Jewelry boxes' new life

Upcycling jewelry boxes

tips on how to fix hardware issues and dirty liner

I was busy working on the jewelry boxes lately, those are fun to paint and it is so nice to know somebody can use them again, this time with a style. 

First thing to do when I choose a box to decorate is to check if all the hardware is in a good condition, if it is loose I tight it and sometimes it takes some more fixing if screws keep spinning & not holding on anything. To fix this problem I remove the hinges and fill the screw hole with some spackling, then wait when it dries, place hinge back and you are good to go. 

Sometimes I use boxes in a very bad shape for spare parts. 

The other issue with the old jewelry boxes is dirty liners inside. I found solution for that. I use chalk paint and paint either the whole drawer or some section of the liner like I did in the box on the picture below. 

Before painting or if you decide not to paint you have to vacuum the drawers and if this doesn't help use the painter tape or other sticky tape to collect dust and other dirt from the fabric. It works. 

If the liner is in a bed shape and even coming off the drawer I replace it with other liner such as burlap. I hot glue burlap onto the piece of cardboard shaped like the drawer's insides and then glue them inside the drawer.  Example is on the pictures below:

I am usually using chalk paints for the boxes, they are fun to work with and you can make the box feel really smooth for touch by sanding the surface slightly. I also love how the clear wax gives them velvety feel with a bit of shine. You also can distress easily with the chalk paint, additionally I use some antiquing mediums or technics for vintage look. 

Here are more of my works:

Hope you enjoyed. Please share, comment and visit my facebook page Shabby Moth for more inspirations and ideas.

Painted "Gibbard" side table

Paint and whitewash

Beautiful little table got even more charm. The table is solid walnut and has it's own character, I liked it right away when i saw it in the store. Now I've done painting it and I am quite satisfied :) The colour i used called relic and it is Decor art chalky paint, which I am getting to like more and more. After paint I applied Annie Sloan clear wax, and after all I used whitewashing technics to add antique look to it. It worked out good, you can imagine the table made out of stone with white patina.

Above are "before" & "after" pictures. And here are some more:

The label inside says "Gibbard. Solid walnut, furniture shop, established 1837, Napanee, Canada". Cool, isn't it? 

To make a whitewash you need to add water to paint to consistency of light cream, but not too runny, and with a brush apply to the surface, than in a minute wipe it all up with the rag. Wiping should go in the same direction. If you prefer thick wash (more colour) wipe in 3-4 minutes. Make sure you don't leave unwiped patches anywhere, that doesn't look natural.

 This item is for sale for local Edmontonians :) See my facebook page for contact:Shabby Moth and reDOem

Vintage holiday decor

Easy tree ornaments made from dictionary pages

Holiday season! And I am here with my hand decorated ornaments I made a year ago. Probably won't show you anything new, but you can grab the idea for your holiday project or just for a craft with children. They look great on the tree - instant vintage look!

 

To make them I used  plastic balls like these:

So "before" ornaments weren't even with the smooth surface.  All the other materials you need are an old Webster dictionary that you can find in any goodwill or thrift store and a Mod Podge glue. First you will have to rip or cut dictionary pages into small stripes or any other shapes {ripping will give you thinner edges which helps better attaching and smoother transition from piece to piece}. Then just brush the glue onto pieces {both sides} and start covering the ball all around {you can put glue on the ball too}. You will get the creative mess on your working space but result is worth it :) 

To decorate more I cut off the dictionary illustrations and glued them on the ornaments. I think the pine cones look especially great for the occasion :) 

LIKE on facebook to see all the inspirational posts and tutorials Shabby Moth & reDOem

DIY backdrop or how to make barn wood

How to make backdrop or barn wood quick and easy! 

{basic photography tips for handmade products}

I think this tutorial will be very helpful for crafters who are opening their online shop for the first time. To have a success in sales you need to present your product in the very best way; if you don't have a great pictures, I mean "wow" pictures, you can just give up the idea of selling online. I work on it right now, trying to do my best and still learning. There are basic rules to follow:

•  Invest in tripod, shouldn't be the most expansive one: buy used one or ask friends if they have one they don't need. It almost impossible to make image absolutely clear without tripod. 
{here are lots of choices}
• Use a white sheet of paper for backdrop, it changes quality of pictures instantly and brings it to the new level too.
  
   See how I made a progress using white paper as a backdrop in this post
• Use indirect sun light, to avoid strong shadows. Natural light is a must and is the best! - unless you are professional photographer :) 
• Use decorative backdrops and other objects that are in the same theme group to attract your customer by showing how the product fits to interior. For example (bucia.livemaster.ru) : 
  
  
  

So today I want to show you how to make such a backdrop very quick and easy using faux barn wood! PIN now and do it tonight :) 

To make it you will need:

1. Cedar planks, pick the "ugliest" one with chips and wholes
2. Dark wood stain
3. White and blue chalk paint (can be any paint you have)
4. Two small skinny planks to attach wood pieces together 1x0,5 inch. 
5. Screws and screw driver or drill. 

Depending on the size of the backdrop you want pick your planks in the local hardware store. Cut them in needed amount of planks.

Then stain both sides and the visible edges of future product with the old sock or something like that. Don't forget rubber gloves to keep your hands clean. When stain is dry apply paint roughly with a brush , don't care about accuracy here. Make sure you leave the stain peeking through, especially on the edges. Look the picture below. This way you won't need to sand it later, which cuts the amount of  time you use.

Now do the same but  with different colour on the other side of the planks.I used duck egg blue and old white. After the paint is dry attach boards together with 1x0,5 in planks. See the picture below. I found screws that were bluish colour already, probably some anti-rust coating, and this was handy :)

You can play with colours and patterns, I liked mine like as it is. Plus you can use both sides. You can do all blue side and all white side as well. 

And here it's done. 

LIKE and Follow my facebook page for updates and inspirations: reDoem & Shabby moth 

How do you improve your photos? Are you a handmader with the online store, share your experience, please!

Boutique preparation...

Hi, long time no see, I wish I could have more hours in a day!
I confess it's been awhile :) What I am doing? Really busy doing preparations before I can open my online shop, I want to call it "Shabby Moth boutique", so excited about all the ideas that crowded my head, projects and projects are just waiting in a long line.. For now I can say it is going to be handmade decor and gifts boutique on facebook at first and then I plan to open a store on etsy.
But for now I have a little sneak peek for you, let me know what you think about the whole idea?

These are my ZINC ORNAMENTS, good for hanging on the tree or just for putting them in the bowl for the coffee table or mantel! Great for holiday decorating. (To order contact me on facebook, link below)

Come and LIKE me facebook page where the grand opening will be announced too: ReDOem and Shabby Moth. Also I post there lots of inspirations about vintage décor in different styles.
Keep in touch!!!!

Meet my friends

Happy fall to all :)
Today I want you to meet my good friends Barbara and Claudia. They both have lovely blogs where they are sharing their passion about home décor.
Barbara lives in Poland and is a master of decoupage and loves shabby chic style, also prefers the old French style in decorating.  I want to share with you her recent work - jewellery box, just click the image and visit her beautiful blog - you will learn about decoupage and decoration as it is in Poland!


Claudia lives in Germany and loves shabby chic in white, she decorates her own 300 year old home, and she does a beautiful job, click and look for yourself:


I am personally very interested in learning about how people decorate their homes in different countries, yeah, we all love shabby chic, but it has its own specific expression overseas. So if you are interested as well, check these girls out :)
Some more images from their blogs:  
                                                                       From Barbara





                                                                From Claudia

Please, comment and stay connected! 

Old china cabinet becomes shabby beauty

...How I've painted and transformed the china cabinet

And another painting-waxing project is done. I am ready to present to you this little and cute, I believe china -, cabinet that became nice and beautiful shabby chic style piece of furniture. I needed this cabinet to put in the living room to fill and to be filled - to fill the corner and to be filled with all my little stuff I hoarded.
Here is before and after pictures:

To transform the cabinet I used Annie Sloan Old white and Duck Egg blue and clear wax. I removed the glass and inserted the chicken wire instead; I think with glass it just looked like simple boring thing and with wire it looks like something interesting, anyway  - the wire instantly gave it some character, to me it looks like cabinet that came from old french country. By the way, if you don't know HOW TO put the wire in, just use the big stapler and short staples, try not to shoot close to edges or the wood can crack if it is too thin. Before though you will have to measure how much wire you need, then cut it with scissors for iron: try to keep the cells whole and leave their connection wires on, you use them to staple wire to the frame.

As you can see on the picture above I added some decorative wooden ornaments to the doors and sides of this piece. I glued them on with PL 400, love this glue - fast and I know it will stick for sure.
I also distressed the thing with 220 sand paper, this time decided not to use dark wax, I loved it as it were already.
A bit impression of Duck Egg blue paint (first time use), honestly, I thought it would be more light. To me it looks like greyish blue, but I guess you can always add it to the white to make lighter....I love the colour anyway.

 How do you like the cutest cup I ever bought (at FIND). My lavender finally has found its home.

So what do you think, would you have this cabinet in your house?

Give a shabby chic look to an old side table

With beautiful summer days I have absolutely no time to keep up with my updates here. Creating and painting in summer - posting in winter,  I guess :) I have lots of stuff to post, but trying to use sunny days to be outside and finish my projects, that keep coming and coming. My head goes round with all the ideas I have :)
Today though it's a bit rainy and I want to show you the little side table I found recently in the used furniture store. The little son of a furniture was hard to notice but I saw him and had pity on him :) Now it is going to be a present to my husband, he can use it for storing his phone and clock and keep it next to our bed.
Little cute table found his home.. All right, you can put  the tissue away and see for yourself:

Annie Sloan paint in old white and clear wax was used for this transformation. Also I decoupaged the antique maps on it using Mod Podge. I distressed the edges everywhere and here it is... Oh yeah, almost forgot, first I painted the table with Americana décor chalky paint in "primitive" colour, you can see it through the old white layer.
Do you know by the way how this thing officially called rather than side table?

Comment, follow and like my Facebook page for more and more! Be happy!!!

If you want to use antique map printable for your project you can find it on my pinterest board "vintage graphic - coloured". 

Bread box redo

Shabby chic kitchen decor

Hello, Happy Canada Day to everyone!!!
My latest project is a bread box! I was looking for old bread box for a long time, finally found one at my favorite store "FIND".

Isn't it cute? :) Annie Sloan and dark wax did a job! Some images transfer and you have an old french country style bread box for your kitchen. Check the GraphicsFairy for the printables.