Are you a fan of vintage framed art? I am. There are many techniques to dressing up a frame, but I like this one by Pinky found at Much Ado About Nothing. Pinky used Apple Barrel paint and Mod Podge along with a heat gun to create some gorgeous faux crackle/distressing techniques. She also incorporated distressing ink which is SO FUN. The resulting artwork is beautiful – click here to see the full tutorial and pictures of the entire piece.
I love it when art has a story to tell – and these distressed fruit pieces by Amanda of Crafts by Amanda surely have a great one! They came from the Salvation Army, and were probably used to hold snacks at a party . . . or maybe were displayed on some shelves . . . or perhaps even sat in the basement for many years. The point is that they are awesome now! Amanda painted, distressed and hung them, and they look gorgeous in her kitchen. Visit here for the complete tutorial; Amanda is an awesome painter, so browse around to see more fun crafts.
It’s finally cold here in Georgia, which probably has many of you laughing because you’ve already been experiencing winter for awhile. Are you looking for a craft project to brighten up those winter blues? How about a snowman spindle painted with Apple Barrel! I love him because he’s colorful and cheery, and he adds the perfect touch to a side table or centerpiece. He’s also a true budget craft, because Plaid designer Kirsten Jones reclaimed a wood spindle and already had paints on hand – so she didn’t spend $1 to make him. If you are looking for pieces of scrap wood to use as painted surfaces, try a brand new subdivision with houses under construction. Always ask first though! Here’s how our friendly snowman is made.
Tam from Sew Dang Cute is hosting a fabulous contest called “Crafting with the Stars” and I’m a part of it. CWS has been a blast so far, and my partner Amanda is AMAZING (get to know us here). She’s very talented with all types of crafts as I’m finding out, and painting is one of her strongest skills. The theme for week 2 was painting, and Amanda chose to fancy up a wood board by turning it into a distressed “EAT” sign. She used some of my favorite FolkArt colors, and the results are not-surprisingly-fantastic. View her full tutorial here – don’t forget to come by Sew Dang Cute next week and vote for us (Amanda does all the work, I’m emotional support). Thank you!
