Channeling My Inner Craftiness with Faux Paper Mache Vases

I passed up a Rachel Ashwell paper mache bucket on eBay last month.

I'm still kicking myself.

But being the semi-crafty (?) person I am,
I wondered if I could make one myself.

I did.

Well, sorta.

I bought some pretty dinner napkins...

dug out a terra cotta pot,

and hauled out some Mod Podge from my stash.

I set the pot upside down on a stack of bed risers,

and then tore the napkins into 2" strips, peeling the three layers apart.

Letting my free spirit flap feebly soar while totally winging this project,
I slathered on the Mod Podge,

laid on a strip of napkin, and tapped it into place with my fingers and with the tip of the paintbrush.

Eventually, the entire pot was covered and looking pretty ugly.
My inner-craftiness was quickly disintegrating into a pile of "What-was-I-thinking"?

So I tried it again on a glass vase.
Same technique.  Different napkins.
The glass was a bit more difficult to work with,
but I kept going.
Slathering and laying and sticking and tapping.

I turned out the basement lights,
and trudged up the stairs ~
expecting no miracles.

The next morning, my wary eyes peeked apprehensively at the mess on the basement table.

Okaaaay....not tooo bad.
Not too bad at all!
I gave them both a light coat of poly and let that dry.

I turned them over in my hands and decided that they both needed more of an aged look.
So, I pounced on some dark wax and rubbed it around, creating a vintage patina.
After giving them a little buff job,
they were ready for their photo shoot.

I'll let you decide if they're photo-worthy.  :)

Glass vase

Glass vase

Terra cotta pot

Terra cotta pot

I am ready to try another one and will be looking for a large pot this spring at the garden centers.
Instead of napkins, I plan on trying it with some floral wallpaper.
Yep.  Totally winging it again.

Looks like my inner craftiness will be getting another workout...


~  Blessings  ~

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Dream Catchers, Pillows, and the Market!

Between shoveling 12 yards of mulch into the flower beds,
planting rose bushes, foxglove, and hydrangeas,
and loading the trailer with treasures from my booth
for the Allegan Antique Market on Sunday ~

I squeezed in some time to create more dream catchers to take with me.
Even though I tend to want to keep each one I make...
I do hope I sell them all.
{It'll give me a reason to make more of them, right....?}

Introducing "Prairie Girl Pink"...

"Prairie Meadow"...

and "Blue Skies".

I think I may have to hang on to this one for a while......  :)

Message me on Facebook or drop me an email if you'd like me to create one of my dream catchers
just for you...or for someone special...or as a wedding gift....or a baby shower...or birthday present...
or....
well, you get the idea!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ♥  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  

On another note, remember that beautiful needlepoint piece I discovered at the market last month?

My friend, Randi, who is a fabulously talented quilter,
 sewed it onto a pillow slip that Shellagh made for me
from RASC pink velvet.

I love it's vintage look.

Thank you so much, Randi! ♥

The crocheted throw was a flea market find last month.
It was originally a dull, boring shade of tan.
I dyed it using a bit of 'Petal Pink' Rit Dye.
Because of its base tan color, instead of dyeing to a candy pink like 'Petal Pink' can do when used by itself,
the throw turned a pretty mauve pink.

Randi also sewed some napkins for me out of scraps of SSC fabric that I had.
I mixed them with my RASC napkins.
Now, I've got enough for a summer party!





~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ♥  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  

Well, it'll be a busy but fun weekend here at Heaven's Walk.
The weather's supposed to be bright and sunny with cool temps.
 Just perfect for partying at a flea market!

This is where you'll find me on Sunday.

Photo: alleganantiques.com

Look for Georgina and me at Booth #0-140!

Have a great Memorial Day!


~  Blessings  ~

Linking to the linky parties on the lower right of my sidebar!