My 100th Post on this blog!! A game day banner for you Razorback fans!!

I just noticed that this is my 100th post on my Altered To Perfection blog.  Yay!
Today, I am sharing a banner with you.  GO*HOGS*GO! for a dedicated Arkansas Razorback fan.

Thanks for reading along!  I love all of my friends here at Altered To Perfection!

A few vintage-inspired items made for a vintage-inspired wedding ...

Now, I must say that none of the original ideas were my own.  My friend Mandy, the Bride, told or showed me what she wanted and I went to work.  She, along with her mother, father, sisters, friends, etc. also did a lot of amazing work to make this wedding amazing and full of personal touches.

 Instead of handing out programs at the ceremony, there was a large frame that had a chalkboard painted cardboard background.  I used the Chalkboard Markers mentioned in my previous post and got to work on this.  I must say that I loved how it turned out! 

 This gift table was eventually moved into the ballroom/reception area.  Coca-cola crates, different sized mason jars and vintage suitcases made this a perfect touch for the theme.

 Here, you can see more vintage Coca-Cola crates, mason jars, mason jar cupcakes and even a tray like the one I previously featured (chalkboard paint tray)  in the left hand corner. =) 

 

CARDS banner for the card box on the gift table.
This was how I set it up at the wedding.  I believe she bought these luggage pieces at a vintage shop in Colorado.  The skeleton key was a vintage-inspired key.

Mandy and her parents did all of the work on these mason jars and place cards.  Great idea right??  I just wanted to show off another little tray in the upper corner there.  They painted these and I used those fabulous markers on it. =)  Lots of different shapes and sizes at the Dollar Tree!

This banner made by me was hand-lettered and used as a photo prop.  I used heavy-duty scrapbook cardstock, white chalkboard paint marker, black Sharpie marker and twine.

There's inspiration everywhere!  For purchasing information, you can email me or find me here on facebook or here at Etsy.

Pinned and Tried: Chalkboard Painted Trays

You've got to be careful these days to not leave anything sitting in my path that my get painted with chalkboard paint.  I just can't help it!  It's so easy and fun.   I saw this idea on pinterest - several sources, but I also used to do it with plain old cookie sheets.   

So, I thought I'd show you the process I took to make this super cheap and fun project.

I picked up a metal tray at the Dollar Tree.  I already had the Krylon Chalkboard paint from previous projects.  I bought it at Michael's and I'm pretty positive I used a 40% off coupon.

I placed the tray in a box that I previously used for painting and I took it OUTSIDE.
You want to make sure that you are in a well ventilated area.

I made sure the paint can got a really good shaking and then I just sprayed an even coat all over the tray.  I did one side, let it dry in the box and then painted the other side.  This tray was one I did really quick and didn't bother to get the 'gummy' stuff off completely from the price tag.  However, I recommend that you do in order to have a completely smooth surface.  After making sure the paint fully covered the tray, I let it sit several hours to make sure it was really set before I wrote on it.

I took a piece of chalk and laid it on it's side and gently colored in the flat surface to 'season' the board before using it.  This step seems to be pretty crucial to being able to write smoothly on your new board.  This is with regular white chalk.

You may notice that the writing in this picture looks more 'smooth'.  That's because I've discovered a new fun item!! Chalkboard markers.  I needed to do a huge project for a wedding and knew that chalk would be almost impossible to do the job the way I wanted.  I looked around the www and guess what?  Found some great tips on how to get that perfect look on the chalkboards.  

Writes smooth, comes in several colors and wipes clean with a damp cloth. 

I am in love!!  

This pack of 4 chalkboard markers was a little over $12 at Michael's and of course, I used a coupon!

The other great thing about these trays are that they are magnetic.  So you can write a note or you can stick a note!  Whatever you like best.
This pinned and tried was a winner.  I loved this easy project and hope you'll try it too!

CARDS Banner ~ Wedding

Vintage wedding themes are all the rage. 

Simple, vintage-inspired, and just the right touch...

 Vintage lace to add a special touch

 Yellow and Gray

Looks lovely draped on a vintage piece of luggage.

Perhaps you could use an old apple crate or large tin...

Email or comment for more information on my occasion banners.

Breast Cancer Survivor - Pink Ribbon Mailbox

 Celebrate being a Survivor!

This very pink mailbox would be a lovely gift to give to a

 breast cancer survivor or remember a breast cancer fighter.  

Along with the mailbox, you can also order quote cards for added inspiration.

(See listing for details)

Hand-crafted, personalized Gratitude Journals...

A GRATITUDE JOURNAL is a great place to record things for which you are grateful!

Make a family tradition of keeping a Gratitude Journal that anyone can write in.

These are some journals I made recently.  

Standard sized composition notebooks -

Each one altered to be perfect for the recipient.

Order yours by going here: ALTERED TO PERFECTION

No Fear...

I don't think I've told you about this amazing little mini journal I bought on Etsy.  

After sending out several orders and being blessed with lots of sales, I decided I'd like to purchase something fun for myself.  I had this little book tucked away in my "favorites" section for a while.  

I didn't even have to think long about what I wanted to buy.

It is genuine cow leather and measures 2.25"X3" 

It fits in the palm of my hand. 

Lots of pages - 320 counting both sides 

Hand-stitched... 

Swoon.  I was in love.

It came all the way from Thailand, but did not take long to arrive at all.

I did a few pages with water color right away.  

It was fun and interesting to work on a small space like this - smaller than an ATC card, but lager than inchies.

The pages are a bit too thin to handle wet medium like water colors, so I decided to glue a few pages and paint them first with gesso to give it some thickness.  

This is a recent spread I did.

 I have been thinking about fear a lot lately.  

I don't want to live in fear. I don't want to worry.  I don't want to doubt.

I want to have a voice.

I want to understand.

I want my heart to be safe and I want to offer safety for the hearts of others.

I don't want to fear about being perfect.

I don't want to fear about being forgotten.

 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1

"Fears are educated into us, and can, if we wish, be educated out."
Karl Augustus Menninger

"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy."
Dale Carnegie

So, dear friend, do not be afraid.  Get out there and let your voice be heard.  Do you feel like you need to express yourself through painting? Then paint!  Do you want to sing?  Sing!  Do you want to believe? Then believe.  Do not live in fear.  Do not let it trap you any longer.  You can be free.  No fear.

"The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; but, it is fear."
Gandhi