CreARTive Sunday 06/15/08: Decorative Boxes

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On the left is one of my favorite boxes. It is wooden and hand-painted.  I keep candles in this one. Decorative boxes can provide decoration that is both refined and practical. You can accumulate a wide assortment from different countries and cultures. You may collect delicate antique enamel pill-boxes, porcelain boxes, lacquered boxes, marbleized-paper boxes, and hand-painted wood boxes. Right: Close-up shows the detail of the artwork from the above box. Perhaps you have a special affection for antique wooden letter boxes, mailboxes, or decorative flowered hat … Continue reading →

CreARTive Sunday 05/03/08: Tiffany Lamps

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 The Tiffany lamp is a type of lamp with a stained glass shade. The pieces of stained glass that comprise a Tiffany shade are soldered together with copper foil. Original Tiffany lamps are generally considered part of the Art Nouveau movement, and are considered one of the best American contributions to this movement that began in Europe in the late 19th century. The first Tiffany lamp was created in 1899 with a bronze base and was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The record price for … Continue reading →

CreARTive Sunday 02/24/08: Lego Creator

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Lego Super Mario   Hi everyone, it’s Matthew again and today I want to show you something new that  I made out of Legos !   It’s Mario from Nintendo ! He’s an Italian plumber. Do you think it looks just like him ?  I made him by using pictures of him ! He’s my favorite Nintendo character besides Yoshi.    I hope you like him ! I want to thank my aunt, Sans Souci, who is hosting CreARTive Sunday !  6 CommentsChronological   Reverse   Threaded deletereply starfishred wrote on Feb 24, … Continue reading →

CreARTive Sunday 03/02/08: Make Your Own Potpourri

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Making Your Own Potpourri Step 1 Collect flowers such as mint blossoms, hydrangeas, roses, rudebeckia, Queen’s Anne’s Lace, and other available blossoms. Be adventurous! Try drying any leaf or bloom that you think might make a good potpourri ingredient. Place blooms on a screen, or a tray covered with paper towels. Keep them in a warm airy place (attics are too hot!). If drying on a tray, turn the blooms every day. Flowers may also be hung upside down in small bunches. When they are … Continue reading →

CreARTive Sunday 03/30/08: Spin Art

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What is Spin Art? Spin Art is the creating of abstract paintings using a specially designed Spin Art Machine. When my son Matt was small, I was able to purchase the Spin Art Machine from a neighborhood toy store and we would produce our own works of art all the time !  You can find Spin Art at craft fairs, or at kid’s birthday parties where the equipment is usually rented.     A piece of A4 artist board is placed on the platform inside the Spin Art Machine … Continue reading →

CreARTive Sunday 04/13/08: Antique Perfume Bottles

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Isn’t it amazing how many different kinds of perfume bottles there are in the world ? It’s endless and they are all so beautiful ! You can find them almost anywhere. I found some really interesting ones in antique shops, flea markets, neighborhood tag sales, and gift shops. In my collection, I have two that are pink depression glass, Some have chrystals. Some are hand painted. I also have several that are so small, that they can be worn on a chain.      This one of my favorite … Continue reading →

CreARTive Sunday 04/20/08: Flower and Candle Centerpieces

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 Materials                1. candles 2. candle bases (see right) 2. floral foam (see right) 3. dish or container 4. waterproof floral tape 4. your chosen flowers and greens Directions 1. Gently soak floral foam in fresh clean water. Never plunge the foam into the water. Gently place it in the water and let it hydrate on it’s own. 2. Cut it into flat sheets, fitting it snuggly into your chosen container. Trim the edges to create a rounded shape. 3. Tape carefully to the container to secure the foam … Continue reading →

CreARTive Sunday 04/27/08: Miniature Oil Paintings

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Isn’t it amazing how tiny these paintings are ? Some can fit in the palm of your hand, and others are even smaller ! In my collection, the smallest I have are about 4 inches long. Some I have displayed on a small easel that I got from an antique store. Others, like the ones I’m showing below,  I have hanging on my bathroom walls. Some of my paintings I bought at local gift shops, some come from decorating shops, and others came from local art shows in my … Continue reading →

CreARTive Sunday 05/18/08: My Antique Miniature Silver Frames

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When it comes to antiques, I love to collect small things. For small old family photos, I think silver or pewter frames are classy and charming. I have a collection of various styles, most of these small ones are about 2 or 3 inches high. I have them displayed in groups either by themselves, or to compliment a larger one in the same style. Most of these frames collected over the years are from antique shops in Maine, flea markets, neighborhood tag sales, and home decoration shops.  By … Continue reading →

CreARTive Sunday 06/22/08: My Miniature Tea Sets

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For me, when it comes to collecting one item that ìs very popular, the miniature tea sets are my favorite. They are fun and interesting collectibles because they come ìn such a variety and very much reflect the different cultures where tea ìs such an important part of daily life. The different customs and traditions of various countries and regions have influenced the design of the sets, making them even more unique. Whether it’s antique or not, I love teasets, especially miniture teasets. They are just adorable, like something you would find in a dollhouse. … Continue reading →