Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Monday, November 30, 2015

Vintage Christmas Blocks



Lately I have been in a Holiday mood
and have really been enjoying going to 
town and looking at all the 
Christmas Decorations

The other day at Marshalls 
(they just opened in our town a few weeks ago)
I saw these cute little wooden blocks 
with vintage Christmas pictures on them.

I thought they would be perfect for the a window sill.
So, out to Steve's wood shop scrap pile I went . . . 
I cut up some 2x4 scraps,
painted them and then sanded off
some of the paint.
Then I beat them up a bit to make them
look like they have been around for many years. 
Then thanks to a tutorial I saw years ago by 
Dear Sweet Carol at
The Polka Dot Closet
I used water slide decals from pictures I found on the internet. 
Here's her tutorial:
http://thepolkadotcloset.blogspot.com/2011/03/using-water-slide-decals.html

I wanted my blocks for the kitchen window sill,
so I looked for vintage pictures with 
Christmas food themes.

Easy Pleasey . . .
You can make them too :)

Anyone, going to give it a try?

Keep Smiling!
Your blogging sister,
Connie :)

54 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Simple, fun and all with a vintage feeling :)

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  2. Very cute, Connie. I can't get into the workshop now as it's crowded with lawn furniture,
    but I would love to try this project someday...

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    1. There are always scraps of 2x4's setting around . . . just the smallest scraps can be turned into something fun :)

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  3. Connie, your blocks are so cute and really make your window sill a fun spot!!

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  4. Cute! Those would make a sweet and inexpensive hostess gift too! There are many Christmas cards with various themes too. Yours are food related but there are some with snowmen OR Peanuts characters... Or dog and kitties! You could definitely fit the theme to the recipient ...personalized. 🤗

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    1. I know, I've thought about making a set for our veterinarian with cats and dogs . . . that is if I ever get my existing list of "To Do's' done :)

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  5. They are amazing, I am so impressed and will certainly have a go as soon as I have some time. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Simple little craft . . . fun, too! I am delighted that you want to make some :)

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  6. oh I like these. I'm going to check out the tutorial then maybe, just maybe I may try it too. I'm pretty sure I have some wood scraps in the basement that I can use

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    1. I'm excited that so many of my followers want to make these . . . if you don't use the transfer decals you could decoupage with Christmas cards :)
      Simple little project and they fit so well in a small space.

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  7. Those are cute! No sure how much Christmas-y stuff I will get done this year. I hope to get baking/candy making done.

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    1. Yum! Sounds wonderful . . . I don't do much baking anymore, but hope to do just a little :)

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  8. Connie, I thought you were going to say you bought those you saw at Marshall's. But you came home and made these! You are something else! Is there anything you can't do? :) The blocks really look old. I love them!

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    1. Hi Penny, My kitchen is vintage so I wanted these to look like they have been around as long as it has . . . it is amazing how you can age something with sanding and beating around with a hammer :)

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  9. I'm so glad you didn't BUY those wooden blocks, they adorable and perfect on your kitchen windowsill. That's a project I'd like to try (in the future, I have more than enough stuff as it is).

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    1. Hi Linda, I know what you mean about projects. I have three quilts that I want to get made and in the mail before the end of January. I have the first one on the frame and I am hand-quilting it . . . the other two I haven't even started . . . wish me luck :)

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  10. These are so cute Connie! I think I have some scraps of wood that might work too! I really want to make some and maybe even make a few to give as gifts. Thanks for the idea! Hope you had a great day!

    Hugs, Vicky

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    1. Hi Vicky, I am delighted that you want to make these. I do hope that you will post what you make . . . I know that posting gifts is not what we want to do before Christmas . . . who knows if the special person on your list may see them. Maybe after you give them :) I know that you are so busy, school events, Christmas and planning your trip . . . how exciting! I'm so happy for you :)

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  11. Oh Connie, they are so simple and so perfect!!! Those are really really cute! I would have never thought of using the water slide decals, but they are perfect for this project! Thank you so much for the shout out!

    Carol

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    1. Hi Carol, thank you! I was looking through my craft-room drawers the other day and came across the decal paper . . . then remembered seeing these blocks and how much I liked them . . . well, when you have the supplies on hand, you have to go for it, right? I'm happy you like them :)

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  12. Connie - What a darling project! I can't imagine the ones in the store were as cute as yours. Really delightful!

    Judy

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    1. Thank you so much! What a sweet thing to say :)

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  13. What a delightful and fun project! I can't imagine the ones in the store being as cute as yours!!

    Judy

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  14. Cute blocks....thanks for sharing...
    Nancy
    wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

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  15. Connie- I thought those things were about 50 years old when I first saw them. I LOVE them-they turned out great. I love stuff like that. You did a great job on them. xo Diana

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    1. Hi Diana, thank you . . . the aging part of a vintage project is the most fun . . . sanding, hammering and beating them up . . . great for stress, LOL.

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  16. Those are so cute!! I'm thinking about making some of these for the Christmas and other holidays too.
    ~Cindy

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    1. Hi Cindy, I am delighted that I could inspire you . . . it is a simple and fun project :)

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  17. That's a cute little project. Love the kitchen theme.

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    1. Thank you . . . the best part of a project like this is that you can pick any theme you want :)

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  18. These are so fun and I LOVE the vintage images on them! Cool make!

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    1. Hi Anita, thank you! I like it when I can turn tossed out scraps into fun projects :)

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  19. Replies
    1. Hi Louise! It is great to see that you are back with your name up there again. Have you ever figured out what's going on with that?
      I am very happy that you like my vintage blocks, they were a fun afternoon project :)

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  20. What a wonderful idea...and thanks for the link. I had no idea you could make your own decals..

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    1. Hi Meggie, I know, I have learned an awful lot from Carol's blog and her great tutorials. She comes up with some wonderful ideas and lots of great techniques.
      There are so many crafting mediums out there . . . I don't know how people keep up with them. It is wonderful when people try them and make tutorials, it is just to expensive to buy and try, without much information.

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  21. Hi! Nope, not going to give them a try! Easy Peasy for you is Sorry, Hardy for me! I love yours though! I love looking at all the Christmas things too and we do have a Marshall's not too far from us! Enjoy the season! Nancy

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    1. Hi Nancy, thanks for stopping in to say, "Hi" . . . really they are very simple :)

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  22. I have a few wooden blocks that just might get some vintage love this week!

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    1. Yea! I am always delighted when I can inspire you, because you have inspired me so very many times :)
      Carol, I can see you making these with numbers.

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  23. Thank You for this post and link. I didn't know that they had blank water decals and have been searching for vintage ones but can't find any that I like in my price range. I love your project and can see a ton of projects in my future

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    1. Hi Beth, I found mine on Amazon. I bought the ones for ink jet printers. After you print the pictures that you want on them, you spray them with acrylic spray and when dry you put them in water, they slide off and you apply them to your project. The thing that I found is that they have clear backgrounds so paint the space where you will apply with white paint or at least a pale color ( you can leave it wood gain, notice my Santa, he is applied to plain wood, you can see the grain through the picture). I can't wait to see the projects that you come up with. Have fun! Lazertran Waterslide Decal Paper Lazertran for Inkjet

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  24. Great idea they look fantastic!! Love your garland in the window too, great country feel!

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    1. Thank you Connie . . . it was a simple project, but adds to my vintage kitchen and makes the window look cheery for Christmas :)
      I spend so much time at the kitchen sink, it nice to make it a happy place.

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  25. That's a project I'd like to try! I'm impressed! Thanks for inspiring!

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  26. Those blocks look absolutely brilliant.. they would go so well with my lovely red 'wooden' Father Christmas and Poinsettia !

    All the best Jan

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  27. Hi Connie,
    Love these, love the vintage look! Thank you for sharing and the link too...I am not sure if I will get to them for this Christmas...my craft list is very long and this elf is beat already! ;) But, I will definitely make them in the New Year!
    I hope that you are having a great week!
    Hugs, Kimberley

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  28. Delightful! You really are so very crafty, my friend. I love these and they're perfect in your kitchen. xo ~ Nancy

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