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This is a great issue full of fun articles.  Be sure and get into the Christmas spirit with the “Putz”   House article.  Then read up on some great decorating tips for those who are working with a budget.  Our feature crafter this month is Grans Attic Annies she makes some really creative crafts.

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October 2009 issue of Primitive Times Magazine

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I have really been on a roll lately with the not so pretty items I’ve found in thrift stores.  This is a fabric cat that I purchased at the thrift store for a little bit of nuthin.   I have been seeing grubby kitties on various blogs and sites and thought why not.

So first of all I removed every sign of frilly froo froo I  could from this cat, which turns out to only be around his neck.  The original crafter had lace and blue ribbon on him.  Gosh I remember when frilly froo froo was popular and at one time I actully decorated with this look.  And just for the record I’m NOT that old.  Of course I do lie about my age on a regular  basis, so don’t even bother to ask me that question you absolutely will NOT get an honest answer from me.

Sorry I did dirgress for just a moment.  After the frilly froo froo (I like typing that) was removed I stitched a new nose onto his face for character.  Painted the cat black, rubbed good ole cinnamon on him and baked him in the oven.  When dry tied a berry spring with a bell to his neck for a new collar and then sewing on wire for some whiskers.  I think he is just primalicious now.  What do you think?

Fabric Cat Before his makeover

Makeover Cat After

I know its not Christmas but now is the time to start looking for cheap plastic ornaments at public sales and flea markets even thrift stores.  And this is the reason why.  I took some really cheap plastic ornaments that kinda look like they would of came out of a vintage mold and then I made it over into something any primitive lover would enjoy.

I simply took the plastic ornaments and sprayed them with flat black paint and immediately sprinkled cinnamon on to it.  Let it dry a little and then sprayed a sealer on it and more cinnamon and then when dry again I sealed it with a clear matte sealer.  Changed out the little gold hang tag with a piece of rope and voila a primitive ornament that looks like a vintage heirloom.  Well to me anyway.

Check out the before and afters below.

I have been trying to go to the thrift stores in my area on a fairly regular basis and this week I would like to share a treasure that I got that I remade into something a bit more primitive that will fit into my decor better.

Here is a picture of the doll I bought for $2.97.  I figured that it would cost me alot more in time and money if I were to cut, sew and stuff a new doll so when I saw this cutie at the thrift store I snagged her up in hopes that I could grubby her up.  You can see her face is dirty and her features need to be updated.  So now I will be on the look out for more fabric dolls.  I don’t know why I didn’t think to do this before.  It Certainly saves me some serious time and money.

I have been making ornies for on my valentines tree.  This is one of my fovorite, and I thought I’d share the directions with you.  Enjoy!

First off I took an envelope the size that I wanted my ornie to be and opened up flat.  Then I traced around it onto to card stock to make a pattern.  Then I traced it onto a piece of muslin.  Then I cut out the the pattern on the drawn lines.  I also cut out a piece of card stock to go into the center of the envelope to make it sturdy, Lay aside until after stained & dried.  Once cut out I stained with my favorite grubby mixture, folded flaps to look like an envelop and then dried in the oven for a few min on low heat.  Once dried I put the piece of card stock in the middle and glued all the edges down and sealed with a kiss.  Actually I didn’t seal with a kiss but it would be cool to do if you have a lip stamp.  Then just embellish with the names of your valentines using a sharpie.  I made a glitter heart just by drawing it on with a pencil and then used modge podge and filled the heart shape and glittered it to look like a stamp.  On my dd’s I used glass glitter around the edge to give a little more glitz.  Feel free to embellish any way you want.  Also would be cute with a black & white photo used as a postage stamp.  The possibilities are endless.  I already have plans to make letters to Santa for christmas.

Trace around pattern onto muslin.

Cut out on the drawn lines

Stain using your favorite staining recipe.

Fold to look just like the envelope you used, and dry in oven on low heat.

Place cardstock cutout inside and glue all edges closed.

Embellish till your hearts content.

 I have declared Fridays to be Finish it up Friday’s.  I decided to do this because I have so many unfinished projects around my office I’m starting to be overwhelmed so to hold myself accountable I am going to finish one craft a week and then post what it is I did for all the world to see.

This week I finished up this raggedy doll.  This is a Sweetmeadows Farm pattern that I bought at the Lititz craft show here in Pa.  I really admire her work and really wanted to make an eyelid on something so I went for it.  Well I soon put the doll down because, well, I’m a perfectionist and the eyelids weren’t working for me.  I decided to finish her anyway and call her primitive.   I really like her dress it has a great stain to it.  I love when the stain has a sort of verigated look to it with dark and lighter spots all over.

I’m not sure if I will attempt the eyelid anytime soon but it sure was a challenge.  Well now that I think about it, it wasn’t so much the eyelid as it was the coloring of the eyeball????  lol. 

Check back next week as I have an unfinished snowman from the same pattern that needs to be finished eyelids and all.