Rule Breaking Thrift Store Finds

I have this thrift store shopping rule: Don't buy anything unless it is on the 1/2 off sticker price for the day. I stick to it most of the time but occasionally RULES are made to be BROKEN and today I did just that! These finds were just too juicy to wait for their 1/2 off day.

I thought these old binoculars were pretty cool but I wasn't sure I really needed them...what would I do with them?

Then I discovered the lenses came off...aha!

I could use the lenses in jewelry projects so I paid the $2.99

and assured myself it was a good purchase!

The smaller lenses have writing on them.

 One says SMOKE TANSILL'S PUNCH - 5 CENT CIGAR

and the other one says R.W. TANSILL & CO. - CHICAGO

Here is another item I don't really need and can't use for jewelry projects but it could make a very cool mixed media assemblage/collage piece and it was only $1.99.

It was the carved detail at the top that suckered me in!

I didn't even blink an eye to think as to whether I should pay the full price of $1.99 for this gorgeous brass case. This will definitely show up in one of my jewelry designs!

Love, love, love the curved oval shape and the little mirrored door!

Breaking the Rules Can Be Fun!!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

An Experiment in Rust

It's no secret I love old, imperfect rusty treasures.
Of course, most people would refer to my treasures as junk!

There are many tutorials on how to speed up the rusting process on metals containing iron and they definitely work great.

But what about plastic, wood, paper and,
well, basically any surface? Can they be rusted?

Believe it or not, they can!
Not faux rust. Actual rust!

These pieces are made of plastic.

 

Modern Masters Iron Paint actually contains iron and once you paint it on your piece it can rust naturally over time or you can instantly create rust with the Modern Masters Rust Activator.

I decided to experiment with several

different types of materials and objects.

canvas and paper

(I embellished the canvas with fiber ribbon and the paper with lace.)

fabrics and lace

plastics

metals

and a few other assorted materials

(cork, wood, shell & a blob of cured resin)

I painted each object with the iron paint and let them dry completely.

(I covered some pieces completely and spot painted a few.)

Then I brushed the activator over each piece. After five minutes I applied another coat of the activator. Within a few minutes the rust began appearing and after awhile this is what I had.

The aqua fabric that I spot painted turned out kinda cool.

I loved the effect on the canvas and paper.

And the resin blob is pretty interesting. A larger blob might look cool with a vintage photo showing through the back...hmmm....must remember that idea!

Since I will most likely be incorporating these objects into jewelry I thought it would be best to seal the finish with Renaissance wax.

And since I was just experimenting anyway, I decided to

rub a few of the rusty objects with some Gilders Paste

to add even more interest to the patina.

I definitely had fun with this experiment and will be doing more.

I also purchased the Modern Masters Bronze Paint Effect but didn't realize that it takes a different activator so I will need to get some of the correct activator before I can experiment with it.

I'll be sure to share my results...good, bad or ugly!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing with: Funky Junk Interiors: SNS, Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty tuesday

Box It Up - Jewelry Display

I'm very excited to show my jewelry at an in-home party this week, except for one little thing...how do I display it? After some thinking, I had formulated an idea and (no surprise here) it required a trip to the thrift stores. Several store hops and a half day later I returned home with an assortment of wooden boxes.

Okay, so I probably bought more than I actually needed but they were so inexpensive and each time I visited another store I would find one I liked just a little bit more! I really scored with these boxes that have pull out drawers. The large box (that once held silverware) was a great find and at half off it only cost $3!

My favorite find is this box.
I have no idea what it originally housed but I love its uniqueness!

I adored the rustic charm of the wood boxes but felt like something was needed to liven them up. A few picks from my collection of old tins added just that little bit of needed bling.

My collection of tins began several years ago when my son - also a goodwill hunter - brought home this tin for me (thanks Brandon!) and I've been picking them up
here and there adding to the collection ever since!

A couple of poster frames that I had purchased and covered with black fabric several years ago for a picture board was the perfect solution for displaying earrings. I just pinned strips of ribbon from my stash in horizontal rows across each board and slid my
home crafted earring cards through the ribbon.

A pin between each card was necessary to keep the ribbon from sagging.

The only altering I did on the tins and boxes was to line them with fabric (from the thrift store) wrapped around bubble wrap. Nothing fancy, just taped at the back. My original plan was to paint out the boxes for a more uniform look but with a time restraint and maybe even a little laziness kicking in, I left them as is. It was a good choice - the display has that gathered over time eclectic feel that lends so well with the style of my jewelry.

I added a few busts that I already had and topped off the display with a mirror because every girl wants to check how marvelous she looks and make sure she's chosen

the perfect piece of jewelry for herself!

 How cool is it that I found a crate with a lid that says

"BEST OF THE WORLD SELECTION"!!

The picture frame - that I converted into my sign - along with the mirror, wood stand, and the wire rack that holds some of the publications my work is featured in were also thrift store finds! Did I mention I love thrift store treasure hunting!!

Happy Creating!

Kathy