~ROMANTIC KEEPSAKES and Fragrant Strawberry Sachets~

~SACHETS FROM 2008~

Last week when I shared with you pictures of our Formal Dining Room Makeover I also gave you a little peek at some pretty Sachets my Mother and I made for my daughter's 2007 wedding favors. Fashioned in the shape of dainty Strawberries, the Sachets were truly a labor of love and took many months for us to complete. Made from vintage watermark Taffeta and lovely old Damasks, each Sachet was filled with fragrant Lavender and complemented with both new and vintage millinery finds.

Over the years I have LOVED making these little keepsakes for the special women in my life. The Sachets are both romantic and feminine and truly a beautiful gift for both Easter and Mother's Day...

I hope you'll check back tomorrow as I will be giving you a quick overview of how the Sachets are made...

Hoping your Valentine's Day was as beautiful as mine...

~HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN FAUX BUBBLE JET...Quick No-Fail Recipe~

~NEEDED SUPPLIES~
Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
Fabric Softener (Like Downy)
ALUM

Over the past couple of years I've loved being able to print my own graphics on fabric (both new and vintage) using my home printer. Through trial and error (and lots of tossed out cotton) I've finally achieved the results I was looking for!

A couple of days ago one of my blogger friends (thanks Tam!) reminded me of a recipe for FAUX BUBBLE JET that I have yet to share. (BUBBLE JET is a fairly expensive LIQUID that you dip cotton and/or silk fabric into before printing). I've been using this exact FAUX concoction for the past several months to help stabilize and permaTIZE :) my final printed images. I LOVE IT and IT WORKS!

This is what you need:

1. Arm & Hammer Soda Wash (this is NOT Detergent!). You can usually find this at larger grocery stores in the Cleaning Aisle. I found mine at CREST FOODS here in Oklahoma. But, I know you can get it (or order it) from most any ACE Hardware Stores.

2. ALUM I found this at my local Wal-Mart grocery store in the Spice Aisle.

3. Fabric Softener (like Downy, etc.). Available almost everywhere.

Here is the RECIPE I used:

2 Tablespoons Alum
2 1/2 teaspoons Washing Soda
1/2 teaspoon Fabric Softener
1 Cup HOT WATER

Mix all ingredients together. Your mixture will be very foamy and milk looking so let it settle down before using (about 15 minutes). Dip pre-cut fabric into mixture for several minutes (about 10 - 15), rinse and hang to dry for 24 hours.

If you'd like further instructions for Self Printing on Fabric look HERE! The recipe above is just something I now use before printing!

I will be sharing more vintage Valentine Images with you in the next day or so! Check back soon to see what's new.

Blessings to you for a wonderful, creative week...Rebecca

~HOW TO TURN SIMPLE CANDLES INTO BEAUTIFUL GIFTS - Candle Tutorial PART 2~

BEGIN WITH INEXPENSIVE CANDLES

OK Peeps! Yesterday I shared with you how out of necessity I transformed simple, but fragrant Candles into lovely, but inexpensive gifts. If you are looking for ways this year to stretch your dollar, then read on... I don't know a lady who doesn't LOVE LOVE LOVE Candles! Do you? Follow these simple guidelines and you, too, can produce lovely gifts for a fraction of their retail cost!

Are you ready?

Good!

Begin with Candles purchased at discount places like Ross, T.J. Maxx, Marshall's, Tuesday Morning, etc. And if you are REALLY on a budget and needing to spend as little as possible, then check out the Dollar Tree in your area.

BAMBOO TRIMMED CANDLE FOR $4.99

I found the lot of amazing Candles above at several of these stores. The ones I purchased are all Vanilla based Candles and I found them in many styles! Don't forget to check out the sale racks in these stores because a couple of those I snagged (like the pink one below) I picked up for only $2.00!

THREE INCH-ER FOR ONLY $2.49!

After you've purchased the Candles you are wanting to transform you will need to assemble your embellishments and decorative finds.

You will need:

1. Bridal Tulle (not the kind on rolls - available at most fabric stores). I use off-white!

2. Flowers, vines, berries, greenery, etc. Anything you wish for accents.

3. Small charms, old jewelry, buttons, old keys, etc.

4. Ribbon in several widths and lengths.

5. Hot glue

6. Printer (optional)

7. Vintage Graphics (optional)

ESTATE SALE FIND - .25 Per Roll

(I know! I nearly fainted!)

BRASS CHARMS, OLD RHINESTONES, ETC.

GARAGE SALE FIND
Rose Covered Baskets (also .25 each)

I found these odd little baskets at a Garage Sale this past summer. The roses attached to the outside were wonderful!

The baskets themselves...NOT SO MUCH!

Finding fabulously fabulous treasures like the roses make transforming my Candles both inexpensive and extra FUN!

VINTAGE KEYS
2Die4 Estate Sale Find

I can't pass up vintage keys! I love tying them onto Candles, Pillows, refurbished and vintage Train (Gathering Cases) Cases, etc.

CANDLE COVERED WITH TULLE

I love this Candle! It is very similar to the ones I wrote about yesterday only they had cinnamon sticks around the outside.

Lay out the Tulle on a flat surface and place your Candle in a position where you can pull up enough of the Tulle to cover the Candle and form sort of a "pony tail" or "spout" on top. Tie up with ribbon as pictured above leaving the tails long (this will be tied up into a bow later on!). Trim the Tulle leaving about 3" tall on the top (don't trim too close~you can always do that later!)

BEGIN EMBELLISHING YOUR CANDLE

Beginning with your largest flower, using the tulle "spout" as the center, begin to hot glue (use it sparingly!) your embellishments around the spout. Continue in this manner trying to group your flowers, etc. in groups of three. Once you've made your way around the Candle's "spout" you are ready to add your bows, loops of lace, etc. When adding ribbons leave their tales long enough so you can tie into the mix your charms, keys, etc.

THIS ONE HAS A SWEET METAL SNOWFLAKE

Once you have completed decorating the top of the Candle you'll want to go back and add a hang tag!

I ALMOST ALWAYS ADD HEARTS

When decorating your Candle keep in mind just who it is you are giving it too! I love the pink one above... But, my sweet Daughter would flip out over the French Inspired one below!

FRENCHY CANDLE FOR MY GIRL

LABELS PRINTED
USING PAINT SHOP PRO8

If you are handy with your Home Printer and understand programs like Publisher, Paint Shop Pro (I use 8), etc., then try your hand at using on-line images for labels and custom tags. I did all of the Candles you see below just yesterday. I love how they came out and trust me when I tell you they each cost me only a few dollars in the end!

Wouldn't it be sweet to make a Candle Label with an aging picture of someone in your family?

If you opt to print a label for your Candle, here are some tips for you!

1. Measure your Candle and fashion label according to it's size.

2. Use Tacky Glue to overlap the label in the back to keep in place. No need to permanently adhere the label to the front. If you wrap it tightly it will stay put!

3. If your Candle is the larger style try printing two labels instead one just one. You can always "lace up" the sides by punching holes and threading with ribbon! This is a charming look and you can skip the Fufu on the top!

VINTAGE GRAPHIC W/ MATCHING TAG

Here is another one using a vintage graphic! I just expanded the color around the original image until it was large enough to go around the entire candle. If you opt to do this, don't forget to add the scent of your Candle either on the label or the tag! Adding your name or business to the back side is a good idea, too!

MY PERSONAL FAVORITE
But, I LOVE PINK!

One important thing I choose to do is leave the original paper label found on the bottom in place. This has all the information a consumer will need in case they ever have an issue with their Candle. I only remove the any decorative label or original hang tag.

In addition, if a Candle comes covered with shrink wrap, I often leave this in place as well.

FINISHED BAMBOO CANDLE
Perfect for Gift-Giving

FINAL PRODUCT

When you Candle is completed you will be amazed at the outcome! It's fairly easy to turn a $5.00 gift into one that easily looks to be $30 or more!

BE CREATIVE! If you are already a Crafter then you are sure to have "STUFF" laying around that will be perfect for your own Candle transformation!

If I can help you in any way, please don't hestitate to email me!

Blessings to you as you make lasting gifts of love (while saving a dime or two along the way!)...Rebecca

~IT’S ALL IN THE PACKAGING~ Candle Transformation TUTORIAL PART I~

CANDLE TRANSFORMATION TUTORIAL
Turning a Simple Candle into a Wonderful Gift
Coming Tuesday - November 10th

I’ve shared with you before that in the mid 1990’s I owned a brick and mortar store. Back then I made many trips to Market and I was constantly amazed by the fabulous new offerings I discovered year after year. I learned a great deal about retail marketing during those early days of business and out of necessity learned to pinch my share of pennies along the way.

Because my Shoppe was small I quickly realized some of the wonderful items I longed to carry were impossible for me to afford. In general, if I paid $10.00 for something wholesale, then USUALLY it retailed for approximately $20.00. This wasn’t always the rule mind you, but a 100% mark-up in the retail industry is fairly standard.

One year I purchased from an Importer some fabulous vanilla scented candles which smelled truly divine. They were about 6” tall and the outside shell was decorated with cinnamon sticks. If my mind serves me correctly the wholesale cost of each candle was $4.00. At Market they were displayed with all the bells and whistles and as a promotion the Showroom was giving huge discounts on case-lots. If I purchased 10 cases of 24 (that would be 240 candles) I could get them for $2.00 each. I was on cloud nine and quickly signed the order form on the dotted line. My nearly $500 investment SHOULD parlay into a tidy profit for my tiny business if everything went right…

When my candles came a couple of weeks later I couldn’t wait to tear open that first box! What I found stunned me! I honestly thought there had been a mistake! Inside the boxes were my candles alright, and they still smelled absolutely sinful. But, the packaging was dreadful! Worse than dreadful, even! The cello bags they were housed in were dingy and gray which made the candles look like they’d been on a thrift store shelf for a decade or more. I was terribly disappointed and even a bit afraid. I so needed the profit from those candles. That money alone would pay ALL my Shoppe’s expenses for the month and give me a little cash to reinvest.

Because I’m a very determined, hard-headed kind of gal (ask my Mr. AGPMan~ He calls me HM…that stands for High Maintenance!), I had to figure out SOMETHING to do! So, after thinking for two solid days and after investing $50 in an array of Christmas garlands, decorative berries and holiday paraphernalia, I set my mind in the direction of transforming each and every candle I had purchased. By the end of the week the candles were ready for sale. The transformation was complete and the cash register was beginning to sing!

Not only did I go on to sell every single candle in the lot, but I ended up learning an invaluable lesson about how a product is packaged and then subsequently marketed to the public. I don’t care how wonderful something is, if the box an item comes in is ugly, well then chances are most women (and even some men!) aren’t going to buy it!

On Tuesday I will be giving you a fairly short (and easy!) TUTORIAL on how you can transform even an inexpensive candle into something truly lovely. If your budget is tight this Christmas, then stay tuned!

Blessings as you let you try and avoid burning your candle at both ends while continuing to 'Let Your Little Light Shine'…Rebecca

~COMING THIS SUNDAY - How To Print On Fabric TUTORIAL~

HOW TO SELF-PRINT ON FABRIC
(This Pillow is currently offered on eBay)

OK, Peeps! This is what you've all been waiting for and what I've promised for many moons now! A TUTORIAL on how to SELF PRINT images onto fabric!

I've actually used several different methods to transfer my favorite images onto fabric over the past few years... I plan on showing you the BEST WAY that I'VE FOUND to insure you come away with wonderful results.

That said...

I'm NO EXPERT when it comes to transferring images onto material. I have unlimited access to a 100K copier machine that helps me when my home printer can't meet some of my demands. Still...I believe the things I will be sharing with you will at least point you in the right direction.

Come back TOMORROW (that is Sunday August 23rd) for lots of information and TIPS!

Blessings to you as you gear up to learn something new...Rebecca