My Patriotic Teddy Bear Knock Off

One thing that you probably don't know about me is that I have "a thing" for Teddy Bears. I adore them! I have collected them for years.

In the past few years, not so much. I guess I thought I had too many.

But then in the mail comes my catalog from Victorian Trading Co with this yummy Patriotic teddy bear from Bethany Lowe Designs.

I had to have it!!!! I needed it!!! I wanted it!!!!

It was $39.95!!!! Plus shipping!!!

Too rich for my cheap blood.

I checked all over the Internet to find it cheaper. But the cheapest I could find it was on eBay and it was still $34.99 plus shipping.

So what is a frugal girl like me to do?

Why knock it off.

I already had this cute teddy bear. But he was brown, not cream like the one I wanted. But he did look old and vintage. Plus, look at that face. Isn't he adorable? He would work just fine.

I first made him a ruffly collar from some red, white & blue crepe paper streamer I picked up at Hobby Lobby for 99cents when I was in Utah a few weeks back. How I wish we had Hobby Lobby here in SoCal.

Anyhoo, I just used a needle & thread to make a running stitch along one edge of the streamer. Then I pulled the string to make the streamer gather to make a ruffle. I made 2 ruffles & tied them around the neck of the bear. I did cut off the red section of the streamer on the 2nd ruffle.

Now he was starting to look patriotic.

Next came the hat. For some reason I find making a cone one the hardest things I have ever done. What is wrong with me? It seems so easy, but it took me about 10 tries before I got a cone I halfway liked. Even if the music is upside down! You can't win them all.

I hot glued on some silver tinsel that I had on hand. It originally came from the Dollar Tree. And I added a small paper medallion. I bought a bunch of pre made patriotic ones from Joann's last month to use in other projects and I had this small one left over.

Next I needed a small wooden box for the toys. I didn't have one. So I got my dear hubby to make me one. What? You expected me to make it? You obviously don't know me well enough yet. I don't use power tools. Why should I when I have a talented hubby who loves to use them and to make me stuff? I'm not stupid, just lazy.

Hubby used some wooden paint sticks he had laying around put together a small box for me. He even put little pegs on the side to make it look old using toothpicks. Then he even stained it for me. I painted the red stripe at the top and bottom & stenciled on the blue stars. I then sanded it to make the stars look like they were old. Hubby then waxed the box for me when it was all done.

The box turned out exactly how I had pictured it. Thanks hunny!!!

Then I needed some toys for the "toy box". I was going to try & make the toys look exactly like the one in my inspiration photo.

But why not use what I already had?

I've had the miniature sock monkey & pony stick for years. I did pick up the mini pistol at an antique store in Vegas while on vacation.

I also found this vintage looking "Jumbo" the elephant on wheels bank at an antique store while in Vegas. I don't gamble when I'm in Vegas, I go antique shopping. I know both of these items aren't actually "antiques", but I don't care. I just like vintage looking stuff. Plus I didn't pay the price for them actually being "antiques". I bought them for a knock off price. So I'm happy.


I then placed a small flag (from Target Dollar spot) across his arm and my "knock off" bear was complete.


I think I might even like my "knock off" version better than the original.

The only things I had to buy specifically for this project was the mini pistol and the elephant toy. So I only spent a little over $10.00 for this project. And I really didn't need to buy these items, I could have found something else around my house. But they spoke to me while out shopping.

Everything else we already had around the house.

Here is one more look at the inspiration for my project.

And one final look at my "knock off version".

I had more fun putting this together than I would have if I had just purchased it. And I'm tickled pink (more like red, white & blue) on how it turned out. I'm sure Bethany Lowe isn't though.



Linking to:

4th of July Link Party @ Not So Simple Housewife

Stars and Stripes Forever

I have a thing for flags this year. I've become a little obsessed with them.

But nothing screams "Patriotic" like flags. I've used them a lot this year in my decorating for Memorial Day, Flag Day and the 4th of July. The only problem is (my favorite saying), when ever I see a flag, I start humming or singing Patriotic songs in my head. Like I'm sure you were when you read the title of my post "Stars and Stripes forever". Didn't you start singing it in your head when you read the words? If not singing, at least humming the tune? Come on, admit it.

Speaking of patriotic. Look at these cute vintage salt & pepper shakers I picked up off of eBay. They are perfect for the 4th of July BBQ I'll be hosting.

I just had to have them. Luckily I had a $15.00 gift certificate so I was able to bid higher than I normally would have. I ended up paying $21.00 for them. But that only cost me $6.00 out of my own pocket. That and shipping. But I love them!!!!

They are perfect here under this cloche.

Did you notice that I moved the larger chicken wire frame that had been on my mantel over to this cabinet? I placed a rusty star in front that I picked up last year from Tai Pan Trading.

Someone needs to convince that store that they need locations all across America. At least they were smart enough to put one in SoCal (that would be southern California for those of you who aren't hip to such things). Tai Pan is my favorite place to shop right now. Too bad it is still 45 minutes away from me. But that is good for my wallet that it is.

And did you notice that I made another flag garland? I have a larger version hanging from my "Old Glory" mantel. Isn't it the cutest thing?

I made flag garlands to place all around my family room. I told you I was obsessed with flags this year.

A couple more flags were added to this thrift store vase I picked up last month for a buck.

And there you have another flag vignette in my family room/kitchen.

I pretty much have all my patriotic/4th of July decor done. I just need to take photos so that I can share. So stay tuned!




Linking to:

4th of July Link Party @ Not So Simple Housewife

Old Glory aka: Summer Mantel Take 2

My summer mantel has taken on a small transformation just in time for Flag Day. And I might just leave it like this for the 4th of July as well. But then, it might just get another transformation. We'll see.

Can you spot the changes from my Memorial Day mantel?

I changed out the print on my chicken wire frame. I added the star made from a folding ruler. As well as a cast iron star.

I added an Americana wooden flag I've had . And layered an "Old Glory" tin sign in front. I found the tin sign at Tai Pan Trading on my trip to Utah. I had a 25% off coupon. I hate paying full price for anything.

This fan medallion was a keeper from my Memorial Day mantel. It works for all 3 patriotic days.

I got the American wooden flag a few years back from Terry's Village on clearance. They have one fairly similar on their website this year for $16.00. I'm sure I didn't pay that much for the one I have. It would be really easy to knock off.

The only change on this side of the mantel was that I used a different fan medallions.

I just love flags. Most of my little flags came from Target Dollar Spot over the past few years.

I even made me a flag garland. I just scanned a vintage looking flag cut out I had on hand & duplicated it on Picasa to fill up one piece of card stock. I cut them out & used my mini clothespins to attach to a piece of twine.

I love Flag Day as it was my Grandma's birthday. So I get to think of her every time I see a flag.

The small wooden star ornament was picked up last weekend at an antique store in Old Town Temecula. It was marked 90% off. So it cost me 29cents. Such a deal. I bought 3 of them. Now I am wishing I would have got all 6 they had. Regrets, regrets.


Have you made a star out of a folding ruler? This particular ruler barely had enough sections to make this one. The cast iron star came from an antique store last year.


I got all my "Patriotic" decorating done this past weekend. So now I will have something to share over the next week. Seems like it's always feast or famine with my posts.

But that is how I have always been. I hate to do anything that I'm suppose to do. I guess I would rather blog surf than make my own blog post.

Do you decorate for Flag Day or for the 4th of July?



Linking to:

4th of July Link Party @ Not So Simple Housewife



Sat Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Weekend Wrap Up @ Tatertots and Jello

Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage

Wow us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style