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A French-Inspired Garden and Home by Judith Stringham

Burlap Canvas Paris Postcard

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Is any vignette complete in my house without a touch of 
France 

and/or 
ribbons?


After arranging the grapevine basket 
with a light green pumpkin and 
multicolored hydrangeas, 
I found the perfect ribbon hiding in my house to add to it. 


Iridescent purple with a green sheen and wired edges... 


Not only was the ribbon added, but I also added a new burlap covered canvas displaying 
a vintage 1925 Paris postcard.


Domain XCIV, a home decor store in Ft. Worth, Texas, advertises that 
"every piece in our store is chosen with the utmost consideration, and bought only if 
it appeals to our hearts and souls." 

For me, their pieces speak to my heart and soul, also. 
This summer Domain XCIV had old French postcards displayed 
on linen in beautiful frames. 
From their inspiration, I created a burlap-wrapped 
canvas frame to display 
an old postcard I bought in Paris, France. 


Here is how you can make something similar. 
First, use Mod Podge to attach a piece of cream-colored burlap 
to a 6"x8" canvas stretched over a wood frame.
After the glue dries, paint the burlap, including the edges 
wrapped around the sides of the canvas frame, 
with Valspar Honeymilk paint.



To create a border for the postcard, 
cut embossed white heavy card stock so there 
will be a graduated set of two borders framing the postcard. 
The outer border is the white-painted burlap, 
and the inner border is the embossed card stock, 
both of which add textural interest 
around the old Paris postcard.  


Wait until all the parts of the composition are finished 
before attaching the postcard.

To soften the angular edges of the composition, cut 
the corners of the card stock with a rounded-corner paper cutter. 
Set aside the embossed mat to attach later. 

Then, Mod Podge glue a narrow 1/4" gold-toned ribbon to the 
sides of the canvas frame to cover the edges of the burlap. 


Next, attach a push-in metal picture hanger 
to the back of the canvas frame.  

Instead of permanently gluing the embossed card stock 
and the 1925-vintage postcard to the canvas, 
use a decorative bulletin board push pin to 
attach them to the canvas. 


Do this for three reasons. 

The presentation is three-dimensional with loose edges. 

Changing what is displayed on the burlap-wrapped canvas will be easy. 

A small push-pin hole only minimally damages a vintage postcard. 


This postcard was sent from Paris on July 27, 1925. 
Even though it was written in pencil, 
the handwriting is distinctly French and has beautiful flourishes. 


The "S" resembles a musical clef symbol, 
and all the capital letters were written with flair. 
Such penmanship is no longer taught in the United States.  



The two green stamps are an oft-used symbol in France of a sower. 
Different-priced stamps with the sower image were issued in 
different colors. 



The simple frame focuses our attention on the postcard, not the frame, 
and the rustic burlap complements the grapevine basket.  


Ahhh... the vignette now more completely 
speaks to my heart and soul.
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Sources
Vintage Postcard - Paris flea market 
Fleur-de-lis push pin - Ballard Designs
Canvas wrapped frame - Hobby Lobby
Burlap - Hobby Lobby
Valspar Honeymilk paint - Lowes
Ribbon - Michaels 
Embossed card stock - Michaels, a few years ago 
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