The Tattered Cottage

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Made By Me.......

First I want to say..........I HAVE MISSED ALL OF YOU! I have been so busy with a new job, taking care of my dad, we went to California March 18th and moved him up to Idaho to live with us. In between everything I have been trying to do a little bit of thrifting, junking and crafting. It seems like forever since I have posted anything. I haven't been totally absent from blogland, I have tried to keep up with all that's going on by visiting all of you when I can. I have to say that you are all such an inspiration! While visiting everyone and keeping up with the eye candy in my fav magazines....Flea Market Style, Romantic Homes and Romantic Country , I noticed something that I fell in LOVE with. I have spotted this new love of mine on a couple of blogs and I know the Barn House boys have a similar one, as I spotted it in the beautiful photos of their home in Flea Market style. I have searched for one for awhile with no success. So I figured if I can't find one, then I will make my own!

This cabinet door (from the original farmhouse, that sits behind the farmhouse I live in) was perfect for the treasure I had in mind.

After a little sanding.....and I do mean a LITTLE sanding (not one of my favorite things to do) I could see my love taking shape.

A quick coat of some white paint that I had on hand. So far not a penny spent. I like that :)

There is a step missing here. I forgot to take photos....I know bad blogger. Truth be told...I was tired after this step.....I chose a font that I thought would be perfect for my little project and printed them out...one letter per page. Then I took plain stenciling sheets (the kind you make your own stencils with) that I had purchased at a yard sale for a $1. I think I had about 20 sheets. After laying the printed letter under the clear sheets, I cut each letter out with an Exacto knife. Then I traced each stenciled letter onto my board.

Then I hand painted each letter. Here is a photo of just one coat of paint on each letter. I wound up having to do 3 coats to get the depth of color I wanted.

Here I am putting on the third coat of paint. It really didn't take that long.

Oops! Another step is missing. I really wanted this piece to have an aged look. Like I just dug it out of some one's barn, after it had been there for about 60 years. after distressing the sign, I went over it with raw umber (the same stuff your local paint store uses to tint your paint) mixed with water.

I am so happy with the way it turned out. I have to admit that I get a little intimidated seeing all of the talent in blogland and wondering if I can be as creative. This project turned out just the way I had imagined it.

It may not be the real deal....but I am very happy with it. And it hangs proudly in my kitchen.

The whole project cost about $5. Blank stencils $1 at a yardsale, Paint brushes $4 with 50% coupon from JoAnnes.

Here is another little quick project that I completed. It was super easy and quick. I used my Cricut machine and cut out my house numbers and put them on my front door. Out here in the country we have these ugly green numbers posted on a fence post for our address and I have seen the vinyl addresses in blogland and wanted them for my front door. Easy Peasy...about 10 minutes.

Participating in:

Before and After Party hosted by Thrifty Decor Chic
Saturday Night Special hosted by Funky Junk Interiors
Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays hosted by Coastal Charm

Thrift Treasures hosted by Southern Hospitality

Until Later,

Toni

Friday, March 11, 2011

One Stop Shop

Remember This Door?

I told you in an earlier post that I was working on a couple

of projects. Well, I finished one of them and it involves

this door.

My friend Susan Fisher designs beautiful jewelry and needed a "shop".

As they say, location, location, location is priority when deciding to

open a business. Also displaying your treasures is very

important. When she asked if I could help, I had

an idea. (I know, scary). I originally

had plans for this old door for myself.

But then, quickly realized that it would

be perfect for Susan.

You see, this sweet little door came off of

the original farmhouse (pictured behind the door) that is still

standing behind the current farmhouse

I live in. This little farm I call

home is actually Susan's family farm.

So, it was perfect to use the door for

her new shop.

My idea for the door was to make it into a little

shop in itself. She will be consigning in a local

shop and space is limited. I wanted to incorporate

enough display options to allow her to

showcase many of her designs.

Transforming the door was simple.

I wanted to maintain as much of the vintage,

shabby, chippy wonderfulness of it as I could.

After deciding against painting it, all that was required

was a good cleaning, adding a few additions and a blackboard

where the original glass once was.

Here she is....

Ginger, Susan's kitty is giving her approval.

Here you can see I took eyelet screws and some picture wire,
creating a place for Susan to display her earrings. Susan came
up with the wonderful idea to use small clothes pins to hold the earrings.

She can display
a total of 21 pairs of earrings.

She makes beautiful necklaces also and I added two white,
shabby finials to display her necklaces on.

A better view of the finials and of the stencil I added.
I wanted to keep the "rustic" of the door but also I wanted
it to have a little feminine touch, so I added the
stencil.

Last but not least, I added this cute, shabby, cast iron soap dish
so she would have a place to put her business cards.