Reuse Old Crates for Display and Storage

Old soda pop crates can be reused for storage or display, especially the ones that held individual bottles. The Coke crate below can hold 24 little treasures in its cubbyholes.

Listed at my Etsy store is a vintage San Bernardino 64 Coca Cola wood crate with 24 cubbyholes.

Found Wood Headboard Recycled into Paneled Wall and Shelf

Here is a headboard that was found sitting by a dumpster outside of an apartment building. I guess in an attempt to make it look shabby chic someone had painted it white using only one coat of paint.
There was already hangers on the back so it could be hung behind any bed easily. But since my bed already had a headboard that matched the rest of the bedroom furniture I knew I would have to get creative to find a use for it. After looking around the house for a place I found out that it was the same length as my desk in my workspace. I have a huge old oak office desk where I have my computer, scanner, drawing tablet and stereo.

I paint the headboard purple with a semi-gloss enamel. I had to change the hanging brackets to line up with where the studs were. And with the help of my son we hung it behind the desk creating a panel wall look and a small shelf to display photos, art work and found objects.

I love how it turned out!

The Key to My Heart Resin Pendant and Vintage Jewelry Necklaces

I wanted to make something special for Valentine's Day so I started looking through all my treasures. Some people might call it junk! Since I get my inspiration by looking at items grouped together laying on my work table I started pulling out pieces of vintage jewelry and anything that was red. I decided to make some necklaces combining the pieces of vintage jewelry. I also came across a group of old keys, not skeleton keys but just regular old small keys. I knew these would not work with the vintage jewelry but I wanted to use them somehow. Then I remembered during a resin making fest, I had made some resin hearts cast from a mold. I dug them out and decided that I could attach them to the key and the best part is that the key acts as the bail for the necklaces.

For the necklaces I used a vintage black Bakelite heart charm, a vintage mother of pearl heart charm and watch fob along with vintage and new chain.

For this one I used a collection of old charms, a little round locket, a framed vintage photo of a stranger and a vintage key attached to a vintage necklace. I just love these memory necklaces they are so romantic.

For my resin "Key To My Heart" pendants I glued my resin hearts that I had made previously onto my old keys.To make the resin hearts I added glitter, tiny beads, punched out stars and little strips of paper that was rubber stamped with an old rubber stamp set. The kind where each letter is separate and you add them to the holder, so you can make any word to stamp. I know I could print out words and that this way is a little time consuming but I like the look of the ink.

Here is the finished product. I used black silk cording for the necklaces looping them through the hole of the key.

Here is the Key To My Heart! Happy Valentine's Day!

OOAK Etsy Store Banners

Check out some of my newest Etsy banners that I have listed at robinhofferdesigns here are a couple samples. I can also do custom banner work using photos of what you sell on etsy, just contact me.

Fun Custom Illustrated Portraits that are Personalized Just For You

Fun Custom Illustrated Portraits that are Personalized Just For You at my Etsy Store.

I love doing these custom portraits that are illustrated from a photo. I like to find out what the persons favorite colors are, favorite flowers, insects or favorite animals, pets are. (you can send a pet photo to be included somewhere in the finished portrait, no extra charge). Also if there is a certain style you want like Gothic, romantic, steampunk let me know.

My Romantic Picks

Here are some of my Romantic Picks for Valentines Day.
1. White roses and lavender are the two most romantic flowers and scent
2.Flowing pastel dresses with tiny ruffled hems
3.Floral stockings or sandals that lace up to your knees
4.Crocheted wrist-lets with floral accents
5.Romantic netting draped over your bed
6.And.. LOVE

Rosiemoonbeams... by rosiemoonbeam

A Special Gift!

For Christmas my sister and her husband gave me this necklace. My sister always knows the perfect gift to give. I love it! It matches my logo except the bird's feet are wrapped around a garnet, my birthstone. Thank you guys!

A Collection of Vintage Valentines

I love old cards, the illustrations on them are always so cute and the colors so vibrant. Here is a collection of vintage valentine cards from the 1940s that I have just listed in my Artfire Store.
This is only a few of them.


Check out these Valentines Day Gift and Cards to Make

Holiday Survival

Well the holidays are over. All the gifts got made even though there is never enough time. Every year I say to myself that I am going to start early. And every year I wait to the last minute. Here are some of the gifts I made this year. A couple of months ago I had come across some Liquitex glossies glass paints that someone had thrown out and I already had plenty of white tiles. (People are always throwing out thier extra tiles from remodeling projects.) So I decided to make coaster sets. The first 2 sets I made using a 2 part tree stencil in a two shades of green and then finishing off the sides with paint and gluing cork (also found) on the bottoms.

For packaging I used corrugated cardboard to wrap the coasters and finished off with raffia.
I thought I had taken photos of my other finished coasters but being in such a rush I must have forgotten. It's nothing new! At Thanksgiving time four of my five boys were here and I totally forgot to take photos, but made up for it at Christmas!
Anyway the other coasters I made turned out even better. I painted Ginkgo leaves and stamped swirls on one set and the last two sets were done in purple and gold in a moon motif. I will have to take pictures when I go over to my sister's house next time.

Here is another project I made using leather from a sample book that was thrown away. I cut 6" circles, punched holes around the edges threading leather lacing through the holes which was pulled and tied to make a "Special Treasure Pouch". These tiny little pouches are perfect for holding small found treasures like seashells or rocks. I also made custom t-shirts for all the guys. But again No Pictures! I think that one of my New Years resolutions should be - Don't Forget To Take Pictures!

Here are two more photos from Christmas I want to share.

A closeup of my Christmas tree.

This photo I took on the way to my sister's house on Christmas Eve. I love this photo, it has a ghostly haunting look.