Fabulous Fifties Kitchen Set
by Sheila Rodriguez

Instructions:

Risqué Retro Salt & Pepper Shakers

Cut strips of the single-plied napkin to cover the sides of the Salt & Pepper shakers. Use Mod Podge to glue and seal the strips around the glass. Cut out designs and text from the book pages and apply them over the napkin foundation with MP as glue and sealer. Cover all of the paper surfaces with a final coat of MP and sprinkle Crystal glitter lightly over all.

Decorative Toaster

PLEASE NOTE: This toaster is for decorative purposes only. Do not attempt to toast with it as collage elements are flammable.

Lightly sand the two wide sides of the toaster to rough up the surface. Working on one side at a time, apply Mod Podge to the entire side and place a single-ply napkin over it. Trim the extra edges with a craft knife and use the glue brush to tidy up the cut edges. Repeat the process with the second wide side of the toaster. Do not collage on the toaster’s top or ends. Allow this foundation to dry. Apply the cropped 1950's ads with more Mod Podge, used as both glue and sealer. Apply the rickrack trim to the top and bottom edges of the decorated sides with the Ultimate Glue.

Egg Timer

Punch two circles from a single-ply napkin. Apply the circles to the top and bottom surfaces of the egg timer with Mod Podge as glue and sealer. Lightly sprinkle Crystal glitter over the circles while the glue is still wet. Apply the rickrack around the top and bottom edges of the timer with the Ultimate Glue.

Recipe Box

Spray one side of the box with the Bottle Green dye, spritz it lightly with water, and wipe dry with paper towels. Repeat this process on all sides of the box and on the inside.

Dry brush the Bronze Golden Glaze lightly on all outside surfaces of the dyed box, and wipe with paper towels for a slight patina.

Using Mod Podge (MP) as glue, apply pictures of your choice to the four sides of the box and the underside of the lid. Paint over the pictures and all of the wood with the MP to seal everything. Sprinkle a bit of the glitter over the pictures while the sealer is wet, if desired.

Apply the kitchen embellishments to the top with Ultimate Glue, checking to be sure that the lid will still open fully. Apply the dove to the front of the box with Ultimate Glue.

Apply the alphabet tiles spelling out “RECIPE” to the top arch of the box with MP. Apply the word “50s” to white card stock, cut it out to size, and apply it to the front of the box with MP. Spell out “favorites” with alphabet stickers on black card stock and cut to size. Apply this to the front of the box with MP.

When everything has dried thoroughly, dab ruby Rub-Ons in selected areas with your fingers and smooth it out to accent the decoupage.

Apply the tiny flowers randomly with MP. Place the star stickers and puffy heart stickers around the box as desired.

Rolling Pin

To coordinate with the rest of the display, paint the handles of a wooden rolling pin with the Adirondack dye, spritz with water, and wipe with paper towels as explained above. Repeat until you have the desired color. Dry brush the handles with Golden Glaze Bronze.

See the March/April 06 issue of Altered Arts for detailed instructions on paper napkin collage, and creating the cutting board shown above.