Sunday, March 31, 2013

7 Days.. $7.00

I decided it would be fun to make one project a day for 7 days, and not spend more than $1.00 on each project. My first project is a clipboard. I found an old one (that's the style I like) for 50 cents at the thrift store. I drilled holes on the side and strung leather around the side: 10 cents, tied on 2 beads: 5 cents, decoupaged a copy of the cowgirl onto the front of the clipboard: 25 cents. Grand total: 90 cents!  photo image-29.jpg

Friday, March 29, 2013

Decoupaged Trays

One of the teachers I work with found me a whopping deal on trays, so I bought a bunch and started decoupaging them. I have to add, our local PTA has a book fair, where you can buy used books for .50 each. The first tray I took pages from a discarded book from the book fair & decoupaged them right onto the tray.  photo image-27.jpg The second tray I started by painting a base-coat of paint onto the tray. Next, I painted the saying onto the tray. After that, I cut out an image of the cowgirl and the floral design and decoupaged them onto the tray. Last, I decoupaged the entire top of the tray. When I took the picture I included 3 vintage glasses I found. I was delighted to find glasses with a bear, a fish and an elk. They fit both my camper and my family!  photo image-28.jpg

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Happy Birthday Michael!

I have the best son in the whole world! I'm sure that's what every mom thinks, but I'm certain it's true in my case. Happy Birthday.. I love you very much! Mom  photo 001-11.jpg

Monday, March 25, 2013

Outdoor Camp Chair & Table

I won't get all carried away with my "Sisters" stuff, but I did want to share my chair and table for outside. The table (a tiny step stool) is the cutest thing ever! I saw it at an antique store and I had to have it. The little steps fold down and I love the old faded paint. It will be perfect for a drink or dinner plate, and it folds up and doesn't take up much room. My chair is an old camp chair we had already. I just fancied up the back with material and the logo, and added the fringe for fun.  photo image-25.jpg

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Egg Cartons

I have a lady from town who brings me oatmeal containers and egg cartons. I didn't have any problem using up the oatmeal containers, but I wasn't really sure what to do with the egg cartons. I decided to start by painting a couple of them white with acrylic paint. Then I stamped one with rubber stamps. It needed a little something else so I cut some chickens out of a book and glued them on. I distressed the carton with ink. I thought it was pretty cute. The second carton I painted white, and I took a Sharpie marker and wrote on it. It needed a little picture, so I glued the chicken and flower on it. I distressed it as well. I am going to make one of these for my camper, but I think they would be cute gifts filled with fresh eggs, hard boiled eggs or candy eggs.  photo image-24.jpg

Friday, March 22, 2013

Sisters on the Fly

I am one of the new members of Sisters on the Fly. This is a group of women who restore vintage campers and explore the outdoor wilderness. I am going to learn to fly-fish and head out on some new adventures. Isn't that what life is all about? My husband hunts and camps. We camp and jeep together. We camp and jeep with friends. Now I will camp and fish with other women too. Life is an adventure and I love to live it to the fullest. Here is a little vintage suitcase I decoupaged with the "Sisters" emblem on it.  photo 4c157fdf-2a8e-4392-a55c-7dbc5699af84.jpg

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Mod Podge is my Friend!

I love to decoupage! I did it to the insides of my camper doors and shelves. I do it to boxes and chairs, and today I did it to this little suitcases. It so easy and it lets you renew an old piece. It's just good ol' fun!  photo c25c6b83-1530-43d0-ba49-04845b0b9b9a.jpg

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Todays Projects

Back to school tomorrow, so today was a busy day! I made a window panel for the right window.  photo cb59242d-a411-4ae1-bc03-5940d7fb4512.jpg I painted signs on 2 cupboards.  photo 014-6.jpg  photo 013-3.jpg I finished this window up.  photo 012-4.jpg Mike cut my mattress pad so the bed is nice and comfy. He also fixed my table so it's nice and sturdy. All I need are some pretty flowers for the table and I'm good to go!!

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Camper Shots

Here are a few more pictures of my camper. Taking a picnic break today!  photo 010-9.jpg  photo 009-3.jpg  photo image-16.jpg  photo 008-9.jpg

Friday, March 15, 2013

Gypsy Bear

My little camper is turning into a gypsy. It has a personality of its own. When I started this project I thought I knew just what it would look like, but it is taking on it's own personality. I thought it would be a light color, like the ceiling. But it needed a little age, so I painted it a sienna color. I thought I would use tea stained lace, but it called out for denim blues. It is turning into a beauty. It is my gypsy caravan. Here is a picture of the window panel I made yesterday:  photo image-18.jpg Here is the bedding: I made this quilt about 20 years ago. It is the first one I actually quilted. I made the bed ruffle from a skirt. Then I added lots of pillows!  photo image-21.jpg I covered the bulletin-board with denim pieces, and then added stuff I love.  photo 011-8.jpg In the above picture you can see where I covered the cupboard panels with vintage materials. I can't ell you how much fun I am having with this project!!

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Stained Glass Shelf

The shelf in the rear of my camper was falling apart. My sweet man rebuilt it for me. He was able to use stained glass panels from a hutch my sister made for me years ago. I just love it!  photo ed26875b-ef32-46fb-a92e-ef93b1095982.jpg

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Baby Bear is a 1972 Serro Scotty 13 foot camper

My husband, Mike, told me I really should mention what kind of camper "Baby Bear" is. It is a 1972 Serro Scotty Sportsman Camper. Vintage? I told my friends, if this is vintage, I am a relic! My first project was to recover the seats in the dinette. I made them reversible. One side is covered with denim and bits of old stuff, and the other side is a soft feminine floral. I am going to do the curtains and sheets with reversible fabrics as well. When I am done decorating my camper, it should be easy to change the looks 4 different ways. If I am doing all this sewing and such, I would like to make it fit my needs the first time around. Old Cushion:  photo 5c21dd90-0fa4-47c1-8a08-468cc58c3690.jpg New Cushions:  photo 67fb697d-af6f-4d77-b078-0dd60102f1ce.jpg  photo 003-10.jpg

Monday, March 11, 2013

Baby Bear Sneak Peek

Spring Break! Time to play with Bear! I have lots of projects started. I finished recovering the cushions. I decopauged the insides of the cupboards with book pages. I have half of the ceiling papered with wall paper that looks like antique tiles. I used distressed ink to make the paper look aged. Oh, my! This project is a lot of work but it is so much fun! Here is a look at the insides of my cupboards. Before:  photo 001-9.jpg After:  photo e0333c80-6bdd-4dc9-96b1-6620be12fd82.jpg Here is a peek in the corner:  photo 007-12.jpg

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Padded Folding chairs

I bought 4 wood folding chairs for $20.00. I painted a table and 2 of the chairs for my classroom. I painted the chairs with a lot of color and padded the seats. I put the other 2 chairs away, and pulled one out the other day to fix up. I repainted it white. I made the seat cushion out or fabric scraps. Then I took a denim piece I had made last summer and sewed it around the back-top of the chair. Here it is!  photo 3dfc0ac0-e255-4df6-affc-92cf75ce5931.jpg

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Baby Bear- My Vintage Camper

I have had the strong desire to restore a camper for many years. I have been buying vintage goods for it. I made a quilt for it. And now I get to do it! My wonderful husband searched high and low for a camper that would be safe, light weight and cute. Boy, he knows me well! This is the camper he found for me, and I Love It!!!! I have had it for a week and I'm so excited and full of ideas that I can't hardly sleep. Since most of my free time will be spent restoring Baby Bear, I thought I would post before and after pictures on my blog. My sister, Cindy, is also restoring a camper. It's so much fun bouncing ideas off each other and sharing this creative energy!  photo 014-4.jpg  photo 014-5.jpg