Transferring Color Images To Rocks

It had been a while since I checked my blog statistics.  I already know that my tutorials are my most viewed posts.  No surprise there.  However, I'm still surprised about what is officially now, my most viewed post, PERIOD.

ROCKS.  That's right.  My post about transferring images to rocks, stone, and marble has blown away every other post I've done since starting this blog two years ago. BTW, I've done over 500 posts.

You can check the original post, "Playing With Rocks"  HERE.  It's also one of the tutorials on my sidebar.

Seriously, this was one of those posts I almost didn't bother doing.  Now, I'm glad I did. Thanks to many features, and a TON of pins, I have consistent traffic, emails, and gratitude.

It's such a simple concept, but, it's something most people feel they can do.  There's very little cost involved.  If you mess up, just get another rock. LOL

Up until now, I've only shared black and white transfers.  However, I like doing color as well.  I did these colorful floral rocks using the same technique.

I just used a color copy.

Remember, it has to be a toner based copy.  Ink jet copies don't work.

Keeping on rockin'.


Sharing With:
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
The DIY Showoff: That DIY Party
Funky Junk Interiors

FARRAGOZ Course GIVEAWAY WINNER

First of all, I want to thank everyone who entered, shared, and left such nice comments. I'm always very happy, but, a little sad when I announce the winner of a giveaway. Because, I truly wish I could give you all the prize. You have no idea how much I appreciate your readership, and support.  It means a lot to me.

The winner of the 12 Month Online FARRAGOZ Course Giveaway,

 is,

Pam Ballard of Moments Like These


Congratulations,  Pam.  Send me an email, and I will forward your information to FARRAGOZ, to get you started.

I also want to thank everyone who signed up for the course.  I'm already receiving positive feedback, and I'm looking forward to seeing some of your work.


ANNOUNCEMENT
I have been receiving so many emails asking me if the special course discount of $99 for the 12 month course would be available after the winner announcement.  Well, I did pose that question to FARRAGOZ.  After much discussion, they have agreed to accept any "Special Discount" requests I forward to them, till midnight tonight, 9/26/13, CST.

So, if you were not the winner of the giveaway, you can still take advantage of the course discount. Just send me an email, and I will be happy to forward your request.

Thanks again, everyone.




This is not a paid post.  FARRAGOZ has enrolled me in their course to give an honest review. I am also an affiliate.  All opinions are my own.  My decision to partner with FARRAGOZ, and sponsor this giveaway, was based on my impression of the course.

Painted Frame and Distressed Chalkboard

I wanted my frame, and chalkboard to look like they started life together long ago.

Sorry, but once again, I whipped through this before I thought about a before.  The frame what originally white.

I used the homemade paint recipe from the Farragoz course. I just kept mixing, and experimenting with different shades until I got the look I wanted.  I used gold for the highlights, and distressed the finish.

The chalkboard is an older chalkboard that I aged further with a sanding sponge.

The vintage iron stems in the foreground were my inspiration for the distressing.

I think I like it.

Sharing With:

French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday

Salvaged Door Transformation

Look at what I did with a salvaged cabinet door.

I used the paint and gesso  recipes from the Farragoz course.

The design is my own.

The image is from my ephemera collection.  I've used it many times.  It's the image used in my "Splendid Transfer" tutorial.

I thought it was perfect for this redesign.

I have two panels like this.  I haven't finished the other one yet.  I don't have a photo of what they looked like before I started painting them, but here they are with the base coat of grey.

After I had it base coated, I applied layers of homemade gesso.  Then I had fun distressing the finish. The various shades of white and grey make a great background for my image.

I'll be doing similar pieces, because, I'm really happy with the way this one turned out.

Sharing With:
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
Shabby Art Boutique: Shabbilicious Friday
Common Ground: Be Inspired
Petite Michelle Louise: Grey Dey Thursdey

FARRAGOZ Online Course GIVEAWAY and Course Discount

How would you like a chance to win a FREE 12 month online "FARRAGOZ, The Art of Patina" painting course?

Since sharing my decision to partner with FARRAGOZ, I've shared, not only the projects I've completed from the course, like this beautiful clock face,

but my own designs, using some of the techniques,

and paint recipes.

Now, I would like to give one of my followers the opportunity to experience the course for FREE. 

My friends at FARRAGOZ have agreed to let me GIVEAWAY a 12 MONTH ONLINE COURSE to one of my followers.

Would you like to have your own decorative clock face displayed in your home?

How about an angel icon, created by you, using your own hand mixed oil paint? The easy to follow instructions, and video tutorial will have you producing old world results.

Would you like to learn how to make this beautiful trumeau?  A FARRAGOZ instructor will guide you every step of the way, and you can move at your own pace.

Or, this gorgeous angel plaque, in beautiful monotone shades?  You can do it.

Would you like to learn how to mix your own paint, and gesso?  The recipes are economical, and I'm loving the finishes I get using them.  I just finished this frame using one of the techniques.

You'll learn all this, and more.  What you learn, can be applied to soooooooo many projects.

So, are you as excited as I am about this GIVEAWAY?

If you'd like to enter for a chance to win a 12 month online FARRAGOZ course, I'm going to give you multiple entry opportunities.

Here's how:

1. You must be a follower of VILLABARNES, and let me know you would like to enter. Leave a comment letting me know if you are already a follower, or if you've just joined me.  You can follow with GFC, Linky, or email.
2. "Like" FARRAGOZ on Facebook, and leave a comment letting me know.
3. For additional entries, you can:  Share this giveaway on your blog, Share this giveaway on Facebook, Share this giveaway on Twitter.
4. Leave a separate comment for each entry. Example: If you share the giveaway on your blog, FB, and Twitter, that's three additional entries. Don't cheat yourself out of an entry.

******
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

You have till Wednesday, September 25th at 12:00 midnight, CST

***TO ENTER***

The winner will be picked by Random Number Generator

GOOD LUCK TO ALL

THIS GIVEAWAY IS OPEN INTERNATIONALLY

*******SPECIAL DISCOUNT*******

As much as I would love for all of you to win this giveaway, I know I can't make that happen.  So, I've decided to do the next best thing.

Because I'd like you to have an opportunity to experience the course, I've asked my friends at FARRAGOZ  to set up a special course discount, during this giveaway, just for you. 

If you SEND ME AN EMAIL asking for the "SPECIAL DISCOUNT", I will forward your request to FARRAGOZ, and, the full cost of the course will be reduced to a one time payment of $99 for the 12 month course. The current discounted one time payment is $145.  That's an additional $46 savings for you.

You must email me for this discount, as FARRAGOZ was kind enough to accept my request to set up this special deal for you. Please, do not ask for the special discount in the comments.  Email me at, villabarnes@yahoo.com

Remember, the SPECIAL DISCOUNT will only be available, while this giveaway is going on.

So, you have the opportunity to win a free course, AND, the opportunity to sign up at a discounted discount. It's a WIN WIN.

If you still haven't checked out the course, you can do so HERE, or click on the FARRAGOZ banner on my sidebar.

This is not a paid post.  FARRAGOZ has enrolled me in their course to give an honest review.  All opinions are my own.  My decision to become a FARRAGOZ affiliate, and sponsor this giveaway, was based on my impression of the course.

Decoupage and Tissue Flowers

Last night, I got the urge to decoupage.

I just wanted to add a little character to these two wood trays.

White paint,

decorative paper,

and a little distressing,

gave them that extra character I wanted.

I also got the urge to make tissue flowers.  Mainly because someone came by, and bought the other ones I made.  Was I planning to sell them?  Not really.

However, I could make a million of these.  So, that's okay.

Instead of assuming you've seen a ton of tutorials on how to make tissue flowers, I'll just tell you how I made these.

I've known how to make various paper flowers for years, but, I think these are one of my favorites, cause they look more complicated than they are.

Sorry, I don't have photos for each step.  Because, I was almost finished with this post, after assuming you probably already knew how to make these, and realized I shouldn't assume that.

Start with a stack (I like using 6 pieces) of approx. 4" or 6" squares of wrapping tissue.  I actually used the linings of paper napkins for some of these.  Same difference.

Before the next step, I usually round off the corners of the squares for a softer feel.

Gather the stack accordion style in the center.  Fold a piece of wire around the center, and twist it tight to form the stem.  Then, shape the flower by carefully pulling up each individual layer toward the center.  At this point, I sometimes scrunch the entire piece in a fist, and continue shaping it.

If you use fewer squares, and the flower isn't as full as you'd like, you can always gather several of them to make a bouquet, like I did in the last photo.

Sharing with:

French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday

My Next Sale

Just a quick note.  I'm having a sale this weekend.

When I started having sales a few months ago to clean up "The Abyss", I also seemed to increase my local customer base.  At each sale, I'm asked when the next one will be. Since I'm not setting up at shows right now, this has been working out well.  I'm also doing more by-appointment selling.

In addition to meeting new people, I'm feeling much better as well.  I think I needed to change things around.

My sale will be this Friday, Saturday, and by appointment Sunday.  If you're local (I'm in Lansing, IL), send me an email for details.  Remember, if you ask me a question in the comments, and, you're a NO-REPLY, I can't answer you.

Remembering

I'll never forget 9/11/01.  My heart was heavy that week for all the lives taken, and their grieving families.  Then, that following Sunday, my mother passed away.

I remember exactly what I was doing the moment the first plane hit, and, I remember the ring of the phone call that informed me my best friend was at peace.

Through it all, I continued, "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer".

Beautiful Broken Angel

My husband brought her home to me,

and knew I'd love her,

in all her flawed glory.  She's composition, and over three feet tall.

Yes, she has issues, but, don't we all.  She only has one wing,

but, she has great detail.

I think she's beautiful. She reminds me of an old relic.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with her yet, but, I have a few ideas.

In the mean time, I'm just enjoying my beautiful broken angel.


Sharing With:
My Romantic Home: Show and Tell Friday
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
Shabby Art Boutique: Shabbilicious Friday
Common Ground: Be Inspired
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Configuring a Candelabra

This little candelabra did not start out this way.  It's a marriage of orphaned metal parts.  The base, middle, and candle holders were configured to make a whole.

Sorry, but, I was deep into this redesign before I realized that I only had a shot of the base before I finished painting it.  

I have a box full of bases, and I usually find a use for them at some point.  This piece was just right for this redesign.

I mixed up some  homemade paint using recipes from the Farragoz course for the layered finish.  

This is why I hang on to soooooooo many metal parts, and fragments.  I love the multitude of redesign possibilities.  All you have to do is unify them with paint.

I may play with the finish a little more, but, for now I'm done.

See ya soon.


Sharing With:
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
French Country Cottage: Feathered 
Common Ground: Be InspiredNest Friday