Tami Loves Vintage

Creating Keepsakes With Vintage Treasures

Making Fabric Carrots

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Hi friends! I have a really fun project for you today. In the video below I’m showing you how to make fabric carrots that are perfect for you spring decor!

I love getting inspiration from other crafters and then finding ways to make the project my own. These fabric carrots are a great example of this. You know I love vintage decor and I made these carrots with to fit my vintage style. I give you everything you need to know to make carrots like mine, or you can take the technique and make the to fit your own style. However you decide to make them I hope you love them as much as I do. Oh, and the best part about these cute creations: no sewing involved, I promise!

Making Fabric Carrots

There are a few staples when it comes to spring decorations and carrots are definitely one of them. I have seen adorable carrots made out of all sorts of things and in many styles. These fabric carrots are something that I’ve been wanting to try for awhile now and I’m excited to share the with you! Obviously you can make as many or as few of these as you like but I suggest making three carrots of different sizes and displaying them together. You can make them all the same or vary them, it’s totally up to you!

Options for fabric…

For my carrots I used a piece of fabric with a worded design on it for one and an old textured bed spread for the other two. You can use similar items or go a completely different route with your fabrics. Depending on the look you’re going for you can use fabric you bought specifically for this project, a towel, a flannel shirt, or whatever you have in your scrap bag. There is no right or wrong fabric for this so use your imagination! If you start with a light colored fabric and want to make it orange, pink, or whatever… just mix a little bit of water into some paint and use it as a stain. Oh! You could do so many fun things with these!

Options for carrot tops…

There are just as many options for your carrots tops as there are for you carrot fabric. I used muslin shreds for two of mine and some black feathers that matched the printing on my fabric for the other. Just off the top of my head though I can think of several other cute ideas. You could use strips of burlap or lace. You could use greenery or flowers. If you want to make these with your kids, pipe cleaners could even be a great option! When you watch the video you’ll see how I attach the tops and I bet you’ll get some fabulous ideas too.

Fabric Carrots Supply List

  • Newspaper
  • Scissors
  • Plastic grocery bags
  • Tape
  • Fabric of your choice (I used a drop cloth material with a print on it)
  • Spray adhesive
  • Hot glue
  • Supplies to make the top of your carrot. You could use a group of muslin shreds, feathers, or greenery.
  • Jute string
  • Additional little treasures like buttons, pearls, pretty pins, etc.

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Start by laying your newspaper out and roll it up from one corner to another so that it forms a cone. Use tape to keep it in place. Then stuff grocery bags down into the cone. This will help it to keep its shape.
  2. Next tuck the top of your cone down into itself. This will stuff the top of your carrot.
  3. Now take your fabric and trim it down so that you can wrap it evenly around your cone. If you want to, use your scissors to fray the end of the fabric at the point of your carrot. This will make it look sort of like the root system. Use spray adhesive and to secure the fabric to the cone then use hot glue on the edges to keep it in place.
  4. Next tuck the excess fabric at the top of the cone down inside it. If the tip of your carrot needs it, add a dab of hot glue to secure it together.
  5. Now it’s time to add your carrot top! If you are using muslin shreds like I did, make a bundle of them and tie them together with another shred before attaching them to the carrot. Put some hot glue down inside your carrot and also on the end of whatever you are using for your tops then place your tops down into the carrot.
  6. Next cut three strips of the jute and tie them around the carrot and tie the in a bow or a knot.
  7. Now you can finish dressing up your carrot if you want by adding buttons, jewels, pearls, or whatever else you come up with!

The Wrap Up…

I just love the way these fabric carrots turned out! Each one is a little bit different but they still display really well together. You could put your finished carrots in a basket, lay them on a table top, or put them in a dough bowl. Wherever you decide to put them I hope they bring you lots of joy!

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

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!

Decorating Vintage Eggs

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We are coming into the tail end of winter friends! To help get us through the home stretch I’m decorating Vintage Eggs and showing you how it’s done!

I love the last days of winter because there is so much to look forward to with spring right around the corner. My fingers get all itchy to start working on spring crafts! Today I’m showing you how to decorate vintage eggs that are perfect for spring and Easter decor. These little nuggets are so cute and I can’t wait for you to see how you can make your own! In the video below I show you how I like to make mine and you can take it from there.

Decorating Vintage Eggs

There are so many different ways that you can decorate eggs. Since I’m a lover of all things vintage that’s the style that I go with. I also love neutral colors so that’s what I use here. You can absolutely adapt this project to fit your own tastes though! Add some color to yours with pretty silk flowers or use supplies that you already have on hand instead of the ones I use. There is no right or wrong way to make these eggs! Just do what makes you happy.

Project Tips…

If you are decorating real eggs you want to start by poking small holes in them and leaving them to drain in the egg carton. This is typically done by poking holes in the top and bottom of the egg. I don’t like to see the holes though so I figured out that I can make my holes in the side. That way I can easily cover them up with my decor items.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you want a 3D effect on your eggs. Don’t glue your decor items down flat on the eggs or they won’t display as nicely. Just add a dab of hot glue to one part of your items and allow them to naturally stick up from the surface of the egg. This will give your eggs much more depth and dimension than if you were to Mod Podge your items on.

How to display your eggs…

I like to make my eggs in a bunch of three. They look so cute all nestled together! You can put your eggs anywhere you like. Even just on a side table by themselves they’d be cute but I like to give them a special place to settle. You could put them in a cute little basket or even craft them their own special nest. If you have an extra dough bowl you could set them in there with a few other cute vintage or floral items. There are so many possibilities!

Vintage Egg Supply List

  • Eggs (real ones that you will drain or craft eggs)
  • Loose weave burlap
  • Feathers
  • Scissors
  • Hot glue gun
  • Greenery Leaves
  • Moss (green and brown)
  • Silk flowers (small)

Step by Step Instructions

  1. If you are using real eggs start by draining them. Poke little holes in the eggs and then set them back in the carton to drain.
  2. When your egg is drained cut a small strip of the burlap and wrap it around the egg. Use hot glue to secure it in place.
  3. Use hot glue to add feathers to your egg.
  4. Then add a small leaf and green moss to the egg using hot glue.
  5. Next trim a little flower off of its stem and add that to the egg too.
  6. Now add a tiny bit of brown moss to the bottom of your arrangement.

These little eggs are just too cute! Whether you make them just like I did or add your own flares and touches I think you’re going to love them. These would also make a sweet gift for any fellow vintage lover in your life. You can make a set to keep and a set to share. However you make them and whatever you decide to do with them I hope you love these eggs as much as I do!

Looking for more decor inspiration? Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video tutorial!

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 Cute Sugar Shapes

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I have the cutest project for you today! I’m making cute sugar shapes that are perfect for adding a fancy touch to your coffee, tea, or hot cocoa!

You know I love everything vintage but I also love cute food creations. I just couldn’t resist sharing this adorable project with you. I learned all about making sugar shapes recently and I just love the way they turned out. Even if you aren’t super handy in the kitchen this is a recipe you can handle. It only has two ingredients! And the results are so cute!

Making Cute Sugar Shapes

I don’t know about you but it is COLD where I live. That means that I am spending more time indoors being crafty and more time drinking warm beverages. What could be better than a project that combines those two things? Enter cute sugar shapes! These little guys are perfect for adding to a cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa and they sure put a smile on my face!

I love making cute things in the kitchen and these sugar shapes definitely fit that description! The only equipment that you absolutely have to have to make these is an oven proof candy mold. These little cuties need to bake so be sure the candy mold you use is safe for the oven. Candy molds come in so many adorable shapes. You can find them for any holiday and any occasion! That means these sugar shapes would make great little gifts or would be fun to put out when you have company.

Some Variations…

The recipe that I used is super simple but several of you had some great ideas for additions! You could use clear vanilla or maple syrup extract to add a little flavor to your sugar. You could also add a bit of food coloring if you wanted to make them extra decorative. I made some hearts and Easter eggs and it would be so cute to add red to the hearts and color to the eggs. I use my sugar shapes for coffee but you could also use them as the finishing touch on cupcakes! Someone even suggested that these would be perfect for a coffee bar. How fun would that be at a party, bridal/baby shower or wedding?

Sugar Shape Supply List

  • Oven proof candy mold
  • Mixing bowl
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 tsp of water
  • Fork
  • Offset spatula
  • Cookie sheet

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Pre-heat your oven to 200 degrees.
  2. Start by pouring your sugar into your mixing bowl. Then add the water. Next, use the fork to combine.
  3. Now put the mixture into your mold and use an offset spatula to press it into the mold and level them off.
  4. Place the filled molds on a cookie sheet and place your cookie sheet into the oven. Bake them for 15 minutes.
  5. Allow your sugar to cool completely before gently removing them from the molds. Store them in an air tight container.

The Wrap Up…

That’s it friends! I told you it was a super simple recipe. When your sugar shapes are done you can obviously do whatever you want with them but here’s what I like to do… I get a cute mug and add my hot coffee. Then I add a bit of flavored creamer and stir it in. Next I top it with a pretty swirl of whipped cream. Finally I top that with some cute (holiday appropriate) sprinkles and I’m ready to enjoy! Now, more than ever, it’s about the little things. And these little things make me happy. I hope they bring you some joy 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!

Creating Vintage Tassels

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This week I am sharing one of my favorite projects! Creating vintage tassels is something I’ve been doing for quite awhile and I just love them. I wanted to show you how I do it so you can make your own!

I wanted to show you how to make vintage tassels because they are so much fun. Not only are they fun to make but they are a great way to incorporate lots of your favorite vintage pieces! I use muslin shreds, fabulous laces, tiny craft pearls, and some fabulous vintage treasures to make these tassels beautiful. In the video below I show you exactly how I make these wonderful pretties!

creating vintage tassels

Creating Vintage Tassels

There are some craft projects that I come back to again and again; and each time I make them I love them just as much as the first time. This is definitely one of those projects! I love these tassels hanging on their own on knobs or lamp switches. I also love to incorporate them into other craft projects as a finishing touch. These tassels are a beautiful addition to any vintage lovers home!

creating vintage tassels

The supplies you need to make these tassels may be things you already have on hand. If you are like me (always on the look out for pretty laces and tiny vintage trinkets) you’re already half way to having a completed tassel. If you don’t have the supplies on hand though, no worries! What you need can either be found at your local craft store or in my shop. And the muslin shreds I use for this project are really simple to make yourself. I have a whole post about how to make muslin shreds if you want to learn how to make your own!

So many design options…

These tassels have so many options! You can make them big or small, intricate or simple, neutral or colorful. If you like the more rustic look then go for tea stained muslin shreds. If the clean look is more your taste then stick with the white shreds. You can have a specific theme like rusted bolts, nails, and springs. Or mix up your little trinkets and make it eclectic. Sometimes I like to add some bling with a small piece of vintage jewelry and other times I leave those off. It’s all up to you how you want to do these!

Vintage Tassel Supply List

  • Muslin shreds
  • Laces (vintage and/or new)
  • Tatting (if you can find it)
  • Seam binder
  • String of tiny craft pearls
  • Small vintage treasures to tie on (skeleton keys, cabinet keys, tags, rusted bolts, springs, pins/broaches etc…)
  • Vintage pieces for the top of the tassel (spools, knobs, insulators, dowels, etc…something with a hole in it that you can thread onto the top of your tassel)
  • Scissors
  • BBQ skewer (optional) for helping to thread your goodies on.

Vintage Tassel Instructions

  1. Start by deciding how big of a tassel you want to make. For the size I normally make I usually make my strips of material about 14″ inches long. This does not have to be exact though. I start with a handful of my muslin shreds and then add a couple strips of pretty laces and seam binder. I also add a couple strips of craft pearls. When you have all of your materials laid out together you’re ready to move on to the next step.
  2. Lay out your collection of materials horizontally. Now take a strip of lace and lay it vertically at the center under your collection. Now use the lace to tie your materials into a bundle. Trim any ends that you feel need trimmed.
  3. Now it’s time to add the top. Use anything with a hole in it (spools, insulators, etc.) and thread both pieces of lace through it. You can dress up your top piece if you want to or add a pretty knob on top of it. Whatever you want to do!
  4. Next, choose the vintage trinkets that you want to use. I usually use 3-4 but you can use however many you want. Take your trinkets and tie them to the bottom of separate muslin shreds.

The Wrap Up…

And that’s it friends! This is a simple project but the results are beautiful! using the different materials adds so much texture and depth to these vintage tassels. They are a lot of fun to create and even more fun to look at. I love this project and I hope you do 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 Wallpaper over Tile

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If you’ve been following me for awhile you already know that I couldn’t stand the plain white tile in my kitchen. I decided to take matters into my own hands to fix it. So today I’m showing you how to wallpaper over tile. It’s simple to do and oh so pretty!

When it comes to items in our homes like tile, often the cost or the difficulty of replacing it means we leave it the way it is. That’s what happened for me and my kitchen tile. For 15 years I lived with it and tried to cover it up the best I could with my treasures. Replacing it or painting it was out because my hubby didn’t like those ideas so I thought I was stuck. Then I had an epiphany: wallpaper! The cost is far lower than replacing tile and it doesn’t have to be a permanent change if you don’t want it to. I wanted to give you the same option so I’m showing you how to wallpaper over tile!

How to Wallpaper over Tile

Redecorating your home doesn’t need to be expensive, messy, or permanent. I am all about finding ways to update my decor that are simple but still make a large impact. Wallpapering over tile is a great example of this. My finished project looks just like real brick and I neither had to remove tile nor lay brick!

Years ago I did this with a floral wallpaper and I liked it for awhile but then got tired of it. If you decide to try this know that removing the wallpaper is not a big deal! If you want to go back to your tile or try a new paper you can. All you have to do is get your paper wet, let it sit for a bit, and then remove it. I’m not saying that stripping wallpaper is the quickest or most fun job but it definitely can be done. When I removed my first paper my tile was still in perfect condition. Still clean, shiny, and with no damage.

Before
After

When you watch the video you’ll see that I didn’t just cover the tile in my kitchen with this paper. I have a stand alone wall in my kitchen and I also papered that. The reason for this was that I wanted the continuity and balance in the room. You don’t have to do this step but if you have a wall like mine or a kitchen island you could use your paper on one of those and really add life to your room!

Before
After

Supply List

  • Wallpaper ( I used a paper from Milton and King called White Washed Bricks)
  • Ultra clear wall paper paste (my paper didn’t come already pasted so I needed this. If you are using the pre-pasted kind you won’t need paste)
  • Chip brush
  • 3″ paint roller
  • Wallpaper smoothing tool
  • Exacto-knife

Step by Step Instructions

  1. The first thing I did was made sure my tile was clean and dry. Then I cut the wallpaper to fit the area I needed. You want to work in sections that are a manageable size and just be sure to butt each piece up to the last.
  2. Next I used a chip brush to slather the paste on the wall. I paid special attention to the edges because that’s where you really need it to stick.
  3. Next I used the 3″ roller to apply more paste and smooth is all out. It’s kind of like painting, you edge with a brush and then finish with a roller.
  4. For the next step, place your paper on the wall making sure that it is straight. Smooth it down with your hands first.
  5. Use an exacto-knife to trim around your molding, edges, and light switches or outlets. Watch the video for tips on how to do this safely and precisely.
  6. Next use a wallpaper smoother or bench scraper to smooth the paper.
  7. Finally use a damp cloth to wipe down the paper and remove any paste. When the paste dries it looks shiny so you don’t want to leave any behind. If you miss a spot you can go back later with alcohol to remove it (just test a hidden spot on your paper to make sure it will handle the alcohol without damage).
Before
After

And that’s that! I really love the way this turned out. This paper is amazing and I highly recommend it, it looks so realistic! If you go with brick paper like I did just be sure to match up the bricks between each section of wallpaper. I talk about this in the video so if you have questions be sure to check that out. I hope you love this project as much as I do, I know I’ll leave this paper up for a long time to come!

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 a Vintage Putty Knife Frame

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I absolutely love heartfelt and handmade gifts. With Valentine’s Day coming up I thought I would share a loving gift idea with all of you. Today I’m showing you how to make a vintage putty knife frame and they are so special!

One of the things that I specialize in is helping people go through their vintage family treasures and decide how to display them. It is a privilege and an honor to be invited into someone’s home and treasures and I love every minute of it. I got the idea to figure out how to make a vintage putty knife frame when I found one of my own grandpa’s putty knives. You know I love all things vintage but I especially love pieces from my own family. I wanted to be able to display some of my grandpa’s tools and thought this was the perfect way to do it!

How to Make a Vintage Putty Knife Frame

These putty knife frames make a sentimental gift that is perfect for Valentine’s Day or any occasion. I made mine for myself (my family members don’t love vintage things like I do) but these would be wonderful to make for a parent or sibling. I loved going through our old family albums to select the photos I wanted to use. This project is very simple, the most time consuming part was narrowing down which photos I wanted to use.

The other thing you’ll need to find is a putty knife. You can ask to go through some of your Grandpa’s or Dad’s old tools. It’s so wonderful to use those if you can get your hands of them. You can also try finding the putty knifes at vintage markets. One of the knives I used for this project wasn’t vintage at all but one I found on my job site that had paint on it. To distress a newer putty knife just prop it up outside for a while and let it sit through a few rain showers. It will be rusted and distressed in no time!

Some Other Options…

There are a few other things you could add to these frames to dress them up too! I like the way mine are, simple and wonderful. But, you could also add some muslin shreds to yours or some buttons or keys. You could also frame the back of the putty knife with vintage lace or add some around the handle. There are so many ways you could go with this project to really make it your own!

Supply List

  • Aged putty knife
  • Old family photos
  • Old book page (or one you’ve aged with a tea spray)
  • Photo tags
  • Twine
  • Tea spray

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Select the photo(s) you’d like to use and photo copy them. Carefully tear the edges of the photo copies and the edges of your aged book page.
  2. Use paint brush to apply Mod Podge to the back of your torn book page and attach it to the putty knife. Next do the same thing with the photo copy.
  3. Apply a coat of Mod Podge to the top of both papers to secure them to the putty knife.
  4. Take your tags and spray them with a tea mixture to age them, label them with the personal information about the person or people in the photos. Then use twine to attach them to the handle of the putty knife.

The Wrap Up…

That’s it friends! This is a really simple project. You only need a few supplies and you will be on your way to the perfect gift for any vintage loving family member or friend! I hope you enjoy making these. Finding the photos and putty knives are the most fun part in my opinion. I have another suggestion too: if you have old family photos that aren’t labeled make that a priority project too. We never know when the members of our family who hold that information and the stories that go with it will pass on. That collective family memory is another priceless gift that you can give to one another!

Bleaching Flannel Shirts

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This time of year makes me crave all the warm and cozy things. One of the first things I think of when it comes to warm and cozy is flannel! Today I’m bleaching flannel shirts to give them an antique look and I’m going to show you how I do it.

Bleached flannel shirts are really popular these days. You’ll find them at almost every antique show and many boutiques. My girlfriends and I had already bought several when it dawned on me that I could figure out how to make them myself. Many of you have been asking how I do this so today I’m bleaching flannel shirts and taking you along for the ride.

Bleaching Flannel Shirts

The first thing to know about bleaching flannel shirts is that there is no right or wrong way to do it. The method you use depends on the look you are going for. You can drizzle or spray your bleach water on the shirt or you can dunk the shirt in the bleach water. The shirts can be made as subtle or distressed as you like. You can even use rubber bands to give your shirt a tie dye look. Just remember that the longer you allow the bleach to sit on the shirt the more fading you will get.

Selecting your flannel shirts…

Choosing your shirts is the only tricky part about this project. The reason it’s tricky is that there is no rhyme or reason to which shirts will take the bleach and which ones won’t. I’ve tried all fabric blends and one polyester cotton blend will work perfectly and the next won’t react at all. The only thing that I can figure is that some shirts are treated with something that prevents bleaching. The problem is that you can’t tell that by the label.

Another thing to keep in mind is that some flannel shirts will start to fade right away and others will take more time. The best thing to do is to start with small amounts of bleach water and see how your particular shirt will react before really going to town with it.

You can find flannel shirts almost anywhere. I like to keep an eye out for great sales. Think end of season when the summer clothes are starting to hit the racks. You can usually snag flannel then at clearance prices. I also love going to Goodwill and other resale shops and finding my flannel there. When I sell my distressed shirts buying them second hand really helps to keep the price down for everyone involved.

Supply List

  • Flannel shirts
  • Large bowl (punch bowl size)
  • Large bucket
  • Bleach
  • Vinegar
  • Water
  • Rubber bands (optional)

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Start by mixing equal parts bleach and water. For a large spray bottle I use 2 cups of each. For the large bowl I use 4 cups of each.
  2. In a large bucket combine equal parts vinegar and water.
  3. If you are dunking the shirt for an ombre look, place the bottom portion in the large bowl and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Next, submerge a little more of the bottom of the shirt. Doing this will fade the very bottom more and the fading will decrease as it gets further up the shirt.
  4. You can also use the spray bottle to spray bleach onto portions of the shirt or use the bottom of the nozzle piece to drizzle the bleach on.
  5. Once your bleach is applied allow it to sit for a few minutes. Just keep an eye on it because some shirts will fade quickly while others take longer. When the shirt is faded to your liking, submerge it in the vinegar mix to stop the bleach from working. Allow the shirt to soak in the vinegar mix for 2 minutes. (*If you dunked your shirt be sure to wring out the excess bleach water first. I also rinse the ones I’ve dunked before putting them into the vinegar mix.)
  6. Take the shirt out of the vinegar mix and wring it out. Finally, wash and dry the shirt like normal and you’re all done!

As you can see in the video, there are lots of different ways that you can distress your shirts. I love the ombre look that comes from soaking them but I am also really into the drizzle method. Just play around a little bit and see what you like best. Bleaching flannel shirts is simple but it is also always an adventure because you never know what the shirts are going to do until you get going. I hope you have a lot of fun with 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!

Making a Wood Bead Wreath

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I love sharing projects with you that can be used in any home and for any season. Today I’m showing you how to make a wood bead wreath that is elegant and will fit with just about any decor style!

Wood beads are really popular right now. Especially so in farmhouse and vintage decor. I’m excited to share this wreath with you so that you can make your own! I’m using neutral colors which makes it a good match for any color scheme. You could definitely add different color flowers and bows if you’d rather have it match your room colors. However you decide to make it I think you will love this wreath!

Making a Wood Bead Wreath

So right off the bat I need to tell you what not to do when it comes to making this wreath. I talk about it in the video too but here’s what I should have avoided. First, I bought whole wooden balls because they were cheaper than the ones already cut in half. I thought I would just cut the whole ones in half myself and save some money. This did not work and actually turned out to be quite dangerous. Please don’t try to cut the beads yourself. Just buy the wooden balls already cut in half.

Since I couldn’t cut the balls I ended up with all these beads I couldn’t use for the design I had in mind. No worries, I took them to my step dad and he made me a different version. What he did was cut a metal ring, drilled holes in the balls, strung the balls onto the wire, then welded the wire shut. This worked really well but it’s not something I could’ve done myself. I am all about the DIY life so I’m showing you how to make this wreath using a large embroidery hoop and your glue gun. It’s much easier and much safer than the first version I did.

As always, you do what feels right to you. Let your own creativity flow, I’m just here to inspire some new ideas and show you I did it! If you come up with a better way to make this wreath please let me know. We are all here to learn from each other. That’s one of the things that I love best about our crafting community!

The Supply List

  • 14 inch embroidery hoop
  • 2″ wooden balls that are already cut in half (I got mine from Hobby Lobby)
  • Glue gun
  • Wire cutters
  • Bolt Cutters (if you have them, they’re great for those tough floral stems)
  • Silk flowers (assorted and in whatever colors you love)
  • Greenery
  • Muslin shreds
  • Ribbon (for hanging loop)

The Step by Step

  1. Start by applying hot glue to your embroidery frame a few inches at a time then adding the wood beads to the glue. You want to leave a few inches on either side of the top of the hoop. This is where you will add your flowers. Continue around the hoop adding glue then beads to evenly cover the hoop.
  2. Next trim, separate, and fluff your floral and greenery stems. Arrange them how you like them and then use hot glue to secure them in place.
  3. Take a few muslin shreds and make them into a simple bow and attach it to your wreath.
  4. Use ribbon to make a loop at the top you your wreath so that you can hang it.
  5. If you have a wreath sign you’ve made or purchased you can attach that too. If you want to learn how to make your own Chalk Couture signs like I do, I have lots of tutorials on my YouTube channel that you can check out!

The Wrap Up…

And that’s it! If you avoid all the learning mistakes that I went through, this is actually a pretty simple project. I love the way it turned out! I use muslin shreds for most of my vintage crafts and I make a big batch at a time so that I always have some on hand. If you want to learn how to make your own muslin shreds I have a post for that too! I hope you enjoy this wreath as much as I do and that it brings you lots of joy!

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 No Sew Stockings

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You probably know how much I love to craft but did you know that I really can’t sew? If you’re like me, learning how to make no sew stockings is the perfect Christmas craft project for you!

There are so many beautiful stockings out there to choose from. You can find them to suit just about any decor style and color scheme. Finding authentically vintage stockings, however, can be a challenge. Especially if you want them to match. No worries though, I have a solution! I figured out how to make my own no sew stockings out of vintage material. This gets me as close to the real deal as I can get and I get to decide just how I want them to look. Today I want to show you how I made a couple of stockings for my own fireplace. It’s a simple project that I thought some of you might enjoy!

How to Make No Sew Stockings

The first thing I did was find a fabric that I wanted to use. As you can probably guess I chose a vintage fabric. I used a vintage bedspread in a neutral color that has lots of texture.  To start, I cut off two pieces that would accommodate the size of my stocking. I placed one piece with the pretty side up and then I laid a second piece on top of that with the pretty side down.

Then I laid a stocking that I already had on top of the two pieces. Next I used a pencil and started to draw out the shape that I wanted.

After I finished drawing I used fabric scissors to cut through both layers.


Then I had two pieces of a stocking shaped fabric stacked on top of each other.

Next I used a fabric glue that is specially designed for the glue gun. The glue I used is Sure Bonder. The reason I used this glue is that I will be able to wash the stocking without worrying about the glue coming apart. If you do not have this type of glue it is fine to use regular hot glue. Regular hot glue will work fine you just won’t be able to wash your stocking.

All you need to do for this step is go around every edge except the top gluing and pressing your two fabric pieces together. Easy peasy, no sewing needed! This has to be my favorite part! After all of my edges were glued I just had the top part that was open so I reached my hand in and pulled it right side out.

I happened to have a nice piece of fur that was just enough to do two stockings. So I used the Sure Bonder to go around the top edge and secure the fur. I’m not crazy happy that I was not able to get the edges more rounded but knowing that I made them myself is always a good feeling. Besides, my eye goes to that pretty fur anyway!

Finally, for the tab I just got a piece pf fabric that matched the stocking and hot glued it to the inside. In order to make the tab strong I left it extra wide just to handle the weight of anything that was put in the stocking.

I am so excited about how these beauties turned out! I love how well they fit with my other fireplace decor.

Obviously I wanted my stockings to match my love of all things vintage. You could definitely do these to match any style though. If your decor differs or you want to give these as gifts just pick out fabrics that will accommodate. It can be hard to find stockings in the store that perfectly match your Christmas decor. When you make your own, however, it can be easy to get exactly the look you’re going for! I absolutely love how these look on my fireplace and I hope you love them too. Happy holidays!

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 Christmas Angels

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I hope you are ready for another adorable Christmas craft project! Today I’m showing you how to make your own Christmas angels and they are so cute!

I never get tired of fun Christmas projects and I really love the way this one turned out! These sweet Christmas angels can either be ornaments or made to stand on a surface as decoration. However you decide to use them I think you’re going to love these beauties! In the video below I show you how to use a few simple and inexpensive items to make adorable angels that you can either display or give as gifts. Let’s get started…

DIY Christmas Angels

I loved doing this project. Partly because it’s cute and fun to do but mostly because I got to do it with my mom. Any time that I get to spend with her is priceless and when I get to craft with her I am extra happy! Mom is not a crafter and she did a great job with her angel. That means that if she can do it you can do it!

If you want to buy special ribbon for this project you can but you can also use what you have on hand. I used a pretty 1 inch (aprrox) for the angel’s dress and then some thin gold wired ribbon to add a belt. This combo turned out beautifully but you can use any colors that you want!

Speaking of colors, I chose a golden and a brown shade of embroidery floss for the hair on our angels but you can choose any shade you love. The important thing is to make sure that you are using the entire skein of floss for this. And, you’ll want to leave it looped just like it is when you slide off the packaging. This will make it much easier to attach your angel’s pretty do. I didn’t add halos to our angels but you could of course! A gold wired ribbon like I used for the dress or a pretty gold pipe cleaner would do the trick.

Supply List

  • 1 White poinsettia with stem
  • Round wooden ball(s) with a hole in the flat bottom (for the head)
  • Cylindrical wooden beads with holes through them (for the body, you’ll need 2 per angel)
  • Embroidery floss: one in flesh color one in hair color (you’ll need an entire skein of floss for the hair on each angel)
  • Ribbon (one thick, aprrox 1 inch and one thin)
  • White feathers
  • Dowel rods that will fit through your beads
  • Small white Styrofoam trees
  • Wire cutters
  • Knife
  • Scissors
  • Hot glue gun

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Start by removing the floral tape on the stem of your poinsettia and separating your petals while leaving the wire attached to the petal, the wire will be the angel’s arms and the petals her wings. You will need two petals for each angel.
  2. Put a dot of hot glue inside the hole in the round wooden bead and then place the dowel into it. Put another dab of glue at the base of the head and wrap the first petal around the dowel leaving the wire to point forward as an arm. Repeat with the second petal. Use wire cutters if you need to trim the arms to make them even.
  3. Next, place another dab of glue on the dowel and slide the first cylinder bead into place. Repeat with the second cylinder bead.
  4. Now add a little dab of glue to one arm and use the flesh colored floss to wrap around the wire. I made mine heavier at the end to resemble hands. Trim the end of the floss and then secure it in place with hot glue. Repeat with the second arm.
  5. Next add hot glue to the top cylinder bead and wrap with the flesh colored floss, trim then secure the end with hot glue. Repeat with the second cylinder bead.
  6. Open your package of white feathers and start pulling out the bigger ones. You’ll need about 5 or 6 to start.
  7. Next use hot glue to attach the feathers around the top of the second cylinder bead.
  8. Now use the knife to cut off the bottom of your styrofoam tree to make the angel proportionate. Trim the dowel and then insert it into the top of the tree.
  9. Next use the hot glue to add more feathers until the tree is completely covered.
  10. Add a strip of the thick ribbon at the base of the second cylinder bead and secure it in place with hot glue. Then use the thin ribbon to make a belt at the top of the thick ribbon.
  11. Now it’s time for the hair. Watching with video will help immensely with this step. Take the wraps off the hair colored floss and leave the loops intact. Put a dab of hot glue on the back of the head and place the head onto the inside of one side of the loops. Then twist the floss all the way to the end. Next wrap the hair so that it looks like a bun and use hot glue to secure it in place.
  12. Make a tiny bow out of thin ribbon and attach it to the front of the angel’s hair.
  13. Finally, use the hot glue and thin ribbon to make a loop so that you’ll be able to hang the angel on your tree!

Aren’t these Christmas Angels beautiful! I really love the way they turned out. And the hardest part is just tying that tiny bow. Other than that this is pretty simple to do! I hope you have as much fun making these as my mom and I did. Grab a couple of girlfriends and your glue guns and have fun 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!

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

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