A Checkerboard Christmas

I couldn't pass us this $1 checkerboard frame at Salvation Army.  It was speaking to me.  My mind immediately went to Christmas.

 I inserted the front of a Christmas card we rec'd last year from cousins Ron and Peggy.  I added a messy bow and Bob's your uncle. I've put it in our silent auction to be held next week on Palm Sunday at church.  But I won't be sad if there are no takers. (Sold)

Bunny Bum Door Hangers

One of the booths at Treasure Trove had these doorhanger cutouts for a few cents each.  I bought all they had which was 6 or 7. 

I painted and sealed them, added a bunny bum and a messy bow. 

 I think they'll be a fun little Easter treat for our homebound ladies.

Chippy Church

So I found a weird little board at Goodwill for $1.  It looked like half a cutting board, maybe. I tried the "chippy paint" technique and it worked better on this than on anything I've tried it on.  I painted it with black acrylic, and roughly swiped Elmer's glue on the dried paint.  I let it sit an hour or so while I worked on something else. Then when the glue was mostly dry, but still a little sticky, I painted Vintage White acrylic.  I left it overnight and this was the result.  I love it.

I thought a rustic little church painted on it would be fun. The above is my inspiration.

 And here is the almost final result. Couldn't decide whether to add a messy bow or twine or leave it as it.

I opted for some skinny jute I had on hand.  This one will be a leaner. (Sold)

Flower Caddy

 

I did some painting and napkin decoupaging to a galvanized caddy found at Haven Homes.

After adding some Dollar Tree flowers, I think it's pretty cute!

Bunny Bums Mini-Leaners

 Kathey gave me some boards from a busted barrel she had.  I saw a fun project for Easter (inspiration below) on Pinterest. I'm no artist, but I thought this looked simple enough for me. So this first one is for me to keep.  The rest will be gifted. I may try to sell one in ACC's silent auction. (2 sold in the auction. The rest were gifted)

My Bunny Bum is leaning on our mantle.

I gave them a base coat of vintage white acrylic and then mixed some of my acrylics to get shades I wanted. Then I used a green paint pen for the grass at the bottom.

The above was my inpiration and you can see they're charging $20! The thing I didn't do was use the twine. I like the look, but I think it would drive me crazy to think of there being a bow on the BACK of the bunny.  Just my quirk.

Pam will got this one.

I free-handed the bunnies with white acrylic.  Not that I had to mention that -- it's pretty obvious.

Then I added the "shadowing", I guess you'd call it, with some light gray and light brown.

After sealing them with polycrylic, they're ready to go.  Kathey chose the peach colored one above.

I just love them.  This may be a new go-to each Easter.

Lisa chose a peach bunny bum and leaned it on her bar.

Alicia chose pretty mint/seafoam kind of color.

Bunny Crafts

So I ordered a bag full of wooden bunnies, painted them, added burlap, painted the burlap, added Wanda's buttons to the tail and glued them on to random boards I'd found at thrift stores.  Of course I painted and distressed most of the boards. Some I may have over-distressed..  But I can always paint over.

 

Rag Sunflowers

Saw these cute sunflowers on a FB craft page.  I thought they'd be easy enough that even I could pull it off!  Below is the inspiration pic and written instructions.

I found a perfect bucket for them at a flea market. I glued them in and poured a bunch of DT rocks around it.  It didn't hold on that metal.  For the first time ever I tried the spray foam that I decided I'd use for my rag Christmas trees next time.  Whoa boy, that was a learning experience! I sprayed too much in there.  The next morning it had expanded waaaaay above the top of the bucket.  I was able to pull the bigges chunk of it out.  But there was tons stuck to the sides and hardened pretty good.  David had a tough little scraper that I used for probably and hour or so and got as much as I could off. Then I painted over the inside and started again. 

Though I was trying to avoid using floral blocks (because they're environmentally unfriendly), I buckled and got a couple. After placing them in there like I wanted, I sprayed about and inch or so of the foam and let it sit overnight. The next morning, the bucket was nearly half full of hardened foam. I added a little more and let it harden before covering the top with rocks. Whew!

I found another bucket and gave it a thin coat of vintage white. I may go back over it with distressing ink.

 I have a friend, Trish,  that used spray starch on hers to make the pedals not so floppy.  She said it took a LOT of starch.  They do look nice as you can see below.

So, I may try that on them next time.  But right now I'm kinda liking the floppy look. I may decide to add a 3rd flower to each of them though.....if I can get them through that hardened foam.

(Both of mine above -- SOLD -- in ACC's silent auction)

Pocket Planters

I found some adorable little cutting boards marked way down at Hobby Lobby because they were for Valentines Day.  The only thing that indicates valentines is the little heart-shaped hole at the top.  I'll use them any time of year.  Sweet size to hang on the wall. I painted this and glued a smash can on it and did some decorating.  (later I removed the smash can and went a different direction)

After removing the can, I used a little burlap to make a pocket planter.  Then I added some distressing with watered down black paint. (SOLD)

Enjoyed making this one and the one below with a couple of boards I found for 50 cents at a flea market.  They had been stained and hangers were attached already to the back. Score!

The one above - gifted.  The one below - SOLD.

 These are some of the boards from Kathey's broken barrel she gave me.  I used most for Bunny Bums, but decided to glue tiny smash cans onto a couple.  (peach one - SOLD. blue one went to Kathey)

Fairy Light Jars

 

Pat Harkey's daughter, Karla, gave me quite a stash of pristine mason jars.  Some were blue tinted.  I've made a couple of fairy light jars with them for our silent auction at church. The other ladies took some and will surprise us with something crafty. 

(SOLD together)

This one has some Easter bunnies stenciled on. And I added some of Wanda's buttons. 

I love this snowman.  I'll use him a lot.  He's enjoying watching the snow fall.  So there's not much to painting his face.