Sunday, October 14, 2012

Sometimes when I go op-shopping I get so excited about finding 'treasure' that I buy it, without checking it out first properly. This happened to me a couple of days ago when I spotted a little pile of Ladybirds in the oppy. You should've seen me snatch them up! I was like a crazy woman -  which is quite embarrassing on reflection.

(In my defence, I will say its been quite a while since I've found any. Ahem)

It wasn't until I got home that I realised those Ladybirds are phonies. Well, not phonies per se, they are real, but they're definetely not vintage.

Not only do they have glossy pages (which dates them post 1983), they also have a great big fat barcode on the back. In one of the illustrations, Jane and Peter are drinking from cans of Coca-Cola! I know, just draw a big S for sucker on my forehead!

Anyway (and I know this is drawing a really, really long bow) what do you do when life gives you lemons/dud Ladybirds? You make lemonade, right...

Here's what I did...

(and I know I'm not re-inventing the wheel here)  

I stitched some

(more) cards.

I kept the cover

lined it with a French map (from a Michelin motoring atlas - another op-shop find) to hide my mess,

popped the cards inside, tied it with some vintage trim and le voila, a homemade stationary set! 

Total cost for ten cards = two dollars and twenty cents.

This doesn't include the trim which cost twenty cents for the whole card (my maths isn't good enough to work that one out!) or the map - I paid two dollars for one hundred and ninety maps - you do the maths if you're interested...

Lemonade? I reckon I've turned those Ladies into Champagne! And if I can do it, you can too (I'm talking to all you wonky stitchers like me here) I'm definitely making more, so watch out...Christmas is just around the corner! 

I should've known better!

x

19 comments:

  1. Evil counterfeit vintage kids books! I have the same problem when I'm buying old Narnia books, I always think they're older than they really are.

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  2. Good on you. The cards are lovely. Now you'll be on the lookout for more 'modern' ladybirds just for the purpose of crafting.
    x

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  3. Oh I know what you mean, I get carried away sometimes too and come home with dresses with broken zips or books with scribbles in or pages ripped or china with chips... I think my eyes just glaze over sometimes in the haze of excitement! I like going charity shopping with my good buddy for this very reason, she is very good at quality control and has spotted many a stain, button missing or non-functioning zip which I would have missed!
    Still you did a great rescue job with the fake Ladybirds, well done! xxxx

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  4. Jane and Peter drinking cola!!!! Whatever next! Well done, Kylie you did a great job with them - fabulous idea.
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  5. That is a corker of an idea! Nothing wrong with a useful fake.
    I'm off to the oppy tomorrow for Christmas fodder!

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  6. You are clever! I didn't know there were Ladybird 'fakes' - although I suppose they are legit by the same publisher - just for a new generation to enjoy.

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  7. Fantabulous idea.....great re-purposing...money not wasted but spent well. xxx

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  8. Using the book covers to create stationery sets is a great idea. I may have to make some myself! They would be perfect for girlfriends' birthdays.

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  9. I think we are all guilty of it at times. But you've come up with an idea to make the most of them with some craft so that's a bonus.

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  10. Aah those look so cool. Clever idea, the stationery set. You gonna sell them online? *cough* ;)

    Those books will be vintage too, in the not too distant future..you could start a collection in the hopes.....? Naaah..cut 'em up, I say!

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  11. Goodness Kylie, these are fantastic. The cards are soooo great! You should really open an etsy shop, they would sell really well.

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  12. You are very inventive Kylie, great work :)

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  13. I think you nicely solved your problem. My issue is I occasionally get carried away on eBay. Gulp. Not as easy to dispose of. And a little more painful. Really cute set.

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  14. We've all done that, sigh. But your cards are wonderful and so much better than store bought.

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  15. I LOVE them! I am definitely stealing this idea!!

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  16. defo champagne, i bought a repro ladybird card recently and it cost me $6! coka-flippen-cola! in a ladybird book?! that's frikken sacrilege that is! and fret not about the dearth of ye-olde ladybirds as a kiwi father christmas might just have a tidy pile to stick in a sack down your chimney ;0)

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  17. Gold! See you can sew, you and janome are one, now open the apron book! :)

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  18. hee hee. excitement does crazy things with us.
    incidentally i found a real ladybird THE POLICEMAN just the other week. i thought of you, naturellement. i haven't read it yet, and i haven't dusted it yet either.
    those raskall window work men are heeeeeeeeeeeeere, keeping me in the lurch....
    n♥

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