Ring Display Tutorial

I am going to be participating again at the Artist's Market during next month's Art Hop in about two weeks. I had a great time last month I participated and I am expecting to have another stellar evening this time as well! With that said, if you've ever tried to sell your wares at an event, you know its hard sometimes to get people to reach into their wallets and shell out some dough--- even if they like it. I always like to have some things priced for a dollar, everyone will buy something for dollar! A few weeks ago, I bought 420 gold metal rings with rhinestones glued in them for only $10.00. I originally bought them as pirate loot... but then I got to thinking.... at a dollar each thats $420 minus the $10 initial investment. Whoa, that is a whole lot of "dollars." So, with that thought in mind, I was needing some kind of ring display! Here is what I've come up with... I just love it! It was super easy to make although it was time consuming-- which is hard for those of us who need love immediate results.
 
Here is a Tutorial on how I made it if anyone is interested in creating one yourself. It was very easy to make.

Here is a list of things you'll need to create your own ring display.

1. A frame
2. foam core board
3. foam pieces approximately 1" in diameter and a long enough length to fit snuggle from side to side in the frame you've chosen. (you can glue the foam together to create longer pieces, that is what I did)
4. glue gun and glue sticks
5. fabric of your choice. I used a velveteen fabric.
6. felt or decorative paper to give the backside of the ring display a nice finished look.

 First, measure and cut a piece of foam core board to fit inside the frame your wanting to use. You will be using this as the foundation for your ring display to glue the foam and fabric to.

Next, cut your foam into long strips. I cut mine into 1" x 1" the entire length of the foam I was using, which was about 12" long.  I had to glue some foam together to create long enough pieces to fit my frame from side to side. 

Once the foam was cut into usable pieces, I simply started laying the pieces into the frame from edge to edge of the frame... the entire width and length of the frame. I had to taper some of the ends of the foam to follow the curving oval shape of the frame before laying them into place. The foam cuts easily with scissors.

 Once that was finished, I numbered each piece in the order that they were laying. Once numbered, I then took them out of the frame all but a small section in the middle..... As you can see below, I drew a line where the edges of number 7 thru 12 were. This gave me a guide for gluing the foam back into place, keeping everything lined up nicely.

Next step.... the glue and fabric. Do not put any glue on the top of the foam, all of the glue will be added to the bottom of the foam and the foam core board only. I began by gluing down foam strip #7 to the foam core board, I then ran a line of glue along side of the foam onto the foam core board to hold the fabric in place. I laid the blue velveteen fabric down and pushed it into the glue. Once the glue had a chance to set up, I laid the fabric back on to itself so it was out of the way, and then I glued down foam piece number #8.
 
I used a piece of scrap foam core board to keep the hot glue from burning my fingers as I pushed the velveteen fabric snuggle against the foam to create a nice even taut finish. At this point it is just a matter of repeating those steps to compete the ring display.... again, you just move the fabric out of the way, glue down the foam, run a bead of glue down the edge of the foam... pull over the fabric and using your scrap of foam core board press into the glue while pulling the fabric taut. Easy peasy.....

Here you can see the beginning stages of the ring display taking shape. Keep about an inch of excess fabric hanging over each edge. This will be used later to finish off the display piece.

 I did the same procedure all the way across the frame to the opposite side. Almost finished!
 
Once all of the foam has been secured to the foam core board and covered with fabric, you have to clean up the sides so that the entire foam/fabric display piece fits neatly into the frame you've chosen. Pull the foam covered fabric piece you've just created out of the frame through the back. This next step is crucial as if you don't get it laying nicely around the edges--- you run the risk of the display piece you've just made not fitting in the frame you've chosen. Take your time, and start pleating the fabric and pulling it snugly down to the edge of the foam core and using hot glue attaching it to the foam core board. Just keep it smooth, not to bulky.... and you'll have no problems. Once the edge is looking nice, simply cut off the extra fabric and your all done. The edge will be covered by the frame, but it has to lay flat and cannot be bulky or it will not fit inside your frame.

 Once that was finished, I placed the frame over the velveteen ring display. Looking good FABULOUS!

 Lastly, I turned the display piece over and I ran some hot glue between the edge of the frame and the foam core board to keep it securely in place. At this point, you could either add some paper or felt to finish off the backside of this ring display....

There you have it, an easy--- super cute ring display!

 big hugs,
 

Weekend W.I.P.

Well..... I was doing really well on my backyard lagoon compass until.... I fillet my  index finger with a razor as I was cutting some cardboard. I cut from the finger tip all the way down to the knuckle. The. Entire. Length. Of. My. Finger. *gasp* I know right? I probably need stitches, but the thought of that makes me faint...

Anywho, I created a large compass mold that is going to be set in the brick floor of the lagoon.....

  

Once I'm feeling up to it, I'll get it poured and continue on until it is finished!

big hugs,

Roasting Marshmallows

My daughter and her family are going camping this week. This will be the first camping trip for my two little grandchildren. Along with camping, it is my son-in-laws birthday too.... so, I thought it would be fun for my two grand kids to make some roasting sticks  and gift them to their dad for his birthday-- then they could use them on the camping trip.

They were simple to make, I cut and straightened wire coat hangers for the sticks. The wire coat hangers have a bronzed finish on them that easily comes off with some sand paper. I only sanded about 3 inches where the marshmallows would be placed on the roasting sticks.  Once the wire was ready to go, I looped one end and had my two grand kids add one large bead and then four small beads to create a handle. We used a paint brush dipped in glue to adhere the wooden beads together. After the glue holding the beads together dried,  I let my grand kids paint each handle with what ever color they liked.
 
Pink for Mom, blue for Dad, orange for Jonathan and Chloe requested a shiny purple. Little Miss Chloe Rose loves to paint and does it every time she comes over to Nana's house *wink*

 Here is Jonathan hard at work, this was the perfect project for him--- short and sweet. He doesn't like working on art projects that take longer than 15 minutes...

Once the paint on the handles dried, they were finished. Easy peasy. I used some foam marshmallow on the end of each roasting stick to keep them from poking anyone accidentally while being transported in the car to the camp site.
 
I think they turned out really cute! The grand kids wrapped everything up nicely... I even let them wrap up some marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers to go with the roasting sticks...
fun times... fun times :-)
big hugs,

Yearly Pilgramige

I had a wonderful time at San Juan Batista for the annual Antique street fair that is held the second Sunday of August. I totally fell in love with a store that I didn't expect to come across while poking around the streets looking for treasures... The store is called "Vintage Corner" and it is literally one of the cutest stores I have come across in a long-long time.

 The store is housed in an old school building that is just filled with charm from every angle...

 I completely fell in love with the burlap curtains and the burlap retaining netting that was used to close off part of this large room. The burlap netting is from a hardware store. I love the look of it and think I'll get some for my pirate backyard!

 Loving the huge wooden clock--- it was listed at only $85.00....

Everywhere you looked was something fabulous to look at... branches made into shelves? NEAT!

 My new bff Susan was selling out in the back court yard of the old school house now the "Vintage Corner" her face book page is: Crowned Goddess... another pure delightful soul. Unfortunately the store I fell in love with is closing at the end of August... boo.... but Susan is looking into getting ownership and continuing on with the store! I wish her all the luck in the world! Check out her face book page and say hello :-)

I did find the best kettle corn I have ever had in my life... that was my first purchase of the day! Priorities people, priorities...

Amongst the antiques I spotted some pirate junque...

the usual Pez junque...

and some old junque...

some cute junque...

 

and then there was some treasures! I immediately fell in love with this high chair with a vintage silver tray screwed in place for the high chairs tray.... fabulous!

 *gasp* the loveliness of it all! The soft pink she had painted everything was gorgeous!

I talked in length with the gal who created all this beauty and she was a sweetie as well~

Love-love-loving the vintage table cloths on this towel rack.... darling!

 and these dress forms a gal distressed and added the graphics onto the forms...

Super cute items... simple and sweet.

 I stopped in my tracks when I saw this pirate luggage piled high... aarrrgh.... *wink*

 Wooden furniture everywhere...

A huge folk art adult rocking chair...

 It is super odd, but extremely well made!

 It is for sale at "Sweet Pea Antiques" on Third Street in San Juan Batista if your interested in purchasing it. *wink*

 OH..... and they have these little children's chairs that are super sweet!!!

Here are some more photos from the "Vintage Corner".....

Loving the rusty galvanized retaining wall in the garden...

An old spool potting table..... cute~

Oh my goodness... a bucket turned into a light? Um... yes please!

I did manage to find some odds and ends to actually buy while in San Juan Batista. I found a few pirate things for my backyard, I found 24 cork net-buoys for only $10.00 for the lot. A wooden vase and a wooden tiki sculpture both only $2 each, and the large wooden box was only $1.00.

 

This turning display piece was only $6, the little pegs on the side fold down flat against the piece so the whole thing is easier to transport. It is a neat piece that I can hopefully turn into something fabulous to hold some jewelry pieces for sale.

 

The biggest score of the day, besides the to-die-for caramel kettle corn, was this vintage metal parts cabinet. It was only $40.00.... I was on the fence on if I wanted to buy it or not--- until a man said he wanted to buy it if I didn't. Well.... thats all it took.... it was mine. 

It even came with some parts inside the drawers....

 

I told the guy I bought it from I was going to paint it pink--- I'm glad I can do my part to make people laugh hysterically..... all in a days work!

Here are a few of the people that made my day extra special:

The owner of 

"Sweet Pea Antiques"

     404 Third Street   

San Juan Batista, CA 95045 

The owner of

"Gussied Up Antiques"

349 Bell Street

Los Alamos, CA 

The Owner of

Junk U Say

(Face book)

and lastly, 

Susan Ramirez, Artist

Crowned Goddess

(Face book)

Thanks again to all of you for adding such joy to my day!

big hugs,