I am now a Wedding Planner. A little tutorial as well.

Ok, so maybe, technically...I am not a wedding planner...officially. But I think every woman at some time is or has been a wedding planner....whether we want to admit it or not.

I love everything there is about weddings. I love the beautiful decor, the delectable food and I love ...the love.

I adore looking at wedding photos...even of people that I do not know...I know...I can't help it. And it is not that I am a youngster...I am 49 ish. Weddings are just gorgeous and fun.

So when I heard that the theme for the Feb. Junk Show was White and Weddings...I was in heaven.

I immediately started planning weddings...at least decor.

A few of the things that I love in the wedding trends right now is vintage weddings. The other is how each couple is making their special day their own. Stepping out of the box with decor and more.

One of the things that I love about my work is taking orphaned things and making them into something different and beautiful.

So I took some pretty but otherwise fairly forgettable things and put them together to make something new.

I love how vintage silver and rust seems to go together. I know I am not alone here. I also love the clear glass. I took a couple of candlesticks and glass plates to make a cute little cake plate. I know, not the breaking vintage crafting news of the year...but I love the look. I also like the old, chippy, rusty white fencing that I added.

The other things that I put together were candlesticks and old insulators.

The old insulators can be found almost anywhere for next to nothing.

I just got a huge box of them in different sizes at a local junk sale.

Sorry I didn't take more pictures but I think you can get an idea.

After washing both insulators and candlesticks, you simply use E6000 to glue the insulator to the candlestick. You can use a bit of hot glue to hold everything in place until everything dries.

After it dries, come the really fun part. I ripped up some old linen fabric and used it for ribbon. You can add some bling or flowers or old buttons...GO WILD SISTA'!!!

These look gorgeous in a grouping and they are sparkly when illuminated with a little votive candle.

I will have some for sale at the Junk Sale if you are inclined to make your own. Along with lots of other fun goodies.

Come check it out. I know my Junkin' Sisters have lots planned too.

I am getting my party on here. Please become a follower of my blog if you like. The button is right over there to the right.

Keeping it Green!

Part of the reason that we love what we do is that we can take things that have been discarded or orphaned and make them desirable and beautiful again.

A couple of months ago a friend of ours, Don, found the top of an old cedar chest. It was beautiful but was missing the chest. It was just the lid - beautfiul but orphaned. He could not leave it in the pile to have the wood recycler grind it up, so he carried it home. He is a wood guy. He salvages any wood that he thinks that he can use. His garage is full.

His wife told me that he talked about this gorgeous piece of wood and planned and fussed about it for weeks. Finally, she told him to just build a box and so.... he did.

He built a box from reclaimed wood including the cedar lining.

He then brought this gorgeous piece to us to complete the process.

We sanded that gorgeous top and stained it a rich Jacobean. We finished the box that was so lovingly built with CeCe Caldwell Green Paint in Omaha Ochre.

We love the contrast and the outcome.

This little honey is now ready for a new home. You can't get much greener than this sweet piece of furniture.

Rescued, reworked and then finished in a great green product.

She is ready for adoption at Orphaned Decor....ready for a new lifetime.

Sorry we have no before pics....we were so excited to get this piece done...well, you know the story.

If you would like to try some of our new Ce Ce Caldwell paint on your own projects - you can order online - just click the shop now tabe at the top of the page.

Our new Sedona Red is coming out this week...with 13 more colors coming in the next few weeks.

I am sharing at these parties.

CeCe Caldwell Green Paint Available On LIne!!

We were so excited when we first announced that we would be carrying CeCe Caldwell Green Chalk and Clay Paint.

But....we are even more excited since we have received it and have been able to play with all of the colors. This paint is amazing!! It covers in one coat in almost every case. It has no smell, no odor that gives you the headache. The colors are gorgeous and so appealing.

The wax is unbelievable! There is only a light citrus smell. It glides on so smoothly - like butter. There is no streaking - even on the darker colors. It provides a durable, smooth finish.

I really can't say enough good things about this paint. I am addicted!!

I can't wait to use every single color and every singe wax application and.....well, you get the idea.

So, now you can order this great product online. Just click our "Shop Now" button at the top of the page and pick out your colors. We will have it sent directly to your door in just a few days.

But beware....you will become addicted!!

Someone was asking about a twin bed frame recently. Heres one fresh painted with Cece Caldwells antique white. Comes complete with wood rails and can be distressed if you like.  Perfect for your littl princess!

How to transfer typography with a newspaper.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year holiday!! We sure did.

So, I wanted to try something new that I have been seeing all over blogland. I have never done a tutorial before...partly because I just have really never thought of it and partly because I assume that alot of folks already know how to do this stuff.

I am always surprised when someone comes into the store and asks me how to do something that is all over blogland. So at the risk of being repetitive...here goes.

So I wanted to do a cute little table with some sweet French Typography.

I read somewhere that you can use newspaper to transfer images...so being cheap and inpatient...too inpatient to go to the craft store to get something else...I decided to try it.

First I did a coat of white on this sweet table.

I did just one coat because I am going to heavily distress this piece. No reason to put it on just to take it off.

Then I printed off a great graphic from The Graphics Fairy. If you have not seen her blog, you really must do yourself the favor and check her out. 1000's of vintage graphics for your crafting pleasure.

So all you do is put the newspaper down, put your graphic over it and trace the graphic with a pen...yup... that is it.

Now, let me give you a little advice. Try to use a piece that does not have alot of the colored ads or alot of blank space. The newsprint acts as a carbon. Also, make sure your paint is completely dry before trying this...I know, this is a given...just saying.

The newsprint did not come off on the table at all except where I traced. I have tried the pencil on the back of the paper and ended up with a ton of lead - which does not come off of the paint.

This is what you are left with.

Now, all you have to do is take a Sharpie...yup a sharpie...and fill in and trace the pencil lines.

My Sharpie kind of dried out a bit so I had to wait for a few minutes for it to rehydrate...or whatever you would call it. I think that the chalk paint sucks the moisure out of the felt tip.

After you are all done with the tracing...apply a soft wax. I usually distress then wax but in this case I waxed first to seal the Sharpie so the it won't smear when I distress this piece.

So here it is finished and waxed. I have not distressed it yet because I have to wait a bit for the wax to cure. Don't worry if the lettering is not perfectly, perfect. Once you do some distressing it kind of all evens out.

So, that is it. Super, duper easy and cute.

Now go and give this a try... I will show the finished piece tomorrow.

An Exciting Announcment!!! We have CeCe Caldwell Paint!! The Newest Green Paint

We are so excited to announce that Orphaned Decor is the new Retailer for

 CeCe Caldwell Green Paint for Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho!

CeCe's Paint requires no prep work, no sanding and no priming. It is all natural, no voc chalk and clay paint. This is the first green paint that is formulated for furniture...perfect for children's furniture. Even the can - can be recycled! This paint is also made in the USA!!
 Who is CeCe Caldwell?
CeCe Caldwell loves to make old new again. Home décor and painting furniture is her passion. She is also concerned with leaving this earth in better shape for future generations. She wanted paint with a wide color pallet focused toward American homes and trends that was also environmentally friendly. She demanded a sealing wax that could be used comfortably around children and pets.
CeCe started searching for a natural, eco-friendly paint but could not find what she wanted. She began to develop a paint that met her requirements: excellent adhesion to various surfaces without extensive prep work, no odor, no VOCs, no acrylic, non-toxic, and user-friendly for the DIYer while meeting the demanding needs of Decorative Artisans. The wax is non-petroleum based and natural. In addition to being better for you, your family and the environment, it goes on smoothly without any drag or streaking. CeCe Caldwell's Paints is painting made easy!
While using CeCe Caldwell's paints you can transform the ordinary to the extraordinary.  Dated accessories can be transformed into today's focal points in your home with a bit of paint and imagination.  The paint's ability to adhere without prep to wood, plastic, masonry and metals gives you unlimited options to re-purpose items into treasures that fit your current style quickly and inexpensively.  Today's on-the-go person doesn't have time for extensive prep work, they want to paint and go.  They want it easy. CeCe Caldwell's Paints takes away the cost and time of prepping, allowing you to get to a finished project much quicker.  It’s just that simple!
An earth friendly paint made to RENEW yesterdays items, REPURPOSE forgotten treasures and REIMAGINE your home and garden is what CeCe Caldwell’s paint is all about.  Naturally Green in the Color of your CHOICE!  We hope you will have fun using our products. We hope to hear from you and see how you’ve REINVENTED your treasures.

Regards,
CeCe

Currently, there are 21 gorgeous colors with another 12 colors coming out the first of the year. A quart of paint is a reasonable $34.95 and the wax that contains NO Petrolium sells for $26.95 a pint and goes on like butter.

You can also mix colors to make your own special color. Here is the current palette.

This paint provides gorgeous finishes....take a look.

The paint should be in store the first week of January but we are taking orders now so that  you will be the first to have it to use.

There are some other amazing things coming from CeCe too....zincing is one of them.

We will be offering samples and classes in the near future.

House of Anne Leading Decorative Paint Products and Workshops in the World is giving away 21 cans of the new CeCe Caldwell Paint on Christmas Eve.

Go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/CeCe-Caldwells-Paints/194379430638107?ref=ts#!/pages/House-of-Anne-Leading-Decorative-Paint-Products-and-Workshops-in-the-World/199820626708217 and tell them that Orphaned Decor sent you!!

Spread the word!!

Holiday Open House December 10th!! It's gonna be a party!!

Mark your calendars!! December 10th. Our holiday open house!! Lots of great finds coming in...including great gift ideas starting at just a couple of bucks, new furnishings and lots of Christmas Decor. We are also going to have nibbles and drinks. We have delish handmade candies including brittles, truffles and more for tasting and for sale.

Best of all.... we are so excited to have Lorelie Barett in the house from 2-5 pm.

Lorelei's designs, products and advice have been featured in such publications as Country Living, Americana, Victoria, Old Stuff, and Country Pleasures magazines. She has been regularly featured on numerous television and radio shows sharing her wealth of knowledge and advice. Lorelei appears as a special lecturer at home, design and trade shows.

Description With the confluence of design, real estate and estate services, Home By Design is here to assist with all aspects of home buying, selling, designing, remodeling and estate services! Founder and principal, Lorelei Barrett, is a certified antiques appraiser, interior designer, as well as a real estate and personal property specialist.

Lorelei will be talking about how to make your home beautiful with found items for Christmas and daily decor. You can also bring in your hard decorating questions - including photos - for Lorelei for quick answers to your decorating dilemmas.

On top of all of this - we will have music, drawings every 30 mintues for free goodies, special discounts and sales and a BIG drawing for a basket full of goodies including a 1 hour free consultation from Lorelei and a new Grapevine Discount Card.

You don't want to miss this event. We are pulling out all of the stops. Our displays are amazing and you will love Loerlei.

I hope to see you there.