Kitchen Wall Tutorial

As promised I am sharing a tutorial with you on how I did my kitchen wall in the previous post and as usual I did not think to take a photo of all the supplies needed...so here is a list:

1. white tissue paper
2. assorted rubber stamps
3. black rubber stamp ink pad
4. paint
5. paint brushes
6. wall sizing
7. old rags
8. ladder {just don't miss the last step on your ladder and fall off like I did a couple
times...I have the bruises to prove it. ha!}
9..the will to actually take the time to get this project done

First, I took several pieces of white tissue paper and stamped the images on them that I had chosen.( I stamped them on the dull side of the paper and not the shiny)

This is what mine looked like and no two were alike believe me. That is the beauty of this project...you can't mess it up no matter how hard you try. 

After stamping several sheets I ripped them in four strips and then ripped the strips into pieces. All sizes and all shapes. Every now and then I would run out of pieces so had to get more tissue paper out and stamp, stamp, stamp. :) I also made sure and ripped off all the straight edges that were along the outside of the paper.

Next, I added some drizzle gray paint to the walls ...Ceramacoat brand . I used it out of a 2 ounce bottle and I still have a lot left. {the walls were already primed with rustoleum white painters touch paint, but I would call it a light gray instead of white} I just squirted a little on my paintbrush like the photo above shows.|

Then I smeared the paint on the wall. There is no right or wrong way to do this at all. Just slap some paint on your wall.
As you can see this shade is a  tad bit darker than the previous shade that is painted on the wall.

Next, I took a wet rag and wiped it in swirly motions to spread the paint around and to give it a "mottled" look.

The above photo is what it looked like when I was done. Again, you can't mess this up! A lot of this will be covered by the tissue paper pieces, so a little of the darker paint will show up between the pieces and it will be just perfect.

After smearing the wall with the darker paint {confession time here...I did small areas of the wall as I went along} I mixed up some wall sizing {you can find this in the wallpaper section of a home improvement store} and painted a little on the wall where I was going to attach one of the tissue paper pieces.

Then I took a piece of stamped tissue paper and put it on the wall.

Like the photo above...it does not matter if it has a few bubbles, but mine rarely did.

With the paper being so thin, you can dab the bubbles out with a dry brush or...

...with your finger...this part may seem a tad daunting but it is not. I didn't rip one piece of paper while doing this. It went up so fast and so smooth.

I will say also that if you get a piece up that you don't like or if part of it messes up just take a dry paper towel and carefully wipe it of the wall.  Being thin tissue paper, it will ball up and come right off.

This will be your finished project!! 

I really do love how it turned out. Up close it literally looks like old stone and with the applied paper being so thin, it just looks like part of the wall.  My son and daughter-in-law came over a day or so after I finished this up. As soon as they walked in the kitchen they noticed the wall right away and went right over to it. My son could not believe it was tissue paper because it seriously looks and even feels like a stone surface! {I am sure it helped that I have old uneven walls to start with lol}  He kept saying, "NO, it is not tissue paper....NOPE it can't be"...lol. 

I haven't sealed it. Still thinking that over. I am not sure if it would smear the stamped part or not. Probably not because I used archival ink , but I am not sure. Will have to test it first on a piece that isn't on the wall. I hope some of you give this a try and if you do please let me know how yours turned out. I did get a new window treatment partially finished so will show you that next. I do love simple projects even though this one took a few days. What can I start next...hmm...:)

Happy Sunday!!

Handmade Wrapping Paper

Have you done any creating this week? I pulled out a roll of white paper that I found a few years ago at a thrift store. I have used part of it for different things, but had quite a bit left. It measured 30 inches wide which is a perfect size for wrapping paper. {most folded sheets are approx. 20 x 30) I cut the length at 20 inches and started making my own wrapping paper.

Isn't it pretty?

I pulled out several of my rubber stamps and just stamped away. I stamped here and I stamped there and in no time at all I had several sheets of pretty paper...I call it Jeanne d' Arc style paper, but I just might be throwing that name around too loosely. :) No two sheets are alike so I guess that makes them unique? lol

I rolled each one up and tied them with twine until I actually use them.

Some are designed for Christmas and others in the french style to use anytime.



Joyeux Noel





I love script stamps and used them a lot on this project.

This is a project that anyone can do and you cannot mess it up so get out your stamps and make some paper.  It is also a good way to take out your frustration when you bang those rubber stamps...just sayin'...lol.


I will be linking up with Kathleen over at Faded Charm again this week for White Wednesday.

Jeanne d' Arc style candleholders...part 2

I made some more votive candleholders in the Jeanne de' Arc style today and wanted to share them with you.

Two years ago hubby received a Keurig coffee maker for Christmas from yours truly and ever since then we have had extra coffee filters laying around so I used a few of them for this project.

I took a coffee filter and laid it on a paper towel, flattened it out somewhat and started stamping with my script rubber stamp.

{  No certain way to do it. It will look great no matter how you stamp it}

I stamped until I had filled one whole side .

Then I turned the filter upside down (rubber stamped image on the underside) and sat my glass candleholder in the middle.

I scrunched the coffee filter up around it ...

...tied a piece of jute around it and added a charm.

I put in tealight candles and I was done! :)


 Now you have something else to do with your extra coffee filters too. :)

Jeanne d' Arc style candleholders

I have been wanting to create something...anything , but just haven't had the time so today when I had this idea I got right to work. They were very quick to make and I love the results.

Can you tell what I used? Vintage bandage fabric (gauze) and then I rubber stamped pretty images and words, wrapped it around a glass votive holder and glued it together.

Didn't they just turn out so cool? I think so.

I even made some for Christmas and used my new Joyeux Noel stamp.

Fun, easy and S.I.M.P.L.E.

I will be linking this post for White Wednesday again this week. I had to think up something quick as it crept upon me too fast once again, but I do look forward to it every week.


Hubby used a vacation day yesterday and we removed a door from our den/studio/computer room, filled it all in, resided that side of the house in new siding and got the shutters back up. YAY! All in one day. I had my doubts, but we kept plugging along. We were done before 6 pm and I must say it looks great! {picture later} We still have to finish the inside yet , but all in due time. Always something to work on in old houses, but I love the character they have...most days anyways. ha!
Blessings~

Just a Little Something... ~

...that I have been working on.

I haven't decided whether to leave them in BOWS

or

KNOTS~

I think the bows may be a little too foofy...

What do you think? This is a chest of drawers that I purchased at a garage sale a few years ago for $5.00. It did not have any handles and it has just been sitting upstairs unused. I decided I needed more room in my studio for storage so down it came. I also did not want to spend any money on handles so I made them out of muslin with rubber stamped images. Any thoughts?

My dad appeared much better today and was even laughing and joking with the nurses. In fact he had us all laughing! He also looked so much better than he did yesterday. Becky (his nurse) told us today about all the medicines he will be sent home with and what each one was for. She also gave us pamphlets telling all about stents, pictures of the heart and which artery was blocked etc. She was very thorough about everything and she really knows her stuff. He now has to carry a card in his wallet telling the location of all the stents. Very interesting, but a lot of information to digest. He is hoping to come home tomorrow, but we will see what the doctor says. Thank you all again so much for your prayers! Prayer definitely changes things~ Blessings~