Junk Medallion

If you saw my post yesterday on my salvaged chandelier, perhaps you noticed the cute little medallion I hung it on.  You can view that post here.

 Here is a better look.

If it looks vaguely familiar, 

perhaps you've seen it on one of these!

Yep, my medallion is fabricated totally from salvaged pieces of junk I've hung on to:  a plate from a ceiling fan, the base of an old lamp, and some recycled plastic beading.

I love making things from junk, don't you?  After all,

MONEY CAN'T BUY HAPPINESS, BUT IT CAN BUY JUNK......

WHICH IS KIND OF THE SAME THING!

Ellie

Sparkle, Sparkle, Shine - Chandelier

There is just something about blingy, sparkly things for the girls in this family.  We love them!  Have you seen the t-shirt that says, "Sparkle is my favorite color" ?  This is absolutely us, Dah-lings.  Even my 21 month grand baby girl will walk mesmerized across an entire Hobby Lobby just to get to the sparkly things.

A few months ago I put out a message on a local Facebook garage sale site asking if anyone had a crystal chandelier for sale.  I wanted to put a small one in my grandbaby's room here at my house, but didn't want to spend a lot.  I didn't get a response, so I moved on and picked up something else off Craigslist.

A few weeks later, however, someone wrote to me privately and said, "Hey, are you still looking for a chandelier?  I have one, but it is not in the greatest shape."  I thought, "What the heck, I'll go ahead and look if the price is right as I can always use the crystals on something else."

It was crazy dirty, and actually smelled smoky and dusty - but she would take $45 for it.  She thought it was from the 30's (like my house), but the wiring was in too good of shape and I knew it couldn't be that old - probably from the early 60's based on the labels.  It was pretty timeless though; I just wasn't sure I could get it cleaned up enough to hang.

It took a ton of elbow grease, but this sweety cleaned up so NICE!  I didn't think about where I would hang the chandelier when I bought it, because I honestly thought it would be parted out.  The longer I cleaned, however, the more I knew it just had to go over our bed.  We've had an ug-o ceiling fan there since we moved in, and although I knew Edward would think a chandelier over our bed would be a bit "ostentatious", as he likes to say, I knew he didn't like that fan either.   

 I can't believe he went for it, 

but then again Who could resist this pretty?

It is a fun thing to wake with a chandelier over my bed, especially when I can see its reflection in the mirror above our mantle.  It just kind of says, "There is a day full of wonderful things just waiting for you to discover."

What about you?  Are you a sparkle person, 

or not so much?  

Well.......it's never too late.........

  

isn't it time to come 

to the bright side?

Ellie

Sentimental Valentines

I'm an absolute pushover for anything sentimental.  My sister #2 calls it being a hoarder, but for me - these are my treasures.

 A silk flower wreath with real roses tucked in.  Roses from a friend that I dried and kept.

A garden angel given to me by my longest, dear, precious friend.  Her wing broke off long ago, but I repaired her and sprayed her with a texture paint that is all but gone.  I love how she looks.  She also reminds me of my adorable, little niece, Willow, whose head is covered with bouncy, blond curls.

An angel from my white, ceramic nativity set made by sister #3, and a ceramic box of chocolates that arrived with flowers from my husband quite a few years ago.

My apothecary jar is filled with sentimental treasures:  Cinnamon hearts made by my mom, a glittery dove from sister #2, an empty box of chocolates from my children........... 

so precious.

Happy Valentines Day

Love, 

Ellie

Old Chandelier for the Dining Room

Last year I asked you Lavendears if we should change out our dining room chandelier, as we were getting our house ready to put on the market.  Those of you who responded said the chandelier we had was just fine......so we left it.  You can see more pics here.

Wellllll, we didn't put our house on the market (long story - essentially my hubby, Edward, became a partner in his firm last January.....which made the banks look at us as being newly self-employed.........which means no new mortgage on a new house.........you get the picture).  Anyway, I went on a business trip with Edward to Grapevine, TX, and while he worked - I killed time antiquing.  The only thing that caught my eye and could fit in our car was this solid brass chandelier.

Edward couldn't see past the Malachite finish - plus this thing is HEAVY - but Edward was a good sport and let me bring it home.  Although I felt a bit guilty painting over it's original paint finish, we both were really delighted with its new color.  (I forgot to get a full picture before I took it apart......).

 I think the faux Malachite finish kept more people from being interested in this chandelier, and it was deeply marked down.  

Lucky for me!!!

Isn't she a beaut?!

So glad you stopped by today!

Ellie

Silhouette - Lavender Tub Sign

Is there anything funner for a crafter than a cutting machine?  I got a Silhouette Cameo for Christmas a couple of years ago, and honestly - I still feel giddy every time I get it out to play.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!

Of course, one of the coolest projects a blogger would want to make is a sign with the name of their blog.  

I found this really awesome frame on Craigslist for cheap.  I had something else in mind for it, but the more I looked at it, the more I knew this had to be my Lavender Tub sign.

I painted the frame with ASCP in Antique White.  Then I mixed up some homemade plaster paint to match AS's Antionette, and painted over the poster.

To paint the letters on the sign, I cut a stencil out of cardstock using my Silhouette, and laid the stencil on the sign - holding it down with rocks.......yep, we're that technical around here.  Using Krylon's Champagne Nouveau Metallic spray paint, I painted the letters - being careful to spray straight on and not at an angle.

I did have a little paint overspray under the stencil, but I really like the softer look of the letters.  Yay for imperfection! 

I'd like to have a Lavender Tub booth some time, but for now - I think it adds a nice touch to my Lavender Tub bathroom.  (The light from the window shining on the metallic paint looks a little strange in this pic, but I wanted share this view.  The detail on the frame is so pretty.)

What cutting machine projects have you made?  

I'm ready to play some more!

Ellie

Fast, Fun, & Fabulous Lampshade

If you've followed my blog for a while you might remember this cute cloche lampshade I made.  You can see more on that post here:

I crafted it from one of those fabulous little wire trash baskets you can pick up now and then at the $ Tree.  I love these little things and purchase about 10 every time they have them in stock.

 Which is a good thing because they are a great go-to craft material for all kinds of - "Hmmm, what could I use to make a _______?".  Most recently I, again, found myself in need of a lampshade.  The one that came on this brass and marble antique lamp (garage sale $2) was too large to fit my table, but the lamp just wouldn't be ignored - it had to have its place with the cherubs and other Valentines-y things.

The lampshade really took no time at all, because nothing was altered from its original state.  I simply draped a large doily over the wire trash basket, strung red tulle through the doily, and then fussed it a bit.  Fast, Fun, & Fabulous, and perfect for Valentine's Day!  It think this would be super cute hanging as a chandelier, too - Don't you?

Thanks for visiting the tub!

 Ellie

Winter Mantle

Spray an old window rescued from a curb with frost

 Cut out a banner/snowflakes with your cutting machine

 Glitter up the snowflakes

Add some mercury glass and Christmas balls

Dress it up with beads, crystals, willow branches

tuck some lights behind the window

and finish with some really cute kids!

What could be prettier?

Love ya,

Ellie