Vintage Country Style: Tutorials

Supplies Needed:

Krylon Looking Glass Spray Paint

Sprayer With 1/2 Water & 1/2 White Vinegar

Paper Towels

Glass Piece of Choice

I purchased my pieces from the Dollar Tree and this will be my first attempt doing this.

For the plate, I only sprayed the back side...not the front.

Spray the INSIDE of the Glass container in a sweeping motion.

The paint will run, this is fine.

Apply 5 very thin coats allowing to dry 1 minute between sprays.

For mine, after I sprayed the inside, I repeated the above process for the outside.

Allow to dry for 10 minutes.

Spray over piece starting with the inside, lightly with your 1/2 water and 1/2 white vinegar solution.

Let sit for 1-2 minutes.

Take a paper towel that has been folded and sprayed lightly with the solution, and start "popping the vinegar bubbles" Don't rub. Just press on and come off. You will start to see the magic happen. The flecking will occur. I also rubbed mine a bit with the paper towel as I was popping. The first piece was my experimental piece but I love the way it turned out.

This was my first attempt...and I think it looks pretty good!

The next time I will spray lightly over the inside with black paint,,,after the entire process has been done with the Krylon Looking Glass. This way there will be some darkness from the outside of the vase.

Faux Chocolate Bunny

Tutorial

Supplies:

Rust-Oleum Ultra Cover Espresso Satin

Bunny Figurines
(Dollar Tree)

Craft Paints in Light Blue, Light Pink & Fern Green

White, Chippy & Crack Effect Using Elmer's School Glue Tutorial

Supplies:

Craft Paint - I'm Using CraftSmart Brand Buttermilk

White Elmers School Glue

Paint Brush

Fine Grit Sandpaper

Get out the piece you would like to make chippy. I am using an old ceramic urn that was in my garage. In fact, I was going to throw it away last year...now I am very glad I didn't!

In most cases, you need to paint the base color or primer color. This is the color you want to see when the piece starts to "chip". I wanted the brown to come through so I did not choose to prime this piece first. If you prime first for the base coat, allow base coat to dry completely before putting the coat of glue on!

Paint a coat of White Elmer's School Glue all over the piece, getting thicker in some areas than others.

Directly after painting the glue on, paint over the wet piece with your craft paint of choice. The paint will pull a bit, or may be thick, this is fine. Allow the paint to site for 10 min.

After 10 minutes, take some wadded up paper towels and start to "rag off" in the places you want to see chips. Press the paper towel directly onto the piece and pull off, i.e. ragging off. Repeat this over the entire piece where you want the chips. The more you rag off, the more chips you will see later.

As the paint dries, the glue underneath will start to pull and cause the paint to "crack".

I decided I "ragged off" too much so I allowed this piece to dry fully. Then I brushed here and there with the Buttermilk paint. I sanded the edges to give it a more chipped effect.

I just love how this has turned out.

I also did the same effect on the paper mache egg.

For the nest I just used brown spanish moss from Michaels.

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Rustic French Style Topiary Tutorial

Supplies:

Clay Pot

Fern - Of Choice

My fern is from Michaels - Resembles Rosemary and was $12.00 for the floral bush but I used my weekly 40% off coupon

Valspar Brand (Lowe's) Stone Textured Spray Paint

Moss Craft Paint & Dark Brown Craft Paint

Twig 18"

Skinny Wooden Dowel 18"

Spanish Moss

Spaghnum Moss

Styrofoam

Step 1: Spray your pot lightly with Valspar Stone Textured Spray Paint and allow to dry fully.

Once dry, take your sand paper fine grit and sand lightly to get your desired effect. Dry brush on your Moss and Brown Paint very sparingly around the pot. I did it very minimal.

Step 2: Take your fern and cut into 3-4" pieces depending on how big you want your topiary top. I chose 4" pieces for mine shown.

Take your stick and place in the middle of 3 fern pieces and apply some hot glue to the end of the stick. Press on the fern ends to the stick, being careful not to burn your hands. Allow to dry. Continue going around the stick in the same areas just reapplying more fern until you reach your desired fullness.

Once you have reached your desired fullness, take some Spanish moss, I chose brown, and hot glue around the ends of the fern where it meets the stick to cover up the gluing you did.

You stick will resemble a feather duster:)

Take your wooden dowel and paint brown. Cut the dowel the same length of your stick.

Hot glue some styrofoam in to middle of the pot.

Hot glue your dowel first in the very center of the pot, making sure you keep the dowel nice and straight and allow to dry.

Hot glue your stick with fern attached, directly next to your dowel. Allow to dry.

Take cording and tied dowel and stick together to resemble a tree being staked.

Hot glue Spaghnum Moss around the base of the tree. You are done!

I made 4 Topiaries from one fern bush. Total cost of 4 Topiaries $26.00

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French Grain Sack Hanger

Supplies Needed:

1/4 Yard Painter's Canvas

Painters Tape

Natural Thread

Blue Craft Paint

Stiff Bristle Craft Brush

Machine wash your painter's canvas on the gentle cycle and tumble dry.

Cut a piece 11" x 11".

Fold in half so it is 5 1/2" x 11".

You will only sew two sides. Machine stitch along the long side that is opened, and (1) short side, leaving the other short side unsewn. This will be the top of the grain sack holder for filling with flowers.

Flip right side out and press with steam iron.

Hanger: Cut a piece of your Painter's Canvas 3" x 11".

Fold lengthwise, 1/3 over and press with steam iron as shown above.

Fold over the other edge 1/3 slightly covering the edge you just pressed, and press with steam iron.

To keep it together and from unraveling, machine stitch length wise down the middle of the 11" piece of fabric.

Form a "U" hook with the hanger piece and tuck inside the sewn side seam about 1 1/2" down and pin to keep in place.

Either machine stitch at the top of the hanger piece to connect the hanger to the bottom sack, or hand stitch.

I chose to machine stitch.

Take your painter's tape and mark off two edges forming (1) 1/8" wide line to paint and dry brush with paint color of choice.

I chose mixing FolkArt Sterling Blue & FolkArt Thunder Blue.

Allow To Dry.

You can stitch a 1/2 Pint Jar in the bottom with a bit of water to hold fresh flowers, or just fill with dry flowers of your choosing.

Vintage Herb Labels

Print out on White Linen Textured Resume Paper found at

Wal-Mart or Staples.

Trim around labels.

Sand edges of labels lightly with medium grit sand paper.

Go over the edges of labels only with a paint brush dipped in a strong cup of coffee to age the label and allow label to dry.

To adhere labels to jar, simply use a bit of Spray Adhesive to back of each label, or a glue stick.

Right click on labels below to save to your computer. All 3 labels will save at once.

Vintage Seed Labels

Print out on White Linen Textured Resume Paper found at

Wal-Mart or Staples.

Trim around labels.

Sand edges of labels lightly with medium grit sand paper.

Go over the edges of labels only with a paint brush dipped in a strong cup of coffee to age the label and allow label to dry.

Right click on labels below to save to your computer. All 4 labels will save at once.

Vintage Farm Style Curtains Tutorial

This is extremely easy! So...sorry for the lack of pictures

but you will understand why!

All of my supplies were found at Wal-Mart.

Painter's Canvas 9'x12' = $19.99

3 Packages of Rings 7.00 ea.

Rod

Get a painter's canvas from Wal-Mart or Lowes that is 12'x9'. Cut in half so the canvas is now 6'x9'. You have have two sections 6' wide x 9' long and able to do (1) large window as shown in my picture.

Machine wash the painter's canvas on cold, then tumble dry. Remove promptly.

Decide on your curtain size. Remember....high and wide is the right way to display curtains. Go above your trim at least 5" to set your rod and outside the window trim at least 4".

I am doing a double set of French Doors and I like my curtains to puddle at the bottom so I did not have to cut my curtains down at all. I just hemmed the unsewn edges by folding the raw edge over 1" then pressed with iron, then fold it again 1" and press to complete the finished edge. Machine stitch along the folded edge to finish off. Repeat this for the all unfinished edges of your curtain fabric. Repeat the entire process for the other curtain panel.

I set my rod 7" above my trim. Remember,,,,,high and wide!

Attach the Clip Rings along the 6' edge. I found mine at Wal-Mart. Place 1 ring at end end of the fabric top edge, then equally space the others in between the end rings. They just clip on the top of the fabric. I used 9 clips per panel. Then feed rings through your rod and you are done! This is so easy! I love how they look in my kitchen. When the curtains are closed, I still have a very warm cozy sunlight coming through!

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Rag Ball Tutorial

This is something so simple and easy you will just love making these!

Supplies Needed:

2.5" - 4" Styrofoam Balls

1 Yd. Natural Muslin or Osnaburg

Glue Gun & Glue Sticks

Instant Coffee For Aging (optional)

For each ball, rip your fabric into (4) strips of 1" x 36"

Tie your strips together end to end in a knot, leaving a long 1" strip.

Take your hot glue gun and glue the end of the strip to the ball. Then start rapping around the styrofoam, gluing as you go along to hold the strip in place.

It should look something like this when you are done. You can add more strips if you would like by knotting another one on, or you can leave as it.

Optional Aging!

My rag balls in the picture at the top have been aged. To do this, prior to wrapping the strips on to the styrofoam, I soaked all of my strips in a cup of strong coffee. Then I wrung them out. Placed the strips on a paper towel lined baking sheet and placed in oven to dry at 210 degrees.

After they were dry, I started with wrapping them to the styrofoam ball!

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French Grain Sack Pillow Covers Tutorial

Get Out Your Supplies!

Painter's Canvas 6' x 8 '

(Found At Lowe's, Wal-Mart or Home Depot In Paint Section)

Acrylic Paint of Choice

Fabric Medium*

(*If you can find it....it is good to mix with your Acrylic Paint, if not...you are still good.)

Stiff Bristle Craft Paint Brush

Stencils of Choice

Optional Aging:

If you are going to age your pillows a bit....you will need:

Rit Liquid Fabric Dye - Tan

32 oz. Spray Bottle

Launder Your Painter's Canvas.

I am offering this tutorial for 2 size pillows:

20" Pillow

16" Pillow

For 20" Pillow cut a piece of laundered canvas 56" x 23"

For 16" Pillow cut a piece of laundered canvas 48" x 19"

Follow the directions below on the Vintage Grain Sack Tutorial For Painting Your Canvas.

I chose the above pattern.

My Colors of choice:

FolkArt Sterling Blue & FolkArt Thunder Blue Mixed Together

Once your canvas has dried, we need to finish each short end.

Fold each each under 1" and press with iron, then fold again 1" and press. Machine stitch across the top of the fold and along the bottom edge of the fold as shown above. Repeat for the other short end of the canvas.

Optional Aging Next Step:

Take your 32 Oz. spray bottle (I found mine at Target in the cleaning section) and fill with water to the base of the neck of the bottle. Pour in 3 Tablespoons of the Rit Liquid Fabric Dye. It will be a greenish color. Place spray back on the bottle and shake well to mix it up.

Hang your canvas outside on the line and using your spray bottle, spray the mixture here and there until you get the appropriate amount of again. Remember, we will be rinsing this so it will be coming off. I had to respray mine to make it darker once I rinsed it. Allow to hang and penetrate into the fabric for about 15 minutes. Then rinse off in your tub or sink. I did not wash it. With the raw edges, the canvas will fray on the ends. Simply rinse very gently. Then wring out with your hands.

Place in dryer or hang dry.

Once canvas has dried totally, place on counter or table right side up. Using your pillow as a guide or a yard stick, (I'm using a 20" pillow here" fold over the left side of the canvas just over the half way point.

Then fold over the right side of the fabric so the edge of the fabric is just about 20-21" . My pillow is very fat so I needed 21".

The middle edges which are the short edges will be overlapping each other.

Pin your two raw edges together (side edges) and machine stitch down using a 1/2" seam line. Then, go over from that stitch line 1/8" and stitch again to have 2 seam lines for reinforcement.

Flip Pillow Cover Right Side Out and either use at this point, of stencil something on. When stenciling, never use black paint! I always use a Pavement Color, or a Graphite Color. It looks more distressed and much better on the grain sacks!

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Vintage Farm Frame Tutorial

Turn Cheap Dollar Store Plastic Frames Into Vintage Farm Frames

Supplies Needed:

Frame From Dollar Store ( Most Are Plastic As Shown)

White Craft Paint

Floral Sand

Sanding Block

Insert your favorite picture and you are good to go!

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Vintage French Grain Sack Tutorial

I am extremely excited to share this tutorial with you! I have been making vintage grain sacks for years,,,but the French ones are my favorite!

Just like the Grain Sack Tea Towels, we are going to start with a painter's canvas found at Wal-Mart, Lowes or Home Depot. I have chosen a 9' x 12' and cut it in half.

Wash canvas in cold in your washing machine, then tumble dry.

Cut a piece of your canvas 23" wide x 76" long. Or, you can fold the canvas over to double it up, and at the centerfold, cut your fabric 23" x 38". When opened, the canvas will be 23" x 76".

Fold the canvas over in the middle, to where the canvas measures 23" x 38". Go in from the edge of the fabric 1/4" and machine stitch up both long sides, leaving the top opened. The bottom will be the fold, so there is no need to sew that.

Go down from the top raw edge of the canvas 1/4" and fold edge down. Press folded edge with steam iron completely around.

Top stitch around, close to the raw edge of the fabric around leaving enough space inside the fold i.e,"tunnel" to run a large safety pin through with a piece of jute twine hooked to it for the drawstring.

Flip fabric Right Side Out.

Inside the the top of the canvas sack, where you just topstitched around the top with your machine, you can make (1) 1/2" small slit for your drawstring.

Press canvas completely with iron removing any wrinkles before painting lines.

Choose your Acrylic paint of choice. I chose to mix two colors to get my desired blue. I used FolkArt Sterling Blue mixed with FolkArt Thunder Blue.

Using your ruler, find the center of the both short sides of the canvas sack and mark the very end of the fabric with a "pencil" dot. From that center point, go over 1/2" and mark it with a pencil. Run your Blue Painter's Tape from short end to short end marking your paint line edge.

Using a stiff bristle craft brush, dry brush in between the paint lines. Make sure your brush is basically "dry" before painting. This is done by dipping the brush in the paint, then wiping the excess paint off so the brush is basically "dry" before painting on the canvas. This makes the paint look more "worn".

Dry brush inside the paint lines with your Blue Craft paint.

Allow to dry.

From the edge of the center blue line go over again 1/4" and mark a dot for the edge of your next line and again 1/4" with another dot to finish the line off. Run your Blue Painter's tape again from short end to short end.

Remove Tape.

Take a spray bottle and place 2 cups of extremely strong coffee inside it. I usually use 6 Tablespoons of Instant Coffee to 2 Cups of hot water the mix well. Spray all over your canvas sack both front and back side. Hang dry to finish the drying process.

These are just a few variations I did.

Enjoy!

Pillow Covers Are Coming Next!

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Grain Sack Tea Towel Tutorial

I am excited to offer you the newest tutorial. I hope you find the step by step color photos easy to follow!

Start out with a piece of Painter's Canvas that is 8' x 6' or 9' x 12" in size. You can find the canvas in the paint section of Wal-Mart, Lowes or Home Depot. I found mine at Wal-Mart. They sell different thicknesses, and I found that the thicker the canvas, the more expensive in price that canvas will be. Mine was the cheaper canvas at $9.99 and has worked perfectly for several projects.

First take your canvas and place in the washing machine on cold for a full cycle.

Once removed, I cut mine canvas in half because it was too big to work with.

The paint colors I chose were FolkArt Brand Sterling Blue and Thunder Blue. I mixed the two until I came up with the color I felt was most like the Antique French Grain Sack I had purchased previously.