Tami Loves Vintage

Creating Keepsakes With Vintage Treasures

How to Make Vintage Ornaments

by

Christmas is coming up quickly friends! This is my favorite time of year and I love combining it with my other favorite thing: vintage decor! Today I’m showing you how to make vintage ornaments. Talk about “my favorite things”!

When it comes to my decor I love all things vintage. Vintage ornaments aren’t always easy to come by but that doesn’t mean we have to go without! In the video below I show you how to make vintage ornaments by giving ornaments you already have a vintage makeover! This project is super easy to do and is also pretty quick. Perfect for the busy holiday season!

How to Make Vintage Ornaments

If you love vintage Christmas decor then this project is perfect for you! You can take any ornament and easily age it. Thrift stores are usually overrun with Christmas decorations and they are the perfect place to find tons of ornaments for this project. Since you’ll be painting and distressing them there is no need for them to match. When you’re done they will all compliment each other perfectly!

For this project I used golden angel bulbs that I already had but you can use any ornaments that you have. If you like the gold look peaking through and your ornaments aren’t that color you could always paint them gold first. Once the gold paint is dry you can proceed with the steps that I show you. I love the glitter of the gold shining through but if that’s not your favorite you can skip it all together. “You do you” right?!

This technique is also perfect for trinkets and other items you want to age. It works on any material type and can turn anything you have (or find) into a vintage decor item! If you love the shape or look of something but it doesn’t really fit with your vintage theme this is the perfect solution! If you have friends who are fellow vintage lovers this is a great gift idea too!

How to Make Vintage Ornament Supply List

  • Christmas ornament
  • Chalk paint (off white or cream color)
  • Antiquing wax
  • Chip brush (the older the better)
  • Small stencil brush
  • Cloth

The Step by Step

  1. Start by getting some chalk paint on your chip brush and then dab it off. Next, tap the brush all over the ornament but don’t cover it entirely. You want some of the gold to peak through. I covered about 2/3 of my ornament.
  2. Next, take your stencil brush and use it to apply antiquing wax to the high points of the ornament. You want to dirty it up a bit.
  3. Finally, use a cloth the wipe the wax a bit. this is to soften the look and blend the wax.
  4. That’s it, now just allow it to dry completely and it’s ready to hang!

The Wrap Up…

So there you have it! A quick and easy Christmas project that will add so much to your vintage holiday decor. I hope you love the results as much as I do. The only challenge will be not antiquing every ornament you own. And, hey, if you want to go for it! It would make for a bright and beautiful tree! Whatever way you take it I hope you have fun and enjoy this project. Time to grab a cup of something hot and cozy and get crafting!

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

The Janky to Swanky Challenge

by

Today I’m sharing a super fun challenge that my friend Julie and I have been doing. We find something janky and challenge each other to make it swanky! We’ve had so much fun with this and I just had to show you the fabulous results!

One of the best things in my life is to have a best friend who loves the same things that I do. My friend Julie introduced me to the world of antiques and vintage treasures and I am hooked! We are both pretty creative and we loved an idea that was inspired by some friends on Instagram: Farm Shenanigans and Design Central Project. It’s called janky to swanky. The way the challenge originated was our two friends would buy some thing that was janky but had possibility. Then they would exchange items and reveal what they did with them. We adapted our challenge a bit and here’s what we came up with…

The Janky to Swanky Challenge

Julie and I have loved the original idea but we thought it would be more challenging if we bought the same item and each came up with our own idea. And so our challenge began. We have done three now and I thought you guys might enjoy seeing them! I am also giving you the details of my projects so you can see how to do them.

First Challenge…

janky to swanky

For our first challenge we were in Springfield Ohio at the antiques extravaganza and we found these metal contraptions. We still have no idea what they were. If you do you’ll have to let me know!

So we both got to work on creating our first Swanky Designs. They could not be more different! Julie made a Christmas tree stand and I made a little hanging light. I love how they both turned out! And they’re so different!


Second Challenge…

After this reveal of course we were excited to do another one so we did some shopping together and finally one day we were in Xenia Ohio shopping and found two table legs hooked to a board.

Julie’s husband cut the wooden brace in half and Julie took one and I took the other. And off to work we went!  of course remember this was a secret so I did not get pictures of her process but I did get some pictures of mine that I can share with you.

I couldn’t bring myself to cut the original piece apart. I envisioned a very unique shelf! So my husband attached some trim that I bought at Lowe’s. It fit perfectly around the edge and made it prettier.

It took the trim that I chose and I wiped some gel stain on it to make it look original to the piece. Then after the stain was dry I began painting the entire piece. For this I used a milk paint that you mix with water because it supposed to chip off and take on a messy look. I had never used milk paint before but I thought for a small project like this I couldn’t hurt it.

It was crackling and chipping as I went but I loved the look that I was getting. After it was dry I added a little hemp oil just to give it a slight shine and seal the paint. I happen to have a little caster wheel that fit in the hole perfectly. Then I hung it on my wall and decorated it and I still love it!

I had found this swirly piece of wood in Columbus at the Country Living Fair and so I put the two pieces together just to add more interest. I decorated it myself with old clock faces and I love how it turned out. Now to go to Julie‘s house to see what she did…

Check out Julie’s creativity! She made a layup with the table leg and with the base she cut the part that I used as a shelf and stacked it. She painted it up with chalk paint and scuffed it then added the egg basket that she found online and an old door knob for the top finial. Then the very bottom of the leg and the very top of the leg became stands for her vintage lace Christmas trees. She made two projects out of one!!!  I could not love them more! Now I wish I had another table leg so she could make me a lamp too!!!

Third Challenge…

Now for newest Janky To Swanky Challenge we found four spindles while shopping in Amish country. The spindles were medium sized and they had beautiful twists here and there in the wood. 

Here they are dry and a little cracked and not all matching but we thought we could come up with something to save them. So I went to work and did a little shopping and I found a cool old wooden crock lid. When I saw that I knew exactly what I was going to do with my spindles. On that same shopping trip in Amish country I found some really pretty greenery that I knew would finish off my project. And here’s what I came up with, a cute little table scape for winter.

I made a three legged pedestal with my crock lid. In order to use up the rest of the spindles I made a couple candlesticks and then just a cute spindle with a lamp finial on top to put with the grouping. I added the greenery that I had found. Then I cut down a couple of candles so they would not be too tall and added my decorated bottles that I love to do. To finish this collection I added old typewriter keys that I made into a ball.

Now let’s go see what Julie made…

Dang!!! Check this out!!   She took the spindles and made a chandelier. Remember I told you they were not all matching spindles? Well, she was able to use part of the spindle for the very top and found this electrical cording online. She added some decorative pieces that we had found in Springfield. (You know when you’re digging through things and you find something that’s a possibility so you keep it and throw it in your stash to use someday? Well her someday came, and that’s what she used for the bottom of her chandelier.)

You can watch the video of our final reveal below! And you can find the other reveal videos on our Instagram page Our Vintage Treasuries.

The Wrap up…

So now it’s time for us to start looking for our fourth project! If you are out and about and see a couple crazy girls laughing and digging through a bunch of junk, it just might be us trying to find our next janky to swanky item that we will treasure. Be sure you are following us on a little Instagram page we have together called Our Vintage Treasuries so you won’t miss the fun!

I hope this challenge gives you some ideas! Do you have a great crafting friend? This could be something that you enjoy doing together!

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

Painting an Oak Tabletop

by

Dining tables are one of the most important items in our homes. So much of our lives happen here. That means they also take a lot of wear and tear. Today I’m painting my own oak tabletop and showing you how to do it!

As many of you know I decided to paint my dining room table that I have had for over 30 years. I have done a lot of crafting on this table plus it’s gotten a lot of abuse from just being around that long. So many wonderful memories have been made around this table but now it’s time for a face lift. I recorded the entire process each day that I worked on it on my Facebook page called Tami Loves Vintage. Today I’m sharing those videos with you and all the steps of painting an oak tabletop!

Painting an oak tabletop

Painting an Oak Tabletop

So let’s get started…
First of all, if your table is greasy and grainy you will need to clean it with a product called TSP (trisodium phosphate). You can buy it in the powder formula or already mixed formula either one works fine. Just follow the directions: wipe it on and wipe it off.  My table was more used for holiday meals and crafting so I did not have grime on mine.

Time to sand…

Next step is to sand your table. You can just scratch sand it with a medium grit sanding block if it’s smooth and in good shape. Mine had some paint drops here and there so I used an electric sander to sand it really well. I did not sand through the varnished top I just scuffed it up and tried to smooth it out.

Next, wipe off the dust from the sanding.


Then I used a product called Gloss Off. This product just dulls the finish and makes it less shiny so that the paint will adhere better. 

And now for Primer…


Next I used a tinted primer that I had on hand which just happened to be gray in color. I figured why paint a dark table white and then take it back to dark again. That might cause me to have to do an extra coat. With the tinted primer the table was still dark. That meant I was able to get away with two coats as I had hoped.  I let the primer dry about an hour.

After the primer dries wipe it down with your sanding block. I use the medium grit. This is just to get any lint from the roller that may have stuck in the primer. Standing each coat after it dries helps have a smooth glass like finish in the end.

Time to Stain…

For the next step I used a product by Old Masters called Gel Stain and a product by Country Chic paint which is a chalk type paint in the color called cheesecake. I used a 3 inch brush and applied a gel stain and the chalk paint both on my brush at the same time.

Then I took it to my table and I drug them together and pulled my brush back-and-forth trying to emulate the look of wood.  I did work the brush back-and-forth in one direction to mix the two colors – not too much, just enough that they looked well blended and still two separate colors. This took two days to dry.

Drawing the Boards…

After this dried I sanded then wiped it off. Then I began drawing 6 inch stripes on the table. My table was 42 inches of crossed so I marked 21 inches and then I went 3 inches out on either side of that center mark to get myself a “board” that would run down the center of the table. From each line of the center board I went out 6 inches on both sides then again another 6 inches until I reached the edge of the table. My table had seven “boards” when I was finished.


Now for the Tape…

For the next step I taped off my boards and repeated the last step with the gel stain and the chalk paint. I drug again trying to make my coloring a little different so that it would stand out as separate boards. This took one day to dry.

And Antiquing Wax…

After the second layer of stain dried I used antiquing wax from Country Chic paint and I used my straight edge and a medium stencil brush and rub the wax along the lines that I had drawn with the pencil. 

Next, I decided to do a horizontal stripes one or two in each “board” and I just randomly laid my level and swiped the wax across. I wiped with a paper towel in the same direction to pick up any excess wax.

The next thing I did was took a very small stencil brush dipped it in the wax and put two dots above and below each horizontal line trying to make it look like nail heads or screws. I dabbed straight down and straight up with a paper towel to try and pick up excess wax. I let this dry overnight.

After this step I rolled on Minwax oil modified polyurethane. I’m always nervous when I use polyurethane because of brush marks and bubbles but I have to tell you this is the very best I have ever used it was flawless and perfect! I wrote on one coat and let it dry for two hours then I lightly sanded it and then rolled on a second coat. 

Next, I let the table dry overnight and then I decorated it the next morning. I hope you love how it turned out as much as I do! 

Watch the Video Tutorials…

So that’s what I know about painting an oak tabletop! This is definitely a process but it was totally worth it. I love the new life my table has now and can’t wait to use it and show it off! If you have any question please let me know! I’m here to help in any way I can. And, if you give this method a try I’d love to hear about that too!

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

How to Decorate Vintage Bottles

by

If you know me you know how much I love to create vintage treasures! Today I’m sharing one of my favorite projects with you and showing you how to decorate vintage bottles. I just love these pretty little creations!

One of the things that I always keep my eye open for when I’m antiquing is vintage bottles. You can find them in all shapes, sizes, and colors and then have a blast dressing them up. These little pretties look amazing displayed on their own and in groups and their size means that they will fit well in almost any display. In the video below I show you how to decorate vintage bottles in several different ways. I hope you love these as much as I do!

How to Decorate Vintage Bottles

So the first thing I have to tell you about this project is that there is no right or wrong way to do it! I decorate bottles all the time and no two ever come out the same. What I want to do is give you and idea of the possibilities and your imagination can take it from there! The instructions listed below are for one of the bottles I make in this video but they are really just a basic guideline to get you started. Use what you have and let your instincts take you where they will.

I decorate old bottles and use vintage lace because I love vintage decor but you could absolutely do this with any type of bottle. If you like a more modern look you could use wine bottles and new lace. I use vintage bits and bobs but you could use flowers, jewels, seasonal items etc. Like I said, I just want to give you the basic idea and some inspiration and you can take it from there!

I mentioned that this is one of my favorite projects to do, I create these bottles often. That means that this is not the only video that I have to help you learn to decorate old bottles. Check out my YouTube channel for more bottle videos and lots of other decor tutorials! Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing! You’ll see in the video that I use hug snug seam binding as ribbon for these bottles. I also use muslin shreds quite a bit. If you want to learn how to make your own muslin shreds for your treasures I have a post for that too!

Decorating Vintage Bottles Supply List

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Start with your thick width lace and wrap it around your bottle to see how long of a strip you need trim if necessary. Next, lay the strip of lace you’ll be using onto the cardboard and coat it with spray adhesive. Now wrap it around your bottle. They spray adhesive should secure the lace to the bottle but you can add hot glue at the seam if it looks like it’s not sticking well.
  2. Next take some thin lace or hug snug and use hot glue to attach it to the top seam of your thick lace.
  3. Now use hot glue to add buttons along the edge of your vertical lace seam.
  4. Next wrap the neck of the bottle with lace, hug snug, or muslin shreds. Use the hot glue to secure it in place.
  5. Take three strips of lace, hug snug, or muslin shreds and twist them together at the center then wrap around the neck of the bottle and tie them. If you want to make a bow remember that you will need longer strips and measure accordingly.
  6. Finally and your bits bobs and baubles, this is the really fun part!

I just love how cute these bottles turned out!! They are easy and so fun to do. But if you want to skip the crafting and get right to the decorated bottles I have you covered! I have lots of beautifully decorated bottles available for sale on my website. Whether you decorate them yourself or purchase them ready to display, I hope you love these little pretties as much as I do!

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

Making Muslin Shreds

by

When it comes to making my vintage treasures the thing I use the most is muslin shreds. I get asked all the time how I do them so today I’m going to show you how to rip and stain muslin shreds. Keep a pile of these on hand and you’ll always be ready for vintage crafting!

You probably already know that crafting is my favorite thing. Especially vintage crafting. I have created a ton of vintage treasures over the years and so many of them have muslin shreds incorporated into them somehow. In the video below I show you how to make a big batch of shreds that you’ll be able to use in all of your vintage crafting. Depending on how often you craft this pile should last you quite awhile!

how to make muslin shreds

Making Muslin Shreds

This part of the crafting process may not be the most glamorous but it is so worth it in the end. I love having a stash of ready-to-use muslin strips on hand! The thing that is great about this project is that you can do your shredding while relaxing. I like to keep my hands busy while I watch t.v. so that’s when I do most of my ripping and tearing. Pick out your favorite movie, grab a glass of something tasty, and put your feet up. That’s the best kind of crafting if you ask me!

I usually use muslin for this project but in the video below I use some white sheets that I’ve had laying around forever. They only difference that you’ll notice in the finished product is that muslin has fewer strings and doesn’t fuzz out at the edges as much. You definitely want some fuzzing (is that a word?) to give your strips that rustic look but you can decide on which fabric you want to use based on what you like and what you have on hand. When you are out searching for treasures at thrift stores, flea markets, and garage sales, keep an eye out for some used white sheets. That will give you an inexpensive start to this project!

A note about tea bags…

I like to use the family size stringless bags for this process but you absolutely could use any kind of tea bag you want. I like the family size ones because you don’t have to open a ton of tiny bags and remove their strings. If all you have are the little ones though (or if you just want to make a small batch of strips) by all means use what you have or what you find on sale. Any old tea will work for this technique!

Muslin Shred Supply List

  • Fabric (muslin or white cotton sheets)
  • Scissors
  • Tea bags
  • Large pot
  • Tongs
  • Rubber bands

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Start by making cuts on the edge of your fabric about an inch apart. These will be the starting points for your tears.
  2. Next, rip at your cut marks until you have torn the whole strip from your fabric. Remove any loose strings from the edges of your strips. After I’ve removed the strings I drape the strips around my shoulders to keep them from tangling.
  3. Fill a large pot with about an inch of water. Add 7 family size tea bags (or more if you’re using single serving tea bags). Bring the water to a boil and simmer it until you have a nice dark tea. Leave your tea bags in the pot.
  4. Next, add your shreds in small batches using the kitchen tongs. Coat the shreds with the tea and continue adding more until all the tea has all been absorbed. Now wait for your tea to be cool enough to handle.
  5. Then grab a handful of shreds and ring out the excess tea. Wad them up into a ball and then wrap rubber bands around them to secure the ball. Let them dry. If it’s warm outside I dry mine outside. If not I leave them somewhere with good air circulation. Every day or two undo your rubber bands and rotate the wet spots to the outside. Re-secure the rubber bands and allow the ball to continue to dry. Repeat these last steps as often as necessary until your strips are dry.

The Wrap up…

And that’s it! This is a super simple way to get muslin strips that look authentically vintage. I love the crinkled wrinkled look because I think it adds to the authenticity of the strips, that’s why I use the rubber bands during the drying process. If you aren’t a fan of that look you could always just lay them out to dry. However you go about it I hope you have fun crafting with your muslin strips! Time for me to go pick out that movie and get to ripping!

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

DIY Upcycled Lampshades

by

Hi friends! Today I’m taking a break from fall crafting to share an easy and fun project with you. I’m showing you how to make DIY upcycled lampshades and they are so adorable!

We’ve probably all had those lampshades that have been loved into not looking so fresh anymore. They may have spots, smudges, or marks. You may just be tired of them and would love a new look. If any of this sounds familiar then this is the perfect post for you! In the video below I show you how to take older lampshades and give them new life. This is a DIY project that is fun and can be done in a matter of minutes. What could be better?

DIY upcycled lampshades

DIY Upcycled Lampshades

I really love this project because it can serve a few different purposes. You can use this method as a way to cover up imperfections in your lampshades. It is also a great way to achieve a new look in your decor if you’re looking for an inexpensive change. You could also keep an eye out for lamps at resale shops, garage sales, estate sales etc. and bring them back to life by adding a little paint!

I am adding polka dots to these lampshades and I love the way they turned out. However, this is not the only way you can paint your shades! You could use painter’s tape and a paint brush to make stripes. You could also use stencils! If you have a stencil design you love you could use that or, if you have a cutting machine (like a Cricut), you could design your own stencil and really personalize your shades. I know many of us are vintage lovers and using stencils and a stain would be a great way to age a lampshade you already have!

For these shades I used the same paint that was used on the walls where the lamps will be displayed. This is a great way to tie the wall color into your decor. You could also use an accent color that you have in other decorative items in your room. As with most of the projects I show you, the sky is the limit when it comes to the variations you can try!

Upcyled Lampshades Supply List

  • Lampshade(s)
  • Dobber brush
  • Paint
  • Old meat tray (or other type of paint tray)

Step By Step Instructions

  1. Start by carefully cleaning your lampshades if necessary.
  2. Next, dip your dobber brush into your chosen paint. Then dab off the excess paint in two spots, you don’t want too much on your brush.
  3. Now carefully place the dobber brush onto the lampshade and give it a gentle spin.
  4. Continue adding your polka dots around the lampshade. Make one or two of your dots going off the edge of the shade.
  5. Add as many or as few dots as you like and then let the shades dry before putting them back on your lamps.
diy upcycled lampshades

The Wrap Up!

And that’s it! This is such a quick and easy way to make old lampshades look new again. This polka dot style is so fun but remember, there are many other ways you could go with this project. I hope you have as much fun with it as I did!

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

How to Make Fabric Pumpkins

by

We are definitely in full swing fall now and I have another adorable autumn DIY project to share with you! Today I’m showing you how to make fabric pumpkins that are perfect for decorating any space.

Nothing says fall like the classic image of a pumpkin. They are the perfect decor for the whole season. Pumpkins fit from the beginning of September, to Halloween, Thanksgiving, and all those brisk days in between. In the video below I show you how to make fabric pumpkins that are simple yet elegant. I start with a single piece of fabric that is roughly cut and messily sewn. Once we add a stem and some embellishments this simple project becomes a work of fall art! I can’t wait for you to see the results.

 

How to Make Fabric Pumpkins

How to Make Fabric Pumpkins

Ok so first thing is first, you need to choose your pumpkin fabric. In this video I am using a chenille type of fabric but I have also used muslin and burlap in the past. All of these fabrics look amazing so it comes down to personal preference and the look you are going for. You also don’t need to buy a brand new piece of fabric for this project. If you have an old bead spread or table cloth you are looking to repurpose, this is the perfect opportunity for you to do it!

In the video you’ll see what I use to decorate my fabric pumpkin but I don’t want that to limit your creativity. There are so many different ways that you could dress yours up! I thought it would be fun to give this a more vintage feel by adding things like keys, vintage broaches, muslin strips etc. You can use natural things you find outside like acorns and pine cones and pretty things like pearls and lace. Also, you can add as little or as much as you want to these pumpkins. If you like minimalist decor, leave your pumpkin simple. If you like all the goodies like I do, add some more! Let your creativity be your guide and have fun with this!

Also, if you would rather just dress up one of these pumpkins instead of making them from scratch, I have you covered! You can purchase a premade fabric pumpkin from my website and then add all the fun things yourself! No time or energy to craft this year? That’s ok too! If you love the look of these pumpkins but don’t want to make them yourself you can snag a finished fabric pumpkin in the shop!

 

Fabric Pumpkin Supply List

  • Your fabric of choice (such as muslin, burlap, chenille etc.)
  • A circle template (depending on the size you want you can use a large deli tray or cut circles out of cardboard. These don’t need to be perfectly round! I use an 18″ deli tray as my guide in this video)
  • Dry beans (this part is optional)
  • Polyester fiber fill
  • Doily
  • Stem (you can use old pumpkin stems, driftwood, sticks, anything you like!)
  • Moss (any kind you like!)
  • Handmade lace
  • Other decorative embellishments (I use pearls, paper leaves, bleached pine cones, and acorns)
  • Scissors
  • Hot glue gun
  • Large eyed needle
  • Strong thread, jute, or hemp string

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Start by laying out your fabric. Place your circle template on top of the fabric and trace around it with a pencil or a Sharpie. Then cut out your circle. You could also just cut around the template without tracing it first since the fabric does not need to be cut evenly.
  2. Now it’s time to “sew”. I use this word lightly because this is a messy sew, it does not need to be at all neat since you won’t be able to see the stitching when we are done. Thread your needle with your chosen thread or string and tie a knot in the end. It doesn’t matter if you start on the inside or outside of your material just start weaving in and out all along the edge. Go all around the outside edge and then remove your needle.
  3. Next, add a few handfuls of beans to the bottom of the pumpkin. You don’t have to do this step but I like how the beans help the pumpkin to sit nicely.
  4. Now add the fiber fill a handful at a time until your pumpkin is full. When it is the desired fullness, pull your strings tight and tie a knot in them to close the pumpkin. Trim any excess string.
  5. Next, take your doily and use the glue gun to attach it to the top of your pumpkin. It can be as floppy or as neat as you like it, adjust the amount of glue you use accordingly.
  6. Next, use hot glue to secure your chosen stem to the center of the doily. Be sure to check out the video for tips on how to preserve old pumpkin stems and where to find other stem materials!
  7. To attach the moss, drizzle hot glue on your doily and then carefully stick the moss to the glue. Add a second layer if you want it more thick. Watch the video to see how I do with without making a big mess!
  8. Now take your handmade lace (I use three different types to add texture and color to my pumpkin) and tie or glue it around your stem.
  9. Use the glue gun to attach any other embellishments that you want to add, this is the really fun part!
  10. Finally, find the perfect spot in your home to display your creation.

How to make fabric pumpkins

The Wrap Up…

And that’s that! A beautiful fabric pumpkin that is simple and fun to make. These adorable pumpkins are perfect for decorating your own home, selling at craft shows, or giving as hostess gifts. They are also a fun project to do with friends. Have your girl friends over, open some wine, and get crafting! I really like displaying these pumpkins in pairs. I make a large one like I made in the video and then one or two smaller ones to go with it. Whatever route you decide to take I hope you all have as much fun making these as I did!

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

How to Make Drop Cloth Curtains

by

I just love all things DIY and today I’m sharing one of my favorite projects with you. In the video below I show you how to make drop cloth curtains that will fit with most any decor style!

Several of you have been asking how I made the window treatments in my living room so today I’m showing you how to make drop cloth curtains. Yep, I really used painter’s drop cloths to make these! I really like the cream color of these clothes but I have also seen them in gray tones. If that fits your color scheme better, by all means go with those. I needed four panels and wasn’t able to find all four at any of my local home improvement stores so I just ordered them online. I posted the link with the video so you can order the same ones if you want.

How to make drop cloth curtains

How to Make Drop Cloth Curtains

I have to confess that I am not a sewer. There are many creative talents in my bag of tricks but that is just not one of them. I am making this confession so you know that, even if you are not a skilled sewer, you can still make these beautiful curtains!  My sewing machine came to me sort of by chance. I am not great with it but I was still able to produce curtains that I am proud to display in my home. The nice thing about the roll hem that I use is that you can’t really see the stitching on the front of the panels. That means that my crooked seems are no big deal!

I chose to use drop cloths because I love the creamy color and texture. And bonus: they iron like a dream! The cool thing about these is that they go with several different design styles. They have a rustic but elegant look that coordinates well with the farmhouse and vintage looks that I know many of you love. No matter your style and creative talents, you can pull of this look with ease! Don’t have a sewing machine? No problem! Borrow one from a friend, see if you can snag one at a thrift store, or rent one from your local craft store.

Note: I made these curtains to fit well with my 8 foot ceilings. If your ceilings are a different height you may want to adjust your measurements.

Here’s another idea…

If you like the look and texture of the drop cloths but are looking for more color in your curtains you could try using some dye. This material is designed to be absorbent so (as long as they are canvas) they’d take to the dye really well. I have to tell you that I have never tried to do this before but I think it’s a really fun idea! All you’d need would be some good old RIT from your craft store. Follow the instructions on the package and you’ll be all set. Just keep in mind that these are large pieces of material when you are deciding how much dye to get.

 

 

 

Drop Cloth Curtain Supply List

  • 2 Drop clothes (4ft by 12 ft) for each window you are making curtains for.
  • Scissors
  • Pins
  • Sewing machine
  • Measuring tape
  • Iron

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Pop your drop cloths in the dryer for a bit to fluff and freshen them. Next, give them a good iron.
  2. Some drop clothes are already hemmed on the sides but if yours aren’t, add a hem to each long side of the panel.
  3. Next, lay each panel on the floor. Measure 87.5 inches from one end of the panel and place a line of pins the width of the panel. Fold the panel over along the line of pins and iron so you have a very vivid line to work with.
  4. Measure 13 inches down from that line and cut the fabric off there.
  5. Next, fold the bottom up about a half inch then fold it the same amount again and sew the hem.
  6. Finally, add your curtain clips along the folded edges of your panels and hang them up!

Curtains can really make a room! They add that finishing touch and provide a lovely backdrop for the rest of your decor.  You can use any curtain rod for this but you will need to use clips to attach your curtains to the rods. I found my clips at the dollar store and spray painted them black to match my rods. I love the way these drop cloth curtains turned out and I hope you do too. Please let me know if you have any questions, I’d be happy to help!

How to make drop cloth curtains How to make drop cloth curtains

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

 

How to do Chalk Couture Pumpkins on a Window

by

Fall is really in full swing now! The days are cooler and the leaves are changing here in Ohio. Today I am sharing another adorable fall project with you: how to do Chalk Couture pumpkins on your window. This project is so much simple and fun, I can’t wait for you to see it!

Don’t get me wrong, I love summer! But is there anything better than putting on that first comfy sweater for the year and having a warm mug of something tasty? I also really love crafting for fall. There are so many cute projects and amazing fall colors to choose from. In the video below I’m showing you how to do Chalk Couture pumpkins on a window and it’s sure to put us all in a fall mood. Our windows are often overlooked when it comes to decor but this project is a great way to incorporate an otherwise blank space. Say goodbye to the old window stickies and hello to high-end window dressings!

How to do Chalk Couture Pumpkins on a Window

How to do Chalk Couture Pumpkins on a Window

Ok so I know you might be a little bit nervous about the thought of using paint on the glass of your windows. I am here to tell you, however, that this can absolutely be done safely! I have used Chalk Couture on my windows many times and am able to remove it after every season. I’m not saying that it wipes right off, it does need a little elbow grease, but it is so worth the clean up when you see the awesome results!

I also tried something new with this project. I used hot glue to attach some cute bows to my pumpkins. I know that some of you may be wary of this too. But, I promise, it worked great and popped right off when I switched designs! The first thing to remember when you do this is to only use the teeniest amount of glue. A little dab will do ya for this. Also, let the glue cool just a bit before you apply it to the window. Especially keep this in mind if the window is very cold. We don’t want any glass shattering!

For my window I used white paste because it fits with my kitchen decor. You can use any color, or combination of colors, that you want! You also don’t have to limit yourself to your kitchen window. This would look adorable on a front door, a bay window, a large mirror, etc. Basically any glass like surface that you have can easily be decorated using this method! And remember, the transfers that you use for this project can be used again and again. Simply wash and dry them then store them for next year.

Chalk Couture Pumpkin Supply List

Step by Step Instructions

  • First make sure you window is clean and dry.
  • Next, apply your transfer sheet to the window. It may take a few tries to get it right where you want it. Once you have it in place, use your application squeegee to smooth it out and remove any bubbles.

How to apply chalk couture transfer sheets

  • Now open your paste and stir it up. If it needs to be thinned add a bit of water, you want it to be a creamy consistency. Watch the video to see how I do this. When the paste is the right consistency, scraper tool to scrape it onto the transfer sheet. Any excess can be put back into the container and used again.

how to do chalk couture pumpkins on a window

  • Next, remove your first transfer sheet and allow the paste to dry before moving on to the next one. You can use a hair dryer on low to medium to help speed this along.
  • Continue the same process to apply as many pumpkins in as many colors as you like.
  • Next, take your ribbon and cut enough to tie a small bow. Tie your bow and then dovetail the ends. Put a little tiny bit of hot glue on your bow, let it cool slightly, and then attach it to your pumpkin (see notes above and video for tips!). Repeat in as many spots as you like.

How to do Chalk Couture pumpkins on a window

The Wrap Up!

And that’s it! This is a really simple but super fun fall decor project. The only problem is that, once you get started with Chalk Couture, it can be hard to stop. That’s okay though, there are so many available surfaces for this type of project. These transfers can be used on so many different surfaces. I really like using them on the windows because it is such a unique spot but you can use them any way you like. I hope you grab that hot mug of something tasty and have fun diving into this project!

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

How to Paint Faux Shiplap

by

There are so many amazing DIY decor techniques that you can do with a little bit of paint. Today I’m showing you how to paint faux shiplap and the results are amazing! I use a some paint, tape, and a level to recreate the look of authentic shiplap and it’s easy to do! 

Shiplap is so popular and I’ve always wanted it in my home. Putting up the actual boards is a lot of work though and hard to reverse if you get tired of it. With this method I am just using paint so it’s easy to do and easy to get rid of! If you have been following me for awhile you know that I love to try new methods to redecorate my home. I also love to teach others how to replicate them. Today I’m showing you how to paint faux shiplap onto any surface. I use this technique to update my kitchen island but you could also do this on your walls or ceilings. The method is the same, the measurements would just be a little different. I can’t wait for you to see how this project turned out!

How to paint faux shiplap

How to Paint Faux Shiplap

As I said, I painted our kitchen island with this shiplap method but you could do any area you like. There are a few things that you’ll need to do before getting started though. First, remove any outlet covers that are in the area you want to paint. Next, tape off the area to be painted. My island is drywall and there were a couple of spots that needed some light repair. If you are doing a wall you may run into this too. This is the perfect time to fix up any bad spots. When the repaired areas are dry just sand and prime them before continuing on.

Supply List

  • Painter’s tape
  • Level
  • Chip brush
  • Pencil
  • Sherwin-Williams Promar 200 Low gloss Paint in Pure White
  • Dark charcoal color paint

Faux Shiplap Instructions

  • Once I had my drywall looking perfect again I started by painting the walls of the whole island Pure White. I used Sherwin-Williams Promar 200 Low gloss Paint which is a little less shiny than eggshell finish. Pure white is a Sherwin-Williams color that has the least amount of tint in it. It’s perfect for shiplap!

  • I began by using my level and a pencil to mark off 6 inch spaces vertically from the top to the bottom. On a wall I would start at the top and work my way down. In this instance I started at the bottom and worked my way up because I thought a partial board would be more hidden by the countertop. When measuring the height for my boards I went 6 inches but you could use any height you want. You could measure your wall and divide so that your boards come out evenly. Each board may be  6 3/4 inches high and there’s nothing wrong with that! I’ve seen 6 inch and 8 inch boards that both look great. The most important thing is to have your board height even. So just adjust the height measurement to achieve the look you are after.
  • Next I used my level and pencil to mark a line every 6 inches all the way around the walls. Then I connected my marks, using my level to keep my lines straight.

  • Next I used painters masking tape and taped a little above the pencil line and a little below the pencil line. You want to see the pencil line and you don’t want your tape line to be perfectly straight. Remember you are mimicking wood boards that would not be cut evenly so, honestly, a little thicker and thinner with the taping lines turns out looking the best. Be sure to rub the tape on really well at the gap to help prevent your paint from bleeding under the tape.

How to paint faux shiplap

  • Now it’s time to paint the dark charcoal color between your tape, along your pencil line. I used an old disposable chip brush but you can use any brush you like. They gray that I used was a Country Chic chalk based paint color called Cobblestone. I chose this one because I had it on hand but any dark gray would be fine. I would just avoid black because it is too harsh. You want the blend to look more natural. I only needed one coat for my island but, depending on the paint you use, you may need a second coat.

how to paint faux shiplap

 

  • I waited until the paint was almost dry and then I began pulling all of the tape off. Once it is completely dry you can touch up any bleeds from the gray going under the tape. I didn’t have any bleeds so hopefully pushing the tape down really well will give you the same results.

 

  • Finally, replace your electrical outlet covers and you are finished! There is no need to seal this project. The finished product looks and feels like shiplap!  You can actually feel the bump where the tape layer line is.

how to paint faux shiplap

The “boards” in my project were shorter than the length of a natural board so I did not do any vertical lines. If you’re doing this on a wall you may want to do some vertical lines because a real board would not run 12 or 14 feet long without interruption. I have also used this method on a few walls in my house. If you want to see how I did that project you can watch the video below for even more tips on how to paint faux shiplap. This was a pretty simple project and I had so much fun doing it, I hope you enjoy it too!

 

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

If you love creating vintage treasures as much as I do you can also join my membership group, Tami Loves Creating Vintage Treasures. There you will get exclusive tutorials that will teach you how to create beautiful and unique pieces that will fit perfectly with your vintage decor!

Tami Loves Vintage…

My name is Tami Neff and I would like to thank you for visiting my website. I hope you found many unique items to inspire you.  I love bringing you found vintage items to use when creating your treasures.  I have picked some of the nicest greenery around for you to use in your decor.  Please stop back often as we are always adding new items just for you.

tami

Get in Touch!

phone    (740) 273 - 6693
 
email Tami Loves icon    contact@tneffdesigns.com

 
 

Connect with Us

Tami Loves Vintage