Very Merry Vintage Syle

Halloween Cards

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 22:48:00 +0000

These cards were created with paper I've had on hand for years. You can use a similar shade or style of paper and achieve your own unique design. I often use punches of various sizes to capture design elements from seasonal papers, and always follow up with swipes of Stickles glitter glue (it comes in a squeezable container for easy application) to add some sparkle.

Supplies to make these cards*

Cardstock Orange or Kraft or pre-cut and folded Kraft Cards and Envelopes I use a ton of these!

Tag punch (similar here)

Oval punch (similar here)

Round punch

Lace Scallop punch (similar here and here)

Ranger Stickles Glitter Glue (Crystal)

Halloween paper (similar here and here and here and here!

*As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a small commission on items purchased through provided links

Best of Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 20:16:00 +0000

Halloween decor through the years...

Plastic mugs waiting to be used on a tray filled with faux fall leaves

My collection of vintage and new plastic pumpkin decor with black faux leaves and black painted candlesticks and platters set the tone for Halloween.

Books from a local library book sale purchased for their fall/halloween themes and colorful book jackets.

A fun halloween banner made out of paper and ribbon.

A cute and spooky tinsel cat greets visitors at the door

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 19:39:00 +0000

Update: SOLD!
More items from my vintage Christmas collection are looking for a new home. Enjoy! They are currently live on ebay:

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 23:26:00 +0000

UPDATE: SOLD! These sweet vintage Christmas items are looking for a new home. You can find them all on this link:

Vintage Christmas listings

A Few of My Favorite Things...

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 13:00:00 +0000

via Pinterest

Love this photo featuring two of my favorite things... vintage deer and Christmas cookies. The vintage china is pretty sweet, too. I know it's not even Halloween, but when inspiration strikes you have to capture it!

You Make My Heart Sing... Craft Class Card

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 19:49:00 +0000

I'm putting the finishing touches on my handmade greeting card class tonight. Here's my favorite from the group of cards that we're making...

I have to admit turquoise and pink is one of my often-used color combinations. I'm a bit punch-crazy as well, there are four different layered punches on this card. My newest addition to my punch collection is the Martha Stewart Wildflower Layering Punch. It's the second one from the top, just underneath the butterfly. I especially like punching these layered shapes out from paper with glitter on it. The paper I used this time is from the Heidi Swapp Sugar Chic collection.

I'll share the other cards another day... just about time to leave for the class!

Back to the Blog

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 00:34:00 +0000

I took a break from the blog when I took a new job this summer, and boy is it hard to get back on track! So hard, that it was always easy to avoid if I felt I didn't have the "perfect thing" to post about.

I had some mandatory time off from work recently, in a room where I am on call for the week. If you guessed Jury Duty, you are correct! Besides the simple joy of doing my civic duty, it has also given me time to jump back in to the blog.

I've glammed up my vintage typewriter with some magnets made out of scrapbook embellishments for the occasion. It really needs to be cleaned--I'm hoping you don't notice all the dirt on those keys

Everybody's fine...

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 01:13:00 +0000

We're all fine (the golden's too)... just taking a break from the blog. It was a busy spring, then I changed jobs and in the midst of it all, got farther and farther away from posting on the blog.

I hope to get things rolling here again in the fall. I'm going to disable the comments for now as the spam bots have been busy dropping comments on my site (which are now removed).

For the golden lovers, that's Marley and Brooklyn above. Brooklyn was a foster pup who now is in her forever home. She was such a holy terror during playtime but when she ran out of steam she loved to cuddle.

In the meantime, I've still been pinning occasionally, so check out my Pinterest boards to see where I've been around the web.

Vintage Bikes as Garden Decor

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

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There's something whimsical about a vintage bike. And if you paint it a fun color and add a container or basket for planting it brings on the happiness even more.

via Pinterest

Who cares if the tires are flat or the wheels are rusted? In the garden, these things don't matter. Perhaps the spokes will hold a pretty climber like clematis or morning glory.

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A basket or two added to the front, back or sides makes it even more functional for planting.

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Don't fret if the bike doesn't stand up on it's stand anymore. Simply lean it against a shed, a sturdy tree or fence to blend it into your garden space.

via Pinterest

Even suspended on a brick wall, it's beauty is apparent and unexpected. And it still manages to hold a basket of blooms.

image found via

I am anxious to get in the garden this weekend. I may need to stop at the thrift shop first to capture this look!

Happy Friday! I hope your weekend is filled with fun and whimsy.

Simple Summer Mantel with Vintage Finds

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:45:00 +0000

My summer interior style comes from a few basic ideas: living simply indoors so that I can enjoy the outdoors more, using what I already have on hand and incorporating greenery.

A vintage window frame is such a versatile decor piece for creating vignettes on the mantel or even a hall table. I've added a couple plastic greenery wreaths (that look pretty amazing considering they are plastic!), some mismatched candlesticks sporting matched candles, and the star of the space, a vintage turquoise McCoy vase.

My home was affected by the recent flooding and I am in the process of clearing out the clutter and keeping my collection of props and vintage finds to a more manageable size. A sump pump that failed at the time it was most needed was the culprit. I'm trying to look at the good side of the event. It has forced me to go the boxes and bins accumulated over the 20 plus years I've been in this home. I'm going to keep only what I love and use, and get rid of the excess. I don't know about you, but I have a lot of "excess" in my basement. It's always easier to move a box than to go through it in the short run. Long term though, I don't really want to spend the rest of my life moving around "stuff." I'd rather pare down and enjoy those things that are special and leave more time for enjoying the people, places and experiences I love.

All the vintage finds on this mantel will definitely stay. Tried and true, they are all pretty versatile pieces that are easy to change up with the seasons. What are your mantel "besties?" Do share.

Vintage Christmas Card {With 4th of July Illustrations!}

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:55:00 +0000

This is a fun Christmas card from my personal collection featuring some patriotic puppies dressed in their patriotic best--perfect for the 4th of July. I bought it because I thought the little character images might be great for some of my summer crafting ideas and cards.

July seems so far off, especially with the rain we've been having and are expecting more of in the midwest. I'm ready for these April showers to end!

Decorating With Pink {Small Doses}

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:00:00 +0000

After many years of staying away from the color pink in my home decor, I have begun to embrace it's femininity and softness in small touches in my home.

This pink chair is one of a set. They were estate sale finds. They are in excellent condition, and are a nice spot to sit when I have a visitor. Especially in the winter, as they are right near the fireplace. I added the leopard print pillows from Home Goods for a bit of fun.

A small pink globe is another accent of this flirty color. Right next to a stacks of my favorite decorating books and a portrait of my son from his early years. Although my the "pinks" in my home are pale and rather subdued, perhaps I'll venture into the brighter shades as time goes by.

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The pop of color, as in pink, really adds to the beauty of these mostly neutral rooms. Just one piece of furniture or a single pillow (below) can add something special to a room. I might have to find a pillow just like this for my bedroom. It's such an easy and inexpensive way to add the color.

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I'm not quite brave enough to paint a room pink... just yet.

What's in Your {Vintage} Suitcase?

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 16:42:00 +0000

Vintage luggage always catches my eye at an estate sale or flea market. These pieces are the ultimate in vintage chic storage. I have quite a few pieces, but have become more discerning in selecting a new case for my collection.

These gray pieces were actually found on three different shopping trips, and two of them were from the thrift store. I love the gray color, a bit different from the typical beige case but still neutral to go into any room. Plus the darker color hides a few of the scuffs they may have suffered in their previous role.

I look for flat, not sloped sides so that when the pieces are stacked, they will be level. Then I can arrange a few things on top of the stack for decoration as well.

I also like to hold out for a piece that's in good shape, with all the latches and handles working as they should. Most importantly, I open the suitcase up and if doesn't pass the sniff test, it doesn't come home with me. There's no use in having a vintage suitcase for storage if it smells nasty. If it does, everything you put it in it will absorb that smell.

I have tried to remove the smell of mold or tobacco from a piece or two with sprays, baking soda, kitty litter and good old-fashioned sunshine. None of these methods has worked to the point where I'd like to store my things inside and take the chance that they might take on the odor. If you have a way to remedy this, please share!

Many of my cases have such pretty interiors that I don't mind seeing the delicate lining. The colors are usually unfaded and quite beautiful, especially on the women's suitcases.

This set is currently in my craft studio, hiding my many punches. Those by Martha Stewart reside in the top case as I use them most often. They are also the best looking--I love the off-white color.

The function of these cases is never permanent, I seem to move them around as needed and have quite a few in my bedroom to hold my scarves and out of season clothing. There are many pretty storage baskets, cubes and cases available in the stores today, but these suitcases have the most charm!

Handmade Card {Sweet Baby Girl}

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 03:30:00 +0000

I had fun creating this sweet baby girl card. With a couple of twenty-something daughters, I am way past this stage of life, but it was fun to dip into the pastel colored baby scrapbook paper.

I didn't want to stick with a completely pink palette, so I picked up on the yellow and aqua tones for some contrast. The bright pink paper has quite a bit of glitter on it, satisfying my need to add a bit of sparkle to just about every card I create.

I work as a graphic artist and create art every day at work on the computer. On the weekends, especially in the winter, I like to get back to basics with the paper, scissors, glue and of course, glitter!

Linking to:

WHIPPERBERRY

Amazing {and Inexpensive} Nature Photography Course

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 02:52:00 +0000

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I am always on the lookout for ways to improve and practice my photography skills. Imagine my surprise when I found a three-hour photography course from my local forest preserve district for just $20. Yes, $20.

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All of the photos in this post are from Flickr users JanetandPhil. They have an amazing collection of photos posted on Flickr that were taken at various Lake County Forest Preserve properties about 45 minutes north of Chicago. I was captivated by their beautiful photos, one of which was tagged with information about a previous photography class offering.

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It took less than a minute for me to open the forest preserve website and enter "photography" in the site search box. It must be my lucky day. The course, "Phenology and Photography," is going to be offered again in April. Taught by a forest preserve staff naturalist and a professional photographer, the three-hour course geared toward "serious amateur photographers" promises to be an adventure of the best kind. The opportunity to hone my photography skills and a day spent outside in the beauty of local forest preserves.

I don't expect to come away with photos like these immediately. It may take years. But this course is certainly one step closer to the goal.

Pretty Pink Sweets {Baby Shower Treats}

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:59:00 +0000

We made some desserts for a baby shower last weekend. Not only were they delicious, they were beautiful. All decked out in pink and purple frosting with some dark chocolate and sprinkles for contrast, the dessert platter turned out really nice. All of these treats would be a beautiful addition to a shower or wedding dessert bar with the frosting tinted according to the event color scheme.

The pretzels were very simple to make, simply melting white or dark chocolate as directed on the package, and then coating the pretzels with the melted chocolate and letting them dry on wax paper. The white chocolate was tinted light pink and we sprinkled the goodies with white or multicolored sprinkles before the frosting was set. The little checkerboard pretzels are super easy and the pattern really holds the frosting nicely. If you're in a hurry, these are definitely the way to go.

The cookies are a favorite and very simple recipe. The frosting is simple to mix and tint as well, and very fun to customize for any occasion or holiday. I like to make a batch at Easter with a mix of pretty pastel frostings. Warning.... they disappear fast! Of course this can be a good thing if you don't want sweets in your house too long.

Here's the recipe:

Melt in Your Mouth Cookies

2 sticks of butter, softened
1/3 c. powdered sugar
3/4 c. corn starch
1 c. flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the frosting (recipe below) for immediate use after the cookies are baked.

In a large mixing bowl, mix the softened butter and sugar. In another bowl, whisk together the corn starch and flour. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and blend with mixer or hands until thoroughly blended.

Roll dough into 1" balls and press down in the center with your knuckle or a spoon to make an indent to hold the frosting.

Bake about 12 minutes.

Icing
1 c. powdered sugar
1 Tbsp. melted butter
food coloring to tint, if desired

Mix these three ingredients well in small bowl and thin with a few drops of milk at a time to thin. I like to load the frosting into a disposable bakery piping cone for ease in filling the centers of the cookies after baking. You can also use a plastic food bag with one of the corners snipped off.

As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, pipe the centers with the frosting to fill the indention. The heat from the warm cookies will help the frosting to settle smoothly. Cool before stacking on top of each other so the icing hardens a bit.

Enjoy these tasty and beautiful treats!

Dreaming of the {Paris} Flea Market

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000

I'm at the point in my life where the destinations I've yearned to reach need to happen soon. I'm not getting any younger (darn!), the kids are grown and all but one have careers. My youngest daughter has traveled more than I have in her twenty-something years. She finds a way... using study abroad, bus or road trips across the country, youth hostels and internships to follow her heart across the globe.

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She inspires me to follow my own dreams of visiting Paris. I want to see the Eiffel Tower light up at night, capture the beauty of European architecture through my lens and of course, visit the flea markets.

I have learned over the years to appreciate the fun of the flea market without coming home with too many treasures. The large ones are easy to leave behind. The only things I really consider myself a collector of would be vintage greeting cards and postcards. They are easy to tote, inexpensive to collect and don't take up hardly any space in my home. I also enjoy taking pictures of items I know I would have no place for or those that are beyond my means; it's my way of holding the memory of a treasure without the burden of ownership.

Maybe I will need to think small, as in paper and tiny trinkets, like these beautiful keys. They are more intricate than those I have seen in the States.

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What would be on my larger item shopping list? Perhaps a beautiful chandelier like this one, a pretty reminder of the trip each time the lights were aglow. I would never tire of it's beauty.

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There are even travel agencies that cater to a woman's desire to shop the flea markets of Paris... A quick search noted two I've added to my Pinboard. Perhaps this is the way to go... traveling with like-minded women under the guidance of an experienced tour group.

Have you been? Do share your tips and treasures with a comment below.

The Paris travel book is ordered, it's time to plan!

Spring? {Yes Please}

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:08:00 +0000

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Winter is still here. The patio screen door was frozen shut with freezing rain overnight. Once again, there is snow to shovel on the back deck and driveway.

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I would like a large order of Spring please. Don't scrimp on the sunshine, tree blossoms and butterflies.

The excitement of visiting the nurseries for new varieties of roses and geraniums, relaxing nights on the patio or deck with friends around the fire; these are the things I am yearning for in the middle of February.

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At least the days are getting longer and there is a 40 degree day here and there to give me hope. In the meantime, I'll be browsing through my Pinterest boards for garden ideas and projects. That blue pot tutorial above is definitely calling my name.

There is hope, spring is coming!

Handmade Cards with Found Art

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Inspiration for making cards comes from everywhere. This illustration is one I tore out of a Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine and had pinned on my bulletin board for a few weeks. It was so pretty, a beautiful female face with emphasis on the eyes done in neutral tones. She wears a cap of flowers and a necklace to match that were colored by the artist.

One day when sitting at my desk for inspiration, I pulled it down and decided to use the illustration in a card. I added some additional flowers, pearls and a little heart to dress her up further.

Now, what caption or phrase should I add to this greeting? Here's some that I am thinking of below; let me know what you think or if you have some ideas.

"Isn't it amazing what clever girls can do." This one was attributed to Peter Pan

"With strong wings, she flies."

"Don't ever let anyone dull your sparkle." The card needs more glitter to have this phrase, but I do like it!

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and sings it back to you when you have forgotten how it goes."

"She believed she could, so she did."

And then there's always the plain and simple, "Happy Birthday." However, I think this beauty needs something a bit more special. Your ideas? Yes, please!

Using Vintage Finds in the Craft Room {Beautiful Inspiration}

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 03:39:00 +0000

My craft room is a beautiful mess. Seriously. It seems I have time to create, but not always clean up. So I won't show you the whole room today... just the pretty bits and pieces.

This beautiful silver dish holds my paper scraps as I'm done with them and before they can be stored by color. It was an Etsy find I spotted over at Common Ground, Pinned, and then set out to have it for my very own. I had set it on the desk while I decided which room to use it in and it came in quite handy while making cards one day, so here it shall stay for now.

A modern plate stand holds recent paper purchases to inspire a new card design. Antique glass jars hold bits of ribbon, tags and pieces of Lucite.I have lots of these jars around the room in many different sizes.

A modern glass vase holds complete cards. I picked it up at the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store while dropping off some tools to donate. I've actually found some beautiful antique furniture there occasionally as well.

A bookcase that I purchased at a flea market when it was brown has been painted many times over the years. Blue, then green, then white, the perfect neutral backdrop for a multicolored assortment of craft supplies.

I thought it would be a shame to put my vintage deer away after Christmas, they remain on the shelf for a touch of whimsy.

Glitter is stored in vintage salt and pepper shakers (so much prettier than those plastic bottles it comes in) and a painted Longaberger basket holds my larger stamps.

Another painted basket holds embellishments and the glass bowl holds acrylic stamp blocks. The bird is just for fun. I could have used cardboard boxes and other typical storage containers, but using found treasures makes for a much more inspiring work space. The decorating is just as much fun as the crafting!

Enjoy the rest of the week... I hope to get back into the craft room this weekend (and clean up too).

linking to:
Fabulously Creative Friday
My Romantic Home
Common Ground: Vintage Inspiration

Pretty Little Lipstick Display {Thrift Shop Wine Coaster}

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 02:34:00 +0000

A trip to the thrift shop to donate some clothing and household goods was rewarded with a trip through the aisles to check for two of my favorite finds... crystal and silver.

I had been looking for a way to corral my lipsticks on my vanity in a way that would make the labels visible and still look nice. I have a silver wine coaster that I use to hold my Yankee Candles that would fit the bill, but I wanted to find another so I didn't have to take that one out of candle commission.

When I spotted this crystal wine coaster in the aisles of a local Goodwill, I knew it would do the job {beautifully}.

I like to keep my makeup out on the vanity where it is handy for the early morning race out the front door to work. With the labels facing up it will make my lipstick choice a little easier. I've got quite the collection of shades, don't I? They vary between samples, department and drugstore finds.

And now they have a sweet little container to rest in!

Orange Smoothie Recipe {2 Servings of Fruit}

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 16:54:00 +0000

I've been into smoothies lately, pinning away recipes on a smoothie Pinterest board. Since I have a beautiful bowl of oranges that are not the sweetest to eat on their own, I decided to whip up an orange smoothie with them.

Orange Banana Smoothie

{1 serving}

1 orange, sliced
1 banana
1/2 c. Trop 50 orange juice
1/4 c. plain Greek yogurt
1/2 crushed ice cubes or 2 whole cubes
1 packet of sweetener

Blend until smooth & enjoy!

You could probably leave out the sweetener but I wanted a tasty treat. I put the ingredients into my Lose It! calorie counter app on my iPhone (also available for online use) and here's the nutritional breakdown:

165 calories

Fat	0.4g	2%
Saturated Fat	0.1g
Cholesterol	0mg
Sodium	32.4mg
Carbohydrates	35.8g	81.9%
Fiber	3.1g
Sugars	21.7g
Protein	7g	16.1%

Seven grams of protein will definitely provide some energy! Lots of sugar, but at least it's from the fruit and not added.

Enjoy!

Saturday Card Crafting: Black Velvet {Merci}

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 12:00:00 +0000

I made so many of these cards I used up all the paper I originally bought for a paper crafting class I'm teaching this spring. Of course I can't find anything similar, so I'll have to improvise on the class project.

I made lots of thank you cards and birthday cards with this design. The paper has a velvet raised finish, which really set off the flowers on the bright background. I haven't found anything like it.

I go in streaks with my card making days. I'm determined to have handmade card for every occasion this year. They really are so much more personal than those that are store bought.

Hoping you have time to enjoy some creative time this weekend as well!

Vintage Valentine {Little Bear} to Print for Craft Projects

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:00:00 +0000

I'm sharing a vintage Valentine from my collection today. As always, it is a high resolution image so you can print and use it for your crafting projects. The children's vintage greeting cards are my favorite and they comprise the majority of my collection. The illustrations are always so cheery!

I have removed the original greeting (A Valentine for Nephew) so you can stamp your own phrase. The bear's hat is actually a feather! I'm thinking of attaching a real feather to the top of the image with a little glue when I use this image in my cards. I don't ever use the original cards; they stay tucked away as part of my collection permanently.

The inside of the card reads:
Here's a little Valentine and what it's meant to do
Is say it's mighty nice to have a newphew just like you!

Signed:
Uncle Ray and Auntie Rose, 1948

Markings:
destroyed; looks like it was pasted in a scrapbook at one time.

Note:
All vintage card images on this blog are provided for your personal, non-commercial use.

Brooklyn, my foster puppy is receiving a visit from a potential adoptive family today. I'm hoping they are the perfect "forever" home for this sweet little girl!

No Posts? Must be a Foster Puppy!

noreply@blogger.com (very merry vintage style) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 23:37:00 +0000

It's been over a week since I've posted last. Usually that type of absence means a new foster puppy has arrived in my care.

This little golden bundle arrived the day after Christmas. She is 4 months old and the photo above shows you the speed she travels at.... fast!

Her name is Brooklyn and she is quite a sweet puppy. Except when it comes to my 2 year-old golden, Marley. He is a saint, putting up with her chasing, biting and climbing.

The sweetest moment is at the end of the day, when she is tired and happy to cuddle. She'll make someone a great family dog. In the meantime, we'll care for her, begin her training and get her ready for her forever home!