Happy Halloween!

Hope you are having a fun and spooky day today!  Just a little something to share.  This is the display I've had up in the studio.  I found the half birdcage at TJ Maxx and added extra clips so that I could display some of my Halloween tags and some of the Halloween swap pieces I received last year.

And yes...I FINALLY got to go to a Halloween party this year.  I had purchased the skull handband from a crafter this summer and then completed my look with shrinky dink skull earrings and a skull and bones necklace.  I cut the shrinky dinks using SCAL and my electronic cutter, heated them with the heat gun and made the jewelry.  The skull came from my HALLOWEEN SET TWO SVG file.

Painting Home Decor

Throughout the years I've painted lots of home dec items.  It's the perfect way to get exactly what you want in in the colors that match your home.  The piece above at one time hung in my kitchen.  I painted it during a class at a painting convention.  I really like it and when my decor changed, I tucked it away.  It now hangs above the sink in my studio.

You can paint fabric to make pillows, towels and tablecloths.  I've found prints I liked but hated the frame.  Solution?  Paint the frame.  I took a cheap looking mirror and painted it to match my guest room furniture.  Looks like a pricey custom piece now!  Here are some other ideas:

Need a lamp to match your decor or want to decorate with something seasonal?  Create a lamp using a large pickle jar!  This jar was primed with black spray paint then painted with acrylics.  A simple lamp kit was added to the jar lid...easy enough that I could do it myself.   

I painted lamps for my master bedroom when we first built the house (weekend use) and still have them now that we live here full time.   One is shown above...they match the dressers I painted and I love them.  And no one has a clue that they're pickle jars!

I painted this piece on a round glass vase I found at the thrift store using regular acrylic paint.  I used a sealer on the glass and then painted as usual and varnished.  I was able to use regular paint because this piece will not be washed or around food as dishes are.  I also painted a wall hanging to match the vase.

Here's more glass painting--acrylic on an old window.  I painted this on the front of the window but I've seen other pieces done on the back.  You just have to reverse the order of the placement of paint.  I need to paint more windows as I have a stash of these in my studio and more wrapped in a tarp outside!  I've also painted lots of items for outdoors...

These are upcycled knives that are now plant markers.  Tip:  Be sure to use an outdoor varnish on any pieces that will be used out doors.  And reapply the varnish each year to keep your project looking like new.

Broken shovel?  Don't throw it away!  Upcycle it into a garden ornament!  Tip:  It's crucial to use a metal primer to seal any piece you'll spend time and effort on painting.  You do not want rust to come through your beautiful painting.  I've also painted slates for the garden, rocks that look like animals and flower pots.  Even the mailbox!

I hope you've enjoyed these few days celebrating International Decorative Painting Month.  I encourage you to check out all the wonderful painting tutorials that are now available, pick up a brush and get painting!

Goodby My Sweet Girl

 

Millie

November 26, 2001 to October 29, 2012

"Forever Loved"

It must be fate that the original post for today was for painted Memory Boxes because I now have the sad news of telling you that my Millie (almost 11) went to Rainbow Bridge today.  She has had stomach issues for many years and over the past few months has gone downhill.  This past weekend she started to fail and because I loved her so much, I let her go.  She's now romping pain free with her two bully brothers, free from suffering.  While I am here in an all too empty house with a broken heart.   Some day there will be a very joyous reunion.  Until then, please give your fur kids a hug for me today....

Painting Memory Boxes

For many years I've been involved with a wonderful organization that provides specially painted boxes to parents whose child is either stillborn or dies shortly after birth.  I've painted them for people I know and complete strangers, but each box is unique and sent out with much love and prayer.  Details on the Memory Box Artist Program is below.  Here's a very small sample of some of the boxes I've painted:

If I know the baby's name, I'll include it on the box. 

Animals, angels and florals are the preferred style of box. 

The boxes are paper mache and can be any shape or size (although a rectangular box is discouraged as it looks coffin-like)

 

Sometimes I'll paint multiple boxes at once.  I will always change the design somehow so that no two are alike.  The sides are painted to coordinate with the top design.

 

The inside is always finished as well.  I like to use either gold or silver paint as it makes a nice finish that doesn't need varnish.  Most of the time I will paint a small element of the design inside or add a poem or scripture.

Interested in learning more?  The Memory Box Artist Program, Inc. began in June of 1998 as an all volunteer effort to provide boxes for families of newborns that pass-away in a hospital. The Memory Box is given to the parents of the child so they do not leave the hospital without any acknowledgment of the child's life. The boxes are filled with mementos of the child, i.e. photograph, footprints, lock of hair, etc.

To date, the program has provided over 113,000 boxes for infant bereavement programs. The boxes are provided free of charge to the hospitals who participate in this program. Each box is painted or decorated by volunteers who purchase the boxes and other supplies with their own funds, and then mail them to the appropriate hospital without any expectation of compensation.
The purpose of the program is to affirm the life of their child for the family who has suffered the loss of a newborn. Crafters and artists create each box with great love and a sincere wish to reach out in support and understanding. We know each infant is special and loved very much, regardless of how long the child lived.

Faux Painting & More Furniture

I've faux finished many of the rooms in my home.  It's actually very easy to do and it looks fabulous.  The hardest part is usually the prep...taping off areas.  Here are some pics of a few of my faux finished rooms...

This is a faux finished wall in my master bath's tub alcove.  The side walls are plain green paint and this wall, which faces the door, has the faux on it.  I'ts based in the same color as the other walls.  Then using a darker shade of the base color mixed with faux glaze, I "slip slapped" it over the base and lightly blotted with cotton rags.  Oh and the painting in the center?  An original woodsy scene I painted in acrylic on an old cabinet door.

This is my great room done in the same method as the bath but with two accenting faux colors--one slightly darker and one lighter than the base coat.  Yep...I like green!  Probably because the house is situated in the woods!!

The pictures above and below are done using what I call the "grocery bag" method.  In the top photo of my laundry room, I based the wall beige.  Below the wallpaper border, I added the faux finish using a slightly darker beige that I mixed with faux glaze.  I brushed it on and then using plastic grocery bags, lifted it off...leaving a nice "leather" look finish.  The room below was done the same way except I put the faux finish on the entire wall.   By the way, I painted the two top fish (darker) lure pictures.

Now I'm going to show you the hardest faux finish I've done.  The reason it was so hard was that I had to be precise with my taping and I was up and down the ladder so many times I almost wore it out!  It's the striped finish in a guest room...

It's a very subtle look and it takes just the right lighting to be able to catch it on film.  You can see it best by the door.  To do this finish, I painted the room and then when it was dry, I measured and taped the stripes all around the room.  A large level comes in very handy for this!  Once it was taped, I painted every other stripe with a satin poly...just enough shine to give a hint of the striping.  Since the lighting was good to take the picture of the wall, I thought I'd show the painted furniture in this room that I mentioned in a previous post.

The dresser above was one we used down state and once we moved north, I painted it to match the bedroom and replace a smaller one we were using in that room.

 

I also painted the original handles to match the design.  

Here's a close up of the top which has a crackle finish.

 

A garage sale find painted similar to the dresser above but the rose design is different.  In this bedroom I have also painted the headboard and a nightstand in the same rose pattern.

Painting Ornaments

Many years ago when I used to paint and sell in holiday craft shows, I was known as "The Ornament Lady". I had hundreds of ornaments that I sold...wood, glass, metal...you name it.  If I could paint on it, I turned it into an ornament.  People would look for me each year to get personalized ornaments for their family members.  TIP:  Use a Sharpie to personalize ornaments.
Now a days, I paint ornaments for family members and for charity.  Here are a few I've done recently...

I LOVE painting lace ornaments and I was lucky to have been taught from the best--many years ago I took a convention class with the great PATRICIA RAWLINSON.  

I've also had lots of classes (and practice) painting roses--the decorative painter's holy grail!  lol

Another style of roses--funky!  This is one of a set of similar ornaments I painted for my niece.  I used a regular glass ornament.  Just painted over it with acrylic paint!

This flat glass ornament was finished off with silver braid glued to the edge.

Painting on Metal

I dug out some old photos from my craft show days so I can show you some of the metal pieces I used to paint to sell.  I would find old metal pieces at garage sales and thrift stores and paint them.  I've done tons of them....from florals to Christmas.  Since it's fall, I thought I'd start with the two pieces above.  The top picture is an old cake cover.  This one had a wooden acorn handle and a matching metal plate.  The oval platter had a nice insert area to paint.  To prep these, I would line them up in the alley and spray on a gray metal primer.  Once they were dry, I added them to my stash.  By the way....I still have a huge stash of metal pieces waiting to be painted!

Here's another cake carrier and matching tray.  I remember that that round tray was very heavy!  These and the pieces below are all shapes and sizes but by painting them alike, they look great together.

This teapot was another really heavy piece...which made it a pain to haul back and forth to craft shows!  Would have made a great doorstop...

Here's a matching coffee pot (sorry about the ink smudges).  The tea and coffee pots could not be used to make beverages in once upcycled, but they made nice places to hide the grocery money!

The teapot above was lacking it's cover but it made a great place for a plant.  The little trays were turned into plaques.

Interested in painting on metal?  Any piece in good shape will work.  Lightly sand and wipe with a water/vinegar mix.  Next prime the metal using your favorite primer (I use either spray on auto primer or JoSonja's Multipurpose Sealer).  If spraying, put on several light coats.  Once your primer has cured you can paint away using good quality acrylic paint.  Seal your piece with a good quality varnish.  Any upcycled piece  should not come in contact with food.  Hand wash only.

TIP:  You can use painted metal to serve food if you use a clear plate over a platter or tray.  Or if it's a container, keep the inside free from paint and use it as intended.

Painting Furniture

When we built our vacation home in 2000, I started collecting garage sale finds to furnish it.  I painted furniture for every room.  The pieces may have been of different styles but once they were painted similarly, they went together.  When we moved in permanently nine years ago, I kept just about everything I had painted...I got rid of the traditional style furniture I had in the main house and kept the items I had painted in a rustic, "up north" fashion.  The piece shown above is a table I painted with a design I created.  TIP:  When I paint furniture, I wipe it down with a water/vinegar mix and once dry, spray on a good coat of Kilz.
Below are some of the chairs I've painted.  If you are thinking of painting furniture, chairs are a good piece to start with!

With this chair, I wanted it to have a worn, shabby chic look so I wiped it down but painted directly onto the wood (no Kilz)  Then after I put the base coat on, I lightly sanded here and there to expose the wood.  

This was a beat up old dining room chair that I got at a garage sale.  A lot of work to paint so I was glad that my sister purchased it so that it can stay in the family!

An upcycled wood and metal school chair.  TIP:  Use multiple coats of of polyurethane varnish on chairs...they get a lot of use!

This jewelry box was given to me to paint for a charity auction.  It had a white washed finish already...I just added the roses.  Just a little bit of paint and effort and it becomes a one-of-a-kind piece!

Finally, here is a dresser my neighbor commissioned me to paint.  She wanted a piece to fit her Florida themed bedroom...

I love the soft shading on the top and the border is a rope...very nautical!  She added glass knobs to the dresser so as not to take away from the painting.

More Halloween Test Tube Holders & Free SVG

Here's some more test tube holders I cut and decorated.  These were little favors for my peeps at our recent scrapbook event.  For test tube holder SVG info, please see this previous POST.  Scroll down for a look at the individual holders and the details:

SPOOKY SKULL

Cut holder from black cardstock and ran a strip of Halloween decorative paper (The Paper Studio--Skeletons) around the box and up on the arched back.  I edged the paper with a thin line of Icicle Stickles.  The skull was a stamped with black ink on white cardstock and fussy cut out.  I mounted the skull with foam squares. "SPOOKY" was stamped on black cardstock, embossed with white EP and fussy cut out.  The bat SVG came from this SET.  I accented the wings with Black Diamond Stickles and gave him Yellow Stickle eyes.  Bat attached to test tube with glue dots.

 

BOO SKELETON

Cut holder from black cardstock and ran a strip of Halloween decorative paper (The Paper Studio--Skeletons) around the box and up on the arched back.  I edged the paper with a thin line of Yellow Stickles.  The skeleton (Cosmo Cricket-Haunted) was a stamped on black cardstock, embossed with white EP and fussy cut out.  I attached it with foam squares.  The "BOO" letters were stamped on orange cardstock, punched out and then had a layer of Glossy Accents added for dimension.  The pumpkin SVG came from this SET.  I accented the pumpkin with Orange Peel Stickles and drew on the stem with a marker.  I used a flower punch and black cardstock to create the burst behind the pumpkin then attached to the test tube with glue dots.

 

 LITTLE DRACULA

Cut holder from black cardstock and ran a strip of Halloween decorative paper (Best Creation, Inc-Happy Haunting) around the box and up on the arched back.  I edged the paper with a thin line of Silver Stickles.  Little Drac was fussy cut from the same decorative paper and mounted with foam squares.  "HAUNTING" (Inkadinkado-Scary Words) and the spider web (Inkadinkado-Spider Web) were stamped on black cardstock, embossed with white EP and fussy cut out.  I added red paint to the inside of the sentiment.  The bat (Cosmo Cricket-Haunted) was stamped with black ink on white cardstock and fussy cut out. I accented the wings with Black Diamond Stickles and colored in his eyes with a red marker.  Bat attached to test tube with glue dots.

 THE OWL & THE SPIDER

Cut holder from black cardstock and ran a strip of Halloween decorative paper (The Paper Studio--Spooky Silhouette) around the box and up on the arched back.  I edged the paper with a thin line of Orange Peel Stickles.  The spider SVG came from this SET.  The spiderweb is a SVG I had saved from someone else.  I accented the web with Yellow Stickles and the spider with Black Diamond Stickles.  The spider is mounted on foam squares.  The owl SVG came from this SET (Scroll down to get it FREE).  I accented the eyes, beak, feet and feathers with Stickles then attached to the test tube with glue dots.

LITTLE WITCH & HER CAT

Cut holder from black cardstock and ran a strip of Halloween decorative paper (Best Creation Inc-Happy Haunting) around the box and up on the arched back.  I edged the paper with a thin line of Starry Night Stickles.  The little witch was fussy cut from the same decorative paper as Dracula and mounted with foam squares over a scrap of arched black cardstock.  The sentiment is a sticker.  The cat SVG came from this SET.  I added Yellow Stickles eyes and mounted the cat on a punched yellow cardstock circle then attached  it to the test tube with glue dots.

FREE SVG

Please note that this is Free for one week only.

After midnight EST on October 31st you can purchase it for fifty cents.

Get the file HERE