Vintage mercury glass displays tutorial

I love vintage ornaments , from Poland to Germany and occupied japan, my collection is well over 100'S . I take the extras , not the pretty indented ones or the shapes or rare ones, I mean like these .I have lots of plain ones that I could re purpose and make something else with.Every year I put up my snow white tree and cover it with the prettiest all vintage ornaments ,which makes for an eye catching display!You can always find large lots of these on ebay and say there not your colors but you'll pay alot less for those and then you can turn them into pretty mercury glass.
To get started



Pretty!


select which ones you want to strip the paint off. From experience the old shiny brite paint comes off better than the vintage Poland ornaments.(NOTE: This will not work on new ornaments! They are made from glass and are see through!)Now make sure or at least try not to get water inside the bulb, you can tape over it or put a little cotton there or just hold your finger over the hole. It will cause the mercury to run.You'll also need a rag and if using the stubborn bulbs a butter knife helps to get the paint off. Just be gentle~

Now get the warm/hot water going and use your rag it will help the most ~ these vintage ornaments are hiding the prettiest vintage mercury glass!These reds ones needed help from the butter knife, but see the pink shiny brite below came off really easy ,it just breaks up!

Now you'll have a bunch of pretty mercury glass bulbs to decorate with ! As below I put vintage tulle and some feathers in the bottom of this vintage light fixture that acts like a huge glass bowl . I then added my bulbs with velvet ribbons ,velvet leaves and a lot of rhinestones for some extra glam~I even topped it off with tinsel and this will sit somewhere in my home where my little ones won't be tempted to play with it~

We have a winner ~

Congratulations Jenn!

The randomly picked number is: 29

Lowest number 1

Highest number 33

entries were closed at 33 comments.

Please let me know which one you would like!

Also decided to draw one more number as I feel bad that everyone can't win!

The randomly picked number is : 16

Lowest number 1

Highest number 33

so our 2nd place winner is vintage flair~

I need addys girls! and your picks .

Just added these two pretty vintage hats to my shop!Full of velvet and pearls and tulle!I do hate to part with the white one..but my studio is packed right now!

Went to one of my favorite shops this weekend and look what I brought home! A vintage prom dress with pretty pink tulle and satin underneath~Just what I always wanted! Here it hangs on the door of my bathroom.I love it and it is definitely a keeper!The shop is packed with vintage treasures galore!Barkcloth pillows,glittered letters,cloches with vintage millinery,ephemera ,linens,oh my the list goes on! If your ever out this way I'll take you there!

I found these lovely vintage wallpapers on etsy ! I just can't wait to do something with them! I did make this little notebook below ~

I bought all the papers she had! That way I could make a few things and then hoard the rest!

Vintage ribbon giveaway!

Still waiting on two more packages for the tag swap and then they will be mailed out! Also having a GIVEAWAY!!!!! I have listed three of my ribbons. the winner can pick one out of the three I have shown below the party hat!!!!!!!All you have to do is post a comment and I will pick a winner on sunday or monday! And tell a friend! It have been so crazy busy! getting ready for baby girls party..I made her this cute little hat ..now if I can get her to wear it long enough to take pictures ..she will also be holding a pink little want with a glittered star at the top and a fluffy pink feathered dress..My last baby and I want to spoil her !And I have been crafting away with vintage wallpapers..I really am hooked ! Karla was right once you start collecting them you can't stop! I love making these ribbons.There just pretty to look at~ 1

23And I made a vintage wallpaper card ..actually a few of them that were inspired by Karla's in a recent issue of somerset.. I have been trying to get organized and I must say I need HELP! Any Martha Stewart's out there?? Papers here...everything every where...Also rearranged..I do all the time and Have no idea why??? And I have been getting my SHOP ready for a Christmas opening~ i have been trying for awhile and have finally been actually doing something! We have a little shop outback..we live right in town.. And I have been turning it into a SHOP and hope to be open by Christmas ..make it a bazaar ..those are really popular around here..I just need more shelves and tables.It will be a mix of antiques, Christmas things, fresh wreaths( I make them myself) hot cocoa ..an open house sort of an event~
Went to the dentist this week and it was NOT FUN AT ALL! I have been sick for a few days .. maybe it is something I ate? I hardly ever get sick ..So that's all for now.. I am off to bed to get better... ~!

Vintage inspired

One of my favorite things is vintage wallpaper~ I love them!!! I made these pretty tags and embellished them with my favorite glass glitter . These I will carry in my shop~ Vintage wallpaper ribbons..similiar tot he pretty vintage horse race winning ribbons, only these are made of vintage wallpaper and vintage ribbons and glitter~ They can also be personalized!

And this !!!! I worked on all day yesterday~ A pretty vintage inspired book covered in vintage wallpaper with glitter, ribbons, vintage rhinestones, and each page is decorated and embellished with a vintage wallpaper tag ~ so pretty~

Each page has a different wallpaper

And different ribbons~

I just love looking at it~ Not sure what I'll fill the pages with yet ???? Any ideas for moi??

Love this !!!All the ribbons and all the papers peaking out the side~ I love vintage !!

strolling for roses

Out and about for roses today~ these courtesy of the Buckley park by the library in town ..took the kids to the park and couldn't resist picking a few.....

My little goodie I picked up at the thrift~ A vintage cake topper for 2.00 ~ I love it and since I don't have one, I'll pretend it was mine~ lol :)

I absolutely love roses ~ I have been a retired florist for 5 years and have had 10 years in the business and a few more years of weddings like this one I did ~ Childhood friends the bride and her sister far left ~ I did all the bouquets, boutineers, corsages,alter pieces ,table decorations ..This wedding was so fun to do and I did it all in my kitchen! Everything turned out gorgeous , it was a chore to get it all to the church ! I have also won two second place ribbons and honorable mentions from Washington state garden federation in floral design. I have pictures of others I have done just there not on the computer ,I need a scanner ~

All the flowers on the tables ~My roses from a few weeks ago ~ same picking spot! :)

Vintage confections

I have been in such a craft mood , I love it!!!!!! Went and loaded up on glue and goodies~ i don't know about you, but I sure go through the glue!!!!! And I have my favorites.for the glue stick I like the rose art brand better than Elmer's..It sticks really good~ And I also love the Scotch quick dry adhesive with the fine tip ~ no run formula! Trust me I have tried all the glues! And I was really disappointed with Martha Stewart's glittering glue , it is so goopy and gloppy and clumpy and the stick came off the lid , the brush applicator,and I have had to hot glue back on twice .Just a FYI.

Anyways~ Here are some of my new sweet treats I made for my little shop! Cupcakes, these are so pretty! I have a few clustered in the kitchen and there defiantly eye catching! Having a birthday ???? Covered in crepe paper ,tulle frosting paper garland, pearl frosting, rhinestone faux fluers and vintage ribbons and glittered butterflies! YUM!these will last forever! I love this all aqua and white one!So beachy! I am really loving aqua blues and robins egg blue more and more these days! My first fave color is white , then pink, but I don't know I think I am having a change of heart!
This one is tied with bakers twine and topped with yum yums!
Remember the blue vintage ribbon I showed in a few posts back??? well I cut a piece and attached it to this box, it will be the only piece I cut and part with ..It was all i could do to even cut it in the first place, but I wanted this lovely box to be completely vintage! Covered in vintage wallpaper, the inside and out side sides are covered in vintage ledger paper ~ This was a vintage cigar box in great sturdy condition! A ledger tag and millinery flowers make this the most romantic storage box ever!
And I have lots of these images that remind me of Marie Antoinette ~ prim and proper ballroom gals~ With fabulous dresses~ This little notebook is covered in vintage wallpaper and ribbons~ says my little vintage book with a silver crown at the top~ The backside also has vintage wallpaper too!

California here I come!

Have you met my sweetheart! She loves to watch mommy craft and she also like the play with the feathers! She is silly like her mommy! Her birthday is next month on sept 10th and she'll be 1 ~I made her a birthday crown but I must have had a creative block becasue I didn't like it at all!!!! So I am working on a new one for her or buying her one from a crafty artist~

I am so excited! I have always wanted to go to california and now I will be!

A parisian holiday soriee~ I also plan to do some shopping while in califonia, I have wanted to go for a very long time ,there are so many beautiful shops there~ I know I will stop at the shabby chic store for sure and I am always open to suggestions from girls who live in the area~ You can get tickets from Heather Bullard at www.thepresentpast.com ! I can't wait to make beautiful holiday adornments! and Also Jenny Doh will be there and I can't wait to meet her, she is so very nice and crafty!

Also got my crown from Maija Lepore and it is so pretty! Thank you Maija ,i love it~ It will hang in my studio!

And I created a new display for my home ~ I am thinking maybe the bathroom except I'm not sure about moisture and the seashells ?? I had boughten this bird cage with the flowers in it and taken them out~ Added some paper shred like birdnest paper and then added some pretty sanddollars,starfish and two other shells? Not sure what there called ?cochina?

Tags for the swap!!

A sneak peak!!!!!Here are my completed tags for my crinoline tag swap!!! I am so excited to get everyones and for everyone to get theres!!!Mail in date the 15th!!! but I am ready!!!
And heres me being silly~ I would love a feather fluffy hat like this one!This is just my feather wreath~ Maybe I'll make a paper one to wear around with feathers all over it!!! Reminds me of Marie Antoinette
..I made a few journals of her for my etsy shop with ruffled dresses and jewels~ what are your plans for this week!????

Also added to my etsy shop , my signature vintage handmade one of a kind roses~only vintage will do !!

Show me your form ~

Here's bella rose !!!I know you've seen her before.. I think she wants a new look! I keep telling her no, I spent a lot of time and glue on her!!!! She wants to be covered in vintage barkcloth ..mmm ..maybe .. also hubby is making a stand for her so next time you see her she'll be up and on her own two feet! hehe!! Here's the other ~ a pale pink wired dress form with rosettes~ Her name is junque girl because I always throw what ever on her~ Here she is wearing a sparkle tulle skirt with Rachel ashwell's floral grand stripe fabric over it ,tied with vintage lace ~ and she loves pearls!! So she is wearing a vintage strand packed full of yumminess!!! Also like to throw a feather wreath on her once in awhile!!!She is about 4 feet tall! My girls love her because she is just there size!
I am off to see the rest of the forms!!!!