Archives for October 2013

Christmas Craft – Faux Vintage Paper and Pipe Cleaner Candlesticks

 

This is the very first one I ever made. Sweet little petite pipe cleaner candle stick.

This is the very first one I ever made. Sweet little petite pipe cleaner candle stick.

 

Oh yes…it’s time (past time, probably) for us bloggers to start sharing Christmas ideas. The first down the pike is a faux vintage candle stick using vintage paper, pipe cleaners and hobby store embellishments.   I came up with these a few years ago when I was looking for a hand made way to decorate my small, table top feather Christmas Tree.  These are actually fairly simple and a great afternoon project that doesn’t require much in way of materials.  Here is what is needed:

  • 2 silver pipe cleaners per candle
  • glue
  • strips of paper approximately 2.5″ by 8″, preferably cut with scalloped scissors on the long edges
  • Christmas themed embellishments

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

xoxo

 

 

Pipe cleaners, hobby store holiday embellishments, glue or glue dots and strips of vintage paper

Pipe cleaners, hobby store holiday embellishments, glue or glue dots and strips of vintage paper.

 

These looks so pretty in a vintage container

These looks so pretty in a vintage container.

Here is the general progression. You will end up winding the coil up the corkscrew portion of the pipe cleaner. It acts as the bobeche.

 

The vintage paper adds a nice mellow touch.

The vintage paper adds a nice mellow touch.

 

Many different ways to decorate the finished product.

Many different ways to decorate the finished product.

 

Vibrant reds against the greens looks lovely.

Vibrant reds against the greens looks lovely.

 

 

Make each one a little different.  That is the fun part!

Make each one a little different. That is the fun part!

 

A pretty little Christmas poinsettia as a holiday flourish.

A pretty little Christmas poinsettia as a holiday flourish.

 

A tableside vignette that includes holiday blooms in a vintage ironstone pot.

A tableside vignette that includes holiday blooms in a vintage ironstone pot.

Found at Round Top several years ago, each one of the hand blown ornaments is shaped differently.  Kind of like these little pipe cleaner candle sticks!

Found at Round Top several years ago, each one of the hand blown ornaments is shaped differently. Kind of like these little pipe cleaner candle sticks!

Another great use for a vintage candy dish.

Another great use for a vintage candy dish.

Strewn about effortlessly makes decorating easy instead of stressful

Strewn about effortlessly makes decorating easy instead of stressful

Hand blown vintage Christmas ornaments.

Hand blown vintage Christmas ornaments.

 

 

Finds from the Prairie

Two pieces, one a towel and the other a table runner.  I see feather filled pillows in their future.

Two pieces, one a towel and the other a table runner. I see feather filled pillows in their future.

I just can’t restrain my enthusiasm for the Round Top Antique Show held twice a year in the Hill Country of Texas.

The sights and sounds give me true joy.  Endless tents of treasures.  The seasons transitioning from one to the next. Walking through fields softened with a layer of hay.

I would trade ten exotic vacations for just one trip to Round Top.  My Shangri-La indeed.

My treasure hunt started out with one list, but I came home with an entirely different set of finds: vintage glass, ironstone, vintage textiles, Christmas Stockings, European Sinks and wall fountains.

It was a happy trip indeed.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

xoxo

Found these from a lovely dealer who hailed from Bucks County Pennsylvania.  Since that is where I grew up...it was only right that I buy them.

Found these from a lovely dealer who hailed from Bucks County Pennsylvania. Since that is where I grew up…it was only right that I buy them.

Again...not sure what I am going to do with this, but at $15...I'll figure out something.

Again…not sure what I am going to do with this, but at $15…I’ll figure out something.

Right now, holding my candles...but they will be filled with guest soaps and sea sponges in the new cottage bathroom as part of my renovation.

Right now, holding my candles…but they will be filled with guest soaps and sea sponges in the new cottage bathroom as part of my renovation.

Maybe a home for my vintage ornaments?

Maybe a home for my vintage ornaments?

Footed Ironstone Bowl

Not sure what I will use this for, but I will figure out something.  Most likely a table centerpiece.

Not sure what I will use this for, but I will figure out something. Most likely a table centerpiece.

A lovely footed bowl, it has a great profile.

A lovely footed bowl, it has a great profile.

A rare find a few months ago was an ironstone punch bowl.  I was in the market for a companion ladle and found a lovely one at Marburger Farms.

A rare find a few months ago was an ironstone punch bowl. I was in the market for a companion ladle and found a lovely one at Marburger Farms.

A full twelve came with the set which only cost 32.50.

A full twelve came with the set which only cost 32.50.

I am on the hunt for another plastic ladle (this came from another vintage punch bowl that I have) but the hunt is half the fun!

I am on the hunt for another plastic ladle (this came from another vintage punch bowl that I have) but the hunt is half the fun!

At just over 6 inches tall, the diminutive size of this gem is what I was attracted to.

At just over 6 inches tall, the diminutive size of this gem is what I was attracted to.

Another vintage kitchen helper, I am using it to hold my vintage spreaders.

Another vintage kitchen helper, I am using it to hold my vintage spreaders.

One of my surprise finds, love the vintage pattern.

One of my surprise finds, love the vintage pattern.

Lovely for the upcoming Holiday.

Lovely for the upcoming Holiday.

One is cast iron, the other is porcelain.  Not sure what I am going to do with them...but the price was so good, I couldn't pass them up.

One is cast iron, the other is porcelain. Not sure what I am going to do with them…but the price was so good, I couldn’t pass them up.

Wash stand with an ironstone bowl for my new cottage bathroom

Wash stand with an ironstone bowl for my new cottage bathroom

Wooden Christmas Stars from Leftovers in Brenham.

Wooden Christmas Stars from Leftovers in Brenham.

 

 

Boo-ti-ful Fall

The white linen pillows from summer still work with a slight change.  This fall throw from Home Goods is a simple change with a lot of impact.

The white linen pillows from summer still work with a slight change. This fall throw from Home Goods is a simple change with a lot of impact.

Finally.  It feels like Fall this weekend.  Halloween decorations have been up for a couple of weeks…but it is kinda hard to get excited about it when we were still pushing in the upper 90’s temperature wise.

I wanted my fall décor to be a bit more refined this year. I am not sure I achieved that…but maybe next year.  My favorite element are the brown, black and grey paisley pillows with the ivory throw blanket with grey, black and brown accents.  Not a set, they contrast beautifully to reflect the change of the season without being too obvious.

My second favorite element are the vintage enamel buckets with the twig arrangements.  Naturals such as twigs and cotton branches against glittered black bats and black feathers with a flickering candle in the center flank the porch nicely.  My old fall back favorite of pairing the rustic with the refined.

I hope you see something that inspires you.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

xoxo

Cindy

The perfect place for holiday candy on the spookiest of nights!

The perfect place for holiday candy on the spookiest of nights!

Old vines from summer still there.

Old vines from summer still there.

A comfortable corner to sit and read a book or watch the world go by as  Summer transitions to Fall.

A comfortable corner to sit and read a book or watch the world go by as Summer transitions to Fall.

The white linen pillows from summer still work with a slight change.  This fall throw from Home Goods is a simple change with a lot of impact.

The white linen pillows from summer still work with a slight change. This fall throw from Home Goods is a simple change with a lot of impact.

The other crow sits atop the sea grass pouf and keeps another creepy light company.

The other crow sits atop the sea grass pouf and keeps another creepy light company.

More tolerable weather brings people out after the August hibernation.  So comfortable seating with seasonal colors is still a must.

More tolerable weather brings people out after the August hibernation. So comfortable seating with seasonal colors is still a must.

He keeps an eye on us....

He keeps an eye on us….

Sitting atop an old cast iron urn with some gauze and purple holiday lights.

Sitting atop an old cast iron urn with some gauze and purple holiday lights.

Just a little something to get everyone in the mood.

Just a little something to get everyone in the mood.

An old vintage, enamel bucket with window clings topped off with a flickering candle in the middle of this holiday centerpiece.

An old vintage, enamel bucket with window clings topped off with a flickering candle in the middle of this holiday centerpiece.

Natural and artificial embellishments feature in this outdoor centerpiece.

Natural and artificial embellishments feature in this outdoor centerpiece.

Some small white pumpkins act as filler to hide power cords and white gauze mutes the bright orange holiday string lights.

Some small white pumpkins act as filler to hide power cords and white gauze mutes the bright orange holiday string lights.