Rusty Labels and Basket Liners

I found these wire hanging baskets at our local "feed" store and thought they would make great storage containers- for something! 

So, I pulled out my trusty burlap and canvas and created these liners for the baskets.   They were very simple to sew and if you're interested, here's how I made them...

First, you need to make a pattern using brown craft paper, newspaper, or anything you have to draw out a pattern.  The idea is basically the same as if you were making a lamp shade cover...tape one edge of the paper to the basket, roll and make an outline with a pencil. 

Then cut out your pattern.  Place it onto your canvas (or any desired fabric) adding about 3" to the bottom (you'll see why in a minute) and approximately 2" to the top so you can make a finished edge. 




I know, this is burlap and not canvas...the rest of the pics are using canvas.

Once the fabric patter is cut out, sew the edges together.

Gather to bottom approximately 1/2" to 3/4" from the edge and pull tight; secure by sewing. 

Place the liner in your basket with the right side facing in an decide how much fabric you want to drape over the basket edge.  Sew a hem to finish the edge.

I made some burlap cording and sew to the finished edge.

Clear as mud?!?  Now, repeat this process with your burlap and make the cording using canvas.

Now, onto the numbers! 

I used canning jar lids and lightly sanded the surface with 220 grit sandpaper.  I then painted them with Lamp Black (DecoArt).

Once dry, I lightly sanded them again to remove a bit of the paint.  I then applied my "Rusting Paste" (recipe to follow) used a sea sponge.  Once dry, I sponged on a bit more Burnt Sienna and then sanded some more to expose the edge.

Apply the numbers using a stencil and some Light Buttermilk paint (I made the stencils).  Rough them up a bit more by pounding the edges with a hammer.  Use an awl to make a hole at the top of each tin label and attach to the baskets with wire.

Rusting Paste Recipe:
6 parts dry concrete powder
3 parts Raw Umber paint
2 parts Burnt Sienna paint
1 part Bittersweet Chocolate paint

Mix together...you can add a bit of water to make the mixing a bit easier.  Use a sea sponge to apply to the surface, as it gives it a more authentic rust look.

That is it.  I hope you like them. 

Thank you for stopping by...have a great weekend!

Lesa

Burlap & Canvas Monogrammed Banner

I really love the look of burlap and canvas and I love the look of "anything" monogrammed, therefore, I came up with this idea to combine all the elements...my burlap and canvas monogrammed banner.  It was very easy to sew and only took a short time to complete.  I also had all the supplies on hand, so there was no expense. 

Here's what you'll need:
Canvas
Burlap
Craft paint
Heavy jute
Dowel

The first thing you need to do is make your banner pattern.  I made mine by drawing a pattern onto craft paper and then cutting it out.  It measures approximately 14" wide by 15 3/4"" long (from the top to the tip) and the sides are approximately 11 3/4" long.

Pin the pattern to the canvas (doubled) and cut out. 

Now you'll need to make the burlap cording...using a piece of jute, roughly measure around all the sides of the banner, just not the top edge, and add about an inch or so for safe measure.  Cut a piece of burlap approximately 2" wide and the same length as your jute, wrap the burlap around the jute and sew in place.  Now you have burlap cording.

 
Pin the cording in between the two pieces of canvas and sew in place.  Turn the banner right-side out and press with an iron. 

My "leafy wreath" pattern was a stencil I made from an image on the computer.  I just printed the image and then covered the entire piece with clear packing tape.  Then I used an exacto knife to cut the stencil.  I used the same technique to make the letter "M".  Just a note...I like to cover the image with tape because it helps protect the paper from the moisture from the paint...I can then use the stencil more than one time.  Position the wreath on the front of the canvas and apply your paint.  I used "Celery Green" and then added some shading using "Light Avocado Green" by DecoArt.  Once dry, stencil your letter in the center...I used "Burnt Umber".

Cut a piece of burlap 6" wide by 16" wide for the top of the banner.  The extra width allows for a finished hem at each end.  This piece will finish the top of the banner and have a pocket to allow the dowel to go through for hanging.  I used a piece of 1/2" dowel approximately 21 1/2" long and painted it Celery Green.

I wanted a tassle for the tip of the banner so I made one out of jute.  And, I made the "bead" for the tassle using dowel.  I just cut the dowel about 1/2" in length and drilled a hole in the center.  Gave it a quick sanding and painted it Celery Green.  I attached the tassle to the banner by sewing it in place. 

After inserting the dowel into the top pocket, I wrapped each end of the dowel with jute and made a hanger. 

I thought this would look good on the front door or hanging in an entryway.  Also, I think if would make a great gift as it can be personalized. 

Thank you for stopping by and taking a look...I hope you like it.  Have a great week!

Lesa

Candle Gazebo

On the weekend my friend, Elsie, and I went to a few garage sales looking for some special treasures.  We were very successful in our search and I thought I'd share one of my finds with you.  (Just so you know, over the next while, I'll be sharing several "treasure" transformations with you.)

 

What do you think?  Do you love it?  If you are wondering what it is, well, it's an old light fixture.  It only set me back $2.50.  Okay, I know, it's UGLY but I really thought it had potential.  So, yesterday, I took it apart and removed some of the decorative elements.  I had to "smash" the glass center out with a hammer as there was no other way to remove it.  (Actually, that part was fun!)  I then put it back together, primed it and gave it a couple of coats of paint.  ("Sand Bar" from Home Hardware)  I let the paint dry, sanded the edges to remove some of the paint and then added a dark glaze to give it an old, antiqued look. 

I'm thinking a tall pillar candle would look good in the "gazebo" or even a small arrangement of flowers.  Of course, I have neither in my house to add for photo purposes, so I had to use a small tealight candle.

I made the tissue paper carnations to try and give you an idea of the floral idea I have but I just threw it together (quickly) so I could take a picture.  Hopefully, you get the idea. 

Just a note...I call it the "candle gazebo" because I think it looks like a gazebo!

Thank you for stopping by...I enjoy your visits.
Lesa

Versatile Blogger...

Holly of Full Circle Creations surprised me with the Versatile Blogger Award.  It's very exciting to know that someone actually enjoys my blog and feels that I'm worthy of this award.  So, thank you Holly! 

As the rules of acceptance state, I must tell you seven (7) random things that you might not know about me...(this should put you to sleep!)

1.  I left my career (one year ago) as a Pharmacy Technician to take over a custom framing shop (Memory Lane Custom Framing) which I run from home.
2.  I have two children...my daughter, Taryn is 23 yrs. old and my son, Brendan is 20 yrs. old.
3.  My favorite flavor of ice cream is chocolate.
4.  I have been married for 25 years.
5.  I've published ten (10) decorative painting books and was a contributing artist for Woodstrokes magazine.
6.  Frank Bielec (you may remember that he was a designer on "Trading Spaces") phoned me one morning to congratulate me on having one of my designs make the cover of Woodstrokes magazine. 
7.  My favorite places to shop are Winners Homesense and Costco.

Hopefully, I still have your attention...I'd now like to pass this award on to a person who is always creating and is very talented...this is Carri @ Redefining C.   This project is just one of many that caught my eye...

So make sure to pay her a visit.  You won't be disappointed!

Thank you for stopping by...

Lesa

Garden Gate

Nothing in the way of a "new" idea, but I wanted to share with you one of my other projects.  This is in the "other" spare bedroom.  Again, I needed something to hang above the bed to fill in the blank wall so this is what I came up with...

Just noticed it's hanging crooked!  Ops!

I pretty much put it together like my "Dream" sign, except  that I left about 1/4" space in between each board and added the "Z" pattern to the front to make it look like a garden gate (or barn door).  And, I aged it using green paint instead of white paint. 

I thought about adding a handle on one side and then attaching two hinges on the other side to make it appear more like a gate.  What do you think?

Oh yeah...and the other project for this bedroom was my lamp makeover.  Of course, I didn't take any before pictures, but imagine the lamp burgundy with a pleated burgundy lamp shade. 

Again, nothing new...I primed and then painted the base with leftover green paint and then removed the fabric from the shade and  hot glued heavy jute to the shade. 

 A very simple and inexpensive transformation.

Thank you for the visit...and I've really enjoyed your comments!! 

Lesa