Art by Debbie Saenz

Vintage Style Jewelry Stand Tutorial

I have been wanting a vintage dress form for a while now to use as a prop when I photograph my jewelry. Well, I've not been able to find one at an affordable price...the cheapest I've been able to find them for is around $100. Some are priced at close to $1000! Yikes!!

Since I know my hubby would flip if I spent that much money on a prop, (It's hard for me to fathom that idea too) I decided to revamp an ordinary jewelry stand with vintage style! And all for under $10. Now that's a deal!

This is a vintage French stockman mannequin and sells for several hundred dollars. Love it!, but not for that price. I've seen mannequins decoupaged before so I thought, "Why not decoupage a jewelry stand?"

This is a simple project anyone can make! Come on, I'll show you how...

 

A few Supplies:

White velvet jewelry stand (I got mine at Michael's using my coupon!)

Mod Podge - Matte

Tissue paper from an old pattern

Glass drawer pull

Hot glue

Black acrylic paint

Drill

Kraft knife

Paint brush

Carefully remove the top part and set aside.

Tear the pattern paper into pieces; start with about 20 or so.

 

 Lather that baby up with plenty of Mod Podge!  It will soak into the fabric so be generous.

Adhere the pattern paper overlapping as you work. Allow the paper to hang over the sides. It will wrinkle a bit but try to smooth it out as much as possible by "painting" Mod Podge over the paper. Cover the round top that you removed earlier the same way.

Trim the paper and decoupage it toward the back with Mod Podge.

You may also cover the base. I went back and did this later, but you could do it now. Give everything a nice top coat of Mod Podge then allow the glue to dry completely. . I left mine overnight since it was pretty saturated with glue (Normally I'm impatient and use my hair dryer). I added another layer of paper to mine which makes it a bit darker.

Once it's all dry, it feels like leather. Maybe it's all that glue!

 

 Drill a hole through the top 

Cut an x in the center of the top with a kraft knife then use hot glue to attach the top and secure the glass knob into the prepared hole. 

Paint the back of the stand with black arylic paint (I used Plaid's Wrought Iron instead of black).

 

Ta Da! Now you're ready to display your jewelry creations vintage style!

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial. If you have any questions, just send me an email or ask in the comment section and I'll get right back to ya.

Also, If you end up making this, I would love to see your jewelry displayed. you can share a photo on my Facebook page. I'm sure others would love to see it as well. 

Happy Creating xo,

Debbie

A Sweet Name Banner

My beautiful friend Susan from Art of Mine ordered this custom name banner for her new little granddaughter, Lucia Love.  Isn't her name so sweet? I think "Love" as a middle name is absolutely adorable! 

I had so much fun working on this name banner playing with all the delicate patterns of this lovely paper. Oh little girl projects are so much fun!

I added hearts on each end with little tags that say, "Love" to incorporate Lucia's middle name. Lace, velvet, fabric flowers, rhinestones, gingham ribbon, and pearl embellishments add delicate soft touches to compliment the paper I used. It's hard to see, but all the wooden letters are distressed then sealed with Sparkle Mod Podge which I love to use when I'm working on a "girlie" project...Sparkle, Sparkle!

   

I sewed this little gift pouch to tuck the name banner in for gift giving. Complete with a satin bow and a hand stamped cloth LOVE tag. 

God Bless sweet little Lucia Love! 

((hugs))

Debbie

Tuscan Spinach and Tomato "Crustini"

I love to try new recipes and sometimes I find a real winner. I made this Tuscan Spinach and Tomato "Crustini" recipe recently and my family really enjoyed it. It's like a gourmet pizza. Yum! this recipe is a keeper! And it only took about 20 minutes to prep.

I didn't have any fresh basil leaves on hand, so I used dried basil instead. 

Tuscan Spinach and Tomato "Crustini"

1 refrigerated pie crust (from 15-oz box), softened as directed on box. I like to make my own. 

2 packages (3-oz each) cream cheese, softened

5 teaspoons basil pesto

1 box (9-oz) frozen spinach, thawed, squeezed to drain

1/3 cup diced red onion

2 small tomatoes, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons dry roasted sunflower kernels

1/3 cup shredded smoked provolone cheese

fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced

 

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a large cookie sheet with cooking spray. Unroll pie crust on cookie sheet. 

2. In small bowl, stir together cream cheese and 4 teaspoons of the pesto. Spread cheese mixture over pie crust to within 1 inch of edge. Arrange spinach evenly over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle onion over spinach. Arrange tomato slices in single layer over onion. Carefully fold 1-inch edge of crust over filling, pleating crust every 2 inches. Brush remaining 1 teaspoon pesto over edge of crust. 

3. Bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven; sprinkle sunflower kernels and provolone cheese evenly over filling. Bake 12 to 14 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and crust is light golden brown. 

4. Cool 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with sliced basil leaves. Cut into 12 wedges.

 Throw a salad together and you have a meal. Enjoy!

I found this recipe in an old (2008) Pillsbury Bake-Off recipe booklet that I have. I like to browse through my collection of recipe books to find new and interesting recipes to try.

Through the years, I've come across some real winners. I will certainly be making this one again!  

Enjoy & Many Blessings,

Debbie xo

Hello Kitty Originals

My daughter-in-law is crazy about Hello Kitty. It seems to fit her personality...Tara is quiet and so so sweet. It's adorable to see my son so in love with his wife! He even takes her to Hello Kitty stores!

I know she has many Hello Kitty things or at least has seen what is out there, so I decided to make an original Hello Kitty gift for her birthday. 

There was a Learning Express store minutes from my house so I ventured over there and found a bracelet with an adorable Hello Kitty charm. Yea! It was perfect. I removed the charm and used it in a different way. A Hello Kitty bookmark!

So sweet, just like Tara!

 

I added this heart charm which matches the Hello Kitty charm perfectly.

I made this Hello Kitty tote bag for Tara's birthday last year. 

I purchased a pre-made canvas tote bag and painted Hello Kitty on it. I then sewed a band of ribbon around the bag and embellished it with bows and rhinestones. Ta Da! She loved it. 

Happy Creating!

Debbie xo 

 

Name Banners Galore and Children's Book Bags

I have lots of nieces and nephews (mostly nephews) and guess what they got for Christmas this year? Yes, name banners. I made lots!

Ever since I was a child, I've liked to make homemade gifts. This year was no different. I just need to get started earlier, the many other things I wanted to make will have to go in my idea book for next year.

I used fabric flowers, rhinestones, and ribbons to embellish the girls and heavy duty jute, stars and brass brads to embellish the boys.

The sparkle and frills of the girls is always more fun!

But the boys can be really cool too...

Well, I hope they'll enjoy their very own names hanging in their rooms...made with love by aunt Debbie xo

Last year I created this pattern and made these personalized book bags for each of my little nephews. I'll share them now, since last year I never did.  

I filled them each with little trinket toys. 

I personalized each one by stamping their names on muslin and hand stitched it to the  bag with a layer of felt. 

I hand stamped the inside of each bag with special messages. 



I even had time to make several more large tote bags for other family members. 

~ ~ ~

Since I was into name banners this year, I decided to offer custom made name banners in my Etsy Shoppe. I think they would make fabulous gifts.

It's hard to believe Christmas has already come and went! I hope you all enjoyed a beautiful Christmas with family and friends. I know I sure did!

Blessings xo,

Debbie