Gilding Royalview’s Crown; Before and After Makeover

Gold Leafed Metal Crown. Gold Leaf Kit from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/4mvqjeG
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What would Royalview be without a crown, I ask? But you know what? I never really thought about a crown for Royalview. I just happened to be scrolling through FB and saw a post a few months ago about my friend Kelly’s new booth at Rosey Opals in New Waverly, and spotted this little cutie and knew immediately it was for Royalview.

In the photo of the crown, I could tell it was weathered. Must have been an outdoor decorative piece before, but I knew I wanted to give it new life for our indoor decor.

Before pic of Royalview's crown. Weathered and rusted.
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Once Willie cleaned off the chipping paint, it really revealed a lot of rust underneath. I knew I wanted to attempt my first ever gold leafing project, but it needed a fresh coat of paint first, so I began with white paint.

Royalview's crown transformation in progress: Painting it in white.
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Royaview's crown transformation in progress: Now painted in white.
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I now had a fresh surface to begin gold leafing Royalview’s crown. (Disclaimer: I am not a refinishing professional and do not have professional advice to administer. I am learning as I go, and all items are for our personal use in our private home.) I will tell you however, that all items I use are water based, so no harmful fumes. The paint used is an indoor acrylic paint and primer.

For the gold leafing, I used a product I found on Amazon, called Wadities Gold Leaf Gilding Set.

Wadities Gold Leaf Gilding Set from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/4mvqjeG
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I’m so glad I found this kit for my very first go at gold leafing. It came with everything I needed. The Gilding Adhesive, the Gold Leaves themselves, each individually wrapped in paper, the Varnish, and 2 cute little paint brushes. And as you can see, everything is water based, so perfect!

Gold Leaf sheets and paint brushes from my Wadities Gold Leaf Kit from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/4mvqjeG
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I watched several YouTube videos before I began my project, just to get an idea of how it all works. Looks pretty simple, so let’s dive in!

Before applying the gold leafing, I had to apply the gilding adhesive. I didn’t want full coverage gold leafing. I wanted to achieve a worn look, so I applied the adhesive sparsely, here and there, both to the front side and inside areas, as you can see completely through the open crown. I knew that there was no way to remember where the adhesive had been applied, but I knew the applied areas would be tacky to the touch. After applying the adhesive, I had to wait for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, our first sheet is going on!

Applying gold leafing to Royalview's crown.
https://amzn.to/4mvqjeG
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It was very easy to discern where I had applied the adhesive, as it was definitely tacky in those areas. I just took a sheet and touched it to the metal, and it stuck on contact, where the glue had been applied. I then took one of the little provided paint brushes and brushed over where I had applied the leafing.

It was surprisingly really fun! I was nervous at first, but it was so easy and I was not, in any way, trying to be perfect with the application, so I just went all-in placing gilding sheets everywhere, and not brushing everything until I had all the tacky areas covered.

Gold leafing Royalview's crown.
https://amzn.to/4mvqjeG
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You can see how random placement of the adhesive made it very easy to get a distressed, gilded look. The bits of gilding that do not stick, just flake away. I made sure to go over every surface area with the brush so that there was no more flaking.

Gold leafing applied: Before the varnish.
https://amzn.to/4mvqjeG
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After brushing it all down, I let it sit for the recommended 24 hours before applying the varnish top coat to seal it all in.

Applying the varnish was just as easy as everything else in this project, and it did not have a strong smell, which is a definite bonus.

And we’re all varnished!

Gilding project complete. Royalview's new crown!
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https://amzn.to/4mvqjeG

I’m super happy with the outcome, and the entire gold leafing process. So fun, and so easy. Willie really likes it to. He gave a big smile when he came in and saw it, and said it looked really good. So yay! 2 happy customers!

And now Royalview’s crown is displayed upon our living room coffee table, filled with (faux) white hydrangeas.

Royalview's gilded crown after pic.
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https://amzn.to/4mvqjeG

Love, love, love! I didn’t know how it would look after I got hold of it, but I’m certainly glad I was brave and gave it a try!

What project are you inspired to try? Do you love upcycling too? Feel free to leave a comment!

Till next time, always follow your joy! God is truly good!

Johanna and Willie

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Home Decor, Upcycling, Trash to Treasure, Vintage Finds, Before and After Makeover, Gold Leafing, Gilding, On Metal, Easy DIY Project

September 21, 2025 0

Creating Floral Arrangements for the Office and Bedroom

Faux floral arrangement making supplies.
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I love floral arranging! I may not be a professional, and I’ve not taken any classes, as someone’s asked, but I certainly enjoy expressing my own creativity in making arrangements for our home.

I will also make a confession to you. I sometimes have to do them over twice, or more, to get them just the way I want them. But it’s always just a lot of fun for me.

I purchased an array of blue and white faux florals at Michaels this time. They were having 50% off all Summer florals. I could see a lot of empty shelves, and Halloween stuff now being brought in. It’s the same at Hobby Lobby now, too. It won’t be long till we’re all decorating for Fall!

When I begin an arrangement, I’m never quite sure how it’s going to come together, so I just start with pieces that I think will make a great focal point in an arrangement.

Making faux floral arrangements in blue.
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I thought these larger sprigs were really pretty, so I chose the variated Hydrangea for an arrangement for my office, and the other tall blue floral with multiple layers, for our bedroom.

I left these two larger florals in-tact, and began building around them.

That’s where I went wrong, but I did not realize it at the time. Here are my completed first attempts.

This first arrangement, I was calling Marie Antoinette. I suppose you can see why.

Blue, white, and purple faux floral arrangement, that ended up being re-done.
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The second one was way too heavy in the back.

Blue, white, and beige faux floral arrangement that ended up being redone.
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And, I made two other accompanying arrangements for each, in the glass vases.

Faux floral arrangements in white that ended up being redone.
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I lived with all of these arrangements for one night. They all got a makeover the very next day. And that’s the great thing about making floral arrangements (at least for me, the beginner, still learning), they can be redone very easily, or changed around.

I took everything out of all the vases/cans, and started anew. I did stick with a blue and beige toned theme for our bedroom, and went blue and purple for my office.

Ready for the made-over arrangements?

Blue and beige for the bedroom:

Made-over faux floral arrangements in blue, beige, and white.
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I like these so much better! I cut apart that really large blue sprig that had all the different layers of flowers, and dispersed them throughout the arrangement. It made everything more balanced. The arrangement in the glass jar received additional florals to fill it out more, plus I added one of the blue florals to make it cohesive with it’s partner.

A closeup of the larger arrangement:

Blue, white, and beige faux floral arrangement.
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And the smaller one:

Faux floral arrangement in white, beige, and blue.
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And for my office, I re-did the arrangement with the Hydrangea (Marie Antoinette), plus made an accompanying arrangement in the taller glass jar:

Blue, purple, and white faux floral arrangements.
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Do you recognize the blue florals in the glass vase? Yes, those are 2 cuttings from that really tall blue sprig. I put one in the jar so I’d know where it was, and I really liked the way it looked, being able to see all the florals inside the vase, so I added a few more cuttings from that sprig, as well as another with blue and purple, and thought that I really liked it kept simple, so I did keep it simple. It’s all a matter of what makes me smile.

So, here’s a closeup of the larger blue and purple arrangement. I purposely chose florals with lighter/brighter greens, as I plan to have more green and teal tones (along with blue) in the office.

Blue, purple, and white faux floral arrangement.
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And the simple arrangement in the glass jar:

Simple blue faux floral arrangement in a glass jar.
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Sometimes simple is best.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my floral making attempts, and that they inspire you to give it a try for yourself.

Till next time, be kind, and always follow your joy! God is truly good!

Johanna and Willie

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Faux Floral Arranging, Floral Arrangements, DIY floral arranging, Blue, White, Beige, and Purple Faux Floral Arrangements

June 24, 2025 2

DIY Home Decor Project: Vintage Venice Inspired Mirror Upcycle Using Wood Appliques

DIY Home Decor Project: Vintage Mirror Makeover using Wood Appliques from Amazon, After Photo
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Amazon product link: https://amzn.to/4le3Xy8

Well, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to begin with the before, or the after photo. I’m opting for the after photo first. I’m so pleased with the outcome of this vintage mirror upcycle. I can’t believe I was able to achieve such a makeover all by myself. Well, with a little help from Willie, I suppose (winks!).

I found this old mirror in a building at Willie’s family business. Everything is being cleared out, so this would have most likely been thrown out if I had not salvaged it, especially in the shape I found it in.

DIY Vintage Mirror Makeover, Before Pic.
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Now, who wouldn’t want to bring this beauty home? I mean, it’s gorgeous home decor!

But yeah, I had been on the hunt for a large mirror for Royalview, and I found 2, perhaps not in the best condition, but I thought they had good potential.

Willie was very kind to get this all cleaned up for me before we brought it indoors for it’s makeover. It looked a lot better after a good cleaning.

DIY Home Decor Project: Vintage Mirror Makeover, Before Pic.
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I knew I wanted to add some beautiful decorative embellishment to this mirror. I was inspired by a Vlogger I follow, called Walk With Me Tim. He and his wife stayed in a beautiful hotel in Venice where they had these gorgeous old mirrors that were very ornate, and yet the mirrors themselves were aged. This mirror had the same feels for me with the aging of the mirror, so let’s turn it into a vintage Venice inspired mirror!

Ornamental decorative wood appliques onlays for vintage mirror makeover project. Easy to paint and apply to wood project. From Amazon. https://amzn.to/3FQvNl7
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I found a very lovely set of wooden appliques, or onlays, from Amazon. This set is offered in a small or large size, and in sets of 5 or 10. I opted for size large, in a set of 10. This is enough for 2 projects, should I desire. (The rose appliques are for another project up the line, and not included in the set of 10 I used for this project.)

Set of beautiful wooden appliques onlays from Amazon, https://amzn.to/3FQvNl7
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The detail on these appliques is very intricate, and they are a good heft, as well. They are lightweight, but not so thin that they are too fragile to work with. Just perfect!

Ornate decorative wood appliques from Amazon. https://amzn.to/3FQvNl7
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Now, as I was sorting through my appliques and getting ready to paint them, Willie went to work attaching the French Cleat Picture Hanger wall bracket set that I found on Amazon as well. This gadget was a life-saver when it came to figuring out how to hang this very heavy mirror. The mirror was originally attached to a dresser, so there was no original wall hanging hardware.

It seemed very easy for him to attach two of the brackets on the back of the frame, and then the other two to the wall, and they just slip one inside the other to hang. Fabulous!

French Cleat Picture Hanger, wall bracket hardware set from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/4nd5S7L
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I had a lot of fun painting the wooden appliques. I first painted them white, and then I went over them later (after they had dried), with a gold metallic paint, just sweeping it across the raised details.

Painting wood appliques from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/4k3dLdc
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After I had painted the appliques, I got to work painting the mirror frame. I first taped off the mirror using painter’s tape so that I would not get paint on the mirror itself. This is very easily removed after the paint dries, and it makes a big difference in getting a sharp edge on your paint, next to the mirror.

When I began painting the mirror, I wasn’t sure how I wanted it to look. White-washed? Fully painted? No… this has to look like it’s been around for centuries. The paint has begun to chip. That’s the ticket!

I began with a top coat, then I went back over it (in sections) with another coat. I let that second coat dry just a bit, till it was almost dry, then I rubbed across it with a slightly damp paper towel. Since I left the original varnish on the mirror, it was a little “slick” underneath my new paint, so I was able to get my (almost, but still not dry) second coat of paint to literally peel off on some of the raised areas, allowing the original brown color to come through. Since I wanted it to look like the paint has organically chipped off over time, I did not want any white-wash smudge, so I took another damp(er) paper towel and wiped the brown areas to bring back the original sheen.

Distressing paint to make it look like it chipped off over time.
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Here is the type of paint I used by Benjamin Moore (not sponsored). I’ve been using this same paint for all my recent projects. It has been wonderful to work with for all my paint effects. It is an Interior Acrylic Paint and Primer, in a Satin/Pearl finish. It’s not shiny or iridescent, as the name would make one think.

I completed the entire mirror, using this method, one side at a time. It really doesn’t take that long to do, and is quite fun!

Distressed/chipped paint effect on a vintage mirror.
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If I “messed up” I would just paint back over the area and wait for it to get almost dry, and rub away again. Only one area, right here in the above corner, gave me any trouble. I just couldn’t seem to get it the way I wanted, but it came out fine in the end. Probably no one but me would even notice. It’s supposed to be old and organically chipped, right?

Now jumping ahead, I used FolkArt Acrylic Paint in Pure Gold (from Amazon) to highlight the inside and outside edges of the mirror, as well as highlight all the raised areas of the wooden appliques.

Vintage mirror makeover, Venice inspired look, using ornate wooden appliques from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/4k3dLdc
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I then glued on all the wooden appliques. Hot glue works best, in my opinion. I first used super glue, but one corner came off after hanging, so hot glue to the rescue!

Vintage mirror makeover, upcycle, from trash to treasure, using wood appliques, overlays, from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/44hVPWz
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Venice inspired vintage mirror upcycle using wooden appliques from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/44hVPWz
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I just love it. This is my favorite decor makeover that I’ve done thus far, and I love it now hanging over my makeup table in my office.

Completed DIY Paint Project. Venice Inspired Mirror Makeover in White and Gold, Using Wood Appliques from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/44hVPWz
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I hope my salvaged project inspires you to create something fabulous for your space.

Till next time, be kind, and always follow your joy! God is truly good!

Johanna and Willie

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DIY Home Decor Paint Project, Venetian, Venice Inspired Mirror Makeover, Salvaged, From Trash to Treasure Home Decoration, Vintage Mirror Upcycle, Conroe, Texas, Lakehouse

June 21, 2025 0

Vintage Mirror Makeover DIY Project: From Western Motif to French Country Home Decor

Western Motif Vintage Mirror Before Transformation.
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So, we’ve been on the look-out for mirrors for Royalview for a little while now. I, in particular, have been keeping an eye out for a full-length mirror for our bedroom, as well as a mirror for my office/make-up room.

Western Motif Vintage Mirror Before Makeover.
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The price tag that comes along with a beautiful large mirror is pretty large as well, we’ve noticed, so when I spotted this beauty at one of my favorite booth’s at Yesterday’s Treasures, I was definitely interested, and when Willie told me the price, I was sold. ($25.00)

It’s not quite the look and style as Royalview’s decor, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, but if you’ve been following our story here for a bit, you know I’m up for a challenge, armed with my can of white paint. So, yeah, after giving it a good look-over, I said, “I can paint it white!”.

It was listed as a Western Motif Mirror, and it does have some pretty designs. The frame is very large and ornate, so definitely something I can work with.

For this project I did need to get the painters tape out and fully line all sides of the mirror to make sure not to get paint on the mirror itself.

Western Motif Vintage Mirror Before Painting, with Blue Painters Tape.
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I decided not to sand this, even though it seemed to have some type of varnish over the paint, and with 2 coats of white paint, the old brown, black, and gold tones were a distant memory.

Vintage Mirror Makeover. Painted White.
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I did allow some of the old tones to show through, to let it still have a vintage look, but this time I took things to the next level by adding blue paint to the little circle details. At first I was going to paint each one perfectly, but then I decided it would be better to give it an imperfect, distressed look.

Vintage Mirror Makeover in White and Blue.
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I’m very delighted how it turned out. It was a very easy project to do. The mirror just needed to be cleaned a bit and painted. It has a lot of character, and a new life now at Royalview.

The toughest things about this project came after completing the makeover: Deciding where and how to hang it.

The how to hang it has now being taken care of thanks to Amazon. I found a French Cleat Picture Hanger Kit that we will be trying out here very soon. This mirror weighs in at approximately 25 pounds. Yes, Willie weighed it. It feels much heavier to me. The kit(s) I found have different sizes for different weights. This is going to make hanging it so much easier and safer.

And for the where. My initial thought for this mirror was definitely for our bedroom wall.

Completed vintage mirror makeover.
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This is large enough to use as a full-length dressing mirror, but after I painted it, I looked into the living room and thought how beautiful this would be over our main sofa (hung horizontally). The wall over our sofa has been kept blank till we find the “perfect” item, or items to adorn that focal area.

Bare living room wall awaiting decor.
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I don’t know for sure yet where it will find it’s place.

I do have two more vintage mirrors that are awaiting transformation. These two I got for free, rummaging through one of the buildings at Willie’s family’s business that’s being cleared out.

Here are the two lovelies.

Vintage mirror awaiting transformation.
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Think I have my work cut out for me?

Vintage dresser mirror awaiting transformation.
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I know there will be a lot of cleaning involved, for sure!

But, I do have some ideas, and I’ve ordered some things already for these, including the French Cleat Hangers, of course. The brown one is off of a dresser, so it definitely will need hardware to hang.

That yellow mirror is so pretty, though. That one will either be in my office (the brown one will be over my dressing table in my office/make-up room) as a full length dressing mirror, or in our bedroom if the other goes over the sofa, so stay tuned!

I’m just so happy to be able to breathe new life into these almost lost mirrors. They are all good-sized mirrors, and in good shape mostly. I’m hoping once the dirt is wiped from these last two, that the mirrors themselves are good. From what I can see, they look like they will be ok.

Okay gang, till next time, please remember to be kind, and always follow your joy!

Johanna and Willie

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Vintage Mirror DIY Paint Makeover Project, French Country House Decor, Lake House Decor, Conroe, Texas, Arts and Crafts

June 10, 2025 0

Revitalizing a Charming Little Vintage Church Birdhouse into Shabby Chic Home Decor

Vintage Church Birdhouse Before Pic.
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So, I found this!

I actually saw it just a little while back while visiting Yesterday’s Treasures in Willis, TX. I first saw a historical church that this little birdhouse resembles, in New Waverly, TX. It is so beautiful. It’s named St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church, New Waverly, TX
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Soon after that I saw another historic church like this in Willis, Texas. I really love the style of architecture, so when I spied this little church birdhouse, I was immediately intrigued.

I came across a similar church birdhouse elsewhere, but the price was quite a bit, and when I saw the one I eventually purchased, the price was very good, but I wasn’t sure where I could use it in my decor.

Well, I woke up Saturday morning with the little church birdhouse on my mind, and we were headed out on a shopping adventure with Aunt Bunny that day anyway, so I decided to see if it was even still available, and, thankfully, it was.

When we went to pick it up, I didn’t realize the actual condition that the house was in, as I hadn’t fully examined it the first time. I decided to go ahead and purchase it as the price was good, and I knew I would have fun fixing it up.

This picture is after Willie cleaned it up a bit outside and removed the dirt dobber nest that was on the front facade. This birdhouse was evidently used outdoors as an actual birdhouse, and not for home decor, so it is the real deal. But this real deal needed a little TLC to get it to where we would want to display it indoors at Royalview. I do like the rustic, whitewashed look, but this was a little intense, even for me.

So, after giving it a good wiping down with damp paper towels, I got my water based white paint out once again to see if I could improve on the looks.

Vintage White Church Birdhouse After Repainting.
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The paint went on easily, and while it still has a worn look, it is much fresher now.

I added a little faux floral to give it even more charm.

Vintage white church birdhouse with fresh paint and faux florals.
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I’m very happy with the outcome. It’s amazing what a little bit of paint can do.

After completing the little birdhouse’s transformation, I thought it would be perfect as the focal point of our entertainment center’s vignette. So, yet another swap-out of decor! But that’s the fun of it!

Vintage white church birdhouse with fresh paint and faux florals displayed as home decor.
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So cute! And adds so much charm. I’m really loving it. It still has a rustic look, but not quite as shabby as before. Now I suppose it is shabby chic!

Vintage style white church birdhouse repainted with faux floral and displayed as home decor.
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I hope you’ll stay tuned for our next blog post. We enjoyed another fun dining and shopping adventure with Aunt Bunny.

Till next time, and I usually say stay safe, and I always will hope so for you, but this time I am going to sign off with a message that a little kindness can go a lot further than you can even imagine. God is truly good.

Johanna and Willie,

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Vintage Church Birdhouse, Bird House, White Church, Shabby Chic Home Decor, DIY Decor Transformation

May 27, 2025 0

Making Fragrant Dried Lavender Sachets and Bouquet

Dried Lavender Floral Arrangement and Sachets.
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Can you smell the lavender in the air here at Royalview today? It’s so lovely.

And while it smells, and also looks very lovely, it is going to serve a good purpose in our home living environment.

I encountered a little scorpion hiding in a hand towel the other day. That gave Willie and I both a bit of a scare, and we also inherited spiders that live here on the property, so I began looking into natural ways to sway them away from wanting to live with us in our home. Lavender came up on both counts (for scorpions and spiders) when I did a Google search, and a knowledgeable plant specialist also told me that lavender, as well as fresh mint, and thyme, all work.

I ordered pre-made lavender sachets just a little while back, but they did not seem to be very fragrant, so I decided to search for dried lavender that may be better sealed, and attempt to make my own sachets. I searched lavender farms here in Texas, and also searched my favorite go-to, Amazon. I succeeded in finding a vacuum sealed bag of dried lavender on Amazon, as well as some really nice bundles of dried lavender flowers.

Bundles of dried lavender flowers from Amazon. https://amzn.to/43sl7AZ
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Vacuum sealed dried lavender from Amazon. https://amzn.to/43CdMzO
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I also found some really cute burlap sachet bags with heart shapes on them which I thought were really pretty, and would be great for putting in dresser drawers, cabinets, and for display as well.

Burlap sachet bags with cute heart designs from Amazon. https://amzn.to/4k2Clfd
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I was very excited when everything arrived. My Aunt Bunny gifted me a beautiful clear glass vase, which is perfect for my dried lavender bouquet.

Items for making dried lavender sachets and floral arrangement.
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First things first, opening the vacuum sealed bag of lavender. How would I contain all that, once it’s opened? Luckily, I remembered bringing a metal tub with us when we moved. That will be the perfect size to pour all the lavender into.

Cutting open a vacuum sealed bag of dried lavender.
https://amzn.to/4k5J87Z
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Opening a vacuum sealed bag of dried lavender flowers.
https://amzn.to/4k5J87Z
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Once the bag was opened and the lavender poured into the metal tub, it was time to start spooning it into the little sachet bags. And the aroma… So beautiful! So fragrant! I love it!

Spooning dried lavender flowers into burlap sachet bags.
https://amzn.to/4k5J87Z
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In the description of this vacuum sealed bag of dried lavender flowers, the seller suggests gently crushing the dried flowers to release even more fragrance, so as I spooned the lavender into the bags, I would then just gently smash the flowers in the bag. I could smell the fragrance even more after doing this. I spooned approximately 3-4 teaspoons into each bag.

Set of 20 burlap sachet bags with cute heart shapes from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/4koLtuj
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Aren’t these little burlap bags just the cutest? I love that the set came in 2 different tones. 10 in white, and 10 in beige, and they have the little light brown burlap hearts on each. So perfect for farmhouse decor.

Next up, a dried lavender flower bouquet.

This was so simple to do. At first I thought that I would be using both dried lavender flower bundles, but it turned out that 1 bundle was plenty.

Dried lavender flower bouquet from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/43CfNfs
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I put in a few faux florals with the dried lavender, and added blue satin ribbon (that I had purchased from Amazon previously for another project).

Blue satin ribbon from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/43jSUfs
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It’s so simple, yet elegant.

I was wondering where I may want to put my new lavender arrangement, and Willie suggested atop the curio cabinet in our dining room. I already had a floral arrangement there, but you know, he may be right. I think it looks really pretty, and the florals fit into the picture frame above the cabinet very well.

Dried lavender flower bouquet. Dried lavender from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/4kkdWBs
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Dried lavender bouquet made with dried lavender flower bundle from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/4kkdWBs
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I’m very happy with how everything turned out. The amount of dried lavender that I purchased (7 oz) in the vacuum sealed bag was perfect to fill all 20 (3×5) sachet bags.

20 burlap sachet bags with cute heart designs filled with dried lavender and tied with a white frayed chiffon ribbon from Amazon.
https://amzn.to/3SNGtU8
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I tied a few of the bags with a white frayed chiffon ribbon that I also purchased from Amazon. So cute!

Now I can place these cute little sachets all around, filling Royalview with their beautiful fragrance, and hopefully encouraging our little visitors to depart peacefully.

I think I’ll do another batch as well so I can put them in all the closets and cabinets in every room. So fun and easy to do.

Well, I hope you enjoyed visiting with me as I made my dried lavender crafts, and hope this inspires you to do your favorite crafts as well.

Till next time, stay safe, and follow your joy. God is truly good!

Johanna and Willie

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Amazon Home, Amazon Affiliates, Homemade Dried Lavender Flower Sachets, Burlap Lavender Sachets, Dried Lavender Bouquet Arrangement in Vase, Lavender for Spiders and Scorpions

May 19, 2025 0

DIY Painting Projects: Dining Room Curio Cabinet Decor

Antique hand made mahogany curio cabinet.
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It’s been a lot of fun shopping and deciding what items to put on and in our antique curio cabinet handmade by Willie’s Father. I definitely knew that we needed bright items to contrast the dark mahogany wood. I also wanted to go with fun and whimsical items.

A few of the recently added items are the cute little bicycle clock, the miniature table and chair set, and the wicker basket.

Each of these items needed a little TLC to get them ready for display.

The first to get their makeover was the little bicycle clock. We found this at Hobby Lobby on the Clearance aisle. It’s so awesome. I told Willie that I really wanted a white bicycle to go in our cabinet, so when I spotted this bicycle, I was overjoyed.

As you can see, it was originally black metal, and the clock had no hands. I saw this as a fun project for us, and I love that it is an old fashioned style bicycle. This was a happy surprise find.

Black cast iron bicycle clock before picture.
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With just a quick touch-up of white paint on the metal and wooden parts, the only thing left to do was to replace the clock-works. We found clock workings sets at Michaels for both this bicycle clock and a little house clock project. I’ll show you the little house on a later post.

Bicycle clock painted white.
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Willie made quick and easy work of replacing the clock works, and there she is, so pretty and now also working. I cannot remember exactly what we paid for this clock, but I think it was less than $5.00, because it didn’t work, so yay!

Completed bicycle clock makeover and clock replacement, after picture.
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Next up are the miniature dining room table and chairs and wicker basket, ready for their makeovers.

Paint project items: miniature table and chair set and wicker basket.
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We got the miniature wooden table and chairs set at New Waverly Antiques and Collectibles, and the wicker basket was brought with us from our former home.

I dreamt about the wicker basket painted white with lavender flowers inside, like someone had been out picking them. So, that’s what I set out to accomplish.

Wicker basket being painted white.
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Again, very easy to transform. I used a water based paint and did not put a lot on my brush. Just a light white washing.

Wicker basket painted white.
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I did not paint the inside, since I plan to fill it with faux lavender, which I picked up at Rosey Opals, in New Waverly, TX.

Faux lavender stems with frayed white satin ribbon tied in bows.
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I also purchased some frayed white satin ribbon, and a really pretty blue silk ribbon from Amazon. Here are our Associate links for these: White Silk Satin Ribbon 1.5 inch, Dusty Blue Satin Ribbon 3 inch.

Wicker basket painted white with dusty blue satin ribbon to be tied.
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I love the color and texture of these ribbons. So beautiful.

And our finished basket with lavender project:

White washed wicker basket filled with faux lavender and tied with a dusty blue satin ribbon bow.
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I’m very happy with the way it turned out.

And now we get to the little miniature table and chairs. I found these at New Waverly Antiques and Collectibles. I posted about our fun antique shopping day in New Waverly in an earlier post. You can find it here.

My new phrase currently seems to be, “I can paint it white.”, when I find something I love that isn’t quite the right aesthetic for Royalview’s decor. I like being able to find things that we both love, and transforming them. It’s so much fun, and makes for great memory making.

Painting a miniature dining table white.
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Painting a wooden miniature table and chairs set.
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For this set, I added a touch of blue paint to give the pieces a little farmhouse charm.

Miniature wooden table and chair set finished paint project in whitewash and blue with miniature vase and flowers.
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Isn’t that little vase with flowers the sweetest? But…. I also found a miniature tea set while shopping at the Conroe Woodlands Antique Mall, and I couldn’t resist. It was a difficult choice, but I decided to go with the tea set on the table.

And here it is in it’s new spot in the curio cabinet.

Miniature wooden table and chairs set with miniature tea set on the table.
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I completed the look with a little doily that I found at New Waverly Antiques and Collectibles.

The basket found it’s new home on the very bottom of the curio cabinet.

White washed wicker basket filled with faux lavender inside an antique mahogany curio cabinet.
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We’re making great progress!

Mahogany antique hand made curio cabinet.
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We just need to find some goodies for the very top. I’m thinking remote controlled candles, to bring in some light, and a couple more items for the side (angled) shelves on the bottom.

It’s all coming together a lot quicker than I thought it may, and I’m really loving the juxtaposition of the formalness and darkness of the cabinet, with the playfulness and lightness of the curated items.

Till next time, stay safe and follow your joy. God is truly good!

Johanna and Willie

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DIY Home Decor Projects, Miniature Furniture Makeover, Whitewashing Projects, Paint Projects, French Country House Inspired Decorations, Whimsical Decor, Lakehouse Decor, Conroe, Texas

May 13, 2025 0

DIY Home Decor Paint Project: Tall Wooden Candlestick Holder Makeover (Beauty)

Before and after photo of repainted makeover: Tall wooden candlestick holder from burgandy to white.
acrossthelake.blog — Updated Makeover from Burgundy to White

This is a project I had both been looking forward to, as well as being a bit shy to begin. Let me introduce you to Beauty, as we affectionately call her. Beauty has been with us for 20 years now. She was hand-turned on a lathe by Willie, and hand painted by me when we were working together as Studio 3B, creating wooden candlestick holders and candles.

Now that we’ve moved to Royalview and changed our decor, her burgundy and gold colors no longer fit in aesthetically, but I knew I’d never let her go, so she was slated for a complete transformation.

Tall wooden candlestick holder before paint makeover.
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To begin, I used a soft grit sandpaper to remove the varnish. I chose not to completely sand her down (back to original wood), but rather use the deep burgundy as an undertone so she would have an aged look after completion. In other words, I was not planning a “pristine” white look.

Wooden candlestick holder being painted. First coat of white paint.
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This was the scary part. Putting on the first coat of white, and covering up her original burgundy. I used a water based paint (same as my previous project).

Here’s her first coat of white. The burgundy still shows through, but she’ll get a second coat.

DIY Paint Project: Tall wooden candlestick holder transformation from burgundy to white. First coat of white.
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Now that she’d had her second coat of white paint, I knew that I wanted contrast in all her gorgeous nooks and crannies. I opted for gray. I considered silver or blue, but I wanted Beauty to have an elegant, yet understated, look this time.

DIY paint project: Wooden candlestick holder
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Closeup pic, paint project wooden candlestick holder makeover.
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Closeup wooden candlestick holder base. Paint project makeover.
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Beauty’s new look.

After picture, completed paint redo makeover project for tall wooden candlestick holder.
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It really just took patience and tweeking to achieve the look I wanted with the right balance of rustic, but yet still keeping her elegant.

And here she is now in her corner spot. I put a little plant on top. She’s a candleholder, but that looks really pretty! We’ll see what I end up getting for her topper, but for now, I’m liking it!

Repainted candlestick holder. Now in white and gray. After photo.
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These are the fun little projects that really make it feel like home here at Royalview. Our own personal touches, and items that we brought with us, that can still be incorporated into our new environment.

Till next time, stay safe, and follow your joy!

Johanna and Willie

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DIY Home Decor Paint Project, Tall Wooden Candlestick Holder, Makeover, Before and After Transformation

May 7, 2025 0

DIY Home Decor Paint Project: Large Salvaged Wooden Frame + Antique Furniture Move-In

Let’s get this dining room decorating party started!

This all began with bringing home items from Willie’s family’s woodturning shop. Sadly, everything is being shut down and closed, including his parents’ former residence and the family business.

But from this big life-changing event, we hope to keep and restore items and let them carry on memories with us and our branch of the family.

Willie recruited our Son, Brennen, and his Nephew, Roger to help bring home a couple of antique items that he had requested from the family estate. First is a wooden cabinet that his Dad made when he (his Dad) was in his twenties. Second, an antique RCA Victrola.

Bringing home antiques.
acrossthelake.blog — Roger (left), Brennen (right)

I really admire the craftmanship of this cabinet. Truly a one of a kind with hand turned wooden detailed accents. I love the fact that he (Willie’s Dad, Clyde) put red Christmas lights in the cabinet for illumination. This was probably made in the early 1960’s.

Antique cabinet with glass and handturned features.
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Then, this beautiful Victrola.

Antique RCA Victrola.
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Isn’t that something?

It still has a record on the turn-table, and there are very old records in the cabinet below.

Antique RCA Victrola Talking Machine.
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Very thankful to have these 2 family heirlooms here at Royalview.

Willie and I recently took a drive into Houston to visit the shop, as we’re attempting to get things cleared away, and I happened upon an old picture that was hanging in his Dad’s former office, and asked if I could bring it home. Willie said I could, and the thing that caught my eye about the picture, is the very ornate frame. I thought this would be a great salvage project, and a way to give this beautiful frame a new life in our home.

Old frame before pic.
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This frame is so beautifully detailed. You can see why it caught my eye.

Old frame up close, before pic.
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I knew immediately upon seeing the frame, that I wanted to give it a white-wash paint effect.

Willie and I visited our local Ace Hardware and picked out a lovely shade of white and a few paint brushes for this project, as well as some other projects that I worked on at the same time. I’ll show you those as well in an upcoming post.

Benjamin Moore Satin Water Based Paint.
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This process is really easy, and it doesn’t have to be perfect, by any means. I just had a lady ask me how I did this, or what type of mixture I used. I only use a water based paint. I keep my paintbrush pretty “dry” and do not load too much paint at one time. With this being a water based paint, it’s very easy to remove any excess with a damp paper towel or cloth. It’s just a matter of lightly adding almost a dry coat of paint, especially to the raised areas, which, on some of the higher point details, I did go heavier on the paint so they would really stand out.

White wash paint project: Old salvaged wooden frame.
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DIY White wash paint project: old salvaged wooden frame.
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I eye-balled it basically, and decided as I went along, how much I wanted the old paint to show through and how much white I wanted. At first, I thought I would do almost a full coverage of white, but since there is so much detail on this frame, I wanted some of the brown undertone to show through to really enhance the details. Plus, with there being white and brown tones in our dining room, this will be a great piece to bring it all together.

I did not put a top coat on, so that it would have a very old, rustic look.

And even though it has an old, rustic look, I believe it also has a very elegant look.

Once it was dry, I couldn’t wait to see how it looked hanging in our dining room, over the antique cabinet. We had to be very careful. This frame is very heavy.

Willie did a great job getting everything measured and put some heavy screws in the wall to hold it up safely.

Hanging up a large picture frame.
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The tall lamp you see in the above photo was designed by Willie’s Dad, and made by Willie. A lot of family history and craftmanship in this one room. Which, we also brought home a white lamp that looks just like this one, and put it in a corner in our bedroom. I just need to find a new lampshade.

I love the look of an empty frame on the wall, but for this, I wanted to add a little detail. While we were shopping at Hobby Lobby one day, I saw this wooden leaf cutout and knew it would be the perfect touch, since I also wanted to place a floral arrangement (that I had just put together) on top of the wooden cabinet, and since the arrangement is in a stemmed bowl, I knew the florals would look like they were in the frame.

White washed wooden frame with wooden leaf cutout inside.
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So what are you thinking…? I’m loving it! But wait, there’s more… Stay with me…

Completed white washed paint project; salvaged picture frame.
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And the full dining room wall view with our new arrivals:

Dining room decor including antiques and salvaged wooden frame.
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It’s really beginning to look and feel cozy to me. I love how everything is coming together to feel more like home. I am such a nester by nature.

With the look of the antique cabinet, I wanted to bring in some playful elements to lighten the mood. One thing that came to mind was that I would love a white bicycle to put in the cabinet. When Willie and I were at Hobby Lobby, I went to the clearance section, and almost hidden from view, was that cute little bicycle clock you now see sitting on the cabinet. It was broken and the metal was black. We brought it home to fix it up. I was so tickled that I found a little bicycle. I’ll show you it’s story in an upcoming post with the other paint projects.

You just never know what you can find to elevate. I love finding items that I can salvage and bring back to life, that then bring fun new memories and loveliness to our home.

Till next time, I hope you always follow your joy. God is truly good!

Johanna and Willie

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DIY Home Decor Paint Project, White Wash Paint Project, Salvaged Wooden Frame, Dining Room Decor, Antique Decor, Lakehouse Decor, Conroe, Texas

May 1, 2025 0

Fun and Easy DIY Project: Making Aroma Beads at Home

Aroma beads displayed in antique style white metal candle holders.
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Another fun crafting project at Royalview! I am certainly making up for lost time.

This project really takes me back… Not that I’ve ever made aroma beads, but I was an artistic candle maker and perfumer for nine years, so in the same wheelhouse for sure.

This all began as I’ve been looking for candles, and in particular, candle aromas for Royalview. We’ve tried several brands and scents since we’ve lived here, but nothing has quite fulfilled the aroma(s) that we’re craving. I have been on a specific hunt for Creme Brulee scent. Creme Brulee is our absolute favorite aroma. I worked with Creme Brulee a lot in the past and it is (in my humble opinion) the best smelling, best lasting, and for sure a favorite in terms of a wonderful and lasting scent throw. Our second favorite aroma is Cinnamon, and it has to be a true Cinnamon with a great scent throw as well.

So after searching and trying others’ candles, I decided I may just have to take a whack at it again to get the scents that we’re longing for. I turned to my trusty candle making supplier that I used for years, and hooray, they still carry my favorite Creme Brulee and Cinnamon aromas.

Thank you Lone Star Candle Supply.

Aroma beads supplies have arrived from Lone Star Candle Supply.
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The good news about ordering from Lone Star Candle Supply is that you do not have to be a business. I couldn’t remember if I would have to be in the candle making business to order or not, but nope, it is easy to order in a small quantity.

I ordered a small amount of the aroma beads (one pound), and a few one ounce bottles of scent to give this project a try.

Aroma bead making supplies.
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Since I have not made aroma beads before, I was very happy that Lone Star Candle Supply has instructions on their site. The only other items that I had to order were a very specific type of plastic bottles, which I found on my favorite shopping site, Amazon. Here’s a link.

I got all my aroma bead making supplies together, and decided to mix these on my kitchen counter, but on an old thick towel, in case of spillage.

Aroma bead making supplies, ready to mix.
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This is very simple to do, and without having to melt anything, bravo. I measured the amount of beads I wanted using a measuring cup. They (Lone Star) recommend weighing the beads, but I do not have a scale, so I did what I could with what I have on hand, just to give it a try. The instructions say that one pound of aroma beads can hold two ounces of scent. So, for my project, I went with 8 ounces of aroma beads to one ounce of scent. One ounce of scent in this regard is one, one ounce bottle, so again, very easy with no measuring of the liquid scent. Lone Star Candle Supply also indicates that these aroma beads can be dyed. I decided not to, since I know that both of these particular scents have a tint all their own. The Creme Brulee has a cream tint, and the Red Hot Cinnamon also has a cream tint leaning on the pinker side. I can definitely tell them apart based on their color, and of course their aroma.

I poured 8 ounces of beads into each plastic container, and then in one container I poured a (one ounce) bottle of Creme Brulee scent, and in the other, a (one ounce) bottle of Red Hot Cinnamon Scent. With the Red Hot Cinnamon scent, I know from experience to be very, very careful, and possibly wear gloves for this one. It can burn really bad. That’s why the scent is so good. It is very strong. So if you would ever want to give this a try for yourself, please use caution when pouring this scent, and wash your hands immediately. I would not recommend children handling this scent.

Once everything was in the bottles, I closed the lids tightly and shook each one very good, and for quite a little while. There was still scent puddling at the bottom, but Lone Star Candle Supply’s instructions said that the beads are very absorbent, so I knew it would probably just take a little time for them to absorb everything. I kept them on the towel, and all through the evening I would give them a little shake/toss to be sure all the beads had a chance to absorb the scent.

Making aroma beads in plastic bottles.
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I did this for a couple of days, until all the scent had been absorbed, and they seemed dry.

When I knew for sure that I was going to try this project, I specifically looked for little decorative holders, so that I could put them out into my decor. I found some really cute and original items at New Waverly Antiques & Collectibles, as well as at Rosey Opals Collective Market.

Cute little holders for our aroma beads.
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I shopped around for decorative items that would hold the little aroma beads, and that would be pretty sitting out with our decor.

This trio of vintage style votive candle holders grabbed me immediately. What could be more perfect?

Aroma beads in antique, vintage style metal votive candle holders.
acrossthelake.blog — Creme Brulee Aroma Beads

These are from a booth at Rosey Opals Collective Market in New Waverly, TX (not sponsored, we just really love these shops we’re featuring and love supporting local businesses).

I’ve placed these on a shelf on our entertainment center.

Aroma beads displayed in vintage white metal votive candle holders.
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And I forgot to mention, they smell AMAZING!! Willie came in while I was pouring the aroma beads into their holders, and said he could really smell them. My hope is that our home is continually filled with these delicious and welcoming scents, and we are greeted with these aromas upon entering our home.

For the three votive candlestick holders, I put Creme Brulee in all three, so that there would be a good amount of Creme Brulee in the living room area.

Here are the other three decorative holders filled with their aroma beads. You can see the color difference in the beads here. The back two are filled with Red Hot Cinnamon, and the little porcelain basket is filled with Creme Brulee.

Aroma beads in pretty decorative holders.
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I love the slight hint of color on the beads. It’s just enough, and has an elegant look.

Aroma beads close up pic.
acrossthelake.blog — Red Hot Cinnamon Scented Aroma Beads

And here’s the cute little porcelain cherub, on our entertainment center as well.

Aroma Beads in cute porcelain cherub holder.
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Such a fun and rewarding project. I’m really happy with the results. I’ll most likely get more supplies and keep an eye out for more small decorative bowls to place all around our home. Such a beautiful way to have our favorite scents always present, and I’m thinking in the long run, most probably more economical as well. I plan to keep these scents and the bottles on hand to recharge the beads when needed.

Win, win, win!

I hope this post brought a little DIY scent inspiration your way today.

Till next time, stay safe, and follow your joy! God is truly good!

Johanna and Willie

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Making Aroma Beads at Home, Creme Brulee Scent, Red Hot Cinnamon Scent, Easy Scent DIY Project

April 27, 2025 0