Tami Loves Vintage

Creating Keepsakes With Vintage Treasures

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 Succulent Pumpkins

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Today is a cool one here in Ohio and I am reminded that, even though the temps will be back in the 80s this week, fall is definitely on its way. Today I am sharing a new kind of fall project with you; how to make succulent pumpkins!

I took a local class a few years ago where a lady showed us how to make succulent pumpkins. I really loved the idea and the results. So I shared the process with my membership group. It’s been some time now so I wanted to share it with you all too.

It’s a very simple process and you can still use your succulents long after your pumpkin has faded and hit the compost bin. Since a good variety of colors and textures of succulents gives the pumpkins the most interest, this would be a great project to do with friends.

Everyone can share the succulents and other natural items they have. And you all go home with a unique and beautiful piece of fall decor!

How to Make Succulent Pumpkins

You can use absolutely any pumpkin you want for this project. Use any color or shape that you love. Tall ones, round ones, stumpy ones…they will all work great. Keep in mind that the wider the pumpkin, the more room you will have for plants.

Unless you can find a pumpkin with a really nice and tall stem, the stem doesn’t matter. Once you add your plants you won’t be able to see the stem unless it’s a tall one. If having a visible stem is important to you, you could always go in and hot glue a stick from your yard.

How to Care for your Succulent Pumpkin

Keeping your succulents alive is as easy on a pumpkin as it is in a pot. Since your plants are just cuttings and haven’t rooted, you don’t need to worry about watering them from the bottom. Just mist them with water from a spray bottle or mister now and then. They drink through their leaves and will be just fine.

Another way to prolong the life of your succulent pumpkin is to place it on a plate when you are done with it. I have used cardboard before and it caused the pumpkin to mold more quickly. So now I use a plate and all is well.

In the past I have made my succulent pumpkin for fall decor and had them last all the way past Christmas. Just keep their leave watered (go easy they are succulents after all) and the pumpkin will look great for months. I think they last longer if you keep them outside some too.

The cooler temps outdoors probably work to preserve the pumpkin and keep it from molding. I had a friend whose pumpkin was still going strong into the early spring!

Can I Really use Hot Glue on the Succulents?

I know it sounds crazy (I was skeptical myself) to use hot glue on a plant. But succulents are tough old birds! They will hold up to the abuse and be ready for replanting when your pumpkin starts to get yucky.

I keep an eye on my pumpkin and when I notice it is starting to fade, I get my dirt and pots ready. Then I gently remove the plants from the pumpkin and transplant them into dirt.

How to Make Succulent Pumpkins Supply List

  • Pumpkin
  • Spray adhesive (Super 77 is what I used. It is as super as it claims, very strong!)
  • Sheet moss (You can find this at most craft stores and home repair stores)
  • Succulent plants and cuttings
  • Other natural items ( I used acorns, stick floral picks, pine cones and small dried crabapples in mine)

How to Make Succulent Pumpkins Instructions

  • First, spray the top of your pumpkin with the spray adhesive.
  • Next, cover the spray adhesive with pieces of the sheet moss. My pumpkin took 3 chunks to cover.
  • Then, snip off any roots and use hot glue to attach your succulents to the moss. I promise this will be ok! Start with your large plants and pieces and then fill in with your smaller pieces.

The Wrap Up

And that’s how you make a succulent pumpkin, friends! It’s very simple and adds some beautiful life to your fall decor. If you are new to plant or flower arranging, don’t be scared! You can do some practice placement of your plants before you actually glue them in.

Try moving things around until you get the plants how you like them. And THEN go back and glue them down. Once you have practiced this a few times, you will start to develop a natural eye for plant placement. A skill that will aid you in other craft projects as well!

I would love to see how you use these beauties in your own home. So if you post any pictures of your succulent pumpkins 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 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!

Vintage Valentine’s Day Garland

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I can’t believe that February is almost here! Today I am sharing a quick and easy project to get your February off to a great start. Learn how to make a vintage Valentine’s Day garland that will be the perfect addition to your holiday decor!

One of the things you may notice about this tutorial is that it doesn’t have a video like most of my blog posts do. The reason for that is that this adorable vintage Valentine’s Day garland is one that I did a few years ago in my membership group, Tami’s Making. It’s an example of one of the bonus tutorials that I throw in each month.

I couldn’t share the video of this project with you because it is only accessible to members of the group. But when you join us you also have access to all past videos so you can scroll back and watch it! I do at least 3 exclusive video tutorials every month. As well as little bonus crafts like this one.

And, you also have access to all the tutorials that I’ve done since I started the group in 2019! I’d love it if you would come craft with us!

Vintage Valentine’s Day Garland

Get ready for one of the cutest and simplest Valentine’s Day crafts around! This one literally took me only minutes to make. I had to stop myself from making enough to drape my whole house. There actually can be too much of a good thing, no matter how cute.

Vintage Garland Tips and Tricks

One of the best things about this project is how simple it is. But I still want to give you the tips and tricks that I shared in the video tutorial.

To start, I always trim the margins off of my pages. I used a wonderful old dictionary with large pages. The margins were quite wide and I didn’t want blank spaces on my hearts. So I just cut them off before I started punching out my hearts.

I also chose pages that had lots of words and few pictures. You can choose the type of pages that make you happy, though! As I was laying out my hearts I made sure that I liked the look of the side of the heart that would be facing out. If not I just flipped it over.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you want the yarn to cross each heart at the same level. I glued mine across the widest part of the heart to give them as much support as possible. Keeping them all at the same level will make them hang more evenly. And they will look more clean and uniform.

Design Variations

The idea of this group is just to inspire you, you can do so many different things with this project! One thing that I thought about was spacing the hearts out a little more and adding buttons or vintage jewelry pieces between each one.

You could also do this with colorful paper. I just love vintage things so I like knowing that my hearts are made from vintage books. Any cute paper would work too though!

You can use any shapes you want too! An Easter egg or bunny punch would be so cute for Easter. Or flower shapes for the summer. The options for Christmas and winter are so many. You get the idea, make them for any and all seasons you like!

Another thing I thought of was to add lettering. “Be Mine” or any of the cute conversation heart sayings could be lettered onto your hearts. And you could even add glitter to really sparkle things up. Whatever you do with this idea, I hope you have a lot of fun with it!

Vintage Valentine’s Day Garland Supply List

Step by Step Instructions

  • Start by cutting off any large margins from your pages. Then use the heart punch or stencil and scissors to cut out a pile of hearts from your pages.
  • Cut your yarn to the length you want it. Then tie a double knot at each end to keep it from fraying.
  • Put a line of hot glue horizontally across the thickest part of one of the hearts. Then lay the yarn on top of it and push it down.
  • Leave a space (I did mine a finger tip apart) and then add your next heart. Continue this process until your whole garland is complete.
  • Then flip your garland over. Use the hot glue to attach a second heart over the back of each of your existing hearts. this will cover your yarn and make it pretty from both sides. I put a dot of glue on each hump and the tip of the hearts. And one on the yarn itself. That kept them nice and secure.

The Wrap Up

As far as Valentine’s Day craft projects go, this one is definitely a favorite. I strung my garland across the old bed springs that hang on my wall. But you can hang yours anywhere! They would be cute across a doorway or a mantel too. Wherever yours end up, I hope you love them 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 Vintage Wall Art

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I’m really excited to share this project with you, friends! I was recently a guest in the Savvy Sisters Facebook group. I showed them how to make vintage wall art and I want to show you too. Grab your vintage treasures, this is a fun one!

One of my favorite things to do is to help people get their vintage treasures out of boxes and on display. This project is that perfect way to do that! In the video below I show you how to make vintage wall art using your small vintage items. I also use a beautiful variety of laces for this project. Vintage laces are so varied in their detail and I love mixing several of them together. And, if you have long flat pieces of lace this is the perfect spot for them. Just bunch them up before securing them to your board. It will add more great texture and detail!

How to Make Vintage Wall Art

I can’t wait for you to dive into this project! It is so fun to paw through all your vintage items and then bring them together in such a unique way. You really can’t go wrong when it comes to creating these pieces. Just keep on layering to add depth, detail, and dimension. It only gets better and better with each additional layer. All that texture is beautiful and interesting!

Painting your Old Frame

how to make vintage wall art

If you know me, you know that I love to use my Chalk Couture paints to get a vintage look on my pieces. That is what I did with the frame I used for this project. The frame itself has so much detail and character, I just love it! To get a similar vintage look you will want to distress your frame a bit after painting it.

You can use a sanding block to rough up your painted frame. Or you can use antiquing wax to highlight some of the raised designs. If painting and antiquing items is new to you you can check out my YouTube Channel. I have several videos that show you how it’s done!

Once you’ve painted your frame the way you want it let it dry. Then it’s time for the fun part! Pull out your vintage laces and treasures and get ready to be creative!

What Items to Use

how to make vintage wall art

You can use absolutely any vintage items that you have and love for this project. I used quite a bit of old jewelry and lace for my project and I love the way it turned out! I was fortunate to have an old tea towel to use as the backing on my frame.

If you don’t have an old tea towel, use any fabric that you like. You probably know how much I love muslin; you could use that for this project if you want. I just wanted a bit more texture and color this time so I used the towel. Burlap could be a really fun background too!

Along with the jewelry and lace, I also used old keys, metal tags, and even a doll’s head. There is no right or wrong way to make this vintage wall art though. Use whatever you have on hand! If you need some vintage treasures to craft with you can browse my shop and snag some.

Or you can let me do the work and just grab one of my Vintage Treasure Boxes! Each box is unique and filled with vintage items that I have hand picked. The boxes have a great variety of treasures that you can display and craft with!

how to make vintage wall art
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Vintage Wall Art Supply List

  • Vintage frame (painted)
  • Foam core
  • Box cutter
  • Spray adhesive (I like Super 77)
  • Vintage tea towel or other fabric
  • Hot glue gun
  • Lace
  • Old jewelry and other small vintage items (keys, clock faces, buttons, metal tags, etc.)

Step by Step Instructions

  • Start by painting your vintage frame and allowing it to dry. I love Chalk Couture!
  • Next, use the box cutter to cut your foam core to fit the frame. Then spray the back of your foam with the spray adhesive.
  • Next place the foam, adhesive side down, onto your tea towel and press it into place. Then fold the tea towel over the foam and use the glue gun to secure it in place. Then use the hot glue to secure the fabric covered foam into the frame.
  • Now choose the lace you want to use. Then use the spray adhesive and/or hot glue to secure it in place where you want it.
  • Next start adding in your old jewelry using hot glue to secure it in place. Keep adding lace and jewelry of different textures. You can also add in things like buttons, keys, and other fun vintage items.

The Wrap Up!

And that’s all there is to it, friends! This is a really fun project to do. No two will ever come out the same and each one will be treasured for different reasons. I have found that people really stop to look at these pieces and appreciate all of their elements. I hope you love creating your own piece of vintage wall art as much as I did!

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!

How to Print Photos onto Fabric

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I have a great project for you today! I am showing you how to print photos onto fabric. There are so many different things you can do with your fabric photos and I am so excited to share this trick with you!

Learning how to print photos onto fabric will open up a whole new world of crafting options for you. There are so many fun things that you can do with them! And all you need is some Stick It sheets and a printer with a copier function. You can print absolutely anything you can think of onto fabric. And you can attach your printed fabric to just about anything. So get ready to get creative!

How to Print Photos onto Fabric

The fabric that I use for my patches is muslin. If you know me, you know I love to use muslin! It has a vintage feel and can be used in so many ways. You can use any fabric that is thin enough to go through your printer though. I have even seen images printed on burlap.

I have never tried it though and it may have been done using a different method since it’s a thicker fabric. But it looks really cool! Other than that though, no matter what fabric you choose, the method will be the same. You just want a fabric that will allow the images to show up.

What Photos to Use

You can literally print any image you want which makes the possibilities endless! I have used vintage papers and book pages that I have. You can also search for vintage clip art and find lots of awesome vintage images to use. Family photos make really special patches too. You can see that I made a couple of my precious pup too!

You could print images you find on line right from the internet if you want. What I did, though, was print out the pages on paper first and then used my copier function to print them onto the fabric. I like doing it that way so that I can make more whenever I want without having to search for the images again. I just store my pages with my other patch supplies so I can use them again and again!

Tips and Tricks

I like to make my patches in batches. That way if I find something that I want to add them too I already have them ready to go. These patches aren’t hard to make but I like to be able to just grab them and use them when the inspiration hits instead of having to stop and make them.

After you have applied your Stick It sheet to your fabric you will need to trim your fabric down to the size of your sheet. (Don’t worry, I explain how to do that in the instructions below!) You want to get as close to the sheet as possible but also want to make sure that there is no stickiness from the sheet that is exposed. You don’t want to gum up your printer with the stick.

Also make sure that there aren’t any stray threads on your fabric. I haven’t really had a problem with this using the muslin but you wouldn’t want any loose strings that could get caught in the printer.

Crafts to Try with your Fabric Photos

Ok, here is where it gets really fun! You’ve made your patches now what do you want to do with them? I have tried a few things so far. I’ve added them to fabric bags and purses and love the way those turned out! I have also used them to dress up a baseball cap.

How to print photos onto fabric
Covers of the books we made in Tami’s Making. We used the fabric patches!

You can add them to pillows, shirts, jackets, or even fabric pumpkins. I found some really cute vintage fall pumpkins by searching “vintage fall clipart” on Pinterest that would be super cute on a fabric pumpkin. One of my favorite projects I have used them on was handmade books that we made in my membership group, Tami’s Making.

The books are handmade clear down to ripping the special watercolor paper and sewing the binding and I taught our members how to make them. When you join the group you have access to all past tutorials so you could learn how to make them too! I also go Live with 3 exclusive new tutorials every month. I’d love for you to try it out for a month, we have so much fun!

How to Print Photos onto Fabric Supply List

  • Stick It pages
  • Fabric of your choice, I used Muslin
  • Scissors
  • Printer with a copier function
  • Spray adhesive (may or may not need this, I like Super 77)

Step by Step Instructions

  • Start by ironing the fabric you will be using. Then take a piece of the Stick It and remove the backing. Then adhere it to your fabric making sure that it is nice and smooth. If your backing is in sections instead of all one piece, I recommend only removing one section at a time. It is easier to get one section at a time smooth.
  • Next use the scissors to cut out the sheet from the larger piece of fabric. Get as close to the sheet as you can but make sure you don’t have any of the stickiness exposed because you don’t want it to gum up your printer.
How to print photos onto fabric
  • Put the picture(s) that you are going to print on your fabric facedown in the copier part of your printer. Take all the paper out of your tray. Place your fabric into your paper tray. On my printer I need to put the fabric side down in order for the picture to print on it. If you aren’t sure which way you need to have yours facing, just do a test run on a piece of paper first. Once your fabric page is loaded make a color copy of your pictures. The image will print right onto your fabric!
How to print photos onto fabric
  • To attach your fabric photos to things just take off the Stick It backing. It should be sticky enough to adhere where you want it but if not you can use spray adhesive. I like Super 77 for my projects. You can also sew your photos on of course, I just don’t like to sew. I have done some some rough stitching on one of the patches I added to my hat. But that was just for aesthetics, I still used the Super 77 for the actual adhesion.

The Wrap Up!

And that’s how to print photos onto fabric, friends! It’s really easy to do and there are so many projects you can do with them. I have so much fun deciding which images to use and what to use them on. I hope you love this project as much as I do!

How to print photos onto fabric

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: 740-319-1546

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 a Wooden Bead Garland

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Wooden bead garlands are really popular right now. Especially for vintage and farmhouse decor. Today I’m showing you how to make a wooden bead garland that is simple and beautiful!

If you’ve been anywhere in the last year or so you’ve probably spotted some wooden bead garland. Maybe you’ve even bought one or two. There are so many different sizes and varieties to be found and I seem to like them all. Today I’m showing you how to make your own.

This project is an example of one of the tutorials that I have done in my membership group, Tami’s Making! In that group I do at least 3 exclusive vintage crafting tutorials a month. And sometimes I sneak in bonus tutorials too. The really fun thing about this group is that, when you join, you have access to all the past video tutorials I’ve done. You’d be able to check out the video for this project too!

How to Make a Wooden Bead Garland

When you make your own garlands you get to choose the sizes and the tassel style that you like best. And you can mix it up and make several different ones. As with most of the projects I share with you, there are tons of different ways that you can make these!

I used macramé cord for the garland that I made but you can use just about any type of string or yarn that you want to. You really won’t be able to see the thread that you use so anything you have laying around will work! Just keep extra string on each end of your garland so you’ll be able to tie your tassels to it.

When it comes to the tassels there are so many fun things that you can do. I used muslin shreds because, as you probably know, I love muslin shreds! But jute string looks really cute and rustic too. You could even mix the jute and muslin together! Really you can use anything at all that you like the looks of.

Supply List

  • Round wooden craft beads (with holes through them) in any size you like. I used 30 20 mm beads for one of my garlands. the amount you need will depend on your bead size
  • Macramé cord (or any string or yarn that you already have)
  • Large sewing needle (if the string or yarn you are using won’t easily thread through the balls)
  • Muslin shreds (thinly ripped)

Step by Step Instructions

  • Start by threading as many balls onto your cord as you want. Leave your cord attached to the roll while you do this so that you don’t have to guess at the length you need.
  • Once you have all your beads threaded, tie enough knots on top of each other (leaving some string on the other side of the knots) to keep the beads from sliding off. Then trim your cord from the spool, leaving a fairly long string and tie knots to secure that end.
  • Cut your muslin shreds to 12-15 inches, depending on how long you want your tassels.
  • Then tie your shreds to the knots on the ends of your beads. Gather the tassels together and wrap another muslin shred towards the base of your tassels to hold them all together.

The Wrap Up…

As you can see, this is a really easy project! And the results are adorable. I do have one quick tip before you start crafting. If, like me, you have a hard time tying knots on top of each other you can add a little dab of hot glue to your knot to make it big enough to hold the beads on.

Also, we talked about string and tassel variations but there are other things you can try too. You could paint your beads if you wanted to. You know I love my Chalk Couture and it would be the perfect paint for this project. Chose a pretty neutral color to go with farmhouse decor. Or pick something bold or bright if that suits your decor better!

However you decide to make these wooden bead garlands I hope you have as much fun as I did!

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: 740-319-1546

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!

Making Decorative Paper Flowers

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I have a super cute project for you today! I’m making decorative paper flowers that are easy to do and can be used in many different ways!

I love using old book pages and sheet music in my crafting! This project is a perfect way to incorporate some of my favorite things into my decor. Making decorative paper flowers is super fun and you can make them out of just about any paper you want. You can add the finished flowers to dress up several items.

Just to name a few I’ve used them on picture frames, pallet signs, gift tags, cards, decorative books, journals, and as magnets. I’m sure there are 100 other ways you can use them too! In the video below I show you a few different ways to make these adorable flowers and I give you some tips and tricks too.

Making decorative paper flowers

Making Decorative Paper Flowers

When you watch the video you will see that there are a few different ways to make these adorable flowers. You can use a paper punch to get perfectly shaped flowers. Or you can cut your own petals like I do. I love to sit in front of the TV and cut a whole bunch of heart shaped petals and then I’m all set when I’m ready to craft!

If you like to use the punched out flowers you will want to give them some lift. That way they aren’t just laying flat on you. To do that, I use a modeling clay tool that has balls on the end. I lay my petals on a piece of old flip flop and push the tool into the petals to give them some dimension.

What Paper to use and Flower Center Options

Like I said, I like to use old book pages and sheet music for most of my flowers. But you can make them out of anything you like. Just make sure that the paper isn’t too brittle because you don’t want it to rip. I’ve used coffee filters, wrapping paper, and card stock in the past and I always love the results!

If you are using card stock you can keep a water mister on hand and spray those petals to make them more workable. Card stock is much thicker than regular paper and it can be hard to manipulate without the water. It looks great as a flower though!

When it comes to deciding on the center of your flowers, the sky is the limit! I love using buttons for mine or pieces of vintage jewelry. You could also use cotton balls, raffia, and any cute little bit of something that you have. In the video I also show you how to make cute little rosettes that make great flower centers too!

Supply List

Step by Step Instructions

  • Start by using your scissors to cut out hearts from your papers. You want the bottom of the heart (where the point normally is) to be cut flat. Your hearts don’t need to be perfect in any way!
  • Once you have several hearts cut out, add a line of hot glue to the bottom of about three of them. By the time you have added the glue to your third one, the first should be cool enough to work with. Scrunch up the bottom and the glue will hold it in place. Repeat this process until you have as many petals as you need.
  • Next, take one of your petals that are still flat and lay it in front of you. Use the hot glue to start attaching one of your scrunched petals at a time until you have the original petal all filled in and it looks like a flower. Once all of your petals are in place, flip the flower over and trim off any parts of your base petal that might show through to the front.
  • Now go back in and add another smaller layer of petals. You can stop here with the petals or you can add as many more layers as you want. You can also cut small leaves from your paper and add those in too!
  • Once your petals are all in place, glue a button or piece of old jewelry to the middle to make your flower center.

The Wrap Up…

I really hope that you love these paper flowers as much as I do! There are so many ways to make them and so many ways to use them. You can make cute little ones, big and beautiful ones, or a mix of both. The flowers I showed you how to make today can be used any day of the year. But think of the beautiful creations that you could make out of old Christmas cards or thick Christmas wrapping paper! Learning how to make the flowers is just the beginning, your creativity will take over and you’ll come up with tons of new ideas. Have fun 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: 740-319-1546

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!

Tami’s Making: My Vintage Crafting Tutorial Group

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Many of you watch me when I go live on Facebook or catch the replays later on. I love sharing tutorials with you there, as well as here on the blog! But did you know that I also have a membership group where I do multiple exclusive tutorials a month? It’s called Tami’s Making and I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

One of the things I love best about vintage treasures is sharing them with all of you. I enjoy sharing what I find and also what I do with the treasures and how they get displayed. And they truly are treasures! Each piece has so much history and such a story behind it. Even if we don’t know exactly what that story is, we can still appreciate the items and the roles they played in other peoples lives.

Being able to preserve these things and give them a second life where they are loved is so rewarding! I especially love getting to help people find ways to use their own family heirlooms and other vintage treasures. Getting those things out of a box in the basement and giving them a place of honor in our homes is just the best. And that’s what I do in my group, Tami’s making! I show you how to take what you already have, or what you find, and turn them into something spectacular!

Tami’s Making: My Vintage Crafting Tutorial Group

If you love vintage treasures and you love crafting then Tami’s Making is probably the perfect fit for you. This group is all about the love of collecting and the joy of sharing our collections with our family and friends.  It’s a way of making things to cherish. Don’t have many keepsakes?  Don’t worry, you can still join us!  I will tell you where to find the things we are using and how much they may cost.  It’s all about treasure hunting and creating!! And if you don’t have time for the hunting, I have a solution for that too! I have put together Vintage Treasure Boxes that you can purchase that are full of fabulous items you can create with.

I use all the vintage treasures that I have found while shopping at antique stores, vintage markets, yard sales, and thrift shops. Sometimes in the group I even take you along with me for the shopping! I share tips about what to look for and how to identify the best items. Most often the best items are the ones that speak to you but, sometimes it is helpful to have a little background information about making selections.

The Membership Details…

The membership is $15 a month and includes no fewer than 3 new tutorials each month. Sometimes there are more if I am feeling really inspired during those weeks. And, you also have access to all the group’s past video tutorials. I have been doing this since February of 2019 so that’s a whole lot of tutorials you’ll be able to watch!

You can also jump in and jump out of the group any time you want to. And you can do it as many times as you want! I know that certain times of the year get really busy and sometimes you just don’t have that extra money to spend. So, by all means join us when you can and take a break whenever you need to!

I really love this group and all the ladies in it! We have such a great time crafting together. I love teaching people how to create their own vintage treasures but I also learn a lot from the gals in our group. It is so much fun to get to share our fabulous finds and treasured heirlooms with each other. I hope that you will join us so we can all share our passions with each other while also creating some really special pieces. You can always just try it for a month to decide if it’s a good fit for you! If you have any questions, please let me know. And I hope to see you soon!

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!

DIY Decorated Books

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I love using books in my decor, especially vintage books. Today I’m making my own DIY decorated books out of ones I found on my shelf. The results are beautiful books with a vintage look!

If you love books as much as I do, this project is for you! It combines two of my favorite things: books and vintage decor! These DIY decorated books are simple to do and use supplies that you may already have at home. All you need is a book you know you wont read again, some Mod Podge, a few old book pages, and muslin shreds. A few simple steps and you’ll be able to give beautiful new life to a book that was just sitting and collecting dust. That’s a big win in my book!

DIY Decorated Books

You know that I like to share all of the things that I love with you and this project is one of my favorites! These books are wonderful as display items, they look great on a mantel or end table. They are also great to give as gifts and can be used as a special photo album or scrap book. The pages still open at each section where the muslin shreds are tied and you could put photos on those pages. It would be a beautiful gift for a wedding or baby shower!

If you’ve been following me for awhile you know that I love to use muslin shreds. I add them to vintage bottles, books, and so many other decorative items. It is so easy to always have the shreds on hand for your craft projects. If you want to learn how to make your own muslin shreds, I have a post for that too. They’re super easy and you can do most of it while watching TV in the evenings!

Where to find your books…

Don’t worry friends, I wouldn’t do this process with just any book. I chose a couple of books from my shelf that I know I’m never going to read. If you don’t have any books that you’re willing to part with (and believe me, I get it!) you can browse the shelves at your local thrift store. Usually you can find books that there are zillions of copies of and you don’t actually care to read. I’ve actually scored some awesome vintage books while looking for books I’d be willing to craft with! Bonus!

Supply List

  • A hard cover book; any one will work!
  • Old paper pages (from books, catalogs, and anything else you have)
  • Mod Podge (I like the matte finish for this project)
  • Chip brush
  • Hole punch
  • Muslin shreds
  • Pencil or BBQ skewer
  • Add-ons like keys

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Start by covering one side of your book with Mod Podge. Then rip the old pages to the size and shape that you want and place them onto the book. this part is like a puzzle, use different shades of pages and different texts to add variety. As you add more pages, add more Mod Podge to secure them all in place. Repeat this process until the whole front cover, back cover, and spine. Continue to the inside of the front and back covers if you want to.
  2. Next, use the whole punch to punch holes in a section of the pages. Move the holes around for each section so they are alternating. (I show you exactly how to do this in the video!)
  3. Once all your holes are punched, take one muslin shred and use the pencil or skewer to push it through the holes of one section and tie it. Trim it if you need too. Then move on to the next set of holes and do the same. Repeat until all your holes are full.

The Wrap Up…

And that’s all there is too it! In the video above I also show you how to display books that have their binding removed. Sometimes vintage books don’t hold up so well but that doesn’t mean they can’t still be loved and displayed. I show you a super easy way to use them! I hope you love this project as much as I do friends, happy crafting!

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!

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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