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 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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

Making a Wood Bead Wreath

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

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

Making a Wood Bead Wreath

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

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

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

The Supply List

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

The Step by Step

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

The Wrap Up…

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

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

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

How to Make Doily Pumpkins

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I just love decorating for fall, it’s so much fun! Today my daughter Abby and I are showing you how to make doily pumpkins. This project is so cute but it’s also super easy!

Pumpkins are synonymous with fall decor. They speak of harvests and Halloween jack-o-lanterns. They great thing about pumpkins is that they make great decor in their natural form but they are also adorable in so many other designs. Velvet pumpkins are making a big splash this year, plaid pumpkins are always a big hit, and here in the vintage world, doily pumpkins fit so well with our style.  In the video below we show you how to make doily pumpkins and I just know you’re going to love them!

How to make doily pumpkins

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. Today’s 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. As you probably know, every doily is going to be a little bit different so each pumpkin will be too. That’s one of my favorite things about vintage decor!

I have a huge stack of doilies in my collection but if you don’t I’ll tell you where you can find them. Craft stores often sell them if you want your doilies in a rush. If you have time to peruse though, check thrift stores like Goodwill and any vintage markets in your area. You can also find them in online shops like Etsy and Ebay. Finding them in physical stores is my favorite though because you can really gage the quality and authenticity better that way. Wherever you find your doilies they will work perfectly for this project!

The inside of these pumpkins are just Styrofoam craft balls. I left mine white because I love the contrast of a little bit of white poking through the doily. There are a couple of other things you could do with the balls though if you wanted. You could paint them either a color similar to your doily or a color you’d like to pop through. You could wrap them in muslin first and then add the doily. I also thought it would be neat to wrap them in a colored fabric before putting on the doily. There are so many fun things you could do with this project!

 

Doily Pumpkin Supply List

  • 3 White Styrofoam balls (I used three: 4.7″ 5.7″ and 6.8″)
  • 3 largish doilies
  • Muslin shreds (I had previously died mine in tea to age them)
  • Additional vintage decor items to decorate your muslin bow: Brass tags, cabinet keys, skeleton keys, a broach, or buttons.
  • Cutting board
  • Bread knife (not your best one!)

Assembly Instructions

  1. Take your first ball and lay it on your cutting board. Use the bread knife to cut a small portion off of the bottom of the ball. You only want to take off enough of it so that it lays flat. Repeat this process with the other two balls.
  2. Next, lay a size appropriate doily flat and place a ball, flat side down, in the center.
  3. Gather the doily at the top, pull it tight and get as much flounce at the top as you can. Use a muslin shred to tie the doily in place and then make a bow.
  4. Repeat with the other two balls.
  5. (Optional) add your little vintage decor items to the center of the bows. You can tie them on or you could use hot glue if need be.

The Wrap Up

And that’s it! An easy peasy fall craft project that you can make in minutes. I stopped once I added the muslin shreds but these would look so cute with some vintage embellishments added to the bow! You can use whatever small items that you have in your collection like a broach or buttons. If you need some little bits and bobs for this you can find Brass tags, cabinet keys, and skeleton keys in the shop. If you are into pumpkin spice, this is the perfect project to sip your fall themed treat to while you craft!

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

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

Tami Loves Vintage…

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

tami

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