Tami Loves Vintage

Creating Keepsakes With Vintage Treasures

How to Make a Vintage Cup and Saucer Arrangement

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Ah, spring! That magical season when the world shakes off its wintry slumber, and everything bursts into vibrant life once again. It’s the perfect time to infuse our homes with colors and warmth. And of course, vintage crafts! Today, I’m thrilled to share with you a delightful project that combines the joy of spring with the charm of yesteryear – creating a vintage cup and saucer arrangement.

Many of us love old cups and saucers. That delicate porcelain, patterns that whisper tales from the past. And we can use them to cradle some tender greens and pretty blooms of spring. This isn’t just a decor piece; it’s a tiny, enchanting world you can hold in your hands. And the best part? It’s marvelously simple to create, plus, it’s a wonderful way to recycle those mismatched or slightly chipped sets that are too beautiful to discard.

I found this idea from Architecture Art Designs while scrolling Pinterest. I shared it with you all on Facebook and you loved it! Several of you asked me to show you how to make it. So thanks to Architecture Art Designs for the inspiration, this is just my take on it.

How to Make a Vintage Cup and Saucer Arrangement

In the video tutorial below, you will see that I made this arrangement for spring. I think that spring and teacups go hand in hand. But you could absolutely make an arrangement that works for any other season. Or one that fits in with your every day decor.

Christmas creations would be so fun to make. And the possibilities are endless for year round creations. Just swap out your eggs for florals and tiny vintage treasures that fit the theme you’re looking for.

How to Make a Vintage Cup and Saucer Arrangement  Supply List

  • Cup and saucer set
  • Cup and saucer stand
  • Scissors
  • Hot glue gun
  • Doily remnant (or other vintage fabric)
  • Moss and Spanish Moss
  • Small eggs (I used some I covered in old paper and others I had made with papier-mâché.)
  • Vintage flowers or paper flowers, whatever you find pretty!
  • Paper for stamping
  • Letter stamps
  • Pretty pin
  • Seam binding (mine is tea stained)

How to Make a Vintage Cup and Saucer Arrangement Instructions

  • First thing’s first, pick out your favorite vintage cup and saucer. This is where you get to show off your personal style. Whether you’re drawn to florals, geometric patterns, or classic white porcelain with gold trim, each set has its own story and character.
  • Next, cut a small piece of doily and use hot glue to attach it to the top rim of your teacup. Since it will be hanging on the stand, the “top” is where the handle is.
  • Then drizzle some hot glue into the bottom of the cup and add some Spanish moss to form a little nest. Cover the rough edges of your doily as you do this.
  • Now add some of the green moss on top of the Spanish moss, gluing it in place.
  • Next, decide where you want to put your eggs and flowers. Play around with it a little bit until you get the arrangement you like best. Then use the glue to secure everything in place.
  • The next thing to do is to stamp the word “spring” onto any paper you want to use. (I stamped mine on a brown card stock.) Now cut out your word in the shape of a banner. I dovetailed the ends of mine. Then bent it ever so slightly to make it look like a banner. Use hot glue to attach it to your doily.
  • Take a pretty pin and thread it through the banner. You can also add a little gold to the edges of your banner.
  • Finally, take your seam binding and tie a bow around the handle by the rim of your cup. Place your saucer in the stand then hang your pretty cup!

Finding the Perfect Spot

Your vintage cup and saucer arrangement is almost ready to make its debut. Place it where it’ll catch the eye and spark joy—perhaps on your kitchen windowsill, your coffee table, or even your bedside. It’s a lovely reminder of the beauty of spring and the timeless allure of vintage treasures.

Creating this arrangement is more than just a crafting project; it’s a way of bringing together the old and the new, celebrating history while welcoming the future. It’s about telling stories through objects, colors, and textures, and how, even in something as small as a teacup, there’s a world of beauty waiting to be discovered.

The Wrap Up

I hope this project inspires you to look at those vintage finds with new eyes and see the potential in blending them with spring treasures. It’s a testament to the fact that beauty, warmth, and a touch of whimsy are never out of season.

Isn’t it wonderful how a simple crafting idea can transform the feel of your space and the mood of your day? This project is a celebration of spring, storytelling, and the art of repurposing. I’m looking forward to hearing all about your creations and the stories they tell.

I would love to see how you use these cup and saucer arrangements in your own home. So if you post any pictures of them on social media, tag me so I can check them out! Remember, there’s no right or wrong in crafting – it’s all about having fun and letting your creativity shine.

Happy crafting, my fellow vintage lovers! Keep exploring, keep creating, and most importantly, keep enjoying the process. And as always, I hope you love this project as much as I do!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

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’s Making. 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 Keepsake Tissue Box

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I friends! I am back with another fabulous vintage themed craft project for you today. I am showing you how to make a vintage keepsake tissue box cover that you will be able to treasure for years to come!

In the video below you’ll see the tutorial that I did in the Crafting Creators Group for an event with the theme “Don’t Box Me In”. I showed everyone how to make a vintage keepsake tissue box and the results are beautiful!

If you haven’t heard of the Crafting Creators Group, it is a free crafting group with lots of great events that you can watch for crafting inspiration. So you can head over there and check out more crafting fun if you’d like to. But for now, let’s grab our glue guns and some old book pages and get crafting!

Build or Buy Your Tissue Box Cover

First up is to decide if you want to build or buy your tissue box cover. I have made my own tissue boxes in the past out of poster board. I got the idea from the Shabby Tree and they turned out well. There are a couple of ways that you can do this. Just make sure that your keepsake tissue box is slightly larger than your actual one. That way you can easily slide it on and off as you replace your disposable tissue boxes.

The first option is to measure a tissue box that you have and then use a ruler to draw straight lines that are just slightly bigger than your measurements. Then tape the pieces together.

Or you could just trace a tissue box, adding a tiny bit of length. Then cut out your pieces, and put them together with hot glue or tape.

You can also save time and purchase plain paper mache tissue boxes. I found some on Factory Decor Direct and snagged some there.

How to Choose your Old Pages

I know that many of you love crafting with old book pages and you already know the tips and tricks of which ones to put together for a project. But for those of you who don’t have a lot of experience with them yet, I wanted to share my process of page selection.

The biggest thing for me is to not use just one type of page. So I wouldn’t grab just one old book and get all of my pages from that. I like to use a mix of colors, fonts, and content. The variety looks so much more appealing to me. And it adds a lot of interest.

For example, I will grab pages in lighter and darker shades of aging. The contrast between them really makes each them pop. I go for a mix of different fonts or type faces. Again, the differences between them help you to notice each one and gives the eye variety.

I also use a mix of pages from books, as well as old sheet music. Sometimes I will also use the illustrations. But that depends on what the image is, and what type of project I am doing.

I hope that helps you get the look you want while you are getting the hang of working with old book and music pages. Once you’ve done a few projects with them, it will become second nature. And really, when it comes down to it, just go with your gut and choose what you love!

To save you the time that it takes to find and curate old book and music pages, I have done it for you! You can purchase either a small or large vintage paper packet here on my website.

Watch the Video Tutorial Here!

How to Make a Vintage Keepsake Tissue Box Cover Supply List

How to Make a Vintage Keepsake Tissue Box Cover Instructions

  • Once you have made or purchased your tissue box cover, get it covered in paper! Grab your old papers and your Mod Podge and start wrapping your box. I start from the bottom up. You want the edges of your paper that will go along the bottom edge of your tissue box to be straight. So use your scissors to make one side of your paper straight.
  • Use the Mod Podge to start applying paper to your tissue box to get your base layer of paper. Brush the adhesive lightly onto the box and on the back of your paper. Line up the straight edge of your paper with the bottom edge of the box and smooth it into place. This layer of paper will be covered up quite a bit. So don’t use your favorite pieces here.
  • Once you have enough of the adhesive between the box and the paper, brush it over top of the paper, making sure to hit the edges. This will keep it securely in place as well as give you the adhesive you need for your next layer of paper.
  • Continue this process using a variety of different book and music pages until your box is covered. I only like straight paper edges around the sides and bottom of my boxes. So I tear my paper where it won’t be hitting one of those areas.
  • Once your box is covered in a base layer of paper, start choosing interesting pages and adding them on top of your first pages. Keep layering. The more pages you add the more the look blends and pops at the same time. The added pages also give strength to your poster board base.

Dressing up Your Tissue Box Cover Instructions

  • Now it’s time for the fun part! Adding all the bits and bobs to dress up your tissue box. I started by using my glue gun to add some vintage lace around the opening of the box. Then add some around the bottom edge. Add a button to where the two ends of the lace meet.
  • Then use your glue gun to add the rhinestone trim just above the lace around the bottom of the box.
  • Next use the spray adhesive to add a chunk of vintage lace to one corner of your box. Or place it so it covers part of two sides of the box. You’re looking to place it somewhere where it isn’t on just one side of the box.
  • Add a smaller gathered piece of lace to one of the sides. And more buttons and bling if you are using it. This will look different for all of us based on likes and what we have on hand. Just add more pretties a little at a time until you love your tissue box cover!

The Wrap Up

And that’s it, friends! Covering the box with paper takes a bit but it’s a very simple project! And dressing up your tissue box cover is so much fun. Once you make one, you’ll be hooked and on to making more!

I would love to see how you use these vintage keepsake tissue boxes in your own home. So if you post any pictures of them on social media, tag me so I can check them out! As always, I hope you love this project as much as I do. Happy crafting, friends!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

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’s Making. 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 Plaster Covered Pumpkins

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I have another great pumpkin project for you today, friends! I am showing you how to make plaster covered pumpkins. They have so much texture and add neutral beauty to my fall decor. I love the way they turned out and I hope you do too!

I have shared lots of fun pumpkin crafts with you this month. And I am just as excited about showing you how to make plaster covered pumpkins as I was about the others. I know the word “plaster” can sometimes turn people off. But this plaster project isn’t super messy. And it’s really simple to do!

I use a pre-mixed, ready to use, comes in a small tub, all purpose sheet rock as my plaster. It’s a joint compound for drywall but works perfectly for this project. And, since it’s ready to go right in the tub, we don’t have the mess of mixing.

I do put down a sheet of cardboard to protect my table. But even I don’t make much of a mess with this! So grab your closest pumpkin and chip brush, and let’s get crafting!

How to Make Plaster Covered Pumpkins

When it comes to fall decor, the sky is the limit on the possible ways to create it. I have been having so much fun seeing the amazing projects that creatives have been coming up with this season. There has been so much inspiration to be found and can’t wait to share new projects with you all!

I first made these plaster covered pumpkins in my membership group. It has been a few years and I still love them. So I thought it would be ok to share them with you all now. I hope you love them as much as I do!

How to Choose your Pumpkin

You can use practically any faux pumpkin as a base for this project. The one I used was plastic and had a greenish yellow tint that matches my decor. I haven’t tried it with a foam pumpkin but the process would be the same.

My advice is to choose a pumpkin with a color that matches your home. You will want to let a little of that color shine through. So keep that in mind when selecting your pumpkin.

I also think that the finished plaster covered pumpkins look better in pairs or groupings. You can select your main pumpkin and then pick one or two smaller ones to display with it.

Start with a craft pumpkin that matches your decor.

How to Make Plaster Covered Pumpkins Supply List

  • Craft pumpkin (I used a plastic one from Hobby Lobby, about 12″ across)
  • All purpose sheet rock (I prefer the one with the blue top because it dries whiter. The green lid dries a little bit greyer)
  • Chip brush
  • Sanding block
  • Something for your stem
  • Hot glue gun
  • Spanish moss

How to Make Plaster Covered Pumpkins Instructions

  • Dip your brush into the tub of sheet rock. You want quite a bit on the brush. Then bounce/dab it onto the pumpkin. I am not painting it on. Instead I bounce the brush around the pumpkin. Doing it this way adds all the texture that I love about this process.
  • Work your way around one half the pumpkin, repeating this process. You don’t want full coverage here. Let some of the pumpkin color come through.
  • When you are about done, take the brush and lightly brush over the joint compound. You don’t want to completely smooth it out, just take off the sharp peaks. This will lower and soften some of the high spots.
  • Make sure the bottom of your pumpkin (where it will meet the table) is nice and smooth. That way it will sit level wherever you put it.
  • Let this half of your pumpkin dry. Then repeat the same process to the other half.
  • Once the pumpkin dries, knock off any spots that are still sharp or standing up too far. A drywall/sheetrock sponge is great for this. But a rag will work too.

Finishing your Plaster Covered Pumpkins

Once your pumpkin is dry, you can leave it as is. Add your stem and any cute vintage bits and bobs that you want to. But you could also take the pumpkin itself a bit farther. For my pumpkin, I added a bit of white paint.

Since all I had was the green lid sheet rock, it dried with more of a grey tint than I wanted. To get it back to white, I used my chip brush to dab on white paint.

I did it just like I did the sheet rock, bouncing and dabbing my brush. I didn’t completely cover the sheet rock. Then I went back in with a cream colored paint and did the same thing. The different shades worked well together and I love the results!

I stopped after I painted my pumpkin. But you could go in with antique wax and get down into the bevels to add more color and definition.

Once my pumpkin was dry, I used hot glue to attach the branch I choose for the stem. To make this easier, I poked into the top of my pumpkin and cut out a little bit of it. That let me push my branch down into the pumpkin a bit. Which gave me more places to add hot glue. And helped support the weight of the stick itself.

As my last step, I hot glued Spanish moss to the top of my pumpkin, around the stem.

Choosing a Stem for your Plaster Covered Pumpkin

In my opinion, the stem is the most important part of the pumpkin. It is where the character of the pumpkin really shines through. I really love the look of curly willow branches. So that is what I used for my stem. But you can use any kind of branch or stick that you can get your hands on.

You can also save your real pumpkin stems from year to year. I started doing this a long time ago because I love the look of a natural dried pumpkin stem on a lot of my projects. All I do is remove them from their original pumpkin.

Then lay them out to dry. I store mine in a cool dark storage area all year and then pull them out when it’s time to craft for the next season. I even have friends and family members who save their stems for me now. That way I have plenty to work with each season!

The Wrap Up

And that’s how you make plaster covered pumpkins. It’s easy, it’s pretty quick, and they are adorable! This is definitely one of my new favorite pumpkin projects. I hope you love it as much I do!

I would love to see how you use them in your own home. So if you post any pictures of your garlands on social media, tag me so I can check them out! As always, I hope you love this project as much as I do. Happy crafting, friends!

How to Make Plaster Covered Pumpkins

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

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!

6 DIY Vintage Pumpkin Crafts for Fall

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Once September hits, I am all about fall! Bring on all the fall craft projects and decor. Since I know that many of your are the same, today I am sharing 6 DIY pumpkin crafts for fall!

There are a lot of fall crafts that I have done that I love. But one thing I seem to come back to time and again are vintage pumpkin crafts. I have made them out of all sorts of things and in many different ways. And they all have a special place in my heart!

Below I share the tutorials for 6 DIY pumpkin crafts for fall. Scroll through, find your favorites and then click on the link to see the whole post and tutorial. I can’t wait to see which ones you love best. You can leave me a comment here on the post and let me know!

6 DIY Pumpkin Crafts for Fall

Here’s the list of some of my favorite DIY pumpkins. Most are simple to do and take very few supplies. For each I give you the supply list and step by step instructions. For most of them there is also a video tutorial. So you will be able to craft along with me! So grab your glue gun and your vintage craft supplies and let’s get creative!

How to Make Doily Pumpkins

If you’ve been with me for awhile you know that I looooove vintage doilies! There are so many great ways to enjoy and display them. This DIY pumpkin project is a great way to use doilies. And the best part is you don’t have to sacrifice them forever.

There is no cutting, sewing, or gluing with these pumpkins so when fall is over you can easily disassemble them and use your doilies for something else. I have made these cuties for several years now. They are easy to make and beautiful when displayed!

How to Make Fabric Pumpkins

In this post, 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.

You can use any fabric that you want for this project. I obviously went with vintage looking fabric. But you can use anything that you have on hand. Or any fabric that you fall in love with at the craft stores. I show you the method and you get to decide on the design!

How to Make Concrete Pumpkins

If you are looking for a new kind of fall pumpkin craft, learning how to make concrete pumpkins may be perfect for you! I love crafting for fall and have made lots of different types of pumpkins. And these have such a unique look. No two turn out the same. So, if you’re like me and have already made lots of pumpkin crafts and want something new, you’re in the right place!

And don’t let the idea of concrete intimidate you! It’s really very simple to mix up and use. My friend Julie and I feel like we are pros already! You want your consistency to be like a Frosty or slightly more wet than cake frosting. Don’t worry, it’s easy to get the hang of it! And I show you how.

Making Fabric Pumpkins

Every year as I start to put out my fall decor, I fall in love with these adorable pumpkins all over again. And I can’t help but make more! Each one is so uniquely beautiful and fun. And they tuck so well into your existing decor that it seems like I can never have enough.

Simple to make and fabulous to gift, these fabric pumpkins are always a big hit!

How to Make Twine Pumpkins

I have made a ton of different kinds of pumpkins over the years. I love them all and I never get tired of making them. There is just something about fall decor that makes me so happy. I originally shared this project a few years ago in my membership group.

I thought enough time had passes since then that the gals wouldn’t mind me sharing it with you now. Because they are just too cute not to share! These little cuties only take a few minutes to make and they look so great tucked into your fall decor.

How to Make a Yarn Pumpkin

I love browsing my local dollar store for things that I can use in my crafts. A lot of times, you can find a decorative item that you can use as a starting point for a really fabulous decor piece. This project is a great example of what I mean.

I found foam pumpkins for a couple of dollars and decided to figure out how to make a yarn pumpkin out of one. Then I used braided yarn and some great little vintage items on my pumpkins and I love the way they turned out. I hope you do too!

The Wrap Up

I would love to see how you use these adorable fall pumpkins in your own home. So if you post any pictures of yours on social media, tag me so I can check them out! As always, I hope you love these projects as much as I do. Happy crafting, friends!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

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!

How to Make Plaster Roses

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I have a really simple and beautiful project for you today! I am showing you how to make plaster roses that are perfect for your indoor or outdoor decor. These beauties add a vintage feel to any area of your home!

It’s no secret that I love using vintage items in my decor. The real deal is my absolute favorite! But I am always on the look out for craft projects that look aged so that I can mix them in with my actual vintage items. In the video below I am showing you how to make plaster roses and these flowers really lend that aged look to our displays. They are easy to make and beautiful to display!

How to Make Plaster Roses

I won’t lie to you, these plaster roses are little messy to make. But the mess stays contained to a very small area so I don’t want it to deter you! A protective layer on your work surface and some gloves are all you need to keep the mess under control.

And the results are so fabulous, I never mind playing with a little mortar! I show you how it’s done in the video below. And I also added in the step by step instructions for you. As well as some tips and tricks I learned along the way so you don’t have to make the same goofs I did.

And wait, there’s more! There is also a cute little bonus tutorial. I teach you how to make Spanish moss nests that add so much cute to your spring and year round decor!

Plaster Rose Supply List

  • Faux roses
  • 1 cup white mortar mix
  • 1/2 cup water
  • Protective gloves
  • Large chip brush

Plaster Rose Instructions

  • Add your mortar mix and water in a container and mix well to combine.
  • Then use the chip brush to work the plaster over the rose, making sure to work it into each part of the flower. I use my gloved finger to push the mortar down into all the nooks and crannies.
  • Once the rose is covered, hang it to dry.

Plaster Roses Tips and Tricks

When I first tried this project I wanted to cover the whole flower with mortar. I coated the stem and leaves but once the mortar cured, it just flaked off. The plastic in those parts just repels the mortar. You can paint the leaves and stem a color that is similar to your mortar.

But that can be tricky too since a matte finished paint that will match the mortar may also be repelled by the plastic. What I have started doing is just cutting those pieces off and sticking with the bloom itself.

You can use any color of rose that you have on hand. But if you are going out to buy them, I would choose lighter colored blooms. It can be hard to cover all of the color of a dark rose with the mortar.

As you will see in the video, I used red. There were spots here and there where the color came through. So I just covered those spots with paint. But if you have a choice, it is easier to just start with light roses.

My last tip to share is that it is best to do your clean up outside. The mortar can easily damage your drains, even when diluted by water. So I take any tools I use outside and shoot them with the garden hose. The clean up really isn’t bad. Especially if you get to it right away.

How to Dry your Plaster Roses

You can dry your roses any way that works best for you. But I will share the way I do it with you because I think it works well. I just take a bucket and line it with a bag. Then I lay a dowel across the rim of the bucket.

Next, tie a piece of string to the stem of the flower. I like to find a little leaf node to hang my string around. Finally, tie the other side of the string to the dowel and let your plaster rose hang down into the lined bucket.

Bonus Tutorial: Spanish Moss Nests Supply List

  • Aluminum foil
  • Spanish Moss
  • Hot glue gun
  • Scissors

Spanish Moss Nests Instructions

  • Take a piece foil larger than you want your nest. Fold it in half and then start to form the shape of nest.
  • Then pull apart small sections of the Spanish moss and hot glue them to your foil. Work your way around the top and bottom of the nest adding more moss where you need it. Use your scissors to trim any spots you need to as you go.
  • Next you can add any other fun things to your nest base that you want to! Twigs, string, you name it. Anything you want to get your nest ready for decorating or display. I added some vintage pearls to mine and loved the way it looked!

The Wrap Up

And that’s it, friends! Two fun projects for you to try. I really love the way the roses turned out. And I keep mine the mortar shade because that’s what I love. But you can do anything with your flowers! You can paint them any color you like once the mortar is cured. And you can do this with many different types of flowers! Have fun playing around with different ideas and see what you like best.

And one of my favorite things about these plaster roses is that you can use them outside as well as in! I love using mine outdoors most of the year. I do bring them in for the winter. But as long as the container you have them in is waterproof, you can definitely display them outside!

I hope you love these projects as much as I do. Happy crafting, friends!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number: 740-273-6693

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 Steampunk Creations

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Many of you know how much I love collecting and making vintage treasures. Today I am making steampunk creations that are the perfect way to make use of your collection of small vintage items!

One of my very favorite things to do is to help people find ways to display their family heirlooms. So often we keep things from our loved ones because they are dear to us but they end up staying in a box in a closet somewhere. What I do is help people get those boxes out of the basement and incorporate those treasured items into their home. In the video below I’m making steampunk creations that are a fun way to display those random vintage items that many of us love but don’t know what to do with!

Making Steampunk Creations

For those of you who don’t know, steampunk decor is basically an elegant blend of of vintage items, many of which come from the Victorian and industrial revolution era. I don’t stick to any rules or eras when I am making my creations, I just chose items that I love and think work well together.

The items that I use for these pieces are true vintage treasures that I’ve collected over the years. Whenever I go to vintage markets I spend time digging through bins finding items that I love. You can do the same thing but you can also ask to go through your grandpa’s garage or your grandma’s basement. Those little items that come from our family members add so much beauty and sentimental value to these pieces!

Each piece is different

I give you basic instructions for this project but each piece is going to be wonderfully unique based on what items you are working with. Each piece is its own beautiful tribute to history and I love every one for its uniqueness. If you are like me, you already have a lot of treasures at home that you can use. If you don’t have items though yet, I can help! You can find several on my website that will get you started. If you have something in mind that you don’t see on the website you can message me on Facebook and I’ll see what I can find. And, you can become a treasure hunter yourself and hit up your local vintage markets!

Supply List

Steampunk Creations Instructions

  1. Start by laying out your fun vintage treasures. Lay your pieces on the door plate and move things around until you figure out how you want them arranged.
  2. Once you have everything placed, propped, and arranged how you want it start gluing your pieces down. Start by gluing your bottom pieces first and then build up any layers.

The Wrap Up…

And that’s it friends! These are very simple to make. The fun comes in digging through all the beautiful bits and putting your piece together like a puzzle. If you love the look of these pieces but don’t want to make your own. I can help you there too! There are some available for purchase in my shop that you can check out. I love these treasure compilations so much and I hope you do too!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number 740-273-6693

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!

Painting Flower Pots

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I love this time of year! It’s finally time to start getting outside and enjoying the sunshine again. Today I’m painting flower pots to spruce them up and add some pretty to my back porch!

Terra cotta pots are great for plants. They are heavy enough to stand up to the elements but porous enough to keep the plants happy. The only problem is that I’ve never really liked the color of them. So I’m painting my flower pots and showing you how I do it. You know I love vintage decor so the method I use gives my pots more of an antique look. I hope you love it as much as I do!

Painting Flower Pots

I can’t wait to get outside and plant some flowers! It’s not quite warm enough yet but I can still have fun getting some old pots ready. I grabbed these terra cotta pots right off my porch and I’m using some paint and antique wax to give them a beautiful grungy look. This is really easy to do and you don’t need any painting experience to pull it off, I promise!

I love the look of those designer pots that you see in the stores. But, I don’t love paying the designer prices. By painting your own pots you can save a bunch of money and have more control over the look you want. If you like a lot off the mossy look, go nuts with it! Prefer a lighter look? Just use less paint. And, with the money you save by making your own, you’ll be able to buy more pots and really fill in your outside space!

Ways to use your painted pots…

The pots I made are going to be used a couple of different ways. I show you what I’m doing with one of them in the video below, it will be part of my indoor decor. I will be using the other ones for their traditional purpose: flowers! You could also use these for fake plants inside or outside of your house. Or, they would be a super cute way to display a fairy garden. You could also fill them with moss and arrange a few together (some standing, some laying down) and use them as decorative items inside or outside. There are so many possibilities!!

Supply List

  • Terra cotta flower pots (any size)
  • Paint tray
  • Cream colored paint (I used Country Chic’s Cheesecake)
  • Moss green paint (I used Country Chic’s Nocturnal)
  • Antiquing wax
  • Chip brush
  • Dry rag

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Pour your cream colored paint into the tray. Get some paint on your chip brush and then dab off some of the excess. You don’t want it super heavy with paint. Next, start lightly dabbing the paint onto your pot. As you start filling in, use a heavier dab. Keep going until you’ve covered and area with paint then move to another section of the pot and repeat. Continue until your whole pot is covered. Make sure to go a little bit down the inside and bottom of the pot too.
  2. Let your cream paint dry and then move on to the moss green. Use the same method to add the green around the bottom of the pot. Use a light hand for this part. Then go back to the cream paint and very lightly tap some on over the green. Next, go back in and add a light layer of the green again.
  3. Now use your finger or wax brush to add a little antiquing wax under the lip of the pot and use a dry rag to smooth it out. Add a little bit to the lip too.

The Wrap Up…

And that’s how to paint your flower pots to give them a vintage feel! I love the way these turned out and will definitely enjoy displaying them. If you don’t love the vintage grunged look you can still use this process! Just pick a few colors that you do love and go to town. However you decide to do this project I hope you have as much fun with it as I do!

Make sure you never miss a Live or discount for my website! Sign up here to receive texts and I’ll let you know when fun things are happening! https://my.community.com/tamilovesvintage

Tami’s cell phone number 740-273-6693

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!

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!

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 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!

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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