Sunday, April 3, 2011

"Vintage" Music Easter Prints


I don’t know why I am so drawn to using sheet music in so many of my craft projects but I am!  Maybe because I always wished I had learned to play a musical instrument or wished I had a great singing voice but for whatever reason, I just love incorporating sheet music with my projects.  Add to that my love of anything “vintage” and this is what I came up with the other day.
 
To begin with, I had to find an internet site where I could download and print sheet music legally and for free (of course!).  I found this site that allows you to print out just the first page of the music (which is all I wanted anyway!) .  The site is www.freehandmusic.com and you can search by title or in my case, I also searched by topic such as “bunny”, “Easter”, etc.  I chose "Easter Parade" by Irving Berlin, Peter Cottontail and "Bunny Hop" which is a 'standard' for children learning to play the piano.

Once the page was up on the screen, I right clicked on the image and copied, then pasted it into a Word document, adjusted it to the size I wanted, centered it and then printed it out on cream colored card stock. 

Next I went back to the Word document and inserted a Text Box into the document on a SEPARATE page.  To find the image I wanted to superimpose OVER the sheet music I just did a Google search for “Vintage Easter Postcards”.  Once I found the image I liked, I right clicked on it, chose “copy” and then pasted it INTO the text box I had created.  At this point, you may have to change the properties of the text box so that there is no outline and no fill.    (The ‘trickiest’ part may be getting the image aligned vertically so that it prints where you want it to on the sheet music.  You can play around with you’re your alignment on scrap paper first and then do your final prints on the card stock.) Finally, I re-inserted my card stock with the music already printed on it and ran it through the printer a second time, this time printing the image page and there you have it . . . your sheet music with the image over the top of it, music still showing through.
 
Now for the fun part (in case the first part wasn’t fun enough!) – aging and decorating your images.  I use a number of background type stamps with a combination of beige, gray and brown inks to get that ‘aged’ look.  Then I tore the image out around the edges and using a sponge, rubbed ink on the torn edges and slightly inside the image.  You can curl up and bend the edges for an even more aged look. 

I then mounted the images on decorative paper, then dark brown card stock and added a few colored eyelets for decoration.   



But my favorite part was adding the ultra-fine glitter.  Using a 2-way Glue Pen from Stampin’ Up! I drew/colored a few spots on the images where I wanted glitter.  I sprinkled it on, tapped off the excess and wow – that really added to the ‘vintage’ look of these.  

 
I already had the pre-cut vintage tags so to print on them, I printed my image or saying on paper then using removable tape, adhered the tag OVER the typed words or image and ran it through the printer . . . the image/words are exactly where you want them on the tag!  

  


I decided to add them to this existing arrangement in my dining room by simply putting the Easter cards in front of the pictures I have in year round.  Also, I added the little decorative tags using “Sticky Tack” so after Easter, I can just remove the tags and the pictures and these go back to ‘everyday’ decorations.
 
Now you see that I made three of these and I have one extra.  Hmmm . . . what should I do with it?  I know – I’ll give it away!  Yep – follow the instructions below to my first ever “Give Away” and you could win this adorable framed Peter Cottontail picture!  And if you don’t win it . . . well now you can “hop” off (sorry) and make your own!
 
Congratulations to Bobbi at "A Few of My Favorite Things" for winning this picture!




38 comments:

  1. I am a new follower and love this fun project! I printed out sheets of music to cover candles for Christmas...it's addictive, isn't it? Hope you'll visit me soon, too! ♥

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  2. I love your bunny hop image of the little girl and bunnies! If you wouldn't mind sharing..could you give me the link! I just want to make one for myself...for fun! Thanks! ♥

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  3. Those are beautiful. I would love for you to share it on More The Merrier Monday's Link Party!!

    http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/

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  4. So cute! I love the step by step how too. You are so creative. Thanks so much for sharing. I just became your newest follower. Stop by and visit if you get a chance and enter my giveaway too! Blessings, Vicky

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  5. I put your blog button on my sidebar! Thanks for everything! You are SO sweet! ♥

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  6. I love it! The sheet music makes me happy-it reminds me of my days in classical voice training. You are very creative-I want to try this project out. Thanks for the inspiration. I'm following, looking forward to more great posts. Take care.

    Ann-Marie

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  7. hiya , i would the chance to win and i am following you , thanks for your visit to my blog and your lovely comments too x
    xmaggiex

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  8. hi again , meant to say i have your button on my side bar to
    xmaggiex

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  9. These are beautiful!! I love doing projects with sheet music. I came from Debbiedoos and now a new follower. I'll be featuring you on my blog Saturday.
    www.acreativeprincess.blogspot.com

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  10. Absolutely lovely! Thank you for sharing it at our DIY CRAFT TUTORIAL PARTY last week. Really cute.

    We've just opened another party and would love to see what you've made this week: http://www.finecraftguild.com/diy-craft-tutorial-party-33/

    Thank you (in advance) for linking back to our blog, so we can all share in the fun.

    Rose

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  11. I am a new follower, thanks so much for the cute give away.

    vikkinay@yahoo.com

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  12. Oh my...thanks SO much for linking and I just became a follower because I would love to win one!!!!

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  13. Such a cute idea. I have a whole file of actual vintage music pages. Looks like something I might try...thanks for the inspiration.

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  14. how beautiful! and such inspiration! love it and I would love to win it! I'm your newest follower and I have put your blog button on my side bar in my blog at

    <a href="http://tea-diary.blogspot.com>Tea Diary</a>

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  15. Thank you so much for following me too, I just visited your tea parties page, you have a gorgeous table setting! Thanks for sharing the info about tea and types of tea, love it! xx Susan

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  16. You did a great job with this!!

    Thanks so much for linking to "20 Below Thursday"! :)

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  17. sooooo very cute!!!! new follower.....;o)

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  18. I think they are BeaUTifUL!!!! Thanks for sharing!! I'm a new follower, have added a link back to your blog and will come back often!

    Please stop by and visit at memesue-lilofthislilofthat@blogspot.com

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  19. Incredible!! I am going to make these this weekend. Thanks for sharing these beauties. I am a new follower and am completely inspired by your talent.

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  20. I am a new follower. These are SO cute! Great giveaway!

    Pam

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  21. oh what a brilliant idea! these are gorgeous Lauren!!
    hugs!

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  22. I'm a new follower! This is the cutest little craft and I have everything I need for it! Thanks so much for the great idea!

    HaPpY pInK sAtUrDaY!
    Sarah

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  23. Adding your button now!

    HaPpY pInK sAtUrDaY!
    Sarah

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  24. I've linked back in my PS post too! (Can you tell I really want to win?? :)

    HaPpY pInK sAtUrDaY!
    Sarah

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  25. I'm your newest follower! I just LOVE your blog and this sweet pic is A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E !!!!

    Thanks for such a sweet giveaway!

    Big TX Hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

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  26. I've now added both your cute blog button AND your giveaway pic, both with links back to you, at the top of my blog!! The Peter Cottontail pic is just up my alley, so I'll keep my fingers crossed!

    Big TX Hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

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  27. thanks for the wonderful idea, i am now following you by email! Happy Spring!

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  28. I just posted and linked you up from my blog..What a great 5x7 and idea. I've been trying to find some ideas with the sheet music, my daughter in law is an orchestra teacher and I would love to make her some things for her class room and her music room at home..

    thanks again.

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  29. WOW! Love this! Going to have to give it a whirl!

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  30. These are really cute. I love how you made them vintagey. Thanks for linking them up!
    Sherry

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  31. Thanks to all of you for your comments and participation -- please be sure to send me pics of YOUR designs so I can post them here!

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  32. Thanks for linking to Worshop Wednesday. I think music sheets has a vintage feel to it. Maybe that's why people like to craft with it! Hope to see you this week for Workshop Wednesday! goobyecityhellosuburbs

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  33. Hi! Just wanted to let you know that I've got my post up and linked back to you. It's the one called "More Spring Crafts". I've got an "I've Been Featured" button on the bottom right of my sidebar too if you're interested. Have a great week!

    Sarah

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  34. Oh your project is beyond adorable!

    Thank you SO very much for linking up.

    Have a gorgeous weekend.

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  35. These are absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing the process of making these!

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  36. What wonderful ideas I am getting from visits to your blog tonight. I am loving these. I guess I'll have to attempt to make my own, since I didn't get here in time for your giveaway. Thanks for sharing the "how to" atr Favorite Things Saturday. laurie

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  37. Wow its really nice pics. Nice Easter Gift Ideas. Thanks a lot for sharing this information.

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