Tag Archives: antique

‘Tis the Season for Engagements!

Vintage Tea Stained Wedding Collections 1 & 2There’s no more romantic time than the holidays for getting engaged – and many do!  As you turn your attention toward the many details that will suddenly become very important to you, take time to enjoy the process of defining what YOU and your intended want your wedding to represent to your family and friends.  Fashions come and go, but your wedding should reflect both who you two are and who you hope to become.

Be inspired by fashion and color trends, but don’t be a slave to them!  What have you always loved?  What will you likely still love 25 or 50 years from now when you look back at the pictures of the happiest day of your life?

Timeless elegance is just that!  Vintage modern strikes a lovely balance between the timeless values that make for a great marriage (after all that is the point of all of these festivities) and a new world that continues to rapidly grow and evolve.

Through the generosity of Karen at The Graphics Fairy: http://www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/, I have been able to combine several of her antique images with antique inspired fonts and new watercolor teastained backgrounds  and create the lovely wedding sets above.  With the magic of Photoshop and the ability to blend modern watercolor artwork and vintage elements these sets came to life.

There are two distinct sets that are completely mix and match-able.   The first set (shown above) was introduced this time last year.  If you click on the image it will take you to that product in my store.  There are also: Rehearsal Dinner Invites, Save the Date Announcements, Bridal Shower & Couple’s Shower Invitations as well as mailing labels, envelopes and reception decor items.

Tea Stained Vintage Antique Printer's Ornament Decorative Etchings Wedding Invitation

This second set is new this year and was designed to coordinate perfectly with Set #1.  We’ll be adding additional items as the season goes along, but don’t hesitate to ask us for anything you don’t see.  Please use my Zazzle Store contact email as the one attached to this blog does not function correctly and I won’t get your email 🙁

New Color Way for Les Fleur Pavoine

By request, I’ve created a new colorway for this very popular collection.  In the near future there will be additional color ways available including: Grey, Rose Pink, Light Blue, and Teal.

This is hand painted, watercolor artwork of flowers I painted from life.  I’ve worked it into a “French Antique Wallpaper” feel so that while it is new art it has the feel of vintage antiquity.   Some of the elements included are antique handwriting, hand painted leaf swirl border with an interior that has a velum look.  I’ve also included botanical butterflies, printer’s ornament decorative etchings and other vintage elements.

These are set up for weddings, but you can change the text to use them for any party, celebration or business corporate event.

Peony Floral in Lavender with Butterflies, Roses, Tulips & Poppies

Peacock Wedding Invitations and Products

I’m getting prepared for the season… Yes, for the Christmas season, but business-wise for the upcoming Wedding season.  It kicks into gear just about as soon as Christmas passes us by.  I can’t believe how quickly this year has flown by!  I have so much that is new, I thought I would do some feature boards to tie in with my new Pinterest account where I’m showing complete theme ideas to coordinate with my invitation designs.  If you’re “creatively challenged” and have a hard time envisioning how things would work together, I hope they’ll be of help!

If any of you are looking for a specific design motif or color I don’t have, I’d love to hear from you.  I’m always looking for upcoming trends.  If there’s one you’ve been noticing, I’d love to have you comment and fill me in on the details!

These Peacock Feathers Wedding Invitation Ensemble or Suites are available in a wide variety of color combinations including: Black, Royal Blue, Teal, Medium Aqua, Light Aqua, Purple, and Green.

If you don’t see the color you would like to use for your wedding, I can create an entire collection to your specifications.  Just go to my Zazzle store and you’ll find a “contact” email button.  I’m happy to help out.

Any invitation set can also be converted for parties or other occasions such as Mardis Gras.  You can do that when you add your personalization or I can help.

Here’s the link to my Pinterest Board on Blue Peacock Wedding Inspiration: http://pinterest.com/audreyjeanner/peacock-inspired-wedding-blues/ Come take a peek!

Vintage Art Microscope Slide Christmas Ornaments

I had a wonderful customer from my Etsy store make these lovely Christmas ornaments using my vintage collage designs.  I’m in LOVE with these!Vintage Christmas Microscope Slide Ornament 1 She graciously offered to share her ideas and instructions for others to enjoy.  My thanks to Patti at ETSY DEARSHABBY SHOP (click on name for link) who developed these very thorough and easy to follow directions.  Her photos are outstanding, but I bet they can’t even begin to show the elegance of the diamond glitter encrusted beauties 🙂
Here’s what you’ll need:

Microscope slides (buy on line for a very reasonable price)
Digital Download images available on Etsy from AudreyJeanneRoberts (or other wonderful Etsy artists as well )
Decoupage Glue
Detail Paint brush (to apply the decoupage glue to slides)
A pop-sickle stick if you don’t have a decent thumb nail
Glitter in assorted colors and sizes
Diamond Dust ( Large container ) of glitter
High Gloss top coat spray
Rainbow Gallery Plastic Canvas 10 (this is in the jewelry making department of your favorite craft store.
Preserve It spray (a strong hairspray will also work )

Vintage Santa OrnamentI’ve found that the most efficient way to do this project is to do each of the steps all at once. Meaning that instead of completing one piece at a time, do step one to all of your pieces, then step two, step three and so on. It works out much better for you if you do it this way.
Here’s our first step.
1. Decide first how many pieces you’ll want to make. Do you want to just experiment for now? Or would you like to create about 25 of these to hang on your tree?

2. You’ll want to go to AUDREY JEANNE’S ETSY SHOP. (This set used is found here: VINTAGE ANGEL)
You will see ALL of the beautiful digital downloads in her store but I was looking for Christmas items so I searched Christmas once I was in her store.

3. Once you have printed out your images you will want to protect them from running which can happen with ink jet printers. If you happen to have a laser printer~ you can skip this step. You can either use “Preserve It” spray, available from your craft store, (look in the art section or the scrap booking section) or a very strong hairspray. . Spray a very fine mist over the whole page. You don’t have to soak it, better not to. It will dry within 15 minutes
Vintage Ornament Craft Instructions4. If you have a “Cutterbee Cutterpeed” Cutter or any paper cutter like we used in grade school, that’s the best way to cut these out. Cut out strips first then with your scissors you can cut the individual clips out. They come in sizes of 2 inches long. You want them to be able to fit on the microscope slide so you’ll want to cut them into strips.

5. Once you have all of your pieces cut out, dip your detailed paint brush in the decoupage glue and apply a small amount of the glue on just one side of the slide. Don’t cover the whole slide only because you don’t need to. Just put a thin layer where you will be applying your image.

6. Center the image face down so that the picture will be showing through the front of the clear glass. Use your thumbnail or your popsicle stick to remove any air bubbles and excess glue. Please don’t skip this step, there will be air bubbles and excess glue. Just make sure you don’t rub too hard.
7. Put the pieces aside to dry. If you can place them in sunlight (indoors) or near a heat vent, all the better.
8.Once they are dry, grab your glitter glue. . I am using different colors of glitter on each one . Place the glitter glue on the same side of the glass as your image. So the glitter will be behind the glass. It is just as brilliant and the glue dries clear.
9. Once the glue is dry, (place them in the sunlight or near a heat vent. If you have a small bathroom where you could shut the door and let the heat turn the room into an arid environment, all the better). 15 minutes if you have them in the bathroom and 25 if the conditions aren’t so dry. Take them outside or in a well ventilated room and spray the high gloss top coat on the back where you’ve done all the work. This way you won’t have glitter falling off whenever you handle the pieces.
10. Next, let’s take a hot glue gun or if you don’t want to work with that kind of heat, a jewelers glue that works on glass would be fine, and in small sections, add it to the edge of the slide. Then quickly take your ” Rainbow Gallery Plastic Canvas 10″ and line the edge. Do this all around the edges. When you’re done, add glue all around the edges again and only working in small sections, dip the glued piece into the large container of Diamond Dust. Tap the excess off each time you bring the slide out of the diamond dust. Now turn the piece over and using your same glue attach the Rainbow Gallery string in a U shaped pattern on the back so that you are now able to hang your pieces.
The other great thing about this project is you can follow these instructions for all different holidays and just hang the slides in sunny windows.

If you are going to have a Christmas cookie exchange or a party, these would make a fabulous favor gift tag on your packages.  Just add a beautiful ribbon and use to tie on a package or bag.  Is it Christmas yet?!

A Vintage Peacock Favor Gift Tag Freebie!

Vintage Peacock Wedding Favor Gift Tags, Free download

Just for fun today, I created this Vintage Peacock punchable gift tag.  He’s a free download.  All you have to do to claim him is go to my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/audrey.jeannes.expressions (or click on the image and it will take you there).  You may have to scroll through posts to find him or you can go to my albums and look for “Freebie” as the title.

Inexpensive yet Elegant Table Card Numbers, any Color Background

While you’re there would you please consider “liking” my page?  We’re working toward reaching 500 “likes” and then there will be a link to a $4.95 digital clip art Easter kit for FREE!  If you have a friend that would enjoy the freebie too, would you consider letting them know about it for me as well.  It’s all about connecting!

Elegant "Vintage Peacock" Save the Dates available at Zazzle

To use these as Favor tags for a wedding reception or bridal shower, you can either hand write on them after printing, or typeset your names on them before printing.  This requires some graphic program or Microsoft Word knowledge.  Make sure you use as heavy a card stock as your printer can manage, it makes a difference in the finished product.  To create the tags, simply either cut them out on a paper trimmer, or use a square or round punch.  I left lots of background to give you more options.   Punch a hole in the top and use a lovely ribbon to affix them to your favors and you have a beautifully elegant touch for your wedding reception tables, bridal shower decor or other party event.

Antique Vintage Peacock Wedding Invitation, Monogrammed Custom Color

There are invitations, RSVPs and other stationery goods in a wide variety of background colors, that have been designed to match this collection.  I’ve linked just a couple here in this post, but you can find a wide selection of peacock designs – from vintage to contemporary and in many different colorways in my store.

A Plethora of Peacocks!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE peacocks!  When I was a little girl we went to the San Diego Zoo several times a year.  Anyone who’s ever been there has been regally greeted by the resident show offs that hang around the entrance.  I could have watched them for hours if my mother would have let me.

Peacocks are showing a resurgence in art and especially for weddings.  I have happily gone along with this trend and have some new things to show today.  A new line of wedding invitations at Zazzle.  And new craft oriented designs for sale at my Etsy store.

I am still in the process of adding designs in both stores.  The wedding ensemble will have cupcake wrapers and toppers, table seating charts, table numbers, escort cards, wedding menus & programs and much more.

The Etsy kits will include both square and round designs in 3″, 2.5″, 2.25″, 2″, 1.5″, 1″ and 7.8″ sizes as well as ATC cards, shaped tags and more.

If you’re looking to add some elegance to your Thanksgiving or Christmas table, try this quick idea:  Use peacock feathers, a custom name on a circle design like these collages and a beautiful wired ribbon – cut the feathers to about 5-6″, tie them on to your napkins, tuck them inside the ribbon and place across your table setting.  Easy Peasy Elegance!!!!

New “Vintage Roses ‘n Butterflies” Collection of Digital Art

I am really enjoying playing with classic vintage art mixed with my own art.  There are quite a few sizes offered in this collection all of which will be found at my Etsy store Here are a few of the images of what is available.  Because of the way that Etsy works with a single listing for a product, I’ll link to the entire store, not the item in question.  They often sell in a day and that makes the link inoperable.

Shown are three different kits.  Each is allowable for small commercial crafting use.  This means that one person, crafting all their own items with home tools (no mass production equipment) can create physical crafts (not digital) to sell at craft shows, craft booths in malls and in online stores like Ebay and Etsy.

The first kit is one 4 inch by 6 inch postcard or card front with 4, 3 inch squares for greeting card making, magnets, gift tags or other uses.

The second kit is a 1″ circle set for bottle caps, inchies, soldered glass pendants, pebble magnets and other uses.  The circles are available from 2 1/2″ on down to 7/8″ size.

The third kit is a 2 1/2″ square set that is also available all the way down to 7/8″ size for a wide variety of uses.

There is also a design collection at Zazzle for Wedding, Bridal Shower and other invitations.  This design received a “Today’s Best Award” from the Zazzle Design Staff.  There is a complete Wedding Ensemble coming including Table Seating Charts, Table Cards and Place Cards.

TODAY’S WINNER FOR THE BLOG CONTEST DRAWING IS:

Cheryl!  She won her choice of any of the $4.95 kits at Etsy.

Thanks to each that wrote a comment, please keep it up.  I read and enjoy every one of them.  It makes me want to come blog more when I hear back 🙂

Brand New Wedding Ensemble, “Vintage Roses ‘n Birds”

This Reception Invitation Card is designed to coordinate with all of the Vintage Rose ‘n Birds Wedding Ensemble. It is a hybrid of original watercolor artwork by Audrey Jeanne Roberts and vintage elements. A cluster of antique roses in pink, yellow and red is mixed with other classic blooms and two love birds. The elegant scroll work is contemporary artwork inspired by antiques. A soft damask pattern in a light mossy green finishes off the art.  There are several choices of invitations to select from.  You can find them by clicking on any of the pictures and going to my store.  Once there go to Everything Wedding/Green or VIA THIS LINK

This Reception Table Seating Chart for assigned seating is designed to coordinate with all of the Vintage Rose ‘n Birds Wedding Ensemble. Easy to customize, you simply type your guest’s names in the field provided. You can delete tables, add names and move things around easily. I will design a table seating chart to match any wedding invitation ensemble in my store, all you have to do is ask!

Perfect to use as seals for your envelopes, these stickers are easy to customize with your names and dates.  Not getting married?  These can become Address stickers by simply changing the text.  It’s very easy to do on Zazzle.

There is a huge selection of additional products that coordinate to fill all of your wedding day needs.  Every invitation can be changed to any occasion.  25th or 50th Wedding Anniversary?  Change the text to reflect your celebration.

The Blog Contest for August is closing tomorrow.  All you have to do to earn entries in the drawing is post a comment on any and or all posts in the month of August.  Each comment is an entry.  The prize is your choice of any of my $4.95 kits at my Etsy store!

Vintage Peacock Wedding Invitation Ensemble, New at Zazzle

I found this vintage image of a Peacock and immediately thought how elegant and stately it would be on a wedding invitation.  I designed the first with a Peacock blue accent color, but it has been set up on Zazzle to be easily customized by the bride to use any color that fits with her wedding.  All that’s needed is the Hex# of the color (selected from your color picker in your graphics program or just ask me), plug that color into the background and in the appropriate text and presto, custom wedding invitation!

I created a matching envelope as well and then ran out of time yesterday.  The entire suite of products should be available by the end of the week.  The customizable color envelope hasn’t been created yet, but I would be happy to create it for anyone needing a specific color combination.

One of the things I adore about Zazzle is that you don’t have to have any minimum quantity to do a custom invitation, try that in a brick and mortar store!  The more quantity you order the less expensive the cost per invitation and they ship for a flat fee.  Remember that any invitation can be customized for any event.  If you have a birthday party, you don’t just have to look at the Birthday invitations for your party theme.  Also great for 50th anniversary parties or Family reunions.

Remember that there are just a few days left in the month to get your comments in for the drawing.  You can comment on any and every post and each comment counts as an entry into the Blog Contest drawing.  The winner gets their pick of a $4.95 kit at my ETSY store.  Good luck!

“Aged Grape Vineyard” Wedding Ensemble or Party Invitations

Useful for wine tasting parties or wedding invitations, this is one of my all time favorite pieces of artwork that I’ve done.  I love the texture, the richness of the color palette (perfect for summer or fall weddings!) and most of all I love vineyards and all things grapes.  I live in the mountains of Central California and our valleys are full of beautifully tended vineyards.  I love watching them grow throughout the year.

There is a full ensemble of products for this wedding line and if I’m missing anything that you would like, I’ll be happy to create it for you. Table place setting cards, Table Cards, Wedding Dinner Menus, Wedding Programs and more.

If you are looking for an inexpensive Bridal Shower or Save the Date option, postcards are great.  This Bridal Shower postcard design can be purchased for as low as $.90 each in bulk (250 or above).

Also useful are two sided, Favor Gift Tags which can be tied on to your favors with a lovely matching ribbon and provide a tremendous visual impact for your table decor with very little cost involved.  100 cards run only $21.80!

“Silver Age of Elegance,” Hollywood Glamour Era Inspired Wedding Invitation Ensemble at Zazzle

Yesterday I released a new “Golden Age of Elegance” and today I am previewing the vintage Silver version.  This can be used as Thank You notes, wedding correspondence, shower invitations and more.  Both the Silver and Gold versions can be used for Twenty Fifth (25th) Wedding Anniversaries and Fiftieth (50th) Wedding Anniversaries.  Imagine a classic war bride black & white in the photo frame – stunning!  I will design them as finished products for anniversaries but if anyone needs them now, just go to my wedding section>cream, neutral, brown and you’ll see the entire collection.  Change the text to reflect your occasion, substitute your picture for my daughter and son-in-law’s (aren’t they adorable?!) and you’re ready to go.

Stickers or Seals can add that finishing touch to the outer envelope.  There are easy ways you can add that special touch to your invitations.  Try adding a thin, matching ribbon tied in a beautiful knot.  Make sure you move the text above and below where you want the ribbon to tie.  If you add ribbon make sure you take them to the post office to be hand processed.  We can also work together to design an invitation that utilizes the stickers and ribbon under the picture on the actual invitation.  I will try to digitally mock that option up and update this post later.

These Menu Cards or Wedding Program Cards are in a wonderfully different elongated rectangle format.  They are also available in wedding invitations.

There is no real metal in these invitations all of the aged,