A Little Monkey Business

I mentioned previously about my need to recoup some of my losses on a brooch purchase.  That gave me a good foundation to start with this brooch redo. 

Sometimes you see an image and it just speaks to you and that is the case with this bike riding chimp.  I had picked out the background scrapbook paper already and switched the monkey picture to a sepia tone so it would blend better with the colors. 

The monkey pic was carefully cut out and glued on top of the scrapbook paper using mod podge.  I also used mod podge to affix it to the brooch.  I then threaded seed beads onto some thread so that I could get the length I needed and then glue it to the brooch front all at once.  I used some super tacky glue to do so. 

Now my brooch is complete with a picture and a bit of personality, too.

WordPress Tags: vintage, image, monkey, brooch, antique, redo, mod podge, beads, cindy is crafty

Out Da*n Spot!

I bought a J Jill sweatshirt at my local Goodwill.  I love J Jill clothes and snatch them up whenever I find them at the thrift shops.  I gave the shirt the once over and it looked fine before I bought it.  While putting it on one day I noticed it had a stain on the front of it.  It was passed the time to return it for a store credit so I thought I would cover it up.  Artfully, cover it up that is.

I bonded batik fabric onto wonder under and then I cut a couple of different sized circles out of the fabric.  I then arranged the circles on the front of the shirt and fused them in place.  Using variegated thread I sewed them onto the shirt.  Lastly, I stitched a rambling line which connected all of the circles together and went from the hem to the neckline. 

The second and third circles are covering up the spot and I have a one of a kind, original shirt.  It took me about 15-20 minutes for the entire process.  And that da*n spot is OUT! 

WordPress Tags: wonder under, circle, sweatshirt, re-do, hiding, spot, batik, cindy is crafty

Simon’s Cat ‘TV Dinner’

Simon’s Cat ‘Cat Man Do’

Please forgive me…

Breaking Down The Horror

I must confess every now and then I make a mistake at the thrift shops.  It rarely happens, but this mistake that I am going to tell you about was huge and major!  I went to the Family Thrift Center on Midlothian Turnpike.   It is a great thrift shop, but always very busy, the aisles are narrow, and sometimes the other patrons are RUDE!  By that I mean, they don’t move when you patiently say excuse me repeatedly or if they do move it is 1/2 foot and not enough to get by them.  I have to be in a place that I am not rushed to go in. 

Their jewelry section is heaven.  They get the coolest things donated to them.  Many of the items are old, rare and one of a kind.  I saw a brooch in the case.  The picture is part of it.  It had a lovely black cameo on top of this.  It had some type of goop on the cameo and it was very dirty.  It was also marked $149!  It is large 3” by 2” and has a very old pinback on it. 

I put it back and forth a couple of times.  Instead of leaving it there the fact it was priced $149 and the gentleman that was also looking at it got the better of me.  Normally, the Family Thrift is right on with its pricing on their items.  I bought it thinking I had a major score.  I brought it home and soaked it in my trusty Dawn Dish liquid.  As I removed it from the Dawn and started using my fingers to rub it a bit, the cameo and its background disintegrated in my hands.  To say I was pi$$ed is an understatement!  I did release a few expletives into the air. 

I called the manager of the Family Thrift to explain what had happened to see if they might give me a refund or at the least a store credit.  Nothing doing!  Then I ramped it up to furious!  At myself mostly for not leaving it there.  It sat on my dresser mocking me for quite a while and I couldn’t bring myself to throw it in the trash as I had spent $149 for it.  Then the light went on. 

I have plans for this part of the brooch.  The most substantial part.  I will work on it this week and show you next week what it becomes.  Maybe I can make it look like it is worth the $149 I paid for it. 

Let this be a cautionary tale…if you MUST rub, rub VERY GENTLY! 

WordPress Tags: brooch, thrift, $149, ruined, dawn, dish liquid, family thrift, cindy is crafty

It is a…

pencil cup!  At work we had a mug on the counter to hold the pens that the applicants used to complete the applications and the caregivers used to complete paperwork and sign for their paychecks.  It was knocked off the counter and broke so we needed a replacement.  I scoured the thrift shops and over the long and snowy weekend as I was making some corn chowder it hit me as I was ready to toss the can. 

I covered the outside with pencil fabric which I found as a remnant at my local fabric store.  On the bottom I affixed a felt circle to cover the can.  On the inside and the bottom is is also lined with black felt.  That way as the pens leak no one will know it’s become gross inside. 

It was a quick 15 minute project.  I gave the fabric edges a brush of mod podge to keep them from fraying as the cup is handled.  Aleene’s tacky glue was used to glue the fabric to the can. 

WordPress Tags: pencil cup, fabric, felt, can, recycle, mod podge, glue, cindy is crafty

Famous Ladies That Are Finished!

I solicited advice for how to finish these ladies.  I took all of the suggestions under consideration, but  in the end wanted something a bit more subtle.  I used gems to embellish the front a bit and give them some sparkle.  I glued down the gems so they would stay put on the brooches and would hold up under wear. 

I like how they ended up.  How about you?

WordPress Tags: brooch, movie stars, audrey hepburn, marilyn monroe, grace kelly, gems, embellish, mod podge, dominos, altered, art, cindy is crafty

Lots O’ White Fluffy Flakes

This was at 9:30 on Saturday morning.  Snowing hard, fine and non-stop.  It continued for another 6 hours at 1 inch per hour according to the forecasters. 

 

 

  This was when it was finished.  We got 8 inches of the white stuff.  Lovely to look out the window at, but nasty to get around in.  I stayed in the house mostly except to go out and clean off the car, shovel the steps and snap a few shots. 

Let’s cross our fingers that they plow my side street soon!  It is only 40 feet to the main road, but it helps when the street is plowed as I can stop at the stop sign before proceeding to the main road!  Wish me luck!

It is really pretty, but will be gone by early this week as the temps are expected to climb to the 40s.  The Lord giveth and Mother Nature taketh away!  Oh well, it will nice while it lasts!

WordPress Tags: Richmond, virginia, snow, 1-30-10, January, 30 cindy is crafty

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