Ballard Bird Knock-offs (with printable pattern)

I "borrowed" this idea from Ballard Design.  I hope they don't mind...

Ballard Design

Lindy Design

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I love these vintage frames. They are two (in one) of the ten projects I'd hoped to finish...well....soon. 

I can't imagine how anyone could let them go for such a low price -- just $4  for both.  I can't imagine how anyone could let them go, period. But, hey, it works for me.

To make the paper I cut the birds from, I found a description of a mockingbird online and cut and pasted it into a Word document several times to cover the entire page.  I changed the font to Arabic Typesetting, the size to 14pts, the type to white, the background to black, then printed it out on cardstock.  

I didn't throw up over this step but I came close.  This took an enormous amount of printer ink, I'm sure!!! The up side was it came out looking just like theirs, yes?

Using this pattern...

I cut the birds from my "special" paper and, using Mod Podge, glued them in place. 

My details were painted on with a tiny brush but I think you could just use a fine marker if you wanted.

Perfection!

I'm hooking up...

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Making and Enhancing Children's Silhouettes

  

These little cutie patooties with their perfect little profiles are as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside.  They're adorable...

I'm working on their grandmother's master bedroom, wanted to add their silhouettes to the room and thought I'd share how I made them.

How to...

All the pictures were taken in profile against a light colored wall.

 After enlarging and printing the pictures I went to work adding a few enhancements -- penciling in collars, buttons, 
bows, ribbons and the like.  

I think these little additions make all the difference in the world.  

I also traced the outline of each profile carefully so it's easier to follow the line when cutting the silhouettes out.  

I trimmed around each picture leaving a border.  I added a tiny bead of glue around the outside edge of the picture (not on the picture itself because that would just be dumb) and pressed 
the picture onto black paper. 

I do it like this so I can cut the picture and the black paper out at the same time.  This way,  by cutting the picture out only once, 
the silhouette is more accurate.

The frames are cream and are lightly distressed.  The backgrounds are a smokey gray blue fabric I used in other projects in the room.

 

Adorable.  But I said that already.

Not up to making some of your own?  I can do it for you.  Contact me at cottagehill@hotmail.com.

  

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I'm linking up with

Kelly's Korner

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Fairy Nursery Wall Clock

Fairy dust abounds in the nursery where this clock resides...

Made from scrap lumber, bead board, a dollar store picture frame and a vintage thrift store clock this nursery wall clock is 36" tall from crown to toes. 

 

The door to the small cabinet "body" was made out of the picture frame and opens to accommodate baby's keepsakes.  The arms, legs and head were cut from a scrap of 1x10 pine and attached to the body with eye bolts so they dangle.  The cabinet back and whimsical wings were cut from a single piece of bead board left over from another project.  

 I cut all the parts with a jigsaw.

 Then assembled the tiny cabinet.

Meet Dewalt Brad Nailer -- the best $300 we ever spent!

 I added textured paintable wallpaper around the outside.

 

This was my last "during" picture.  I had to stop taking pictures and get to work so there would be "after" pictures. 

It's decorated in a quirky, vintage-y style with brightly colored scrapbook paper and paint, old book pages and a sweet reminder to

... "always kiss me goodnight". 

I'm linking this post up with Donna @ Funky Junk Interiors

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