Water Slide Decals

There is an up side to being laid up with a bum knee.  I'm attacking all those small projects and Pinterest pins I've been storing up to do.

Before Christmas, I ordered some water slide decals from Carol at The Polka Dot Closet.  She has a great tutorial on how to make your own here.  Since I didn't have the foggiest notion how to do a water slide decal transfer, I decided to order the ones she had already made and skip the design process.  To check out her shop click here.

She sent me three sheets of black and white and coloured designs. ~

Following her detailed directions and her advice to start with a small decal, I transferred a vanilla label to an antique bottle that I bought for 10 cents. ~

The whole process took less than a minute and was easy peasy to do!  I moved on to a medium size decal and put it on a dollar store glass container that nicely holds a full package of Q-tips. ~

It's a simple process of cutting out the decal from the sheets and immersing it in warm water for 15 to 30 seconds.  Place the decal in place and slide the paper backing off.  Smooth out any bubbles and let the decal dry for an hour.  For more detailed instructions, go to Carol's tutorial at The Polka Dot Closet.

These decals work on any non porous surface and the possibilities are endless.  What a simple and easy process to add script and pattern to painted furniture pieces!  Everyday glass, ceramics and metal become something special with a decal added!  Or, how about adding labels to spice jars and canisters?

Carol's blog is one of the sites I go to for regular inspiration.  She has a gift for making things pretty and, as a long time dealer in antiques and collectibles, is wonderful for sharing her ideas, methods and experience in reselling treasures.

Of course, my day couldn't end without a little adventure.  I had just finished doing the decals and was sitting down to sew when the power went out.  We're in a deep freeze here in Ontario with temperatures hitting -28 C.  No power means no heat!  Where I live in the country, it means no water, too.

For five hours there was nothing to do but take a step back in time.  I lit a great many candles, fired up the Vermont Castings wood stove and settled in with Jane Austen's Mansfield Park.  Add in a couple of cats, basking in the heat from the fire, and it was one perfect day to me!

This week I'm partying over at ~ Rustic Restorations Weedkend Linky Party, That DIY Party, Creative Bloggers Party And Hop, Monday Funday Link Party, Make It Pretty Monday, Transformed Tuesdays, Nifty Thrifty Tuesday, Budget Decorating Party, Tweak It Tuesday, Transformation Tuesday, All Star Block Party, Clever Chicks Blog Hop, A Crafty Soiree, Under $100 Linky Party, The Wildly Original Crowd, Share You Cup Thursday, Open House Thursdays, Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop, Saturday Nite Special