Mod Podge
Plaid Stencils
Foam brushes
Painter's Tape
A tin pail with handle
Large tags
[Optional: washi tape, buttons & twine]

1.  Tape off sections of the pail and paint stripes. 

Two coats of the paint nicely covered the pail. While still wet, remove painters tape. 

 

2.  Choose a stencil, and tape it to the side of the pail.  In the alphabet stencil sets, I was pleasantly surprised to find shapes and numbers, too.  I went with the flower.

 

Using a pouncing motion, paint inside the stencil.  Move the stencil around the pail to create additional flowers.  Allow paint to dry.

3.  Add Mod Podge Extreme Glitter. 
I admit, I've never been much of a glittery kinda gal.  However, after using Mod Podge Extreme Glitter, I am hooked. I brushed it onto the blue stripe, the yellow stripe, and the flowers!  If my dog would've sat still, I may have even brushed a little glitter on him, too!  While the Mod Podge was still wet, I added ric-rac to trim the top rim.  For a little added flair, I glued some cute buttons to the center of the flowers.  [I used a hot glue gun for this step.]

4.  Embellish a personalized tag. 

 

I embellished the tag with pink & black dotted washi tape.  Grabbing the stencils again, I painted and glittered a number and a flower.  This time, I used the punched-out portion of the stencil.  Using the Mod Podge as an adhesive (yes, it's an adhesive, too!), I added the No. 1 and the flower to the tag. 

5.  Paint the pail handle and add Washi tape to coordinate with the tag.

 

These pails are perfect for a beach scavenger hunt. See who can collect the largest seashell, the smallest rock, a piece of seaweed, and whatever else one might find at the beach. Get your camera ready because the glitter will sparkle and the bright colors will pop when hit by the sun!  And, of course, those kids are going to look adorbs!

 

That's it! 

Let the snipe hunt beach party begin.

 

 

Sharing ideas at some of these parties!

 

For additional creative project ideas using these and other Plaid products, visit

 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspiredByPlaid
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlaidCrafts
• Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/plaidcrafts/
• Blog: http://paintmeplaid.com/

To see even more bright ideas using Plaid Kids Crafts:

 

 

 

 

 

Alter a Vintage Dustpan into a Magazine Holder

 

Unless you just landed on this planet, you know that flea markets are all the rage.  There seems to be one within a 25-mile drive every weekend.  One of my favorite flea markets is a local one I frequent called the Topanga Vintage Market.  It is there that I spotted this gem:  a vintage

wood -- dustpan?  I think I bought it for $3. 

After a light sanding, it was ready for paint.  I chose a calming color called "Clear Pond," a light aqua, almost seafoam hue. 

Whilst the paint dried, I waded my way through my paper stash, looking for a retro, hip design that would complement the subtle "Clear Pond."  I found this fun print:

I decoupaged the paper to the inside back of the dustpan, and embellished the front with vintage-style Washi tape.   The tape was from a clearance sale; when it kept breaking on me, I realized why it was a bargain.  So I had to piece it.

At that same vintage market, but a few months earlier, I spotted bags of vintage buttons.  Not knowing what I would do with them (no surprise), I quickly bought a lovely set of turquoise pearl gems--perfect for this project. 

Topped off with a metal label holder and a light distressing, this dustpan was transformed into a lovely...

 

Magazine Holder 

And since I always add "just one more embellishment," I couldn't resist hanging an old skate key and a mini watering can to the hooks.  Yes, I know that's technically two embellishments, but who's counting? [Not me.]

You may also enjoy these transformations:

  Vintage Mailbox

 

Snail Mail Cafe Organizer



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