Cones For Flowers

The final reveal - Lovely!

Back in March when I was pulling out spring stuff to decorate the mantel, I took a grapevine tree form, painted it white, wrapped blue chenille ribbon around it, and called it a spring tree.  As I was packing away the spring stuff, I thought about turning the tree upside down to make a hanging basket for something.  Of course this meant a trip to Hobby Lobby to purchase two more of these grapevine trees because, as you know, everything is better in threes!

 Here they are on the painting screens ready for their close-up with the old Rust-Oleum white spray paint.  (I did not show the one I already painted - you would have seen that it was actually off-white!)

They are usually used as Christmas trees.  Come on, admit it.  You have painted at least one gold!

While the paint was drying, I printed out these beautiful Palmer's advertising labels or cards from The Graphics Fairy.  I decided on three different florals (only one showing here) and Karen had the advertisement for the back.  I cut these out all around the squiggly edges while watching the College World Series.  (Plug for the Carolina Gamecocks.  Need to win tonight!)

SUPPLIES:

*Three painted cones

*Pink tissue paper - torn into about 4X4" squares

*Images

*Mod Podge

*Foam brush

Now the messy part.  I did this outside because it is drippy and sticky.  I really glopped the Mod Podge on the back of the tissue paper and slapped it on the grapevine.  I took the foam brush and added more Mod Podge to the top making the paper stick in the cracks.  You want the torn edges and the holes for a distressed look.  Before this could dry, I glopped on Mod Podge to the flower labels and adhered them to the tissue paper.  I just eyeballed the placement - center towards the top.

  This is how they looked after drying.  Wait I forgot two things.  First I put another layer of Mod Podge over these after the first had dried.  Second, I decided to save the advertising label for a tag instead of gluing it to the back of the cone.  

Really give this step a long time to dry.  Have you ever put something on top of the exhaust fan of your outside AC unit - good hot air going to waste!  (Don't tell Chucks!)

Here all three await their handles!

 

 While the drying was happening outside, I got busy making  handles for the floral tribute baskets.  (Notice the now fancy name for the painted cones!)

First I cut three pieces of small gauge wire for the handles.  I did not measure, but made sure to have enough to hang the cone.  I brought out my torn muslin ribbons and cut three pieces about 2 1/2 times the length of the wire. 

As shown here I sewed through the fabric with the wire down the center.  Be careful not to push the cloth off the other end as you are sewing.  This will incur extreme rage at one's self!  Attach these handles to the cones and fluff the ruffles.  If you like a lot of ruffles, just increase the length of the ribbon.

Adhesive cardstock was stuck to the back of the labels to give them more body.  I wish I had thought of this before I cut the label out to avoid cutting out all the curlicues around the image twice!

I tied each with pink French seam binding with ivory tulle.  The tags were then tied to the handles with a sweet bow.

 

There is plenty of room inside the cone for a clay pot for a plant - ivy would look nice.  Also, a vase for fresh flowers would fit in here. (Or just stuff in some silk flowers and call it a day! Remember to hang where no one can tell they are fake.)

One of these cones for flowers (sorry, folks, I can't think of a clever name for these things tonight!) looked very nice hanging on the halltree in the foyer, but it was too dark to take a decent photo.

The whole day I was working on these cones for flowers (I hate this name - someone please help -send suggestions!), doing laundry, sorting out the recycle, and gathering the trash,  the dogs behaved.  No running through the house wrestling and barking.  No tugging at me wanting to go somewhere.  This afternoon I discovered that Scout had been secretly taking the stuffing out of the sofa cushion again. And here is Willie who had worked all day to untie his rope toy and spread its strings all over the dining room!

Willie looks so innocent!

Well. I guess I will be sweeping all the strings and stuffing up before the big ball game.  Let me go get started.

See y'all!

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Time Flies-Life's Short-Take Notes

I finished the Chalkboard Countess - a grand dame of homemade blue chalk paint, silver highlights, and dark wax distressing.  Very fancy!  So I decided to do a chalkboard project that reflected more of the true Donna - short, squat, and distressed!

I fell in love with those clock faces over at The Graphics Fairy.  Karen had five or six different ones in gold, black, and cream.  I printed out two pages of thumbnail-sized clock faces.  As you can see they were about the size of a nickel.  Luckily I had plenty of time to sit and cut them out as I watched the Carolina Gamecocks advance through the College World Series.  Just a plug for our favorite team.  There might be dust monsters and dirt devils running amok in this house, but I have gotten a lot of cutting and tearing done during the games!

Here's what the frame of the message board looked like before.  It was missing its chalkboard or bulletin board insert and had many water rings on the shelf.  This baby had been used and abused!  I Kilzed it first and followed with a yellow ocher craft paint.  The edges were painted with black craft paint.

I decided on a free-form pattern and did not care if the clock faces were perfectly aligned or placed with the twelve at the top of the face.

I used about 36 of the clock faces so I have more to use later.  They were Mod Podged on using a thin coat to the back.  Waxed paper was placed over them, and I gently rubbed with a paper towel until there were no wrinkles or bubbles.  (This step is super-simple on small items like this!) I did not add a top coat of Mod Podge.

There is the nickel to show the scale of clock face to message board.

The message board is decked out with its yellow and black color scheme and its little tiny clock faces.  After seeing it at this stage, I thought to myself, "Should have went for bees instead of clocks!"

Oh, well, I like this design - it reminds me of an old pajama shirt my grandfather used to wear during breakfast!

Out it went to the patio to get a good sanding - heavy on the edges and natural wear patterns.

This is why I did not cover the clock faces with Mod Podge - I sanded them down to give them a distressed look.

Back inside the message board frame got a satin varnish finish.  I stamped using StazOn ink "Time Flies   Life's Short   Take Notes"  (You probably have already guessed that from the title of this post.)  A second coat of satin varnish was added over the the lettering to protect it from the next step.  

Those of you who decorative paint all the time know sometimes two finishes do not mix well.  I have put a wax over a painting only to have it dissolve what I had painted.  Know your products - save yourself grief!  

You can tell from the picture it is quite a bit darker because I waxed with my new best friend Howard Citrus shield Dark Oak Wax.  I had used this on the Countess and liked it.  (Actually I think I am addicted to the orange scent of this product.  There may have to be an intervention!)

This picture I now realize is before I put the dark wax on the piece.  I evidently deleted the other picture by mistake.  Just use your imagination!

Remember I finished the chalkboard for this when I did the Countess's. Just Masonite, Kilz, blackboard paint, and condition with chalk.

Finito! Finis! Over and done with - another item out of my living room!  Well, not quite.  This has not made it to the shop yet.  A bunch of stuff will leave tomorrow.    I really like this little guy.  The blanket chest under him wants him to stay and the Countess to go.  There will be blood over the battle of the fancies and the rustics!  If they get too rowdy, I'll throw them all out.

Update on my self-imposed buying ban:  This is like a confessional, but I did buy two old crib springs (yes, those of you on the list, they will be arriving at the booth on Tuesday!) and three huge French flower buckets with a beautiful green finish.  Oh, I forgot.  I bought two large wine bottles and you will see soon what I am doing to them.  I hope it works!  Karen, The Graphics Fairy, watch out I am running over to find labels!

See y'all!





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