Remember these bracelet displays I showed you a few weeks ago?  You can click here to see how I used a rusty old gear, vintage lamp, lace, burlap, and rhinestones to give them an updated look.  They'll be making their debut at my next vintage show in a few weeks, so they can't show up naked like this.

Most of the watches I find are either empty or broken, so the first thing I do is remove the back and try to pop out the glass, but it rarely comes out without a fight. If the glass is flat, I don't bother removing it because the filigree or earring can be glued directly on top. My professional way of removing the glass is to cover it and smack it with a hammer. Don't laugh, it works!

Sometimes I'll use a decorative filigree between the watch and earring.....

.....and sometimes I'll attach the earring directly to the watch.

I like using stretch bands because they fit just about any size wrist.

They're no longer reliable for telling time, but they sure look a lot prettier now!

I found myself an old board, painted it, stenciled some cute words (from my Silhouette Cameo),
then added vintage hardware for a cottagey look.

BEFORE:
I found part of an oak table top in the free pile at a yard sale a few months ago and knew it had
great potential as a sign. This thing is 41" long and heavy!!

AFTER:
Much, much better after a facelift. I was anxious to start some new projects with the Fusion Mineral Paint that was sent to me to try out.  I painted the old table top with two coats of Champlain (love this neutral color), then lightly distressed the edges and top with fine sandpaper. Even though this board was a complete mess, I didn't need to prime or top coat, and it didn't bleed through!  Don't you love it when that doesn't happen?

Next up is this fake wood lattice thing I found at a flea market for $5. I was told that it came from the top of a mirror frame. Makes sense to me.

I painted it with a half and half mixture of Fusion Mineral Paint Prairie Sunset and Champlain, then distressed it just a little so the details would stand out.  I rummaged through my stash of old wooden knobs and found five that were a perfect fit for the narrow space. The original bolts were either missing or too long, so I cut down some new bolts, then screwed and glued them on.

I'll be bringing both of these to my next big vintage show on Sept. 18 and 19. They look naked, but I was afraid I'd get too attached if I started hanging my own stuff on them. I wish I could keep everything!!