STENCILED OLD CROW GAME BOARD TABLES plus ANIMALS GONE WILD

Hey ya'll,

been super busy gearing up for Christmas sales in my Craft Booth #555 at my local co-op.

So sorry to be running behind here on posting this last week.

But here's a quickie of a set of end tables that I recently remade.

The tops were rougher before and had to be sanded and repainted before I started.

You can see below that the top sides are still drying.

All I really had to do was get out my stencils and find some that would kinda fit.

I chose the Olde Crow Game Board Co but used a star instead of a crow.

Why? Just because the crow shoulda' been black and on this table it wouldn't have shown up.

I used a mustard yellow and mixed it up with a bit of gray to get the color I wanted.

 It was a very easy makeover.  But don't forget to seal the top with some sort of clear coat or sealer.

I used RUST-O-LEUM 2x ultra cover in MATTE CLEAR.

I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THE MATTE again though! 

Simply because it's too flat on the black and adds a bit of dusting crap when finished.

Luckily it wiped off for me, but still is visible up really close!

But anyways, I wan't happy with the end result but didn't have time to go back and re-do everything.

So here they are side by side again:

And before I go, take a look at what I saw on a fence post while outside.

  

I think it's a praying mantis. But that's not the cool part. Take a closer look at what he has in his hands....

LUNCH!

But what is super cool is that it is a red wasp!

OMG!

And it only gets better.  After I saw that, I kept my eyes peeled all day looking for him again.

I didn't see him but I did spy a close second. Lookie here~

Another one on the porch rail.

It looked like it was about to be stung, and I think it was once cause it kinda jumped. But it was there catching lunch also.

But it ducked and covered it's face a bit and then went on eating like a boss!

Look at this face!

Wow, I never really stop to look around this much. Creatures are awesome.

Now back to work....

 Here's a sneak at what I'm working on this morning:

More to come tomorrow on these Mason Jar Projects!!!!

See ya'll next time,

~Lisa

QUICK CHARGER PLATE MAKEOVER with PRIMITIVE STENCILS

You can do a quick makeover with lots of plain items just by using stencils and some craft paint.

I had bought all three of these gold, charger plates for $ .50.  They were nice but they needed something primitive for my booth.

found this via google, I forgot to take a before pic.

I got out some of my plastic stencils and black craft paint like the pic below (excuse the pumpkin stencil, I'd already put up the others.)

And just stamped them on using a makeup sponge.

Come in large packs at the Dollar Mart for $1.00

And this is how they turned out.

I ordered all the stencils you see from eBay.

They weren't much at all.

 I did have them displayed in a plate rack on the wall, but the plate rack sold before the plates.

I only put $3.99 on the set of three.

Sold. Thank You!

Don't forget when you get items you just don't like or are too plain, just

grab your stencils!

Happy Crafting ya'll,

~Lisa

Primitive Wood Shelf | FAITH FAMILY FRIENDS

I made this simple little wall hanging shelf outta some leftover pieces of pine boards.

They were used earlier by me, to make a concrete cross.

So after I took the frame back out, I knew I could use them for something else as well.

I just started arranging them in no particular order, just trying to piece together something that would look cute. And then after a few here and there mis-licks, I came up with this cute little shelf looking thing. lol.

It looked kinda country, so I decided to just nail it together with some headless nails and add two saw-toothed hangers on the back.

You can see that at the bottom, one of my nails tried to breath through. Oh well, I just left it that way. It was easier than trying to take a headless nail back out. lol.

Then I added some black, crafting, apple barrel paint for the base color. And then used some flat, plastic wording stencils for the "FAITH FAMILY and FRIENDS" saying. I applied it with a makeup sponge.

And here it is, all finished and from scraps of wood:

I think it's okay for a fast project out of scrap wood, don't you?

Old Wood Toolbox (Simplify)

This is an old vintage, wooden toolbox that I've painted in a more prim look. It came to me in a faded whiteish' colored wood, totally covered in grease spots and the inside was terrible. I didn't even think to take a before pic because as soon as I got it home, I started cleaning and painting it.

I painted it with a brush, with a flat black. Then I stenciled on the "Simplify" saying and the star. Next, I roughed it up around all the edges & handle with some medium grade sand paper.

Then I sealed it with a light shade of varnish/stain combo. Let it dry and here it is. It's for sale in my Peddlers Mall booth for $24.99.
Update: Sold

I displayed magazines in this at my booth. It would be great for many other uses as well though.

DIY STENCILED WALL SIGNS

STENCILED WOODEN SIGNS 

Today, well and past few days, I've been cutting and making some simple wall signs to sale in my booth. They are a great seller.

Here's a few that I  did that say, "Simplify." 

First I painted a base coat of whatever color. I usually use a burnt umber, colonial green or nutmeg. Those are my favs! Then I stencil on the saying and or stars with an off white or antique white.

Then, here's where I call it my "secret effect." I take a rough grain sandpaper and sand over the entire board, wording, stars and all. 

It kinda roughs it up and makes it look older and worn. Just the way I like it. And I am also rough on all the edges.

And lastly, I use a stain that has a sealer in it.

I rub some on with an old rag, wait a minute and wipe it all off. And repeat if it doesn't look old and aged enough.

 Here are a bunch of different sayings that I made all from stencils that I bought off from eBay.

Then I finish it all up by adding a hanger on the back. I get those in packs at the Dollar Store for $1.50.

And that's that!

 On the one in the middle below, I was experimenting with using different colors. Not sure I like the blue so much. On the same one, also, I used the glue to make a crackly look, but the pic is not showing it so well.

My favorite of the ones below is the "Pumpkins" signs below.

Probably because it's right around the corner and I just decorated our home yesterday.
I'm so in the Halloween mood!

Here's how those came about.

Some of them I left plain and then stenciled on the PUMPKINS wording in cinnamon orange.

And to mix and match some others up, I first painted the board a cinnamon orange and then stenciled on the PUMPKINS wording in various off whites.

Let the paints dry and then come back with some rough grade sandpaper and scuff up all the edges a bit.

And then just finish up by adding a sawtooth hanger on the backs.

I find these at the Dollar General in the tools section for a dollar or so.

And here they are again:

 Happy Crafting Ya'll!
Until next time,
~Lisa