Faux Vintage Leather Binder

I needed someplace to keep all my research papers, so I bought a huge binder.

Everything was perfect except for the cover, stark white.

Well, that just won't do!

I decided I wanted it to look like old vintage leather.

Grabbed some supplies and went to work.

Here we go!

I started by striping the white tissue paper,

then scrunching it all up to get a nice wrinkly effect.

I tore the tissue paper into smaller pieces, which made then easier to adhere.

Working a section at a time, I covered the outside of the plastic covered binder

with a coat of Mod Podge and added pieces of the tissue paper. There's no right

 or wrong way. You want it to look wrinkly so no worries about smoothing it out.

I applied another coat of Mod Podge over the tissue paper.

Here's what the front looks like when done.

I repeated the same process to the sides and back of the binder 

allowing for drying time in between coats.

Once the entire outside was covered with tissue it was time to paint.

I gave it a coat of Burnt Umber craft paint because it's what I had on hand. 

I wanted some dimension so I added a few drops of Black craft paint. 

While the Burnt Umber was still wet I swirled in the black randomly

I kept swirling until I reached the effect I wanted.

Here's what the front looks like when done with the painting.

I repeated the same treatment to each of the outside sections, 

allowing each to dry properly before moving on to the next section.

Once I was sure the outside was thoroughly dried, I started working on the inside.

I wanted the inside to look finished. It has 3 pockets on the inside front and back cover. 

I didn't want to lose the ability of using those.

I brought the tissue paper and paint combo inside to frame the binders edges for a 

framed look. Found an image I liked, printed it out and slid it into the top pocket.

Being able to see through the pockets gave me the advantage of cutting the

image where I needed to so I could apply the correct size to cover the top of the pockets.

After cutting the image (I used my craft knife), I removed each piece.

I adhered each image to the top of their correct pocket, making the pockets still useable 

with a finished look. 

After a thorough drying time I made sure the pockets worked as anticipated.

And they did.

I repeated the same process to the other side, 

continued the theme down the inside of the "binding" 

and added some small images to the narrow part of the "binding". 

I happened to find a small bit of black trim and 

decided to add along the inside bottom.

Thought it looked cute and I used that small piece of trim

 I had been hanging onto forever!

Once the inside was completely dry I moved on to embellish the cover.

The fun begins!

I mixed some Mod Podge with a little bit of  brown craft paint.

I used this tinted Mod Podge to adhere cheesecloth to the outside cover.

I stretched the cheesecloth until it kind of looked like netting.

I let it reach beyond the edge of the binder and once it was dry, 

I just trimmed it to fit with scissors.

I found a piece of black ribbon with gold stars and added it to the "binding".

A perfect fit, yay another remnant gone!

I took brads I found and cut off the prongs.

I adhered the tops along the ribbon to make them resemble

 rivets or something to that effect.

I added some swirly die cuts to look like "hinges"

and a few images that I had to the front.

I added clay trim, that I painted black, and a piece of burlap

at the bottom, then topped with old keys.

It took me about a month to finish this -

a lot of the time was in the drying, and I only was able to 

work on it when I had the time. Which was few and far between.

I'm sure it would go faster when a person had ample time to

work on it regularly.

Here is the finished product along with another I made.

More here

Plain Jane Table to Bright and Beautiful

All the projects I had planned on doing this Summer were delayed by the above three!

Our house had become so quiet, losing 2 of our cats ages 20 and 22, one last December and the other this March. Then very unexpectedly, losing our American Staffordshire, 9, just a month later.

 

Not sure what I was thinking rescuing 3 puppies! I usually rescue around a year old.

All 3 within a month's time! A little black and white Terrier mix, a brindle unknown (vet won't even hazard a guess!) and a Corgi.

What a handful. I have more baby gates up now than I ever did with any of my kids! 

Anyway I digress, my oldest son had bought new furniture, the old was being sent to the dumps ~ but not before I got a look!!  Grabbed a recliner, the table above, a large bench and a personal refrigerator.  All but the refrigerator need some love, ie projects.

I started with the table in the above photo.

 It was all white with crayon and marker accents ;)

I had taken before photos but I changed carriers, buying a new phone and there go my photos  GRRR  Completely forgot I hadn't retrieved them.

I tightened all the wobbly joints to make it solid again.

I painted the legs with Hello Hobby Chalk Paint in aqua.

I've never used Unicorn Spit and really wanted to try it.

Figured the top of this rescued piece would be perfect.

I taped newspaper all the way around the edges to protect the Chalk Paint.

 I used Zia Teal, Purple Hill Majesty and White Ning Unicorn Spit.

Not sure what I was doing, I squirted some on and used my fingers to swirl it around. 

Wasn't too crazy about the swirls, so I "played" a bit and ended up making lines then blended the colors so they weren't so definite. I had a bowl of water nearby to dip my fingers in when needed to help move and blend the colors.

once it was dry I painted the edges with black craft paint.

The whole time I worked on this table I kept feeling like I was being watched.

Finally figured out who had their eyes on me ~~

I'm sure they thought they were going to be fed.

Once everything was thoroughly dry, I put 3 coats of  Marine Spar Varnish over the Unicorn Spit.  I wanted it to be protected well, my younger son would be using it.

I used a sponge brush to apply the Varnish, I wanted to be able to toss it when I was done. 

I found that the sponge would make bubbles in the Varnish.

Once the whole top was covered in Varnish, I found if I went over it with the side of the sponge brush it didn't leave any bubbles.

I then applied a clear Wax over the Chalk Paint.

 It was fun using the Unicorn Spit.

I really like the way it turned out.

The next project will be reupholstering the bench,

but that probably won't be until next Spring.

These puppies keep me hopping!

more here

Cement Tray to Succulent Planter

What do you do with your Dad's old cement trays?

I have several that have been floating around 

my garage for...a... more years than I care to admit.

Yes, I'm still working my way through my Treasure Pile from the farm!

Don't judge me! LOL

Life has been even more crazy and hectic this year, 

I swear it's 2021.2!

It's not all my fault, really.

My sister is purging...accck! 

She's purging my way...that means she's bringing 

me carloads upon carloads of stuff!

Don't get me wrong, I am NOT complaining!

It's a double edged sword - 

So fun to sort through her cast off Treasures,

but between my keep pile and Treasure pile,

 I need to get busy (like my time is mine, lately)

creating from my Treasure Pile and I need a bigger house for my keeps!

So I'm purging some of my things to make room for her "new" things.

Yes, it is crazy and it drives me nuts that I can't just 

wiggle my nose and get all the projects in my head done

 that I have for my Treasure Pile! 

Back to Dad's cement trays -

My Sister brought 2 small stands, from what I don't know,

but I put them to good use along with Dad's cement trays.

I decided to marry them into a succulent planter.

Dad's cement trays are, of course, old and well used.

I punched a few holes in the bottom for drainage.

Then sanded the bottom where the stand would be adhered 

to the stand trying to remove a bit of the leftover cement.

Yep, you guessed it, grabbed Dad's go to - JB Weld

A dab from the red tube and a dab from the black tube

Mix well.

I applied it to the stand

Centered the tray over the stand

and married.

I placed a jar in the center of the tray

to add some weight to be sure there was ample contact. 

I left it sit for 2 days, to be sure it had plenty of time to cure.

I tore a coffee filter in half 

and placed over the holes on the 

inside of the tray to prevent soil from falling through.

I used soil for Succulents

I had a few plants that needed to be transplanted.

Planted in their new home.

I topped the soil off with white gravel

added a few Agates I had.

She sent two stands, so I was able 

to make two of these.

Now what to do with the other 4 cement trays?

I have ideas, it may take a couple years for them 

to come to fruition, but I will eventually get there.

Love the way it turned out!

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