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Category: DIY Primitive Decor

Primitive Decor: Rusty Tin Bell Wreath

Rusty_Tin_Bell_Wreath
There’s nothing quite like the sound of jingle bells to remind you that it’s Christmas time, which makes a jingle bell wreath the perfect way to decorate your front door this winter that way every time you open the door, the tinkling will remind you of the season. This wreath uses rusty tin bells which will continue to age nicely as it graces your door though the winter weather and will look charming with any decor.

Things you need:
1 bag of 3/4 inch rusty tin jingle bells
3 inch Rusty tin bells
3 feet of 18 gauge Rusty tin wire
Needle nose pliers
2-3 inch wide ribbon, – about a yard

Things to do:
1. Thread on bell onto one end of the wire and push it 1-1/2 inches up from the end. Bend the wire up and around to secure the bell in place, leaving a tail free to connect the other end once the wreath is finished.
2. Starting at the other end, begin threading bells onto the wire one at a time, allowing the bells to stack, working them down as tightly as possible so that they surround and almost hide the wire.
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3. Continue to thread and stack until you have filled up about 2-1/2 feet of wire. Loop the wire around into a wreath shape and thread the end of the wire through the loop created with the first bell. Wrap tightly and trim the wire.
4. With the remaining piece of wire, tie together the two larger bells and wire them onto the wreath to cover the join.
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5. Slip the middle of the ribbon under the larger bells and tie a large bow just to the side for a splash of color.
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How To Make a Simple Silhouette Picture

Simple_Silhouette_Picture
Antique silhouettes, in today’s decor, are considered elegant artifacts of times past. Historically, owning a piece of artwork was the prerogative of the rich, so limners, or portraitists, created paper cut, black and white silhouettes to make portraiture more accessible to the poor, rural and less sophisticated. In fact it was known as the poor man’s miniature”. They were displayed prominently in the home and considered very desirable. The year 1840 brought with it a new invention, the daguerreotype, which caught on quickly as the hot new trend of its time, and rendered obsolete the quaint art of silhouette picture-making. With updated techniques, silhouettes are making a comeback. More and more people are hiring others, or learning themselves, to make these elegant portraits.

Things you need:
Camera
Fine-tipped paintbrush
White Apple Barrel acrylic paint
Heavy black permanent marker
Black, fine felt-tip marker
Black acid-free paper
White or ivory acid-free paper, pre-trimmed to fit the picture frame
Small, sharp scissors
Hobby knife and replacement blades
Cutting mat
All-purpose spray adhesive
Picture frame
Photocopier

Things to do:
1. First things, first, please make sure you are working in a well ventilated area. Take photographs of your subject in profile. A plain background is best. Backlight your subject for greater contrast and don’t use the camera’s flash. Print or develop the photos.
2. Using the fine-tipped brush, paint the photo background with the white acrylic paint and allow it to completely dry.
3. Fill in the image with the black permanent marker. Use the black felt-tip marker to exaggerate small details like eyelashes, bangs, curls, hats, jewelry, etc.
4. Photocopy the photo and carefully cut out the image with the hobby knife or small scissors, taking special care around the smaller details.
5. Use the cut-out as a template to trace the image onto the black acid-free paper. Use the hobby knife to cut out the new image.
6. Apply spray adhesive to the back of the image and carefully center and affix it to the white acid-free paper. Smooth out any creases or bubbles with a credit card or your fingers. Allow image to fully dry before framing.

Simple_Silhouette_Picture

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