{best of 2013} crafty home

I love fresh, breakthrough ideas for craft projects and home surroundings.  Sometimes ideas arise by looking at old favorites in a new way.  Let’s take a look back at my most loved new craft and home projects in 2013 and apply creative thinking to transform them into something completely new and wonderful in the coming year!

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1. Lace transfer

Adapted from another old idea, I used some vintage lace to transfer the impression brushing craft paint over the lace and pressing it (positive transfer) to the surface of my craft paper.

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2. Vintage boat oar

After a two-year hunt for a vintage wooden boat oar, we found two mismatched oars at Round Top for under $20. Twelve months later I finally broke out the stripping solution to remove the yellowish varnish from the larger one.  I tried my hand at adding a chevron pattern to the paddle, but it was a fail, so that side faces the wall.

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3. Button flowerets

Inspired by a flower shaped button among a package of craft-store buttons, I made flowerets to enhance my winter season greenery with a touch of homesweet homemade softness.

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4. Everyday bouquets

Large or small, bringing nature indoors is like a breath of fresh air.

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5. Cross stitch with a twist

Take the time loved cross stitch, shake it up, and you get something wonderful.

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6. Collection of miniatures

Grouping dissimilar items together by size makes for a lovely visual collection.  Each cubby in this vintage post office mail sorter reveals a special item.

–added bonus: practicing with the perspective corrector on my DSLR–

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7. return of the “Let’s make it a Crafty Christmas” party

For the 2nd year, we invited family and friends to join in an afternoon of creative holiday fun, punctuated with bubbly prosecco and yummy treats.  Planning for the bigger and better 2014 edition will begin soon!

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8. paper doves

Take my beloved paper stripe shapes, add a 3-dimensional element, glitter paint and form it into a lovely bird shape to get the prettiest ever paper doves.

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9. Vintage repurposing

From yard sticks to printing press drawers, creative repurposing makes any arrangement more appealing.

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10. Lexie

Lexie joined our family this past summer via the Miniature Schnauzer Rescue group of Houston, although she’s not actually a schnauzer.  She’s just a bundle of love.

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Thank you so very much for dropping by!

 

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