Framing Vintage Christmas Cards In Altered Art Painted Wooden Frames

Retro Inspired Polka Dot Altered Art Christmas Frame Project



This attractive laser-cut wooden frame was found at Michaels   and then dressed up with paint and ribbon to display old Christmas cards. The circles were created by taking ordinary circle stickers and adhering them to the frame. Red paint was applied and the stickers were removed leaving the  exposed wood. You could also do this project with a coat of white paint first, then add the circles and paint over with red paint.

If you prefer stripes, you can mask off some diagonal stripes using craft masking tape.
And of course you can add glitter or other embellishments to your frame.

The full  tutorial for this adorable Christmas holiday project can be found at http://www.chicaandjo.com/2012/08/25/christmas-card-art/

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Altered Doll Assemblages: Using Up Your Vintage Junk

Creating Dolls Out of Vintage Junk

I would love to be able to try my hand at making Altered Doll Assemblages out of vintage odds and ends. Like many of you who are reading my blog, we are a group that enjoys collecting and saving everything!. Right now in my garage are at least four large plastic boxes filled with "stuff" that I am saving for a future craft project (I think).

What's In My Boxes Of Saved Junk

Broken china plates.
Orphaned shakers.
Missing puzzle pieces.
Lids without bottoms.
Vases without handles.
Books without covers.
Bent kitchen tools.
Dolls without legs or arms.
Cracked bowls.
Toy parts.
Naked trolls.
Twisted toy kitchen utensils.
Rusty tins.
Old keys.
Toy money.
Cups without saucers.
Maimed dolls.
Chipped figurines.
Unknown parts.
Vintage plastic lids.
Old jewelry parts.
Broken necklaces.
Torn rubber toys.
Ripped old paper fans.
Yo-Yos without string.
Thermos top.
Plastic vintage spoon.
Jar covers.
Wooden game pieces.

Surely, I could make a vintage inspired assemblage doll? So what is stopping me? I'll confess...my avoidance is related to Epoxy! After once making an assemblage for a charity auction ( I made "Mah Jongg Lady" out of a brick), I was traumatized by using Epoxy.It was an adhesive nightmare. If readers could share some tips about making doll assemblages that are user friendly...I'm willing to try. Feel free to spill the beans.

By the way, what's in your junk boxes?

These lovely dolls were found at Woodstock Antiques in Woodstock, CT.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Society of Professional Journalists

Vintage Altered Art Using Old Bingo Cards And Parts

Growing Up In A Family Of Bingo Addicts

I grew up in a family of Bingo Addicts who played the game two to three times a week. My grandmother Esther, a.k.a. "Shabby Granny" (see Hot Cottage Collectibles For Vintage Style Home) decorated her entire apartment in the prizes she won at Bingo.

Bingo Prizes Are Now Kitchen Collectibles

While some of the Bingo games she played gave out cash prizes, most of the games she enjoyed gave the winners usable items such as coffee cups, salt and pepper shakers, cheese and cracker boards etc. Many of the " kitchen collectibles" we all buy and sell today, were once Bingo prizes.

Altered Art Bingo

"Bingo Games" are still popular today, but in a much different way. "Bingo" has been elevated from a parlor game to an art form. For many, "Altered Bingo Art" is the latest passion. Crafters are collecting vintage Bingo cards, tokens, markers etc. and transforming them into mixed media art forms. Many artists also incorporate sewing notions as well as vintage images from magazines or cards into their Bingo art.

Collectors And Artist Want Vintage Bingo Sets

This trend affects vintage sellers because it means that there is a new market out there for these vintage games. Even incomplete Bingo sets are of interest to altered art creators. Many artists use the Bingo cards as "supports" (surfaces) to create their projects, adding embellishments, trim, stampings, paintings, wax resistance, gold leafing, calligraphy etc. Some artists even make three dimensional assemblages out of Bingo materials. The Bird House shown here is a good example of a whimsical use of Bingo parts. Do sellers..never throw out anything!

You can find lots of vintage game parts, embellishments and completed Vintage Altered Bingo Art on Etsy.com and other on line sources.
Also keep on eye out for these items at Flea Markets, Thrift Shops and Antique Malls.

Photos courtesy of:

http://www.artchixstudio.com/
http://shessewpretty.typepad.com/
http://katiebeecreative.com/


C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.