Playing with Decoupage

I have wanted to decoupage some things for awhile now.  The idea of it is interesting, and there are so many items out there that are just beautifully done.  I put some things on the counter--two keys and a perfume bottle--to decoupage "when I got around to it".  Well, needless to say, they sat there for quite awhile (there is always something else to do, right?).  Finally, there was a bit of free time, and, seriously?...there were only three things to experiment with!  Seems like the hardest thing for me to do is to just sit and DO it...whatever "it" might be.  It ended up not taking that terribly long to do after all, and it was such fun.

I have some napkins that are just beautiful and decided to place pieces on a blank perfume bottle.  I ripped them up and with Mod Podge placed the pieces on.  How one side is all one color and the other all another is just how it turned out.

I sealed the bottle with a different decoupage sealer and added some wire and complimentary beads. They almost look like two separate bottles--but that just adds to the interest.
Next, I did the keys.

The paper on these is still from the same napkin used on the perfume bottle.  It's amazing the color differences and looks to all three pieces.  I added some wire and beads to these too.

I really wanted to try some vintage jewelry bits on these, but the bling took away from the beauty of the patterns in the napkin.  These are in my Etsy shop and haven't sold yet, but it was great fun to try something different.  If you're interested in playing with decoupage, I'd highly recommend giving it a try.  No doubt you will enjoy doing it as much as I did.

Perfume Bottle Giveaway Winner....

...is Sherry, of Country Wings in Phoenix!  Thank you everyone for your input and for entering, and congratulations to Sherry. 

Last Day to Enter Perfume Bottle Giveaway

This is the last day to enter my 500th post giveaway--this sweet little perfume bottle.  You must go to the original post to sign up by tonight to have a chance.  I will choose a winner sometime later this evening.  The original post is HERE.  There aren't many entries, so there is a good chance to win.

500th Post Giveaway

Well, it's my 500th post.  Hard to believe.  Here I thought when I first began blogging that I wouldn't have anything to say and that no one would be interested enough to read whatever it was that I said!  Many, many thanks to my followers and those of you who come by to see what I've been up to and for all of you who take the time to leave a comment.  I so appreciate it!  So....

....as a "thank you", I've decided to give everyone who enters below a chance to win this sweet little perfume bottle embellished with an ever-so-light-pink blossom vintage jewelry piece.   

International friends are welcome to participate.  I will randomly choose a winner sometime in the evening on July 2, so comments must be made before 6:00 p.m. CST July 2.  1) You must leave one comment below telling me what type of item you like best from my shop (i.e.vintage jewelry, perfume bottle, thumbtacks, beaded brooch, vintage image things, etc.)  Please visit my Etsy shop--Glassbeadtreasures--to help you decide. If someone does not tell me what type of item they like best, unfortunately that person will be disqualified. 2) If you would like a second entry chance, you may blog (feel free to use one of the two pictures above) about it then come back and leave a comment with the link to your blog post.  That's it! Thank you again to everyone!

Mother-of-Pearl

I was captivated by Victoria magazine's January/February 2011 section entitled "Treasure from the Sea." All of the mother-of-pearl in the article (it's on the cover as well) was just gorgeous. I have always liked the warm iridescence of mother-of-pearl, and I like it's "oldness". By oldness I mean that mother-of-pearl has been a beautiful embellishment or material that has been used for centuries. There isn't a shell button that I can't resist. My mother had a mother-of-pearl inlaid compact mirror that I remember admiring as a child. What a pleasing article it was to read!

Well, fresh on the heals of reading that article, I put together this perfume bottle with a little mother-of-pearl bird on it. The sweet bird was a recent antique store find that I immediately liked and knew I could use somewhere. It has an aurora borealis eye that goes perfectly with the pinks of the apple blossom vintage jewelry piece that I used to embellish this pink stopper-topped bottle. Enjoy!

A New Brooch and a New Perfume Bottle

I have been able to get two things done this past week. I acquired some exquisite (and a little expensive, might I add--but worth it!) rose shell beads this past week and am working on putting them into jewelry. Once I got the beads I just had to sit right down and work on a brooch. I made this light pink, Victorian-looking, Shabby Chic-looking rose brooch with a crystal butterfly. I sort of don't want to part with it because I like it so much!
Secondly, I finished another perfume bottle. The vintage pieces come from jewelry featuring daisies as well as parts of a leaf bracelet and some rhinestones. I'm pretty pleased with how this little bottle turned out as well.

Glass Bottle Stoppers

We were at the flea market last weekend where there was a basket of these sitting there. I pawed through them, and the man offered me instead of $1 each...$5 for the whole basket. I debated and thought and walked around again...then couldn't resist and bought them. I finally got them all cleaned and a picture taken yesterday. There are some chips here and there, but I have some ideas in mind for some of them. Though I'm delighted with them all, I especially like the little crown-shaped one at 6:00 (who can resist a crown?) and that turquoise one full of bubbles at 1:00-2:00. At the flea market I also purchased two lightweight gold picture frames for a song, and have great inspiration to turn them into Victorian one-of-a-kind wonders. You'll see. I have some projects I'm working on now but will get to those in July. Hint: That crown bottle stopper above will be a part of one of those Victorian creations!

Gifts I Made for the "Something Old" Swap

As promised here are pictures of what I sent to Cathy of Treasured Heirlooms for the "Something Old..." wedding themed swap hosted by Linda from A Swap for All Seasons. I know she has received her package, so I'm safe in posting the pictures. It was such great fun to do.
We had to include a wedding picture of some sort, so I made a hanging ornament out of a picture of my husband's maternal grandparents. I have always liked the picture...his grandmother looks just beautiful, I think. I added an embellishment and a rhinestone and put a white organza ribbon tie on it.
The "Something Old" was a vintage hankie.
For the "Something New" I made Cathy a brooch with my favorite pink flower beads and added two Swarovski crystal butterflies.
The "Something Borrowed" was a vintage piece of lace with an old pin stuck in it to secure it.
The "Something Blue" took me the longest to do. I embellished a perfume bottle with clear and blue rhinestone vintage jewelry bits and "pearls". The settings were all silver tone metal to match the silver on the stopper top. It certainly had lots of sparkle.
Oh, and this was the packaging. I wrapped the gifts in some greenish turquoise tissue paper then put ivory netting over that and tied the gifts with sage green ribbon. The tags identified the different parts of the saying and what to expect inside each gift. The tags were made of some very pretty paper I found...and the colors tied the whole gift packaging together.

A Flurry of Creativity!

It has been a long, cloudy, cool week...and with some newly-acquired pretties, I just couldn't resist being busy creating. It has been such fun, and my family has been so patient...since....once I start something it's hard not to finish (that's why I should never touch a long novel--no housework would get done and no one would see me for days until I finished every last word!). I've completed three perfume bottles with vintage jewelry bits on them--two I have listed, and the other I will list probably tomorrow in my Etsy and Lollishops shops.
I've also had fun beading up some new clips/charms. Enjoy!

More Vintage Jewelry Perfume Bottles

A dear gal who is getting married contacted me through my Etsy shop this past week asking whether I had more vintage/antique jewelry pieces perfume bottles (she wanted some gifts for her bridesmaids). I did...BUT none were completely done yet! So, I've been working hard and steady to complete some and get them listed for her review. The one I have already listed with the lady on it she has asked me to alter. It is now on the counter drying. Hopefully the sun will keep shining so that I can get a nice picture later this morning, and hopefully she will approve of the change. Of the three here, the pink and green rhinestone one is reserved for her...but the other two (and they are sort of tied for being my favorites actually) are not and are listed on Lollishops and Etsy for sale. These are a lot of fun to do...and I DO like perfume bottles in all of their femininity!

Another Embellished Perfume Bottle

This one took awhile to put together, but I'm pleased with the end result. I had this little Coro brooch featuring a lady--I think she looks very elegant and French--that I couldn't sell because part of it was damaged. I don't really like to sell a signed piece unless it is all there. Anyway, it fit perfectly on this little crystal perfume bottle and made a nice focal point for it. The top part is a very elegant rhinestone earring that had fallen apart. I then glued on a "pearl" bead that coordinates with the "pearls" that are staggered with rhinestones surrounding the lady. I listed it in my Etsy store this morning. Hope you like it!

Estate Sale, Thrift Shop, and Antique Shop Goodies

It has been SUCH fun having my mom live closer to us now. I get out more! Yes, and I even get out without the kids from time to time. I'm having too good a time! Anyway, Mom and I have sort of been on a thrifting spree lately. We've gone to thrift shops, antique shops and malls, and so far one estate sale. It's amazing what and how much you can get without having to spend an arm and a leg. We went to an estate sale last Saturday...got up before sun-up....traveled 50 minutes...waited forever....and finally were allowed in. We learned a few important lessons...get up BEFORE the sun gets up...take a bag or two for the goodies...and take something to do while waiting. It was an organized sale, so I was concerned what the prices would be like. They were very reasonable, however. We were #84 and #85 to get in which was disappointing, but there were still some goodies left. The early birds get the worm! I sort of enjoy the totally disorganized estate sales because I love plowing through boxes and going through things to find those little hidden treasures for sale, but this one was fun too. Most treasures I look for are to try to resell...but most of these I'm keeping for myself because I like them so much. Here are some found recently....
This little tiny box is from Austria and is pretty petit point/needlepoint. This type of stitching was inspiration for my bead business, so my eye flew directly to this. It was a great price at an antique shop.
This little blue glass perfume bottle I found at a thrift shop for a song. I cleaned it up and am going to give it to my grandmother. She has blues and purples in her bathroom, so this should look great there.
I couldn't resist these buttons. I'm always on the look out for pretty buttons. I'm not sure what exactly I'll use them for or if I'll sell them, but I do like them.
This teapot was remarkably still at the estate sale when we went in...and it was only $5! Mom and I like to think that the Lord kept it sitting there waiting just for me. ; )
This little jackknife was at the estate sale as well. The blade which is a little rusty snaps into a tortoise shell holder, and I believe this is it's original box--a box from a jeweler/optician (that's what it says on the cover) from the Madison, Wisconsin area. It is less than 1" long, and I believe it must have been a charm or something since it has a loop on the end.
Finally, these little baby pins or lingerie pins as they are called (depending on who you talk to) were an irresistible find (all were on the same card for one price) at an antique mall that was having a store-wide sale. They are quite small, the largest measuring 1-3/4" and the smallest 7/8". The one with the pearly "grapes" and leaves is quite a curiosity since the grapes dangle from the pin. I'm not sure if the turquoise one is actually a stone or a glass bead. It is pretty nonetheless!
The largest one has this curious marking on it that I can't find who or what it stands for or what it means. If you know, I would be most appreciative if you would comment on this post and tell me. Thank you so much!
So, there you have the latest finds...as well as the ones I've been listing on Etsy--lots of glitz and glamor. Hope you've enjoyed the post! ; )