Sunday, February 28, 2010

Taking a Stroll Down Memory Lane...



My Very First Hand-Painted Upcycled Decoupage Creation!





I created this canister about three years ago. I made a candle out of it and gave it to my sister, Andrea, as a present (this piece continues to have no title...it is just simply known as "my first masterpiece"). Around this time, my husband, Joe, and I were noticing that we were going through a lot of steel and tin cans and Joe said, “I wish we could do something with these instead of throw them away”, and I thought “Isn’t there something I could do with these to revamp and beautify them and maybe incorporate them into a future gift”. Before I knew it I was purchasing some black glossy paint and some bright white fabric paint and I was creating my first few canisters. That Christmas I gave the canisters to family members and made candles to go inside of them or I placed black satin pouches inside and filled them with homemade coconut and hemp oil soap...it was a hit, my family loved them!





Notice how the freckles are large and spaced out...this is how I made my first few canisters before deciding that I liked the smaller more close together freckles that provide an eye-catching look and a fun texture! Furthermore, I had not yet discovered the wondrous glossy Mod Podge that perfectly seals and protects the images as well as provides a nice glossy shine.



Friday, February 26, 2010

Breakfast at Tiffany's





A beautiful Tiffany Blue heart hangs above the lovely and infatuated Audrey Hepburn (Holly Golightly); her delectable breakfast items float around her as she gazes at some exquisite rings at Tiffany's.





You can display this delightful piece as a candle votive, pen or pencil holder, trinket container, or as a stunning work of art. This also makes a great gift for holding baked goods, candies, soaps, bath salts, teas, etc. Also in my shop are some beautiful satin pouches that fit perfectly in this canister and can contain candies, cookies, soap, teas, etc.





In these pictures, the shine on the canister is from the glossy Mod Podge finish. I applied two coats of Mod Podge to this canister so the images are protected, yet you can still feel the fun texture of the freckles!

The eco-friendly recycled materials used in this item are: a tin can, magazine clippings, and recycled paper. This piece measures 3 1/2 tall and 3 inches wide. The interior of this tin is painted a lovely sky blue.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Eco-Friendly Freckles Review - Seahorse Sushi





"I love this art! It makes me think of the time I had the delicious morsels in an Asian restaurant for the first time. The aroma of the wasabi was so tempting I had to try it even though it took my breath away. Obviously, the picture of the pretty girl depicts her obvious enjoyment of the delicate tasting tidbits. This art piece is very dreamy and surreal." - Sharee

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Eco-Friendly Freckles Myspace!


If any of you all happen to be on Myspace, you can check out Eco-Friendly Freckles Myspace profile...and maybe even add me as a friend! ;-) I add photos and information about my art pieces frequently on Myspace; although this blog definitely features Eco-Friendly Freckles' "latest news"!

http://www.myspace.com/vickisveil



Mommy with her cherished babies: me and my twin sister Andrea!

My myspace profile web link (url) is named after my initial business title "Vicki's Veil" which (as is Eco-Friendly Freckles) is dedicated to my mother Vicki whose mystery, craftiness, and strength continue to amaze me! You can read more information about this in my blog post titled, "I dedicate this site to my mother Vicki":

http://ecofriendlyfreckles.blogspot.com/2010/01/hand-painted-recycled-decoupage-decor.html

...or on my myspace profile!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Calm, Cool, and Collected





A serene woman finds herself calm, cool, and collected when she is surrounded by her positive thoughts, soothing tea, and yoga wisdom. This enlightened yogini sips on the infusions of medicinal herbs while peacefully meditating in the blue and green oasis she creates in her mind. Behind the meditating woman is a faint scroll of positive affirmations, here are a few of them: "My life is as good as I say it is", "Perfection", and "I am able to take risks". There are also inspirational yogi tea tags encompassing this entire canister; a few of them say: "Mental happiness is total relaxation", "True understanding is found through compassion", "I am beautiful, I am bountiful, I am blissful", "The beauty of life is to experience yourself", "Wisdom, character, and consciousness conquer everything", and "To be calm is the highest achievement of the self" (among many others).





You can display this eye-catching piece as a candle votive, pen or pencil holder, trinket container, or as a stunning work of art. This also makes a great gift for holding baked goods, candies, soaps, bath salts, teas, etc. Also in my shop are some beautiful "cello" bags made of 1.2 mil crystal clear polypropylene that are decorated in elegant white lace and are used as candy bags, food bags, soap bags, or for any small item. These are great for using in this size tin when giving as a gift to contain other presents.





In these pictures, the shine on the canister is from the glossy Mod Podge finish. I applied two coats of Mod Podge to this canister so the images are protected, yet you can still feel the fun texture of the freckles!

The eco-friendly recycled materials used in this item are: a tin can, magazine clippings, and yogi tea tags. This piece measures 5 1/2 inches tall and 4 inches wide. The interior of this tin is painted a beautiful deep sea green.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Drama Queen Needs Ice Cream





In a crazed dispute, a frustrated blonde lashes out at a frightened brunette...all the while, she desperately needs to cool down with some ice cream and calm down with some good advice (yogi tea tags on this canister say: "Socialize with compassion, kindness, and grace", "The moment you love, you are unlimited", "To be calm is the highest achievement of the self", and "When ego is lost, limit is lost".





You can display this eye-catching piece as a candle votive, pen or pencil holder, trinket container, or as a stunning work of art. This also makes a great gift for holding baked goods, candies, soaps, bath salts, teas, etc. Also in my shop are some beautiful "cello" bags made of 1.2 mil crystal clear polypropylene that are decorated in elegant white lace and are used as candy bags, food bags, soap bags, or for any small item. These are great for using in this size tin when giving as a gift to contain other presents.



In these pictures, the shine on the canister is from the glossy Mod Podge finish. I applied two coats of Mod Podge to this canister so the images are protected, yet you can still feel the fun texture of the freckles!

The eco-friendly recycled materials used in this item are: a tin can, magazine clippings, and yogi tea tags. This piece measures 6 inches tall and 3 inches wide. The interior of this tin is painted a vibrantly bright yellow.



Friday, February 19, 2010

The Art of Upcycling!


TylerHandmade has generously listed one of my hand-painted upcycled decoupage canisters (Traveling Lady) in one of her newest blog posts: The Art of Upcycling! Kick back and enjoy looking through Tyler's top picks for handmade upcycled items in this awesome blog post!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Now Using Glossy Mod Podge On My Upcycled Decoupage Canisters!



I am now using glossy Mod Podge as a finish on my hand-painted, upcycled decoupage canisters. I apply two coats of Mod Podge to each canister so the images are protected, yet you can still feel the fun texture of the freckles! This Mod Podge is the "icing on the cake" for my eco-friendly creations; they are now glistening and even more spectacular! Check out my etsy shop to see the new photos of my revamped art!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ecofriendlyfreckles

Friday, February 12, 2010

Eco-Friendly Freckles is now selling Medicinal and Exotic Herbs!



Egyptian Blue Lotus Lily - Aphrodisiac - Enhance Sexual Desire Naturally

This Egyptian Blue Water Lily boasts robust colors with a strong, fresh, floral aroma. Much of the Blue Lotus products on the market are wild crafted and smell fishy or like the pond water from which it is harvested.
This Blue Lotus Water Lily is cultivated at a private farm under controlled conditions to ensure clean, high quality specimens.

Blue Lotus was used in Ancient Egypt to enhance sexual desire. Egyptian medicinal practitioners also used this flower to stimulate blood flow, and as an anti aging treatment. Blue Lotus is an aphrodisiac for men and women as well as a general remedy and tonic. The Egyptians worshipped the Blue Lotus Lily because it was viewed as a visionary plant and it was a symbol for the origins of life (good health, intimacy, and rebirth). The Egyptians believed that our world was originally covered by water and darkness. A Blue Lotus sprang up from the water and opened its petals to reveal a young god, a Divine Child. Light streamed from the Divine Child to banish universal darkness. This child god was the Creator and the source of all life. When the Pharaoh known as King Tut was entombed, his body was covered in Blue Lotus flowers.

When prepared as a tea the flowers produce a thick, gold/clear liquid that reminds one of melted amber. The liquid is ever so slightly sweet and upon being consumed creates a warm, euphoric glow. There is some indication that the effects of Blue Lotus may be enhanced if soaked in wine (which is thought to be the original Egyptian method of use) or other alcohol.

This listing is for a small Ziploc bag containing 5 grams of dried Blue Lotus petals and stamens.



White Willow Bark - Medicinal Herb For Pain, Inflammation, Head Ache, and Fever

Ancient Egyptians and the ancient Greeks used white willow bark for inflammation and to cure headaches and fevers. It didn't come into widespread use until scientists learned to buffer the active substance and put it into a marketable form; thus Asprin was born.
White willow bark is used for conditions that cause pain, inflammation, or fever, such as:

-Acute back pain
-Fever
-Flu
-Joint pain
-Osteoarthritis
-Pain

People take white willow bark instead of aspirin because it does not appear to be as irritating to the stomach lining. It may be because the salicin found naturally in white willow bark is only converted to the acid form after it is absorbed by the stomach. Researchers have also suggested that white willow bark is more effective than aspirin because of other active compounds that are found in the bark but not the drug.
White Willow Bark is also nice to burn as incense, and it blends well with other fragrant incense herbs. White Willow gives off a delicate, smooth, alluring sweet and spicy woodsy aroma.

This listing is for one (1/2 ounce) small sealed Ziploc bag.

Check out these new items in my shop!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ecofriendlyfreckles

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Lullaby of Angels' Enlightenment





On a blessed evening, adorable little angels bring serenity and love to a young woman's home. They flutter around her snow white canopy bathtub and heavenly glowing bed, as their soft voices sing a lullaby of enlightening, inspirational guidance. Uplifting thoughts caress the woman's mind like a warm, captivating embrace; such as: "The beauty of life is to experience yourself", "The power of prayer extends happiness", "Our intuition lies in our innocence", "Sing from your heart", and "When you know that all is light, you are enlightened". A lovely, antique wall hanging that reads "Always kiss me goodnight" and music notes are also featured on this enchanting canister.





This exquisite piece is best used as a candle votive to create an enchanting atmosphere or to give as a gift filled with chocolates. You can also display this as a trinket container, pen or pencil holder, or as a stunning work of art. This canister also makes a great gift for holding baked goods, candies, soaps, bath salts, teas, etc. Also in my shop are some beautiful "cello" bags made of 1.2 mil crystal clear polypropylene that are decorated in elegant white lace and are used as candy bags, food bags, soap bags, or for any small item. These are great for using in this size tin when giving as a gift to contain other presents.





The eco-friendly recycled materials used in this item are: a steel can, recycled paper, yogi tea tags, and magazine clippings. This piece measures 5 1/2 inches tall and 4 inches wide. The interior of this tin is painted a charming golden yellow.

I have marked the price of this particular canister down because; like all of my canisters, I have applied Mod Podge as a glossy sealant and finish to provide protection of the images...the angels on this canister are printed from a collage sheet on high quality photo paper and unfortunately the Mod Podge has slightly damaged some of the film over the angel images. However, the bathtub, bed, woman, wall hanging, and music notes are magazine clippings and are in pristine condition. The pictures provided are of the completed piece and show all of the flaws and perfections.

Eco-Friendly Freckles Review - Words of Wisdom



"What drew me to this canister over the others was the phrases. Every single one of them speaks directly to me. I also quite like the layout and the girl with the mug. Also the "freckles" are gorgeous! I love that look! I have a little mantle in my craft room that I use to hold a few ornaments etc so it's one space in here that's not cluttered with crafting stuff. I keep it up there, and I put wrapped candies in it. It's a nice reminder to take a break now and then." - Amanda



Story behind the "Words of Wisdom" canister:

While sitting cross-legged and sipping on a hot cup of herbal tea, a woman finds herself drifting into a deep relaxation during mediation. She hears the soft whisper of a female voice speaking words of wisdom which comfort and enlighten her. As the woman envisions her yoga blankets, pillow, and herself levitate in this inspiring trance, she suddenly sees a wise woman shaman on a magic carpet with a generous smile. Uplifting words of wisdom encompass this piece, such as: "Mental happiness is total relaxation", "Grace brings love and prosperity", and "The power of love is infinite".

The eco-friendly recycled materials used in this item are: a tin can, magazine clippings, recycled paper, and yogi tea tags. This piece measures 4 1/2 tall and 3 inches wide. The interior of this tin is painted a lovely deep red.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Eco-Friendly Freckles Tutorial - Supplies for Tutorials Exchange!

I am delighted to be participating in the Supplies for Tutorials Exchange! I have created an exquisitely lovely upcycled decoupage canister with some gorgeous, very high quality digital collage sheets graciously provided by The Magpies Nest. This piece was such a joy to create and it has a very sweet and uplifting story. The Supplies for Tutorial Exchange is sponsored by Totally Tutorials.

Magpie Mine's adorable collage sheets tickled with my imagination! These charming little angels perfectly pulled together the enchanting story I was envisioning; and thus was born “Lullaby of Angels’ Enlightenment”! Below I have posted my tutorial of how I created this inspirational masterpiece!

Materials:

- Digital Collage Sheets

- Recycled Steel Can

- Glossy Black Spray Paint

- Magazine Clippings

- Scissors

- Collage Glue (I used Tombow Mono Aqua Liquid Glue, but you can also use Mod Podge as the adhesive for the images)

- Assorted recycled magazine clippings

- Bright White Fabric Paint

- Desired Acrylic Paint for interior of the canister (I chose a beautiful golden yellow)

- Small sponge brush

- Recycled Yogi Tea tags (from yogi tea bags)

- Mod Podge Gloss Lustre (water based sealer, glue, and finish)


1. Peel off the label from the canister.

2. Spray paint the canister.


3. Meticulously cut around collage sheet images, magazine clippings, and yogi tea tags.

4. Position your images on the canister and figure out where you want to place each image so that the entire canister can be filled appropriately and to your liking.

5. Cut the images to a suitable size to fit on the canister and glue them in the desired places.

6. Delicately and leisurely apply white fabric paint to the canister, forming tiny dots with your hand comfortably moving up and down; surrounding each image, continue around the entire canister.

7. Paint dots around the bottom and top rim of the canister.

8. Paint the interior of the canister with acrylic paint.

9. Paint tiny dots on the top, inside rim of the canister.

10. Coat the entire canister with Mod Podge, using up and down strokes. Mod Podge provides a nice, protective glossy finish for your images.

...and that is it! Enjoy your new, stunningly eye-catching upcycled decoupage canister!

"Lullaby of Angels' Enlightenment"