wallpaper emo

I got the idea for these from a magazine last year (Romantic Homes, perhaps?), but never got around to doing it for May Day last year. Just take a tin can (like a soup can), remove the label and wash out the can. Then cover the can with pretty paper. I used Modge Podge to put mine on, but I'm sure you could just use a white craft glue. I wanted to make mine a touch more resistant to water in case the water spilled, so that's why I decided to decoupage. Add some pretty seam binding or other ribbon, tying off a loop on the back to allow the "vase" to be hung, add water and your favorite flowers and voila, you have a lovely little gift for your friends and neighbors for May Day or for any day that you want to make just a little more special. You could also embellish with pretty lace or other trims, but I thought my paper was nice enough that any more would just be too much. Pretty simple, but pretty neat because most people won't take the time to do such a fun little project, so you get style points for being so "artistic" with a minimum of effort! And your friends get a great day brightener. Now that's what I call a win-win situation...

I hope you have a great first weekend in May and if you can break away from the spring cleaning and gardening, pop on over to Bev's at How Sweet the Sound who hostesses "Pink Saturday" and see what other participants have posted-it's usually pretty eclectic and fun with something for everyone!

Happy Spring!

Until next time,

Anticipating Spring

Looking for a fun and easy project to celebrate the arrival of Spring? Warmer breezes tease us to open the windows and listen for the cheerful, chirping birds. Here’s a quick and simple way to add a touch of lightness and color to any window ~ a Spring Hanky Valance ..

You will need:

• 8 – 12 vintage handkerchiefs .. colorful, floral, lacey, or simply white. If you’re a “collector” as we are, you probably have a stash of pretty ones tucked away somewhere. If not, they are plentiful, easy to find, and very affordable. You can use colors which complement each other, or the room, or just mix-and-match (which makes it more fun).
  
  

• ¾” diameter wood dowel (cut to the proper width) (you will also need brackets of course)

• Apx 2 yards of vintage ribbon to wrap the dowel. Or acrylic paint and a sponge brush.

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• 8 – 12 vintage curtain clips. Spring-loaded like these are a cinch to use. Or you can stitch the hankies to a variety of other clips.

If you feel creative, you can embellish your clips with vintage millinery, porcelain roses, or other decorations. We added vintage pink velvet roses to some of ours:

This set is available for sale now on eBay:

We decorated another batch with vintage sheer wired butterflies:

This set is available for sale now on Our Cottage Garden.

When you’re ready to redecorate the window, the hankies can be stashed away again (no harm done) .. awaiting their next assignment.

It won’t take long to assemble the materials you need, and even less time to create your valance. If you’re short on time, the materials used to create this valance .. vintage German gilt brass curtain clips, an assortment of vintage hankies, and pale pink velvet ribbon .. are available for sale now on eBay:

Happy Pink Saturday and Happy Spring!

Denise