Keepsakes that Keep (Quick Tutorial)

So I recently went on a vacation that you all can read about tomorrow, but right now I want to share a cool keepsake idea I had. Although I am sure I am not the first person in history to do this I can't remember seeing anyone doing this before I started writing this post so I thought I would share anyway.

At Micheal's or any craft store I am sure you can find clear empty plastic Christmas tree bulbs that look like this one to the right.

The top should be removable so you can fill it with keepsakes.

 With mine I kept some of the fine sand, a few shells and an orchid from Hawaii in a baggy.

Then once I was home I got a red and green permanent marker and simply wrote Hawaii on one side and the year on the other side.

After which I cut a hole in a paper plate (a funnel I am sure would have worked, but I don't have one) and placed it over the open bulb and drained everything but the orchid and a few bigger shells into it.

Once all the contents were inside I tapped it a few times to level it all out and placed the bigger shells on top. I noticed that it was a bit moist from the sand so let it sit without the orchid till next day.

Here is the finished product sans the orchid. After adding the Orchid I put a bit of hot glue on this bulb cap placed it back on and now I will always have a keepsake that I made and is truly a treasure.

Even if you don't celebrate Christmas they can work as Chandelier ornaments or buy a few and turn a tree you already have in the backyard into a memory tree that grows as you and your family do!

Here are some other good ideas:

That last one was a wedding invite, see the possibilities are endless.

Till next time lovelys!

Oh the places you'll go!

As vintage lovers you already know that half the fun is the hunt for great vintage and half the fun are the experiences that come with it.

This past weekend I waggled my tail down to the vintage expo at The Reef in Downtown Los Angeles and let me tell you it was a sensory overload. Unfortunately my budget didn't allow for the splurge I so desperately wanted to do . Still I thought I would have a look see.

You see there were racks and racks and well more racks of dresses and coats from 1930 to I would say 1980 give or take a decade or two.

Www.elsewherevintage.com 

I devised my plan of attack and went at it. Refusing even the thought of buying anything above a dollar. Then though, then I found the deal breaker. The hat I couldn't live without.

It made me so weak in the knees I forgot to capture the moment to share I simply paid as fast as I could and pranced around. The photo above is of me yesterday all dolled up for the sole reason of showing off the hat. 

Okay now I know I said I wouldn't spend over a dollar, mmmm well I did talk the dealer ( whom of which has no website or anything or I would have linked it for everyone) down $15 so I paid $20 which I think is a pretty good price for a vintage hat. Food and rent? been meaning to go on a diet anyway, just joking this really was the last of my fun money though.

Then I took a little break in the waiting area they set up. I think the organizers knew this was going to be a bit much to take in. 

After that I browsed because I couldn't spend anymore, but sometime window shopping and talking can be just as fun. I found this beautiful fur trim coat at the Digs-n-Threads booth. 

   http://etsy.com/shop/digsnthreads

Www.Fabgasvintage.com

Then I headed over to Fab Gabs for the biggest Bakelite collection I've ever seen in person. It was two dames and a gent looking fabulous with Australian accents to boot. 

Although they don't sell the Bakelite on their etsy they do have some great things and were so nice in letting me take pictures. 

Tired yet? I sure was, so that's about the time I decided to head home. It was a great day and I have to thank 

Without them I wouldn't have been able to go they gave out free passes to everyone that came across their website.

I will be posting more vintage events stay tuned!