Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Vintage type planner made from antique finds and a magnifying glass

Here is a planner I made from an antique book I purchased at a second hand store for a dollar.  It was printed in 1924.  I cut the covers off and modpodged a little story fairy I cut out of a Children's Friend that was printed in March 1924!  How random that they are both from the same year!  I think it turned out Sooo cute!  I cut the end off the front cover and attatched it back on with some fabric I had.  I tore out pages of old books - they all have several blank pages usually in the front and back - and printed my schedule on them.  I also made a note pad with some leftover blank bits of old book paper.  I bound the whole thing with twine so that I can replace the calendar and other scheduling sheets as needed.  I am so happy with how it turned out!  






My note pad has magnet on the back and I glued a thin metal sheet to the book back so I can change out the notes more readily than I can the calendars.




There are also address lists and birthday lists.  So handy!


This is the back of the book.


Here is an old magnifying glassI had lying around (BEFORE)


Here it is AFTER I made it pretty!  I LOVE it!  The planner is very small so a little magnifying glass is sure to help!  I cut the handle off an old spoon and bent it into a handle for my monocle.  I tinned the edges of the glass to make it look like I set in in a bezel.  I wanted to set it, but didn't have the time to run to the store and buy bezel, so here's my cheap-o quick version.  I wrapped it in foil tape and soldiered all around it.  I'm TERRIBLE with a soldering iron - I prefer a torch - and it turned out pretty sloppy.  I sanded it when I was finished to even it out and used E-6000 to glue the handle on.  So cute!  It looks perfectly vintage and it's perfectly functional!









Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Our Valentine's Day

 Breakfast


Lunch


Fun stuff!







Thomas kept surprising me with more and more flowers!
I'm a LUCKY girl!!!






Happy v-day!

Here's what I've been up to.  I'm on a huge vintage kick lately and I don't think I'll ever run out of family heirlooms, so here's my latest!

But first, I walked outside the other morning to find this in my front yard!
Awww!  Love is in the air!


This is a pendant I received from my Great-Grandmother when I turned 8.  It has mother of pearl on the outside and the sweetest pictures of her parents on the inside.


This is Andrew and Grace Batterton, my Great-Great-Grandparents.  If you look really close, Andrew is wearing a monocle (eye glass).  So cool!  Wasn't he handsome (o:


The pearls belonged to my Great-Grandmother.  I thought they made the perfect pair!



I found this shadow box at Family Dollar for 3 Dollars!!!  A little bit of paper, some stitching and voila!  A perfect memory frame!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Faith and Rahel fun

Fire flies!


Faith and her new "skate shoes" made from blocks and hair ties!
So creative!


Can't wait for Spring!

I know I shouldn't be doing my spring crafting yet, but I just can't stand it!  I am SO ready for Spring!
Here's a clock I made years ago using 2 table tops and some wall putty.  Thomas made me this cute little shelf to display my topiary.  I found the pot at the dollar store and spray painted it.  I used Wal-mart dowels from a 90-something cent package.  The foam is from the dollar store and I got the foliage ball for 50% off at Hobby Lobby.  It ended up being about $4.00!  Hooray!