christytomlinson

Thrifty Finds... and it's official!!

First off.. it's OFFICIAL!! The mixed media shop on  my Scarlet Lime website is now open! YIPEE!  To see the new shop CLICK HERE!

We had a few glitches last night right before the launch.. but got it worked out in about 30 minutes and was up and running by about 8:30!! and oh my heck.. ladies (and gents).. THANk YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!  The response has been just amazing and you are all so wonderful! I know there are a lot of my favorites already out of stock (canvases, my favorites pens, stencils, crayons, etc).. but rest assured we have MORE on the way!  PLUS Some new items arriving daily.. like the Faber Castel pens (which will be here next week too). Asll should be back in stock mid to end of next week! I will post here when it is :) So thank you again! SMOOCH! could kiss you all! 

 
 
Today I wanted to share with you some thrifty finds for this week! This week my Monday Moodboard was all about Fresh Linens.. (you can see the moodboard here)..

So When I found these little goodies.. I just couldn't resist.. had to get them!

 

This first photo is a gorgeous knitted cream afgan! Seriously scrumptious and only $2.00! On the left is a cool old vintage photo and frame I found for a qaurter!

 

I can't decide If I want to keep the picture in the frame or paint my own over it! It's actually canvas.. so I could paint right over the top.. decisions decisions..

 

In this next picture.. I found the Piece on the left at a new Antique Store that just opened up here in Idaho Falls.  It's an old sewing book drawer and it came filled with these old vintage books inside! The books weren't priced, so I asked her how much for all of it (the drawer was marked for $12.00).. she told me she would give me $15.00 for all of it! The books are well over 100 years old and one is a really cool tablet that has entries in it from like the 1920's.. oh my heck.. I can see some of those pages on my art! Not a bad deal for all of that! More than I usually pay for thrift shopping. but those are truly vintage and so gorgeous! The frame/book on the left is like a shadow box! I think it might have been an old jewelry box.. wit the class broken out. I thought it would make a perfect shadow box for vintage finds! It was only $1.00!

 

These next goodies I actually got a few weeks ago.. on my trip to Salt Lake City.  My friends, Jeanne and Michelle, came with me, thrift shopping around Salt Lake City after our the conference we were attending was over. ON the left is a brown  and cream linen skirt.. which I actually am debating on whether or not to WEAR or to turn into pillows for my bedroom. It was $2.00. The cream eyelet piece in front is actually a "underskirt" and I think I am going to wear it as just that! It would be soo cool under a top with the eyelet showing underneath.it ws $.75.  The last piece on the right.. is a gorgeous vintage full length nightgown. Its suprisingly not see-through at all and has long sleeves. I have plans to bring the hem up to about mid thigh and wear it as a tunic with jeans or leggings and knee-high boots. It's seriously THAT CUTE. I'll do a "project restyle" post about it sometime.. and show you my before and after! The Dress cost me $5.00

 

These last two pieces were my MOST favorite find from the week.  They are vintage crocheted pieces of art! They look newer in the photos.. but they are seriously old and very fragile. I found them at the same antique store as the drawers and books. There wasn't a price on them, so when the lady said she would give them both to me for $6.00.. I honestly thought it was a BARGAIN. They are just gorgeous! I don't usually spend that much thrifting.. but again.. hard to pass these up. Simply gorgeous!

So those are my finds for this week! This week has been CRAZY! how about you? and still more to come! Tommorow debuts my sneak peek video of the upcoming She Art Workshop!! Can't wait!! lol.. For those of you still on the fence.. you have about ONE WEEK Left to sign up! wahoo! 

Well come back tomorrow.. I will have a fun video and a  little mixed media piece I did this week to share with you! .. in honor of my fresh linens moodboard this week..

Happy Thursday!

 

Thrify Finds- and a DIY

 

Today I am heading to Los Angeles for the Winter Craft and Hobby show. It's cold and snowing here, but I am heading to 80 degree weather and sun! Yipee!  But before I go get some rays, I wanted to share with you this weeks thrifty finds and a DIY project I know you are going to think is wacky but pretty fun! lol

 

 

My first set of finds are totally random I know. One is a fun summer dress (brand new mind you).. that was too small for me.. but would make the most adorable set of pillows for a fresh spring makeover or a fun gift for friend for her birthday! I picked it up for $2.00. The next is a vintage china plate.. that is great  to use in a bathroom with scented candles on. It was $.50. The last  piece in the picture is an old wooden plaque featuring two adorable little girls in vintage attire. I originally got the plaque to recycle. I was planning on painting over it and doing my own artwork on it (a cheap alternative to buying a new piece of wood). But honestly the print on it is so cute, I think I might have to keep it and maybe spruce it up a bit. It would make a really great baby shower gift!

 

here is a closeup of the dress and plate.. yum!

 

okay.. so as you probably already know I LOVE LOVE LOVE vintage clip-on earrings! I love using them in a lot of  jewelry I create. I am going to be teaching a mini workshop at Donna Downey's Inspired event in May!. and we will be making the leather cuffs I showed you last week in this post. So I am collection vintage earrings now.. so my students will have plenty to choose from! I got these little baby's off ebay! Gotta love ebay! Most of them ranged from $1.50- $2.00 a pair.

 

 

I don't really wear striped sweaters.. and especially ones in these wonderful patterns.. but when I saw these.. I KNEW I had to have them for a DIY project I was dying to try out!  I have posted it below.. but these babies cost me $3.00 each.

 

 
 

So speaking of my  DIY.. Here is a fun little project you can try using old sweaters you might be thinking of giving to Good Will.

 

 

I made this cute little Hand/Arm gloves out of the sweaters featured above. They are perfect to keep me warm while I am working at my computer or working in my garage while creating my art.. or even just going out with!

The first thing I did was cut the arms off each sweater. I cut mine about 8-10" in length (depending on if I will roll up the ends or not). Kids sweaters are PERFECT for these, because you want them to be a little tight. Not Loose. If they are loose, you can simply sew them on your machine, to make them fit better.

 
Next I gathered thread (you could also use yarn or embriodery thread) and a needle..

 

 

 and stitched around the outside edge of the cut side.  

 

ANd that's it! Simple DIY project you can do in literally minutes! You can also add buttons, ribbon or even a flower to the arm mittens to pesronalize them!

 

PLUS you have the entire body of the sweater left that would be perfect for a handbag, a pillow, or even a matching scarf!

  

So the next time you are thinking about getting rid of some old sweaters. Think again! They are so fun to re-cycle and make new again!

Happy Friday! 
 

 

Project Restyle

So excited about today's project restyle because it includes some of the items I got this week for my Thrifty Finds Post seen HERE, (on wednesday).

As I mentioned with my last Project Restyle Post (seen here), I am participating in Elsie's (from A beautiful Mess blog), project restyle this year! It's fun and free and motivating to restyle things you may have or find!

This project was done using the zippers I purchased at  a second hand store for $.25 each. I also used vintage clip-on earrings, that I picked up last October in New York at some thrift shops, for next to nothing! (a whole bag for like $8 bucks).

The Before:

Old zippers, vintage clip-on earrings and a plain Leather cuff (coming  in February to our Scarlet LIme BeadArt Store!).

 

 

The After:

A gorgeous leather cuff, perfect for a gift or for a day out on the town!

 
 

I created flowers out of both the zippers and some left over fabric I had in my stash. I made this SUPER easy video tutorial here!

 

I cut the backs off the vintage earrings, and then used E600 glue and adhered the flowers and earrings to the leather bracelet. (it needs to dry overnight)

 
Last, I attached this fun stamped metal tag from Tim Holtz to the piece using a jump ring. It reads "Artful"

 
 

I actually made a few different flower zippers, so I used the left over flowers and attached them to a ring base for a fun stylish ring!

 

I used more of the vintage clip-on earrings as centers

 

 

thanks to my daughter allie for being my model (love the yellow paint on her fingernails! lol).. she rocks! like mother like daughter..

Well, I am having the BEST time here at ALT with Jeanne and Michelle! I am learning so much about Social Media and blogging and design. What an amazing event!

Heading home tomorrow, but not before I meet up with my dear friend Margie, to go thrift store shopping in Salt Lake City.. and spent the Afternoon talking about a HUGE project I am working on with her! HUGE!! So excited to share with you SO VERY SOON.. can't wait!

Have a happy friday!!

Thrifty Finds and heading to Alt!

 
This week's thrifty finds are just delicious... and good for you.. just like an apple.

 Okay so you can't eat any of it.. and it won't make you more fit.. but it's sure good for the soul.. and pretty to look at!

Inspired by our Vintage Curtain Moodboard for this week.. it's simply divine.

 

My first find is a set of plates I picked up.. $.25 cents each. They will match the glasses I got in LAST week's Thrifty Finds (seen here).. The perfect size for cute little cupcakes!

 
My second find is a set of zippers.. what am I going to do with zippers you ask? oh you just wait and see.. friday I have something FUN planned for them.. it's gonna get creative in here! Zippers were $.25 cents each.

 
These next finds I would love to have hanging in my studio.. an over-sized skirt (yes I said skirt.. more on that below).. an embroidered butterfly framed piece, and a fun vintage plate.

 

This adorable Butterfly art piece was... get this.. $.25 cents!! (I think we have a theme here).. seriously.. oh so cute!

 
 

and this fun over-sized skirt (I am in love with it.. but it's about 3 sizes too big).. Got the skirt for $4 bucks! I love the ruffles on it, but ruffles do NOTHING for my figure, SO. I thought It would be fun to make the skirt into an apron to wear in my studio when making art! The best part is the apron is big enough that I can make two! (Maybe I will just have to give the other one away here on my blog).. stay tuned for more on that.

 Well those are my thrifty finds for this week! Love how the go along with the Vintage Curtains theme from Monday's post.. (check that out here).

Speaking of Monday's board.  I also finally finished this canvas this week! I started it back in November while visiting my friend Melody. Its perfect how it  goes along with the Monday's Moodboard, it reads

"she's just a soul with colorful intentions"

this so true about me right now.. colorful intentions

 

Thanks for letting me share!

 

If you haven't entered my giveaway yet for this week..make sure you check out yesterday's post HERE! I am giving away a spot into my upcoming e-course, The She Art Workshop! SO excited about this e-course.. and you need to get entered to win!

 

Well I am hitting the road! Heading to Salt Lake City, to attend the Altitude Design Summit! Excited to meet up with my dear friends Jeanne and Michelle, and learn about design, blogging and Social Media! It's a 3 day event.. can't wait!

The good news is I will be posting from the road!! So see you back here tomorrow, when I post my week #3 of projects for the Flip Pal Mobile Scanner Blog Hop! (vintage lace inspired). 

 Happy Wednesday!

 

Thrifty Finds and giveaway!

 
 

So I thought it would be fun since on mondays I do the Monday Moodboard, to also do "thrifty finds" post each week (or most weeks).. that kept in theme with the color scheme of our  Monday Moodboard. This week was a Garden Popply theme (shown here) . I think normally I will do it earlier in the week, so that ON friday I can show you what I made with the finds.. but this week it's gonna be today!

I love shopping at thrift shopping! I love antique stores (though most are way to pricey for me), I love going to garage sells.. and I love love love second hand stores. Yesterday My husband and I had to take a trip to our local thrift store to drop off 8 boxes of clothes, toys and bedding that we cleaned out my three youngest boys' room last Saturday. (I can't even believe they still have stuff left in their room but they do.. 8 boxes! Crazy!!!). While we ben was dropping off the boxes, I of course had to make my contribution to the establishment and buy something (you can't go away empty handed.. if you are going to donate.. you always have to buy.. isn't that the rule? lol). 

This first find is a set of classes I got.. $.25 cent each.. not too shabby . They had 6 of them, I only bought four.. hum.. don't know what I was thinking.

 

This next find is a totally cool vintage basket.. in gold (yes gold.. its coming back in.. didn't you know?) that I got for $1.00. You might ask if I am going to "restyle" it.. and the answer is nope! I actually seriously love it the dirty gold color.Yum!

 

The last set of finds were some cool books (some vintage, some I just loved the colors of them). Books are great for alot of things: you can stack them on a shelf, you can use them for height and interest when taking pictures, but the reason I bought them was to use them on my art. LOVE using book sheets as background on my art. The books were $.25 to $1.00 each.  I also picked up this dang cute corderouy dress. It might need a project restyle.. not sure, haven't tried it on yet.  BUT if it doesn't fit, I thought it would make really cute pillows for my couch! If I do, I will let you know ;).  The dress cost me$ .75 cents! SERIOUSLY!! They were having a bargain basement sell, where anything you can fit into a bag, cost you $4.00. I got this dress, 2 suits jackets to make purses out of, a red candy strip dress (I think I will restyle into an apron) and a sweater.  $4.00 bucks for all of that! Great deal!

 
 
 

 

I love the thrifty finds I found this week! I also found some awesome stuff for next weeks Moodboard theme.. oh I can't wait to share!

Well last friday on Project Restyle, when I showed you how to make a bag out of a man's suit coat, (shown here), I also promised you that this week I would giveaway a bag I recently made. It's also perfect for this week because it's bright bold colors.

 

I made this bag originally for me (hence the gazillion pockets). I measured out my wallet, my phone, my sunglasses case, my lipstick.. you name it, I made a pocket for it.

 
 

I also used alot of fun prints on this! Florals, text, zebra, dots..

 

I love peekaboo prints.. prints that are differnt on one side from the other. The outside of the handles are the green zebra and the inside are a black floral print.

 

I really love how it turned out!  

I used the Amy Butler Birdie Sling pattern for this,  and after the bag was finished, it was just bigger than I expected it to be (I even scaled down the pattern by like a third!).  I tried using it once and it was just too big for everyday use ( but it would be perfect for traveling or someone taller than 5' 2" tall! lol)!  So it has sat, unused hanging up in my studio.. ready for a loving home.

If you would like to have a chance of this purse finding it's way to you.. simply post on today's blog post about what inspires YOU? Can't wait to hear! I will announce a winner Monday!

Happy friday!