Pack my Bags! Fun and Easy Decoupage Vintage Suitcases

June 8, 2014ontheupcyclemom 14 Comments

When shopping in thrift stores, I am always on the lookout for certain items on my personal wish list. Many times I leave empty-handed as these items tend to be harder to find and that is why they remain on my list. It is the search for these and other welcomed surprises that make thrifting so much fun. Every now and again I get lucky, and it was truly my lucky day when I stumbled upon three lovely hard case, blue vintage suitcases reasonably priced at Goodwill. I was also delighted to find the interiors of this cases in excellent condition. For the larger case, I chose a blue and white fabric from Joann Fabrics, and decoupaged it onto the suitcase surface for my first ever restyled suitcase. I wanted to make each suitcase unique, so I patiently waited for ideas to come along for cases two and three.

I was walking around Goodwill by my work the other day and stumbled upon a lovely pillow sham. It was priced right at $1.99. Usually when it comes to linens and fabrics at Goodwill, it is hit or miss. This was a lovely pattern of white , red, and a touch of blue. Whenever I see blue I think of those suitcases and thought this would be a perfect fit for one of them. The question was if I would have enough fabric to complete the project. Unfortunately they only had one pillow sham in this pattern for sale.

It turns out when I got it home, I had just the right amount of fabric to restyle the second largest case, and I was thrilled!

First, I cut the decorative fabric away from the plain blue fabric on the pillow cases underside.

I placed the suitcase on the top of the fabric to get an idea of how much fabric I would need for both sides. It was easiest to cut it in half. I allow the fabric to hang over slightly, as I planned on trimming away the excess fabric later. I applied Mod Podge generously with a foam craft brush to the suitcase surface.

I then carefully laid the fabric over it, repeating the same process twice for both sides of the suitcase.

Once dry, I applied Mod Podge generously over it to seal the fabric. I also generously applied Mod Podge to the edges where I planned on trimming the excess fabric.

Once dry, the fabric stiffens and I carefully used a box cutter knife to trim the extra fabric using the suitcase crevice/seam as a guide. Keep in mind to use just enough pressure as too much can damage the suitcase.

I applied two more layers of Mod Podge to each side of the suitcase. Working the glue once again in around the suit case edges.

I loved how this little suitcase turned out! Stay tuned for suitcase number three coming soon!

Material Used:

Hard Top Suitcase

Fabric of choice (For this project I used an old pillow sham)

Scissors

Foam Craft Brush

Box Cutting Knife

Mod Podge

Clear Varnish (Optional add for extra protection)

Play it again, Kid: Upcycled Vintage Jaymar Kids Piano

May 31, 2014ontheupcyclemom 8 Comments

When I take a trip to an antique shop or thrift store, the thing I enjoy the most is the element of surprise. Sometimes I come away with nothing and other times when I least expect it I find something rare. Speaking from experience antique shops tend to have pieces that are in better physical condition. Thrift stores such as Goodwill often times are stocked with basement throw aways and estate sale clean-ups. Many of these items are not well cared for and in some cases downright abused. I have come across items that I wanted to rescue, but I felt with my skill level I could not save them. It always leaves me with mixed emotions. On this day I was about to leave the store. The husband and I have been regularly stopping in searching for a vintage rotary phone. Not only have I always wanted to upcycle one of these phones, My husband and I love the loud ring it produced from our childhood memories. We have missed many calls at home unable to hear our landline phone ring if we are in a certain part of our house. Upon taking one last stroll through the cluttered furniture aisle, my eyes wandered and there it was staring back at me! It seemed too good to be true: a vintage Jaymar Kids Piano. The toddler apprentice and I had been out shopping last year around Christmas at The Christmas Tree Shop, and stumbled upon an adorable kids baby grand piano. She loved playing it and I could barely peel her off it at the store. The price tag was a bit hefty weighing in at $89.99. When we left the store without it, I couldn’t get that little piano out of my mind and finding the vintage Jaymar at Goodwill seemed a bit like the product of fate. As with any upcycling story there are challenges to be faced and this adorable piano was no different. The wood in many places was peeled away, It had its share of loose nails, and a large crack spreading across the base and back of the piano. Incredibly, all the white keys worked perfectly and all, but one of the black keys worked perfectly. The plastic keys were more yellow than white as is what happens to plastic stored under certain conditions with age. It did not have a price tag so I took it up to the associate at the register. Even in rough shape I was surprised it was priced at a mere $5.99!

I snatched it up and brought it home. I may not have found the rotary phone that I was searching for that day, but I was surprised and delighted to find the piano.

Despite its charms, I knew very little about the toy. I grabbed my laptop and did some research. Thanks to Old Wood Toys.com I was able to read about the history of the Jaymar company. The toy company produced wooden novelty trinket toy through World War II. After the war the company exclusively produced kids pianos and puzzles. The company officially closed it’s doors in 1990. When I searched on Ebay, there were a few for sale, many of them in rough shape with price tags ranging from $39.99-$89.99. On most, keys were broken. I concluded I had gotten a very good deal on this toy!

Since the piano did not come with a bench, I had a kids unfinished step stool that I thought would repurpose and stand in nicely as a piano seat.

I decided the cracked area of the piano would benefit from decoupage. I believed the Mod Podge and fabric would reinforce the cracked wood and prevent it from spitting further. I chose black and white music note fabric from Joann Fabric. I used a white brush on acrylic primer to paint the entire piano after cleaning it thoroughly with a damp cloth. I measured the area I wanted to decoupage and cut a piece of fabric to fit. Once the paint was dry, I applied Mod Podge generously to the cracked area underneath with a foam craft brush, and carefully applied the fabric smoothing it put with my hands. Once dry, I applied three more coats of Mod Podge over top of the fabric allowing it to dry between coats. I then painted the entire piano with several coats of black acrylic paint with an appropriate sized paint brush. I painted parts of the piano white for emphasis. While the piano dried between coats, I worked on repurposing the step stool into a piano seat. I traced the seat surface on to the back of the music note fabric with a pencil. I cut out the fabric with scissors and placed it aside. I painted the entire chair black except for the seat which I planned to decoupage with fabric. Once dry, I applied Mod Podge to the seat and applied the traced fabric. I applied three coats over top of it to seal it. Once the Mod Podge was dry I used a Polyurethane clear semi-gloss sealer to add a final protective coat over the piano and the piano chair.

The one frustration with this project was the yellowed plastic piano keys. I would have preferred a method to whiten them, but after doing some research decided not to mess with the patina on the keys. I have read everything from sanding the keys with fine sandpaper or cleaning them white toothpaste. In the end, I decided the risk of damaging the function of the piano was too great and simply used the corner of a Magic Erasure pad to throughly clean the keys.

Have any safe plastic whitening tips? I would love to hear them!

Materials used:

Black and White Acrylic Paint

White Acrylic Primer

Large and Small Paint Brushes/Foam Craft Brush

Mod Podge

Polyurethane Clear Sealer

Fabric Of Choice

Scissors

Wet Cloth or Magic Erasure Pad for cleaning

Kids Piano/Kid Step Stool (for seat)

Mod Podge Your Cottage: Window Sills Accented With Fabric

May 2, 2014ontheupcyclemom Leave a comment

One of the features I loved when we first saw our house was our front living room window. It was a large half hexagon shape with a deep window sill. It is a nice accent area, and fun to decorate during the various holidays. During other times of the year our Tiffany knock off lamp illuminates the window and the front of the house outside. Our cat loves to climb in and chase after various bugs who find themselves unlucky once he discovers them. It is also the perfect spot to place my stereo cabinet, which also acts as a nice window seat. The downside is the ledge often gets dirty and is difficult to keep clean. I also wanted to add an accent and brighten the dingy white paint that constantly needed a touch up. I thought decoupage would be a nice option here. I had used a similar technique in a previous project Decoupage Mania Restyling your home with Mod Podge. For that project I used scrapbook paper to cover a built-in wall vanity. I decided to use fabric on this window sill project due to more decorative variety and the larger project area. Our living room is a neutral sandstone color and I chose a neutral flower pattern. The advantage of using fabric makes it easier to remove if you want a change the look as opposed to using paper which tends to tear apart when you attempt to remove it.

I used a magic erasure to thoroughly clean the area before getting started.

I cut two pieces of fabric and lined up the images to create a seamless appearence in the middle of the sill. The best part? The cut fabric doesn’t have to be perfect. Once the Mod Podge dries it is stiffer and easier to trim with a box-cutter knife. Any excess fabric can be removed later. I applied Mod Podge with a foam brush and placed the fabric over top. I then applied Mod Podge over the top of the fabric.

I allowed the Mod Podge to dry, trimmed away any excess fabric with the knife and applied an additional layer of Mod Podge over top and around the edges.

Once dry, Mod Podge leaves a nice, clear protective and easy to clean surface. It also adds a decorative touch in any room. The styles of fabric and possibilities are without limits, and suddenly I have to urge to do more decorative sills throughout the house!

Finished Decorative Fabric Decoupage Window Sill

Neutral Floral Pattern-Fabric Purchased at Joann Fabric

Materials:

Mod Podge

Fabric

Foam Brush

Box Cutter Knife

Times They Are A Changing: Repurposed Kids Changing Table

April 14, 2014ontheupcyclemom 2 Comments

Our diaper changing table was a very useful piece of furniture while it served it’s purpose. Once my daughter outgrew it however, I wondered how I would reuse it. For a while it took up space in the craft room as I contemplated what to do with it. It just so happened that I was looking for additional storage in our kitchen and I thought that the changing table could easily double as an extra set of shelves.

The family and I took a trip to Joann Fabric and I purchased a colorful floral fabric for the project. Since I had quite a bit of area to cover I purchased 1 1/2 yards of material. I decided to leave the areas free of material in its original dark wood color, or if desired it can be painted the color of choice. Just be sure and use a primer first especially if it is dark wood.

I cleaned the piece thoroughly before getting started. Once dry I used a small foam roller to apply Mod Podge generously to the table surfaces.

I cut the material with scissors allowing some extra fabric to hang over the sides. I then carefully laid it on top of the Mod Podge smoothing out any air bubbles or wrinkles. I generously applied Mod Podge over top of the fabric. I repeated this for each individual shelf, and used two coats of Mod Podge for each shelf.

Once the Mod Podge was dry and clear, I used a box cutter knife to carefully trim away any excess fabric from around the edges. I utilized the table groove as a guide while slicing the fabric. I then used two coats of clear polyurethane to seal and protect the table from moisture.

Now I have a bright and cheery shelf for the kitchen and desperately needed additional storage. The colorful fabric really pops against our bright yellow walls, and am happy to be able to continue to use what was once a very important and sentimental piece of furniture.

Materials:

Old Wooden Changing Table

Mod Podge

Foam Roller

Box Cutter Knife

Scissors

1 1/2 yard of Fabric of Choice

(Primer and Paint Optional)

Polyurethane clear sealer

Spring into Decoupage: Scrapbook Paper Drawer Makeover

March 23, 2014ontheupcyclemom 3 Comments

Spring fever has hit the suburbs, despite the meteorologists predicting yet another snowstorm/nor’easter early next week. With that the spring cleaning begins which was apparent yesterday after receiving a knock at the door from one of my many fantastic neighbors. He was cleaning out his garage and wanted to know if I was interested in a really lovely unfinished celestial shelf.

and this absolutely lovely unfinished wooden bench with seat storage!

I thought it was a dream that these beautiful pieces would literally show up at my door but it was true! If I didn’t want them, my neighbors were taking them to Goodwill to donate them. I know Goodwill would have been happy to have these items especially during this unsuccesful trip when I snapped a photo of their depleted furniture room which is usually FILLED with items. It has been a tough winter indeed!

Now, the challenge begins… I have to come up with design ideas for these wonderful pieces that do them the justice they deserve. Meanwhile, all of this did make me think about my own much-needed spring cleaning and looking for items to reuse and repurpose that I already have instead of buying additional pieces. A project I did fairly recently incorporates that idea. As crafters we accumulate various supplies some of which we never use. I have a collection of scrapbook paper that fits this profile. The good news is there is nothing better than scrapbook paper when it comes to decoupage. It can be used for so many projects not just it’s obvious purpose. One of my very first projects involved a pair of upcycled bedroom tables. It has been almost a year since completing these tables and they have held up fantastically well. When I restyled them, I left the inside of the drawers undone and decided this would be a great way to use up some of that scrapbook paper.

The process is simple first I figured out how much scrapbook paper I would need. I added creases on areas I would cut. I set these pieces aside.

I applied Mod Podge to the drawer surface with a foam brush.

I carefully applied the paper smoothing it out with my hands. The Mod Podge Rubber Squeegee Tool also works well for this, especially in the corners. Once the Mod Podge was dry, I applied an additional coat over top.

A great way to reuse, restyle, repurpose. Do you have any green crafting ideas for spring? Am I the only one excited at what I might find while Spring cleaning?

Travel the Old Fashioned Way: Vintage Decoupage Suitcase

March 4, 2014ontheupcyclemom 7 Comments

I love vintage suitcases! I especially love all of the decoupage and repurposed vintage suitcase ideas I have seen while strolling through the web. I was eager to restyle a suitcase of my own, but hard case luggage proved to be a challenging find. Over the last two years, I searched for suitable suitcases in every thrift store, yard sale, and managed to stumble across only one along the way. You can imagine my surprise recently, when I came across not one, but three vintage blue suitcases in the same shopping trip. The small case was inside the medium case, and the large case was empty. The set was not priced. I asked for a price check and expected an individual price on each piece of luggage. Instead, Goodwill decided to price the small and medium cases together for only $3.99! I checked with them twice, because I could not believe it! The larger case (pictured below) was priced at a reasonable $7.99.

For my first suitcase decoupage, I decided to keep it simple. I purchased a yard of fabric from Joann Fabric. I searched for material that would blend with the color of the suitcase, and found a nice blue and white floral pattern. I cleaned the case to remove any dust or dirt. I generously applied Mod Podge with a foam craft brush.

I carefully laid the fabric on glue, smoothing out any wrinkles or air bubbles with my hands along the way. I carefully worked the fabric in the creases of the case, and covered the entire area with another layer of Mod Podge.

Once dry, I trimmed any excess fabric with a box cutting knife applying minimal pressure using the natural crease of the suitcase as my guide. I added a 2nd coat of Mod Podge. I repeated the same process for the opposite side of the suitcase.

Now, what to do with the other two?

Hello Kitty Themed Kids Surfboard Bench

February 28, 2014ontheupcyclemom 1 Comment

It has been an especially harsh Northeast winter and many of my usual thrifting haunts have been light on stock especially when it comes to furniture pieces. Despite this, I certainly don’t mind the thrill of the hunt. You never know when you will find something unique. On such a trip, I came across an interesting kids bench (At least that’s what I think it was!) at a local Goodwill store. It appeared to be a surfboard and the painted design was hideous! Despite all of the negatives with this piece, I felt this would be a fun redesign, and I loved the detachable legs. This feature made the legs easier to paint. Nothing conjures up images of summer like a surfboard, and that is just the kind of project I needed!

I cleaned the entire piece with a Magic Eraser. It had an unidentifiable sticky substance all over it and the Eraser worked well to remove it. I used a white spray primer to cover the brightly colored design. I was planning on using a fabric decoupage, but felt the bright colors may bleed through the fabric. Using a primer first prevents this, and gives me a clean slate to work with. Once the primer dried, I used a foam craft brush to apply Mod Podge to the bench surface.

My daughter and I stopped by the craft store and I let her look through the aisle filled with different character fabrics. She seemed to like this Hello Kitty print and I happily obliged, being a Ms. Hello Kitty fan myself. When I was young the local mall had a store called Sanrio and they sold Hello Kitty and all her “friends” merchandise. It was one of my favorite stores to visit in the mall. I bought a half yard, and roughly traced the fabric to cover the table surface. Once the Mod Podge dries, any excess fabric left over around the edges and handles I trim with a box cutting knife. The glue stiffens the fabric and makes it easier to cut. I placed the fabric down on the Mod Podge soaked surface carefully smoothing out any wrinkles with my hands.

I placed it aside to dry, eventually I would add a total of three full coats of Mod Podge on the fabric table surface. I painted the legs with two coats of pink and white acrylic paint. Once the legs were dry I covered them in a Mod Podge layer. I then reassembled the table legs by screwing them easily back in to place.

My daughter loves sitting on it. It looks great in her room and it is a nice piece of kids furniture to use while helping her get dressed for her day.

Hello Kitty Girls Surfboard Bench

Before and After

“Be Mine Daddy”…. Valentine’s Day Kid’s Craft Ideas

February 14, 2014ontheupcyclemom 2 Comments

On this Valentine’s day morning, many areas of the country are beginning the task of “digging out” after yet another treacherous winter storm hit the east coast overnight. Just days before the same winter Nor’Easter wreaked havoc in other parts of the country such as Georgia and the Carolinas. On top of it, the little one and I have been battling a series of winter colds and are being forced to spend much of our time in the house due to the lousy weather. Despite this, we have managed to make the best of these situations and have spent a lot of quality time together as a family.

I wanted to make my husband something special for Valentine’s day this year, and as with most of my creations, I like to get my 2 1/2 year-old daughter (Also known as the toddler apprentice) involved in the process. I also knew that my husband being the wonderful dad he is, would appreciate the fact that his daughter helped mommy make his gift with “her own little hands.” I have seen many great Valentine’s day kid’s crafts online via Pinterest and other sites, and I had many ideas swirling around in my head. I saw a great project courtesy of the Roylco kids craft blog (which I follow, and love) and although I decided to create my own version, The Roylco project was quite inspiring. Be sure to check it out!

For this project you will need:

Black, Pink, Red and White Construction Paper

Scissors

Kids White School Glue

Black Marker

White Non Toxic Kids Craft Paint

Frame (Optional)

First, I dipped my daughter’s hand in the white paint after pouring it on a paper plate. I pressed her hand on the black construction paper. This was challenging and it took a few tries after the first two attempts became slightly smudged. There is no greater excitement to a little one then “messy fun” so she didn’t seem to mind the multiple attempts at getting it right! Once I achieved the desired effect I allowed the construction paper to dry. After about an hour, the paper was dry and ready. I drew different sized hearts on the red, white and pink paper and carefully cut them out. The little one enjoyed squeezing the glue on the hearts and sticking them to the paper!

Such a Good Helper……

Next, I wrote little sayings in the hearts. I thought this would be cute, but if you prefer it, you can skip this step. I wanted to make it more personalized for him. I then found a great glass frame in our attic to frame it in. Now we have a great piece of Valentine’s Day wall art for years to come, permanently immortalizing our daughters little two year-old hands forever. (Can’t you tell I am an overly sentimental person?)

The apprentice and I also made a Valentine’s Day glass jar lamp. I had some great left over heart themed scrapbook paper I won courtesy of Ray’s So Crafty’s Labor Day Giveaway. I have made several jar lamps, and like to interchange them on the light bases, depending on the mood, or for holidays. I simply cut the paper, applied Mod Podge to the glass and adhered it around the jar carefully matching up the seam. An easy, simple decoration guaranteed to warm hearts during this frigid Valentine’s Day.

“On The Upcycle” would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Valentine’s Day. Hoping you are able to spend it with those you love today!

Upcycled Tiles: Instant Wall Art, And Much More!

February 3, 2014ontheupcyclemom 3 Comments

Most of us have a box of ceramic tiles collecting dust in the basement. In our case, my helpful neighbor passed them on to us thinking we could use them, after I told him that I was attempting a DIY kitchen backsplash. I utilized most of the box but still did not manage to use them all. These were plain, white ceramic tiles, a clean slate just waiting to be reused, and make an artistic statement!

Tiles are a great medium for decoupage, and make great wall art! It is also a great decoupage beginner project and virtually any image can be decoupaged on tile. Often times when I am working on a project, I will do a smaller side project at the same time. The tile below, is an example of such a project. I had some great smaller prints and decided to use one of them on this tile. Simply apply Mod Podge to the tile using a foam craft brush, or smaller paint brush, apply the print and once dry, apply the Mod Podge over the print. Then simply use a small amount hot glue to adhere the tile to your wall. You can make photo collages, decorative maps, and create different artistic schemes, while sprucing up boring walls.

The above is simply one example of repurposed tile. It is displayed on the wall in my craft room. Due to the magic of sites such as Pinterest, the ideas are flowing. Below are a few examples of such ideas.

These lovely drink coasters were made by Two Crafty Girls using Mod Podge and scrapbook paper.

Take a favorite photo and divide it among several tiles to create wall art. Thanks to C.B.I.D Home Decor and Design for featuring yet another unique and crafty idea!

I love the idea of decorating with sheet music, and using it for decoupage! Check out all of indulgy’s ideas!

On that note, happy crafting and stay warm my friends!

Best Foot Forward: Upcycled Dress Shoe Repair

January 23, 2014ontheupcyclemom 3 Comments

When I was young, I remember my mom taking me to the mall to visit the Shoemaker. It was much more common back then to have your shoes repaired. I remember my mom getting Taps on her shoes to protect the heel and make the shoes last longer. I did a bit of internet research and was surprised to find that Shoemakers still exist, although not in quite as large numbers as thirty years ago.

Everyone has that pair of shoes that they love. It is hard to part with a pair that fit well and are comfortable. Recently, my employer adopted a casual business attire policy. After five years of being able to come to work dressed in t-shirts and sneakers, this left me scrambling for an appropriate work wardrobe. I went to thrift stores mostly, and picked up a wonderful pair of shoes. They have a block heel and were extremely comfortable for a dress shoe. One of the problems I encountered was getting used to walking in dress shoes. I scuffed up the back of the heel pretty badly and the sole began to separate from the shoe. I was not ready to give them up, so I share with you my first pair of “Upcycled” shoes.

This was a total experiment, but I figured I had nothing to lose since I could not wear them in their present condition. The first repair made was to the sole. I used a high temperature hot glue gun to adhere the sole back on the shoe. I used two sticks and applied generously. I put my hand inside the shoe to apply pressure, while the glue dried. I then painted the heels with black acrylic paint. Once the heels and soles were dry I applied a layer of Mod Podge with a paint brush, I then added another layer of polyurethane for added protection.

So far they are holding up well despite the repairs. The true test will be the hot glue and every day wear.

On The Upcycle~

Reuse, Repurpose, Restyle

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Crafts

Pack my Bags! Fun and Easy Decoupage Vintage Suitcases

Play it again, Kid: Upcycled Vintage Jaymar Kids Piano

Mod Podge Your Cottage: Window Sills Accented With Fabric

Times They Are A Changing: Repurposed Kids Changing Table

Spring into Decoupage: Scrapbook Paper Drawer Makeover

Travel the Old Fashioned Way: Vintage Decoupage Suitcase

Hello Kitty Themed Kids Surfboard Bench

“Be Mine Daddy”…. Valentine’s Day Kid’s Craft Ideas

Upcycled Tiles: Instant Wall Art, And Much More!

Best Foot Forward: Upcycled Dress Shoe Repair

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