fete et fleur: September 2010

Revamp It Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered my Revamp It Giveaway. I really did have a blast with the two projects I created. Thank you again, Natasha, for coming up with the brilliant idea. I feel like I'm on a roll now in the creativity department.

I was supposed to announce the winner tomorrow, Thursday, but I'm going to be away from my computer all day, so . . . drum roll please . . . . . . . . .

The winner is . . . Kate of Auntie Cake's!

Congratulations Kate!

Table Redo ~ Can Plastic be Elegant?

Materials used:

1. An amazing table base with a ton of potential
2. White and gray flat paint
3. Plastic table top

It was my birthday on Monday and the present I really wanted was a small table to have at my door to catch the keys, mail, etc. The economy has not been kind to my hubby and me, and we have to watch every penny we put out there.

We were at a favorite haunt when we spied this table. It was an awful brown color and had a terrible piece of cracked black marble on it. It was the base that held my attention. I really felt I could do something with it. I was able to talk the dealer into separating the marble from the base. She felt the value of the table was in the cracked piece of marble. It was my lucky day!

I took the table home and painted it with a combination of gray and white flat paint. The chalky paint finish is perfect for this table.

I was thinking of replacing the marble with glass, but that was way too expensive. I drove over to a local plastics shop and they had this gorgeous pearlized plastic.

I had them cut a circular piece to fit perfectly into the table.

Look how it turned out!

Who would have thought plastic could be elegant? The best part, I’ll never lose my keys again . . . hopefully.?

2 REVAMP IT DIY projects and a small GIVEAWAY

Welcome to Natasha's Revamp It Party!

Thank you Natasha for hosting this fun party! It really got my creative juices flowing. I look forward to visiting you all and seeing your revamps.

Before we get to the projects, here's the small giveaway I'm having. Revamp it No.1 an old decrepit jewelry box. When I found this gorgeous box with it's tiny mother of pearl button, it was falling apart. With a little paint and decoration, it's now fit for a Mermaid Queen.

All you have to do to win this box is leave a comment here on this post and, if you like, let others know about Natasha's Revamp It Party. If you don't have a blog make sure you leave me an email where you can be contacted. I will pick a winner next Thursday, September 30th. Please read below to see how I revamped this old box.

Then read on to see my second revamp it. I turned a vintage doily into a ladies reticule.

Revamp It No.1

It all started with this torn up box. It was the button that caught my attention. I couldn't let it go to waste.

I peeled off the rest of the tattered velvet.

I then painted the box inside and out with Italian gold leaf.

I love the texture. How about that pearl button?!

The inside velvet pad was ruined. I stripped off the old velvet and replaced it with a piece of hand dyed silk. I dyed the silk in beet juice! It might sound weird, but beet juice is a gorgeous color. The silk is now a gentle pink purple. It lends an elegant feeling to the inside of the box. Sorry, it didn't photograph well.

I also reconnected the original old silk to the box.

Here is the finished inside of the box, pretty and clean now.

I took out all my bits and bobs for this box, including my shells.

The top of the box has white coral, a vintage porcelain flower, miniature seashells and antique rhinestones from France.

Again, if you would like to win this box, leave a comment on this post and a winner will be announced next Thursday, September 30th.

Revamp It No.2

A Ladies reticule . . .

Materials:

1. Doily

2. Silk

3. Regular needle and thread

4. Embroidery needle and ribbon. (Thank you Kate)

I laid the doily on the pink silk and cut a large circle shape around the doily.

I then took embroidery ribbon and sewed the doily onto the silk.

I had some leftover drapery rings . . .

I folded back the lip of the pink silk and sewed on 8 of the plastic rings.

I then folded the silk back over the rings and tacked the silk down. I did this for all 8 rings.

I found some beautiful antique ribbon in my ribbon stash and threaded it through the rings.

I tied loose knots at the end of the ribbon.

Voila! A pretty and simple project.

You can put anything you like in it. I put a long strand of vintage pearls (that belonged to my mother) in mine.

I hope you all enjoyed my Revamp It projects and that you feel inspired to create. Now you all know what to do with those old doilies sitting in your cupboards. I might make a few of these into bridal bags. Please visit Natasha's blog for more Revamp It fun! Click HERE to visit.

DIY Tutorial ~ Paper Butterfly

© Fete et Fleur Designs

Here's the paper butterfly tutorial I promised. You will need a few supplies before you begin:

1. Heavy card stock ~ for the template
2. Glue gun
3. Pretty paper for the butterfly
4. 26 gauge wire
5. Wire cutters

I recommend you read all the instructions first before starting this project.

Disclaimer
(Sorry, gotta have one.)

The author and publisher of this tutorial cannot be held responsible in any way for damages or injuries resulting from its use. This tutorial is for adults only or for children over the age of 14 with adult supervision. If you choose to create the project described in this tutorial, you accept all responsibility for injuries or damages that result from using any of the tools involved. You are using tools that can be dangerous. Please use them responsibly, according to the manufacturers' specifications.

Be safe and enjoy!

I've made three different wing templates for you to use. The first template contains both wings. The second and third templates contain the individual right and left wings. Choose a template below by clicking on it and print it out on the card stock. You can enlarge or shrink these templates to create a butterfly in any size you like.

Cut out the card stock wings and place them onto the paper you've chosen for your butterflies. Trace 2 sets of wings and then cut them out.

You should now have four individual paper wings.

Cut a long length of wire. You'll have to eyeball this because I'm not sure what size your butterflies will be. It all depends on how small or large you printed them out. Bend the end of the wire, making an oval loop. Compare this loop to a section on one of your butterfly wings. Make sure the loop fits inside one of the wing sections.

Now, leave about 1/2 inch of wire away from the end of your last twist. Create another loop and twist the wire again. You'll now have something that looks like antique spectacles. Again, make sure the loops will fit inside one of the wing sections.

Bend this wire frame so it begins to look like wings.

Now pull the wire straight about 1/2 inch and bend the wire in an upward 90 degree angle as pictured below.

Now create another loop on the other side and twist the wire around.

Here is a closeup of the last loop you made.

Now you will have three loops and you will bring the wire down to create the last loop.

Leave a bit of wire to match the length of the other side. Twist the remaining piece of wire around and snip the end with the wire cutters.

You now have the internal wire structure for your butterfly!

Glue two of the wings together with a dab of glue from your glue gun. Please be careful not to burn yourself when pressing the sides together.

You now have one assembled side of your butterfly.

Lay the wire structure on top of the reverse side of the paper.

Add a dab of glue over the wire structure. Lay one wing side over the warm glue. Be careful not to burn yourself with the hot glue and press firmly together.

It will look like this when you're done.

Do the same on the other side, placing the last wing over the wire and pressing firmly.

This is what it looks like now.

Now you will need to close up the wing sections.

Place a small dab of glue on the tip of the wire wing structure and press both sides together. Do this on all the wing tips. Be careful not to burn yourself when pressing.