Thursday, May 08, 2008

It's blog bloomin' time!!!

Yep, here's your chance to win those new Crafty Secrets Journal Booklets!! Sandy Redburn at Crafty Secrets was so generous in giving the design team some of these booklets to give away!
I will choose 2 lucky winners, 1st prize will be all 4 Journal Booklets, 2nd prize will be 2 Journal Booklets!

Here's what you do...I got these 2 old chairs from my son & DIL for an early Mother's Day present, {I just love them} comment on this post and tell me should I paint them, I was thinking a pretty pink, or leave them as they are and put a coat or 2 of sealer on them, I've been told that's what a lot of people are doing with these. I really would like some feedback here, I don't know what to do, LOL!! I will have the Random picker pick the winners the evening of May 12.












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Here are 2 cards I made with the new booklets.
The birthday card is made with the Homemade booklet and the little girl giving her dog a ride is from the Childhood booklet.
I used the whole sheet from the Homemade booklet for this tall card, I thought it was perfect for this size card!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a picture of my first iris bouquet, I have more blooming every day. I'll share a picture of some more of them when I can.

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget to leave a comment here and tell me what you would do with the chairs! You never know you could be a winner!






























102 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the cards you made with the new booklets! I'm inspired. So for your chairs, I painted mine and love them. They are amazingly comfortable!

Lori Washburn
swashburnx6@comcast.net

Deb Neerman said...

Your cards are wonderful!

The chairs look pretty kewl the way they are but that's me.

I can see them painted white with some pink shabby rose stenciling on 'em.

Good luck with your project!

Deb
debkneer@aol.com

Beth Thomas said...

Love the cards that you made with these beautiful booklets! As for the chairs, they are awesome! If I was painting these wonderful chairs for myself, I would choose an aqua or turquoise- they just make me think of vintage patio chairs.

Sharon in NE said...

I personally don't do shabby chic, but I think in this case, you only have the one chance to preserve the originally faded paint and weathered look to it. I would put a sealer on it as it. Enjoy it for a few years and then decide if you want to paint it. The weathered look to these chairs is really very nice. I think they would look great in a natural setting.

Lana said...

Piris! You make me happy!

I think you should paint them GREEN!! The same color as the original paint!

I like the shabby, but I'm so anal I would need them just perfect!

I used to have a red one that I got from my Grandma. I don't know what ever happened to that one! (my memory must be going!)

Happy Day Piris!

Broni said...

Oh, I LOVE your chairs! They remind me of my grandmother's porch! Her chairs were the classic green that seems to still be clinging to your chairs. Are you sure you don't want to paint them green??? Personally, I would paint them 'brilliant blue' as that is the main accent color in my garden.
Your cards are gorgeous and so are your irises!

angelwhispers said...

If it was me redoing those chairs I would put two coats of a baby pink paint on them and in a darker pink draw your beautiful iries the put a clear coat on it and then sit back and stare at your iries and even hen they are not in bloom you will till have the memory of a beautiful iries all year long

Ann Marie Kelley
angelwhispers-98@hotmail.com

Stefanie Staniak said...

I agree with Anne Marie - you need to make them for you. Paint them pink and then stencil your iris' on them. How cool would that be. You could even highlight the edges of the chairs with a can of spray paint a little deeper shade and make them shabby vintage like you do your cards !!
I love your cards by the way !! :)

Anonymous said...

I love the look of things my grandmother had -- flower sack towels, old cotton tablecloths, etc. It is always very warm and welcoming. I would paint them pink, aqua/turquoise or white as these are the colors hers were. I like the look, and memories, of times when families got together and just sat outside and visited, had picnics and always seemed to have full, rich lives without having to have full schedules.

Diane D. from TN

Anonymous said...

I would paint the chairs brown (not an ugly brown) and paint pink or blue
flowers on them, using the indentations as the stems.

R. James
rita_j@alltel.net

My SweetCards said...

Oh wow, these are great chairs just as they are. I would just clear coat them! What a great Mother's day gift.

SusanH said...

Cool chairs!! Leave them!!!!! I love that look - I'd leave them and clear coat them. Enjoy!

Anita said...

What wonderful chairs! I would just put a sealer on them and be done with it. They are beautiful the way they are. Hm, on second thought, since pink is my favorite color, maybe you should paint them pink! No, just clear coat them with a sealer!!!!!

http://stampinwithanita.com/

Anonymous said...

I would leave the chairs as they are! I am new to Crafty Secrets and this is my first time to your blog. I love your work and I look forward to learning from all of you talented ladies.

cards4u

Mom22RedHeads said...

Definitely leave them as they are. You would NEVER get them to look exactly like that. THey look sooooo cool that way.

Anonymous said...

I have two chairs from the early50's. I had them sandblasted then had them painted by a bodyshop. I did this 4 years ago and they are still perfect. Have you thought about setting the chairs by your iris garden? An old straw hat, garden gloves, and old hand shovel would look just great with the iris. Guess who has already done it?

Anonymous said...

This is your DIL (daughter in law) lol, I think that you should paint one chair red and one chair white. Then paint the opposite color polkadots on them. Make sure paint BIG dots not little bitty ones. Then on the arm of each chair paint a little lady bug!!!! How cute would that be :)

Judy in Indiana said...

I would paint them a color that coordinates with your house, so everything looks nice together. I don't know what color that is, though.

Kathie Tice said...

I love the "shabby chic" color they are now, but I still think I would paint them!

retiredheather said...

the cards are great. Why not do 2 painted pink and 2 left the `new is old`look.
Retired Heather

Miriam said...

I love your chairs. My grandmother used to have similar chairs in an aqua color, but I agree that a light pink would be nice. I would paint the arms (and legs)ivory. Whatever you do will look great! I love your card designs and the great new Crafy Secret booklets! Thanks for the opportunity to win!

Anonymous said...

you did such a great job with the booklets.. i have always been drawn to this style with the nostalgic look, and the comforting colors..
those chairs are gorgeous, and i can imagine them painted in muted colors with maybe some flower details on them..
they will look beautiful in your garden a place to sit and see the beauty of the season.

Katie Leach said...

I think you could go either way. They look good the way they are right now. However, a punchy color would be fun too!

Allison Rankin said...

How about a butter color? That would be durn purdy!

Anonymous said...

your cards are so pretty! Love the chairs. i would paint them a soft color and make some pretty striped pillows to sit on them

Bunny B said...

Cute booklets! Love the cards!
I think the chairs should be painted :) You'll have fun doing it too!! All the best!
(I think Anne Marie's idea is lovely!)

Bunny
bunnybox9 [at] gmail dot com

Stephanie said...

that is a tough call cause they look great now but painting them would be good too.

Jayne said...

I remember having some of those chairs in my backyard when I was a kid. Wow! Now, if it was me, I'd paint them. I know that it's not as retro to paint them, but I'd be a lot happier with them looking fresh instead of old and used. Just me. Thanks for sharing. I love the projects that you made with the Crafty products.

Anonymous said...

I would leave them! You could always buy new if you want them to look new! You can paint flowers or polka dots on flower pots! lol If you clear coat them, make sure it's a matte finish... IMO. If chairs could talk...

sandyh50 said...

I like seeing what you did with the booklets. Great cards.

I would paint them!

SAndy

Anonymous said...

I would seal them or paint them green (I don't know--perhaps because my Grandma's were green, but I always feel like these chairs should be green--a creamy Sage Shadow-ish color). I know pink is your preferance, and that might look just as good.

I love the cards and the vintage images!! SO BEAUTIFUL!

BabyBokChoy said...

Please let it be me!! I really love these and I can't find them anywhere!

Scott Franson Photography said...

First of all I have to say that I love the bearded iris's, they are my favorite flower! I think I would paint the chairs, a little love and they will be with you for a long time.
Claudia
scfranson@charter.net

Anonymous said...

I would paint them white with flowers on.. Can´t wait to see, what you decide to do.
Thanks for the chance to win those lovely booklets.
/Tina F.

Colleen, PA said...

I think that you should paint your chairs. Keep the photos of your iris coming...in PA I only have one variety blooming so far. They are sooo beautiful!

Felix said...

I saw these same chairs in front of an antique store here in California! I think you should just seal them and leave them alone. The ones I saw were identical and looked so homey.

Alison said...

I love the chairs the way they are. I'd just sand them a little bit to get all the rough bits off, and seal them as is.

Dragonlady said...

I personally love the chairs as they are and think with the milk jug seat there they look so great...But, if you really wanted to paint them, I think a patina look, spray them copper and then brush on a green and wipe off while wet....
Brenda

Anonymous said...

I think I'd sand then paint depending on how beat up they were

Anonymous said...

I do like that shabby chic look, only not too shabby. I would paint the seat and back a vintage white and just seal the frame as is. Make sure you blog a picture of your final outcome, we are all intrigued. Good luck

Tracy
tstanek@pris.ca

Anonymous said...

I would have to leave them as is - just put a sealer on them and go with it.
Great cards!

Charmingdesigns said...

Oh thanksLOL you want my input after reading everyones ideas!! Heres what I do...pros and cons. take everyones ideas...see if it works for you, color wise, or natural, do they go with your porch and house color the way they are? Live with them a bit, it will come to you. Now that they are yours,you will start seeing ideas in antique stores, magazine, you'll figure it out...in a year after I get to know you better...then I'll know what to tell you.lol. Laurie

Anonymous said...

I think your chairs would be pretty in pink with a little white to give them that "distressed" look.

Godchick said...

We've got a couple chairs just like this! Our have been painted white...but I would go for the pink!

Shawn said...

Love your cards!! I think you should take some crafty secrets stuff and decoupage it all over the chairs!!!! :)

Anonymous said...

Love your cards and those booklets are must they are. I would clean off any loose stuff and then seal them! They sure bring back memories!

Anonymous said...

Well, I think that it depends on what the rest of your decor looks like. If you seal them and are unhappy with the way they look in a year or two, you can always paint over it. However, you can never get that look back as it is right now! Love your work of course, so you'll make the right choice for you!

Unknown said...

Hey, I think they are neat the way they are I love the color combo. I think it would be just personal preference but I am loving them just the way they are, Melissa
melissatheassistant@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I would paint them pink as the colors look to busy to me. I would love to win the booklets as May 12 is my birthday.

Anonymous said...

Awesome chairs, what a nice present :) My vote would be to paint them. Then you can always decide to embellish them with some hand-painted or stenciled designs. Love your blog. Thanks for the chance to win.
Susan M.

Anonymous said...

I think you should leave the chairs just as they are - they are perfect.... The in Shabby look!

rose said...

I love these chairs and personally would paint them a lovely baby pink How about using some crafty secrets papers from the classic or radiant pad and making some cut out or panels and then sealing the whole job

Debra said...

I would paint them, like you said, a pretty pink. Depends though, what you like. I think Deb Neerman is right when she mentions stencilling on them! That would be perfect!

Susan said...

Leave the chairs the way they are, just seal them,Love the cards. susan

Susan said...

Great chairs! I would seal them and leave them shabby. I think someone else said that you could always decide later to paint. Do let us know what you do!
Susan Tidwell
susantidwell@charter.net

Anonymous said...

Since I have two girls I am really into the color pink so I say paint them. A fresh coat of paint can really enhance those beauties.

Jana M. said...

Love the cards! I would say paint them and seal them.

Anita Van Hal said...

I love shabby, so I'd leave them! They look great pictured with the old tractor seat and crock! If you got tired of that look you could always paint them later.

Carrie said...

Don't you just love love love these chairs - they are my favorite and they bring back so many memories! I would paint them in a pastel color and I like the idea of painting an iris on them. Thanks for the chance to win some blog candy.

Anonymous said...

I would paint them a rustic brown for the great outdoors they are gorgeous but if they were mine i would leave them as is..... clear coat for the vintage look I would love to have a chance at the booklets thank you for giving us the chance to win them

Missy Ortiz
Roanoke Va

Anonymous said...

I have several of these chairs that I painted dark blue. They are very comfortable chairs and I wouldn't take anything for them. Love your blog and crafts.

Anonymous said...

Your cards are wonderful and creative. Even though the chairs look really attractive the way they are, I would probably remove any loose paint with steel wool and then paint in pastels. I can see some pretty floral stripe pillows on them, too!
Bonnie
bhockeborn@rochester.rr.com

Bevie Pearl said...

The chairs remind me of the chairs my grandma had in her yard. I love them. love them. love them. I would decide to paint or not to paint based on where these chairs would go in your yard. I remember the chairs to be green.
What a great canvas to work on.
Have fun!!

CreativeMish said...

OH! Great blog candy! I love those old chairs. I think they would look fabulous in a Robin Egg blue... and your iris are beautiful.. I love their amazing colors and sweet smell

Sophia said...

Your cards are so nice! I love the look of the chippy paint on the chairs. If I had them I would paint them teal or white.

Theresa said...

I had chairs like this when I was growing up...they were painted forest green. *sigh* If I had your chairs I would definitely paint them. I think I would paint them forest green (surprise) or something shocking - like a bright blue or a bright orange...something really "out there"!

Anonymous said...

Great cards!
I love the chairs. I vote for painting them. I'd lean towards green myself.
Have fun with it!
Amy

Anonymous said...

I think you should paint them a nice crisp white. They have good bones and would look wonderful in a cottage garden. Wish I had those chairs!!!

Michele Kaplan
kappyu812@comcast.net

Anonymous said...

The chairs are wonderful! I would have them professionally sandblasted, put on a coat of primer and then sealer. Otherwise the rust will continue to disintegrate them and it can bleed through sealer and get on clothes! I'd paint them a 1920's French Gray/Green color put on crackle medium and then overpaint with white paint. For the finish I would paint leaves and tendrils down each back slat and then seal with an outdoor clear coating that contains a UV protectant. PS your projects are lovely! Lyn

Anonymous said...

I like the chairs as they are, if you're planning to use them though(to sit in), I would probably paint them. I have 3 old chairs like these, and was thinking about having them sandblasted and painted at a body shop like the one gal did, but I can't decide on colors yet. Good luck, and please share what you did with them, I'd love to see them. Deb

Pieces of me said...

These chairs are beautiful! I sure can understand why you are having a hard time deciding on if you should leave as is or paint them. I've gone back and fourth a hundred times too lol! In the end I think that I would paint them. As someone else said if they have rust it could continue to damage them even with clear coat.
Thanks for all the wonderful ideas.
Rose

Anonymous said...

Hi ~ judging by the color of your milk can, aqua is the way to go. I think they would look great if you painted them the original aqua color, then distressed them to re-gain some of the well-loved look they have now, updating them just a little and keeping your clothing safe when you sit in them.

Anonymous said...

Hi,
I would sand them, prime them, then alter them with bits of Crafty Secrets paper, then coat them in a protectant!

LauraB said...

I noticed the vase your beautiful iris are in-I have the same one! If these were my garden chairs I might lightly splatter them with some white paint, gently sand some of the new paint touches then double clearcoat seal. Also, on the underneath of the seat before sealing I would add a handwritten message in paint telling the chairs' story-the same as you would a quilt. THey are in great shape and would certainly be treasured as family pieces. Love Crafty Secrets anything, by the way!!

Anonymous said...

I think the chairs are charming the way they look right now. I'd sand off the loose paint and then lightly stencil a floral design on the back and/or seat. Then sand the stenciled images to make them look distressed, and finally finish with a coat of sealer.

Anonymous said...

I kinda like them "as is", so would vote to seal them. BTW, irises are one of my favorite flowers! Debby G

Anonymous said...

Thanks for a chance to win. I think your chairs would look beautiful with a fresh coat of paint to give them new life! Love your cards, they're awesome!

garnet4

Anonymous said...

Beautiful cards! What a wonderful son and DIL! I love shabby, but I think that the chairs would look nice painted white, pink, or mint green too. Good luck!

mindy said...

Love the chairs! I say leave them like they are and make cushions for the seat with lots of ruffles! (and then settle in with a good book)

You're so lucky to live in a climate where you can grow beautiful iris'.

Linda w said...

I have always seen these chairs painted white. Maybe add a bit of distressing to them.

-*Linda*-

Sherry Cheever said...

OMG I LOVE these chairs exactly as they are. Of course, I'm sure they would look pretty in a new coat of pink paint! I have so many scars on my knees from rock in chairs exactly like this when I was a kid and flipping them over on me. What memories they bring back. My grandmother had 4 of them in the back yard. I wonder what ever happened to them.

Sherry Goodloe said...

Before I even read what you wrote about the chairs, when I saw them I loved them just the way they are! Just seal them so they stay that way. Like so many others, my grandmother also had a pair of those chairs in her backyard :-)

Elaine said...

I say paint them! They are very cool as is though...I know, I'm no help! LOL
I love the books from CS! We bought one of them last week at the local scrapbook store (my friend and I).
thanks for the chance to win some candy!

Rose S said...

I love those chairs and I would paint them a soft pink.

Love those booklets too!!

Debbi T said...

I'd seal them as is and leave them looking all vintage-y! I love them!

Anonymous said...

I love the cards that you made!
I say leave them the way they are with a clear coat of sealer. I love the shabby look
Sandy

Heather said...

Very nice cards, I especially like the one with the little girl image. As for these lovely chairs, I would sand and repaint them to suit your style/decor.

word_trix @ yahoo.com

boopfan57 said...

I love those chairs, would love to have a set! Paint them, bold bright colors!!!!

Marian

Unknown said...

Personally, I would strip them and paint them a glorious white, cause white goes with everything and looks so beautiful in a garden filled with colour.

creativearts said...

Your cards are gorgeous! I loe those chairs, they bring back memories and I remember them always being green! But from the picture I think they are great! Maybe sand them a little and seal!

Anonymous said...

My immediate thought was to paint the chairs something bright and put a decorate with a polka dot pillow! But the more I'm thinking about it...the vintagey look is priceless?! dunno...hard to think this one through....knowing me...I'd paint them in the original color.

Nice card samples. I LOVE Crafty Secrets.

Trudi
NetTeeJay@aol.com

Diana said...

Love your cards...about the chairs: I would paint them pink, just because it's my favorite and springy and cheery.

Anonymous said...

I love your cards!
And now about chairs. I think I would leave them the way they are. I would add a sealer on it. Or also may be I would decorate it with a little bit of vine around legs and arms and on a top of a front seat. Thank You!
Elena
catztails@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Heather McNally and Melissa MacDonald said...

Beautiful cards, Piris!!!! I think I would also paint them. I am actually thinking a coat of turquoise and then a light coat of pink brushed over that - letting some of that turquoise poke through!

Anonymous said...

Love the chairs, the cards, the new booklets! LOL I would just sand and seal the chipped paint look right in! If you get tired of it, then you can paint over it, but why not enjoy that look for awhile?

Mary Anne in NJ said...

I would clean them up, get the worst of the flakes off, then sort of "whitewash" them..or, if you're really a good artist, I'd paint some flowers or vines or something on the seat or back of the chair..I love someone else's idea of writing underneath the seat the story of the chairs and the date you rec'd them! Love your blog and LOVE crafty secrets..great cards!

Adventures in Abundance said...

I think you should paint them a real pretty pink, but then I love pink and if I didn't have 3 sons and a dear husband, I would probably paint everything pink! LOL

Colleen - the AmAzINg Mrs. B said...

Oh, one a robin's egg blue and the otehr a soft- celery green! The "rough" them up a bit and add decorative vintage pillows taht would coordinate. good luck and let us see the results!
Colleen

Carla said...

I would leave them, but I like things shabby!

Betty said...

I would be tempted to leave as is, but....PAINT THEM RED!! A great, tomato red! Thanks for the chance at the vintage booklets!

Anonymous said...

I say, since you love those chairs (which I do too) keep them as is!! Seal them and love them. I always loved sitting on those chairs when I was growing up. They always seemed cold during the hot summer days. My parents painted their grey & white. Yuck....

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