how to’s – Page 16 – Karla's Cottage

my Brother from another Mother, a Fairy Princess, and a purple haze

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), flowers, how to's, paintings, Sugarwings, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / June 18, 2007

I just found out that my tiara swap partner

http://www.123lavenderlollipoplane.blogspot.com/

and I have the same birthday, 5-5-58! Now I am curious to find out how close horoscopes actually are. I want to quiz her to see how Taurus-ey we match up.

I wrapped her tiara up like a birthday present with some sparkling tissue and a dangling purple crystal. And of course a flower, us May girls love flowers–"April showers bring May flowers". My mother always used to tell me that meant me, I was her May flower.

Barb’s address is 123 Lavender Lollipop Lane, so I made a tag for the package with a hand painted purple lollipop all glittered up and tied with a bow.

I like to mix collage work with hand painting. I am such a quick painter that it is actually faster for me to paint something than to dither through all the boxes and shelves of papers I collect to decide what to add next. But, then half the fun of doing any collage work is playing with all that gorgeous paper you collect!

And of course, the lollipop had to have a crown too.

I painted the lollipop on watercolor paper, cut it out and glued it to the tag that I had attached pretty scrapbook paper to (on sale at Michaels for 10 CENTS a sheet). Then, the crown was cut out of gold holographic mylar paper, that I glittered up and added crystals to.

I wrote the address directly onto the tag and screwed it up (I have notoriously bad handwriting). So I re-wrote it (more carefully this time, I do tend to scribble) onto a snip of matching scrapbook paper and glued it over the screwed up writing and outlined it in marker. Sometimes, messing up a project makes it better, I like the added layer of the striped paper on the tag.

Next, I glued a border of sparkling trim (used on the tiara) to the edges and tied a bunch of ribbons to the top. Then of course, the ribbons were in the way when I went to glue down paper to the back of the tag. I do get ahead of myself.

Sugarwings tried on the tiara before she went home after our Father’s Day Extravaganza Brunch.

I should make her a princess crown of her own. But she’d eat it.

More purple! A verbena started up between the bricks at my garden entry. Last year, I had planted some in the hanging baskets above the bricks.

Don’t those pavers look like they have been there forever? Actually, it is just simply bad installation. I did it myself and they are all settling in and sagging. I like that look, though.

I accomplished lots of yard work yesterday, was spreading mulch and trimming up. When I went to the garden center for a few bags of Cyprus, I found this table and chair set for 75% off.

And since my husband shared his big casino jackpot winnings, not only with his son and dad- but with me! I treated myself to something new. I usually just buy garage sale furniture, but couldn’t pass this set up. It was $79 for all three pieces. Not a bad deal for such a heavy, well made set, and its very Frenchy looking, isn’t it?

(and look- purple in this shot too)

Crowning around

how to's, paintings, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / June 13, 2007

If anyone thinks their home would look good in Country Almanac, Romantic Country, Small Room Decorating, or any of the other Harris Publications, please contact me about some sample photos.

Today is Beth (my buddy)’s birthday, and tomorrow we get to play all day. A redo of her booth at the mall (its always fun to rearrange things!) then lunch (I hope she picks Pei Wei-its her birthday, so I don’t want to interfere with her choice, but honestly,what food is better than Pei Wei???)

I wrapped up the ATC sized painting of her dog in a vintage magazine page that I got in the pack from Cheryl. It had a picture of cake on it, so I added a recipe for ice cream that was in an old cookbook I got garage sailing a couple weeks ago.

I topped off the package with a tag I made with a sparkling B for Beth, over some pattern covers (she likes anything to do with sewing), hand tinted with acrylic paints and distress ink. At the bottom of the tag, I glued "early plastic" leaves next to a vintage green button and added a crystal to the center of the button. I used the same crystals on the crowns of the two models in the picture.

Where do I store my crystals for projects? Well, one time I decorated a pair of jeans with crystals on the pockets. The jeans got paint spilled on them so are now work pants. Whenever I need a crystal, I reach back to the pocket and peel off a crystal to glue down to what I am working on.

I am still trying to figure out the tiara I am making. I hand painted some flowers on pink paper to cut out and use on it, but am not sure how or where, just wanted to have some ready if needed. You never know when you’ll need a hand painted flower to embellish something! I also glittered up the vintage grosgrain shoe clip that I thought might work on the crown. I’ll see tomorrow how it all pulls together, Beth and I will be working on them then.

I usually run on and on and on, but this is my 2nd post today, plus it is time for "Rescue Me"!! I am going to eat a bowl of Breyer’s Vanilla ice cream with Magic Shell and a fudge brownie and stare at Dennis Leary on the TV. Not a bad night! (I did go to the gym today, so don’t think too badly of me)

Don’t forget- any comment enters you in the drawing for the rose charm for June!

Rockin fairies

fairies, flowers, give away, how to's, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / June 13, 2007

After my 100th post yesterday, I wondered, will I run out of things to say or to show? Then I realized how easily entertained I am, and I knew I’d always find things I thought were interesting. Now, whether, other people will find it interesting too and keep reading, well, that is another story, isn’t it?

My sons found this rock when they were about 8 and 10, whiel we were on a camping trip. I will never know which boy found it, because they both took credit for the find and half killed each other trying to give it to me. I guess they have always known that I am truly entertained and excited by odd details, like a rock shaped like a heart. It might be the sweetest thing they ever gave to me, (except the fairy grand baby, of course).

Baked potato shaped rocks might not be as wonderful as heart rocks, but this one still deserves a spot in my collection out in the yard.

But a crystal rock is really special! I filled a back pack with these on a hike up in the hills North of Little Rock. What a gorgeous place, we were up on a hill over looking the town, it was serene and quiet, felt very desolate and private, but down below you could see the town of thousands of people. The ground sparkled in the sunlight, there were crystals everywhere. I just wished I wasn’t such a wimp and could carry more.

Have I lost you yet? Hope not, because I want to show the beautiful fairy that I got in the mail today from Heather!!http://prettypetalsboutique.blogspot.com/ It was part of our mini fairy swap, and I promptly hung it up in Sugarwing’s room.

I hung Heather’s fairy in the alcove that I have painted with faux brick.

On the wall, are 2 fairy themed shadow boxes that I made. I found them on clearance at Marshalls for $2 each, because they were so ugly, filled with plastic mini corn cobs, for some reason. So I took out the corn, repainted the frames and added the assemblage stuff.

I often find art supplies in the clearance aisle of non-craft stores. Or goodwill, or the trash, or a garage sale, etc.

The sparkling fairies hanging in the window are from the clearance department at TJMaxx. I spray painted some branches white, added glitter to the paint while it was still wet, and screwed them to the wall over the window.

To the branches, I tied ribbons with teeny flowers on them and added a few fairies for a unique window treatment.

I love the Fat Grandma fairy best! Maybe it is her pink hair?

I got some gardening done today, didn’t just walk around and aimlessly take photos of rocks.

I keep my most used gardening things in a pot in the breezeway on a table I have mosaiced.

The pot was painted by a friend, Vickie Howard. This isn’t her typical work, it was donated to a fund raiser as a center piece and I bought it there. Her work is pretty classy. If you buy a print somewhere like JC Pennys or another department store, it is often her painting used in the frame! Or if you buy holiday paper cups or popcorn tins at Target or Walmart, she was likely the artist!

Today, I got started on my tiara swap. Here are some things I pulled together for it. The black grosgrain vintage buckle already has received a coat of glitter and looks good.

The child’s head band has wire twisted on it to make the crown shape, and has been primed white.

Tomorrow, I am taking the bundle of supplies with me to Beth’s house http://bethleintz.typepad.com/ to work on them together.

Today is her birthday (I will enter you into my drawing for the rose charm- TWICE for each "happy birthday" comment you leave on her blog!!!)

So, tomorrow, I’m helping her redo her booth at the antique mall, then we are going out to lunch and doing some glitter gluing after. We might be able to manage to squeeze in a few estate sales on the way!

Bargain Flowers, Rosey Lamps, and Lurking Fairies

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), fairies, flowers, how to's, paintings

By Karla Nathan / June 6, 2007

More flowers from the $1.99 clearance bundles! I bought these two days ago, and they still look fresh and pretty. I think I’ll get the better part of a week out of them, what a deal.

These are in the guest bathroom, ready for company. And I even made time to clean the shower after all!

I placed the large bunch in a jug I made YEARS ago at one of those paint it yourself ceramic places. Probably 25 years ago?? Maybe I can call it vintage??? The little kitty planter is definitely vintage, and just big enough for 2 rose buds.

Bookie, my dorkie, is on the wall in a frame my friend made. She thought he was so cute, he was her picture that she displayed in the frames to sell them! I loved it that way, just as she had them on display and kept her photo in it.

One last bouquet of pink roses by the door in my kitchen. I certainly feel like I got my money’s worth from the clearance flowers. There are vases with fresh blossoms in every room of the house now.

Tonight, I made a lampshade to fit this light in the guest room. Actually, I didn’t make it, I embellished it. A plain white shade came with this shiny brass lamp.

I primed and painted the lamp sagey-pale green and wired a sparkly bird to the base.

Then, I took pads of distress ink in pink and ‘old paper’ and rubbed the white shade down to age it a bit and take the bite out of the glaring white.

Next, I painted teeny roses in soft pink with minty green leaves scattered around the shade. All were simply done, the roses are barely a twist of the brush, one color, no detail. Almost like drawing a cinnamon roll. but pink.

After using a hair dryer on the paint, I coated the entire shade with clear acrylic top coat, and sprinkled sheer glitter all over it. Then dried it with the hair dryer again, and glued white fringe to the bottom and beaded fringe to the top with "The Ultimate" my favorite glue.

Hot glue would have been easier, but I always burn my fingers with it. So I used clamps to hold the fringe down as it dried and saved the skin of my finger tips.

The lamp is in place upstairs in Sugarwing’s room. I have it behind a big comfy chair perfect for us to cuddle up in and read together.

Her story books are in an old doll house that I found at a garage sale and painted white. It opens from the top instead of the back like most doll houses. I placed a pot of colorful silk flowers in the back and keep Sugarwing’s books in the front.

Next to our cozy reading chair, we have a bigger doll house to fix up together as my fairy grand baby grows older and wants to work on it with me. Right now, it is merely painted a blush pink with a green roof. I have fairies peeking out of the door and windows watching and waiting for Sugarwings be big enough to come and play.

My guests will be arriving soon, they are driving in from Indiana where we all grew up together. This weekend will be like the slumber parties we used to have through Jr high and High School! Except with alcohol. Well, I hate to admit it, but there might have been some of that in high school too.

Day 10 In a Rose a Day plus some Cheap Tricks

how to's

By Karla Nathan / May 10, 2007

How about a roomful of roses for Day 10 in my ROSE A DAY FOR 10 DAYS IN MAY? These tiny little hand painted roses are in the entry way to my kitchen. The walls are painted a very soft blushy pink with the brighter pink roses scattered around. To age it a bit, I used a glaze over the top of it all in an umber color, making sure to leave it heavier in the corners. The ceiling is a pistachio green as an accent.

I just hate white ceilings. And of course, my studio ceiling is white, and its a huge room that can’t bear the thought of tackling. But when we built the addition, it seemed to be the easiest thing to do at the time. I rented a spray gun and shot white everywhere. I’ve since repainted the walls, but man, that ceiling! Doubt if I’ll get to it.

I’ll miss the Rose a Day that I did in honor of CARING BLOGGER’S ROSE DAY today. It was started by:http://brittarnhildshouseinthewoods.typepad.com/brittarnhilds_house_in_th/, so thanks to her for the lovely idea. I will always have roses for you to see, even tho my ‘rose a day’ is over.

These roses are from the pile of things I have broken as a clumsy antique dealer. I added them and these birdies that were on a broken cookie jar, to this mosaic table top.

Which brings me to "Cheap Tricks" Michelle Ward’s http://michelleward.typepad.com/how_cool_is_that/2007/05/crusade_no_8_ch.html latest crusade. Her challenge was to show how you have used a cheap item somehow in your art. (check her out in the FABULOUS issue of Somerset Life)

So here are a few of my cheapest tricks, this photo is inside my breezeway:

1-More shutters like on the front of my studio. They are by fold doors that I found at a garage sale for $4, took apart, painted, then screwed to the wall on each side of the door.

2- The $2 garage sale chandelier didn’t work, so I cut the wires out, primed and painted it, and epoxied cheap, cheap, chipped up teacups to the arms. It can be used with candles or flowers. (I made it for Romantic Country magazine, Jan. 06, there are step by step instructions for it there, or ask me if you want them)

3- The mirror is an abandoned window that I cleaned and painted. Then, I sprayed the back with looking glass paint.

4- Last is the $5 iron table that I painted and mosaiced with broken stuff I have piled up in a cabinet because I can’t bear to throw it out, I know it can be something.

5- (I know, I said #4 was last) I forgot this pillow. It is made from a cut up vintage hankie that I gave to my mom to sew to the pillow for me, since I am so bad with the sewing machine.

My mom was great about those kind of projects, she’d make anything for me. Her talents were with a needle and thread, that woman made perfect stitches in her quilts.

This is a scrapbook page I made with two watercolors I’d done of her photocopied and glued down onto strips of paper that I thought gave it a fabric look, reminiscent of her quilting.

The larger painting has a background of a log cabin quilt she made for me.

The smaller painting is of her back in the 80s with her giant video camera that she took everywhere. This time, to the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas.

Marty Jo (mom) collected humming birds and butterflies (not real ones) so I added a humming bird charm to the page. She’d like that.

She also loved Irises, such a beautiful,old fashioned flower. When she passed away, I went to the casket factory and hand painted her casket with sprays of purple iris.

(maybe that should have gone into my list of weird things??)

I am ready for a vacation! Time to take a few days off.

how to's

By Karla Nathan / April 9, 2007

Last week, between shopping for a mattress and redoing my guest room, repainting the dining room chairs, figuring out how to do Ebay and trying to list a few things, feeding 15-20 people for 3 days straight while hosting a mini family reunion, and babysitting my 7mth old fairy grandbaby for over night- I also managed to redo a coffee table for my living room.

Here is the "before" picture of my table, I found it at a junk shop. I probably paid too much for it ($15) in the condition that it was, but it was the exact size and shape I needed.

My living room was looking a tad too formal for me at this point, so I wanted a table that was leaning toward the rustic side, but still pretty, to make the room a bit more casual. This table already had a rough oak top, I sanded away all the stains on it, added some roses to the bare wood, a dry brush of white to the legs, and put a dark stain and poly over the entire thing, then wiped it off, for an aging effect and for protection.

Still haven’t made lighter slipcovers for the new sofa yet. So, I sprayed it good with Scotchgard, knowing I’d never keep the little Dorkies off of it. That is Sparkle making herself comfy on it now. I changed out the pillows for lighter colors, that is a start. I found some fabric I like to cover the seat cushion, although I am not in a hurry to make them, I’ll get to it eventually.

But for now, I am leaving on vacation for a few days. I am hitching a ride along with my husband on his business trip. Cheap way to travel, the hotel and his meals are covered, and since he was driving anyway, it was practically free for me to go. Depends on how much I eat I guess, and after all the Easter-feasting we did at the reunion, I’d say I shouldn’t eat too much.

But I probably will anyway.