Tin Can Treasures

I know...its been a while...needless to say, a lot has been happening here...but I'm trying to get back on track...with creating, with inspiring, with blogging...

And so...I've scheduled a fun Art Party...at my studio here in Everett...perfect for upcoming holiday celebrations...I know...the holidays are coming on way too quickly...but denying it won't make it go away...so whether you celebrate Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Winter Solstice or just a day where the sun shines brightly, I'll show you some creative ways to package up whatever treats, surprises, souvenirs or trinkets you may be giving.

You'll use vintage wallpaper, washi tape, old postage stamps, ephemera bits and well-loved hardware to turn ordinary tin cans into decorative containers...plus we'll be making pretty packing shred from discarded books and fabric ribbon from textile remnants...we might even create a tag or two...

The workshop will be held on Saturday, November 7 from 1-4 pm - exact details and directions will be sent to you with your registration confirmation.

SOLD OUT!
if you want to be put on a waiting list, email me at amy_duncan@yahoo.com

Unconventional gift wrapping, part 1

You might remember (if you follow my blog) that the Southern Man had a nasty run-in with a tin can lid this past summer...due to an uncooperative can opener, the sharp, protruding edges of the lid gouged his finger...but after a trip to the emergency room and two months of healing, all is fine...

But...just to be on the safe side, we bought one of those can openers that is supposed to leave a clean cut edge...and yes, indeed it does. 

And then one day I noticed that since the opener cuts the edge of the can below the lip of the lid, you are left with a lid that sits securely on the can...my mind started racing...the eureka moment hit...

How easy would it be to turn these cans with their accompanying lids into little gift containers...
I gathered up a collection of empty cans...

See how smooth the rim is...no ragged edges here!
















Next I compiled a selection of coordinating papers...some vintage wallpaper, some papers from Cavallini & Co...  I'm not much into buying "new" art supplies, but the quality and design of the Cavallini & Co. products are first rate...its my art splurge...

Finally I rounded up supplies and tools...

and then I went to work...

My idea was to cover the cans with decorative paper with the crowning touch of a knob on the lid...after its time as a gift container, it could be used to store any number of things in one's office, studio or work space...

I measured the circumference of the can as well as the height to get the measurements for the paper to cover the outside of the can...

I used heavy duty double-sided tape...adhering it first to the can, around the top and bottom edges and one strip along the can seam...the seam is a good guide to use in ensuring that the wrapped paper is laid down straight... 

Once the can was wrapped, I added washi tape along the upper rim...

Next up...covering the lid and the bottom of the can...
I worked with a variety of vintage papers...old dictionary pages, french book text, vintage graph paper...even a scan of an old photo...
I used my circle cutter to get a clean cut edge...but first I did a trial run with a piece of plain white paper to ensure that the circle would fit...no use in using up precious vintage stock!  

Once I had the correct size, I glued the paper circles to the lid top and to the bottom of the can...
There was a major benefit in using my circle cutter for these paper circles...there's a pinpoint made by the cutter in the exact center of the circle...which came in handy when attaching the knob in the middle of the lid...I knew exactly where to punch the hole for the screw to hold the knob...




I used a variety of old knobs for the lid tops...searching in my metal banker's box of assorted knobs and pulls yielded a good supply...just needed to find shorter machine screws to attach each knob securely...and then...finished!

the tuna fish can was narrow enough that a length of wide washi tape encircled the can perfectly...

Pages from old books, run through a paper shredder, provide the filler for each can...giving a cushion of protection for the gift inside...

























Short or tall...plain or fancy...the possibilities are endless...
and it all starts with a simple tin can...and a little imagination...

Art soothes

Its been a tough week here...I work up Tuesday at 4am...to get to work by 6am...and as I stumbled down the stairs to the kitchen...I glanced out the window and noticed...my car was gone...I had to look twice...yep, the driveway was empty...

Really?  who steals a 17 year old Subaru Outback...another middle-aged women with a golden retriever?  Come to find out from the police that Subaru keys are easy to file down and use in other Subarus...who knew...

After dealing with the police, I wouldn't make it into work on time...I was scheduled for a short shift...so I just stayed home...and after drinking too many cups of coffee and thoroughly reading all three morning newspapers, I decided that I needed to do something to calm down and focus my attention elsewhere...so I went to my work table...and began cutting...and pasting...and sanding...and made some art...

Here's the first piece I completed..."once again"

This piece is part of a collaborative art group on Facebook...each artist using the same vintage target...but each in their own fashion...you can view the entire gallery on Facebook...you don't have to sign in  or belong...get all the details here...

Then I finished up this piece "simple-hearted"...sparked by the remainder of the incredible vintage wallpaper that
I used in "Simplify, simplify"...

 

I like that the vintage blue flower earring (with the back removed) mimics the blue clover flower...

And then later in the day...a package arrived...

it was almost too beautiful to open...that French paper triangle hat is to die for...

but I did...

Belle Brocante is an awe-inspiring blog...recently there was a week of giveaways...I was a lucky recipient...

vintage lace...old buttons...a fabulous artist trading card...a unique French coin...

yes indeed...art soothes...

On the road to the Farm Chicks show

All of the prep, paint, glue and nails has come down to this...this morning I leave for The Farm Chicks Show...
I'm like a bird taking flight - off into the blue yonder...







In the midst of all the packing and organizing, I was struck with a moment of inspiration of what to do with those rusted springs that I bought last year at the Farm Chicks show...a bit of old cocoa mat hanging basket liner...a handful of feathers...a wooden bird covered with vintage wallpaper...a specially chosen dictionary word for good measure...

If you're coming to the show...I'm in Booth 170, Bay 2...
please stop and say hi!

If you're not coming...you can live vicariously through my posts on my four corners design Facebook page...didn't know that I had a FB page?...well, its time to hop over, check it out and "like" my page so you can stay in the loop with what's going on at the show...

So now you know what I'll be doing this coming weekend - what about you?  Whatever your plans are for this first weekend in June, I hope that it gladdens your heart...

Wrap it up

On the downhill slide to christmas...
the decorations are up,
the presents are ready,
the dinner is planned...all that's left is the wrapping!
People usually fall into two caterories in this circumstance...
wrappers or non-wrappers...
and there's just no way around it...
either you like to wrap or you don't!










Keeping with my holiday theme of using what I already had, I extended this idea to my wrapping as well.  Several elements that I used in earlier projects, popped up here again...here's a quartet of ideas for you...

#1 - sheet from wallpaper sample book + "ribbon" made from striped vintage fabric.
Expired wallpaper books are ususally free for the asking at paint/decor stores...the paper is extremely durable and ideal for wrapping small gifts.  Fabric ribbon is all the rage...make your own by tearing strips of fabric...cotton tears the easiest...you can either notch or pink the edges for the finishing touch.

#2 - sewn dictionary paper + burlap letter tag.
I have numerous old dictionaries...I picked up one that was bound together with metal posts...I removed the posts and had hundreds of pages without a torn edge...I wanted interesting wrapping paper...I sewed six pages together, with red silk thread for extra pop.  All of the pages were from the letter "R".  To carry through the theme, I made another burlap letter stretched in a metal embroidery hoop (details here), tied on with red jute twine.

#3 - old map + vintage fabric belt.
I find old maps intriguing... something about scrutinizing all the highways & byways of a place...the allure of travel...use a map from a location that has special meaning for the gift recipient...wrapped up with another vintage fabric belt, complimenting the colors of the map nicely...a holly twig provides the festive touch.

#4 - kraft paper + drywall tape + holiday napkin tag.
I have mounds of kraft paper, courtesy of numerous thrift stores, wrapping my purchases ever so carefully...but by no means is any of this paper wrinkle free...I crunched it up even more and then ironed it flat with a dry iron...it smoothed out the paper but left the texture.  I used drywall joint tape to secure the paper around the box...love the texture on the tape!  Using another of my holiday napkins, I made a tag with a square piece of corrugated cardboard, embellishing the tag with white paint on the edges and a sentiment of "joy"...thin wire was used to wrap around the present and secure the bird tag with a couple of twisted flourishes at each wire end.









The Southern Man and I spent the day downtown Seattle, taking in all of the holiday hustle and bustle, enjoying a fabulous lunch and picking up a few last minute gifts at Watson Kennedy...off to finish up wrapping myself...need to get to the post office too!

Take a moment for yourself in all the hustle of last minute preparations...the season is meant to be enjoyed!  Take a minute and visit Funky Junk Interiors-Saturday Nite Special for lots of holiday inspiration to enjoy...and then hop over to FOLK Magazine blog for even more inspiring ideas...

Metal under wraps

I love vintage wallpaper...
I love metal...
I love taking something and making it into something else...
why not combine all three together!










I picked up these wooden frame-like objects at an estate sale about a year ago...I thought the shape was interesting...they were a dollar each...I didn't know what they were but thought they could be made into something interesting...

Initially I thought of making them into corkboards...but when I found thin pieces of MDF that fit within the back recess framework exactly, I had another idea...

I decided to make metal message boards...but line the front metal face with vintage wallpaper to give it a decorative look...I went to work...

First I painted the topside of each frame with a green tone of paint...I left the sides alone, so that the dark brown edges offered contrast...







Next I glued the galvanized metal sheets to the MDF using Liquid Nails adhesive - two 8" x 12" metal sheets covered the MDF completely...




After the glue had dried overnight, I roughed up the metal surface with 60 grit sandpaper - this gives the surface "tooth" to hold the glue that binds the wallpaper so it will adher to the metal surface...

I used three different patterns of wallpaper for the three boards, all in shades of green.  Its been relatively easy to find single rolls of vintage wallpaper...its not enough to do a room (or even a wall in most cases) so these lone rolls are cast aside...but they are perfect for art projects!  I cut a piece of wallpaper for each board, extending beyond the edges so there was plenty of overage.

I glued the wallpaper onto each piece of MDF and let them dry in the sun...I always extend the paper beyond the perimeter and then sand off the edge of the extra paper when it is dry...gives a nice clean finish...

Now that the boards were finished, I had to mount each one into their individual frames.  I used metal strapping tape to fashion a mounting holder...and used wood screws to attach the strapping tape holder to the frame and to the MDF board...

There were pre-existing holes around the edge of the frame...I used the top two holes to thread a length of jute twine through the holes for hanging.  I made three magnets for each board by gluing a magnet round onto the backside of dark wood circles I had...matches the dark wood edge of the frame.

And here are two of the completed message boards hanging in my space at Faded Elegance...and there's a partial view of the lampshade on the table lamp I made from that great green damask print wallpaper and a tiny glimpse of the hanging lampshade I fashioned from the green plaid wallpaper...

I still have three more of the empty frames...I'm thinking of finishing them for Christmas presents for friends...

I'm linking up to Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors...plenty of ideas...amazing amount...now that summer is over, is everyone feeling a creative burst of energy...?!

Creating the Inner Farmgirl...

I've spent the last week creating the vignette, "The Inner Farmgirl", for my spot at Faded Elegance.  I compose a theme for my booth and switch out my space every six weeks or so...it helps to focus my vision...and gives a totally new look on a regular basis...

Here are some glimpes of my inspiration...

I'm changing out my space on Thursday so look for more pictures by the weekend...and if you are in the neighborhood, make sure you stop in at Faded Elegance in Snohomish...