Though I’m no longer offering vintage monograms as a design service, it would be a shame to let my fantastic reference library go to waste! Here are some three initial monogram alphabets circa 1925 to use in your projects, personal or commercial. Cut apart and arrange into any combination. (My only request is that you don’t sell the alphabet images as a whole, they are meant to be free.)
The monograms are scanned from a very old book and traced in Adobe Illustrator. They may be a bit rough around the edges and could use cleaning up if you’re so inclined, or left distressed as-is. Click on the images to access the free PDF files.
The July-August “New Classics” issue of Country Living magazine shares a full-page feature of my little nautical lifesaver napkin rings, (similar to the ones I blogged about here.) You know, you gotta be cool when you get a wonderful feature like that, I mean, you don’t just run right out to the nearest newsstand and buy a copy. You run right out and buy multiple copies! (Of course, CL generously sends me copies, I simply couldn’t wait.)
So, because I’ll have extra copies and because I LOVE Country Living magazine and always have, I’m giving away the July-August issue to two lucky winners, which by the way, is so deliciously farmhouse red, white & blue that I can hardly stand it. I’m also going to treat the winners to a one-year gift subscription of Country Living magazine! (You already have a subscription? Enter anyway and I’ll send it to your best friend, mom, sister or anyone you choose. US residents only, please.)
TO ENTER: Please visit Country Living.com, then come back to this post and leave a nice comment about one wonderful thing you discovered there. Entry to this giveaway closes at 11:59pm Sunday, June 26, 2011. Winners will be randomly chosen, notified and posted here soon after.
GIVEAWAY WINNERS: #83 Tamara and #131 Richard. Congratulations you two, and thanks to all who entered!
My Decal Penny Pendants project has become one of the all-time most popular posts on JSIM. To extend that project a bit further, I thought creating pet memory pendant charms would be really lovely.I still had our late dogs’ tags tucked even after 10 years, I guess you just don’t throw those sweet little things away.
Based on the instructions of the Decal Penny Pendant project HERE, I made various charms today. Look for vintage decals in antique shops, or shop Ebay, Etsy, RubyLane even Amazon.com using keywords such as: vintage decals, Meyercord decals, flower decals, water-slide decals, etc. The trick to finding vintage ones is patience, they list all the time. You can even use vintage porcelain decals and decals made for dollhouses.
I keep a tiny salt spoon handy to use with my Amazing Glaze Enameling Resin, which also comes in bulk. I love how you can turn something as simple as a dog tag and decal into something so precious. This one was made in memory of Isabeau.And this one in memory of Annie.I think these would make such thoughtful gifts for someone who has lost a pet.
I also had some vintage tool-check tags picked up at flea markets which also made pretty pendant charms. You can find lots of old brass tags on Etsy, too. If they are tarnished, you can easily shine them up with fine-grit sandpaper. Patina remains in the stamped areas nicely.You can color the stamped areas by spray-painting the tag and later sanding away the surface, leaving the color within the stamped numbers and letters. While I was baking the charms, I made a little accent piece with a penny and Martha Stewart Glitter.For this tag, I used a patriot image from a set of vintage miniature dollhouse-decor decals. You can even pretty-up other nostalgic bobbles like the key to your first home.I bought a very inexpensive toaster oven to keep in my studio just for crafting with Amazing Glaze and Inkjet Shrinky Dinks. When you have the supplies on hand, whipping out fun projects like these are super easy and fast.
Cut apart and arrange into any combination. (My only request is that you don’t sell the alphabet images as a whole, they are meant to be free.)
