Celebrate Spring with a Springtime Garland

Are you ready for spring? I know we are here in Northern Kentucky. The SPRING EQUINOX‎ is: ‎March 20, 6:29 A.M. EDT How about making this super easy and fun spring time garland to get you ready. 

 

 

Plastic flowers were very popular in the sixties and seventies before giving way to silk flowers. Plastic flowers are colorful and easy to clean with a soap and water bath. They are also plentiful in thrift shops! Pick up some plastic flowers in springtime colors, along with a dozen or so chenille chicks (found at most craft stores), some string, a few pipe cleaners, a needle, and make a colorful springtime or Easter garland! This is super easy! Get your kids involved with these simple steps.

 

Cut a length of string and tie a loop at one end.Thread the other end of the string through the needle and begin stringing the plastic flowers. Of course, you’ll need to disassemble the plastic flowers before stringing them though the hole where the stamen or stem used to be. You can make a pattern with your flowers and chenille chicks or string them on in a random fashion. Thread the chenille chicks through the “meaty” part of the chick so it doesn’t fall from the string. For added texture wrap pastel chenille pipe cleaners around a pencil to make a tendril. Wrap the center of the tendril at intervals along your garland between your flowers.

You can make this garland in so many ways. You can adapt it to different holidays or occasions. Plastic flowers are inexpensive and easy to find! Have fun!

Elizabeth Holcombe Fedorko, aka Bethsbagz, began her checkered crafting career when at four she realized using paste on paper was better than eating it. Inspired by vintage dime store treasures, vintage fabric, and a no-fear attitude toward color, Beth crafts totes, pin cushions, wreaths, and corsages into her Dime Store Chic creations. Beth would love you to take a peek into her whimsical world at her blog.

This project & photos are copyright Elizabeth Holcombe, Vintage Indie. You may not reproduce or copy this project. (Dime Store Chic designs are intended for personal use and not for sale)

Printable Valentine's Card by Danielle Thompson of Tiny Bazaar & Kitchy Digitals!

Vintage Indie would like to welcome special guest Danielle Thompson of Tiny Bazaar and Kitchy Digitals. She joins us today to share a super adorable printable Valentine's Card with you. 

Of course, I couldn't just give you a freebie from Danielle without letting you get to know her a little. I asked her to share with us more about her and her businesses.

My name is Danielle Thompson and I have two small businesses: Tiny Bazaar (my Etsy Shop) and Kitschy Digitals. I have a background in Graphic Design and Fine Arts and I apply alot of what I've learned over the years to my small business. I still do freelance Graphic Design part-time, but I try to devote most of my "free" time to my personal businesses. (Free-time meaning when my boys are in school during the day. :-)

I have designed all sorts of things such as digital and printable kits, paper goods, clear polymer stamps, embroidery patterns, unique vinyl wall decals, accessories for Blythe and I also offer prints of my photography. I try to keep all sorts of people in mind when I'm designing: the crafter, the scrapbooker, the blogger, the embroidery fan, you name it. I try to make my products relate to a diverse group of people that dabble in all sorts of hobbies.

I LOVE what I do and I hope to one day devote all of my professional life to these businesses. It's a dream come true to get to push myself as an artist, create things that I love, and to hopefully inspire someone else in the process.

 

You can also find me blogging at Thompson Family-Life where I share what crafts I'm working on, my photography, products I'm developing, my vintage finds, DIY tutorials and general "family life" including 2 boys and a husband. ;-)

 

This is a high-resolution PDF that you are welcome to use for PERSONAL USE. (Please do not use this in any way for commercial use. Thank you!) Just print right at home, cut out, assemble and give to your loved one!

There are two envelope options: one for mailing and one for not mailing.

 

I included directions where needed in the PDF. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me at [email protected]

 

The download link to the printable PDF is here.

 

Thanks so much Danielle for sharing this printable with us! Be sure to visit Danielle at Tiny Bazaar and Kitchy Digitals it is right up vintage alley!

Crafty Vintage Valentine Frame Tray

 

What You'll Need:

- a filigree metal 8X10 picture frame ~~two sheets of   scrapbook paper in pretty patterns of your choice
  - quick dry glue
  - a few vintage Valentines
  - white craft paint
  - craft paint in your choice of color
  - sponge brush
  - four wooden beads
  - steel wool

 

Step One:

If frame has an easel back remove it. Remove glass, clean, and set aside along with cardboard backing. Use steel wool to roughen the metal of the frame so the paint will adhere to the metal. First paint a layer of white craft paint as a “primer” onto the frame (you may paint the underside of the frame of you wish). Allow to dry completely. Then paint several layers of the color paint onto the frame. Keep your layers thin to retain the details of the frame. Allow to dry completely.

 

 

 

 

Step Two:

Use the paper backing to trace your scrapbook papers and cut them to fit beneath the glass and on the back of the frame. Take the paper you want to use for the front (beneath the glass) and arrange the Valentines on the paper. Overlap them if you would like to. You may wish to put a tiny ring of tape on the back of the Valentines to hold them down to the paper. Sandwich your Valentine collage between glass and cardboard backing, and insert into frame.

 

 

 

 

 

Step Three:

Turn frame over and glue the other piece of scrapbook paper along the edge of the frame. Allow to dry. Take the beads (you may paint them the same color as the frame) and glue to each corner on the back of the frame. Allow to dry.

 

 

Step Four:

Now your dime-store chic frame tray is complete! You may, of course, use this idea to create frame trays for birthdays and other holidays! Have fun!

Elizabeth Holcombe Fedorko, aka Bethsbagz, began her checkered crafting career when at four she realized using paste on paper was better than eating it. Inspired by vintage dime store treasures, vintage fabric, and a no-fear attitude toward color, Beth crafts totes, pin cushions, wreaths, and corsages into her Dime Store Chic creations. Beth would love you to take a peek into her whimsical world at her blog.

 

Colorful Prize Ribbon Ornament

 

 

 

Ribbon can be used for more than wrapping your holiday packages! Collect ribbons in different colors for a fun and easy corsage or ornament!

 

 

Supplies:

 

• Ribbon in different widths and colors.

• Small buttons in your favorite colors.

• Small star.

• Fabric scrap.

• Glue (I like Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive)

• Flat pin back.

• Needle and length of embroidery thread.

 

Make the backing first. Cut a wide length of ribbon in four pieces about 7 inches long, notch each end by snipping a small triangular piece off of the ends. Do the same with the narrower ribbon. Glue the pieces together into an asterisk shape (see photo). Allow to dry completely before moving to the next step.

 

Cut four pairs of coordinating ribbon (I used two shades of green, one with polka dots to look like snow) into the following lengths:

3-1/2 inches

4-1/2 inches

6 inches

8 inches

Cut these pieces in half.

Arrange the pieces, overlapping them, into a tree shape (see the photo) on the front of the “asterisk” you previously assembled. Glue (or you may want to sew down) your ribbon “tree.” Decorate the tree with a colorful assortment of small buttons and the star on top. Allow to dry completely before moving on to the next step.

 

Cut a circle out of the fabric scrap. Sew the pin backing near the top of the circle. Glue the fabric with pin backing to the back of the ribbon corsage.

 

You may either wear your corsage or string ribbon through the pin backing and hang on your tree!

Elizabeth Holcombe Fedorko, aka Bethsbagz, began her checkered crafting career when at four she realized using paste on paper was better than eating it. Inspired by vintage dime store treasures, vintage fabric, and a no-fear attitude toward color, Beth crafts totes, pin cushions, wreaths, and corsages into her Dime Store Chic creations. Beth would love you to take a peek into her whimsical world at her blog.

How to make Vintage Style White Bottle Brush Trees

Last year when the bottle brush trees were bursting the internet, I had trouble finding them! Get a head start this year with bottle brush tree projects with our lovely Contributing Editor Elizabeth Holcombe.

You see them in craft stores, those pretty deep green bottle brush trees. Nice color but you may want to change them up to suit your winter holiday décor. It’s super simple. Here’s how:

 

 

 

You’ll need water, bleach, and a large (gallon or larger) container.

 

 

 

Mix one cup of bleach to one gallon of water. Stir.

 

 

 

Wet the bottle brush trees first. Carefully place the wet bottle brush trees into the beach water solution. Depending on the shade of green or white you desire, leave the trees in the solution until they turn the color you like best. After you remove the trees, rinse in clear water and set aside to dry. Experiment with different shades which look very nice in a group like a miniature forest!

 

 

 

If you desire trees in other colors, bleach them first, then use Rit dye (follow instructions on package) to dye your trees to your favorite colors!

 

Elizabeth Holcombe Fedorko, aka Bethsbagz, began her checkered crafting career when at four she realized using paste on paper was better than eating it. Inspired by vintage dime store treasures, vintage fabric, and a no-fear attitude toward color, Beth crafts totes, pin cushions, wreaths, and corsages into her Dime Store Chic creations. Beth would love you to take a peek into her whimsical world at her blog.

 

Tart Mold Wreath Project

Make a Fun Kitschy Wreath with Tart Molds!

 

Vintage or new tart molds evoke the shape and shine of vintage aluminum light bulb reflectors! Add small vintage ornaments and a length on tinsel and you’ve got a wreath with a delightful vintage spirit and a whole lot of sparkle! 

Gather your supplies:

1. Metal tart molds. These can be in any shape and size you wish.

2. Foam wreath form. Get a size that will accommodate your tart molds.

3. Different sizes of smaller vintage ornaments and glass beads (removed from string).

4. Enough tinsel to wrap and cover your wreath form.

5. Quick dry white glue.

6. Florist wire, 26 gage.

7. Awl or pointy stick for putting holes into your wreath form.

1. Wrap your wreath form in the tinsel keeping it tight together until you don’t see the foam.

2. Drill a hole into the center of your tart mold.

3. Thread three ornaments or beads on three pieces of wire and wrap the three sets of wire together and bend end up.

 

4. Thread the wire loop through the hole in your tart mold. Make a hole in the wreath form with the awl. Make the hole deep enough, without going all the way through, to accommodate the wire loop.

5. Fill hole with glue.

6. Insert wire into hole. Press gently until all the way in. Press tart mold onto wreath form, making sure the bottom of the mold is touching the wreath and the glue.

7. Repeat the above step until all tart molds with ornament bundles ring the entire wreath.

8. If you choose to add more ornaments and beads to make the wreath lush and shiny, glue more into the tart molds on and around the wired ornaments. It should look like this:

And from the side...

Allow the glue to dry completely, preferably overnight.

 

Make a hanger for the wreath with colorful layers of ribbon and rickrack and pin each end to the back of the wreath. You may also choose to add a fun vintage ornament pinned to the underside of the inside of the wreath for extra merriment! Your finished wreath may look something like this...

Make this wreath to suit your colors and tastes. You may want to have one large ornament in the center of each mold for a simpler design. You may choose a more monochromatic color scheme. There are MANY possibilities! Have fun!

Elizabeth Holcombe Fedorko, aka Bethsbagz, began her checkered crafting career when at four she realized using paste on paper was better than eating it. Inspired by vintage dime store treasures, vintage fabric, and a no-fear attitude toward color, Beth crafts totes, pin cushions, wreaths, and corsages into her Dime Store Chic creations. Beth would love you to take a peek into her whimsical world at her blog.

Fuzzy Vintage Inspired Candy Cane Craft

This is a holiday craft I came up with recently to add some vintage whimsy to my Christmas .  You can use these fuzzy vintage inspired candy canes to decorate your tree or to embellish your holiday gifts. This is also an easy project to do with kids. Enjoy!

 

Instructions:

• Gather your pipe cleaners in red and white. (I made 2 batches. One using skinny pipecleaners and one using bigger fuzzier ones.)

 

• Next, soak your pipe-cleaners in a hot tea bath for a vintage look. (I used several family size tea bags in a big stew pot of boiling water. To keep my pipe-cleaners from rising to the top I placed a regular dinner plate in the pot to hold them down.)

• Leave for 1-2 hours.

• Next, drain all the tea off your pipe cleaners, then gently squeeze out some of the excess liquid off of them - but not too much.

• Place pipe cleaners in clothes dryer and dry for 10-15 minutes on high heat. Make sure to include a fabric softener sheet. This will seal in the tea stain and fluff your pipe cleaners back up.

• Next, twist pipe cleaners together and bend into a candy-cane shape. (If you want to make smaller candy-canes like these shown cut each pipe cleaner in half before twisting.)

• Using a small paint brush, brush your candy-cane  lightly with glue then dust with glitter (I used silver.)

 

• Shake off excess glitter and re-fluff your candy-cane by running it between  your fingers, allowing some of the glitter to fall off - you don't want there to be huge clumps of glitter, just a light dusting.
• Let dry.

• Now you can use these cute little accent pieces as embellishments for gift wrapping, or as ornaments on your tree!

 

A special thanks to our Jerusalem Greer for this project. I can't wait to add these to my packages this year.

 

Stickers Stickers, Everywhere Pipsticks!

Mom! Mom! I have mail, Mommy! Mommy! Look, it's mail for me! This is the squeal of my preschooler every time something comes in the mail for her. I don't know about you, but whenever my preschooler gets mail, it is the best thing ever. Pipsticks didn't dissapoint, and as the envelope was slowly unveiled, the excitment only got bigger. 

As a child, I don't remember ever collecting anything. Maybe I did at one point, but I don't remember it. My middle love, loved stickers though, and started a sticker book when he was very young, perhaps a preschooler just like his sister. She went through every sticker set one by one, showing me and telling me which one was her favorite. In fact, anyone who visited us that week got a tour of her stickers. It was pretty darling, if I do say so myself. 

The best part was when she gathered her big brothers at her table to show them her new sticker collection and her very own special ticket. Pipsticks gives each monthly subscriber a yellow raffle ticket for your chance to win a special prize each month. I think my daughter liked the excitement from that ticket as much as her stickers. 

Her favorite stickers were by far the smelly ones. Pickle scented stickers! She quickly filled up the included post card with her chosen favorites and sent them off in the mail to grandma and grandpa. She's also been using many of these during our preschool time to decorate pictures and create art work. A monthly subscription to sticker madness is in our future.

Please go check out Pipsticks, and get your stickerbooks ready! 

 

Disclaimer: Thank you to Pipsticks for providing the super exciting sticker mail. As with all of our reviews here at Vintage Indie, the opinions expressed are our own, and can not be purchased. We find it very important to bring you truthful as well as imformative travel reviews. 

 

Host an Outdoor Sensory Play Day

Summer, oh how I love you sweet, sweet, summer. Listen, if you know me, you know that summer is my jam. It may be hot, sticky, and somewhat miserable at times, but I will take it over winter ANY DAY! One night while I was up surfing, researching Pinterest, I decided that the kids and I should host an outdoor sensory play day. I'm so glad we did, it was so easy, and so much fun! 

 

The small pool was filled with water beads and fresh water. We then put it in my friend's larger pool to catch and rogue beads. The kids loved this. 

 

How to host an outdoor sensory play day? 

1. Invite moms willing to participate and their kiddos.
2. Have each family bring 1-2 sensory activities and all of the ingredients for their activity. For example, playdough, water beads, moon sand, elephant toothpaste, etc. 
3. You provide the tables, table coverings and a hand cleaning station. If you have sand, or glitter or anything that uses oil, you 'll probably want some oil cutting soap as well. 
4. Make sure to have plenty of drinking water on hand. It was so hot, we went through a lot of water. 

Tip: Pick up a few plastic tablecloths from the Dollar store so clean up is a breeze! 

 

Finger painting station, with large Post It sticky paper. 

 

Cloud Dough with corn starch and shaving cream. 

A classic, corn starch and water. 

 

The hand washing station can also be a lot of fun. 

 

What are your favorite sensory things to do? 

 

Pick Your Plum of Amazingness!

Vintage Indie is an affiliate for Pick Your Plum. 

 

 

 

 Pick Your Plum has outdone themselves! 

*30 products

 

*24 hours only

(starting 7am MDT)

 

* FREE SHIPPING!

(on $30 orders or more in the lower 48 states)

 

You'll want to hurry over to check out all of the great deals! Many of these won't last but a few minutes. I love Pick Your Plum. I have purchased so many great gifts from them. I love to collect things for Christmas, and get my shopping done before anyone else. 

 

I'd love to know what you grabbed before your neighbor. 

 

 

 

The above links are affiliate links. Visit our Disclaimer/Disclosure Page for more info

Teach Me Handmade: The 50 States Embroidery Club

I have a confession to make. I have bags and bags of embroidery thread. Pretty colors, carefully wrapped around individual thread holder thingys (that is a real word right?).  I love embroidery. I love getting lost in each stitch. I've never really completed a project, but I've started a bunch.

A few years ago, I introduced my sons to embroidery. My middle child loved it. They've had opportunities here and there to carry out a few hand sewing projects at a local art class, but nothing really at home with me. 

I've been  thinking about this set from Wild Olive since we are also studying the states. 

"The 50 States Stitching Club is a one-year project that will honor each of the states in the union, as well as paying homage to state embroidery patterns, American quilts, and kitschy state souvenirs. "

The regular price for the club will be $30 starting on July 4th, with early bird pricing at $25.00. That's only 50 cents per state for a whole year of stitching...plus 5 projects! - Wild Olive 

 

Off the Shelf Book Review: Epic Rubber Band Crafts with special guest Angela Johnson

    "The author of the best-selling book Totally Awesome Rubber Band Jewelry is back with 15 more super-sweet projects for sensational rubber band jewelry! Packed with original ideas for both girls and boys, Epic Rubber Band Crafts shows how to use a Rainbow Loom®, Cra-Z-Loom™, or FunLoom™  to make stylish bracelets, necklaces, headbands, accessories, and action figures that will have everyone in school saying WOW!

Whether you have made rubber band loom accessories before, or are brand new to the craze, this book will be your ultimate guide to creating the coolest and most colorful gear around. Discover how to put two or more looms together for fabulous results on bigger projects. Kid-friendly step-by-step instructions, hundreds of color photos, and easy-to-follow numbered diagrams make it a snap to get great-looking results. Plenty of fun sidebars, tips, and tricks are provided to keep any loom enthusiast occupied for hours.”  – Epic Rubber Band Crafts official book description.

    One of the toys of the season last Christmas (and probably toy of the year), was the Rainbow Loom. My 9 year old got one, and we gave a few as gifts. Had these been around when I was in my “pot holder looming” stage years ago, I am sure I would have begged for a rubber band loom. They are super fun! My son loves his, but he is stuck on the basic bracelet pattern. So, when we were given a chance to try out the new Epic Rubber Band Crafts Book by Colleen Dorsey, we were super excited.

     After reviewing this book, I am sure it will make it to Amazon’s top 100 list. The variety of ideas was one of the first things I noticed. The book isn’t just pages of different ways to loom bracelets, but really unique ideas like hair accessories, zipper pulls, and actions figures. Ideas I haven’t seen anywhere else.

Some of the crafts even incorporated beads giving them a special touch . My son’s personal favorites were the penguins and cell phone (or in his case, ipod) cover. I liked both, but have to say, the penguins are just adorable!

    Once we picked our favorites, we set out to create. I was a bit nervous on how this would go. When the loom was first opened on Christmas, much frustration followed. I couldn't even understand the directions, much less a child. My son ended up having to ask his older cousins to show him how to use the loom. They showed him how to make the basic bracelet, and that’s where we've been since.

If the basic design was that difficult, how would we ever figure out these more complicated ones? The creations are complete and he never asked for my help! The step by step directions are clearly shown through illustrations, photos and described in a way he easily understood. The end results really were “totally awesome” and I had a happy kid!

If you have a loomer in you house or on your gift list, this book would make the perfect gift!

 

A special thank you to our special guest writer, Angela Johnson, owner and editor of Parenting In Northern Kentucky. The site is a NKY connection to all things family. 

 

Disclosure: All opinions expressed above are my own and are in no way influenced by companies or brands mentioned within. I received a copy of Epic Rubber Band Crafts in order to review. All images within the post are owned and copyrighted by Epic Rubber Band Crafts' author, publisher or other affiliation.

 

Spring Organizing - Chalkboard Labels from Pick Your Plum

We're going to talk about spring cleaning this week, maybe that will help this snow and ice go away. What do you think?

Today's Pick Your Plum has some fabulous chalkboard labels and dry erase labels to get us started. 

 

I asked if they were vinyl and they said "They are usable as chalkboard/whiteboard, and adhesive, yes. Thanks so much!" 

 

Have fun organizing! I'd love to see what you do with these labels. I think I'm going to organize all of my pantry jars. What do you think you'll use them for?

 

 

Disclosure - Pick Your Plum is an affiliate, with affiliate links. We may earn a small commission of the sales at Pick Your Plum if you use our links. 

The Daily Swank: Must Travel....

I don't know about you, but we've had non. stop. cold. snowy. icy. weather and I'm very much over it. So much so, our house is going on the market come spring. I'm not kidding about that last part!

Anywhoo, I'm yearning for some road time with my family. We have all decided we love traveling together. When our little family is on the road, it is when we're the happiest.  Today's Daily Swank feature is handmade shop DenodiNota > For the Love of Travel. 

I adore the Framed Push Pin Travel Map. I must have one of those! 

 

Crafting & DIY: Supplies

I can't believe how long it has been since I scored some gorgeous new embroidery floss from Sublime Stitching.

 

These are only a small sample of what they offer. I've been so busy here in home educating land and with our Indie Wedding's Month that I haven't had the chance to get involved in any projects, but  hope to start a sampler this summer for our baby girl. 

A special thank you to Sublime Stitching for thinking of Vintage Indie and sending the beautiful embroidery floss over. Be sure to check out all 63 gorgeous colors! 

By the way, have you checked out my Embroidery Hoop Love board on Pinterest?

 

Disclosure: We were not paid for this feature. 

What You Make of It: Technology Update: Google Reader is shutting down, here's what you can do.

Today's What you Make of It column is a little different than my usual posts about "how to" and "DIY". If you already understand RSS and organizing you may want to skip down a ways for the recent announcement of Google Reader shutting down. For those of you have no idea what RSS is, I'm hoping you will be delighted with today's post.

Blogging and reading blogs can be an overwhelming feeling at times. There is so much content to read, catch up on and only so many hours in the day. If you are like me one blog leads to another blog which leads to another blog and time just flies. 

What is RSS? 
Without getting too technical you can visit this link at Wikipedia for exact terminology and a more detailed look at RSS.

The RSS Reader is the most important part of RSS, it's the platform in which you can organize all of your favorite blogs and even Etsy shops. So when they update, you have all of the new posts and updates all in one spot without having to blog hop and you can even tag them! 

You will first need to have a "reader" account. As of July 1, 2013 Google has announced that they are doing away with their reader.  If that is how you read Vintage Indie, and other beloved blogs, you're going to want to change this soon so that you don't miss out on any of your favorite content. 

Alternatives to Google Reader: 

 Bloglines, Netvibes, Newsblur and Feedly just to name a few. 

 

Once you have a reader of some sort you'll want to click on the little orange round button (shown in the image above). You'll find these all over the web this is the "feed icon". Once you click you are taken to the steps provided in your feeder to "subscribe" to that blog or shop. After that it's home free and you will start feeling less overwhelmed with keeping track of websites & blogs! Click this link to add Vintage Indie in your reader now! 

 

Help! I don't want to have to subscribe to every feed all over again. I have a help for you, but please keep in mind some feeds may not completely transfer over, especially your starred items.  

Google Reader Export:

1st Go to your Google Reader account. 

2nd Find the round button on the right where the settings menu is located. 

3rd Click on Reader Settings

4th Click the link that says Export your information, download your data through Google Takeout. 

5th Follow the prompts to download the file to your computer. Extract your files and save to a location you will remember. 

6th Open up the extracted files and look for the Subscriptions XML file. This is the file you will click on to import your feeds into the new reader of your choice.  

You should be all set to go with most if not all of your feeds transferring to your new reader. 

 

Good luck! 

 

xoxo VI 

Vintage Valentine's Day 2013: Cookie Pixie Paper Wafers

I couldn't help myself posting more sweets to tantilize you. Cookie Pixie is making up some swanky vintage style wafer papers for you to make your very own vintage style Valentine's Day cookies. 

Take a look! 

Cookie Pixie

Did you Enter? Pick Your Plum! Washi Tape 70% Off!

Did you enter to win a fabulous Pick Your Plum gift box here at Vintage Indie? You have the rest of the week to enter! 

If you can't wait to see if you have won, don't miss today's Pick Your Plum! 

Aren't these delightful? The gold & silver aren't pictured here, but you can Pick Your Plum today and get all of these fabulous Christmas tapes! You'll want to hurry though, once they're gone, they're gone! 

 

 

The above links are affiliate links. We were not paid to write this feature. I truly love Pick Your Plum and am thrilled to be featuring it here. Visit mydisclosure/disclaimer page for more information. 

Perfectly Printable: Vintage Style Thanksgiving Menu & More

We're starting a new column here at Vintage Indie! Perfect for the DIYer in you. Perfectly Printable will scour the web for the best of the best in printables! 

Up first we're highlighting this awesome printable from plpapers

 

Visit Pretty Little Papers to purchase this downloadable file. 

 

All images featured are Copyright © 2012 Pretty Little Papers 

Today's the Day! : Try Pick Your Plum during their Fun'ness Fall 2012

If you haven't had the chance to try Pick Your Plum, today is a great day to start! They're doing something they rarely do, and offering 12 products instead of the one single product today. Remember though, once the items are gone, they're gone! 

Here is a sneak peak at what you'll find. 

Oh yeah, that's lace tape! For $1.99!

 

By the way, shipping is flat rate! Get together with friends, place a large order and split the cheap shipping too! 

Want to know more about Pick You Plum? Visit our feature here.

 

 Edit: Looks like today's deal was so popular the site crashed! They're on it! Keep trying! 

The above links are affiliate links. We were not paid to write this feature. I truly love Pick Your Plum and am thrilled to be featuring it here. Visit mydisclosure/disclaimer page for more information. 

You've Gotta Check out Pick Your Plum

Good morning everyone!

I'm stopping by to tell you about an awesome new-to-me website and possibly new to you website. First, you know here at Vintage Indie, we're all about promoting designers, crafters, small business owners and the like. Well, Pick Your Plum is no exception. Founder Alison Prince has started Pick Your Plum catering to the happy and joyful side of creating and shopping.

 

OK, so you're probably wondering, what exactly is Pick Your Plum? Check out this video to find out more!

 

Pick Your Plum

Sounds exciting right! Well, I'm here to tell you that it is rather exciting. Their customer service is top notch, the products are fun, the prices are fantastic and shipping is very fair. I hope you'll take a minute to check our Pick Your Plum today. 

...and if you're not fully convinced, here are a few more reasons to check out Pick Your Plum: 

 

Get it before your neighbor does:

• We have limited supplies on some of the most swank supplies. We have agents out in the field who find killer deals on high quality products.
• We delicately slap prime-o pricing on crafting, clothing, baking supplies, home decor and other fabulous finds.  Stellar pricing.  Cool.
• We sell it 'til it's gone or 'til time is up.
• You leave feeling like you just won Martha in a crafting contest.
• The supplies arrive in 7-8 shipping days and you've just picked your 'plum'! Doesn't it feel good?

Hurry to check out today's PYP, there are plenty left (but not for long)

 

 

The above links are affiliate links. We were not paid to write this feature. I truly love Pick Your Plum and am thrilled to be featuring it here. Visit my disclosure/disclaimer page for more information. 

 

Crafting & DIY: Clementine Pattern Company

While at a home school convention in South Carolina this past spring. I ran into Clementine Pattern Company. A mother-daughter team of three, the Brookshire ladies.

Clementine is a charming company specializing in embroidery  patterns to "encourage your family and bless your home". I can tell you from just the few minutes that I was able to speak with the Brookshire daughters that they truly do care about their work and what they stand for. Not to mention their patterns are simply adorable. 

 

 

Psalm 127 Sampler 

Give Thanks Embroidery Pattern

Bless the Lord Beginning Sampler  

I love the above one, I think it would  be great for my sons who love to get the needles and thread out.

Visit Clementine Pattern Company for more patterns to enlighten your home! 

 

Crafting & DIY with Contributing Writer Mary Ann Abbott: Color Copy Collages

I'm so excited to have our contrubiting writer Mary Ann Abbott back with us this week. She has a super fun project, that I think you'll adore. 

 

Color Copy Collages

Great for little hands or bored teens, this project takes very little parental prep time and encourages young artists to color outside the lines! To start, color-copy an image from a vintage children’s book. I have good luck finding castoff elementary school textbooks at my local thrift shop, and the images are often large and 50’s inspired. Cut out the copy and adhere it to a piece of sturdy drawing paper – a glue stick or rubber cement works best. Now hand over the “canvas” to your artist. Suggest adding a background, drawing on the actual image, and adding embellishments like stickers.

 

When this masterpiece was complete, I simply created a little edginess to it by haphazardly drawing around the borders and lines with a fine point Sharpie marker. To add a polished “finish” to the artwork, glue it to a piece of cardboard (I used the back of a frozen pizza box), punch a couple of holes in the top, and tie on a piece of ribbon as a hanger. Display the artwork on a door or the artist’s bulletin board!

Variations on the theme:

• You might also give you artist a stash of paper, buttons, and other 3-D items for embellishing the artwork.
• Consider cutting images out of a coloring book or magazine and gluing them to drawing paper.
• Give the same image and a time limit to several kiddos, separate them, and don’t let them peek at one another’s interpretations until they’re all done.
• Place the masterpiece in a real frame and display it in a prominent place.

Mary Ann Abbott, a collage & jewelry artist and author, lives in the heartland of America where she loves the thrill of scavenging, salvaging, repurposing, and sharing her passions with anyone who will listen! Her work has been seen in several Stampington & Co. magazines, Lark Books publications, and fiction books, but mostly in the homes of her family & friends who get her handmade goodies for every holiday & celebration (and who would probably love a gift card next year). She’d love for you to visit her website A Very Mary Design, but she hopes you’ll be kind as it’s currently in the process of a makeover. 

 

Raising Healthy Kids Month 2012 - Spring Celebration Craft & DIY Project with Special Guest Rhonna Farrer

Raising Healthy Children can also mean getting their creative ideas flowing. Growing minds that think for themselves, diving into their creative sides. Today I have a special guest for you, the lovely and talented Mrs. Rhonna Farrer of Rhonna Designs. 

 

Supplies Needed: 

• Natural Branches
• container
• floral foam
• scissors
• 1 1/2 scalloped circle punch or round punch (optional)
• Easter grass/paper shred
• birds, flowers, butterflies, mushrooms....anything 'Spring' that you have around
• Glue Gun/Glue sticks
• Glitter
• Twine/String
• glue/mod podge

Rhonna Designs Printables: Spring Circus Paper Background:

& Easter Celebrations Sayings

Note: Easter Sayings comes with many letters that can spell various words: Celebrate, Spring, Happy Easter, Spring Has Sprung, Beauty, Happy Spring.

Steps:

> Print out Rhonna Designs Spring Circus Papers, die cut into butterflies, add glitter to the edges.

Cut out Leaves & Butterflies w/ die cuts or hand cut.

> Print out Rhonna Designs Easter Sayings, punch w/ a 1 1/2" scallop punch, glitter around edges. (If you don't have a circle punch, just letters out in rectangles & snip a 'V' in the bottom to create a little banner) (dip in glue or modpodge & dip in glitter) Hot glue letters onto twine, set aside.

Gather supplies & put together the branch by sticking it into the floral foam in the bottom of the container. (You may need to secure w/ some hot glue)

Add Easter grass or paper shred to the base of the branches.

Now, get creative by adding a dab of hot glue directly onto the branch & adding the leaves & butterflies you cut out. At the base, add flowers, tags, butterflies, birds...whatever you've got on hand.

Finally, tie the Celebrate banner onto your branch & step back to enjoy your creations!

Thank you Rhonna for sharing this fabulous project with us! 

Please visit Rhonna Designs for more printables, graphics & scrapbooking/project supplies. 

 

Indie Weddings Month 2012: Crafting & DIY with Contributing Writer Mary Ann Abbott: Sew Simple Gift Wrap

This week will wind down our last week of Indie Weddings Month 2012. We're ending the week with some crafty ideas, special guests and more! 

 

Today, a vintage romantic style way to wrap those wedding gifts by our crafty-diy contributor Mary Ann Abbott.

 

Sew Simple Gift Wrap

Always on the lookout for ways to be more frugal, I gave up on pricy, mass-produced gift wrap many moons ago. Through the years, I’ve tried several alternatives - from paper bags to maps to newspapers - until I hit on this idea a few years ago: sewing pattern tissue. Thrift shops are a great resource for tragic sewing patterns from the 1980’s and, if you’re a bargain hunter like I am, you can often find patterns for a nickel or dime at yard sales. I especially love when lady luck is on my side and I find vintage patterns for a quarter or less!

Since the patterns are full size, there is a lot of “wrapping paper” inside each envelope. I’m always surprised by how frequently the patterns are unused, which means the sheets remain in large, uncut pieces. Personally, I like to showcase the words and directions on the patterns as focal points on my wrapping, so the gift recipients immediately recognize the “paper”. To embellish the gifts, I stick with the sewing theme, most often using vintage crochet thread, buttons, Bakelite buckles, and strips of old fabric. The possibilities are limitless though! Use traditional ribbon, add gift tags with safety pins, or simply stamp the person’s name directly onto the tissue.

It’s time to say goodbye to store-bought wrapping paper and hello to a thriftier, more creative way to share your gifts and highlight your love of vintage! It’s really sew simple!

 

Mary Ann Abbott, a collage & jewelry artist and author, lives in the heartland of America where she loves the thrill of scavenging, salvaging, repurposing, and sharing her passions with anyone who will listen! Her work has been seen in several Stampington & Co. magazines, Lark Books publications, and fiction books, but mostly in the homes of her family & friends who get her handmade goodies for every holiday & celebration (and who would probably love a gift card next year). She’d love for you to visit her website A Very Mary Design, but she hopes you’ll be kind as it’s currently in the process of a makeover.