Vintage Halloween postcards ....turned into unique jewelry
Pendant necklaces made from vintage Halloween postcards
Pendant necklace made from vintage Halloween postcard
I love the change in season from summer to fall. It's early September and already our local grocery store has Halloween candy on display! Is it a bit too early for that? Maybe, but the lure of Halloween is one that I' ve always found charming. I'm especially fond of vintage Halloween items. Decorations, masks, costumes and postcards from years past have quite a different charm than those we see today.
The nostalgia of yesteryear is apparent in these vintage collectibles, and for many, brings back memories of childhood fun and games, costumes and trick-or-treating.
Halloween truly is a timeless holiday. What other time of year allows us to be something we are not, to fully use our imagination and allow reality to slip away, even if just for one night?
Halloween Postcards
I once read somewhere that Halloween collectibles are more desirable than collectibles from any other holiday, with Halloween postcards being some of the most sought after items due to their rarity. The illustrations and color lithography on these cards are beautiful. Depictions of witches, black cats, jack'0lanterns, as well as fortune games and scenes of children bobbing for apples are common designs. I personally am intrigued by those with anthropomorphic figures; the corn-cob man and the grinning pumpkin head girl, vegetable people with smiling faces.
Pendant necklace made from vintage Halloween postcard It's amazing to think that at one time (around the late 1800's and on) Halloween postcards were once as popular as Christmas cards!
Pendant necklace made from vintage Halloween postcard Be sure to check out my Halloween Postcard Jewelry. Each of my postcard pendant necklaces is reversible, with a different vintage Halloween image on each side.
Pendant necklace made from vintage Halloween postcard I' ve been making jewelry from antique and vintage postcards for a number of years now, and in my opinion, the Halloween images are the most intriguing than those of any other holiday. (Aside from Halloween I also make them with Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day postcards) 'And don't worry, no original postcards are harmed in the process!
Pendant necklace made from vintage Halloween postcard
Pendant necklaces made from vintage Halloween postcards What do you think?
Vintage wood dominoes (click to learn about the history of dominoes ) Jewelry made from recycled materials is earth-friendly and all the rage. The exciting part about making jewelry from recycled materials is that the supplies you need are most likely already right in your own home! One type of jewelry that is super-stylish and easy to make is domino jewelry. Dominos are fun to craft with and they can easily be made into either pins or pendants.
I created this domino pendant from a copy of a vintage St. Patrick's day post card To make domino jewelry you will need dominos (either the old fashioned wooden kind or the newer, plastic kind), miscellaneous papers (think collage elements such as copies of vintage images, ephemera, scraps of pretty paper and words or text cut from an old book or magazine, wallpaper scraps, old cigar box labels, etc.), scissors, a decoupage medium, a sponge brush or small paintbrush to apply decoupage medium, jump-rings (for pendants) or pin-backs (for pin brooches), and a strong adhesive glue. Optional additional embellishing materials include colored pencils, pens, markers, glitter, sequins, small beads, flat buttons, and bits of lace. I usually like to decorate only one side of the domino and leave the numbered side (the side with the dots) untouched or mostly uncovered. That way when you are wearing your pendant you can turn it over and show your friends that it's a domino!
For this domino pendant I used an illustration and text from a damaged antique book To begin, first choose your base paper. That will be the largest piece of paper that will cover only the front, or plain side of the domino. This will be the foundation for your finished design. To create your paper base, lay your domino on top of the paper and trace around the domino with a pencil. Then remove the domino and cut out your base paper. Using a small paintbrush or sponge brush, apply a thin coat of decoupage medium to the plain side of the domino following the directions on the decoupage medium. Next adhere your base paper to the domino and gently press to adhere, being careful to remove all bubbles and lumps — and set aside until completely dry.
Mod Podge is one type of Decoupage Medium Now comes the fun part! Select images or snippets from your papers and arrange them in a collage-like manner to your domino's base paper. Use a very thin coat of the decoupage medium to adhere your elements to your domino. Let your creativity be your guide. Here's a tip: I like to start with the larger pieces of paper and then add smaller snippets to that piece in a layered fashion. When finished, set aside until completely dry. Once your artwork is complete, apply another coat of decoupage medium to seal the piece and let it dry completely. To make a domino pin brooch, adhere a pin-back to the reverse side of your domino with a strong adhesive. To make a domino pendant, adhere a jump ring to the top edge of your domino with a strong adhesive.
Another pendant made with an illustration from a damaged antique book. With a few basic materials and a little creativity, you can create your own recycled material jewelry that is fun to make and fun to wear! P.S. — Oh, and be sure to learn how to play dominoes before you make domino jewelry, as you can be sure people at least one person who sees your awesome domino jewelry will ask you, "How do you play dominoes, anyway?" (click here to learn!) Laura ( Click here to see more of my domino jewelry! ) Advanced Technique: Resin Coated Domino Jewelry
Level: Advanced To achieve a glossy, glass-like finish you can coat your domino with resin. Working with resin is an advanced technique that requires a bit more time, patience, as well as safety precautions.
I used a copy of an antique Valentine to make this domino pendant, and then coated it with resin What is resin jewelry? The Dick Blick Art Materials website describes it best: " Resin jewelry is made from liquid plastic that turns solid when a hardener is added....Resin has a wonderful appeal for its glass-like properties from crystal clear to translucent glowing hues." Click here to learn more about the properties of resin. Before you begin: Resin can be hazardous. It is extremely important to carefully read and follow all directions that are included with the product you are working with. It is also recommended that you do not work with resin around children or pets. You should also read all MSDS (safety data sheets) for any hazardous mediums that you are going to work with. I recommend purchasing materials from businesses that include the MSDS safety data sheets with your purchase. Before coating a domino with resin, complete all the steps above under the How To Make Domino Jewelry, stopping after applying the finishing/sealing coat of decoupage medium. (do not adhere pin-back or jump rings to your domino.) Allow finished domino to dry overnight. Working in a clean, dust-free, and temperature controlled area (according to resin packaging directions), prepare the resin exactly according to package directions. Be sure to cover your workspace with newspaper to protect all surfaces, and have paper towels on hand in case of any spills or messes. Allow resin to set and dry according to package directions. Once completely set and dry, follow the directions above to adhere your pin-back or jumpring to your finished domino.
Image was embellished with glitter before resin was applied
If ever there was a day for chocolate and goodies, today's that day! Today we celebrate love ~ some with kisses and hugs, others with cards and candy. What's not to love about the heart itself? Here are some mosaic hearts I designed and created using shards of vintage broken china and vintage images. Like each one of us, these mosaic hearts each have their own unique personalities. Happy Valentine's Day to you! Enjoy, and remember to tell someone that you love them!
~ Find Peace ~
~ Hot Stuff! ~
~ Dream Big ~ all designs & artwork copyright 2009
Bear with me a minute folks — I'm gonna get all quirky on you. I've just discovered two vintage stainless steel medical cabinets set to go up for a local charity auction this weekend. I HAVE TO HAVE THEM. They look pretty much like the pieces in the first and second images. And they are in perfect condition. I'm thinking the second piece would make one heck of a cool bar... People, how much do I pay for them....? I am so excited thinking I might actually get them... And speaking of quirky, I'd like to thank Artie Vanderpool for my cool new blog header. Oh, wait....it's my header that's quirky, not Artie. He totally 'got' me right away, is very reasonably priced, and was so much fun to work with. I'd totally recommend him if you are looking for something new. Thanks, Artie.
Earrings I made from antique spoon handles I 'll admit it, I have a hard time throwing pretty things away, even if it is something that is considered "scrap." After making a spoon bracelet out of a pair of orphaned antique silver plated spoons I found myself left with the cut off bowl-ends of the spoons — and they had such a pretty filigree design on the neck (the thin part of the spoon that connects the handle to the bowl) that I just had to make something out of them... ....so I removed the bowl of the spoon and kept the thin, ornate necks and transformed them into these one of a kind earrings! (click photos for larger images)
(total measurement 1/4" wide by 2 & 1/4" long including sterling ear-wires and Swarovksi crystal drops )
I added sterling wires and pearls to this pair
Antique silver spoon earrings with pearl drops What do you think of them?
all arwork & images copyright Laura Beth Love 2009 Thank goodness springtime is right around the corner! The change of seasons always seems to offer just the right gentle push I need to leave behind the old and begin some new projects. I look forward to the refreshing & soft palette of spring — and to the longer days it affords! I created these pendants with pieces of antique lace & glass. Enjoy! Laura
I love the idea of owning a piece of history. It doesn't matter if it's an antique piece or something I found at the flea market. It makes a room so much more interesting.
While looking for fun, free art for my new gallery wall, I discovered a few great places to print beautiful art, typography and even maps! And I just couldn't keep all the goods from you, so get your pen and paper ready (oh, wait, does anybody do that anymore? Get your Pinterest pinner ready, then!), for some awesome, free stuff! 1. Sprik Space
I mentioned that I printed off these two adorable prints from Sprik Space for my gallery wall, but these aren't the only ones Aimee has! Be sure to go on over and take a look at her super cute printables- and tell her we sent you. 2. The Graphics Fairy
Ok, admittedly, you have to do some digging on this site to find the hidden gems like this vintage french label, or this gorgeous peacock print. But luckily, all the printables are categorized, so if you know what you're looking for, you're in luck! 3. Feed Your Soul: The Free Art Project
I think this site is my favorite yet for free printable art. Don't ask me why I put it third on my list- it's late and I'm tired, so leave me alone.; ) The art is quirky and clever and definitely a touch modern. They have a few prints that would be perfect for a nursery or children's room, but I would put a whole bunch of them up in my house. Listen to what Jane says her reason for starting this site is: "I love art and I know you do too. I also know that when people start to tighten up the purse strings they tend not spend money on things that aren’t necessary for survival, things like books, magazines and art. But, art is important for your soul. It helps rejuvenate, it’s thought-provoking, offers inspiration and can generally brighten an otherwise dreary day among other things." Well said, Jane, and we thank you from the bottom of our art-loving hearts. 4. New York City Public Library
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Did you know that the New York Public Library has a digital gallery of over 700,000 images taken from their vast collections? I found this old print of Pennsylvania from 1830 with just a simple search.Browse to your heart's content and I'm sure you'll find a inspiration for art. 5. Leanne's Printable Quotes
This is not a site that regularly features free printables (at least not to my knowledge), but in this post there are several simple designs that would make great cards (for Valentine's Day, maybe?), art prints, or anything else you can think of. Where's your favorite place to get free printables? I shared mine with you- now it's your turn!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I can't stop looking at the Hymn & Folk Song collection by Red Letter Words! Today I'm smitten with this:
I sing this regularly to my kids and so it these prints make me happy. I love the set of three prints- something a bit different than the norm!
I was hoping for some spring-like weather come March, but in lieu of sunshine a full-blown snow day will always suffice! There's nothing like a blizzardy day to stir up my creative juices. Seeing that going outside was not an option, I opted to work on some new, (and kinda silly) designs for spring. I love the way this necklace turned out! What a vixen! ~ This was made from a vintage photo that I reproduced. I added some original fun text, placed her behind glass, soldered her up with silver solder, and topped her off with a hand-carved onyx bead. (available Spring '09)
I love the eye-catching necklaces and earings from White Owl. Somehow I stumbled over their web shop, and it was love at first sight. I can't stop thinking about them. The materials they use are rescued from estate sales, flea markets and even their own Grandmother! I love the vintage feel, but with a modern twist. White Owl are now celebrating their 3 year anniversary on Etsy, and are therefore celebrating with a giveaway. Go to their Facebook fan page or their blog to check it out.
